Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Health Care Essay

Effect of Mergers and Acquisitions on Health Care - Essay Example This dissertation will discuss the impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on the Healthcare services using specific examples. It will also focus on the impact it has had on the workforce, patients and the organizations themselves. Mergers and acquisitions or M&A as it is popularly called, come to influence the organizations that undergo the process as there are numerous changes especially at the top levels such as in the ownership, in mode of operation, and also in the way the business is done. Of the three strategic assets that have been listed above, the degree of cultural cohesion is found to be the most important asset in the ultimate outcome of the deal. In fact, cultural cohesion also happens to be the one that impacts the extent to which qualitative talent retention can be achieved. It is a common practice for companies in the modern days to publish their cultural heritage and values. However, it has always been found that whatever is mentioned does not always mean that it exists there in the existing culture of the place. Anthropologists have always believed that the procedure for knowing about a particular group's culture does not necessarily begin by asking members to identify the specific traits. In fact, in most instances, the cultural traits of the surroundings are not easily identified by the members belonging to the social group. As such, gaining an insight into the nuances of cultural influences that are practiced over time within a specific group or organization involves a thorough process and means studying over prolonged periods of time and observation. This observation is used to form important questions about practices, disciplines and the techniques used to define and solve problem using well-formed strategies (K. Conner, 1991). Cultural Cohesion The amount of cohesion within a company's cultural domain is dependent on the proper identification of the organization's cultural components, which can be mapped directly to the structural components of the building such as the foundation, walls, beams etc. therefore, it is extremely necessary to carry out a thorough inspection of the whole area, identify and assess the walls of a building so as to be able to arrive at possible conclusions on the integrity of the space before the entire place can be restructured or renovated. Despite the fact that a company may have been acquired given the positive opinion on attributes such as brands, competencies, stocks and assets, the real success for a merged enterprise depends on whether the necessary steps have been initiated to identify and retain the organization's predominant cultural attributes that sustain and support the necessary inherent valuable resources (R Grant, 1991). Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on the organizations involved To begin with, it should be understood that healthcare services has in itself become an industry due to several factors, the major one being the rapid rise in population over the last couple of decades. It's a well known fact that increase in population implies increasing demand for health care services. Changing environmental factors and the proliferation of new diseases arising out of them also has been a major factor towards commercialization of health care services. Also the improving lifestyles of the people seeking healthcare servic

Shintoism in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Shintoism in Japan - Essay Example This indigenous religion of Japan is an unstructured mixture of a several beliefs and practices such as the worship of nature, future foretelling, fertility sects and shamanism. In its most fundamental form, Shinto is the religious structure of Japanese nationalism. According to Shinto tradition, the Japanese people and their country were divinely created, their emperors descendants of the Sun Goddess. Commonly, Japanese who are affiliated with Confucianism or the Buddhist religion are simultaneously affiliated with the Shinto sect. The two revered books of Shintoism are the Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan) and the Kojiki (Chronicles of Ancient Events). The Kojiki teaches that in the beginning were the two kami (deities), Izanagi (male-who-invites) and Izanami (female who-invites). Following the creation of Japan they produced many other kami. According to this mythological legend, Izanami passed away after giving birth to the kami of fire. Izanagi, in an attempt to find her, voyaged to Hell where he found her decomposed body infested by maggots. Horrified, he then went back to Japan in revulsion and purified himself by entering a body of water. The Sun Goddess, the Great Kami Amaterasu emerged when he washed out his left eye and Tsukiyom the Moon Kami materialized when he washed out his right eye. Following many years of war between the people of Japan, the Sun Goddess made her grandson, Ninigi, the first emperor of Japan. The Shinto religion is the only religion of the world that is represented by a female Deity. Japanese legend contends that the first emperor appeared during the seventh century B.C. but modern researchers put the actual beginnings of Japanese emperorship at about 200 A. D.

