Child Signalling Difficulty in Emotion Regulation | Theories

Child Signalling Difficulty in Emotion Regulation | Theories † The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.† Milton, John (1671) Paradise regained book IV. line 220 British born Poet, John Milton compares how we can attempt to predict behaviour of adults by their experience as a child. The interesting use of the weather as a simile depicts how predictions can be made and can unfold to be true; conversely, weather is unpredictable and doesn’t always follow a pattern. This he surmised also to be true for people. Scholars, early philosophers and modern day psychologists alike have longed for enlightenment into understanding human behaviour. Many theorists, behaviour and humanistic psychologists have carried out research to attempt to understand the internal working model of the human being and their socialization. Research by Bowlby (1951) and Mary Ainsworth (1967) have been influential in this field and their findings and theories have given insight into patterns of relating and attachment. Rutter’s and Carl Rodgers’ self-actualization theory provided hope for eternal optimists.This essay will demonstrate from an analytical an d critical perspective the possible correlation of a particular child signalling difficulty in emotion regulation and his previous and current experiences, patterns of relating and perception of his environment. This essay will critically apply the theories of social learning, cognitive development and humanistic psychology to the child’s behaviour. A thorough holistic assessment will be executed on the particular child (see appendix 1) and all areas of concern raised by parents and professionals will be considered, discussed and analysed. The theories will be compared to provide a greater understanding of the needs of the child and how best to support care- givers in implementing change. After all things considered a behaviour management plan will be synthesized, its strategies outlined and the difficulties and limitations to its implementation discussed. For the purpose of this Essay all names have been changed to protect the identity of the family. Refer to data protection act here Holistic assessment If there are concerns with a child’s health and development a holistic assessment will need to be synthesised. To produce an assessment of a child holistically is to view it in its entirety. Holism is a relatively new concept it is used where there are multidimensions involved or complex interwoven issues. It is also used if there is a learning or behavioural objective which can be quantitive over time. The assessor would refer to the holistic assessment to establish whether a target or goal has been reached .Evidence for the assessment must include multiple observations in different settings and from more than one source. The assessment will take into consideration all factors that may comprise the child’s physiological, psychological health as well as environmental factors that they may be exposed to. The assessment can highlight areas of concern or irradiate where one issue may be antecedent to another. It is often challenging to see where one difficulty begins and a nother ends. This is especially true in the case study mentioned in this Essay. The behaviour Soiling Social anxiety No eyecontact Expression and emotionless Over compliance Doesn’t seek comfort Picky eating Development Possible reasons : socio demographic job loss. Maternal deprivation, Bowlby, ainsworth. Parental conflict : theorist ? Parental mental health : theorist? Many different care givers all unresponsive or inconsistent : RAD Distress from deprivation from father whom he had a bond but was unstable : Maslow Pre natal cocaine use: theories? The loss of bonds as bereavement Learnt behaviour shaping personality skinner no positive reinforcement of warmth Cognitive damage :science of parenting. Early attachment problems John Bowlby Mary Ainsworth Mary Ainsworth suggested attachment between a child and its care giver is innate. She sees experience in early childhood as an external factor that shapes and develops the attachment, and relationship. The level of responsiveness of the care giver has a direct correlation with the development of the attachment. Rutter Possible RAD diagnosis Historically there has been little research into this disorder otherwise known as Reactive attachment disorder.(APSAC)à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¸notes that; â€Å"RAD is one of the least researched and most poorly understood disorders in the DSM† (p. 80; Chaffin et al., 2006). It states in the DSMà ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¹ that there are two types inhibited and disinhibited. Children with inhibited type do not initiate social interaction; their response to others would be seen as developmentally inappropriate. In accordance to the milestones expected to achieve ( ) they could appear socially anxious, highly ambivalent or give contradictory responses. For example they often resist comfort from the care givers. They express no reciprocation to warmth they appear wooden, or emotionless. The children remain watchful of others whilst physically and emotionally keeping their distance. Social learning theory Family dynamics It is worth noting that according to research carried out by the ALSPAC study team evidence suggests that children living in a blended family or a complex family unit where they are not with the biological mother, the children have problems adjusting (Hetheringtonet al.,1999:cited in Dunn,2002). Research alspac (Parenting capacity Parenting styles and their effects on a child’s development has been studied by baumrind (1972) through her studies she collated evidence that suggested that parenting styles led to clear different outcomes for the child. The areas of parenting that Baumrind focussed on was warmth and nurturance , parents expectations of their children, consistency of rules and their overall level of communication. According to Baumrind styles of parenting can have an effect on cognitive, physiological, psychological and social development. Pryor and Rodgers (2001) suggests that stressful situations such as parental conflict, parental mental health and financial difficulties, although, have an impact on a child’s wellbeing the level of impact is determined by the quality of parenting and parent -child relationship. There are Three styles of parenting permissive, authoritarian