Category: Action Plan

People often cannot adequately look at their lifestyle and detect problems that may be apparent to others. Some of the habits and choices that seem reasonable to a person may be dangerous in the long-term, leading to significant health problems. Analyzing my life, I can identify a lifestyle that puts me at risk of developing multiple serious conditions, most of which are connected to mental health and physical exertion (Klatt, Steinberg, & Duchemin, 2015).

Due to my busy schedule and occupation that requires significant psychological and physical effort, I often experience stress. Although this issue may not appear as a pressing one, the inability to manage stress changes the minds perception of everyday activities and problems. I should pay more attention to self-care and develop a plan that will allow me to control my stress levels in order to avoid mental and physical health problems in the future.

Identified Health Warning

People in the nursing occupation often experience increased stress that is directly connected to their job. The environment in healthcare facilities requires workers to be compassionate of their patients, which leads to emotional fatigue (Raab, 2014). My problem can be linked to my profession as well  apart from being physically exhausted, I come home feeling emotionally drained as well. The main problem, however, lies in the fact that I cannot deal with stress effectively, allowing it to affect other parts of my life. As a result, I feel tired during the weekends, since I do not know how to help myself relax.

In the long term, the consistent feeling of stress may lead to many health-related issues. For example, mental fatigue and burnout can affect my moods, increasing the risk of such mental disorders as anxiety and depression (Toussaint, Shields, Dorn, & Slavich, 2016). Moreover, stress is connected to substance abuse disorders, tobacco use, and the lack of physical activity.

The literature review reveals that stress has a cumulative effect  Toussaint et al. (2016) state that if a person is unable to develop a strategy of coping with stress, he or she may suffer from a variety of complications. It should be noted that stress also has a substantial impact on peoples work performance, decreasing ones attention span and concentration. The lack of coping mechanisms can result in significant health problems. Raab (2014) points out that insomnia, obesity, and health disease are among the conditions that are exacerbated by anxiety and stress.

Action Plan

The action plan for dealing with stress should include changes not only to the lifestyle but also the perception and analysis of the world. As Raab (2014) notes, people who work in stressful occupations should practice self-compassion and mindfulness in order to shift the attention away from concentrating only on the problems of others. In my case, the role of the health provider affects my ability to separate empathy towards my patients and stress that I feel because of it. Therefore, I am unable to detect the times when I am unable to relax from thinking about my job and related problems.

In order to develop a plan that would assist me in increasing self-compassion, it is necessary to understand the concepts of health, disease, and self-care. For example, Galderisi, Heinz, Kastrup, Beezhold, and Sartorius (2015) describe mental health as a state of internal equilibrium, meaning that a person with good mental health possesses all functions that are necessary for a comfortable existence in the society and the world (p. 231).

A similar definition may describe physical health  an individual in good physical health is not burdened by any issues that prevent him or her from being able to perform all necessary actions. Such explanations are contrasted by the concept of disease, which can be described as a condition in which a persons systems fall out of balance. They fail to function to their full extent, leading to a person feeling pain or distress. Here, self-care can be perceived as a way for an individual to examine his or her well-being and take action if something is out of balance.

The caring theory of Jean Watson can be used as a foundation for designing an action plan for dealing with stress. This ideology underlines the importance of caring for oneself as a part of caring for others and the world (Clark, 2016). Thus, one can propose an initiative that relies on self-compassion and mindfulness without neglecting events that may induce stress. I can utilize yoga to engage in a physical activity that does not exert the body.

Moreover, I can practice mindfulness through medication, relaxing music, interaction with people with the aim to discuss problems and cognitive issues. According to Klatt et al. (2015), these activities can be done in short regular periods to fit in with everyones busy lifestyle.

Conclusion

A stressful lifestyle can lead to various mental and physical health problems. The inability to deal with tense situations is an issue that I experience currently. In the future, regular stress may lead to heart problems, anxiety, depression, and obesity. An action plan based on self-awareness and self-compassion may help me alleviate distress and learn to cope with it. Some activities that help reduce stress include meditation, yoga, relaxation, and conversation with other people.

References

Clark, C. S. (2016). Watsons human caring theory: Pertinent transpersonal and humanities concepts for educators. Humanities, 5(2), 21. Web.

Galderisi, S., Heinz, A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., & Sartorius, N. (2015). Toward a new definition of mental health. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 231-233. Web.

Klatt, M., Steinberg, B., & Duchemin, A. M. (2015). Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An onsite mindfulness based intervention (MBI) for chronically high stress work environments to increase resiliency and work engagement. Journal of Visualized Experiments: JoVE, (101), 52359. Web.

Raab, K. (2014). Mindfulness, self-compassion, and empathy among health care professionals: A review of the literature. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 20(3), 95-108. Web.

Toussaint, L., Shields, G. S., Dorn, G., & Slavich, G. M. (2016). Effects of lifetime stress exposure on mental and physical health in young adulthood: How stress degrades and forgiveness protects health. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(6), 1004-1014. Web.

The Healthy People 2020 outlines a number of priority areas that key agencies in the healthcare sector need to consider if the population is to record improved medical outcomes. Different diseases and conditions are presently affecting more individuals in this country. Medical practitioners, community workers, and general physicians need to be aware of the leading health concerns and implement evidence-based interventions. Obesity is one of the health problems affecting more Americans. This report presents a detailed action plan for educating members of Miami-Dade and ensuring that positive indicators are recorded within six months.

Background

Obesity is a serious condition capable of triggering the development of other diseases, such as stroke, cardiovascular illnesses, and hypertension. Currently, around 1 in every 3 people above 18 years of age is obese (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). This problem is also noticeable in every 1 out of 6 adolescents and children (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). These revelations indicate that around 34 percent of the American adult population is obese (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). This condition is identified as a risk factor for other additional complications, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancers, and premature death (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Proper interventions are needed to address this concern and meet the medical needs of the wider American population.

Project Goals

To launch the intended educational project successfully, the idea of having two SMART goals is recommendable. The first one is to increase awareness about obesity in the selected community within a period of three months and guide people to understand how it triggers additional complications (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). The second goal is engaging beneficiaries to start engaging in evidence-based practices that have the potential to reduce their risks of becoming overweight or obese within three months.

Implementation Plan

An effective plan is essential to make any purposeful community health project successful. The adoption and use of social media platforms will help deliver positive results. A population-focused campaign will form the basis of the intervention. The initiative would entail the use Facebook and Instagram. Since these websites are linked and share information, the intervention will be successful and meet the demands of more people. The created Facebook page will present timely posts on the reality of obesity and some of the causes (Alonzo & Popescu, 2021). The model will be designed in such a way that links to some of the key resources in the selected community are presented. Instagram will help the implementers to present timely photographs and diagrams detailing the nature of this problem. When done effectively, members of the selected community will become informed and aware of the major issues revolving around obesity within the first three months (see Fig. 1).

During the next three months of the project, the messages will change in such a way that they will present additional guidelines for engaging in physical activities and having healthful diets. The plan will allow more followers to fast when necessary and consider the right time for engaging in exercises. Instagram will offer additional charts, graphical representations, and photographs to support the initiative (Alonzo & Popescu, 2021). The users will receive timely messages encouraging them to share some of the recorded experiences with their colleagues, friends, and neighbors.

The adoption of Social Media Best Approaches will support the project implementation plan. According to the Social Media Toolkit designed by CDC, campaigns relying on social media need to be precise and limited. The implementers will only provide short messages in a scheduled manner. This strategy is intended to encourage more people to remain engaged and seek additional information from the project (Blake et al., 2021). The fact that Instagram and Facebook share information indicate that the much needed traffic will be recorded. The planners will need to complete these activities in accordance with the proposed time-plan.

Project Justification

The potential success of the proposed project is founded on two factors. The first one is that there is a growing need for Americans to appreciate the nature of this problem. According to the Healthy People 2020, more adults in the country are at a higher risk of becoming obese or overweight (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Specifically, statistics reveal that around 34 percent of the population is affected by this health problem (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Children and young individuals have not been left behind since around 16 percent of individuals aged 1-18 years are either overweight or obese (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). Past scholars have completed additional studies to examine the nature of this problem. The findings have revealed that obesity remains a major health challenge associated with the increasing burden on the medical sector (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). It is also known to disorient the overall effectiveness of the implemented care delivery systems.

Studies have gone further to identify obesity as a leading risk factor for additional diseases. People who have this heath problem would be at risk of developing heart disease, T2D, stroke, and even hypertension. Most of these subsequent conditions tend to be chronic in nature and will eventually affect the overall experiences and outcomes of the affected population. These attributes present a compelling reason for launching the intended project (Blake et al., 2021). The approach will engage more members of the American population and help them appreciate the need to address this health concern.

The second factor capable of supporting and sustaining this project is because obesity is a controllable health problem. According to the Healthy People 2020, the move to allow and guide more people to engage in physical activities could help transform the situation for the better (Healthy People 2020, n.d.). The website also reveals that individuals who consider a balanced or healthful diet will reduce their chances of developing this medical condition (Blake et al., 2021). The concept of body mass index (BMI) stands out as an effective strategy for helping people achieve their meaningful health goals. These considerations show conclusively that the proposed project is capable of engaging more people and guiding them to overcome their primary medical concerns (Voorveld et al., 2018). The success of the project will eventually deliver the much needed goal of making Americans healthy.

Selected Community

The selected community for implementing this project is Miami-Dade in Florida. This region has increased cases of obesity in comparison with the national average. It is also associated with the presence of diverse populations who could benefit from the proposed initiative. The planners will identify the available resources in the community and guide the targeted followers to access them (Obesity Action, n.d.). To achieve positive results, the project will be launched in May. Within the first three months, the intended results will have to be in line with the first objective while the remaining three will be for the second one.

Teaching Materials

Since this project revolves around the use of social media, websites and online resources will be the primary materials needed to deliver positive results. For instance, users will be provided with the links to the CDC, the Healthy People 2020, Healthiest Weight Florida, Obesity Action, and Florida Health (Obesity Action, n.d.). The inclusion of these websites will allow more people to acquire additional information on obesity and the medical conditions associated with it.

To support the effectiveness of this project, it will be appropriate to offer additional documents and self-help materials to allow more people to address their medical problems. For example, a sample pamphlet published online will empower more users and understand how they can maintain their BMIs. For instance, adults relying on the social media campaign or project will know that the ideal BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.9 (Blake et al., 2021). This understanding will encourage overweight individuals to have healthy diets and increase their physical activities. The inclusion of these teaching materials will, therefore, support the project and meet the medical needs of more people in Miami-Dade.

