Analyze the different Operational Management (OM) perspective of Walmart Essay

Analyze the different Operational Management (OM) perspective of Walmart. Identify the following by writing a paper (with paragraphs, including an introductory, body, and concluding section): 1) The organization’s name and main line of business, 2) A specific type of operations process that takes place there (either service or product), 3) Describe the nature of the operations given your newfound understanding of operations management and productivity. 4) You may identify the strategy or global strategy of that organization. Turn in your one to two page paper by the Module due date. Walmart Stores, Inc. or Walmart is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world’s largest public corporation by revenue, Founded by Sam Walton in 1962, it was incorporated on October 31, 1969, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. It is the largest private employer in the world and the fourth largest utility or commercial employer. Walmart is the largest grocery retailer in the United States, with an estimated 20% of the retail grocery and consumables business. It also owns and operates the North American company, Sam’s club. The operations that take place in Walmart are specifically related to products. Walmart has a systematic approach to conducting its operations. It is able to understand the issues and problems to be studied, measures of performances to be established and uses scientific and analytical tools to develop effective and efficient solutions to the problems at hand. Irrespective of the nature of organization and the activities it performs every organization needs to incorporate marketing finance and human resources activities to its operations. This operation process is the conversion process. These four forms the basic functions of any organisation.and are mutually interactive.oerations come at the core of every organizational activity and bind the functional areas together. Productivity and efficiency of work is determined by an efficient system of operations. Hence operations forms are very important process of work flow and .corporate level strategies must first be made and then translated into operational strategies. Operation management functions encompass product  design and development, process design, location and layout of facilities, capacity planning, forecasting, production planning and control, supply chain management, maintenance management and continued improvement in operations. The strategy of Walmart is to extend its products to every possible household and make every product available to the common man through its wide network of stores all over the USA.the strategy is also to provide empowerment and work to as many people as it can and make the supply chain management a very safe and profitable process. it gets its groceries from unknown and untapped resources thereby making it a virtual assembly house of varied manufactured products. Project 2 Consider Wal-Mart. Integrate the concepts and operations management principles that you’ve been studying in this module and turn in your one to two page paper addressing the following questions: How project management influence other departments and functions of this organization (i.e., marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, etc.)? What are the difficulties or limitations for implementing PERT and CRM in the organization? Operations are a key functional area in an organization. Irrespective of the activities and the type of business every organization has few important activities to perform. This encompasses operations, marketing, finance and human resources management. Operations pertain to managing the conversion process in an organization. The marketing function is concerned with understanding the requirements of the customers cresting a demand for the products and services and satisfying the customer requirements by delivering the right product and services to the customers at the right time. In order to perform the various activities pertaining to operations and marketing finance is needed for tapping the market for funds and managing the working capital. These activities constitute the finance function. Every organization employs a number of people with varied skills background and work requirements. Managing the workforce and addressing a host of issues related to them is called human resources management.hrence these four form the basic functions of any organization The basic functions of an organization. The four functions have mutual interactions between them. The decisions  taken in each of these functional areas could form an important input in another functional area. Typically, organizations begin their yearly plan with the marketing function of estimating next year’s sales. This input forms the basis for production planning, procurement planning and all these lead to certain estimate of the funds required. This forms an important input for the finance function.wjhile planning has such a sequence of information flows and interactions at the time of executions interactions are even more. The HRM function influences the productive capacity of manpower available in real time the actual production of gods influences the marketing activity to be undertaken and the quantum and timing of funds available from sales. Hence project management influences every department in an organization. It is difficult to implement PERT because it is a product industry and as such Pert is normally suited to a service industry of where there are many projects taking off Walmart being primarily a goods industry does not require PERT. Customer Relationship management is a though study by the organization of the customer behavior and relationship. Walmart’s customer base is so huge that it seems impossible to maintain a CRM of that size. Furthermore the customer is from varied backgrounds and Walmart will not have any use for this. It becomes very expensive to initialize something like this for the size of Walmart. Project 3 At the Hard Rock Cafe, like many organizations, project management is a key planning tool. With Hard Rock’s constant growth in hotels and cafes, remodeling of existing cafes, scheduling for Hard Rock Live concert and event venues, and planning the annual Rockfest, managers rely on project management techniques and software to maintain schedule and budget performance. â€Å"Without Microsoft Project,† says Hard Rock Vice-President Chris Tomasso, â€Å"there is no way to keep so many people on the same page.† Tomasso is in charge of the Rockfest event, which is attended by well over 100,000 enthusiastic fans. The challenge is pulling it off within a tight 9-month planning horizon. As the event approaches, Tomasso devotes greater energy to its activities. For the first 3 months, Tomasso updates his MS Project charts monthly. Then at the 6-month mark, he updates his progress weekly. At the 9- month mark, he checks and corrects his schedule twice a  week. Early in the project management process, Tomasso identifies 10 major tasks (called level 2 activities in a work breakdown structure, or WBS):†  talent booking, ticketing, marketing/PR, online promotion, television, show production, travel, sponsorships, operations, and merchandising. Using a WBS, each of these is further divided into a series of subtasks. The following table identifies 26 of the major activities and subactivities, their immediate predecessors, and time estimates. Tomasso enters all of these into the MS Project software. Tomasso alters the MS Project document and the time line as the project progresses. â€Å"It’s okay to change it as long as you keep on track,† he states. The day of the rock concert itself is not the end of the project planning. â€Å"It’s nothing but surprises. A band not being able to get to the venue because of traffic jams is a surprise, but an ‘anticipated’ surprise. We had a helicopter on stand-by ready to fly the band in,† says Tomasso. On completion of Rockfest in July, Tomasso and his team have a 3-month reprieve before starting the project planning process again. Please turn in a paper of one to two pages (page counting does not include cover and reference list) discussing the following questions, The critical path is A-D-E-F-G-O The project completion time is 34 weeks. 2. Identify some major challenges a project manager faces in events such as this one. To plan thoroughly all aspects of the project, soliciting the active involvement of all functional areas involved, in order to obtain and maintain a realistic plan that satisfies their commitment for performance. To control the organization of manpower needed by the project To control the basic technical definition of the project, ensuring that â€Å"technical† versus â€Å"cost† trade-offs determine the specific areas where optimisation is necessary. To lead the people and organizations assigned to the project at any given point in time. Strong positive leadership must be exercised in order to keep the many disparate elements moving in the same direction in a co-operative. To monitor performance, costs and efficiency of all elements of the project and the project as a whole, exercising judgement and leadership in determining the causes of problems and facilitating solutions To complete the project on schedule and within costs, these being the overall standard by which performance of the project manager is evaluated. Project 4 Global firms like Regal Marine know that the basis for an organization’s existence is the good or service it provides society. Great products are the keys to success. With hundreds of competitors in the boat business, Regal Marine must work to differentiate itself from the flock. Regal continuously introduces innovative, high-quality new boats. Its differentiation strategy is currently reflected in a product line consisting of 22 models. But why must Regal Marine constantly worry about designing new boats? The answer is that every product has a life cycle. Products are born. They live and they die. As Figure 5.1 shows, a product’s life cycle can be divided into four phases: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Figure 5.2 shows the four life cycle stages and the relationship of product sales, costs, and profit over the life cycle of a product. When Regal is developing a new model boat, it typically has a negative cash flow. If the boat is successful, those losses may be recovered and yield a profit prior to its decline. The life cycle for a successful Regal boat is three to five years. To maintain this stream of innovative new products, Regal constantly seeks design input from customers, dealers, and consultants. Design ideas rapidly find themselves in Regal’s styling studio, where Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology speeds the development process. A Regal design engineer can start with a rough sketch or even just an idea and use the graphic display power of CAD as a drafting board to construct the geometry of the new boat. The CAD system helps the designer determine engineering data such as the strength, dimensions, or weight. It also allows the designer to be sure all parts will fit together. Existing boat designs are always evolving as the company tries to stay stylish and competitive. Moreover, with life cycles so short, a steady stream of new products is required. A few years ago, the new product was the 3-passenger $11,000 Rush, a small, but powerful boat capable of pulling a water-skier. The next year, it was a 20-foot inboard-outboard performance boat with so many innovations that it won prize after prize in the industry. Then it was a redesigned 42-foot Commodore that sleeps six in luxury staterooms. With all these models and innovations, Regal designers  and production personnel are under pressure to respond quickly. By getting key suppliers on board early and urging them to participate at the design stage, Regal improves both innovations and quality while speeding product development. Regal finds that the sooner it brings suppliers on board, the faster it can bring new boats to the market. The first stage in actual production is the creation of the â€Å"plug,† a foam-based carving used to make the molds for fiberglass hulls and decks. Specifications from the CAD system drive the carving process. Once the plug is carved, the permanent molds for each new hull and deck design are formed. Molds take about 4-8 weeks to make and are all handmade. Similar mold s are made for many of the other features in Regal boats–from galley and stateroom components to lavatories and steps. Finished molds can be joined and used to make thousands of boats. Please turn in a paper of one to two pages (page counting does not include cover and reference list) discussing the following questions, 1. How does the concept of product life cycle apply to Regal Marine products? 2. What strategy does Regal use to stay competitive? 3. What kind of benefits are Regal achieving by using CAD technology rather than traditional drafting techniques? Project 4 The product life cycle that applies to regal marine products is new boats every three to five years. To be competitive every boat that is manufactured has four stages .the introduction and the design conceptualization is the most important stage. Once the design has been conceptualized it becomes easy to transfer the design into an acceptable model through the CAD models. Then it is introduced into the market’. The innovations and the new design boats help the market and it grows fast that the entire market is full of the new design boats from regal marines. This is the maturity stage of the boat life cycle. Every boat lover has a new boat design of regal marines and then the stagnation starts and the sales of boat decline gradually at first and then very quickly. this is a sure sign that the life cycle of the new design is coming to an end and obsoletion has set in .if this is not tackled then the firm will be incurring losses on more production. So this is an  indication t hat regal marines have to start looking for another new design to replace the one that in just going out of vogue. Regal marines’ competitive strategy is right from the customers themselves. Every design and thought that goes into making boats comes from the customers themselves. The customer’s suppliers and designers are all together in the studio of the regal marines while designing a new boat of enhancing features of existing models. This allows for regal marines to feel the pulse of the market and also help in setting in trends and innovations. Since every product is manufactured and customized as per customer design and style this helps regal marines to bring in the right edge to the sale and product and allows it to stay competitive. The brand of Boats from regal marines sells because there is always something new to every boat that is introduced in the market. Regal marine’s product development cell has a good combination of suppliers too. It uses the suppliers input in the design stage by urging them to participate in the design drafting process. This helps in speedin g up the initial design process. While competitors lose out on time regal marines is able to capitalize on time. Regal finds that the sooner it brings suppliers on board, the faster it can bring new boats to the market this competitive strategy also allows for competitive pricing with enhanced features. This is the gaining advantage that regal marines have. The traditional drafting method needs precision and perfection and usually takes some days to design. The prototype of the design cannot be seen unless the drawing is fully complete. This is not so in the case of Cad. if a few necessary dimensions are given and the shape chosen the CAD design engineers can bring out hundreds of designs of the prototype and improving upon the concept as the design proceeds. This is the greatest advantage of CAD designing. Improvements can go along simultaneously. This is not only faster but innovative too. The errors that arise out of human calculations and design lengths can be avoided though computer designing. The parts of the design can be fitted redesigned and reengineered based of specifications and new inputs. This allows for innovations and new concepts. The CAD also gives suggestions for new designs which can be improved upon. Styles and engineering models can be used to stay ahead of others. This is the greatest advantage of The CAD over tra ditional patterns of design. The CAD allows regal marine engineers to be constantly under pressure to bring in  innovations in boat design and models. This also has led to improving the efficiency of Regal marine product service lines. Project 5 Consider Wal-Mart. Integrate the concepts and operations management principles that you’ve been studying in this module and turn in your one to two page paper addressing the following questions: 1) How product design is applied in decision-making of that organization? 