Steroids Essay Example

Steroids Essay There is a huge national concern over the misuse and abuse of anabolic steroids for enhancement of muscular stature and performance among competitive athletes.   Latest estimates have shown that approximately 5% of all high school students have used anabolic steroids, with almost half of the high students believing that these drugs are not harmful to their health.   Drug enforcement legislations have included anabolic steroids in its list of traffic-controlled substances (21 USC Sec. 801 1/22/02; Schedule III).   However, the bigger picture of the medical and research benefits of anabolic drugs have been overlooked due to the sensationalize media coverage of these drugs.   Current scientific researches are still inconclusive on whether anabolic steroids are extremely unsafe for administration, opposite to what has been actively claimed by anti-drug officials and government authorities.The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 (ASCA) was established to regulate the distribution of anabolic steroids in the United States.   The Drug Enforcement Administration of the U.S. Department of Justice has been mandated to implement measures to protect the people from these dangerous drugs.   A four-part definition of anabolic steroids serves as a blueprint to identify any analogues of the chemical substance that may be uncontrollably dispensed to athletes and other youths.   The definition included substances that are chemically and pharmacologically similar to testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, as well as a very close likeness in its enhancement for muscle growth.   The Act classified anabolic steroids in the same category as barbiturates and LSD precursors and claim that these substances result in dangerous effects to the human body.   The Act declares that any individual caught in the possession of these anabolic steroids will be arrested and prosecuted.   The list of anabolic steroids in the Act is continuously being updated, as new versions of th ese drugs are progressively being created through the years.Anabolic androgenic steroids are testosterone derivatives that are mainly used for muscle and performance enhancement.   These drugs are frequently used by competitive athletes in order to achieve an edge or better control of their physical strength and performance during professional sports games.   Retrospective surveys indicated that anabolic steroids have been used since the 1960s to date (Duchaine, 1983), with current national user rates ranging from 3% to 9% among high school students alone.   The exact effect of anabolic steroids in the developing human body has not been fully studied, and the increase in number of reports of teenage athletes committing suicide has called the attention of the legislation to assess and review drug enforcement laws covering this specific drug.It has been reported that the prolonged use of anabolic steroids have may cause a number of adverse effects to the human body, including li ver damage, gynecomastia, atherogenesis, psychiatric disorders such as aggression and violence, and even death (Balbigian, 2001; Brower, 2002; Glazer, 1991; Pope and Katz, 1990; Malone et al. 1995).   Investigations on the nationwide use of anabolic steroids have prompted Congress to establish the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, which mainly indicates that the non-medical employment of anabolic steroids is punishable by law.   Any violations will be penalized by at least 15 days to 5 years imprisonment and/or $1,000 to $1,000,000 fine, depending on the extent of the violation.   So far, the general public has supported the Anabolic Steroid Control Act, mostly due to the massive and militant media coverage of the topic.The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 classified anabolic steroids as any drug or substance related to testosterone and used for muscle growth increase.   They are Schedule III of controlled substances.   The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 amen dment added hormone precursors such as androstenedione and androstenediol as controlled substances without a prescription.   Most anabolic steroids used in the United States come through the black market from other countries.   Even though sources may state the steroids are made by pharmacists and physicians, no one actually knows who produced them or how they were produced.  Ã‚   Some were produced in non-sterile environments while others may be for the use of animals but sold for human use.   Production of steroids sold illegally may have substitutions or other problems which can cause the contents to be dangerous even lethal.   Many sold via the internet are fake steroids which have contained cooking oil or toxic substances that produced methanol and/or blood poisoning.   Incorrect packaged doses and tampering of the product can also be suspected.   Since some users use more than one steroid at a time, dangers of consuming bad substances is increased.   You dont know how some of those ingredients will react together.Some research indicates anabolic steroid use may lead users to other illegal and/or legal drugs to counteract some of the side effects, especially for insomnia.   There is a limited amount of research and studies in this area.   A list of possible physical and psychological side-effects of anabolic steroid use has been reported.   These include coronary heart disease, which specifically increases the thickness and enlargement of the left ventricle.   Another side-effect is the decreased size of the user’s testicles, as well as the experience of immunodeficiencies.   The athlete who has taken anabolic steroids will also feel invincible and will actually show an aggressive behavior.   It has been reported the Hitler historically used anabolic steroids during World War II in order to increase his aggressiveness towards his troops.   In terms of damage to human health, anabolic steroids destroy the liver as well as transform connective tissues to a condition that these are easily injured or torn.Adolescents taking anabolic steroids have been reported to show stunted growth and suffer from blood clots and insomnia or unusual sleep patterns.   In terms of the effects of anabolic steroid on an individual’s blood chemistry, there are reported that a user will experience an elevated LDL cholesterol level as well as a lowering of HDL cholesterol level.   Interestingly, adults taking anabolic steroids experience moderate to severe acne because anabolic steroids influence changes in his endocrine system.   An anabolic steroid user also faces the chance of acquiring prostate cancer at an earlier age.   Certain male anabolic steroid users observe that their breasts start developing and some users experience temporary to permanent infertility.   Other users have stimulated appetites, psychoses and mood swings.   Increasing the dosage and combining steroids also increases risks of p ossible side effects.   Some side effects can be reversed after stoppage of steroid use and other effects cannot be reversed.   It should be noted that the results of side effects may take months or years before they are apparent even after the individual has stopped using them.   Recent evidence indicates withdrawal symptoms occur in long-term users who stop using anabolic steroids.However, the actual negative effects of the use of anabolic steroidal drugs have not been comprehensively investigated to date, and that the reports that have been disclosed in the media have been isolated cases picked out from millions of cases of teenage users around the United States.   Scientifically, the adverse effects from the prolonged use of anabolic steroids remain inconclusive to date, and in actuality, anabolic steroid use has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of medical disorders.   