and authoritative. Authoritarian children according to Baumrind (1972) have a generally unhappy demeanour, they appear anxious and withdrawn Socialization Regulation of emotions are crucial to our socialization. It has been expressed by carers that Frankie’s countenance of emotion is inhibited and facial expressions are almost nonexistence. Gross(2002) would suggest this is caused by a suppression of an emotion. This would have a negative impact on health according to Gross (2002) not from a one off occurrence but if the suppression of that emotion was continual for a substantial period of time. The physiological reaction would still occur so the impact of the emotion would still be felt but not expressed. â€Å"we hypothesized that individuals who habitually suppress should have lesser negative and positive emotion-expressive behaviour†. (J.GRO.SS 2002) ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ° (Steele et al., 2008) would offer counter evidence that the deciphering of expressive facial responses and their meaning is something that is learnt from their earliest experience of attachment .Primarily from their main carer but also from others in the first year of life. Steel (2008) discovered a substantial correlation between a child who has an insecure or avoidant attachment and their lack of ability to decipher the meaning of facial expression. Thus implying that the quality of the first reciprocal interaction that a baby experiences sets the standard for the quality of social interaction in the future. â€Å"This learning is preverbal from the first year of life, yet  powerful enough to show itself 6 years and 11 years later in  emotion recognition tasks† (Steele et al., p. 388). Behaviour plan The proposed behaviour plan intends to support the child and carers in facilitating change of unwanted behaviours, address the problem of emotional regulation which is concerning the carers and professionals involved with the child. The rationale is interrelated to the strategies and their theories. The unwanted behaviours outlined that will be addressed is soiling, withdrawn behaviour and (â€Å"seems upset and cries a lot† ) see appendix 2. Play therapy The concept of play therapy was introduced into psychotherapy by Freud following his work with Little Hans. Freud (1909) elucidated the concept of play therapy and its ability to promote free expression, wish fulfilment, and mastery of traumatic events. To enhance a child’s wellbeing and maximise their potential using therapeutic personal centred counselling. The association of play therapy provides a definition of play therapy and what part it can play in a child’s wellbeing. The place2b(2009) research model provides evidence that therapeutic support accessed through primary schools either via group or individual, improves children’s social and emotional behaviour. Lee,Tiley and White(2009) † The systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimum growth and development APT (2008)à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ · (Landreth2002) pertinently stated that play is a child’s language and toys are their words. Reference list . Internet. [http://www.a4pt.org]. Association for Play Therapy. About Play Therapy Overview. (20081024)22.00 28/01/14 American professional society of the abuse of children . Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders ,published by the APA (American psychiatric association) Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA Gross, J.J. (2002). Emotion regulation: Affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39, 281-291 How is human nature changed from technology? How is human nature changed from technology? How is human nature changed form technology? In the late 20th century, internet combined with World Wide Web start to hit a big in every society because it makes a possible of sharing the worldwide information. There is no doubt that computer network has a strong impact to people with its capacity of gathering and delivering information. However, as the information’s property is that it above all kinds of messages, which means that while people search for the useful information they also may receive some other useless information, for example, some information that called propaganda. The basic reason for the development of propaganda can be described as how to take advantages from the technological enhancement and the internal of human nature. Though the upgrading of technology provides a lot of benefits for human society, it also brings about so many problems; and human nature is like the catalyst to amplify the greedy of human desire. Propaganda, as an important way for advertisers to lure and brainwash the audiences, has developed in a rapid speed when technological enhancement and human nature continue influences people’s decisions. Technological enhancement is like the top one assistant to help propaganda spread and exploded faster than decades before. In the article â€Å"Computer and the Pursuit of Happiness†, David Gelernter draws out a statement that â€Å"But using technology to defeat distance has been another goal of the industrial revolution from the start, from railroads through the Panama Canal and onward.† (138) What Gelernter’s clime is that no matter in which period, people are willing to use technology skills to link together from a long distance. Propaganda can be a well appropriate example to show this method. Assuming that if the president of a large country wants to announce a political decision by using propaganda as soon as possible, but the only way he can use is the traditional way to transmit it, such as railway or water route which will defiantly delay the speed of transmitting the announcement. However, with the assist of technology, people can use radio, TV, and th en computer and networks, finally the latest one internet which connected the whole world to overcome geography and be able to get the information in a fastest way. How come that advertiser will not take some benefits from that technological society by producing propaganda? Technology builds a bright and straight way for advertisers to broadcast various propagandas without any restriction from time or region. Furthermore, technology also makes the category of propaganda becomes copious and colorful. Advertisers can have plentiful technologic ways and skills to create propaganda so that it will be more attracted and alluring. Nobody would say no to the glamorous and creative propaganda