Racism and Discrimination Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Racism and Discrimination - Research Paper Example Racial discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the illegal expression of racism towards a particular group, according to the Council of Europe (2009). It entails intentional malicious acts meant to demean another one based on his or her race. Racial harassment is one type of racial discrimination, according to Kassimeris (2009). This may be manifested through acts of name-calling, direct insults, bad comments that lower someone’s dignity. Racism and discrimination are particularly strong in countries that are diverse, such as the United States and Canada. Canada, for instance, is a multi-ethnic country and is among many countries that have witnessed some of the worst racial discriminations in the past. Canada reportedly has over 200 ethnic groups with the visible minority accounting for about 13% of Canada’s total population (Appadurai, 2012). Reports also show that approximately 18% of Canadians are foreign-born. Reports indicate that racial discrimination in Canada has mainly been directed towards non-native Canadians, particularly immigrants (Appadurai, 2012). In this regard, a report shows that many immigrants in Canada have faced all manners of racial discrimination in the past. Reports indicates that many Canadian immigrants and minority ethnic groups have faced a high degree of racial discrimination in the past, in which some have been tortured to death because of their racial backgrounds (Kassimeris, 2009). The discrimination mainly comes from the fact that the non-Canadian races are being perceived as primitive people who do not deserve to live together with the white Canadians. It is said that the violence of 1907 in Vancouver was mainly race based, according to Adams (2008). During this violence, it is reported that a mob of white Canadians violently attacked Japanese and Chinese ethnic communities in Canada. This racially motivated violence left several Chinese and Japanese ethnic communities dead with property worth millions of dollars destroyed (Appadurai, 2012). In another incident during World War II, several Japanese Canadians were incarcerated and their property seized by white Canadians that were fighting them out of the country based on their racial background. Reports also indicated that members of Asian community were beaten up and harassed by native Canadians in Toronto in the 1970s (Seltzer & Johnson, 2009). This incident shows how racial discrimination has been rife in Canada. When we talk of racial discrimination, what also comes into mind is the kind of racial discrimination that African Americans have had to face in the U.S. This is because African Americans are arguably the race that has faced one of the worst racial abuse occurrences in the world. In the U.S., apart from being subjected to hard labor on white settlers’ land, they were also being harassed and beaten to death, according to Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2010). They were also denied certain rights purely on their racial backgrounds. This was based on the fact that African Americans were being perceived by white Americans as primitive people that should be segregated from the rest of society. For example, it is reported that segregation laws were passed in the U.S. during the Jim Crow era, which resulted in segregation of public facilities in which African Americans were barred from attending public facilities meant for their white counterparts. In this regard, any black American found to disobey such a law was to be executed by white Americans. An example can be seen when at one time an African was forced to leave the front seat of a bus to a white American, which triggered riots and boycott of public transport by African

On Double Standards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

On Double Standards - Essay Example Men are expected to be more aggressive while women are supposed to be more submissive and reserved. It is readily accepted that some things are naturally "men's" things while some are "women's." For example, a man who is attracted to a pretty woman can always ask her out. However, a woman asking a man out is less acceptable. The commencement of a relationship is seen as the "right" of every guy while ladies can only accept. The essay will look at the different double standards based on gender. The first section will look at the most common double standards present in the society. Afterwards, the essay will expose the arguments for and against double standard. It will also contain various citations from different authors and social scientists who are experts in this topic. In the end, I will give my own opinion regarding the essay. The fate of an individual is undeniably almost always determined by sexuality. It is irrefutable that the society where are living in has this preconceived notion of what is right and what is acceptable action for each gender. Currently, society has readily accepted that some things are naturally "men's" things while some are "women's." The presence of double standard is an undeniable fact.

Alto Chemicals Europe Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alto Chemicals Europe - Case Study Example Graaff suggested that the company should focus on its strengths and resort to ‘non-price’ selling. The skillful sales force should highlight superior technical service and ACE’s reputation as a reliable supplier while closing a sales deal. Graaff strongly advocated that the sales force should focus on converting more accounts from Barium to Tin. The intent was to generate business from small and medium-sized firms. Customer segments like wire and cable that were not price sensitive were also to be targeted under the new strategy to prevent price erosion. As a rule, ACE was to adopt the strategy of price leadership and not compete in the market merely by ‘meeting Barium prices’. Graaff envisaged that central coordination would help in regional optimization. Thus the headquarters took on the role of setting price and volume targets for the subsidiaries. In general, ACE was to pay less attention to low price markets and focus on high price markets. Compensation Plan The initial reaction from the sales personnel suggests that they are averse to the changes put forth by Graaff. Therefore a suitable compensation plan is to be devised to motivate the sales force to adopt the new strategy. It is recommended that the sales personnel are given incentive on each account they convert from Barium to Tin. A fixed, upfront amount should also be paid to them when they a small and medium-sized enterprise becomes a customer.