2) Can you describe a Product Life Cycles in the organization? 3) How different Issues for Product Development are applied in the organization? Project 5 Walmart a premier Grocery store and the largest chain store in the USA has been constantly striving to improve its product design. In the design of a consumer product not only is the manufactured cost of interest, but also the quality of the product delivered and how well the product meets customer expectations is studied. Walmart has been able to sustain this competitive advantage by staying ahead of others in designing delivering products in new fashion Walmart product can be distinguished just by design and packaging. Products sold by Walmart have measurable and non measurable attributes too hence both these have to consider while preparing a design plan for its products. Cost is a very important attribute of product design. a key decision making process is the constitution of cost. Walmart has been tagged as the cost price sop or a friendly shop. Having scored on this advantage Walmart needs to design its product and decide on the most important factor of cost. Many of the decisions regarding cost and quality are made in the preliminary design stage where the design engineers and the cost engineers sit together to make a workable proposition keeping the corporate strategy in mind. Hence these two put together deliver a product that can be afford by a maximum number of people. Since the consumer market is a fast changing one no product design can be kept constant for long. there is great uncertainty regarding this hence this decision of whether to stick to same design or keeping changing the design as per consumer preferences is a decision that has to be taken promptly so that products can have the delivery value. Too much newness and change may also lead to undesirable results sometimes. Where there is a degree of uncertainty in design  performance levels, customer preferences, and even in the goals for the design itself have to change immediately so that the product reaches the shelves with the newness that is anticipated from every Walmart store. The Walmart’s products are fast-moving consumer goods and durables and groceries which have short shelf lives. The product life cycles of products at Walmart are varying from 2 months to 2 years. That is why it is called a FMCG sector. Even before a product has been introduced it become out of fashion and obsolete. Such products life cycle is very short and these products will not be able to bring in that competitive advantage to Walmart. Most of the products that Walmart deals have short PLCs. even before the growth rate starts the decline set in. this call for continuous product improvement and great innovations in product life cycle management. Every product here has a tangible attribute and consumers want that attribute in every new product line. This is a challenge that Walmart has been continually striving for. Walmart’s issues of product development are many and are challenging to the very existence of this chain stores. The issues are generated not only from managing the wide variety of products but continually striving for error generating highest customer satisfaction. The watchword of product development is innovation. The market place is so crowded that unless Walmart caters to this it cannot sustain in the market. It keeps innovation as the watchword every customer need has to be met and new initiatives have to be optimized to meet the needs of the ever changing consumer market. This is critical to the success of any product development agenda. An ideal marketing mix should be approached by the organization so that product development is optimized. This would help in sustaining the advantage of product development issues. Project 6 The Arnold Palmer Hospital (APH) in Orlando, Florida, is one of the busiest and most respected hospitals for the medical treatment of children and women in the U.S. Since its opening on golfing legend Arnold Palmer’s birthday September 10, 1989, more than 1.5 million children and women have passed through its doors. It is the fourth busiest labor and delivery hospital in the U.S. and the largest neonatal intensive care unit in the Southeast. And APH ranks fifth out of 5,000 hospitals nationwide in patient satisfaction.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Part of the reason for APH’s success,† says Executive Director Kathy Swanson, â€Å"is our continuous improvement process. Our goal is 100% patient satisfaction. But getting there means constantly examining and reexamining everything we do, from patient flow, to cleanliness, to layout space, to colors on the walls, to speed of medication delivery from the pharmacy to a patient. Continuous improvement is a huge and never-ending task.† One of the tools the hospital uses consistently is the process flowchart. Staffer Diane Bowles, who carries the â€Å"Clinical Practice Improvement Consultant,† charts scores of processes. Bowles’s flowcharts help study ways to improve the turnaround of a vacated room (especially important in a hospital that has operated at 130% of capacity for years), speed up the admission process, and deliver warm meals warm. Lately, APH has been examining the flow of maternity patients (and their paperwork) from the moment they enter the hospital until they are discharged, hopefully with their healthy baby a day or two later. The flow of maternity patients follows these steps: 1. Enter APH’s Labor & Delivery check-in desk entrance. 2. If the baby is born en route or if birth is imminent, the mother and baby are taken by elevator and registered and admitted directly at bedside. They are then taken to a Labor & Delivery Triage room on the 8th floor for an exam. If there are no complications, the mother and baby go to step 6. 3. If the baby is not yet born, the front desk asks if the mother is preregistered. (Most do preregister at the 28–30-week pregnancy mark). If she is not, she goes to the registration office on the first floor. 4. The pregnant woman is taken to Labor & Delivery Triage on the 8th floor for assessment. If she is ready to deliver, she is taken to a Labor & Delivery (L&D) room on the 2nd floor until the baby is born. If she is not ready, she goes to step 5. 5. Pregnant women not ready to deliver (i.e., no contractions or false alarm) are either sent home to return on a later date and reenter the system at that time, or if contractions are not yet close enough, they are sent to walk around the hospital grounds (to encourage progress) and then return to Labor & Delivery Triage at a prescribed time. 6. When the baby is born, if there are no complications, after 2 hours the mother and baby are transferred to a â€Å"mother-baby care unit† room on floors 3, 4, or 5 for an average of 40–44 hours. 7. If there are complications with the mother, she goes to an operating room and/or intensive care unit. From there, she goes back to a mother–baby care room upon stabilization — or is discharged at another time if not stabilized. Complications for the baby may result in a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before transfer to the baby nursery near the mother’s room. If the baby cannot be stabilized for discharge with the mother, the baby is discharged later. 8. Mother and/or baby, when ready, are discharged and taken by wheelchair to the discharge exit for pickup to travel home. Please turn in a paper of one to two pages (page counting does not include cover and reference list) discussing the following questions, 1. As Diane’s new assistant, you need to flowchart this process. Explain how the process might be improved once you have completed the chart. 2. If a mother is scheduled for a Caesarean-section birth (i.e., the baby is removed from the womb surgically), how would this flowchart change? 3. If all mothers were electronically (or manually) preregistered, how would the flowchart change? Redraw the chart to show your changes. 4. Describe in detail a process that the hospital could analyze, besides the ones mentioned in this case. Project 6 Staffer Diane Bowles is the â€Å"Clinical Practice Improvement Consultant,† who charts scores of processes. Her inputs are very important for efficient room processes and admission processes. As Diane’s assistant I would first acquaint myself with the flow of Diana’s flowchart. I would take a few days to study the various inputs and the process flows. Once this is done then I could suggest improvements if any. I feel that there is only place where  there is a scope for improvement. This would also help in getting the rooms vacated on time without the prospect of waiting for rooms to be vacated. I would not initiate any changes because the flow chart of processes has been very successful and critical to the 130% capacity of the operational levels of the hospitals’ only would like to improve upon the levels of floors of the various units. The process as such is maintained very well but the floors on which facilities for labor wards for operations and normal delivery are scattered and in case of any emergency the patient has to be shifted many times up and down. This not only wastes critical time but also man power. I suggest that the seventh and the eight floors be exclusively used as labor wards and operation theaters and the rest of th4 floors be used in any order convenient for doctors’ nurses and other therapists. A mother who is expected to be operated upon needs to jump from process 1 to 7 without any intervening steps. the process 7 would become step 2 as the mother has already registered and ready for the cesarean .then step 6 could be followed the mother and child sent to the ante natal care and then step 8 .in process flow chart for a mother who is to be operated upon. she need not go through any other step as it is not required. Pre-registration should become mandatory fro all expectant mothers. Then the order of the flowchart would change with step 3 becoming step 1 and step 322 and others following each other. There should be no instant admission process .since all mothers are treated only by this hospital doctors pre-registration must become compulsory. That way the no of patients and mothers to be admitted for delivery on any particular day can be assessed and particularly over crowded seasons can be studied and staff arranged for emergencies. A process for a hospital specializing in obstetrics and child birth could be as follows: 1. Expectant mothers to pre register with the hospital either manually of electronically in the 30th week of pregnancy. 2. The registration number to be produced during time of admission with doctor’s diagnosis. 3,. If the mother is due for a cesarean, admission should take place before 6 hours and the mother should be taken to floor 7 for preoperative care and then proceed to step 6 4. If the mother is due for normal delivery and the birth of the child can happen any time, the mother and baby are taken by elevator and registered and admitted directly at bedside. They are then taken to a Labor & Delivery Triage room on the 8th floor for an exam. If there are no  complications, the mother and baby go to step 6. 5. If the mother has still some more time for delivery she is asked to go around the hospital till the contractions start and then goes to step 6. 6. The mother is taken to the labor ward and after successful child birth she goes to the mother and child ward and then to step 7 7. After observation and mother and child found healthy they are discharged and then to step 9 8. if the mother is found healthy and the child is found not fit enough to be discharged the child is taken to the natal care centre and the mother goes to step 9. 9. The mother and baby discharged with dates vie fro the next check up with post natal care dates. . Project 7 Consider Walmart. Integrate the concepts and operations management principles that you’ve been studying in this module and turn in your one to two page paper addressing the following questions : 1) What process strategy (form the four process strategies) is applied in that organization? 2) Where is the headquarter (or distribution center) of the organization? Are there any benefits locating there? If you could choose, where would you choose? Project 7 The process strategy is also called the job shop process. The process focus at Walmart is basically strategized around the low volume low variety type. The goods that are sold in Walmart are a large variety of goods with small quantities on the shelf. If one goes through the Walmart shelves it is noticeable that there are hundreds of varieties of goods of all types and brands but one can never buy in bulk just because Walmart does not stock them in bulk. It is not categorized as a bulk store but a retail chain store. The facilities of each department starting from the procurement to delivery are all specific processes and are organized around specific activities. Every activity is done in a specialized way by the department and process concerned. There is heavy centralization of process leading to  high execution times and perfection in operations. The procurement department is centralized with a specialists working on processes and jobs. The store stocks goods according to the eve r changing demands of the customers so the product range at Walmart is highly flexible. The stores allows for product flexibility. Since majority of the work of disbursement and product stocking is done manually the store incurs heavy cost on distribution. Except for billing and inventory every other activity is manually done. This leads not only to heavy man power requirement but also lot of human errors that cannot be avoided. This makes way for repetitions and sometimes high levels of inefficiencies. Because of the high manual work the sophisticated machines are seldom used and are all put in cold storage. To show that the store is organized around the latest technology the machines have been ordered and put in place but they are neither used nor automated. This calls for idle cost. Another main characteristic of the Walmart chain stores are the varying product flows making planning and scheduling a challenge. It is very difficult to estimate in advance the flow of a product during a week in advance. this calls for either over stocking a product or non availability o f the product hence the floor manager‘s job of stocking the right quantity during the time of demand becomes a challenge. This is the most difficult part of the process flow in Walmart. The work processes are very unique in the sense that one cannot apply any strategy of operations management and organization behavior here. The assembly process is also a challenge for every department of Walmart. The Walmart chain stores are headquartered at Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas, 72716. The reason for having the headquarters there is quite obvious because it was here that Sam Walton opened the company’s first discount store in 1962.the original store is now a tourist spot. This small town has not only a big store but all offices of Walmart including the corporate office here. There could be no benefits here except having a sentimental value to having the head office near the original store. Since theses are the corporate offices and do not actually carry out operations of sully chain and procurement it does not matter. This headquarters is management office as all other Walmart stores operate on their own through centralized market pool. Hence procurement and distribution is done through the local stores but decisions regarding corporate policies are excused from the headquarters. I would choose the same. References: dedeksoncenter.net/Classweb/MSIS_301/MSIS301_Slides/OperationsMGT_hr8_ppt07.ppt – http://walmartstores.com/ P

