Strategic Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Planning - Essay Example Hence, strategic planning incorporates devising a strategy according to the future or present strategies of your competitors and customers and strategically placing yourself in a desirable position (Plesk, 1997). Strategic management is somewhat similar to strategic planning yet it is more present focused rather than only future oriented. It involves the proper allocation of resources and their utilization, setting of objectives and aims for the firm, and incorporating the firm’s vision, mission, and future goals. However, strategic management is not only based upon devising policies and objectives, but involves the implementation of these policies and objectives according to the needs of the external environment (Goldstein, 1993). Discussion While it is very important for any business to plan, strategize, and implement its goals, policies, and objectives, it is just as important for institutions such as schools. Education is a highly competitive business sector in current tim es and in order to succeed and survive in this sector, strategic management and planning is just as essential as any other market (Whittington, 2007). The educational sector also has to focus upon competitors’ strategies, efficiency of resources, maintaining costs, and providing a high quality service. One of the most important parts of strategic management for schools is maintaining personnel and qualified teaching staff as well as maintaining an appropriate curriculum according to the standards expected by their consumers and the standard maintained by their competitors (Rosenhead, 1998). Moreover, there are several other decisions to take such as appropriate and easily accessible location, safety standards, keeping costs to a minimum while providing a fully equipped infrastructure, proper curriculum, and fair/proper examination standards. While improving a defective product and maintaining quality standards may be difficult in tangible products, however they are even more difficult to maintain in intangible services such as education. Customer satisfaction is difficult to measure and change of policies or strategies relative to competition is not as quick as in other regular businesses (Kalpic, 2002). There are various approaches or theories to strategic management which include the structured approach in which a manager who is usually operating a large global organization takes into account the opinions and needs of its stakeholders. The second approach is the entrepreneurial approach which involves the business setting its own standards and objectives and following them throughout their operations instead of focusing upon the views of their stakeholders (Plesk, 1997). The structured approach is usually followed by large organizations which exist all over the world and are international entities. The entrepreneurial approach is followed by smaller organizations which exist in limited places and have access to limited or restricted means. Hence, they are not able to easily follow the needs of their stakeholders and constantly innovate to cater to their requirements. These firms simply set their own objectives by analyzing the competition and developing a fair view of what the consumers need or prefer. They then focus on strategy formation and implementation rather than constant survey and analysis of market needs (Raduan, 2009).

Military Governments Essay -- essays research papers

Military Governments   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Military governments have been around since the days of feudalism. It is the oldest and most common political state. According to Shively, a military government is one in which a group of officers use their troops to take over the governmental apparatus and run it themselves. Military governments are usually weak in appeasing the masses for they are known to be brutal and power hungry and are also rather fragile, both internally and externally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In its primitive state, existing as feudalism, the high ranking officials/nobility and the military itself was composed solely of the elite ruling class. But as society became more complex, the role of the elite was slightly altered as technology progressed and the nobility and kings no longer controlled weapons nor could prevent the disintegration of the feudal society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Modern military governments usually occur after the military stages a coup. A coup is the forceful deposition of a government by all or a portion of the armed forces and installation of a new military government. Coups ordinarily take place when the present government poses a threat to the state or the status quo. Because the military controls more armed power than anyone in a state, they have the ability to take over the government at any given time. In Power and Choice, Shively questions the notion of the infrequency of military governments. Yes, they are common, but why aren't they more common? The reason being that as societies advance and become more complex, it is necessary for the ruling elite to be more knowledgeable of the processes by which a government is operated. This explains the recurrence of civilian-run governments. The military may have a few leaders who are skilled politically, but the armed forces are not customarily trained to run governments. Recall that the role of the military is to protect and serve the state, therefore there is usually a cycle, known as the Barracks cycle, in which the military brings about a coup, but later reestablishes civilian control, and is the new state threatens governmental stability, the military stages yet another coup, etc. The longer the military stays in power, the more the political state exists unstably.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Nigeria, for ... ... form of government or evolve to a new sophisticated government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In any case, military governments are weak internally and externally. They pose as forms of transitional governments, not necessarily in times of revolution, but in times when the state itself becomes weak or poses a threat to the status quo. Though some military governments do perservere for years and years without being overthrown, their inability to run the state efficiently forces the military to restore democracy or to stage another overthrow of the government. Also, because the military government itself takes power through no regular process as other, more stable forms of government, but simply seizes it, they encounter the problem of legitimacy. Lastly, coalitions internally are in itself a whole other government. The weakness and competition present between these coalitions usually causes the downfall of the military government and installment of a new civilian-run government decided so by the general consensus. Generally, all military governments will fail in time and return to it previous government or evolve to a whole new governmental system with a revolution.