which can draw your attention at the very beginning; and the advertisers know it extremely well than anybody else. In spite of the technology enhancement that improve the appearance and the hardware of propaganda, the people who are easily be allured by propaganda can be described as the human nature that is always be in the same pattern and is to simple too be penetrated. From ancient time to the present, human nature seems like it has conflicting phenomenon. On the one side it remains the same in some aspects; on the other side, there are also have some changes. Ann McClintock mentioned a common sense when people see propaganda that â€Å"We are victims, content – even eager – to be victimized. We read advertisers’ propaganda messages in newspapers and magazines; we watch their alluring images on television †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ We all do it – even those of us who claim to see through advertisers’ tricks and therefore feel immune to advertising’s charm†, (158) in her article â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†. The author use the word â€Å"victim† to describe the people who truly buy the lie of propaganda in order to reveal a truth that people are vulnerable when they face the fascinating propaganda; and no matter how much the people convince to themselves that they know all tricks in propaganda; they still easily to be fooled by advertisers. So the answer to why it would happen is that the feature of the human nature. There is a common situation in almost everyone’s experience, when people come into a selection of two similar products, in most time people will chose the one with fancy appearance. This is one of the human natures that people will tend to be attracted by appearances but not the inside qualities, which has not changed in decades and will not be changed in future. As this reason, advertisers will try as hard as they can to improve the appearance of products or figures inside of the intrinsic and the qualities of it. Speaking of the change of human nature, it can show through the development of human mind and society. When communication between people from everywhere has fewer limits and people are more open to adapt new things from other country or culture, advertisers are able to have more opportunities to get profits from all over the world by broadcasting a proper propaganda. Considering the alteration and the uniformity of human nature, advertisers always can find a way to promote their â€Å"products† whether they are objects, figures or opinions. In the war between audience and advertiser, the winner always is the advertiser, especially when advertisers can use technology flexible and know human nature like the back of their hands. In Ann McClintock’s article â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†, McClintock points that â€Å"Every day, we are bombarded with slogans, print ads, commercials, packaging claims, billboards, trademarks, logos, and designer brands – all forms of propaganda.† (160-161) In this sentence, most of these media are partly connected to the technology, because technology makes these things become more and more common in the society; and technology is still showing its advantages to advertisers for how to improve tactics in producing propaganda. Nobody will doubt the ingenuity of human so it means that nobody can stop the development of technology. In that way, audiences will become more vulnerable in front of a well decorated propaganda. Similarly, David Gel ernter mentioned his thoughts in the article â€Å"Computers and the Pursuit of Happiness† that â€Å"Human nature does not change; human needs and wants remain basically the same. Human ingenuity dreams up a new technology, and we put it to use – doing in a new way something we have always done in some other way.† (140) He claims that with the desire of human nature has never changed, we tend to invite more high-tech devices to replace some works which were done by human before. In some aspect, it is good for human life; on the contrary, this is how propaganda converts from paperwork into different forms, such like radio, video, or even lights. Human nature is like a flaw in a precious jade, everyone can see it, but cannot fix it. To contradict the information from propaganda but continue develop technology; we can try to concentrate more on the essence of human nature and be aware of the deliberate deception from advertisers. If advertisers put a good use of t echnology and human nature in propaganda, people will have highly risk of the propaganda might control the personal decisions and judgments. Although people know that most propaganda are fictitious and deceitful, the majority will still buy and trust it. Someone may make an assertion that all these faults and influences are made by the development of technology and have no relevance with human nature. However, because human nature is deep inside human mind, people do not want to admit that they – themselves also are an aspect of being deceived by propaganda. On the one hand, technology does make human life become more convenient and efficient, so the society cannot only blame the technological changing. On the other hand, human nature is hard to change because it already inherits from generations to generations. In some aspect, this world cannot be operated well without propaganda. For instance, producers need it to sell their products, candidates need it to win the campaign and even the politicians or scholars need it to express their viewpoints. In order to really take some benefits from technology but not fooled by the deception of propaganda, people need to be more cautious and avoid the influence of human nature when they encountered with the diverse propaganda. If everyone can see through advertisers’ strategy, the winner of a propaganda war must be the audiences instead of the producers. Work Cited: Gelernter, David â€Å"Computers and the Pursuit of Happiness†. New Directions. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005 McClintock, Ann â€Å"Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising†. New Directions. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005 IKEA: Strategic Planning Analysis IKEA: Strategic Planning Analysis IKEA is a home products retailer with its branches spreading internationally and is privately owned. It sells furniture, Bathroom and Kitchen items and accessories in flat packs. IKEA is the worlds largest furniture sellers due to its unique concept of the furniture sold in flat packs, affordability and at home assembling by the costumer. Immense retail experience, product diffentiation and reasonable prices are the key for IKEA s success. It is the worlds most successful multinational retailers. In 37 countries IKEA has 301 stores (31 August 2009). Last year a total of 286 million people visited the IKEA Groups stores around the world, most of them in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Its catalogue is printed in 118 million copies in 45 editions (23 languages). History IKEA is owned by a Dutch registered foundation and is controlled by Kamprad Family. It was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 in Smaland, Sweden when he was only 17 years old. He started with an innovative concept for the economically stricken but hard working people of Smaland. He first started his company with 15 co workers. His concept mainly based on cost cutting solutions which do not affect the quality of the product and thus offering the sale in a much lesser price than his competitors. He never compromised on the quality but he scrapped from everything else. The word IKEA comes from the first initials of his first and last name and the farm and the village he came from (Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd) Corporate Structure IKEA is owned and operated by convoluted groups of profit and nonprofit corporations. The corporate structure of IKEA has two major parts: Operations Franchising. Management of various stores is the IKEA Operations responsibility. INGKA Holding is a private Dutch company which is owned by Stichtting INGKA Foundation which was established in 1982 in Netherland as a tax exempt non profit foundation. The design and manufacture of its furniture, purchasing and supply functions are overseen by INGKA. In 36 countries 2,235 stores are run by INGKA Holding, the rest 30 stores are run by franchises. The INGKA Foundation is controlled by a five-member executive committee that is chaired by Kamprad and includes his wife and attorney. The IKEA trademark and concept is owned by Inter IKEA Systems, registered in Luxembourg, which is an exclusive Dutch company and its ownership is very complicated and uncertain but believe to be owned by Kampard Family members. All IKEA stores including ones run by the INGKA Holding pays a fee of 3% of the total profit to Inter IKEA systems. All the stores are operated by Inter IKEA Systems under a franchise agreement. In Australia however IKEA is operated by two companies: Eastern Coast Stores including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are under the owner ship of INGKA Holding. Stores in the South and Western Australia are owned by CEBAS Pvt. Ltd. The suppliers acquire a long term contract with IKEA transferring technical advice and leased equipment from the company. IKEA keeps the rights of exclusion and also for low prices. Vision and Mission To create a better everyday life for the many people. This vision provides the structure of a Marketing message to all IKEA businesses worldwide. This message reflects the working and idea behind IKEAs well designed and functional products of home ware. Also keeping the product affordable for encompassing as many people possible to purchase in turn providing a remarkable profit. Compromising the price doesnt include compromise in the quality of the product or of the companys principles. As they say Low price but not at any price. This promise is the key factor for their sustainable and flourishing business. IKEAs approach was positively appreciated worldwide as the good and the services are beneficial for both the costumers and the environment. The business idea is To offer a wide range of well designed, functional home furnishing products at  prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. The market positioning statement is Your partner in better living. We do our part, you do yours.  Together we save money. The product range varies in home furniture and accessories and includes 9500 items. The items are available in big warehouse type display stores or exclusively on IKEA website on the internet making purchases easier for the consumer. In United Kingdom IKEA has opened 18 stores so far. The first one was opened in Warrington in 1987. There is also a new store opened in Dublin in 2009 which is the first one in Ireland. In August 2008 the IKEA stores were visited by 565 million visitors in a year and 450 million people used the website. The sales went up to 21.2 billion Euros ($30 Billion) with an increase of 7%. The biggest consumer countries were Germany, USA, France, UK and Sweden. Only 11% of the sales were generated in Sweden in 1997.Germany contributed 29.6%, Western Europe sale was 42.5% and 14.4% from North America. IKEA is now opening stores in Asia and China. The growth strategy includes the opening up of new stores in different locations to attract more customers. Their company objectives enable their strategy for the customer to come back by which they weaken the competitors market and increase their share. IKEA Culture Instead of acquiring the regional and national trends and tastes IKEA followed its vision which wastypically Swedish. This was a big global hit and the main reason for the success. Their market research was minimal with no intention finding out consumer interests, instead the Swedish management decided what to present to the global public, which was simply good quality functional furnishers in affordable prices. The company also highlights the Swedish culture and roots from putting shops and cafes offering Swedish legacies from meatballs to jams in their stores to the blue and gold color scheme of their display units. They tend to sell the same product worldwide and also to cut costs of the products by 30% in price from the competitor maintaining the after tax return. Despite breaking the rules of international retailing, the formula of selling Swedish designed products worked in Europe but it took a while for this business to shoot off in North America. In early 90 s most of the IKEA stores were considered to be in trouble because of the adverse movement of the exchange rates. Moreover the IKEAs beds were too narrow and all of the measurements were in the European scales. The kitchen cabinets were also too narrow in short the furnishers and accessories were not appropriate for Americans. Finally the company decided that in order to succeed in US market they