In one report, it has lately been determined that the effect of an anabolic steroid to t he treatment of weight loss in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is equivalently effective and safe as compared to the commonly administered recombinant growth hormone that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Storer et al. 2005).   In another scenario, the administration of an anabolic steroid has been beneficial in prostate cancer patients by preventing further migration of prostate cancer cells to other parts of the body (Guerini et al. 2005).   The anabolic steroid oxandrolone has been successfully used in the treatment of muscle loss in patients diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and may be a potential powerful candidate for general treatment of such types of patients (Balagopal et al. 2006).Scientific research shows that anabolic steroids provide more beneficial effects than what has been claimed by legislation as serious, adverse effects to the human body.   More so, the negative reports that have associated with the use of a nabolic steroids have not been investigated scientifically and have only achieved much attention through the help of media and press coverage.   Therefore, it is imperative that the legislative bodies review the restrictions associated with the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 and fully determine the actual effects of anabolic steroid intake.   It is regretful to know that there are other drugs and activities that are much more deleterious or harmful to people but are not actively controlled by the Senate, including smoking, cosmetic surgery and over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which has caused even more cases of deaths and hospitalizations that anabolic steroids.Based on the above information on the current status, knowledge and use of anabolic steroids, several advocacy groups have proposed that anabolic steroids be legalized for use in the United States.   In turn, these groups emphasize the need for further scientific research to determine the mech anisms of action of each type of anabolic drug to gain a better understanding of its indications and contraindications.   There should be a comprehensive survey on the frequency of use of anabolic steroids across the human population, with stratified categories of users such as teenage athletes, geriatric patients, cancer patients, and so on.   Any cases that report any adverse effect from use of anabolic steroids should be properly documented and analyzed.   Should there be sufficient reason that anabolic steroids be stopped from circulation in the community, these advocacy groups are willing to review these effects once significant information has been gathered from reliable reports.;

Magic Rocks Crystal Growing Kit Review

Magic Rocks Crystal Growing Kit Review Compare Prices Magic Rocks are a classic instant crystal growing kit. You pour a magic solution over magic rocks and a fanciful crystal garden starts growing as you watch. Are Magic Rocks worth trying? Heres my review of the Magic Rocks kit. What You Get What You Need There are different Magic Rock kits on the market. Some of them only include the Magic Rocks and the Magic Solution. I bought a kit that included a plastic display tank and some decorations. If you dont get a kit that includes a display tank, you will need a small plastic or glass bowl (a small fishbowl works). For any kit, you will need: room temperature water (~70 °F)measuring cupplastic spoon or wooden stick My Experience with Magic Rocks I grew Magic Rocks when I was a kid. I still think they are fun. They arent a fool-proof project, though. Success depends on one thing: following the directions! Read the directions before beginning this project. The exact instructions will depend on your kit, but they go something like this: Read the instructions.Mix the Magic Solution with the amount of water indicated in the instructions. Be sure the water is room temperature and not hold/cold. Mix the solution well (this is important).Place half of the Magic Rocks on the bottom of the display tank. The rocks should not touch each other or the sides of the tank.Pour in the diluted Magic Solution. If any of the rocks were disturbed, use ​a  plastic spoon or wooden stick to put them back in place. Do not use your finger!Set the container somewhere where it wont get bumped. This location should have a stable temperature and should be out of reach of young children and pets.Look! The crystals start growing immediately. Its pretty cool.About 6 hours later, add the other half of the Magic Rocks. Try to avoid landing them on each other or against the side of the container.After another 6 hours, carefully dump the Magic Solution down the drain. Flush this solution away with lots of water to be sure no one will acciden tally touch it. Gently fill the tank with clean room-temperature water. If the water is cloudy, you can replace the water a couple more times to cleanse the tank.At this point, your Magic Rocks are complete. You can top off the display tank with water to keep the crystal garden as long as you like. What I Liked and Didnt Like About Magic Rocks What I Liked Instant gratification. Crystals begin to grow as soon as you add the Magic Solution to the Magic Rocks. You dont have to wait around for something to happen.The crystal garden is beautiful. Nothing looks quite the same.The project is easy.You can keep your creation indefinitely. What I Didnt Like Magic Rocks are not non-toxic. The ingredients are harmful if swallowed, plus they are a skin and eye irritant. That makes them unsuitable for very young children. Keep them away from pets, too. It is safe to rinse the materials down the drain, but clean-up is a little more critical than with non-toxic projects.You can get poor results if you dont adhere to the instructions. If the rocks are too close together, your crystals will look flat and uninteresting. If your water is too warm or too cold your crystals will be too spindly to support themselves or will be stunted.The instructions dont explain the science behind how Magic Rocks work. In case you are wondering, you arent really growing crystals in this project. You are precipitating colored metal salts. Its still awesome. The Bottom Line Magic Rocks have been around since the 1940s and are still around today because this project is a lot of fun, is easy to do, and makes an interesting chemical garden. I might hold off on playing with Magic Rocks if I had very young children in the house (recommended age is 10), but otherwise, I think they are great. You could make your own Magic Rocks, but most kits are inexpensive. Magic Rocks are a memorable science project. Compare Prices

Which AP Classes Should You Take Planning Guide

