Case study Netflix Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Netflix - Case Study Example So the buyers force is rather neutral for Netflix. As Netflix provides home entertainment solution, the number of substitutes available to the customers is very large, starting from alternative sources of movie rentals and ending reading books or playing games instead. So the substitutes force is rather negative for Netflix. The threat of new entrants is quite strong since, with the development of new technologies, more and more companies are moving online. In addition, the Netlix’ industry is not too expensive to enter. Furthermore, the competition is already rather strong. So, in general the five-forces analysis leads to the conclusion that the competiti8ve forces confronting Netflix in the DVD rental marketplace are, in most cases, strong. 2. How is the online movie rental business changing? What are the underlying forces that are driving industry change and are their impacts favorable or unfavorable in term of their impact on competitive intensity and future industry profi tability? The online movie rental business changing due to the appearance of new technologies that allow for different ways of movie distribution. Technological advancements, therefore, are the underlying forces that are driving industry change – more and more people have access to the Internet, and more companies use new technologies to distribute their goods or services.

Using appropriate theories, discuss the concept and practice of Essay

Using appropriate theories, discuss the concept and practice of ethical, social and environmental accounting and reporting - Essay Example When the business organization makes commitment to business ethics and complies with the business accounting policies, it is said that the organization is following the concepts of ethical accounting concepts and policies (Keen, n.d.). The ethical accounting is done by an â€Å"ethicist†. An ethicist has earned a doctorate degree in the field of scientific discipline or philosophy. They know the intricacies of business through studies in business ethics. The ethicist provides a non accounting perspective while an accountant provides financial perspective (Keen, n.d.). They help in ascertaining whether the business organization is complying with the ethics and business standards of the company. Most companies have established mission statement but not ethical standards. An ethicist helps in drafting and implementation of ethical codes. The management has to make sure that the employees follow the ethical standard and codes. Majority of the companies are enforcing their own ethical standards. Violation of these ethical standards leads to serious consequences for the employees (Keen, n.d.). In the United States of America, the Ministry of Finance makes strong attempts to help investors receive full disclosure of information with respect to the security issues (The International Accounting Standards Board, 2008). Restrictions have been imposed by the Japanese Ministry of Finance (securities markets are regulated by the Japanese Government) to prohibit insider trading in banks. The Japanese firms are allowed to register for public bonds (The International Accounting Standards Board, 2008). Germany has less stringent laws related to disclosure of information. Weak accounting regulations have weakened the policies related to the disclosure of information. Earlier, the laws did not even prohibit insider trading but now they are thinking of incorporating strict regulations related to insider trading (The International Accounting Standards Board,