Nursing Interventions

The realization of the outlined goals and objectives depends on the effectiveness of the nursing interventions put in place. The first approach will focus on the best ways to increase physical exercises. During the project, nursing need to develop outlined procedures for guiding obese and overweight social media users to engage in a wide range of activities. The plan needs to indicate the appropriate time during the day, the number of sessions in a week, and the best approaches to get the most from them (Alonzo & Popescu, 2021). The nurses can go further to streamline the guidelines in such a way they are personalized depending on the requests they receive from some of the social media followers.

The second nursing intervention for this project is a detailed plan for having a healthy diet. The professionals will identify the number of calories one needs to have and how to make accurate calculations. The plan will also outline the number of meals a person needs to have and the time period between each (Blake et al., 2021). The intervention could include additional items, such as the procedures for decreasing sugar and high energy foods. Such guidelines will guide more people to record the much needed outcomes.

Public and Private Partnerships

The inclusion of different private and public agencies can make this campaign sustainable and eventually deliver meaningful results. First, the major organizations and public departments in Florida will be allowed to be part of the process. Social media users will receive links to some of these stakeholders, such as Healthiest Weight Florida, Obesity Action, and Florida Health. Other key agencies will be the CDC and the Healthy People 2020. The campaign will go further to guide users to contact local hospitals, community health facilities, and social work programs (Obesity Action, n.d.). Different professionals will also be encouraged to join the campaign, such as nurse practitioners, clinicians, dieticians, and community health workers.

Timeline

Conclusion

The proposed action plan is informed by the problematic nature of obesity in the selected community. The available statistics support the implementation of evidence-based interventions to inform more people about this disease. Such beneficiaries will consider the best practices, physical engagements, and healthy diets that can help them maintain their BMIs. The involvement of key stakeholders and the use of social media platforms will make the project successful.

References

Alonzo, D., & Popescu, M. (2021). Utilizing social media platforms to promote mental health awareness and help seeking in underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10(1), 156-165. Web.

Blake, H., Watkins, K., Middleton, M., & Stanulewicz, N. (2021). Obesity and diet predict attitudes towards health promotion in pre-registered nurses and midwives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13419-13438. Web.

Healthy People 2020 (n.d.). Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. Web.

Obesity Action. (n.d.). Florida state resources. Web.

Voorveld, H. A. M., van Noort, G., Muntinga, D. G., & Bronner, F. (2018). Engagement with social media and social media advertising: The differentiating role of platform type. Journal of Advertising, 47(1), 38-54. Web.

Introduction

Care delivery settings are stressful environments, in which nurses experience pressure not only to meet patients needs but also to interact with each other and avoid conflicts effectively. However, the extreme workload, the lack of staff, the unequal distribution of resources, leadership issues, and other complications can lead to different conflicts among professionals, subsequently contributing to disruptions in operations. In this assignment, a recurring conflict in a hospital setting in Miami will be discussed for the purpose of developing an effective action plan for subsequent conflict resolution.

Description of the Conflict in a Hospital Setting

The conflict in question occurred between nurses and their managers who did not provide a schedule for his employees work and left nurses to decide how they would distribute shifts between each other. This led to an even conflict between nurses who could not come to an agreement on who should and should not work night shifts. The nurses said that their supervisor thought that we have no personal lives and was extremely condescending when trying to resolve the problem. This conflict arose because the practice of negotiating a schedule was not usual for nurses; they were generally preoccupied with patient care and fulfilling their responsibilities without the burden of being worried about their schedule. However, their manager decided to delegate his responsibility to nurses to reduce his workload. It is important to note that the manager mentioned that he wanted to make it easier for employees to choose shifts appropriate for them and that it was not a big deal.

At the moment, nurses follow a temporary plan of shift distribution that seemed the fairest to them. Although, some of them have children and need to be at home at night while others are still studying and have to attend lectures, which creates more complications for nurses because they are not used to negotiating schedules and have usually resolved any issues with the manager. The conflict continues to be unresolved because the supervisor verified the temporary plan and refused to make any changes to it. As nurses started following the plan, they have noticed more disruptions in the process because some of them struggled with coming in time for morning shifts due to university deadlines while others showed poor performance due to not being used to working at night.

Stages of Conflict

Since any conflict is composed of four stages, it is important to discuss them in the context of the described situation in the Miami hospital setting. Latent conflict is the first stage and characterizes different factors that can potentially cause conflicts. In the presented case, these factors included the managers decision not to develop a fair schedule that would ultimately upset nurses. Perceived conflict is the second stage and arises from a misunderstanding between parties. In the scenario with the nurses and their manager, the perceived conflict is associated with the fact that workers did not understand why they had to be the ones to develop the schedule when this job was clearly meant to be done by their supervisor. Felt conflict is the next stage and is characterized by certain attitudes and tense atmosphere in which a conflict is about to manifest. In the case of nurses, the felt conflict was in their personal dissatisfaction with the actions of their manager as well as with the latters condescending attitude towards his subordinates. Manifest conflict is the last stage and is associated with the actual argument characterized by open confrontations, disobedience, sabotage, aggression, and poor behavior. In the scenario, the manifest conflict is seen in arguments between nurses who had to collaborate for developing a schedule, the unproductive conversations between the supervisor and his subordinates, as well as confrontations in the workplace when nurses were dissatisfied with their schedule.

Is Delegation an Issue?

Delegation is definitely an issue in the described scenario because the manager assigned his responsibility to subordinates and made them decide on how the schedule should be created. While delegation is an aspect of management leadership, it is important to note that the one who delegated his or her work should be held accountable. The manager, on the other hand, did not want to take any responsibility for his actions and left his subordinates in a stressful and unfair situation that encouraged arguments among them.

Conflict Resolution

Resolving a conflict between a supervisor or manager and their subordinates is a complicated task since the majority of misunderstandings in the nursing workplace are mitigated by the management. However, developing effective resolution strategies is essential for ensuring that caregivers do not experience further stress that disrupts their productivity (Johansen, 2012). Because the conflict described in the scenario involves a nursing manager and his subordinates, the higher management of the hospital should engage in its resolution. The first stage of the strategy should include clarification of the issue by getting a perspective from both sides of the argument. The second stage is recommended to include a collaborative model of behavior to facilitate communication between the manager and his subordinates. As reported by Baddar, Salem, and Villagracia (2016), the cooperative strategy was shown to be the most preferred style of conflict resolution that nurses in hospitals use. Importantly, collaboration is a strategy that nurses not only use with regards to the communication between each other but also when resolving conflicts with patients. Usually, nursing managers use the strategy of compromise as their primary method of conflict resolution; this method can also be applied to mitigate the argument because nurses usually exhibit an avoidance approach (Johansen, 2012).

Balancing compromise and avoidance may be challenging, especially because nurses are generally fearful of expressing opinions when dealing with conflicts while managers are eager to challenge their opponents for reaching a consensus. An effective conflict resolution strategy to mitigate the negative atmosphere in the hospital setting should conclude with fostering a positive work environment of respect for the entire healthcare team (McKibben, 2017). It is important to note that the goal of a hospital setting is ensuring the provision of high-quality care to patients, which means that regardless of the situation in the workplace, patients and their well-being are a priority for nurses and their managers.

Important points to consider during conflict resolution include cultural differences of people involved in the argument as well as attention to different grievance systems that employees may have. With regard to cultural differences, nurses come from different backgrounds and therefore approach the issue of conflict resolution according to their cultural roles. For instance, it has been found that Hispanic individuals prefer using social influences and negotiations in a conflict compared to North Americans (Gomez & Taylor, 2017). Also, the manager and nurses should also take into account that their personal grievance systems may be different, which means that they should find common ground in overcoming the conflict (Katz & Flynn, 2013).

Summary

As seen from the described scenario, conflicts in hospital settings appear not only between nurses but also between them and managers who put pressure on their subordinates and delegate responsibilities while avoiding being held accountable for them. The delegation was a crucial component of the conflict because nurses were not usually responsible for negotiating their schedules in order to avoid misunderstandings. The exploration of the four stages of conflict showed that the argument between the manager and his subordinates had developed gradually, which means that there were some possibilities in resolving the argument before it broke out. This is an important point to consider in the future because nurses and their supervisors should do everything in their power to avoid a conflict in the first place; if a conflict appears, it is essential not to wait long and resolve it as soon as possible in order to make sure that patients receive top-quality care at a health facility.

Overall, the experience taught how nurses should not behave in a conflict situation. Despite the fact that their manager showed the lack of professionalism and responsibility, the nurses should have come together as a team and tried to avoid further exasperations of the situation. This is important to consider in the future because conflicts will happen, and nurses will have to work in a group to ensure that the needs of their patients are met.

References

Baddar, F., Salem, O., & Villagracia, H. (2016). Conflict resolution strategies of nurses in a selected government tertiary hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(5), 91-99.

Gomez, C., & Taylor, K. (2017). Cultural differences in conflict resolution strategies. A US-Mexico comparison. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 6(2), 1-10.

Johansen, M. (2012). Keeping the peace: Conflict management strategies for nurse managers. Nursing Management, 43(2), 50-54.

Katz, N., & Flynn, L. (2013). Understanding conflict management systems and strategies in the workplace: A pilot study. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 30(4), 1-5.

McKibben, L. (2017). Conflict management: Importance and implications. British Journal of Nursing, 26(2), 100-103.

Introduction

Health People 2010 constitute major health goals and objectives that the Nation formulated and its achievement was framed to be realized during the first decade of the new century. As a comprehensive health plan, Health People 2010 contain wide and systematic health promotion and prevention framework that has about 467 health improvement objectives (Royall, 2010). In addition, the health plan contains 434 sub-objectives largely in the 28-focus area (Royall, 2010). In summary, the plan is framed upon these objectives: increase quality and years of healthy life; elimination of health disparities; support for federal health initiatives of realizing healthier USA; appropriate and direct actions for broad improvements in individual, community, and national health (Royall, 2010). Promotion and realization of Health People 2010 objectives have become one of the preoccupations of Oklahoma State in the USA. To realize these goals, this research paper will outline a Community Health Action plan that can guide the state in achieving the health goals.