Which AP Classes Should You Take Planning Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips So you’ve decided you want to add an AP class to your schedule. Maybe you want to take even more than one! Good for you – taking AP classes is a great way to start challenging yourself in high school. Now comes the hard part: choosing which AP class (or classes) you should take. This guide will walk you through different factors to consider and help you decide on the best AP classes to take. What Steps Should You Take When Deciding on AP Classes? There's a lot more to choosing AP classes than just choosing a course that sounds interesting or that your friends are taking. AP classes can have big benefits, like strengthening your college applications and earning you college credit. However, if you don't choose your AP classes wisely, you could end up in a class that is overwhelming, boring, and/or drags down your GPA because you can't get a high grade in it. By carefully considering which AP classes to take, you can maximize the benefits you get from them while minimizing the drawbacks. Below are six steps you should take to ensure you've considered all the major factors needed for choosing the best AP classes for you. #1: Consider Your Strengths Before you even look too closely atyour school’s available classes, start by thinking about what topics interest you and which subjects you tend to do well in. AP classes can be very difficult even if you're interested in the subject material, so it would be especially challenging to get yourself to study for something you really dislike, even if you think taking a particular AP class will look good on a college application. Instead, you should aim for AP classes that you are interested in and think you can do well in. Explore our list of AP classes to get started. Also think about your favorite classes so far in high school or even back in middle school. Classes you enjoy are a good predictor of the type of AP class you will like and do well in. #2: Learn What Prerequisites You Need Once you have considered your own personal strengths, also think about classes you have taken that could prepare you for an AP class. You shouldn’t jump into an AP class unprepared! Often your school will mandate prerequisites anyway, like requiring pre-calculus before you can take AB or BC Calculus. Some schools even require you to take a placement test to get into certain AP classes! If your school doesn’t have prerequisites, or if you’re having a hard time deciding between classes, think about all of your past preparation. It can be more than just one prior class. For example, if you’ve taken honors English each year since seventh grade and also write on the school newspaper, you would likely be well prepared for AP English Language or AP English Literature. Conversely, say you took Honors Biology last year and didn’t do too well. AP Biology will probably be challenging for you, even though you technically have the prerequisite under your belt. So unless you like biology and are up for the challenge, you shouldn’t force yourself through AP Bio just because you think it will look good on your transcript. In short, consider both your school’s mandatory prerequisites and your own broader preparation. Try and aim for classes you think you are very prepared for, especially if this is your first AP class! Since in an AP class, you will also have to learn how to study for a cumulative exam – in other words a single test that covers a year of material – you should make sure your first AP class is in a subject you do well in. Don’t underestimate the added challenge of the AP exam. #3: Consider Other Skills Certain AP Classes Will Require In this discussion about prerequisite courses, you might be wondering about AP courses like Human Geography, Economics, Computer Science, Psychology and Statistics, which often don’t have direct prerequisites. When considering those classes, think about the skills you have built up – because again, even if your school doesn’t have a prerequisite for those AP classes, you still shouldn’t walk in unprepared. Learning to code in Java for AP Computer Science will likely be a brand new experience, so you should come prepared with strong logic and problem-solving skills! For example, if you want to take Computer Science, Statistics, or Economics, a strong math background is important. Even though you won’t spend tons of time in those classes solving equations, the logic and skills you learn in math classes are necessary to take on CS or Economics. For Psychology, think about how well you do in science and social studies, and also consider how good you are at memorizing things, since you’ll have to master the structure of the brain. For Human Geography, consider how well you do in geography and history courses and whether you enjoy them. Also consider your ability to take a broad idea and apply it to a concrete case study – as an example, are you able to pick out patterns in historical events? This is a skill you will need for Human Geography. To learn more about individual AP courses and the material they cover, see the AP student website. As you read course descriptions, think about how they relate to other classes you have taken and the skills you have. #4: Learn What Specific AP Classes Are Like at Your High School You should also consider which classes are offered at your school and what their reputations are when choosing AP classes. For example, at my high school in Salt Lake City, AP BC Calculus was known as a challenging class with lots of homework. During the second semester, you had to take it for two class periods! In contrast, AP Physics was seen as laid-back, and students were expected to manage most of the studying on their own. Students who needed structure thrived in Calculus, while others who liked to work more independently did well in Physics. But the reverse was also true – some students got burned out by BC Calc, and others didn’t have the motivation to study for Physics and so even though they passed the class, they failed the AP test. That AP Physics class was also famous for building trebuchets and testing them out during school hours. In short, teachers approach AP courses differently. Some expect their students to manage their own studying, like in a real college course. Others make sure their students are prepared by assigning a ton of work. As you choose AP classes and learn about their reputations at your school, think about your own study habits and what kind of classroom environment will help you do your best. There are many other school-specific factors to consider: who teaches the AP classes? What are their pass rates? How hard are the classes themselves to pass? How many students take the class each year? These are questions you can take to your guidance counselor, the AP teachers themselves, teachers who teach the prerequisite classes, or even upperclassmen friends. (Though don’t rely just on student word-of-mouth, since it can be biased!) If your school is adding an AP class for the first time this year, think carefully before taking it – it’s always tough teaching a class for the first time, especially an AP class. There might be some growing pains that first year as the teacher works out the curriculum. Veteran AP teachers are often a safe bet, because they will have strategies for preparing students for the exam. Often they will be involved in AP grading as well, so they will have lots of insight into how to pass the test. #5: Think About How Busy You Are AP classes are big time commitments, especially in the spring (see our post on test dates for tips on dealing with the spring time test crunch). Some teachers require extra study sessions, including on the weekends, to give you time to take practice tests. So before signing up for a slew of AP classes, think about the other commitments you already have. Especially if you have a very time-consuming sport or extracurricular activity, taking more than two or three AP classes could overload your schedule. Even if you have friends who are taking several AP courses, don't feel like you have to keep up with them. Keep your own strengths and limitations in mind. It’s better to pass two exams than to fail four! If you’re not sure if you’ll have the time to take on an AP class, talk to your parents/guardians (or a guidance counselor or teacher if you have a good relationship) for advice. Also find out if you will be able to switch out of the course mid-year if you realize you don’t have enough time for it. #6: Think About Which APs Best Fit Your College and Career Goals AP Exams are a great way to begin exploring future college and career options. They are also a great way to signal on your college applications that you are considering what you want to study in college and are developing the skills for college classes. When I was in high school, I was positive I wanted to study political science or international relations in college. So