Summary of a book chapter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Summary of a book chapter - Assignment Example A small nation facing external threats relies on alliances to overcome such security issues (Duffield, 1992). According to the author, alliances have been a common place in modern history. There have been close to 648 alliances since the early 19th century up to the 21st century. However, most of these alliances have been significantly small with an average of three member nations. Alliances are common in a number of European nations. The author concurs with the notion that alliances are a major influence on international relation. The author attributes a number of outbreaks and spread of the military conflict to alliances. He supports this assumption by stating that the establishment of international alliances can have significant effects on the security of the individual nation and help to determine both the likely outcome of a war (Duffield, 1992). The author provides a number of factors that explain the persistence and collapse of alliances. Approximately 263 alliances with both defensive and offensive attributes have existed for close to 200 years. The author provides estimates of their mean of duration and standard deviation at 13.4 and 13.1 respectively. Defensive alliances with no offensive elements lasted longer. According to the author, wars and shift in the map of global politics that such wars occur are the key factors affecting the persistence or the collapse of alliances (Duffield 1992). Out of the many alliances formed in the late 19th century, a few outlived the First and the Second World War. The author provides other factors behind the persistence and the collapse of wars. The motive behind the formation of alliances is a key determinant of whether the alliance will last for long or whether it will collapse after a short duration. According to the author, as long as the motives for the formation of alliances remain in place, then the alliance will persist. The author agrees that international relation is a key motive for an alliance

Comparative analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparative analysis - Research Paper Example While both paintings are inspired by biblical readings, Michelangelo’s painting is from a story in the beginning of biblical times while Giotto’s painting is a vision of the end. Both paintings are divided in the middle, depicting opposites of events on either side. In the Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden, the image is divided by the controversial Tree of Knowledge, with the left side showing Adam and Eve enjoying the bliss of paradise while the right side showing them being ousted by an angel from the garden to fend for themselves. In Giotto’s Last Judgment, the image is likewise divided on the lower half with a cross dividing the picture into visions of those called to heaven and those thrown to hell. Both paintings show visions of the enjoyment of God’s grace as well as the consequences of sin. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was placed under the tutelage of a number of gifted artists ever since he was a young boy. Critics believe his work was influenced by the masters, Leonardo, Giotto and Poliziano. They were impressed by the boy’s extreme sensitivity, and his combination of energy and talent. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by the Pope himself for his own personal worship space (awakentoprayer.org). The Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden is just one of the panels devoted to Creation. The flow of the story of the image is from left to right. On the left side, a relaxed couple is shown enjoying the fruit from the forbidden tree while the background denotes lush and abundance. The serpent entwines itself to the tree while tempting Adam and Eve. It symbolically divides the image denoting its representation of man’s separation from God’s graces as the couple is ousted from the garden. The right side shows total desolation and the look of frustration and regret in the couple’s faces while an angel drives them away (Web Gallery of Art). Giotto di Bondon e (1266-1337) is another renowned Italian artist whose works have been influenced by Pietro Cavallini, Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. In 1304, he began a series of 38 frescoes in the Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel in Padua which mostly depict biblical images His works builds up a rhythm from solemn and slow-moving to supremely forceful drama but are filled with compassion (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). He is also adept in the use of space, adding appropriate figures in the background culled from his own interpretation of the image making them powerful visions. In The Last Judgment, Giotto paints the top part to show heaven with Jesus in the middle and the apostles at both sides while the lower part shows the chosen that are blessed to enter the gates of heaven on the left side and the doomed that are sent to hell on the right side. Archangels Michael and Raphael are in the middle holding the cross (artbible.info). Ladis suggests that Giotto’s wit and humor is evident in his work especially in his treatment of hell in the painting. Those subjected to eternal damnation are depicted trying their best to escape their judgment but none can hide, as everyone is owned by Satan (586). Both artists are expert in capturing the emotions of the subjects and in turn, evoking the emotions of their viewers. Michelangelo has been known to be a master in the human form, and this shows