History and demographic composition of Oklahoma

Oklahoma is one of the many States in the United State of America. The State is located in the southern part of the USA and the translation of the word Oklahoma means a place of red people as the majority of residents have Indian origin. In terms of population statistics undertaken in 2010, it was revealed that the state has about 3,751,351 people and this was seen to exhibit significant growth over the years (Infoplease, 2011). The demographic composition of the state is varied as the majority of ethnic groups in the state include blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, and American Indians (Infoplease, 2011).

Description of the population

As it has been outlined in the population and demographic composition of Oklahoma, Latinos constitute one of the major groups in the State. According to recent census bureau statistics, Oklahoma has more Hispanic (Latinos) than American Indians (Anonymous, 2011). Accordingly, estimates indicate that about 3.75 million residents in the state, which is about 9%, identify as Hispanic or Latino, who outnumber American Indians who statistics indicate to be 8.5% (Anonymous, 2011).

Needs of the Latino population in Oklahoma

The diverse needs of Latinos in Oklahoma can be captured from the overall problems and challenges the population of this state faces. The challenges range from lack of good eating habits, unsafe environments that promote disease, infant mortality at high rates as compared to the overall American rate, communicable disease, increase usage of tobacco, increased heart attacks, and premature death (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics 2011). The increased infant mortality rate has been associated with poor maternal services and the existence of racial and ethnic disparities in health provision for expectant mothers in the state (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics 2011). Moreover, in Oklahoma, statistics indicate that 27% of reproductive women are uninsured, those with obesity are estimated to be 27%, those smoking estimated to be 26% and those subjected to poverty are estimated to constitute 19% (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics, 2011).

When compared to national statistics, it becomes clear that the states Latino population exhibit greater percentages of smoking and obesity. For example, the national statistics for women smoking stands at 19.6% compared to Oklahoma Latinos at 27.3% (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics, 2011). Regarding obesity, the national statistics stand at 24.4% while that of Oklahoma is estimated to be 30.8% (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics, 2011). Overall, the population of Oklahoma and specifically the Latinos can be said to be faced with health challenges manifested in increased heart disease, cerebrovascular disease deaths, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and high levels of diabetes.

Available services

The state of Oklahoma is credited with having some of the community and health services for its population. The state has a comprehensive Community Action program, which continues to improve the living standards of the different groups of people in the state. At the same time, the Community Agency of Oklahoma formed in 1965 has provided help to the population in terms of social and economic empowerment of the less disadvantaged in the community (Community Action Partnership, 2011). Health centers are also part of the state together with two pharmacies. The location of these two has been strategic to ensure that they are accessible to the majority of people. To add to the existing health services, the state has several recreational services especially at Fort Gibson Stockade (Infoplease, 2011). The place prides itself on having numerous playing grounds, health clubs, and the availability of bike trails.

In ensuring good health is promoted in the state, key stakeholders in the state have been involved in designing and implementing comprehensive health programs that are based on sex, race-ethnicity, and gender (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics, 2011). About infant mortality rate, the state has employed strategies to reduce this rate and one way of achieving this has been through increased immunization, which has posted positive results across ethnic groups. By the year 2001, almost 77% of children in the state had undergone immunization, which was an increase of 5% as compared to the previous data (Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics, 2011).

Approaches and Interventions

Tackling the health challenges of Latinos in Oklahoma should be the priority of all stakeholders concerned. For instance, to achieve Health People 2010, health promotion and prevention must be key issues to be planned for and implemented. To ensure positive results, there is a need to address all the primary, secondary and tertiary intervention strategies that are appropriate and effective. At the same time, it has been noted that for interventions programs for people of color to be successful, there is a paramount need for prevention strategies to put into consideration the cultural factors that must interact with the issues of gender and beliefs of the people.

Primary interventions

Some of the primary prevention strategies already exist in Oklahoma and what needs to be done is improvement in the existing primary strategies to enhance and increase chances of realizing the goals of the strategies. Given obesity has been identified as a health issue among the population, there is a concerted effort at the moment to encourage the population to undertake more physical exercises, adapt and improve their diet by taking in more fruits and vegetables, and subsequently reducing the amount of tobacco use. Therefore, playing fields and zones need to be increased, people need to be encouraged to participate in more walking than driving activities, bike riding needs to be encouraged and overall, good eating habits need to be encouraged and promoted among the population. If the people in the community will adopt a healthier lifestyle and behaviors chances are there will be reduced cases of chronic illness and premature mortality, thus increasing longevity and quality of life.

About the increased mortality rate, there is a call for a reduction of death cases. The primary way to achieve reduction goals can be through improved vaccines programs and immunization. There is a need for parents of infants to be encouraged and educated on the importance of vaccines for their children and on the need to undertake immunization of their children.

Secondary interventions

Secondary prevention programs build from the primary prevention strategies. In most cases, secondary prevention strategies constitute the formalized state of primary prevention programs. In Oklahoma, secondary strategies should address the social, gender, sex, and ethnic disparity in health and health prevention programs. Moreover, the programs should benefit from the enriched effort of multiple stakeholders in the state. Therefore, programs like Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust are vital in ensuring the number of tobacco users goes down systematically. To achieve greater results the program should be improved in such a way as being designed with policies that are more effective to undertake all-around tobacco-free education programs in Oklahoma schools, universities, and businesses. More so, the creation of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Ensure program is welcome but there is a need for improvements to be undertaken in terms of increasing coverage rate and sub-ethnic groups of Latinos. Obesity education programs together with physical education programs should also be designed with greater emphasis on flexibility as the cultural orientation of Latinos may posit.

Tertiary interventions

The creation of a tertiary program will also help realize the health goals for Latinos in Oklahoma. For this to be made effective and achievable there is a need for stakeholders especially in healthcare to take an active role in designing a partnership health framework for the state that addresses and recommends solutions to the various identified health instances among the population. The overall created health program should be able to achieve positive impacts on the health of the people in the state.

Conclusion

Identification of social health determinants among Latinos of Oklahoma is important. Subsequently, the identification should be followed by a well-designed treatment and prevention strategy that the overall goal should be to improve Oklahomas overall health status. Compared to USA health statistics, Oklahoma still exhibits high rates of health problems; thus, to achieve Health People 2010 goals and objectives, there is a need for the accelerated effort of multiple stakeholders in the state.

References

Anonymous. (2011). Hispanics outnumber American Indian population in Oklahoma. Indiaz.com. Web.

Community Action Partnership. (2011). Community Services. Web.

Infoplease. (2011). Oklahoma. Web.

Oklahoma State Department of Health center for Health Statistics. (2011).Diseases Fact Sheet. Web.

Royall, P. S. (2010). Building a healthier world with healthy people 2010. USA Department of Health and Human Services. Web.

Introduction

Pittsburgh is one of the largest cities in Pennsylvania, known as a former steel center and a modern hub for high-tech companies. The town was famous in the early 20th century for its steel industry, ranking second in the US for steel production (Carter, 2016). However, in 1970-1980 the factories were closed, and the city had to change the direction of economic development. Today, the primary income-generating industries are agriculture, health and education services, and tourism. The environmental movement deserves special attention, thanks to which the city has become one of the most favorable for life. However, Pittsburgh still has ecological problems, including air and water pollution. This paper aims to give a comprehensive description of the citys economic development conditions and create an action plan to deal with existing challenges and problems.

Locale

Pittsburgh is located in Alleghenys picturesque county, at the spurs of the mountains and the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River. More than 300 thousand people live in the city, and more than 2 million live on the outskirts of the town (Carter, 2016). Historically, the citys economic development has been linked to its geographical location at the crossroads of trade routes between the Atlantic coast and the Midwest. However, the construction of more than 300 industrial steel production enterprises greatly impacted the urban character (Carter, 2016). For a long time, Pittsburgh was the second-largest steel producer in the US until the de-industrialization process began in the 1970s and 1980s, and production was stopped. This trend has resulted in many residents losing their jobs and halved the citys population.

The city and Allegheny County have abundant natural resources, particularly minerals. After the closure of the steel mills, Pittsburgh continues to produce cars, computing, electronics, ships, aluminum, glass, oil, food, and sporting goods. Significant funds are also being invested in the development of Marcellus natural gas fields. Historically, the city center is home to the headquarters of many successful companies. Thanks to the effective implementation of the Renaissance and Renaissance-23 strategies, the city managed to overcome the consequences of de-industrialization, placing a stake in developing alternative directions in the economy.

Economic Situation

The most successful industry is healthcare, as the city is home to one of the most extensive medical facilities  the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Science is also represented at the proper level in the city thanks to the research centers of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Melon University and seven dozen higher educational institutions. As part of supporting the citys rebirth project, many of the largest high-tech companies moved to Pittsburgh. Notably, new offices were located in closed factories buildings.

The city receives taxes from Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Amazon, Microsoft, Bosch, Nokia, and IBM. There are also regional offices of Bayer, RAND, BNY Mellon, Nova Chemicals, and PNC Financial Services (Carter, 2016). Thanks to such an abundance of the most significant market players, the city has ample job opportunities. Moreover, due to active economic development and the parallel implementation of programs to protect the environment, Pittsburgh has been named one of the worlds most livable cities.

Therefore, the city moved from industry to technology, becoming a role model for similar regions. It is noteworthy that more than 116 thousand people work in the healthcare sector (Carter, 2016). The area also hosts Fortune 500 companies  Craft Heinz Company, PNC Financial Services, PPG Industries, US Steel, Arconic, Alcoa, WESCO International, Dicks Sporting Goods (Carter, 2016). Besides, the city has a developed network of shopping centers and boutiques; the cultural sector also brings income to the city budget. About 10 thousand people are employed in the arts, and almost 11 thousand work at the University of Pittsburgh (Carter, 2016). According to the most recent census, 66.0% of the population is White, 26.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.4% Asian, 0.3% others (Carter, 2016). European groups include Germans 19.7%, Irish 15.8%, Italians 11.8%, Poles 8.4%, and British 4.6% (Carter, 2016). Since the city was mainly inhabited in the early 20th century, the white population is primarily represented by European groups.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is an extremely convenient tool for assessing the problems and development prospects of a company. In this case, to develop an effective economic development plan for the city of Pittsburgh, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of its economy will be considered. It is noteworthy that scientists often mention Pittsburgh in their studies as an example of the transition from industrial to post-industrial economic model. In particular, Neumann (2018) notes that such a successful change was realized through the collaboration of Pittsburgh officials with local corporations and the media. The author emphasizes that in addition to taking real steps to reorganize the economic situation, it is essential to elaborate on branding campaigns for the re-created economies. Parkin and Hardcastle (2019) agree that Pittsburghs rebirth was the transformation of a rust-belt economy into a dynamic brain belt (p. 294). Therefore, the successful implementation of the Renaissance and Renaissance-2 projects can be considered one of the main strengths of Pittsburghs economic development.