Orem’s Theory and Family Health Nursing Essay

In the presentation of a theoretical discussion on the concept of self care with particular considerations for family nursing practice, the concept of self-care is mainly known in Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of nursing. Orem’s theory views the individual as a self-care agent with unique needs which will affect family health thereby providing support that health education and evaluation is the main role of nurses (Cody, 2006:308). Nurses according to Cody believes that family models complement the nursing models to provide a more holistic and comprehensive perspective of clients and their concerns (2006:308). Orem’s theory has therefore a clinical applicability at home in the growing demand for home-based health nursing services. The theory has provided that practice will be grounded in evidence–based clinical knowledge and skills within the framework of family, home and community concepts (Orem, 2001:2). Likewise, as self–care has been introduced and incorporated into the practice of community health a provision has included the provision of care to families and other healthcare givers while giving utmost concern to the individual needs of patients and clients. Ali analyzed distinct models presented in 1990 which included Orem’s theory and decided that Orem’s self-care theory should encourage nurses to anticipate the potential problems which include family circumstances in family health planning from which a care plan can be derived (Dolan and Holt, 2000:4). Such findings catapulted into evolution the support for Orem’s theory in the actual process of providing care for the patient and his family and the provision of a health continuum for everyone. Orem’s theory can be used to categorize, understand, predict and alter behavior of both sick and well individuals that is therapeutic in maintaining life and health and in the recovery from disease or injury, or in coping with their effects (Orem, 2001: 82). This presupposes that there is no limit on the provision of care while validating all perceptions that the family is included in the paradigm of care to promote self-care abilities of the patient. We cannot discount the involvement of the family that entirely affects the health status of the individual. A particular example in this case would point to a hospitalized vehicular accident patient where after hospital treatment and rehabilitation is ordered to complete his recovery at home. Completing the period of recovery at home necessitates his re-entry to his normal way of life prior to the accident. The family is therefore enhanced to effectively encourage the patient to attend to his self-care needs while staying on the sidelines yet supportively providing positive encouragement for the patient’s complete recovery. The effective role of nurses is providing family education for the benefit of adjustment to the temporary family role changes. Nurses at the same time bring to light the family models to compensate Orem’s nursing model and provide a more holistic approach to clients and their concerns (Cody, 2006: 308). In this time of cost containment, nurses in a given health care setting cannot lock horns with the Medicare illness models of home care that totally focuses on the individual patient alone (Harris, 2004: 131). Maintaining health is a priority and an ethical requirement for nurses that include the family particularly in home-based care provision, where the absence of one deems the effort â€Å"moot and academic†. The applicability of Orem’s theory in family health is therefore enhanced as community based nursing practice seeks to resolve the responsibility of the patient and family to be included in the nursing care plan (Harris, 2004:132). In the triage system, a problem-oriented approach encompasses assessment levels and Orem’s model can provide a framework for organized family nursing assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation (Dolan and Holt, 2000: 4). Using Orem’s model while negotiating a holistic approach where the family plays an important role is likewise seen in the above example where the family effectively participates in the planning of actions to help the patient effectively cope with his recovery while his self-integrity is maintained or even enhanced. The nurse must therefore include in her assessment the family’s perceptions toward the illness of a family member which is vital in the setting of goals as a means of promoting self-care to the ailing family member. This will pose as a challenge to the nurse as family members individual ideas may vary relative to the patient’s condition. It cannot be ignored that older members of the family may feel overly protected to the patient because of the existing relationship. This challenge can be overcome by the nurse as she effectively provides a choice of promoting Orem’s theory that each family member will comfortably take part with a concise goal of promoting human integrity of structure and functioning (Orem, 2001:522). Likewise, the individual needs of family members should also be looked into as the practice of activities are initiated and performed for the sick member to maintain life and health while promoting a sense of well-being for everyone (Orem, 2001: 43). The family thus plays an important and essential role for the individual patient, whether sick or well which thereby boosts the importance of Orem’s theory in the family health nursing practice. As a helping art for holistic care, family circumstances in family health planning should therefore be included as the derivatives in the formation of a care plan. The individual concepts of each family member will help identify goals while entertaining individual or group limitations that will affect in the implementation and evaluation. A family model is selected for use after the nurse gathers preliminary data about the family and identifies its unique and common patterns (Cody, 2006:308). As an example, Cody cited that a nurse can use Orem’s theory for a 9 year old child affected with ear infection and the mother’s treatment of the child while asserting that other family models will complement Orem’s model to enhance understanding of the family’s structure and functions (2006:308). Orem’s theory therefore provides a common language that enhance improved communication and consistency in the delivery of care while proposing that nurses play a key role in the achievement of self-care for which sophisticated communication skills, teaching skills and specialized knowledge and an awareness of the multiple factors affect the provision of care and enhances the role of the family in the value of health for everyone.