A study of anatomy and physiology of movement upper limb

The procedure of using the upper limb to drink water is a complex one which involves a huge amount of technology inter-transfer between the brain and the eventual skeletal muscle. There is initiation of the movement at the brain which is transmitted via specialized white fibre tracts to the hip flexors via the intermediate spinal cord, involving a very complex mechanism at the cellular levelThe initiation of the   process is at the motor cortex (Ms I) of the brain. The primary motor area is located at the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe. The area controlling the motion of the lower limbs lies towards the superior surface of the brain. Within this area lies the cell body of the primary neuron. These neurons are known as upper motor neurons (UMN).These UMNs receive modulating impulse from the inputs from the cerebellum and the basal ganglia via the extrapyramidal pathways. These tracts modulate the gross movement initiated at the frontal cortex. In turn these areas are modulated by afferent signals from ascending spino cerebellar, and spino-thalamic pathways.The complex the signal initiated at the nucleus of the cell body is transmitted electronically via the axon of the myelinated neuron via the mode of salutatory conduction. The myelin sheath which surrounds the axon of nerves that involve fast transport, breaks at intermediate regions known as Nodes of Ranvier.The electrical impulse moves in   a jumping manner at these nodes nerve transmission as a neural impulse, generated by the formation of a nerve action potential. Like all excitable tissue, nerves maintain a resting membrane potential that is the difference of voltage across the membrane of the neuron. In neurons this value is   – 70 mV.This voltage difference is maintained by the Na/K pump on the membranes. This impulse generated at the axon hillock is transmitted via the depolarizing phase which allows sodium ions ingress into cells via opening of the Na channels. This entry of Na in o ne portion allows activation of other Na channels, causing depolarization of the adjacent region of the neuron. Subsequently repolarization occurs via the opening of K channels, which restores the membrane potential. Thus this process continues which allows the transmission of impulse.Many such nerves together descend as the descending cortico spinal tract in the pyramidal system, which travels through the midbrain into the spinal cord, decussating at the level of midbrain( 90% of the fibres decussating and forming the lateral spinothalamic tract) and again at the level of spinal cord ( the other 10%, forming the anterior spinothalamic tract). It is the former which is responsible for the upper limb movements.The cortico-spinal tract travels in the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord till the lumbar level where they synapse with the spinal ventral root neuron (lower motor neuron). A single post-synaptic neuron receives signals from many neurons. At the axon terminal, the propagati on of impulses leads to release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in specialized vesicles.The released Ach diffuses into the synaptic cleft and binds with receptors on the post synaptic membrane to produce excitatory post synaptic potentials. This leads to generation and propagation of impulse in nerves which are destined to innervate the neuro-muscular junction. At the neuro-muscular junction, Ach is released, which diffuses into the synovial cleft and binds to receptors in the motor end plate, and triggers a muscle action potential.The released Ach is destroyed by the acetylcholinestrase. At the level of the sarcolemma of the muscles, the muscle AP travels along T-tubules, opening Ca release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Ca binds to troponin-tropomysin complex, which releases the myosin heads, these then bind to the actin thin filaments, and draws them closer to the M line.Meanwhile bringing the Z disc closer. This leads to muscle fibre contraction. This is a self p ropagating sequence eventually leading to the contraction of ilio-psoas muscle, which causes the flexion of thigh on the pelvis. Each nerve fibre innervates many musle fibres ( about 150).This is   the motor unit. The greater the number of motor units recruited by the nerve action potential, the greater the force of contraction of the muscles. In the spinal cord, nerve impulse travels along the brachial plexus to innervate the deltoid and supraspinatus (shoulder abductors), biceps, and   brachialis( elbow flexion), flexor carpi ularis and flexor carpi radialis   (wrist flexors and stabilizers), long finger flexors flexor digitorum superficialis anv flexor digitorum profundus (long finger joint flexors) leading to the person gripping the glass and drinking water.   In summary the impulse travels via brachial plexus ( C5-T1).From here the nerve impulses travel to shoulder elevators (supraspinatus, deltoid, trapezius, and latissimus dorsi)- posterior cord ), elbow extensor (tri ceps and anconeus – radial nerve) wrist extensor ( ECRL, ECRB – radial nerve), finger flexors ( FDS, FDP – median nerve and the ulnar nerve)   and the intrinsics – ulnar nerve and the median nerve).