Nevertheless, the same scholars highlight several weaknesses in the citys economy. Scholars Parkin and Hardcastle (2019) note that the Renaissance project was widely romanticized. The city continues to experience social devastation and inequality in its metropolitan and domestic economy. Further, Bailey and Pacetti (2019) openly raise the issue of a significant increase in the income gap between whites and minorities. Researchers analyzed data over ten years and came to such a disappointing conclusion, noting that the income gap is accompanied by an increase in the employment rate among minorities. According to Teshome and Dunn (2019), a rise in jobs in 2018 came from the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Therefore, despite the transition to a service economy, the city needs support for the development of industrial sectors, as it is home to many people who could be employed in this area.

Besides, according to statistics, despite the low unemployment rate, the labor market in Pittsburgh is now denser than during economic ups in other historical periods. At the same time, scientists note that the situation in the labor market is stable. They emphasize that after recovering from the Great Recessions effects, urban employment has remained steady at pre-crisis levels (Teshome & Dunn, 2019). These data indicate the overall stability of the economy and the existing prospects for transformations aimed at reducing the labor markets rigidity, increasing the dynamism of business processes, and ensuring equal conditions for the population.

Scientists also pay attention to opportunities for city streetscape planning. Many scholars point out that urban planning could further drive up housing prices and increase Pittsburghs overall attractiveness. In particular, Li et al. (2016) emphasize the potential for city redevelopment using abandoned land plots for green spaces, recreation areas, shopping parks, shopping centers, and residential areas. Scientists also pay special attention to the potential for residential redevelopment, mentioning the Summerset projects in Frick Park and Hazelwood as a successful example of such an approach (Li et al., 2016). Scientists emphasize that residential redevelopment contributes to the citys intellectual growth and is more cost-effective for economic development. They identify three pillars of success  consensus between the public and private sectors, the right choice of the type of landowner, and the involvement of academic institutions.

Further, scientists raise the issue of urban improvement by ensuring equal living comfort for all citizens. Particularly, Bereitschaft (2017) notes that there is a problem of inequity in neighborhood walkability in Pittsburgh, citing examples from six streetscapes. The scientist draws attention to fewer windows, less transparent storefronts, less well-maintained infrastructure, fewer street cafes, and overall less complexity of streetscapes in neighborhoods with high versus low social vulnerability (Bereitschaft, 2017, p. 1233). At the same time, Yin et al. (2020) note that the growing market demand for pedestrian and transit-oriented communities can be capitalized into higher housing values and can generate much-needed revenue for shrinking cities (p. 20). Scientists also highlight the impact of pedestrian accessibility on property prices in shrinking cities such as Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. Therefore, the development of urban infrastructure has aesthetic, ethical, and economic value. Considering that Pittsburgh has already implemented many projects in this course, continued urban planning is a promising opportunity for the citys economic development.

Finally, Pittsburghs main threats are related to the environment, which will be detailed below, and to the labor market. The gap between the earnings of the white population and minorities, making up more than a third of the citys population, was already mentioned above. Another equally alarming factor is the aging population since the average age of residents of the metropolitan area has increased by 1.1 years, and this figure is 5 years older than the national average (Teshome & Dunn, 2019). This trend indicates an increase in the retirement age population and a decline in the population under 25, and this situation may further create a shortage of workers. At the same time, the aging population is partly offset by higher education levels than the national average.

Legal and Public Policy Issues

Despite its business success and leadership in providing health and education services, Pittsburgh has failed to address its environmental challenges adequately. For a long time, the city was considered an extremely unfavorable place for life because the steelworks polluted the air. Despite heavy industry shutting down 30 years earlier, Pittsburgh still has alarming air quality figures. For example, according to a report from the American Lung Association (ALA), air quality in the city continues to deteriorate due to smog and fine particle pollution (Carter, 2016). The Allegheny County Health Department contested the ALA results, saying that the air measurements were taken in the Clairton Coke Works US Steel plant area and several locations outside the citys jurisdiction. Therefore, the department believes the data may reflect pollution from Ohio and West Virginia.

Remarkably, even under these measurement conditions, the report showed improvement over previous decades. However, alarms from ALA can negatively affect the citys image, so the situation needs to be fully clarified. As part of addressing this issue, the Smell PGH air quality monitoring application was launched, allowing residents to report pollution incidents to local authorities. It should also be recalled that back in the early 2000s, the city began to create an environmentally friendly living space, planting tens of thousands of trees. Pittsburgh spends large sums of money each year planting and maintaining street trees, which has a positive impact on the economy. In particular, urban forests help conserve energy in the shade, improve air and water quality, and increase property values.

Another issue of controversy is water quality in the city. This problem is more urgent than air pollution since water pollution takes place due to old infrastructure. The treatment facilities have been operating for over 60 years and require immediate replacement, while the pipes were installed more than 100 years ago (Carter, 2016). Therefore, untreated wastewater often ends up in waterways in case of floods or heavy rainfalls. The city has a combined sewerage system, which means that the sewerage pipes contain stormwater and wastewater.

The massive amount of polluted water entering rivers pose a threat to life in the city. The Environmental Protection Agency (ALCOSAN) proposal to upgrade the system will require an investment of $ 2 billion. Approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (ETA) is required to launch the construction of new treatment facilities. Notably, due to allegations of ineffective management, the Pittsburgh Sewerage and Water Administration (PWSA) became subject to restructuring and partial privatization at a previous mayors initiative. At the moment, the administration is under the control of the Public Utilities Commission.

Governmental Atmosphere

The executive branch of Pennsylvania is represented by the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor general, state treasurer, and the governors office. Besides, the governor, with the Senates approval, appoints the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Education. The governors powers include the right to veto bills passed in the General Assembly and the right to return bills for reconsideration. Noteworthy, the General Assembly consists of a 50-member Senate and a 203-member House of Representatives. The General Assembly lays down rules and regulations for local governments, including cities, districts, counties, and towns. Democrats and Republicans are usually equally represented in the governors office and the General Assembly. The urban population is often more inclined towards liberal ideas, while the rural community is more conservative.

The City of Pittsburgh government is represented by the City Commission or the City Hall, which consists of three people elected every two years in city elections. Each year, the City Commission appoints a new mayor and chairman of the board. The City Commissions responsibilities include forming city policy, approving the annual budget, and appointing members of public councils and committees. The Commission is responsible for the implementation of legislation, and can adopt laws submitted by committee members; the city administration develops legislation.

The mayor has the same duties and powers as other Commissioners, presides over Commission meetings, signs documents, and represents the city. Currently, the committee includes Dawn McNay  the mayor, Chuck Munsell  the President of the Board, Cheryl Brooks, Larry Fields, and Patrick OBryan  the Commissioners. Dawn McNay previously served as Director of Development for the Community Health Center for Southeastern Kansas and worked a long time at Via Christi Hospital. Besides, Lady Mayor volunteered for various community organizations; her term of office ends in December 2021. Public Committees are represented by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning Commission, Sustainability Advisory Committee, Downtown Advisory Board, Economic Development Advisory Committee, and others. Departments include Community Development & Housing, Economic Development, Finance, and Pittsburg Parks & Recreation.

Action Plan

When proposing an economic development plan for the City of Pittsburgh, it should be considered how the project will benefit the local community and how to implement it. It is also necessary to refer to the existing development plans and recommendations. The new guidelines should complement them, relying on the SWOT analysis above. The most visible weaknesses were associated with an aging population, inequality in wage opportunities, and a more dense labor market than in similar periods of economic recovery. The latter may be due to the low dynamism of doing business and the lack of favorable conditions for entrepreneurship.

While Pittsburgh has managed to shift its focus from industry to service delivery, there is still a need to improve the business environment. Large companies that have offices in the city center characterize the regions population as engaged in business and services. However, scholars have noted challenges for start-ups (Holstein & Eschenfelder, 2017). Since Pittsburgh is home to the famous Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh with robust research and scientific bases and many colleges, students and alumni often associate their activities with the organization of start-ups. The region has great potential in this direction, since many organizations, such as Alpha Lab, Alpha Lab Gear, Pitts Innovation Institute, organize funding and accelerator programs.

According to the SWOT analysis above, the city has good urban planning potential, which creates room for higher housing prices. Therefore, it is suggested to take into account the comments and recommendations of scientists when developing the yearly urban development plan. In particular, there is a need for redevelopment of pedestrian zones to provide more comfort for residents of less prosperous areas. It is also necessary to develop urban infrastructure, moving cafes, shops, and recreation zones to the sleeping areas.

It is also imperative to respond to environmental threats appropriately. In particular, the misunderstanding with the ALA should be resolved. Independent research aimed at identifying the real indicators of air pollution in the city can be conducted. If the numbers are low, the City Commission should provide this data to the ALA and request a change in the reports data. Suppose the level of air pollution is high, it will be necessary to oblige Clairton Coke Works US Steel, to carry out urgent measures and install filters. A resolution can be developed by the city administration and adopted by the City Commission.

Besides, to combat water pollution, it is imperative to accelerate the ALCOSAN projects approval for the installation of treatment facilities. In this regard, the Commissioners can contact the governor with a request to write a letter to the ETA, which will describe the need for an immediate decision. After the installation of treatment facilities, the ecological situation in the city will change dramatically. To improve air quality, planting and maintaining green spaces within the city limits should be continued. The City Commission can be asked to take advantage of the recommendations spelled out in the old land use and growth plan of Allegheny Places and resume planting trees in the direction from the center to urban forests, parks, and embankments. This approach will strengthen the unified green urban infrastructure, which will positively impact both the environment and property prices.

The citys main strength is the implementation of an exemplary transition to a post-industrial economy and the creation of a strong base of research institutions. In this connection, the relevant city department is recommended to develop a plan of work with scientific institutions, which will take into account the following recommendations. Scientists Andes et al. (2017) drew attention to the unacceptable difference between research topics and real employment. A small percentage of the population is employed in technology, compared to business and manufacturing. Therefore, scientists recommended that local scientific institutions shift their focus to local business and production, which have economic potential. They also suggested increasing the development of specific patents that are in demand in prominent industries. Besides, it was proposed to tackle the alignment of the workforces competencies and provide education following the requests of the most popular sectors. Therefore, it is possible to use the citys scientific potential and direct it to economic development.