Choroidal Neovascular Membrane Associated with Sildenafil

Choroidal Neovascular Membrane Associated with Sildenafil CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANE ASSOCIATED WITH SILDENAFIL Â  Erectile dysfunction is an important problem among men aged 40 years and older. More than half of all men in this broad age group experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. Thus, the provision of an orally administrated efficacious treatment in the form of sildenafil represents a major therapeutic advantage.(1) Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) is ultimately the result of a break in a structural layer beneath the retina known as Bruch’s membrane, which separates the nourishing vascular layer called the choroid from the retina. A break in Bruch’s membrane may allow the ingrowth of vessels from the choroid to a position just beneath the retina.(2) Ocular side effects are not uncommon when sildenafil is used. Minor side effects include pupillary dilation, conjunctival injection (redness), sensitivity to light (photophobia), and dryness. Visual function studies in healthy subjects and in patients with eye disease suggest that sildenafil does not affect visual acuity, visual fields, and contrast sensitivity. Transient, mild impairment of color discrimination can occur around the time of peak plasma levels.(3-7) The purpose of the present case report is to describe a patient who developed CNV after ingestion of Sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. CASE REPORT The patient was a 53-year old male who presented with a blurred and loss of vision in the right eye. His physical examination did not reveal any significant signs. The patient was fit and healthy otherwise and had no history of glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, or other systemic vascular disease. Visual acuity was 4/10 in the right eye and 10/10 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination was normal. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed that the macula upper temporal quadrant was characterized by hemorrhagia and an elevated area (Figure 1A), the left eye revealed an atrophic area outside the macula. The FA of the patient revealed an area of bright hyperfluorescence in the early phase and leaks in the late phase (Figure 1B). A diagnosis of CNV was made. Argon laser photocoagulation was applied on the right eye. The patient did not suffer until 6 months after the laser application and the visual acuity in the right eye had increased up to 9/10. However, 6 months after the las er application, the patient noted loss of vision in the right eye. Argon laser photocoagulation was applied again. The control FA of the patient did not reveal a leakage of the scar on the right eye (Figure 2). The visual acuity of the patient was 10/10 bilaterally and he didn’t reveal any complaints. After 3 years, the patient was referred to our clinic with blurred and loss of vision in the left eye and when the patient underwent rigorous historical questioning, he noted that all his complaints were revealed with the use of 50 mg sildenafil. He said that he had taken 50 mg sildenafil before his complaints were revealed. His visual acuity was 10/10 in the right eye and 4/10 in the left eye. The FA revealed CNV and photodynamic therapy and intravitreal anti-VEGF injection were applied to his left eye (Figure 3). DISCUSSION In this study we present a patient with CNV associated with sildenafil use. CNV is ultimately the result of a break in a structural layer beneath the retina known as Bruch’s membrane, which separates the nourishing vascular layer called the choroid from the retina. A break in Bruch’s membrane may allow the ingrowth of vessels from the choroid to a position just beneath the retina .2 These vessels may then leak fluid or blood, initially distorting or blurring vision, and may eventually lead to scarring in the macula and severe loss of central vision. CNV is associated with many diseases. The most common causes are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), presumed inflammatory and infectious conditions, myopic macular degeneration, trauma, angioid streaks and laser therapy, however many cases are idiopathic.(2) Sildenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme expressed throughout the smooth muscle of the vasculature.3 Through this mechanism, sildenafil potentiates the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway that mediates corpus cavernosum smooth muscle relaxation and thereby significantly improves penile blood flow. Basic science and clinical research have effectively documented the effects of sildenafil on the retinal and choroidal vasculature. Sildenafil also has a weaker inhibitory action on PDE6, located in the rod and cone photoreceptors. Modest, transient visual symptoms, typically blue tinge to vision, increased brightness of lights, and blurry vision, have been reported with sildenafil use and occur more frequently at higher doses. Visual function studies in healthy subjects and in patients with eye disease suggest that sildenafil does not affect visual acuity, visual fields, and contrast sensitivity.(5,6) Transient, mild impairment of color discrimination can occur around the time of peak plasma levels. However, we were not able to find any case of CNV associated with sildenafil use in the literature. Sildenafil induces angiogenic response in human coronary arteriolar endothelial growth factor (VEGF).(7) The same mechanism may be available on the retina and sildenafil may increase the levels of VEGF. This issue requires further studies and patients with CNV should be questioned about the use of sildenafil. Patients should consult with an ophthalmologist if there is any question about the health of their eyes prior to using sildenafil. REFERENCES Irwin Goldstei, Tom F. Lue, Harin Padma-Nathan et al. Oral sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction N Engl J Med 1998; 338:1397-1404 Bressler NM, Bressler SB, Fine SL. Age related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol 1988;32:375-413. Michael F. Marmor, Robert Kesler. Sildenafil and Ophthalmology. Survey of Ophthalmology 1999;44:153-162. Alan M. Laties, Eberhart Zrenner. Viagra and Ophthalmology. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 2002;21:485-506 DÃ ¼ndar SO. Visual loss associated with erectile dysfunction drugs. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology 2007;42(1):10-12 Zrenner E, Koppiker NP, Smith MD, Constable I, Littlewood R, Stuckey B. The effects of long-term sildenafil treatment on ocular safety in patients with erectile dysfunction. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S592. Vidavalur R, Penumathsa SV, Zhal L. Sildenafil induces angiogenic response in human coronary arteriolar endothelial cells through the expression of thioredoxin, hemeoxygenase and vascular endothelial growth factor. Vascul Pharmacol. 2006;45:91-95. FIGURE FOR LEGENDS FIGURE 1A: Fundus examination of the right eye revealed that the macula upper temporal quadrant was characterized by hemorrhagia and an elevated area FIGURE 1B: The FA on the right eye of the patient revealed an area of bright hyperfluorescence in the early phase and leaks in the late phase FIGURE 2: The control FA of the patient did not reveal a leakage of the scar on the right eye after laser photocoagulation was applied. FIGURE 3: The FA on the left eye of the patient revealed an area of bright hyperfluorescence in the early phase and leaks in the late phase

Divine Comedy - St.Augustine in Dante’s Inferno :: Divine Comedy Inferno Essays

St.Augustine in the Inferno It is hard to place St. Augustine within just one of the levels of Dante’s hell for his sins were varied and not great. Today many of his sins are commonplace. For example, most people attempt to better their own lives without regard of others. They attempt to increase their standard of living and gain more worldly possessions. They are neither good nor evil but are just trying to make a living and keep up in today’s fend-for-yourself society. Before Augustine’s conversion, this was his goal. He was continually searching for â€Å"honors, money, (and) marriage† (Confessions, 991). This allows Augustine to be placed in the first area of hell, the Vestibule. It is a place for opportunists such as Augustine was before his conversion. It is a place for the â€Å"nearly soulless. . . who were neither for God nor Satan, but only for themselves† (Inferno, 1295). Augustine never intentionally hurt anyone, but his actions were led by his instincts to succee d and gain praise. These actions included kissing up to the Emperor, his study of law and the art of persuasion, and the mocking of newcomers to his profession. Since each of these sins also falls within a different realm of Dante’s hell, they will be discussed later in this paper. The second level of Dante’s hell, Limbo, does not apply to Augustine because he was baptized and was blessed with the knowledge of Jesus Christ’s existence. Therefore, Augustine can not be placed within this first circle of hell. The second circle of hell, a realm for those who fell victim of their carnal desires, is another level at which to place Augustine’s soul for he was consumed by lust in his pre-conversion days. He was encouraged by his family to learn the art of persuasion and making of fine speech when he was only sixteen. He used these skills, which he developed very well, along with his good looks to seduce as many women as possible. It was â€Å"in that sixteenth year of my life in this world, when the madness of lust. . . took complete control of me, and I surrendered to it† (Confessions, 987). He was in love with being in love. Yet, he was unable to discern between love and lust. His carnal desires overpowered his soul for the majority of his life.