in addition to activities like Debate and Model United Nations, I also took AP classes like Statistics, World History, US History, US Government, Human Geography, and Environmental Science. All of these courses helped me explore topics and issues that college political science courses tackle, and also gave me skills – from the ability to analyze a poll to being able to break down an article’s viewpoint and bias – that prepared me for political science. Remember to keep your end goal in mind! On my college applications, I was able to show my interest in political science with both my extracurricular activities and the advanced classes I was taking. In addition to my test scores and GPA, being able to show colleges I was serious about what I wanted to study helped me be successful during the application process. In short, think about your future goals and how your class choices now can support them. AP classes are a concrete way to demonstrate on your applications that you are serious about a certain major and have the skills to pursue it. To take another example, if you want to be a doctor, tackling AP Biology and AP Chemistry can give you a taste of what the pre-med major will be like, and you can get a sense of whether you would be up for it. It will also show college admissions officers that you are serious about pre-med. If you’re stuck between two AP choices that otherwise seem good (you’ve taken the prerequisites and they have good teachers), go with the one that you think will be more relevant to your major or future goals. Also keep in mind that taking an AP Language exam, if you’re ready, is a great way to show second language proficiency to colleges. Many colleges offer credit for AP language, so it can free up time for other classes. Summary: The Best AP Classes for You We've covered a lot of important factors in determining which AP courses are the best for you to take. You should first look to your strengths and prerequisites to see what you naturally have a good shot at doing well in. Then, you should look at your personal schedule and find out the reputation of AP classes at your school to figure out which classes you can handle, and which ones are out of reach. Finally, you should consider what kind of applicant you want to appear as to colleges. This will help you plan your coursework to support your goals. What’s Next? Learn more about how AP exams are scored to help you choose. Also check out our post about how many AP classes you should take for advice on an AP schedule for the most selective schools. If you’re serious about APs, you should also be thinking about the SAT and ACT. The first step is deciding which test to tackle, which you can do with our guide. Once you’ve chosen between the ACT and SAT, come up with a target score to help you study! Use our guides for the SAT and ACT to come up with a score based on your top choice schools. If you're shooting for the Ivy League, learn more about the kind of scores you will need. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Discuss how mass production transformed architecture by focusing on Research Paper

Discuss how mass production transformed architecture by focusing on either canonical works of modern architects or the works of - Research Paper Example This article shall discuss how mass production transformed architecture, mostly focusing on either canonical works of modern architects or the works of non-architects. Body The introduction of computers have transformed design processes as well as design economics as it has also changed the quality of products which can be secured. The design software which designers have come to use has shifted from being a discerning environment and concept to a more generic mass produced design. The quality, the artistic-focused design as well as the modified quality of buildings, mostly homes, based on architects have generally been indicated for the rich and privileged members of society (Mumford, 2003). However, the traditional concept of prefabricated buildings also includes in the discussion a different type of craft not often seen among the low and middle class. Prefabs seem to be the answer to the issues on governmental housing systems, emergency shelters, as well as the need to secure envi ronmentally friendly homes (Friedman, et.al., 2013). Just as museums have guaranteed for art, the prefabrication exports effective work for the general public. This is known as the commoditization of architecture and this paper shall further discuss the need for a strong interest in prefabs and related commoditization. Prefabs are generally an encompassing term. It is easily understood within the concepts of non-architects with great interest in architecture (Harker, n.d). It is often viewed with confusion by those who are not aware of design concepts. Prefabs also do not present with a specific definition, one which would allow for a strong appreciation and showing in the market. In general, all the houses are created in the US with prefabricated elements, but mostly, they do not have the necessary elements which would indicate that they are genuinely prefab (Harker, n.d). Modular housing is generally associated with prefabricated housing, but should also not be confused with manuf actured housing, within the concepts relating to construction quality as well as associated processes. Although the manufactured homes bring up different ideas on mobile housing, which are not nearly acceptable, modular housing presents more attractive site-assembled parts. Moreover, the Building Research Establishment in Scotland indicates that prefabs, whether they be of full volumetric indication or founded on component application, the need only covers construction applications, not the end-result or product (Phillipson, 2001). In general, there are different elements of prefabs: the kit home, the panels, and the volumetric modules (Blauvelt, 2007). The kit home refers to the parts which would be delivered on site, already packed with different parts to be assembled. The panels call for additional on-site work. One of the panels is delivered in large panels, including the walls, the roof, and floor; the rest are put together by skilled labourers (Buchanan, 2007). The module home covers a complete and defined prefab home. The different parts of the home are built in the factory with all the necessary parts built together, unless the different parts are used due to issues in the transport (Blauvelt, 2007). Moreover, the volumetric module is at 90% completion after shipment. As such, securing results from delivery to the handling of keys covers a

Capstone Project Scenario Solution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Capstone Project Scenario Solution - Essay Example This paper will discuss from the point of view of an administrator, who intends to start a mobile MRI scan service and also analyzes its opportunities, challenges etc. Normally, if there is a quite a good concentration of human population, the risk of humans getting physical injury and abnormalities will always be there. If the population is higher, the risk element will also rise, and the risk will translate into actual cases of persons getting injured and having abnormalities. As there will be the need to diagnose this injured, the opportunity of using MRI will also get optimized. The administrator’s management of the orthopaedic surgery practice would have given him/her enough work experience, which would, gave him/her a clear and confident vision of the scope of MRI service. And this vision can be easily used to turn the challenge into opportunity. â€Å"Vision gives you the impulse to make the picture your own† (Collier). That is, as an administrator of an orthopaedic surgery practice, he/she may know the importance of the MRI scan, for the treatment of majority of the orthopaedic cases. As orthopedics is the specialized branch of medicine, which deals with ‘internal’ bones, tissues, muscles and nerves, MRI will be of great use. Internal is the key word because no orthopaedic specialist could pinpoint an injury or any abnormality just from viewing the external body. So in that case, only scientific equipment like MRI scans will be the viable option. â€Å"MRI†¦is a non-invasive method used to render images of the inside of an object. It is primarily used in medical imaging to demonstrate pathological or other physiological alterations of living tissues.† (wikipedia.com). And that MRI will be put to great use, if the MRI services become portable. That is, when one gets injured in the any part of limbs (upper and the lower included) or in any other important bones, one cannot move with comfort. They need to be brought to the orthopaedic