Conclusion

Thus, an exhaustive description of the conditions for the City of Pittsburghs economic development was given. Besides, an action plan was developed to implement opportunities and deal with existing challenges and problems. Under this plan, government officials need to create better conditions for running small businesses, launching start-ups, improving air and water conditions, engaging in urban planning, and paying attention to new research directions. Implementing these measures will lead to better living and working conditions in the city and will give a new impetus for subsequent economic development.

References

Andes, S., Horowitz, M., Helwig, R., & Katz, B. (2017). Capturing the next economy: Pittsburghs rise as a global innovation city. Web.

Bailey, L., & Pacetti, E. G. (2019). Strong recovery for whom? Trends in Dayton, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, exemplify growing earnings gaps between minority and white workers present in many US regions. Community Development Briefs, 5(3), 112-121.

Bereitschaft, B. (2017). Equity in microscale urban design and walkability: A photographic survey of six Pittsburgh streetscapes. Sustainability, 9(7), 1233-1245.

Carter, D. K. (Ed.). (2016). Remaking post-industrial cities: lessons from North America and Europe. Routledge.

Fritsch, M., & Wyrwich, M. (2017). The effect of entrepreneurship on economic development  an empirical analysis using regional entrepreneurship culture. Journal of Economic Geography, 17(1), 157-189.

Li, X., Yang, H., Li, W., & Chen, Z. (2016). Public-private partnership in residential brownfield redevelopment: case studies of Pittsburgh. Procedia Engineering, 145(1), 1534-1540.

Neumann, T. (2018). Reforming the steel city: symbolism and space in postindustrial Pittsburgh. Journal of Urban History, 44(4), 582-602.

Parkin, A., & Hardcastle, L. (2019). The Pittsburgh renaissance and the future of Adelaide. Urban Policy and Research, 37(3), 294-309.

Teshome, M., & Dunn, J. (2019). Pittsburgh employment steadily advancing. Web.

Yin, L., Zhang, H., Patterson, K., Silverman, R., & Wu, L. (2020). Walkability, Safety, and Housing Values in Shrinking Cities: Spatial Hedonic Study in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 146(3), 20-29.

One of the customer service representatives (CSRs) at a small start-up company has developed a problem manifested in late arrivals at the workplace and the lack of understanding of the companys recently launched products. The hiring manager appreciates the work of the CSR and would like to avoid dismissal. The HR manager was asked by the hiring manager to develop a three-step plan of improving the CSRs performance. The plan should be developed based on the recognition that various reasons for an employee to demonstrate lateness for work can exist (Skinner, Elton, Auer, & Pocock, 2014), and there is no universal solution. However, the general principle behind the plan is the launching of a disciplinary procedure to improve the performance of the CSR. The three steps are conducting a session with the employee, providing feedback, and training the employee on the new products.

The first step is an individual session organized by the HR manager. The purpose of the session is to identify the reasons for the employees recent behaviors and lack of motivation to accumulate knowledge about the new products. During the session, the CSR should be clearly explained that this session is not being held to prepare the employee for dismissal or explain the reasons for dismissal. However, the risk of possible dismissal should be mentioned, and the employee should understand that his or her position at the company is under threat due to the worsening performance. It is expected that the session will take up to one hour and be held as soon as possible; the CSR will be able to share his or her concerns or problems openly with the HR manager.

The second step is providing formal feedback to the CSR. The feedback should take into consideration delicate issues that might have caused the worsening of performance and should explicitly state that the concern is free of any form of discrimination (Managing performance and discipline, n.d.). At the same time, the feedback should be formative, i.e. it should not be restricted to evaluating the employees performance based on certain scales (i.e. should not be restricted to listing the cases of the CSRs lateness). Instead, the feedback should identify the areas in which the employee can improve and suggest methods for achieving improvements. The feedback will be prepared within a week after the session with the CSR.

Finally, the third step is training the CSR as per the new products. It is recognized that the employee received appropriate product training, but additional training may be needed if the new products are unclear to the employee. It is acknowledged that the provision of training to current employees can promote innovation (Sung & Choi, 2014); therefore, it can be expected that additional training for the CSR will motivate him or her to resume active engagement. Upon completion, the evaluation will be needed to assess if the training was successful. The training will take three weeks, which is half the time of the employees initial product training.

References

Managing performance and discipline. (n.d.).

Skinner, N., Elton, J., Auer, J., & Pocock, B. (2014). Understanding and managing work-life interaction across the life course: A qualitative study. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 52(1), 93-109.

Sung, S. Y., & Choi, J. N. (2014). Do organizations spend wisely on employees? Effects of training and development investments on learning and innovation in organizations. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35(3), 393-412.

When preparing a new marketing strategy, it is crucial to determine the impact that it will have on a particular establishment. Due to the fact that St. Anthonys Medical Center aims to revise its approach to the labor and delivery (L&D), it is necessary to review the financial resources that will be required for the alterations and benefits that those will bring. This paper aims to identify the new service line features for the L&D department, segment the market of consumers, and display the cost and benefit analysis table.

Revised Service Offering

St. Anthony Medical Center should include more options into its service line offering. Previous assessments of the consumers needs and expectations present an understanding that the following should be added to the existing L&D services  manicures and pedicures, and free of charge educational lessons for mothers.

Features of the beauty services would include an ability to receive manicure and pedicure before labor. The lessons on motherhood can be offered online through St. Anthonys website or in the facility itself, twice a week.

Advantages of the courses include the ability to provide prospective mothers with information regarding specifics of the labor and care for infants presented by an accredited specialist that work at St. Anthonys. The advantage of the beauty related services is the ability to distract mothers from anxiety before labor (Manicures and pedicures, 2017). The consumers would benefit from the manicures and pedicures because it would help them relax and feel more comfortable, while lessons would prepare them with for delivery and provide them with basic knowledge regarding caring for a baby. Areas of uncertainty include the actual demand for additional services such as manicures and pedicures.

Market Segments

Table 1. Market segments in the Minneapolis metropolitan area (create by the author).

Table 1 presents the analysis of the target population in the Minneapolis Metropolitan area and specific features that will be tailored towards a segment of individuals. The approach applied for this examination is demographic segmentation, because the primary aspects that are considered are gender, culture, and income. Firstly, the overall number of inhabitants in this area is 3,600,618, and approximately 50% of them are women (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 2017).

The number of married couples exceeds 53%, however, St. Pual would target single individuals as well. According to Census Reporter, last year women aged 15 to 50 gave birth in this location; therefore, this age group is considered in the analysis (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 2017). Additionally, the segmentation recognized the per capita and median household incomes, as those determine whether individuals would be interested in extra services or free features. The assumptions based on which the segmentation was performed are the factual data from the Census Bureau regarding the number of births and population in Minneapolis.

Action Plan

The primary idea of this marketing strategy is to adjust the existing service line of the L&D department to the consumers expectations and needs and communicate it properly. Firstly, according to Debra (2011), within the healthcare industry consumer needs are facilitated by their emotions. Therefore, although St. Anthony offers excellent services in terms of quality and health outcomes, it is necessary to add features that would be emotionally engaging for the patients. This will be facilitated through three main communication channels  social media, website, educational lessons.

Firstly, the administrative personnel of the L&D unit will have to set up social media accounts for the department using all significant platforms  Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. It is necessary to tailor the content for each platform, for instance, focus on photos for Instagram, and on short texts for Twitter to leverage each channel. The clinic can hire a photographer to have professional pictures taken and use its administrative staff to update regularly. Additionally, according to Gagon (2016), an appropriate marketing plan requires one to do the following  plan, execute, measure, monitor, and improve (p. 56).

Therefore, the L&D will have to evaluate the outcomes of the proposed strategy and make changes to the proposed plan along the way. The primary approach to identifying the effectiveness is comparing the number of patients before and after the implementation of new methods and revenue collected from additional services.

Costs and Benefits

Each channel of communication with the L&D consumers will require financial investment from the St. Anthonys Medical Center, however, the entire budget should not exceed $10,000 per year. This limits the establishments ability to hire personnel for full-time work and requires freelance or part-time employees. A significant challenge with this cost and benefit analysis is the approach chosen for measuring the benefits of the intervention because these strategies are aimed at raising awareness regarding the services at L&D and do not necessarily result in sales.

In this case, the primary objective is to attract more patients to St. Paul and achieve a break-even. Therefore, the monetary value assigned to each benefit is based on the assumption that each new patient will bring additional revenue of $13,023.93 (Paying for care, n.d.). The expenses for manicures and pedicures including salary and payment for materials will be covered by an out of pocket payment from patients; therefore, it is not included in this analysis.

The administrative personnel that will be engaged in the social media promotion will have to dedicate 10 hours per week for assessing information and creating updates, and the payment for each hour is $17 based on an average salary, resulting in a fee of $2040 a year (Office administrator salaries, 2019). The minimum hourly rate for a freelance photographer in the area is $50, and it is anticipated that the hospital will hire this specialist once in two months for 5 hours each time, resulting in a $1500 payment.

Finally, an essential component of the analysis is free educational courses, which will be carried out in the St. Anthonys hospital by the physicians. The establishment can have one lesson each month for an hour, which will cost approximately $1272 a year based on the $106 per hour rate for medical professionals (Physician salaries, 2019). Therefore, the overall costs that the L&D will have to invest are $5172. It is anticipated that this activity will bring at least ten new patients a month, resulting in a total benefit of $130,239. The appendix contains a table that calculates the overall benefits and costs over the five years.

Recommendations

The cost and benefit analysis presented in the Appendix displays the chosen marketing strategy and an understanding that St. Anthonys L&D should invest in the initiative. Firstly, the total expenses do not exceed the total budget of $10,000 per year. Moreover, the L&D will be able to use the remaining $4828 for previously used communication channels. In order to prioritize each intervention St. Anthony would have to test each approach for several months and gather data from its patients to identify which channel is the most profitable. The rationale for the marketing plan can be evaluated based on the evidence for each assumption.

Conclusion

Overall, the action plan implies that St. Anthony can utilize the following three communication channels to attract more patients to its L&D unit  free of charge lessons, social media, and personal website. For the execution of this strategy, the establishment will have to invest $5172 in the selected activities. The analysis of benefits provides an understanding of the fact that the establishment should proceed with the plan.