Understanding of Participant Observation

Abstract This essay discusses participant observation as a method of collecting anthropological data from the tube. This method allows researchers to gather information through observation and interviewing of individuals who are taking the tube as a means of transportation. Strengths of this method include directly observing how people interact in the tube and writing down this observation for future interpretation. This method allows observers to use their five senses to interpret data collected from the tube. Limitation of this method includes possible subjectivity of interpretation of data. Introduction This essay will discuss participant observation as a method of collecting anthropological data from commuters in the tube. The discussion part of this essay will explore the strengths and limitations of this method. Discussion Participant observation is an ethnographic method of qualitative studies that allows researchers to observe the sample population in their natural setting (Murchison, 2010). This allows researchers to observe and describe situations using the different senses of the body (Murchison, 2010). Hence, it is said that participant observation is a written photograph of what is happening in the field (DeWalt and DeWalt, 2011). Polit et al. (2013) explains that a detailed description of an event or people’s experiences allow observers to analyse situations exhaustively. In terms of my study, I chose participant observation since I felt it would help me gather relevant data on what is happening in the London Underground. While this type of observation allows for more in-depth observation of events and people’s actions (Muchison, 2010), participant observation has also some limitations. First, there is a need to immerse one’s self in the world inhabited by participant. Thi s is accomplished by taking the tube as a mode of transportation to experience what others are experiencing when taking this transportation. Part of participant observation is to interview people regarding their experiences. This might be a challenge since participants might not be willing to be interviewed while in the tube. It should be noted that there are many commuters in the tube who do not know each other. This might be a challenge when collecting data since participants might be wary of answering questions from a researcher (Hek et al., 2011). Polit et al. (2013) reiterate that participants might not act naturally since they are aware that the researcher is observing them. This presents some bias in the data since behaviour of the participants might not be reflective of their actual behaviour. Meanwhile, reflexivity in data would allow researchers to interpret data according to the perceptions of the participants. Researchers might also bring a degree of bias and subjectivity when they collect data and information from the participants (Murchison, 2010). The researcher’s own perceptions, feelings and knowledge might be used to interpret actions, conversations and expressions manifested by people riding in the tube. There is the risk that interpretation of data becomes highly subjective. However, this could be avoided if the researcher allows participants to confirm findings and inform the researcher whether interpretation of the interviews is accurate. Hek et al. (2011) emphasise that subjectivity could be prevented by objectively interpreting data. This is done through adopting a nonjudgmental attitude, being open and genuinely interested in what participants are saying (Oermann, 2010). This would lead to data that are more reliable since researchers allow participants to verify the findings. In my experience, I adopted a nonjudgmental attitude to help me empathise with what the partic ipants are saying to me. Placing myself in their situation helped me better understand what they are expressing to me during my collection of data. Parahoo (2006) states that it is important to define phenomena and experiences according to the participant’s perceptions. Reflection I felt that I am part of the community of commuters in the tube since I regularly use this as a mode of transportation. I felt that this is an advantage to me since in-depth analysis of the behaviour of the commuters involves immersing one’s self in the actual environment. Hence, my previous experiences commuting in the tube could help me understand what other people might be experiencing while commuting in the tube. I also realised that different people ride the tube and their diverse background could add to the complexity of analysing the cultural behaviour of commuters in the tube. However, I also realised that the ethnographic method would yield valuable information on the general behaviour of commuters in the tube. Finally, ethnographic method was appropriate for my research question since this helped me form an objective and detailed description of what is happening in the tube. Conclusion Participant observation is an effective tool in collecting anthropological data since this allows researchers to immerse in natural settings. This helps researchers collect more reliable data as participants are observed in actual settings. References: DeWalt, K. & Dewalt, B. (2011) Participant observation: A guide for fieldworkers. Plymouth, United Kingdom: Rowman Altamira. Hek, G., Judd, M. & Moule, P. (2011) Making Sense of Research, 4th ed., London: Sage Publications. Murchison, J. (2010) Ethnography Essentials: Designing, conducting, and presenting your research, London: John Wiley and Sons. Oermann, M.H. (2010) Writing for publication in nursing, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott. Parahoo, K. (2006) Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues, 2nd ed., London: Palgrave Macmillan. Polit, D., Beck, C.T. and Hungler, B.P. (2013) Essentials of Nursing Research. Methods, Appraisal and Utilization, 8th ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott.

Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Psychology - Essay Example A child will not survive without the care and support of others. He learns about life and living not only by his own discoveries but with interactions with people around him and within the environment he lives in. Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development outlines how a child develops his learning abilities that equip him to survive life’s challenges. Initially, he discovers the world using his senses, and as he grows, learns to form associations and conclusions. With a healthy attachment to significant adults, the child develops a sense of security enabling him to venture into more learning about his world. â€Å"Piaget believed that children create knowledge through interactions with the environment. Children are not passive receivers of knowledge; rather, they actively work at organizing their experience into more and more complex mental structures.† (Brewer, 2001, p.6). He insists that children need to use all their cognitive functions. These theories were designed to form minds which can be critical, can verify, and not accept everything they are offered. Such beliefs reflect his respect for children’s thinking. Vygotsky (1978) believed that children’s intellectual development is influenced more by social context than by individual experiences. His theory places a great deal of emphasis on effective social interaction. Learning ensues in social interactions. A person ingrained in a particular cultural group automatically adapts to its socio-history and socio-cultural ways. Learning about one’s culture comes easy if the individual is totally immersed in it. A perfect example is how Reggio Emilia schools in Italy are run. There, the whole community is involved in rearing the children. â€Å"Reggio Emilia educators repeatedly emphasize that "no one has a monopoly" on what children need and, as noted above, invite parents to become

Censorship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Censorship - Research Paper Example If these are made public, for example issues concerning crimes against humanity, corruption etc the affected leaders may face criticism or even sanctions which may be humiliating to the affected leadership. This essay is a critical evaluation of censorship from the perspective that it is not a fair practice with examples of leaderships that has practiced it such as Soviet Union and other societies. Freedom of expression is a human right that should be protected in all societies. This is due to the fact that it enhances democracy since everyone would be accorded equal chances to air their views regarding administration and governance as well as accessing the right information from sources which are not influenced by politics or any superior sources. It is therefore against the spirit of democracy for any institution to exercise control on the sources of this information especially the media, which has a wide influence through expansive coverage and viewership it receives across international boundaries. Due to this influence, the media has been targeted by administrations whereby materials being disseminated to the public are monitored first to ensure that the content regardless of whether it is correct or not, does not create fears among the public (Patterson 2000 p 92). In the Soviet Union, censorship was practiced on the media such that there was no independent journalism. A ll the reporting was influenced by the communist party so as to ensure that all the information contained in the reports favored the party as well as the rule of the land. It went further to prohibit foreign newspapers from entering the country unless the agents, who had to be communists, sympathized with the policies of the government of the time. In addition, the government had illegalized the ownership of printing and copying machines so as to prevent publication of books and articles which the government classified as illegal, failure to

Windows Vs Linux Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Windows Vs Linux - Research Paper Example The source code is available to everyone, as to allow people to make the program function properly on their computers and in the way that they want to (Collins-Sussman, 2008). Windows, being closed source, contains a special user license, so that users cannot change the code. They must accept the program as it is. It is because of this that many programs for Linux are free, since they can be altered at will by any given person. The majority of Windows’ programs cost, as they cannot be changed. While Windows is one of the cheaper platforms, it is not nearly as cost-effective as Linux. A lot of this has to do with the use of open source programs in the Linux platform, seeing as many of these do not cost. The Windows platform itself might be cheaper than Linux, but one must still purchase all of the programs for Windows. An example of this is Windows’ need for antivirus software. The use of closed source means that the computer is more likely to get viruses, forcing the user to purchase antivirus software. Linux, being open source, is incapable of getting programs, and therefore not requiring antivirus programming (Easttom, 2006). In the long run, more money is spent maintaining the Windows platform as opposed to Linux. Both platforms use directories to hold and save data, information or files created by the user of the computer. Windows and Linux platforms allow the user to create, delete, rename, copy or move directories or files (Veselosky, 2007). Regardless of which platform someone decides to use, they will be able to keep their files and documents in whichever organized fashion that they wish, and edit them if and when they see fit. Both platforms also offer the use of the command prompt to open and start a program. These programs are the programs that allow the computer to run and effect how efficiently the computer works. Command prompts, while they can be simply the title of the program, can also be special computer

Project Evaluation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Evaluation - Assignment Example The document also summarises the theories and concepts learnt in the unit, how these theories influenced my work, example/case study of a successful IT project and its comparison with the developed database. Lastly, the document includes the impact of these lessons on my future work, and what I would do differently along with its rationale. Database of Local Recruitment Agency A local recruitment agency requested to have a database in order to store their business information and access the information in the form of reports. The agency deals with the information of customers (job applicants), jobs (currently available and archived) and tracks contact between customers. In order to fulfil the requirement of the agency, I have developed a database in Microsoft Access 2007. As mentioned in the (previous) assignment, the agency has the following requirements: i. A database to be developed in Microsoft Access that is able to store, retrieve and update the information regarding customers, jobs and track contacts between customers. ii. The agency should be able to add new customers, jobs and their information or details in the database through a form (separate for each) of MS database Access. iii. The agency wants several reports to be produced from the database; however, they specified only three reports that include the customer list; jobs list grouped by job type and the report showing contacts and track follow up. iv. The database tables should be populated with data of at-least 20 customers, 10 jobs and 20 contacts. To fulfil the requirements of the agency, I have developed a database in MS Access 2007 that has four tables, which include tblCustomer, tbljobs, tblContact, and tblJobType. The agency can store all the relevant information in these tables (requirement â€Å"i" fulfilled). I have developed three forms to add/update new customers and jobs along with their details (requirement â€Å"ii" fulfilled). I have developed three specified reports that show t he customer list, jobs list and contact group by the customer (requirement â€Å"iii" fulfilled). I have populated the database with required data in the respective table (requirement â€Å"iv" fulfilled). Features of a Smart Database The developed database should also be evaluated in terms of the characteristics of a high quality database as given below: Accuracy The database is considered accurate if the values stored in the fields of the database are correct. After developing, the database for the agency presumes that the information that is input into a database is faultless as well as accurate. Completeness The end user (agency) of the database has to be aware of the information to be provided to the developer(s) for the development of the database, as if they provide less or inaccurate information, the developed database would definitely be useless and inaccurate. In our case, the information of the customer has to be complete in every aspect, for example the customer profil e, education and experience etc. is missing in the developed database, which has not been asked by the agency. Consistency The consistency is as important as the accuracy and completeness of a database. As in our case, the database is considered to be consistent as we have stored the information/data of one item in a single field only. Uniqueness The data in one field must represent

NextEra Energy Inc., Strategic Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

NextEra Energy Inc., Strategic Plan - Essay Example Currently, the chairman and CEO of the NextEra Energy Inc. is James L. Robo, the President and Chief Executive Officer at NextEra Energy Resources is Armando Pimentel, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at NextEra Energy, Inc. is Charles E. Sieving, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Florida Power & Light Company is Eric Silagy, the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer at NextEra Energy, Inc. Moray P. Dewhurst and the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services at NextEra Energy, Inc. is Deborah H. Caplan. Today, NextEra Energy Inc. is one of the leading providers of affordable, clean and reliable energy. The company has three subsidiaries, the principal subsidiary, FPL, NextEra Energy Resources and FPL Fibernet. By the end of fiscal year 2013 the company’s net income reported $1.9 billion. The NextEra Energy Inc. is a leading clean-energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. The company is holding 191th position in the list of 2014 Fortune 200 companies. The company was founded in 1925 as Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) there was a desperate need of a dependable supply of electricity. The company was founded by Thomas Edison and the General Electric Co., which was later purchased by American Power & Light. On a later date, the company was consolidated by American Power & Light to Florida Power and Light Company (FPL). The unexpected patchwork of ventures included small electric producing plants, ice plants, water, gas, fish, sawmill and road auto organizations, telephone, steam laundry, an ice plant, a limestone quarry, a sponge fishing boat and even 35 mules and wagons (Nexteraenergy.com 2014) . The company started its operations with 76,000 gas and electric customer accounts, 230 mile transmission lines and 1,139 miles of distribution lines. At the time the production capacity of the FPL was 70 megawatts and 8Â ¢ was charged at an average price per kilowatt hour for residential

Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing and Forensic Science Research Paper

Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing and Forensic Science - Research Paper Example Introduction Genetic fingerprinting is a technique that relies on exploiting the differences between human DNA sequences, particularly in variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), for identification. Predominantly the technique is used in paternity testing and the forensic sciences, and can be used as evidence in a criminal trial (Sheindlin 1996). The use of these VNTRs relies on the fact that these are highly variable between non-related humans and so any matches that are made, either between two individuals or forensic evidence and an accused, is not likely to arise by chance (Toth 1997). The purpose of this essay is to explore the applications of genetic fingerprinting technology in paternal testing and forensic science, as well as highlighting some of the pitfalls of using such technology, particularly in a legal setting. Genetic Fingerprinting The principles of genetic fingerprinting rely on the differences between human genomic sequences. Although 99% of the human genome is the s ame in structure, there are certain differences (known as polymorphisms) that are distinctly different in individuals that are not related. For example, VNTRs, particularly short tandem repeats (STRs or microsatellites) are molecular markers that are extremely prone to mutation (Gill et al 1987). All human genomes contain STRs, but these vary hugely between populations and within them, to the extent that 1 in 5 million people will have the same sequence by chance (Jeffreys, Wilson & Stein 1985). Any technique that can ascertain whether two DNA samples match will, therefore, reduce the possible number of perpetrators hugely, making genetic fingerprinting immensely useful to the law. Related individuals also have similarity due to the STRs being co-dominant; each offspring will have one allele from each parent. It is this fact that makes genetic fingerprinting useful in paternity testing (Jeffreys et al 1985). Genetic profiling can occur in a number of ways. One of the most common is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which amplifies the amounts of a specific DNA sequence, which is evidently useful when working with known STRs. This is achieved using oglionucleotide primers as well as a DNA polymerase, with the primers targeting a specific STR and the DNA polymerase amplifying them for analysis (Welsh & McClelland 1990). It is important that multiple STRs are analysed using PCR, because each individual one can be shared by around 5-20% of the population (Sheindlin 1996). Using multiple STRs for analysis greatly increases the probability that an exact match will be made for whatever reason the analysis is occurring. This method relies on the principle of independent assortment, and the product rule for probabilities means that the chance of someone having the same alleles at multiple STR loci decreases with the number of loci analysed. Genetic Fingerprinting in Paternal Testing It is because of the nature of VNTRs that makes them useful for paternal testing; because they are co-dominantly inherited, each individual will inherit one copy from each parent. This means that when trying to ascertain paternity, an individual will have the same sequence at each VNTR locus as the father (as well as one from the mother at the corresponding locus). If the mothers VNTR genotype is known, then these

How SMEs Differ From Their Larger Counterparts Essay - 1

How SMEs Differ From Their Larger Counterparts - Essay Example Some of the main factors that distinguish SMEs from their larger counterparts include layers of management, individual responsibility, communication, speed of decision-making, attitude towards risk, allocation of resources, formal practices, organizational structure, flexibility, marketing and advertising, environment, and politics. Let us discuss each of them in some detail in order to know how these factors create differences between SMEs and large corporations. 2.1 Layers of Management One of the main differences between SMEs and large companies is the layers of management. SMEs generally have very few layers of management as compared to large companies. They have less number of managers and employees because of simple and short organizational structure. The organizational chart of SMEs also looks flat because of fewer layers of management. â€Å"Small business organizational charts are often flat; they look like two or three stacked rows of bricks with one or two bricks on top† (Ingram n.d., p.1).

Classical vs Modern Globalization Annotated Bibliography

Classical vs Modern Globalization - Annotated Bibliography Example In addition, he has also suggested a reform agenda to reshape globalization. Nadir Eroglu studied the impact of globalization of financial markets on economic policies of nations. By conducting this research, Eroglu aimed to highlight how globalization has reshaped the financial markets. Eroglu states that globalization of international finance has separated the financial capital from the state by separating the political control, economic activities, regulation and stability through financial deregulation and information technologies. Moreover, he also highlighted the increasing supremacy of financial commodities on the economic structure and the impact of this hegemony in making the implementation of nation states policies limited and ineffective. Jonathan Holter appears to be a major supporter of classic and neo classic globalization and an opponent of modern globalization in his research study, â€Å"The invisible hand: Failing on a global scale†. Holter has discussed the theory of invisible hand proposed by Adam Smith and analyzed its implications in the world economy. By quoting various examples, he has also explained reshaping of world economy and financial markets and highlighted the problems created by modern globalization. The crux of Holter’s research is that globalization has created a free trade economy and it has changed the world for the worse, because modern globalization has not promoted a global scale social welfare system, which it has promised, therefore, there is a need to establish powerful institutions devoted to poor economies and international finance and trade organizations should be also strengthened. Natalie Radovanovic in an article on â€Å"International Finance in the period of globalization: current trends† discussed the current practices of financial institutions including IMF and World Bank. Radovanovic has presented his view that debate

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Essay Example for Free

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Essay At some point as children, we always wish we were big. It seems customary for children to want to hang out with the big kids, most likely because they are smarter or more experienced. Its said that with age comes wisdom, and thats probably why kids often look to their parents, teachers, or older siblings for advice, rather than their peers. Although children are always looking to their elders, at the same time, adults often look to children to regain their youth. For some reason, adults fear getting old, so they find spending time with younger people makes the feel young and lively again. In Ernest Hemingways novel The Old Man and the Sea, the author uses the elderly man, Santiago, to represent old age, and he uses the boy, Manolin, to represent the aspect of youth in the story. The contrast between these two characters illustrates this idea of wisdom coming with age and elderly yearning for youth. Old age is represented in this story by Santiago. He is a very old man who has been fishing for most of his life. He has been fishing for so long that he knows many of the ways and techniques to being a good fisherman. He is a very skilled fisherman, and he has a philosophy about how one fishes is how they live. He being old lives a very simple life and also fishes in a very simple way. He can survive on so little and he doesnt eat much, but he is still satisfied. He is the experienced, wise one in the relationship of him and Manolin, so he is helping the boy learn to fish, which allows Manolin to look up to him. The old man had taught the boy to fish, and the boy loved him. (p.10) Although he is so talented and knowledgeable when it comes to fishing though, his old age has weakened him physically. This prevents him from being the great fisherman that he probably was in the past. He struggles a lot throughout the book with his lack of physical strength, and in the scene where he firs t catches the fish and he is trying to hold the line, the narrator says, This will kill him, the old man thought. He cant do this forever. (p.45) This is a good example of how, despite the old mans mental strength, optimism, and wisdom, he still will feel like a failure because of his deteriorating body. One way the old man recaptures his no longer existent youth is through the dreams he has of lions laying on the beaches. This reminds him of the days when he was in Africa, the days when he was young and in good physical shape. Also, often through the book,  the old man is yearning for the boys assistance. The boy helps him feel strong as he probably was when he was young. He says, I wish I had the boy. (p.45) But Santiago stays persistent and patient, although he has not successfully caught a fish for 85 days. This shows a lot of the elderly mans intensity, and his qualities that make him a wise teacher for the young boy Manolin. This is why Santiago portrays the Christ figure in this story. As opposed to Santiago, Manolin is the young boy in the story who symbolizes youth. Unlike the old man, he is a little boy who is physically strong, as are many young boys, and he is also inexperienced in many aspects of his life. He loves and looks up to the old man, particularly because he taught the boy to fish. He hasnt fished much in his life yet because he is so young, so he really respects the old mans talent. He seems to look up to Santiago as if he was his father or his mentor. As a lot of the other men in the town made fun of the old man for not catching a fish, the boy did not. He cares too much for him. It made the boy sad to see the man come in each day with his skiff empty. (p.9) Because so often the man wishes he had Manolin with him to help, this shows how Manolin must be in good health and physical strength. As Santiago would be serving as the Christ figure in this novel, Manolin would represent one of his disciples. With age does come wisdom, as Hemingway shows in this novel? Santiago symbolizes old age and wisdom with his great fishing experience and also represents a God figure, while Manolin represents youth and looks up to the old man for wisdom. The boy makes Santiago feel strong and youthful as he once was when he was young. Many old people look to younger people because they yearn for the strength they once had, while children always yearn for the experience that older people have. This just goes to show you always want what you dont have.