have to customize and redesign their product range. The redesigning of the furnisher gave a 30-40% boost in sales in bedroom furniture and 15% in kitchen furniture instantly. By 1997 about 1/3 of IKEA furnishers were designed for US market. The company is generating huge profits from American market but European market has a bigger share in this profit. Current Situation: PEST (P)olitical IKEA is one of the best example of a firm, successful in both Scandinavian and global market. The political condition in Sweden is stable and the environment eases condition for many markets. After the 1978 reforms and open up policy in china IKEA was also one of the western retailer who took this opportunity and enter into the Chinese market. (E)conomic Global recession is of the biggest challenges facing by multinational companies all over the world. IKEA timely enter in Chinese and Indian market which was least affected by global recession. In the UK, Opening up of Southampton store in 2009 helped hold up sales otherwise hit by recession, but operating margin have declined from 11% in 2005 to 3.3% in 2009. (S)ocial IKEA has contributed much in the society as they provide opportunities in customers and the its own employees are entitled in different benefits and incentives such as insurance and pensions. However, the company has tried to provide more high quality furniture that also stick to their original concept stylish furniture at lower prices. IKEA is turn out to be a successful global brand attracting similar social group of customer with different cultures and societies in all the big markets in the world. IKEA is building online help out to guide customers to a more sustainable life. It supports customers with tips as well as ideas on its website to reduce their impact on the environment. This will also save them money. Staffs are trained on sustainability, both on what IKEA is doing and how they can take responsibility to become sustainable for themselves. (T)echnological The IKEA used quality technology and modern systems to promote faster flow of queues and proper scheduling, tracking and trading, and staffing pattern. IKEA is aiming to be more productive and has established employee preferences. The system IKEA has introduce in a position to ensure the right number of staff for the right store and in a right time to match the unique trading pattern at each site of IKEA. Porter Five forces Michael porter has determined five forces to analysed a industry. Power of the Buyers There is not much bargaining power because of the IkEAs exiting low-price options. Furniture as well as other items has an alternative, consumers have very limited alternative choices in getting high quality in low price that market IKEA has unique among its competitors. The strategy of affordable price is another way of the company to response in customers needs. Power of Supplier IKEA has its more then 1000 of suppliers from Africa, Asia and other parts of the world that set standards in delivering the materials.. Mostly, the suppliers work for IKEA and compete with other suppliers that helps the company to reduce the power of its supplier and result of that they have little bargaining power. Because of the low-pricing strategy, Rivalry The IKEAs furniture competitors offers slightly different styles and functionality. In the European market IKEA has a very strong market imagine for low price products with a good quality, in the USA market Conrin targets a new low cost in terms of furniture; Cratel Barrel supplying a furniture in a box which is relatively on higher prices; Ethan Allen targeting at a more higher market. IKEA is the most successful in offering a complete package for the customers. Substitutes There is no really specific product that can be an alternate for the furniture however IKEA must have to follow up with the latest trends in the market, to avoid becoming out of style. New Entrants All the big furniture manufacturer and retailer have their wide range have in big town. Another furniture company is rolling on the strategy of low cost and should be able to compete IKEA as the excellent company in delivering the furniture. IKEA stores and some of other competitor do not reach many small cities and this provides an opportunity for the new competitors to move into small cities with smaller stores or less selection. But not easier in big city because new entrants have to establish a large volume supply chain and create a unique brand name on as low prices. Generic strategies: IKEA clearly stated in its mission statement its strategy; IKEA has built its cost leadership position, and furnish the customer with a high quality product with components derived from all over the world utilizing competitive advantages, low cost logistics, and large retail outlets in suburban areas. Furthermore, cost leadership has been effectively incorporated into the IKEAs culture through symbols and efficient processes. The value chain The value chain approach indicates two major activities, such as primary and secondary. Primary actives which include logistics, production, marketing, and after sale functions. Secondary activities, which are identified as a support processes to primary activities. These include, firms infrastructure, HR Management. Technology development and other areas. The way from supplier to customer must be as shortest, cost-effective and environmentally pleasant as possible. Flat packs are a very essential aspect of this work. Since efficient distribution plays a key role in creating the low price, goods routing and logistics are a focus for constant development. IKEA is built upon the philosophy all the way from design teams to suppliers and to customer. A continuous contention for development in all the areas of the value chain is an effective way to shape the industry to better fit IKEAs future strategies. Due to the distinctiveness of IKEAs strategic market positioning, being the largest competitor in the industry, it has the advantage of setting the phase of the entire industry. IKEA has developed the value chain approach by integrate the customer in the process and introduce a two way value system. In order to offer the customer with high quality products at a lower price, IKEA should be looking suppliers who can deliver high quality items at low cost. The headquarters provide suppliers with technical assistance, leased equipment and the necessary skills needed to produce good quality items. SWOT analysis IKEAs