References

Debra, C. (2011). Steps to growing your practice: What works and what doesnt  marketing plan 2012. The Journal of Medical Practice Management, 27(3), 140-143.

Gagon, E. (2016). The marketers action plan (MAP): Six steps to developing effective marketing plans in B2B marketing programs. International Management Review, 12(2), 56-59.

Manicures and pedicures can be good for your health. (2017). 

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area. (2017). 

Office administrator salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area. (2019). Web.

Paying for care. (n.d.). Web.

Physician salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area. (2019). Web.

Appendix

Table 2. Cost and Benefit Analysis for five years (created by the author).

Introduction

In the contemporary world, emergency management is becoming continually more significant due to the increasing amount of human-made and natural disasters, and the expanding threat of terrorism. Furthermore, due to technological advancement and globalization, a single emergency might have long-term consequences on the interrelated systems and structures. Therefore, organizations need to introduce innovative methods and develop contemporary action plans to improve the quality of the emergency response and ensure the safety of people. The current paper attempts to review a real-life emergency scenario, identify the primary details of the crisis by analyzing the after-action reports, and develop an action plan that addresses emergency management and leadership.

Scenario Summary

Before proposing an action plan, it is essential to provide a summary of the emergency. The point of the discussion in this paper is the Chicago Center Fire that occurred early in the morning on September 26, 2014 (Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, 2015). The employee of the Harris Corporation, Brian Howard, deliberately destroyed the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) system and disabled the communication between the center and the aircraft. As a result, approximately forty airplanes could not receive any information concerning landing, and hundreds of lives were put in danger. Fortunately, the traffic was considerably low at that period which allowed the airplanes to have a safe landing without additional guidance from the center. Nevertheless, FAA managers had to implement an ‘ATC Zero’ strategy shutting down the power systems of the facility and evacuating the personnel.

Due to the ‘ATC Zero’ implementation and the damage to the communication systems, the organization incurred sufficient losses. According to FAA’s estimates, the expenses on the recovering operations amounted to more than five million dollars excluding the cost of the replaced communication system equipment (DOT OIG, 2015). Furthermore, FAA and the contracting organizations have completed a number of repair services including the manufacturing of new telecommunication equipment, replacement of ten miles of cable, rerouting communication lines to the nearby facilities, and an installation of a wireless network within the organization (DOT OIG, 2015). The consequences of the emergency lasting up to two weeks have raised a number of concerns about the contingency plan of the organization.

Failure of the Existing Contingency Plan

A contingency plan is a regulated list of directions that are to be strictly followed in case of an emergency or a disaster. FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) is the structure that should provide safe air navigation and develop contingency plans (DOT OIG, 2015). After the Chicago Center Fire emergency, FAA discarded the contingency plan of the named organization due to the identified flaws in the design (DOT OIG, 2015). According to DOT OIG, the primary defects of the plan include the lack of attention directed to redundancy and resiliency of the model (2015). Furthermore, the communication between the facilities concerning air traffic seems to be limited both by the equipment and the incompetent location of the communication systems (DOT OIG, 2015). Additionally, some of the existing technologies do not meet the requirements of the industry; namely, radar surveillance devices, and fire suppression systems (DOT OIG, 2015). The emergency has also raised concerns regarding automation frameworks and flight scheduling (DOT OIG, 2015). Overall, the contingency plan has proved to be ineffective in case of emergencies; therefore, it is essential to improve the design to meet the requirements of the industry.

Recommendations for the Development of the Action Plan

In addition to the thorough analysis of why the contingency plan had failed, DOT OIG provided several recommendations concerning the improvement of the design of the action plan. The primary suggestion is to redesign the existing contingency plan according to the following limitations (DOI OIG, 2015):

• To identify the potential flaws of the contingency training and to implement more realistic emergency scenarios during simulations;
• To evaluate the cost, utility, and effectiveness of the existing equipment and to properly assess the location of the communication systems to minimize potential risks concerning the spread of fire;
• To install a safe and reliable wireless network that would provide access to local networks and establish secure communication with surrounding facilities;
• To assess the state of fire suppression systems and other critical equipment and to implement changes if necessary.

Furthermore, it is essential to properly document each of the aforementioned adjustments in the implementation plan for transparency and future changes.

Action Plan

Having acknowledged the flaws of the existing contingency plan, it is essential to improve it to meet the contemporary requirements of the industry and develop necessary safety measures. Furthermore, for the sake of the current paper, it is crucial to elaborate on the emergency management methodologies with a focus on the role of leadership within the context. In general, leadership might have a profound impact on the response to critical situations (Van Wart & Kapucu, 2008). From these considerations, it is essential to continually develop emergency management methodologies and leadership frameworks that play a crucial role in mitigating the risks during crises. On the other hand, failures in these aspects might lead to severe consequences including unrepairable technology damage and human losses. Furthermore, flaws in the contingency plan and personal mistakes by the leader might act as a heavy burden and deteriorate the moral integrity of the leader which would further delay the response in emergency situations (Liu, 2010). Overall, these factors imply the necessity of a proper contingency plan with thorough attention to the leadership frameworks.

The Role of Leadership

Taking into account the recommendations from the DOT OIG, the current paper also intends to implement the leadership models in the development of the contingency plan. As mentioned in the DOT OIG report (2015), the primary flaw of the existing emergency response is the lack of resilience. This term generally refers to the capability of the organization to recover from crises and indicates the readiness of the team to assess damages and mitigate further risks (Alshayhan & Yusuf, 2021). Since reconstruction after emergency situations is a team effort, the responsibility for the success of the process falls upon leaders and supervisors. Therefore, it is essential to discuss the role of leadership in an exemplary setting and analyze the flaws of the methodology in the Chicago Center Fire accident.

Leadership Competencies

Emergencies and the consequent responses to them belong to the category of quickly evolving and hazardous situations; therefore, they require a considerable degree of flexibility and adaptability from the leader. According to Pranesh et al. (2017), the credibility of the leader is frequently measured by his or her ability to critically analyze the situation and act respectively; otherwise, the whole operation and the safety of the team are put to impending threat. Other researchers, including Huntsman et al. (2021), present additional evidence to emphasize the role of flexibility in emergency response and provide several recommendations on how it is possible to enhance adaptive performance. Consequently, Kapucu and Van Wart (2008), have also identified 12 competencies that are obligatory for effective leadership in emergencies and assigned flexibility the second most significant role after decisiveness. Nevertheless, in the broad context, decisiveness is a part of adaptability since the concept also includes effective and quick decision-making. Therefore, a wide array of research claims that flexibility and adaptability are the two most significant factors of effective leadership in emergency situations.

As mentioned briefly before, there is a high number of leadership competencies, and some experts identify more than twelve necessary characteristics. Due to the limitations of the work, it is not possible to thoroughly discuss each one of them; nevertheless, there is one skill that is equivalent to adaptability in its significance to emergency response – communication. In the broad sense, this term covers organizing, coordinating, maintaining a healthy atmosphere within the team, informing, and other potential activities that depend merely on the communication competencies of the leader. Some experts regard that such aspects as reflecting and engaging are primary to the development of communication skills (Mayfield & Mayfield, 2016). Consequently, Alshayhan and Yusuf (2021) claim that the aforementioned competencies might improve the relationships between the organizations and greatly enhance the collaboration outcomes. Overall, flexibility, adaptability, and communication are necessary qualities of the leader and might advance the effectiveness of the emergency response.

Lastly, it is essential to discuss how the aforementioned qualities might have changed the implementation of the contingency plan. DOT OIG emphasized that the current design was not sufficient for effective restoring operations. Therefore, the management had to adapt to the situation without a proper plan and needed to demonstrate a considerable degree of flexibility. Furthermore, various organizations and contract workers participated in the recovery operations (DOT OIG, 2015). Therefore, the leaders needed to organize and coordinate the responsible teams to minimize the consequences of the ineffective contingency plan. It is complicated to say whether the leaders of the restoring operations were competent in the aforementioned aspects; nevertheless, the outcomes of the emergency response could have been potentially improved if the supervisory management was better qualified.

Emergency Management Methodologies

Emergency management is a complex process involving the collaborative efforts of several stakeholders including the leaders of the party responsible for emergency response. Crisis control is also defined by a high number of potential risks and a highly stressful environment. Several leadership models fit the context of emergency response, and they generally allocate the control over the situation to the leader. The research has provided evidence that power asymmetry might be a useful tool within the context of emergency management methodologies (Tomkins, Hartley & Bristow, 2020). Nevertheless, in Critical Leadership Studies, the asymmetry refers not only to control over the actions of the team but also to the responsibility concerning the outcomes of the operation (Tomkins et al. 2020). Therefore, in authoritative models of leadership, leaders might get particularly stressed if the operation does not succeed (Tomkins et al. 2020). Overall, while authoritative leadership models with power asymmetry align specifically well with the emergency management methodologies, it is essential to maintain a healthy atmosphere within the team and assess potential risks.

In general, emergency management methodologies differ vastly depending on the type of crisis: natural or technological disaster, terrorism, and crimes. Aviation is an infrastructure that is highly vulnerable to technological malfunctions and cyberattacks (Nobles, 2019). In the case of the Chicago Center Fire, the consequences were impactful due to the assumed security of the communication systems; nevertheless, it was breached by a single employee who had access to the service room (DOT OIG, 2015). Bartulović and Steiner (2020) propose the utilization of predictive analytics to ensure the safety of management systems in organizations concerning aviation. Meng et al. (2020) state that the foundation of the contingency plan in emergency management should be the risk management system followed by prevention and control of the potential hazards. Lastly, the safety of the facility might be improved with the digitalization of the existing frameworks and the implementation of digital security systems (Kuusisto & Kuusisto, 2019). Overall, emergency management might greatly benefit from the aforementioned recommendations.

Implications of the Action Plan

After the discussion of effective leadership models and emergency management methodologies, it is possible to propose the primary guidelines in order to adjust the current contingency plan. First of all, the DOT OIG (2015) has emphasized the lack of resilience in the design. To improve the contingency plan in this aspect, it is essential to shift the focus from specific directions to the leadership frameworks. Alshayhan and Yusuf (2021) propose that the qualities of the leader and collaborative effort are the most significant aspect in increasing the resilience of the project. Therefore, the emergency response should revolve around the figure of the leader implying the implementation of the authoritative models of leadership. At the same time, it does not mean that the contingency plan should not emphasize specific details concerning the emergency response. Preferably, the design should be accompanied by the explanation of effective leadership models and the implementation of primary emergency management principles.