Scope And Limitation Of The Research Study Marketing Essay

Scope And Limitation Of The Research Study Marketing Essay Transition from a centrally-planed economy to market-economic structure, the Vietnamese market becomes more dynamic. All business and production activities are encouraged investment to contribute into economic growth and stabilization of the nation. Like other industries, investment in telecommunication services locally is welcomed and facilitated. The Vietnamese telecommunication service industry has rapidly developed. Together with development of the country, demand for communication quickly increases and high quality services are much preferred. More and more telecommunication service providers enter into the Vietnamese mobile service market. At present, there are 7 operators including VNPT, Viettel, EVN Telecom, SPT, HanoiPT, GTel and CMC. All players are facing the fierce competition. Most of the operators try to exploit their distinctive competencies to gain competitive advantages and use the appropriate competitive strategies to get more customers and make more profit. They try to forecast the customer needs and market trends to designing long-term corporate strategy for over all company to achieve the company objectives. In this situation, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) recognised that development of effective business strategy has been considered as a highest priority in order to protect its leading position in this market. Through business strategy helps the company to have a business plan to develop its strengths, minimize its weaknesses in order to achieve opportunities and avoid threats in the marketplace in which it operates. In such a context, this research study deals with the development of business strategy for VNPT in Vietnamese Mobile service market. 1.2. Problem Statement As the competition is more and more fierce, developing appropriate corporate strategies for a company is the key to success in the market. But how can the company develop such a corporate strategy? In case of Vietnamese telecom service market, its considered that its being in stable stage. Especially the mobile service sector and fixed phone sector, they are considered as being in mature stage of its life-cycle. However in broadband sector, its being in the potential and growth stage. VNPT is the biggest company in Vietnamese Telecom market which obtained the highest market share compare to other competitors. At present, VNPT is facing the intensified competition from many competitors like Viettel, EVN, FPT, SPT,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ who try to reduce product price to get more customers as well as market share. The question is how can VNPT protect its position in the Vietnamese Telecom service market? To answer this question, VNPT needs to develop the corporate strategy to defend its curre nt position and extent business in another potential market. This research study examines how to develop the appropriate corporate strategies for Vietnamese Post and Telecommunications Group in order to protect its leading position and develop its business in the telecom service market. 1.3. Objectives of the Research Study The objectives of this research cover the following issues: To review literature dealing with the strategic management process, especially the process of strategy formulation To analyze opportunities and threats of the Vietnamese telecom service market from external forces such as the market trends, suppliers, consumers, competitors. To analyze the current situation of VNPT in term of strengths and weaknesses of its capacity, market share, and operation activities. To develop the business strategy for VNPT. 1.4. Research Methodology 1.4.1. Analytical Framework This research is presented in the form of a case study exposing the complexities of a real business environment in the Vietnamese telecom market. The purpose of this research is to develop corporate strategies for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group. Thus, it is necessary to the analyze market situation and current corporate strategy of VNPT in order to formulate the corporate strategy. A framework may enable to understand the various linkages and interactions between the variables and to develop corporate strategies of the company. Figure 1.1 illustrates this analytical framework. The objective of external analysis is to identify opportunities and threats in the business environment in which VNPT has to face. Two interrelated environments should be examined at this stage: the macro environment of the Vietnamese market and the micro environment referred to the industry in which VNPT operates. The analysis of the macro environment focuses on examining the key achievements and limitation of the Vietnamese economy, political factors and government policies on the telecom service industry. The analysis of the micro environment involves an assessment of industrial growth, production, consumption pattern and the competition between existing operators in which the analysis the main competitors of VNPT is examined in the terms of strengths and weaknesses about their corporate activities. The internal analysis is devoted to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of VNPT. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the production and business of the company in the terms of capacity, market share, sales volume, finance and corporate activities. After having analyzed the internal and external factors, the corporate strategy alternatives can be developed. To select the best solution, VNPT needs to evaluate the alternatives with respect to the possibility to achieve the corporate objectives. The framework of this study can be illustrated by Figure 1.1 1.4.2. Information Needed To examine this research, information needed consists of the following issues: The Vietnamese Telecom service market reports in recent years, general information about Vietnamese economic climate, economic development, and government policies on the telecom industry are also collected. Competition in the telecom market, which is focused on getting information about main competitors in terms of strengths and weaknesses involved corporate activities such as product, price, distribution and promotion. Information about the current situation of VNPT that needs to be obtained including the company profile, corporate objectives, production capacity, market share, corporate activities. 