goals of sustainability and environmental design are central to its business strategy. It has launched a new sustainability plan for the company to take it through to 2015. This will combine socially, environmental and economic issues. (S)trengths: Global Brand which attract the key customer group which promises same quality worldwide. A strong concept based on offering a broad range of well designed, functional products at affordable prices. Increasing use of renewable materials IKEA superior its overall use from 71% in 2007 to 75% in 2009. Volume commitments: IKEA believes in having long-term partnerships with its suppliers. Economies of scale. By using new technologies: Like IKEAs OGLA chair has been in its range since 1980. (O)pportunities A growing demand for low priced and greener products. Trends in the current financial environment may result in consumers trading down from more expensive stores. Growth of middle class in china and India Demand for reduced water usage and lower carbon footprints. Reducing carbon footprint. IKEA aims to trim down energy usage Developing social responsibility. IKEAs policy which includes support for charities like WW Fund, UNICEF and Save the Children. (W)eaknesses IKEA has to acknowledge and recognize its weaknesses in order to improve. This can play a key role not only in helping it to set objectives but also to develop new strategies. IKEAs weaknesses includes: The size and scale of its global business is very challenging to standardize its products. This can represent a weaker relationship in IKEAs supplying, affecting consumer views of IKEAs products. Keep balance between low cost products and good quality. IKEA also wants to differentiate itself from competitors. IKEA believes there is no concession between being able to offer good quality products and low prices. IKEA must improve communication with customer and other stakeholders about its environmental activities. IKEA produces publications in print media as well as on line and use different channels to enable the business to communicate with different target audiences. (T)hreats If a company is aware of all possible threats, it can plan to neutralize them. By taking actions, IKEA can use some strength to overcome against external threats in the market. Significant reduction in first time buyer in housing market. More competitors entering in the low price furnishings and household markets. IKEA needs to strengthen its distinctive qualities to compete with these Recession turn down consumer spending and disposable income reduces. Future Options IKEAs one of the main strength flat pack and high quality furniture on a very low price compare to its all competitor all over the world. IKEAs supply chain strategy where warehouses are divided into different zones and properly located to have a better control. With this strategy, the IKEA can analyze the processing time and cost more effectively, and resource utilization, and queue times and lengths for the various functions. The resources are applied and detailed in applicable working schedules, sorted and simulated at a higher-level There is a business potential for IKEA in providing solutions and services that enable customers to live a more sustainable life at home. IKEA is developing effective solutions for customers in order to support them recycling or reusing used products, and aiming at no products ending up at landfill and the recycled materials used in producing new IKEA products. For a successful global strategy IKEA must maximise its strength, minimise its weakness and by taking market opportunity to strengthen its market share image by avoiding all the external threats. Social trends: IKEA is building online help to guide customers to a more sustainable life. The advantages of online business will reduce administration cost and it will give more information to customer of product and IKEA can pass its corporate goal to target its customer more effectively Market forces: IKEA is large enough to enjoy economies of scale and also target the biggest segment of the market .i.e. middle class. This helps to reduce average costs in the long run through, for example, better use of technology or employing specialized managers. Economies of scale also give a business a competitive edge if cost savings are then passed on to customers in the form of lower prices. This puts up high barriers to entry for smaller companies entering the market. Economic factors: Global recession and significant decrease in first time buyer has affected the demand in future industry. IKEAs low prices create appeal amongst its customers in tough financial times. It is vital to keep prices as low as possible when the retail sector is depressed. IKEAs pricing strategy targets consumers with limited financial resources. Its products will also attract to those with higher income through good quality and design. IKEA must ensure that it is always recognised as having the lowest prices on the market in the future IKEA had has been quite successful with its one-design-suits-all global expansion strategy in many markets. However, industry experts were doubtful as to whether this strategy would translate well into some of the Asian and south Asian, culturally diverse and riskier markets. It is very important for IKEA to have higher degree of localization to be successful in diverse markets.   The Asian markets, where India and china has fastest growing middle class can be very attractive market. In far eastern markets, IKEA is facing a number of challenges in terms of varied cultural, demographic and market specific needs IKEA must have more cultural promotional approach to the market. IKEA must alter two very important aspects of its time tested and proven global strategy when it came to China and Middle East; while elsewhere in the world, IKEA had always located its stores in less expensive areas and sold its furniture on the do-it-yourself (DIY) principle, these elements had to be changed in China and Middle East. IKEA must decentralized most of its functions including Human resource and stores management in China, in the past, there was some criticism that IKEA was too bureaucratic with many of its operations being globally controlled and systematized. IKEA is improving to hold in the US market, this has the best growth potential for IKEA. The current hold of IKEA is this market is very limited. Thus, it enables IKEA to keep its growth rate while basically keeping its low-cost strategy