Concerning the specific details, the DOT OIG has designated several flaws of the current situation in the Chicago Center primarily concerning equipment and its location. While it is not a part of the contingency plan itself, proper preparation is necessary for the functioning process of the organization; therefore, it is essential to address these problems. First, the communication systems have to be recovered and assigned to the new location to mitigate the risks of fire spreading and technology malfunctioning. Secondly, the digital transformation of the organization might potentially improve the safety of the equipment and cybersecurity due to the capabilities of big data methods and predictive analytics. Overall, utilizing the effective leadership models, primary principles of emergency management, and digitalization of the current equipment, it is possible to develop a coherent contingency plan and minimize the risks of emergencies in the future.

Conclusion

The current paper has introduced an action plan as a response to the Chicago Center Fire accident based on the primary principles of emergency management and effective leadership frameworks. The findings demonstrate that the organization needs a contingency plan revolving around the authoritative models of leadership with a focus on the personal qualities of the leader to improve the resilience of emergency response. Additionally, several adjustments concerning the current equipment and communication systems have to be made to further advance the safety and cybersecurity of the organization. As a result, it is possible to develop a coherent contingency plan that would mitigate the potential risks and emergencies.

References

Alshayhan, N., & Yusuf, W. (2021). Leadership in collaborative emergency management and resilience. In Leading change conference 2021 (pp. 1-24). Harrisonburg, United States: James Madison University.

Bartulović, D., & Steiner, S. (2020). Liaison between proactive and predictive methodology of aviation safety management system. In 19^th International conference on transport science (ICTS). Slovenia: Portoroz.

Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. (2015). Office of Inspector General Audit Report: FAA’s contingency plans and security protocols were insufficient at Chicago air traffic control facilities.

Huntsman, D., Greer, A., Murphy, H., & Haynes, S. (2021). Enhancing adaptive performance in emergency response: Empowerment practices and the moderating role of tempo balance. Safety Science, 134.

Kapucu, N., & Van Wart, M. (2008). Making matters worse: An anatomy of leadership failures in managing catastrophic events. Administration & Society, 40(7), 711-740.

Kuusisto, T., & Kuusisto, R. (2019). The balanced digitalization and digital security: Case of regional authorities. In proceedings of the 18^th European conference on cyber warfare and security (pp. 267-274). Academic Conferences International.

Liu, H. (2010). When leaders fail: A typology of failures and framing strategies. Management Communication Quarterly, 24(2), 232-259.

Mayfield, J., & Mayfield, M. (2016). Leadership communication: Reflecting, engaging, and innovating. International Journal of Business Communication, 1-9.

Meng, B., Lu, N., Guo, X., Si, Q., & Bai, O. (2020). Scenario analysis of emergency in civil aviation airports based on the pressure-state-response model and Bayesian network. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review, 13(5), 143-149.

Nobles, C. (2019). Cyber threats in civil aviation. In Emergency and Disaster Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 119-141). IGI Global.

Pranesh, V., Palanichamy, K., Saidat, O., & Peter, N. (2017). Lack of dynamic leadership skills and human failure contribution analysis to manage risk in deep water horizon oil platform. Safety Science, 92, 85-93.

Tomkins, L., Hartley, J., & Bristow, A. (2020). Asymmetries of leadership: Agency, response and reason. Leadership, 16(1), 87-106.

Introduction

The Le Petit, a small French wine bar and restaurant in the village of Surrey has contacted us to study and provide a report for increasing their profitability, employee efficiency, and customer satisfaction. It is understood that the present owner is a successful businessman in his own right. But the contract agreement states that he has no experience in the restaurant and bar business. Hence he has asked us to give a report which will detail ways by which the business can be improved. This paper will provide a plan of action that needs a study of customer preferences and the attitude and mindset of the employees of the firm.

Sampling and data collection

When undertaking a study two main methods of data collection are reported to. Data can be collected from primary and secondary sources. “Data collection is simply how information is gathered. There are various methods of data collection such as personal interviewing, telephone, mail and the Internet”. (Data collection methodology 2005). In most studies, it is possible to collect data from people who are directly affected by the topic of the study. Such a collection of people are is called population for the study. “In theory, to generalize findings, evaluators must first define the population”. (Designing the sample or Population for data Collection 1993). For example, if the study as in this case is about customer needs and perception with regard to a bar and restaurant business, it is possible to ask people from the population about this. They can be asked directly, by telephone, by email, by post questions regarding what they think is a good restaurant and bar. These are people who actually go to restaurants and bars and have preferences and likes about an eating place. Data collected from such persons are known as primary data. If done properly accurate information and knowledge about the topic of the study can be got from such studies or surveys. In other cases, it may not be possible to collect such primary data. For example, a study about international oil prices will need extensive travel and also interviews with experts in the area. This is expensive and time-consuming and not feasible, especially for students. In such cases, data is collected from reliably published literature and other studies on this area. Such studies are based on secondary data. There are many methods of data collection which will be given in detail in the next section.

There is a step to be taken with regard to the collection of data especially if it is taken from primary sources. It is practically not possible to interview or survey every single person of the population especially if the population is quite large. If the population consists of all the students of a particular class, it is quite easy to survey each and every one of them. But in a larger population like the one intended here (those visiting restaurants and bars), this is practically not possible and also not required. In such a case a representative group from this population is selected using many accepted methods. Sampling refers to the process of choosing the unit from the available population like people, organizations…etc. using different methods and techniques. A sample is “a group of people or elements selected from the population being studied.” (Glossary: Sample. 2007).

The methods and techniques used in sampling are also given in detail after which the correct method for this study will be selected. This report will also provide details of how this study will proceed. The individual persons of the sample are referred to as sample units or as even simply as a unit. The one thing that a person has to be careful of is not to select a representative population and also not to let sampling errors come into the study. If the selected sample consists of a large number of people who do not visit restaurants and bars, the results will not be relevant to the study. Sampling errors occur if the following situation happens. Suppose every single person in the population had participated in the study and the study arrived at a particular conclusion. If the results of the study of the sample come out different from the one mentioned above, sampling error will exist.

Data collection methods

The results from the study and survey of the sample will result in possession of information or data with the researcher. The researcher has to measure and record the results from this data. This process is known as data collection. As mentioned earlier, there are many scientifically accepted method of data collection which is given here in detail. There are primary and secondary data collection methods. Secondary data can be collected from journals, demographic data, other studies, etc. Primary data can be collected through surveys, interviews (personal, email, and telephone, internet surveys, mail surveys, etc. (Data Collection Methods). The data collection method needs to consider face-to-face interviews and questionnaires in order to reach a final conclusion upon the efficacy and effectiveness of research on the subject.

For this purpose, it is necessary that suitable respondents are selected after identifying the sample population using lots, in order to avoid bias and discrimination.

In this study, being a qualitative study, necessary mathematical and statistical data need to be provided in order to defend, or deny the hypothesis question. Thus, it is necessary that data be collected, based upon the reactions of respondents during the course of the survey and personal interviews. The study would involve around fifty (50) respondents, in the field to whom the interviewers would confabulate and ask questions relevant to the study.

This would also be followed by Group discussions in order to assess whether the respondents are capable of working in groups or sub-groups, it is important that important research data be collected from group discussions also, in order to arrive at the right solution regarding the hypothesis and its validation.

It is needed to be seen that proper permission and consent is taken from concerned authorities regarding moral and ethical aspects of this study, and also, in terms of the areas in which this study would prove useful.

It is also necessary to determine its limitations, in that whether further studies would also become necessary for further advanced studies on this topic. All research studies have their limitations, and this would not be an exception. However, it is necessary to identify, assess and focus upon deficient areas, whether it impacts present and future studies.

Another important aspect of research would lie in terms of the fact, that in qualitative assessments, much of the research would consider how one could improve one’s bar business.

Whenever we consider the question of customer satisfaction, it would be better to put ourselves in the mind of the customer. It is very easy since we are also customers in our day-to-day life so that you can easily understand the problems faced by customers when they approached you. Now what we want here is to find out the ways to attract more new customers and to maintain the current customers. Besides, it is also required to ensure that the wine bar is operated as effectively and efficiently as possible.

As a matter of fact, the existing customers of yours may not be so satisfied as they seem to be. They do not complain just because they do not want to whenever they are requested to comment on your service, they simply appreciate it. Those remarks need not necessarily be true.

Some Facts

While going deep into the problem we come across certain surprising facts that need our urgent attention.

Most of the Customers do not Complain Directly

A study shows that only 8 percent of the customers complain directly.

Whereas 23 percent of them talk to the nearest employee. And the more surprising is that 69 percent of the customers suffer in absolute silence. So taking into consideration the number of complaints received or registered is a meaningless measure of customer satisfaction. Moreover, their silence before you does not mean that they will not complain to others. For them complaining is confrontational.

A Pyramid of Dissatisfaction

There was a research study back in 1999. It discovered that on average an unhappy customer will tell 10 people about their bad experience. In turn, these 10 people will each tell a further 5 people. That means a total of 50 people will have heard about it Customers very rarely complain to the provider Instead they will tell their friends who will, in turn, tell their friends and create a pyramid of dissatisfaction.

Collecting Honest Opinions

There is no problem without a solution. You need to ask your customer what they really think of you. And you should be prepared to take the rough with the smooth for that. Only those organizations that understand what makes their customers unhappy are able to put improvements in the future.

Sampling methods

The process of selecting the representative sample from a given population is called the sampling method. As data collection methods, there are many scientifically accepted methods for the sampling process also. The one assumption after the sample has been selected is that the selection will really be representative of the whole population. In other words, the sample should possess all the relevant characteristics of the full population. It is only common sense that the size of the sample will be directly proportional to the reliability of the data. If the sample size is too small, then sampling errors are likely to creep up into this study. Hence, apart from selecting the representative sample, the right sample size should also be selected. In this respect, the resources with reference to money, time, and manpower are relevant. This is because, if the researcher has only very little of the above, he will be forced to select a smaller sample. In most professionally conducted surveys there will be a large volume of resources and hence a bigger sample can be assembled. Resources will also depend on how much the company that needs the data is willing to spend. It is better to engage a company or agency that specializes in sampling and data collection rather than doing it by oneself. They have the expertise and the resources (apart from money) and hence will do a professional job. In short, sampling is a cost-effective way of collecting relevant information without wasting too many resources. At this time, it would be relevant to see how sampling is different from a census. In a census, the complete population is studied instead of selecting a sample. In short, each and every person in the population will be asked the same question with regard to a particular study. As is obvious, a census is extremely costly in terms of money spent, personnel required, and time needed to complete. In general, a census is done by governments to collect the population and other demographic data of the country. It is a well-planned and long-drawn-out process. Because of the resource factors mentioned above, a census will only be carried out very infrequently. The period in most censuses is once in ten years. The most commonly used methods of sampling are given below.