1.4.3. Data Sources Data and information needed for conducting the research were basically obtained from the following main sources: Primary data: Interviews in-depth with managers, key persons of the VNPT Group as well as other specific telecom companies. Secondary source: Data requirements were extracted from the publication of the government offices such as the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communication. Data relating to international context was obtained from the Internet websites, the academic journals Data and information from books and journals, newspapers, articles related to the research were collected in CFVG library and the Vietnamese national library. Data and information were also obtained from VNPT annual reports, from in-depth interviews conducted with VNPT general director, and functional managers. Strategy Strategic management Michael Porter 5 forces SWOT analysis BCG matrix PROBLEM LITERATURE REVIEW SITUATION ANALYSIS Scanning external environment Analyzing competitive environment Scanning internal environment Evaluating current performance results Opportunities Threats Strengths Weaknesses EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF THE STRATEGY CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Figure 1.1 Framework of the research study 1.5. Scope and Limitation of the Research Study This research study is conducted mainly at Vietnamese Posts and Telecommunication Group, Vietnam focus mainly in 3 main sectors: Mobile service, Fixed-phone and Broadband service. The study has been undertaken purely from a viewpoint of strategic management in order to set up a long term development for VNPT. This research has the following limitations: The process of strategic management involves 4 basic stages: (1) environment analysis (2) strategy formulation, (3) strategy implementation, and (4) evaluation and control. The research focuses only 2 steps: environment analysis and strategy formulation. In assessing the strengths and weaknesses of VNPT, the research has not examined its financial ability due to difficulties in gaining and assessing data necessary. Data about the competitors of VNPT mainly collected from secondary data, not from those ports themselves. Therefore, the information of these competitors is not sufficient. The tools which can be used to do strategic analysis are many but the only 5 will be under the research namely: PEST analysis: It is a technique understanding the environment factors like political, economic, social, and technology in which the business operates. Five forces analysis: it is a technique for identifying the forces which affect the level of competition in an industry level and business level. SWOT analysis: it is a useful summary technique for summarizing the key issues arising from an assessment of a businesses internal position and external environmental influences to company. Strategic Choice: This process involves understanding the nature of stakeholder expectations along with identifying strategic options, and then evaluating and selecting strategic options in the business. BCG matrix: It is a technique and analysis that seeks to summarize a businesses overall competitive position in business level and industry level. 1.6. Organization of the Research Study This research is organized in six chapters, as follows: Chapter 1: Introduction provides an introduction including background, problem statement, objectives, scope and limitation of the research study as well as research methodology. Chapter 2: Literature review presents the literature review of the study and summarizes the work of previous studies, it relates to the fundamental ideas on developing business strategy including strategy analysis and strategy designing. Chapter 3: Analyzing external environment covering the economic situation in Vietnam and situation of the telecom service market situation in order to find out opportunities and threats in the environment in which the company operates. Chapter 4: Analyzing internal operation analyzes and assesses the current position of the company regarding strengths and weaknesses of VNPT about its performance, market share and operation activities. Chapter 5: Developing strategies for VNPT conclude about above analysis based on SWOT matrix, BCG matrix identify competitive position and suggest a strategic approach, in particular a competitive strategy for VNPTs development in Mobile service Industry. Based on suggested strategy, recommende functional strategies for VNPT. Chapter 6: Conclusions summarizes the main points draw out from the study.

Change management Essay

Change management is an approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations to a desired future state. In this assignment I will be covering Rollin and Christine Glaser’s (1992) five elements to improve team effectiveness, IT management competencies, reasons for mergers and acquisitions in reference to South African businesses and roles leaders should play during the change process. In the aim to provide one with a better understanding of and insight of change management. Question 1 Rollin and Christine Glaser (1992) the five elements that contribute to the level of a team’s effectiveness over time. These are: †¢ Team mission, planning and goal setting; †¢ Team roles; †¢ Team operating processes; †¢ Team interpersonal relationships; and †¢ Inter team relations. Team mission planning and goal setting The most effective teams have a strong sense of their purpose, organize their work around that purpose, and plan and set goals in line with that purpose. Teams and individuals within teams must have a clear understanding of their objectives. Clarity of objectives together with a common understanding and agreement of these objectives are fundamental. Locke and Latham have identified that the very act of goal setting was a prime motivator for a team; the more your team sets clear goals the more likely it is to succeed. When implementing clear goal setting in a team it will increase the effectiveness ratio. Clear goals are even more substantial when teams are involved in change, partially because unless they know where they are going  they are unlikely to get there, and partly because a strong sense of purpose can mitigate some of the more harmful effects of change. Team roles The team should comprehend their own and other team members roles, and how these link to achieving the team objective. This becomes even more important with teams based remotely and some that are part-time working. The best way for a team to achieve its goals is for the team to be structured logically around those goals. Individual team members need to have clear roles and accountabilities. They need to have a clear understanding not only of what their individual role is, but also what the roles and accountabilities of other team members are. Clear roles have two useful functions. It contributes to a clear sense of purpose and it provides a supportive framework for task accomplishment. Team operating processes A team needs to have certain enabling processes in place for people to carry out their work together. These processes can be seen as ground rules for a team to adhere to. Certain things need to be placed that will allow the task to be achieved in a way that is as efficient and as effective as possible. Processes deals with the issues and decisions and how the team will respond to them in an efficient and effective way without disrupting the work process within the team. During the change process when team change typically puts pressures and priorities it can isolate people away from the team, the team operating processes can act like a lubricant, enabling a smooth healthy team to continually function. Areas that a team need actively label by discussing and agreeing include: †¢ Frequency, timing and agenda of meetings; †¢ Problem-solving and decision-making methodologies; †¢ Ground rules; †¢ Procedures for dealing with conflict when it occurs; †¢ Reward mechanisms for individuals contributing to team goals; †¢ Type and style of review process. Team interpersonal relationships To encourage team members to communicate with one another, share information, communicate openly, respect differences, which will increase relationships and understandings within the team. This all helps to build trust and a better working atmosphere. To achieve clear understanding of goals and roles, the team