in the near and medium future. The main aim is achieving this goal, is an adjustment of the companys products to the US market needs. IKEAs stores in the US must shift into less internationally standardized products and more products adjusted to the need of US market, increasing the variation of the product line of IKEA. This might result a low cost products to the high income population that might well include innovative design motives that characterizes the existing products. Globalization of IKEA and way forward More emphasis must be given on understanding of various markets all over the world for a better strategy planning, decreasing the reliance on the current management. These steps should better taken before Mr. Kamprads manager retires from the company for absorbing much of their spirit into the future international management. With continued expansion effort underway worldwide, IKEA strive to enforce its USA expansion support the companys vision and business model to offer its products on affordable prices. For a long term strategic planning IKEA must evaluate in more detailed US market and build more stores where it can achieve economy of scale. IKEA should have clusters of stores within market or different region of USA enable company to efficiently streamline and manage its distribution services, training, recruitment initiatives and development marketing efforts. On a broad bases strategy IKEA must penetrate into its existing market to gain more share by promoting its product in existing market. On the other hand more stores should be open in different part of USA market. Ansoffs Matrix Product-Market Growth Matrix In the far Eastern and Middle Eastern markets where Ikea must develop its markets in near future. In the emerging economy like China, India and Brazil where construction industry is growing. IKEA must utilize its market imagine of offering lower price products with and high quality. Nuclear Energy: Problems And Solutions Nuclear Energy: Problems And Solutions Nuclear energy is a divisive issue that many people have mixed feelings about. Nuclear power has many dangerous effects to the environment and the people living near a power plant. Many countries use nuclear power as an alternate source of electrical energy from fossil fuels. Nuclear energy has to be handled with extreme care or it could lead to disastrous damages. These problems included radiation, disposing of nuclear waste, and high costs of building and maintaining power plants. But while it is extremely dangerous to use nuclear energy, it does provide an alternate source of energy that does not pollute the air. Let us look at what nuclear energy is and where it came from. Most early atomic research was focused on developing effective weapons for use in World War II. After World War II, the government allowed nuclear energy to be developed for citizen use. We generated our first electricity from nuclear energy in 1951. According to the European Nuclear Society, as of end 2011 the total electricity production since 1951 amounts to 69,760 billion kWh and the cumulative operating experience amounted to 15,080 years by end of 2012. Because of accidents and public reluctance for them a new nuclear power plant has not been ordered in the U.S. since 1973. So, what is nuclear energy? According to the EPA, nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. Fission releases energy that can be used to make steam, which is used in a turbine to generate electricity. Nuclear energy is generally used in a combine mixture with Uranium and Plutonium. EPA further states, in the plantà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s nuclear reactor, neutrons from uranium atoms collide with each other, releasing heat and neutrons in a chain reaction. This heat is used to generate steam, which powers a turbine to generate electricity. Unfortunately, nuclear energy also generates some nasty by-products like tritium, cesium, krypton, neptunium and iodine. Let us talk about what is it that makes nuclear energy so bad for the environment and to people living near power plants. Let us start with the dangerous information and knowledge of this process. Knowledge of how to create power plants is shared among many nations. The problems with sharing this knowledge, is that countries will have access to the knowledge of how to make nuclear weapons, which could be bad for some nations. The International Energy Agency or IEA is responsible for energy in many countries, but some have criticizes them for not being able to keep the knowledge from hostile countries. There have been many accidents with nuclear power plants. On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl power plant exploded. According to Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 30 people were killed instantly, including 28 from radiation exposure, and a further 209 on site were treated for acute radiation poisoning. 985,000 deaths can be attributed to the Chernobyl accident between 1986 and 2004. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation also states, the accident cost the former Soviet Union more than three times the economic benefits accrued from the operation of every other Soviet nuclear power plant operated between 1954 and 1990. Another accident happened recently in Japan. On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The plant suffered major damage from the 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami destroyed the reactor cooling systems, leading to leaks of radioactivity. Radiation leaks caused large evacuations, concern for plant employees and basic supplies. A few of the plants workers were severely injured or killed by the disaster resulting from the earthquake, but no deaths were due to radiation exposure. Predicted future cancer deaths due to accumulated radiation exposures in the population living near Fukushima have ranged from none to 100. There are also many environmental problems with using nuclear energy as well. The problem with mining uranium and the use of plutonium leads to contamination of the area around it. Humans become affected by this contamination as well as ecosystems. Some of these contaminations last for thousands of years, leaving toxic chemicals in our ecosystems for many years. This is only the beginning affects shown by nuclear energy, there could be many more we have not discovered yet. According to the World Nuclear Waste Association, All parts of the nuclear fuel cycle produce