Swot Analysis Of Country Oman Finance Essay

Swot Analysis Of Country Oman Finance Essay The UAE has achieved stable progress over the past three decades to emerge as a important global player in both the  political and the economic position The tremendously fast rate of economic growth until 2008 was due to the constant demand  for oil, in addition they a move their focus to a number of non-oil sectors. The UAE had maintains a dynamic political ties up with over  60 countries, mainly in Europe and Asia. The UAE is considered to be one of the foremost political forces in the Middle  East and is a member of a number of regional organizations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab  union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Under the control of former President Sheikh Zayed, the UAE transformed from a nation of large-scale poverty  to a highly developed and wealthy country. With the death of Zayed in 2004, his son, Sheikh Khalifa, immediately took  over as president. Although the government structure in the UAE is not democratic, both Zayed and Khalifa have  bear the responsibility of retain the countrys development. The government has constantly received appreciation  for its efforts to creating business opportunities in Oman. The countrys tax rule is also considered among  the best in the world for businesses. The UAE market is capable to with a well-built telecommunication network and, as a  result, the countrys IT market is slowly becoming competitive. However, the level of science education remains low. The  country has a strong integrated environmental development program. Its ecological procedures are integrated with the  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) program, which is par t of business practice in the UAE. PESTEL ANALYSIS OF OMAN COUNTRY http://www.free-power-point-templates.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/pest-diagram-ppt-template-543450.jpg (Sources: www.google.com) INTRODUCTION PESTEL stands for Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal. It is used to describe an analysis that determines the opportunities and risks of global growth. It is also termed as a PEST or PESTLE analysis. Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal issues differ from one country to another. As a company looks to influence the advantages that the democratization of technology, information and finance, and grow beyond the national borders that previously controlled them, it is necessary that they consider a PESTEL analysis to accompany their SWOT analysis. The PESTEL analysis provides a strong outline which is used by global and multinational firm to set the stage to develop specific strategy to ease the risks involved in carry out their vision in new environments. This PEST country analysis report on Oman provides a holistic view of the country, with understanding analysis of current and future issues, supplemented with significant quantitative data to support trend analysis. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Following are benefit that business will gain if they implement pestle analysis in their planning process: Useful to know political environment: It is helpful to understand the political system in Oman through examination of key factors in the country and governance indicators. Useful to know economic situation: It is useful to understand the economic situation in Oman through a balanced evaluation of core macroeconomic matter. Useful to know demographics analysis: To understand the customer demographics in Oman through analysis of income distribution and the rural-urban split, as well as healthcare and education. Use to evaluate technology advancement: It is use to evaluate the technological background in Oman through analysis of related laws and policies, as well as patent data. Useful for controlling changes: By making effective use of PEST Analysis, it makes sure that it has united positively with the forces of change that are affecting the world. Good use of PEST Analysis helps to avoid taking action that is meant to failure for reasons beyond control. Helpful to know about new country or region: PEST is useful when we are start operating in a new country or region. Use of PEST Analysis helps to break free of lifeless assumptions, and helps to quickly adapt the reality of the new environment. HIGHLIGHTS The political landscape section discusses the evolution of the political scenario in Oman, as well as the countrys economic, social, foreign, and defence policies. The section also discusses the countrys performance according to World Bank Governance Indicators. The economic landscape section outlines the evolution of Omans economy, as well as the countrys performance in terms of GDP growth, composition by sector (agriculture, industry, and services), fiscal situation, international investment position, monetary situation, credit disbursement, banking sector, and employment. The social landscape section analyzes the governments social welfare policies, as well as the countrys performance in terms of healthcare, income distribution, and education. REASON TO USE PESTLE SWOT ANALYSIS Following are the main reason for using pestle swot: Useful to formulate goal: Strategic management is an essential aspect of managing modern businesses that involves forming goals and implements the programs that fulfil those goals. Useful to intact environmental scanning: Environmental scanning is a component of strategic management where mangers study various economic, political and social factors that might affect the business. It is helpful to small business also: It can help small businesses to identify intact markets and avoid costly mistakes. Small businesses can better compete by using these critical tools to assess opportunities and challenges. It is useful to manager for conducting an effective business: SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis are two common strategic management equipment that the help managers brainstorm and organize their ideas during the environmental scanning process. It is broad wider concept: A main reason companies use both SWOT and PESTLE is because these tools offer broad and efficient analyses of key areas of a strategic plan. SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. PESTLE has wider coverage of business and external issues, including political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors. POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN OMAN http://www.oxberryrisk.com/Images/political_risk_analysis.jpg INTRODUCTION OF THE SECTOR The stability and structure of a countrys government gives a basis to understand future changes in the regions political environment. Policy at the local or federal level can differ significantly. Political power in Oman is dominated by Sultan Qaboos ibn Said Al Said who is responsible for all major decision-making and government actions. Decision-making authority rests with the Sultan with contribution from his advisors, the appointed Majlis al-Dawla and members of Omans leading merchant families. Succession is a key risk concern. Sultan Qaboos has dedicated himself for promoting the countrys reconstruction, economic diversification as well as continued political stability. A process of limited elected reform has been in progress over the last several years including the introduction of direct elections for members of the counselling assembly in 2000 and universal suffrage in 2003. In recent October 2007 elections, Oman records a strong 68% voter turnout. While Oman is gradually moving forward on political liberalization efforts, the Councils role remains largely advisory. Following is the political structure of Oman country: POLITICAL STRUCTURE MONARCHY Head of State Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Bu S aid Council of Ministers Composed of  the Sultans Advisors State Council (Majlis al-Dawla) 57 Appointed tribal and religious leaders Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) 84 member Elected body with advisory functions Major Parties Illegal Last Elections Consultative Council October 2011 THE MONARCHY The Sultan is a direct heir of Said bin Sultan, who had first opened relations with the  United States  in 1833. The Sultanate is neither political parties nor governing body, although the bicameral representative bodies provide the government with advice. The present Sultan has no direct heir, and has not publicly selected a successor. Instead, the ruling family should generally select a new Sultan after his death. If they do not select a new ruler after three days, then they open a letter left to them by the late Sultan, containing a proposal for a new Sultan. Current Sultan of Oman, Majesty Sultan  Qaboos  bin Said Al Bu Said holds an unexpected amount of power. Along with his position as Sultan, he is prime minister, defence minister, finance minister, foreign affairs minister and chair of the central bank. Moreover, Qaboos has only a few family members in his cabinet and the offices they hold are considered quite powerless. His cousin Hay him for example, is minister of national legacy and culture while his uncle, Shabib is special advisor for environmental affairs. This style of control has suggestion as none of his family members have gained the necessary managerial skills to rule Oman after Qaboos death. JUDICIAL SYSTEM The court system in Oman is regulated by Royal Decree 90/99. There are three court levels in Oman; the Elementary Court is the lowest court, followed by the Court of Appeal, and then the Supreme Court as the highest court in the country. In addition to this there is an Administrative Court that looks into cases made against the government. GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS FDI The government keenly support foreign direct investment into the country to increased employment opportunities for Omanis. Omanisation allowance are currently in force for six industries in the private sector, i.e. the transport, storage and communications sector at 60%,finance, insurance and real estate at 45% and industry at 35%. Authorities created the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED) in 1997 with the aim of providing foreign investors with a one-stop-shop for licensing and registration procedures. Judicial transformation is in progress and the court system is considered largely fair. Corruption level are low by regional standards and do not act as a significant obstacle to foreign investment. LAND OWNERSHIP In Oman the regulation for land are expected to be less because the minister wants to increases the opportunity for tourism. The Ministry of Housing, Electricity and Water may grant permission to a company or a foreign national the Right to use a certain property for operations that promote the economic development of Oman. INCENTIVES Government incentives to promote local and foreign investment include tax exemptions; the provision of industrial plots in industrial zones for nominal charges; preference in the allocation of government land; interest-free or subsidized loans with longer terms for repayment; reduced charges for water, electricity and fuel; financial assistance for the development of economic and technical possibility studies; and the accelerate arrangement of immigration visas and permits for foreign workers. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND POLICIES A foreign national desire to engage in a trade or business in Oman or to acquire an interest in the capital of an Omani company must obtain a license from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In general, the ministry grants a license if the paid-up capital of the Omani company in which the investment is made is at least Rs 150,000 (US$ 390,000) and if the foreign ownership of the company does not exceed 49%. The Social Security Law requires private-sector employers and their Omani employees to pay monthly contributions to an insurance fund for old age, disability and death benefits. Oman does not impose personal income tax. Income tax is levied on people that are wholly owned by Omani nationals, entities with foreign participation, branches of foreign companies and Omani sole proprietorships. All companies incorporated in Oman irrespective of the extent of foreign ownership and branches of companies registered in the other member states of the Gulf Co-operation Council (Bahrain, Qa tar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are taxed at a rate of 12%, for income exceeding RO 30,000. A single tax rate applies to branches of foreign companies, at rates ranging from 0% to 30%. Petroleum companies are subject to tax under specific provisions and rates. Omani sole proprietorships are taxed at a rate of 12%.The Omani Labour Law requires employers to pay end-of-service benefits to expatriate employees. FOREIGN INVESTMENT With the exemption of certain restrictions on the foreign-currency holdings of  commercial banks, Oman does not impose exchange controls. In general, Oman does not restrict the transfer of funds overseas of equity or debt capital, interest, dividends, branch profits, royalties, management and technical service fees, and personal savings. RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT The Foreign Capital Investment Law (Royal Decree No. 102 of 1994) governs foreign investment in Oman. If the foreign body want to invest in Omani companies they must file applications for licenses with the Ministry of  Commerce and Industry. The ministry grants licenses to applicants if   both of the following conditions apply: The paid-up capital of the Omani company in which the investment is made is at least Rs.1, 50, 000(US$390,000). The foreign ownership of the company does not exceed 49%.The Ministry may exempt the following entities from the licensing conditions : Companies conducting business through special contracts or agreements with the government; Companies established by Royal Decree; and Parties conducting a business that the Council of Ministers declares necessary to the country. TAX EXEMPTIONS In Oman tax is exempted from corporate tax and customs duty which may be granted by the Ministry of Finance. From the following activities tax is exempted such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture, fishing, fish farming, fish processing, aquaculture, animal breeding, tourism, the export of manufactured and reprocessed products, operation of colleges, universities, and higher education institutes, private schools, training institutes, private hospitals and public utilities. Exemptions are granted for five year periods effective from the date when production begins or services are first rendered; a five year extension may be granted. .Management agreements and construction contracts do not qualify for tax exemptions. Companies engaged in the activities listed above may also obtain an exemption from the payment of customs duty on exports and on imports of equipment, spare parts and raw materials. IMPORTING The import of goods into Oman requires an import license. The import of  certain classes of goods, including alcohol, firearms and explosives, requires a special import license. Goods entering Oman must have certificates of origin. Oman follows Arab boycott rules, which forbid the import of goods originating from Israel. EXPORTS Oman does not restrict exports. However, the export of items of historical value requires an export license. CUSTOMS DUTIES In Oman most imported goods are subject to pay customs duty at a flat rate of 5% on their cost-insurance freight (CIF) value. Consumer goods, including food substance are exempt from customs duty whereas alcohol and tobacco are subject to pay higher rates of duty. Goods produced within the GCC generally may be imported duty-free. In certain circumstances, Oman may allow the contractors to import duty-free equipment and materials for use the on government, PDO and OLNG projects. Since from 2005 Oman has entered into a Free Trade Agreement with the United States of  America. POWER ON THE TOURISM SECTOR The government promote foreign contribution to develop the country tourism industry. Since the mid-1980s, the government has gradually opened its desert, mountains and coastlines to foreign tourists and the Ministry of Tourism has share part in various international tourism exhibitions to introduce Oman to the world tourist trade. Due to recent changes made in visa a regulation that had increases arrival of a large number of populations which in turn are likely to increase the flow of  tourists in Oman. Due to the development of International Airport which increase the tourist probable of the country. A new Tourism Ministry was set up in 2004 to provide push to this sector. The Ministry of Tourism has free provisional tourist arrivals figures for 2011. These showed a slight decline of 1.8% in arrivals over the year to 1,427,611. In light of this to some extent unsatisfactory figure, BMI has change down its predict for tourist arrivals in 2012, believe that an increase of 10% is now the most likely outcome for the year, down from 15% previously. BMIs predict is in line with the governments outlook for the industry. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnKP8I_IH7yqQSamEgMPjoj-OcN1qkxFY8WKYN5xiM_sYx59qBHwTwJjP3 (Sources: www.google.com) INTRODUCTION OF THE SECTOR Omans economy is based mainly on petroleum and natural gas. With limited energy reserves, Oman has decided to expand its economy away from oil and gas production. The Oman Vision 2020 development plan highlighted the need for the Omani economy to expand its economy through a process of  industrialization and privatization. The main single industrial investment target is the port city of Sohar, near the UAE border. The government has direct with several main privatization programs, including power generation projects, and other power and water generation plan. Oman expects to triple the industrys one percent contribution to GDP and finally create over 1, 14,000 tourism-related jobs. Besides these the government had built a second airstrip and new terminal at Muscat International Airport by 2011. The government is also in the procedure of expanding its privatization efforts to its wastewater and solid waste management operation. In addition to this the Omanis aggressively marketing itself as a enchanting, environmentally aware tourist goal. The Omani government is developing a port at Duqm, an evenly populated area along the Arabian Sea. This strategy call for the construction of a dry dock facility, oil refinery, petrochemicals complex and fish processing centre to ultimately fight with Dubais Jebel Ali port complex. The Duqm development plan also calls for the construction of an airport to facilitate passenger and cargo shipments and a three-hotel tourism resort complex. MACRO ECONOMIC DATA Following is the macro data of Oman country. YEAR 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 GDP Normal GDP 309.5 36,804 4,198 60,299 46,115 56,251 61,840 Real GDP 4.0 5.5 6.8 12.8 2.0 3.6 3.8 Origin of GDP Agriculture -2.9 -4.6 4.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 Industry 5.6 -1.7 3.6 11.9 0.3 3.8 3.9 Services 6.7 12.2 9.5 1.3 1.2 3.4 3.7 Population income Population 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.4 GDP per head 20,396 21,639 22,360 24,629 22,960 23,151 23,440 Fiscal indicators Govt. Indicators 38.0 35.2 36.7 32.9 38.1 36.3 34.0 Govt. Expenditure 35.4 34.9 36.5 32.6 41.9 37.1 35.0 Govt. Balance 2.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 (3.8) (0.8) (1.0) Net public debt 4.9 3.8 3.1 2.5 5.5 4.5 4.1 Prices financial indicators Consumer prices (average, %) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Lending interest rate (average %) 7.1 7.4 7.3 7.1 7.4 6.8 6.9 (Sources: GCC construction fact sheet) GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATE AMOUNT GDP ( APPROX) $59.946billion PER  CAPITA GDP (APPROX.) $21,646 REAL GDP GROWTH RATE (APPROX.): 7.8% The government is looking to expand the economy beyond the hydrocarbon sector, which still account for about 75% of export earnings, given the limited sector possible to force and maintain growth beyond 2020. Foreign investment maintain of natural gas projects, along with the government investments will sustain growth. Oil prices natural gas represents a small proportion of GDP and export revenues. To this end, the government is shifting its plan to aim renewable energy as a key developmental goal with hope that it will contribute about 30% of GDP by 2020. PURCHASING POWER G:images omanOman-50Rials-f.jpg (Sources: www.google.com) The inflation rate for the year ended 2010 was about 4%. This was the outcome of declining crude oil prices. The oil and natural gas being the core business of  Omanis it play an important role in determine the per capita income and their purchasing power. However, the situation is changing. There is gradual boom in the per capita income. The period of rapid growth has come to an end, and in the absence of a sharp recovery in oil prices Oman looks set to grow in the 3-4% range over the coming 5-10 years. The cost of living in Oman is high as most of the goods are imported. MINERAL RESOURCES http://www.omanet.om/arabic/economic/images/9-9.jpg Omans mineral resources include chromite, dolomite, zinc, limestone, gypsum, silicon, copper, gold, cobalt, and iron. Several industries have grown up around them as part of the national development process which, in turn, has boosted the minerals sectors contribution to the nations GDP as well as providing jobs for Omanis. The mineral sectors operations include mining and quarrying, with several projects recently completed, including: an economic feasibility study on silica ore in Wadi Buwa and Abutan in the Wusta Region, which confirmed that there were exploitable reserves of around 28 million tonnes at the two sites; a feasibility study on the production of magnesium metal from dolomite ore; a draft study on processing limestone derivatives; a project to produce geological maps of the Sharqiyah Region; economic feasibility studies on the exploitation of gold and copper ores in the Ghaizeen area; a study on raw materials in the wilayats of Duqm and Sur for use in the Sultanates cem ent industry; and a study on the construction of a new minerals laboratory at Ghala in the Governorate of Muscat. Metkore Alloys will build a world-class 1,65,000 tonnes per annum capacity ferro chrome smelter project in Oman with an envisaged investment of $80 million. SOURCE OF FUNDS AND THEIR COST Oman commercial banks are the primary source of short, medium, and long-term credit. Because there is no restriction in obtaining credit in Oman they can also obtain credit from commercial banks in the neighbouring Gulf countries. The Oman Development Bank they grant loans to small and medium-size companies, for less than Rs.2,50,000. Investors also obtain financing from the Gulf Investment Corporation located in Kuwait which is established by the GCC, is a major financial institution whose main purpose is to invest in the equity and provide loan funding to the new companies. SECURITIES MARKET The Capital Market Authority in Oman is established in 1998 which regulates the securities market. Muscat Securities Market, which began its operations in 1989, over sees the flow of funds into securities and develops the local financial market. Membership in the exchange is compulsory for Omani licensed banks, specialized loan institutions, authorized financial intermediaries, joint stock companies and Omani public authorities whose shares are registered on the securities market.   Commercial banks, joint stock investment and brokerage companies which is registered in Oman they may establish investment funds called joint investment accounts. The accounts are listed on the Muscat Securities Market and may be up to 49% foreign-owned these funds are exempt from taxation. INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES The Omani government is developing a port at Duqm, which is a less populated area along the Arabian Sea. This plans call for the construction of a dry dock facility, oil refinery, petrochemicals complex and fish processing centre to eventually fight with Dubais Jebel Ali port complex. The plan also calls for the construction of an airport to facilitate passenger and cargo shipments and a three-hotel tourism resort complex. . Oman is focusing on its port infrastructure as well. Two of Omans principal ports, Sohar and Salalah, are aggressively moving forward on expansion of  their respective. To increases the tourism facilities the government will build a second runway and much-needed new terminal at Muscat International Airport in 2011, they also built a new taxiway at Salalah Airport in 2010, and new airports at Sohar, Ras al-Hadd, and Duqm. Oman is focusing on its port infrastructure as well. Two of Omans prime ports, Sohar and Salalah, are aggressively moving forward on expansion of  their respective.. Oman is focusing on its port infrastructure as well. SIZE OF MARKET In 2002, Oman attracted some 1.2 million foreign visitors; about 7,00,000 came from the GCC (GULF CO-OPERTION COUNCIL) states. And of those700, 000 tourists, an overwhelming 85 percent of them came from the UAE. For all the talk in Muscat and Salalah about bringing in European tourists, the fact remains that the bulk of the sultanates visitors come from a lot closer to home- and, of those, huge numbers are simply driving across the border for a very short-term stay. Oman has so much more to offer than the other Gulf States in terms of  culture and history. Oman offers an real Arabian experience thats not easily available elsewhere in the region. TRADE: http://www.omanet.om/arabic/economic/images/tra03.jpg (Sources: www.Omannet.Om) The Omanis have been trader since ancient times. Their transport and group carried Omani goods including frankincense, dates and limes across the seas and over the old frankincense and silk routes, encourage cultural interactions with other peoples. Today, Oman is a part of a number of economic communities including the Arab Gulf Co- operation Council (AGCC), the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone, the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Sultanate has raised its laws on investment activity and has begun One Stop Shop permission facilities along with easy, transparent procedures. There is protected coordination between the bodies and authorities involved in providing services for investors, while current progress towards the establishment of e-government have led to a growing confidence on electronic channels. Commercial laws and regulations are being modernized, including the Law on Trade Marks, Descriptions, Trade Secrets and Protection against Unfair Competition, the regulation of foreign trade representation offices, the Consumer Protection Law and the Law on the Protection of Intellectual Property. Beside these measures, the country has also raised its ports and established free trade zones in all Mazyounah and Salalah. Omani goods are exported to the markets to world countries. Government authorities and departments give main concern to Omani products when making purchases and Omani goods are actively promoted in the local market through seminars and exhibitions. Broader promotion campaigns are also held in the regional and world markets, where Omani products have already begun to make their mark because of their high quality specifications. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has established a certificate by the United Kingdoms Human Investment Programme, recognizing it as an investor in human resources. SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT http://www.secs.unibo.it/NR/rdonlyres/3611A3BD-7B6B-4531-8AAF-181E56EBA9CE/177588/Fotolia_895776_Ometti2Cerchi.jpg (Sources: www.google.com) INTRODUCTION OF THE SECTOR Since Oman is a Muslim country, all the activities are influenced by the Muslim culture. The main characteristic of Omani culture is respect for others and it prevents others from letting their face down. In Oman the foreigners have to make sure that they dont make any unpleasant remarks in the public places. Otherwise they feel insulted and let down in the society. Language: In Oman country Arabic is local language. LIFE STYLE OF THE OMANIS: Following are key factors that determine the living style of the population in Oman. CULTURE: In order to fully understand any country culture, is very important to know because it influence society whole. In Oman Islam culture is followed by every people. Oman is the Muslim country so majority of them follows Ibrahim sect it is very conservative culture. Islam directs every part of a Muslim life, from holidays to the food they eat to how they dress and do business. Kindness, humility and respect for others are key thought which are present in both social and professional field of life. ART: Traditional handicraft such as silver and gold jewelry, goat- and camel-hair carpet, woven baskets, water jugs, weapon and khanjar, a special type of dagger etc are generally practiced in this country. Besides these, drawing, painting, photography etc are also practiced. MUSIC: Music in Oman is a vital part of art. The traditional folk songs are very popular and practiced in the country. Arabic music has left a deep influence in the Oman music. Health: Life expectancy at birth in Oman is approximate to be 74.47 years in 2012. As of 1999, there were an approximate 1.3 physicians and 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. In 1993, 89% of the population had access to health care services. In 2000, 99% of the population had access to health care services. During the last three decades, the Oman health care system has established and account great achievements in health care services and preventive and curative medicine. In 2001, O