Simple random sampling

As the name indicates, this is the most simple and least complicated method of sampling. Here every member of the population has a chance of being selected as a sample. “A simple random sample gives each member of the population an equal chance of being chosen.” (Hunt and Tyrrell 2001). This is because the sample is selected at random without any preferences by the researcher. The samples are usually selected by using the lottery method. This particular study of the restaurant and bar business is proposed to be done using this method. The process will be explained in later sections of the paper.

Stratified sampling

This method is slightly more complicated than simple random sampling. Here the whole population is first categorized under some relevant parameter and each category is referred to as strata. After this is done a random sample is taken from each of these strata. Suppose a population is divided according to different age groups of say 20 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 70. A random sample from each of these strata will be selected. The advantage of this method is that no category of the population will remain unrepresented. In the above example, there will be equal representation from each of the above age groups. This is advantageous over the previously mentioned methods because in a simple random sampling there will be a possibility that only a few and not all of the age groups be represented. “Stratified sampling is a commonly used probability method that is superior to random sampling because it reduces sampling error.” (Sampling Methods: Systematic Sampling. 2007).

Systematic sampling

Systematic sampling is also referred to as quasi-random sampling. This is still more complicated than the earlier two methods. The whole population is arranged in a particular order, say alphabetically. Then a number is assigned to each of the population. The whole population is then divided into a fixed number of groups. Then the Nth member from each group will be selected as the sample. An example will make the point clearer. Suppose the population number is 1000 and the sample to be selected is 100. The whole population with the number assigned can be divided into 100 groups. Then the fourth member of each group can be selected to form the sample. This method like stratified sampling will be more representative of the population. The problem here is that the population has to be very clear in order to assign those numbers. For example, the names of the members of the population will have to be known. “However, systematic sampling is less precise than stratified random sampling.” (Lillies 2004).

Cluster sampling

This method takes more time and effort when compared to the above mentioned methods. It is also called multi-stage sampling. The process is done in stages. “Cluster sampling is a sampling technique in which the entire population of interest is divided into groups, or clusters, and a random sample of these clusters is selected.” (Cluster Sampling). For example if the sample is to be selected from a big city. The whole city is divided according to some predefined criteria. It could be different areas of the city. Then some of the predefined areas are selected and the required sample is selected from these regions using the lottery method. A study for calculating the monthly family expenditure in a city can be done as follows. The city can be divided into areas, a few where wealthy people live, a few where middle class people live, and a few where poor people live. One or two areas from each of the above classifications can be used for selecting the sample. The selection can be done using simple random sampling.

Why sampling is done? The impracticality of studying the whole population due to time and other resource constraints is the main reason for selecting a sample. In most cases, the population is too large for a full study and hence the use of samples. A lot of savings in resources can be made and if the sampling is representative, then the results that are got will be the same as if the whole population was surveyed. Reduction of sampling errors and the selection of a representative population are the major factors to be considered.

Research design of this study for Le Petit

Le petit requires information in the following areas in order to maximize their profits, improve employee efficiency, and improve customer experience and satisfaction. Here, it is possible to conduct a primary data research by conducting a survey. This is because the population of the sample lives in the city, and can be identified with minimum effort. The population will consist of people who are in the habit of going to restaurants and bars. They will be in the age group of 20 to 70. This age group will be classified as 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 to 70. As mentioned earlier it is proposed to conduct a stratified sampling so that representation from all the above age groups will exist in the sample. The whole process is expected to take a week. The company will employ ten persons for this purpose. The survey will be in the form of a questionnaire with closed questions. The team members will visit shopping malls, parks, and stand outside restaurants to select the sample. The first step will be to request a person whether he would be willing to take part in a survey if he or she is in the habit of visiting restaurants. The cutoff number will be those who visit at least once a month or more. If they answer in the negative then they are thanked and another person is asked. The negative can be with regard to lower number of visits (less than one per month) or unwillingness to take part in the survey. If they qualify and are willing to take part, they are asked the questions then and there and answers be marked by the concerned team member. It is expected that one person will need only ten to fifteen minutes for answering the whole questionnaire. The question of ethics is of paramount importance. The respondents will be assured of confidentiality of information before the questions are asked. Moreover only person appearing to be of sound mind will be part of the survey. Anyone who is mentally handicapped or is not in the right frame of mind will be avoided. This avoidance will depend on the observation of the team members. It is proposed that the sample size will be restricted to a hundred persons. The sample will consist of men and women in equal numbers. The same number of respondents will be selected from each strata (age classification) mentioned above. The team will cover approximately 20 persons each day. This could be time consuming as two eliminations have to be done. One is unwillingness to take part, and the other being not qualified to take part. If planned well, the part which relates to the questionnaires will be over in five days. The next day will be spent in classifying the data and arriving at a conclusion. One more day will be needed to prepare a report to the client.

With regard to the survey of the employees, the following procedure will be taken up. It should be noted that identification of the population is easy as each member is known by name and post occupied. A team of two persons will be sent to the Le Petit where each of the employees will be interviewed using a prepared questionnaire. Employees are free to talk and are not restricted by closed questions as in the case of the customer survey mentioned above. The employees will be classified as managerial and non-managerial staff. The management, as expected has given permission to interview the staff. The staff, in turn have agreed to cooperate fully. There are fifteen employees in the firm and two days will be needed to complete the interview. The interviews can be analyzed within two days and a report be prepared which will be presented along with the customer survey report to our client at the start of the next week. Employees will be assured full confidentiality and only their responses as a whole will be provided. No individual names will be used.

Conclusion

Le Petit has contacted our firm for conducting a survey with for the purpose of increasing profits and customer experience. Two separate studies are proposed, one using the general population and the other using the employees of the firm. It is our firm belief that the report generated out the data from the study will be of great benefit to the organization. If the suggestions are implemented properly, Le Petit can grow and become the favourite of the restaurant going public in the city.

Bibliography

Chapter 3 Designing the sample or Population for data Collection. (1993). Web.

Cluster Sampling. Metagova. Paris21. Web.

Data collection methodology: What is data collection. (2005). National Statistics. Web.

Glossary: Sample. (2007). Community Eye Health Journal, 20 (61), 17. Web.

HUNT, Neville., and TYRRELL, Sidney. (2001). Simple Random Sampling. Coventry University. Web.

LILLIES, Calla. (2004). Systematic Sampling. Grid Service Monitoring. Web.

Sampling Methods: Systematic Sampling. (2007). Stacpac. Web.

Introduction

Supporting children through all stages of development is a vital role of childhood professionals working with them. Children’s reaction to a family loss may seem different from an adult’s; however, children of various ages also express grief. The present action plan will include information about grief in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and offer ways of helping children of these ages through a family loss.

Supporting an Infant

People often believe that infants do not experience grief due to their inability to verbalize or express it. Nevertheless, infants can feel the loss of someone’s voice and touch while also sensing the response of their caregivers to loss (TLC). In response to a death in the family, infants may develop a decrease in the activity level or appetite, increased irritability, and sleep disturbances. According to the TLC, these changes are often due to disruptions in the care routine.

The process of helping an infant through a family loss should be focused on restoring and maintaining a routine, as well as ensuring proper nutrition and sleep. For instance, TLC recommends responding to decreased activity levels by continuing regular play routines. Caregivers should also be encouraged to monitor infants’ nutrition and visit a pediatrician in case of weight loss.

Supporting a Toddler

A toddler does not understand that a person is gone forever, and thus his or her reactions will be caused by missing the person in a particular moment. For example, according to The Dougy Center, “The child will miss the specific elements of the person: the sound of the voice, expression, smell, activities experienced together.” Emotions experienced by children as a result of grief, such as anger or fear, can be expressed in their play, which is why it is essential to monitor changes in activities. Also, toddlers often react to a loss physically, showing a decreased appetite, sleep disturbances, and personality changes.

Supporting a toddler through a family loss includes three main considerations. First of all, it is critical to explain the concept of death to a toddler. The Dougy Center recommends that adults explain death in concrete terms. Secondly, caregivers and childhood professionals should watch out for any changes in activities or personality. It is essential to support the toddler in expressing emotions physically or through play while also promoting verbal connectedness (The Dougy Center). Finally, caregivers should be advised about possible changes to sleep and nutrition patterns so that they could ensure that a toddler maintains a regular rest and nutrition routine.

Supporting a Preschooler

Preschoolers have an increased capacity for verbal communication and thus can express their grief and emotions verbally. However, the concept of death may still be unfamiliar to them. As noted by The Dougy Center, children of this age can also experience and express various emotions as a result of the loss, including guilt and fear. Changes in personality and play patterns are also characteristic of preschoolers’ grief.

To support a child in grief, it is essential to address the child’s emotions and to show how to accept death (The Dougy Center). For instance, explaining why the person died and answering the child’s questions can help to improve a preschooler’s understanding of death and to cope. Also, to support verbal communication of emotions, caregivers could use action descriptions during play, thus verbalizing the child’s physical actions. Lastly, caregivers should not attempt to erase the memories of the dead family member in order to ease the grieving process. On the contrary, they could offer pictures or possessions of the deceased family member to a preschooler (The Dougy Center). This would help to support the child through the loss and promote positive coping strategies.

Conclusion

Overall, resources indicate the need to address young children’s grief consistently and thoroughly. Thus, apart from working with children directly, childhood professionals should recommend resources for parents to help them understand the child’s grief. For instance, the Shore Grief Center and GriefShare for Children & Teens offer programs for children and resources for parents to cope with a family loss.

Works Cited

The Dougy Center. “Young Children and Grief.” Kids’ Aid, n.d., Web.

TLC. “Infant and Toddler Grief.” Starr Commonwealth. 2013, Web.