Importance Of Special Education - 819 Words

Schools are important for the education of children with respect to their social, emotional and mental development. The class provides an avenue where students can learn several items ranging from managing their emotions, being focused, easily following the given directions and establishing relations with their fellow peers and even the adults. With the increasing number of students and all other factors constant, schools have failed in effectively deal with students who require special education. The special education teachers often have low expectations in their children as the supporting initiatives often are less. The conditions and behaviors of students are important for their performance and their social interactions now or in their†¦show more content†¦They will feel shy to socialize and even will not be able to read as other students. The induction process should be rapid to realize this and ensure that the students are first taught on how to read and write. A common language of communication should be adopted and those having difficulties should be assisted. Most likely the students may be suffering from nutritional deficits or other hunger related problems. The concentration levels will be low if the students are hungry and have psychological problems crisscrossing their minds. Poverty situation may results in exposure of the students to different conditions which may mentally affect them. The schools thus need to be proactive in reaching out to such students and maybe assist them where possible so as to bring their minds to class and maybe improve their performance in order to safeguard their future (Baker 2006). Parents have left their students at the hands of the teachers and may not be keen on their students’ progress and performance. Most of the students’ emotional distress is as a result of the daily happenings at home and how they relate with their children. The poverty conditions of the children make the children vulnerable to the lack of the basic minimum requirements for school (Farber 1999). The teachers should be proactive in appreciating the development of young students and have the might to ascertain the real issues of behavior and practices which cannot be tolerated among the students.Show MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Special Education894 Words   |  4 PagesFrom personal experience, I did not receive any type of special education but my little cousin, Jonathan, receives services that benefit his education. Before being considered for evaluation, his mother started noticing that he constantly struggled to learn in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First grade. It was not until First grade she became very concerned and decided to meet with his teacher, in which they both discussed his school progress and grades. After much consideration, my aunt decided to writeRead MoreThe Importance Of Special Education For Special Services977 Words   |  4 Pagesthe world, and they need to go through a process to help make them the best that they can be. In Special Education there is a 10 step process that is put in place to make sure that students that need that extra help can receive it and have the opportunity to become their best self. The process covers from the beginning of the process which includes identifying if a child qualifies for special education or related services to the end of the process which is the student being evaluated. The processRead MoreThe Importance Of A Special Education Teacher Essay1686 Words   |  7 PagesI choose to be a special education teacher for a few reasons. I have grown up with a learning difference, and I know how it feels to be struggling in school. I want to give back to the community that has given me a lot of confidence in life. I enjoy being in a classroom and learning. I love the structure of how a school day runs and how it does not change much. A major in special education is my dream job. The ability to work with children of all special education settings is an amazing experienceRead MoreThe Importance Of A Special Education Classroom985 Words   |  4 PagesMy first day observing in a Special Education classroom I was introduced to a senior who recently suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury. When I was talking with her she seems as â€Å"normal† as you or I must have back in our high school days. While we chatted away I asked her what exactly happened and she told me, she was swinging and cracked her head wide open and one thing lead to another all of a sudden she found herself diagnosed with a severe brain injury. Like I said talking to her and watchingRead MoreThe Importance Of Inclusion For Special Education1154 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Idol (2006) (p.77), â€Å"inclusion is when a student with special learning and/or behavioral needs is educated full time in the general education program. The stud ent with special education needs is attending the general school program, enrolled in age-appropriate classes 100% of the school day† (Idol, 1997, p.4). By enforcing inclusion, special education students are brought out of isolation and placed back into the general education classroom among their peers. This prepares the students forRead MoreThe Importance Of A Special Education Teacher Essay805 Words   |  4 PagesDave went through to get to where he did. He had to jump through many hoops to get through college. This made me think about my own experiences when I came to Wilmington College myself. When I first came to the college my focus was to become a special education teacher, but that did not happen. I had to change my whole path and go into social work. Which bothered me in the begging, but once I thought about it for a while and really started to get into the material I knew it was what I was meant to doRead MoreThe Importance Of Special Education For Students With D isabilities899 Words   |  4 PagesSpecial education is considered to be a relatively new field within education, with true recognition of student’s disabilities occurring around the 1900’s (Frost Kersten, 2011). Up until that time, students with disabilities were viewed with superstition and fear. As the public became more passionate about students with disabilities and with the passage of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the stage was set for providing equal opportunities for education of all children. Additional courtRead MoreThe Importance Of Special Education Curriculum And Instruction Essay2156 Words   |  9 PagesKnowledge of Special Education Curriculum and Instruction In this section I will discuss how the principal’s knowledge of special education curriculum and instruction can influence the instructional leadership of the school. When the principal is knowledgeable in special education curriculum and instruction, he/she can provide more thorough understanding to regular education teachers who are striving to provide adequate accommodations. For example, our principal asked the lead special education teacherRead MoreThe Importance Of Education For Children With Special Needs Essay2395 Words   |  10 Pages Education is an important tool that is provided for young children to use in order to prepare themselves for their future, and this opportunity should be done so with the upmost respect and in the best interest of that child. When discussing education for a child, depending on that students needs there are two options, general education or special education. There are many different discussions occurring regarding if a child with spe cial needs should be in a school that allows inclusion. I argueRead MoreThe Importance Of Special Education Referral Process769 Words   |  4 Pagesqualifies for special education. Many people are involved in the referral process, some of which include the parents of the child, the general education teacher, and the special education teacher. The ultimate goal is to make sure the student is receiving the best accommodations and modifications to be successful in the classroom. As long as this is kept at the forefront of all the parties involved, the child will achieve in school. Every school has a plan in place about how their special education referral