What Are The Effects Of Petroleum Environmental Sciences Essay

What Are The Effects Of Petroleum Environmental Sciences Essay Is a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and trade. The term is sometimes used to refer specifically to economic globalization: the integration of national economies into the international economy through trade, foreign direct investment, capital flows, migration, and the spread of technology. However, globalization is usually recognized as being driven by a combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural, political, and biological factors. The term can also refer to the transnational circulation of ideas, languages, or popular culture through acculturation. 1.2 Petroleum Industry The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline (petrol). Petroleum is also the raw material for many chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics. The industry is usually divided into three major components: upstream, midstream and downstream. Midstream operations are usually included in the downstream category. Petroleum is vital to many industries, and is of importance to the maintenance of industrial civilization itself, and thus is a critical concern for many nations. 1.3 Current Situation Reliable Source of Energy: Petroleum is still the most reliable source of energy. Although renewable sources of energy do exist, but the extent to which they can replace petroleum and the possible environmental damage they may cause is not known and controversial. For transportation use high energy density liquid petroleum cannot be replaced by sun, wind, geothermal and other renewable electricity sources. Environmental Pollution: One of the most prevalent sources of environmental degradation in the industrialized world is the petroleum-derived contaminants. In large concentrations, hydrocarbon molecules that make up the petroleum products are highly toxic for the living organisms. Petroleum also contains some amount of sulphur and nitrogen compounds, which when react with the environment they produce secondary poisonous chemicals. Oil Spills: Oil spills are most visible source of petroleum pollution. During transporting crude oil from one country to another these oil spills occur. Oil travels for long distance by either ocean tanker or land pipeline. Oil spills also occur at areas where oil is extracted. Massive quantities of petroleum are released into land and marine ecosystems when there is a tanker, pipeline or oil well accident. Small spill near shore is more harmful for marine organisms then a large oil spill in the open ocean. Global Warming: Petroleum fuelled transportation is considered as one of the chief reasons of global warming. Greenhouse effect is created by the capture of excess amounts of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide. Carbon Dioxide even though is not a toxic, but its the main constituent of petroleum fuel exhaust. About one-third of carbon dioxide emitted in the air every year comes from exhaust of vehicles. Whenever crude oil is extracted, transported, refined or stored methane is also emitted. Lesser Carbon-Dioxide released compared to Coal: Lesser amount of carbon dioxide is released in environment by burning petroleum as compared to coal. So coal has more harmful effects on environment than petroleum. 1.4 Recent Trends Decrease Dependence on Petroleum Energy efficient engines and hybrid gas/electric cars help to reduce some need for oil. It provides better gas mileage and less demand. Renewable Energy Petroleum companies are now investing in renewable energy products and services. There are little or no greenhouse gas emissions through renewable sources of energy and they do not contribute towards formation of smog, acid rain or other hazardous air pollutants. In growing number of applications, renewable sources of energy are used and they have many environmental benefits as well as increased local opportunities. Recycling Used Oil: Used Motor oil can be reprocessed into fuel. Two gallons of used oil can generate enough electricity to run the average household for 24 hours. These days the petroleum companies are providing convenient used oil collection sites at their service stations. Recycling used motor oil conserves a valuable resource as well as it keeps the surface waters and groundwater supplies safe from potential contamination due to improper disposing of used oil. 1.5 Opportunities Reduce impact and occurrence of oil spills: The oil companies should dispose of their waste products carefully and maintain their equipment in peak conditions. For downstream petroleum industry protecting land and groundwater is their priority. Designing environmental friendly disposal solution: Distributors and refiners should work closely with the government authorities to design environmental friendly disposal solutions. These would allow more used oil to be recycled or reused in an environmentally safe manner. Recycling used oil: Used oil can be recycled many times which means less new materials are consumed. Hence refining is more practical. 50 per cent less energy is consumed in re-refining used oil than producing motor or lubricating oil from unrefined crude. Reduce natural gas flaring and implement new emissions estimation and tracking tools: Oil companies have to reduce natural gas flaring in order to cut emissions (while also adding to energy supplies) and  they have to store Carbon Dioxide underground, so that it can be safely preserved for many year. The oil and gas companies should also implement new emissions estimation and tracking tools so that it would enable them to assess how well they are meeting the goals set for themselves and  report  progress to the public. Refinery cleaning: Oil companies should clean up their refineries. They should reduce their air and water emissions. Gasoline should be reformulated to bum cleaner, which would dramatically cut the levels of lead, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons released into the air. 1.6 Threats Alternative Fuels: There are wide variety of alternative fuels developed like ethanol, biodiesel (made from vegetable oil), and hydrogen. They produce little or no green house gases and exhausts. Renewable Sources of Energy: Renewable sources of energy like solar power, bio fuels, geothermal energy, and wind power are available nowadays. Companies are now working with the automakers and government agencies on new fuel and vehicle technology. Global Warming and Environmental Pollution: One of the most prevalent sources of environmental degradation in the industrialized world is the petroleum-derived contaminants. In large concentrations, hydrocarbon molecules that make up the petroleum products are highly toxic for the living organisms. Petroleum also contains some amount of sulphur and nitrogen compounds, which when react with the environment they produce secondary poisonous chemicals. Petroleum fuelled transportation is considered as one of the chief reasons of global warming. Greenhouse effect is created by the capture of excess amounts of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide. Carbon Dioxide even though is not a toxic, but its the main constituent of petroleum fuel exhaust. About one-third of carbon dioxide emitted in the air every year comes from exhaust of vehicles. Whenever crude oil is extracted, transported, refined or stored methane is also emitted. Oil Spills: Oil spills are most visible source of petroleum pollution. Massive quantities of petroleum are released into land and marine ecosystems when there is a tanker, pipeline or oil well accident. Small spill near shore is more harmful for marine organisms then a large oil spill in the open ocean. 2.0 INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT OVER ENVIRONMENT United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It has to co-ordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. They cover wide range of issues regarding atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They have aided in the development of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, trans-boundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways. Government Regulations and Petroleum Industry The U.S government provides financial support for exploring alternative sources of energy like renewable sources of energy. They provide grants to researchers so that they can experiment with renewable energy technology. The Department of Energy has developed a grant-based research project called the Climate Change Technology Initiative. Through this CCTI project, researchers help to find ways of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. A partnership was formed between the U.S. government and major automobile manufacturers in U.S with the hope that technology developed through this research would help in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from automobiles in the United States. This grant also helps in supporting other experiments in the field of renewable sources on energy. OPEC supports the use of CCS technology. CCS technology has the potential of reducing emissions by 40%. A need exists for companies to learn more about the CCS process and the different technologies that may be used. Hence, OPEC is further advocating the development of CCS technologies along with the Carbon-Dioxide enhanced oil recovery. Living in a carbon-constrained world has lead to changes in policy priorities in industrialized countries. Many companies and countries have already implemented policies to limit the use of petroleum products in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However other energy sources (like coal) have far greater carbon emissions than petroleum. 3.0 Summary Energy is what moves the world. And many energy resources have been relied upon for ages, to make our lives convenient and comfortable. Petroleum is one such energy resource.   Energy, environment and associated global warming concerns are the focus of raging debates as the global climate system impacts the political climate. The impending energy crisis and the soaring oil prices have their roots in the fast depleting non-renewable source of energy: petroleum. Petroleum takes the spotlight as the worlds primary energy resource as the petroleum industry produces indispensable gasoline and other fuel derivatives. Petroleum is considered a major building block for the economy as well. Therefore the petroleum industry, generating bulk-volume products by way of gasoline and fuel oil, is of paramount significance when issues related to energy or ecology are at the center of current public and world affairs. Petroleum has been the critical element for development of numerous industries in the last two centuries. The receding supply of petroleum has sparked off the search for crude through offshore drilling.   The process of oil exploration with offshore drilling is a tedious and intensive one.   Oil wells are dug miles into the earth or the sea shore in the hope of finding natural gas. Oil and gas have been much under the spotlight because the global specter of rising oil prices strains the economies of the world. Recommendations The oil companies should dispose of their waste products carefully and maintain their equipment in peak conditions. For downstream petroleum industry protecting land and groundwater is their priority. Used oil can be recycled many times which means less new materials are consumed. Hence refining is more practical. 50 per cent less energy is consumed in re-refining used oil than producing motor or lubricating oil from unrefined crude. Distributors and refiners should work closely with the government authorities to design environmental friendly disposal solutions. These would allow more used oil to be recycled or reused in an environmentally safe manner. Oil companies should now invest in alternative fuels like ethanol, biodiesel (made from vegetable oil), and hydrogen. Oil companies need to look for renewable sources of energy like solar power, bio fuels, geothermal energy, and wind power. Oil companies should also reduce its demand by increasing their efficiency.