needs to work together to agree and clarify them. Operating processes must also be discussed and agreed. To achieve this level of communication, the interpersonal relationships within the team need to be in a relatively healthy state. Allowing for open communication that is assertive and task focused, as well as creating opportunities for giving and receiving feedback aimed at creating development. High levels of trust within a team are the foundation for coping with conflict. Inter-team relations Regular communication flows between teams are essential as they help to keep up with changing situations and ensure the right thing is being delivered. Teams cannot work in isolation with expecting in achieving their organizational objectives. The nature of organizations today are complex, sophisticated and with increasing loose and permeable boundaries. Teams need to connect more. It is also because the environment is changing faster and is more complex, so keeping in touch with information outside of your own team is a basic survival strategy. Question 2 IT MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES †¢ Business deployment: A systematical procedure of implementing an activity, processes, programs, or systems to all concerning areas of an organization to achieve a particular outcome. Communicate the value offered by emerging IT organisations. This needs to be coupled with the use of IT teams, with good knowledge of IT, to improve IT solutions. Examination of the potential business value of new, emerging IT Utilization of multidisciplinary teams throughout the organization Effective working relationships among line managers and IT staff Technology transfer, where appropriate, of successful IT applications Platforms and services Adequacy of IT-related knowledge of line managers throughout the organization Visualizing the value of IT investments throughout the organization Appropriateness of IT policies Appropriateness of IT sourcing decisions Effectiveness of IT measurement systems †¢ External networks: The network outside a team’s internal network environment which can’t be controlled by the team or the organization. These needs are to create close partnerships with external companies to create more organisational awareness. Existence of electronic links with the organization’s customers Existence of electronic links with the organization’s suppliers Collaborative alliances with external partners (vendors, systems integrators, Competitors) to develop IT-based products and processes. †¢ Line technology leadership: Line technology leadership is a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task within the IT management environment. It is having the ability in organizing a group of people to achieve a common goal. Users such as line managers and senior managers need to participate actively in leading IT  initiatives. Line managers’ ownership of IT projects within their domains of business responsibility Ability of employees throughout the organization to serve as Project Leaders. †¢ Process adaptiveness: The ability to change and adapt suitably and accordingly to suit the IT climate and are able to conform to the new conditions by means of modification. It is also about the companies track record in restructuring its processes, and the existence of an environment where employees can find and explore the functionality of IT systems. Ability of employees throughout the organization to learn about and subsequently explore the functionality of installed IT tools and Applications restructuring of business processes, where appropriate, throughout the organization Visualizing organizational activities throughout the organization. †¢ IT planning IT planning is the process of thinking about and organizing the activities required to achieve a desired goal within an information technology environment. It involves the creation and maintenance of a Strategic plan. The thought process is essential to the creation and refinement of an IT plan in relation to strategic planning, or integration of it with other plans. It combines with developments with the preparation of scenarios of how to react to them. Integration of business strategic planning and IT strategic planning Clarity of vision regarding how IT contributes to business value Effectiveness of IT planning throughout the organization Effectiveness of project management practices. †¢ IT infrastructure IT infrastructure is a combined set of hardware, software, networks, facilities, etc. In order to develop, test, deliver, monitor, control or support IT services. It controls the restructuring, design and architecture of data and networks etc. It is also about the appropriateness and flexibility of the underlying infrastructure which allows innovative IT practices to be emerged. restructuring of IT work processes, where appropriate Appropriateness of data architecture Appropriateness of network architecture Knowledge of and adequacy of the organization’s IT skill base Consistency of object (data, process, rules) definitions Effectiveness of software development practices. Question 3 Growth A lot of commercial mergers and acquisitions are about growing and expansion. Growth normally involves acquiring new customers. Merging or acquiring another company enables a faster way of growth, which detours around the unnecessary, long, tedious and uncertainty process of internally generated growth. It brings with it the risks and challenges of understanding the intended benefits of this activity. The appeal of immediate revenue growth must be weighed up against the negatives of asking management to run an even larger company. Massmart a South African firm has merged with American giants Wal-Mart in hopes to create more and new customers. It can also be about getting access to facilities, brands, trademarks, technology or even employees. This strategy was used to implement growth and expansion in this particular industry. Synergy It’s the cooperation of two or more organizations to produce a combined effect greater than when they were separate . If two organizations are  thought to have synergy, this indicates the potential ability of the two to be more successful when merged than they were apart. This usually translates into: Operating synergies are those synergies that allow firms to increase their operating income from existing assets ,increase growth or both. †¢ Growth in revenues through a newly created or strengthened product or service (hard to achieve) †¢ Cost reductions in core operating processes through economies of scale (easier to achieve) †¢ Financial synergies such as lowering the cost of capital (cost of borrowing, flotation costs) †¢ More competent, clearer governance (as in the merger of two hospitals). However, there may be other gains. Some acquisitions can be motivated by the belief that the acquiring company has better management skills, and can therefore man age the acquired company’s assets and employees more successfully in the long term and more profitably. Mergers and acquisitions can also be about strengthening quite specific areas, such as boosting research capability, or strengthening the distribution network. Diversification Diversification is about growing business outside the company’s traditional industry. This type of merger or acquisition was very popular during the third wave in the 1960s (see box). Although General Electric (GE) has flourished by following a strategy that embraced both diversification and divestiture, many companies following this course have been far less successful. Diversification may result from a company’s need to develop a portfolio through nervousness about the earning potential of its current markets, or through a desire to enter a more profitable line of business. The latter is a tough target, and economic theory suggests that a diversification strategy to gain entry into