some radioactive waste and the cost of managing and disposing of this is part of the electricity cost. At each stage of the fuel cycle there are proven technologies to dispose of the radioactive wastes safely. Wastes from the nuclear fuel cycle are categorized as high-, medium- or low-level wastes by the amount of radiation that they emit. These wastes come from a number of sources and include: Low-level waste produced at all stages of the fuel cycle, intermediate-level waste produced during reactor operation, from reprocessing and from decommissioning old plants, and high-level waste, which contains fission products from reprocessing, and in many countries, the used fuel itself. Let us look at each process of waste disposal. Low-level wastes are usually created at hospitals, laboratories and industry. Low- level waste is most of the time is not dangerous to handle, but has to be a bit more careful to throw away then garbage. Low-level wastes account for about 90% of all waste disposals according to the World Nuclear Association. Disposal for these wastes are commonly found in many countries and are usually place in shallow landfill. Intermediate-level wastes contain higher radioactivity levels then low-level waste and require careful protection when handling. These wastes usually come from dismantled internal structures of a reactor core and the control rods from nuclear plants. Intermediate- level waste is treated with cement or a different solid and place in special containers for sealing. These type of waste is usually buried deeper in a landfill. There are two types of high-level waste, according to the World Nuclear Association, fission products and transuranics. Both have to be treated before removal. High-level waste is usually liquid when it first is created and is shipped in containers with cooling equipment before being transformed into a solid for disposal. They also put glass around it before putting it into a container. Most of these wastes take around 50 years of cooling before being disposed. The radioactivity of the waste doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t fall to a safe percent until aroun d that time. Currently, there are no deep geological disposal places or facilities. It seems that most people view that since the amount of waste is so small there is no need for it and that the longer it is stored the easier it is to handle. Some countries also recycle their waste to use again but that also has many problems that go with that method. There have been proposals for these sites in countries like Finland and Sweden, but none have been created yet. The United States considered setting a site in Nevada to dump nuclear waste. People thought of an idea to dump the nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The idea was to dump all the nuclear waste produced in the United States at that location, but people were quick to point out that it will be completely fill and would not support for more nuclear waste. Transporting waste is also risky. Vehicles and trains can have accidents that can pose great problems for the environment and people. Some countries recycle their nuclear waste by using it again, but this policy is not used in the United States as it can be dangerous and it also produces more nuclear waste. There are many different energy sources that we can use that pose little threat to the environment as nuclear energy. These other sources include: wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and bioenergy. Let us look at each one individually. Bioenergy is a fuel that comes from living things and their byproducts and is a renewable energy source. Geothermal energy is energy from natural heated areas of the Earth pumped with water to create energy. Wind energy is created from wind turbines that harness wind power to create electricity and is considered a renewable resource. Solar energy is created from the sunà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s rays. Solar cells can capture solar rays and create electricity from them. Tidal energy is created from the rise and fall of the oceans and is considered a renewable resource. Many more resources can be discovered if more funding was put into these programs by the government. There are many different alternative sources that are safer for the environment and human health then nuclear energy. Those who support nuclear enegy make the case that it is a solution to global warming as it doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t burn fossil fuel and add more carbon dioxide to the air. But this claim ignores the dangers of nuclear waste and the threats it poses to the environment. For now, because of the devastating incident of Chernobyl and many other factors, nuclear power growth has slowed, but still is a problem that needs to be address and hopefully fix. Also, nuclear energy carries the risk of terrorist attack on the plants. Power plant employees can easily make mistakes and cause meltdowns of the power plant and other various problem. While it may help the climate change, there are so many more problems associated with it. There is always a chance for a horrible incident like Chernobyl. Nuclear energy is not really a solution. It is just a different method with different equally bad problems. Sources: Peterson, P. F. (2001). The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Fuel Recycling. Science, 294(5549), 2093. Zehner, O. (2012). Nuclear Powers Unsettled Future. Futurist, 46(2), 17-21. Lai, Leslie (2013) Nuclear Fact Sheet, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Rugy V. No to Nukes. Reason [serial online]. July 2012;44(3):18-19. Available from: Academic Search Elite, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 13, 2013. Lewis, J. (2008). the nuclear option. Mother Jones, 33(3), 56-92. Flory, P. W. (2006). Just the Facts. Foreign Affairs, 85(5), 149-150. EPA (2012) Nuclear Energy Ita, M. (2006). Nuclear vs solar energy, which?. New African, (449), 37-38. Lewis, H. W. (1986). The Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and Its Consequences. Environment, 28(9), 25. LePoire, D. J. (2011). Exploring New Energy Alternative. Futurist, 45(5), 34-38. Funabashi, Y., Kitazawa, K. (2012). Fukushima in review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response. Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists, 68(2), 9-21. doi:10.1177/0096340212440359 European Nuclear Society (2012). Nuclear power plants, world-wide