more profitable areas of business will not be successful in the long run (see Gaughan, 2002 for more explanation of this). A classic recent example of this going wrong is Marconi, which tried to diversify by buying US telecoms businesses. Unfortunately, this was just before the whole teleco ms market crashed, and Marconi suffered badly from this strategy. Integration to achieve economic gains or better services Another increasingly common motive for merger and acquisition activity is to achieve horizontal integration. A company may decide to merge with or acquire a competitor to gain market share and increase its marketing strength. Public sector organizations may merge purely to achieve cost savings (often a guiltily held motivation) or to enhance partnership working in the service of customers. Vertical integration is also an attraction. A company may decide to merge with or acquire a customer or a supplier to achieve at least one of the following: †¢ A dependable source of supply; †¢ The ability to demand specialized supply; †¢ Lower costs of supply; †¢ Improved competitive position. An example of this in South Africa is when Glaxo-Smith Kline (GSK) one of the largest pharmaceutical company worldwide decided to merge with Aspen Pharmaceuticals (Largest Pharmaceutical Company in South Africa) in order to get a better hold of its market position in Africa and by obtaining tenders and contracts by the government to supply local communities within South Africa generic medication and also anti-retrovirals. Defensive measures Some mergers are defensive and are a response to other mergers that threaten the commercial position of a company. Pressure to do a deal, any deal  There is often tremendous pressure on the CEO to reinvest cash and grow reported earnings (Selden and Colvin, 2003). He or she may be being advised to make the deal quickly before a competitor does, so much so that the CEO’s definition of success becomes completion of the deal rather than the longer-term programme of achieving intended benefits. This is dangerous because those merging or acquiring when in this frame of mind can easily overestimate potential revenue increases or costs savings. In short, they can get carried away. Feldmann and Spratt (1999) warn of the seductive nature of merger and acquisition activity. ‘Executives everywhere, but most particularly those in the world’s largest corporations and institutions, have a knack for falling prey to their own hype and promotion.  Implementation is simply a detail and shareholder value is just around the corner. This is quite simply delusional thinking.’ Question 4 There are various views about the role a leader should play in the change process †¢ The machine metaphor implies that the leader sits at the top of the organization, setting goals and driving them through to completion. †¢ The political system metaphor implies that the leader needs to become the figurehead of a powerful coalition which attracts followers by communicating a compelling and attractive vision, and through negotiation and bargaining. †¢ The organism metaphor says the leader’s primary role is that of coach, counsellor and consultant. †¢ The flux and transformation metaphor says the leader is a facilitator of emergent change. Different types of leaders have different types of role. Local line leaders These are the front-line managers who design the products and services and make the core processes work. Without the commitment of these people, no significant change will happen. These people are usually very focused on their own teams and customers. They rely on network leaders to link them with other parts of the organization, and on executive leaders to create the right infrastructure for good ideas to emerge and take root. Executive leaders These are management board members. Senge does not believe that all change starts here. Rather, he states that these leaders are responsible for three key things: designing the right innovation environment and the right infrastructure for assessment and reward, teaching and mentoring local line leaders, and serving as role models to demonstrate their commitment to values and purpose. Network leaders Senge makes the point that the really significant organizational challenges occur at the interfaces between project groups, functions and teams. Network leaders are people who work at these interfaces. They are guides, advisors, active helpers and accessors (helping groups of people to get resource from elsewhere), working in partnership with line leaders. They often have the insight to help local line leaders to move forward and make changes happen across the organization. The interconnections are hard to achieve in reality. We have observed the following obstacles to achieving smooth interconnection between the different roles: †¢ Executive leaders are busy, hard-to-get-hold-of people who can become quite disconnected from their local line leaders. †¢ Executive leaders and local line leaders rarely meet face to face and communicate by e-mail, if at all. †¢ Network leaders, such as internal consultants or process facilitators, are often diverted from their leadership roles by requests either to perform expert tasks or to implement HR-led initiatives. †¢ Network leaders may be busy and effective, but are usually undervalued as leaders of change. They often have to battle to get recognized as important players in the organization. Senge’s model recognizes the need for all three types of leader, and the need for connectivity between different parts of the organization if change is desired. Conclusion: It’s more appropriate in anticipating objections than to spend your time putting out fires,(prevention is better than cure) and understanding how to overcome resistance to change is a essential part of any change management plan. Expecting resistance to change and planning for it from the start of your change management course of action will allow you to effectively and effectively manage objections. Not dealing with change proactively is one of the larger downfalls. In the end all sources of resistance to change need to be acknowledged and employee’s emotions validated in order to move forward with the change. Index Page Glossary of terms Introduction Question 1- Rollin and Christine Glaser (1992) five elements to improve team effectiveness Question 2- Discussing five categories of IT management competences Question 3- Reasons for mergers and acquisitions in reference to South Africa Question 4- Roles leaders play in the change process Conclusion Bibliography and References Glossary of terms Restructuring: This type of corporate action is usually made when there are significant problems in a company, which are causing some form of financial harm and putting the overall business in jeopardy. The hope is that through restructuring, a company can eliminate financial harm and improve the business Acquisition: An act of purchase of one company by another. Merger: The combining of two or more companies, generally by offering the stockholders of one company securities in the acquiring company. Change: The act or instance of making or becoming different. Resistance: The refusal to accept or comply with something, the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. Cognitive: The mental process of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment. References and bibliographies Cameron ,E, Green ,M. â€Å"Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change†. Kogan Page Publishers, (2012) Kotter, J. (July 12, 2011). â€Å"Change Management vs. Change Leadership -What’s the Difference?† Filicetti, John (August 20, 2007). â€Å"Project Management Dictionary†. Conner, Daryl (August 15, 2012). â€Å"The Real Story of the Burning Platform†. Anderson, D. & Anderson, L.A. (2001). Beyond Change Management: Advanced Strategies for Today’s Transformational Leaders.