Enterprise Resources Management Essay

1. What is the business of Sinosteel, what are its major challenges, and how would an ERP system address the challenges they face? „h It has core business in resources development, trade & logistics, engineering project and science & technology, equipment manufacturing and specialized service, providing comprehensive auxiliary service for steel industry, especially steel mills. „h Maintenance of economic and technological cooperation with other nations and global companies and strengthen its global reach. As well as, along with other state enterprises, continue efforts to expand the global control over commodities-key, thus exclusivity to get stream in the provision that will ensure a steady stream of resources to the booming economy of China. „h They optimize management processes, standardize coding, regulations, etc. prevention of information risks, adapt industry processes and superior ownership expertise, centralize and unify the communication process, reports, accountancy, etc. 2. Why did Sinosteel pursue the development of an ERP system? What were the objectives? What challenges (risks) does ERP address for Sinosteel? [The CEO is difficult to understand on some of the objectives, but later in the video an IT manager is clearer and reflects the CEO ¡ is position almost exactly. You will need to listen carefully]. „h Because the need to consolidate management of diverse operations implementing the major enterprise resource planning major until 2005. „h The goals of this project were set down by their president, thus were: Increase the management levels, prevent all kind of risks, independence of operations and management, as well as, to optimize all resources assignments and human resources management. „h In the past the costumer information was decentralized and controlled by sails and needy subsidiary company. These prove risk as there localized were delinquent costumers could all many to one needy subsidiary, all need a invoice be paid by another. Through CRM they could prevent this kind of thing happening again, they are sharing all costumers ¡Ã‚ ¦ information. 3. What factors were important in the choice of Oracle? „h Oracle is the CEO of the International level, has very strong advantages, especially in enterprise resources management, and has very good applications and strong advantages to do such kind of project. Oracle has advanced technologies and relative flexible platform, its very easy to learn, administer and maintain. 4. How did business processes change in order to implement this ERP system? „h Develop to deliver a business inside, adapt industry processes and superior ownership experience, oracle applications enabled the efficient management of all cool business functions The resulting integrating business management platform was based the range of oracle e-business suit of applications as well as people software enterprise and JADE enterprise 1. 5. What do you think of some the implementation issues and risks might have been with this system? „h It has grown through the acquisition of hundreds of small companies, and many medium to large size companies. In the process, the company has inherited the information systems, accounting, customer, supplier, and human resource systems and policies of its many subsidiaries. So, probably the management processes were optimized, created standards for those subsidiaries, they used an integration business management plataform, etc. 6. How did this investment in ERP systems help Sinosteel achieve operational excellence? What do you think were the benefits of installing this system given the substantial costs involved? „h As in all industries were resources must be garbage for around the globe and delivery to right place, at right time, efficient supply chain management is crucial. All under storming is the condition for have supply chain information management, is to have three floors of information internally, ERP was the first foundation for such supply chain management. Improve information, consolidation and collaboration across the enterprise has results on major of upgrades Sinosteel management expertise, to deployment the ERP oracle system is the major mills turn in Sinosteel procedure of business efficiency and sustainable development. „h Sinosteel has established centralized and unified platform, which cover the whole enterprise. HRM also saw immediate benefits as the company adopted global HR policy standards. Employees personal and financial information connect efficiently, HRMS has very positive results in Sinosteel. The oracle ERP system delivery multiples benefits to Sinosteel.

Management Essay

1) What forces for change are evident at the Oconomo plant? (5) The forces for change that are evident at the Oconomo plant are the callenges dealing with high labor cost. As a result Lamprey is deciding to lower wages from $16 to $1.60 per hour. Also the union and Oconomo are disagreeing with this new change taking place with the wages. 2) Which of the forces in force-field analysis do you think would be more powerful than the other in this situation? Between the two forces I think the Driving Force would be more powerful than the other in this situation. The greatest force that drives the company to expect change is that it’s operating at a high cost and instead of giving returns it’s giving out loses. As a result, the aim of the company is to make changes so that it can appreciate profits in the future. In additional to there being high cost the thing that needs to be understood is that in order for the company to meet its operations it must realize some of the returns from what it has invested. Having invested in the company the managers and shareholders should expect that the company is going to provide sufficient returns which will be shared and at the same time enable the company to stay in the market. There also exist the risks of the competitors who are in the market currently. For the company to make it in the market, it must change its working conditions so that they fit with the current market situation. Another problem is the workers point of refusing to cooperate. The company is planning to reduce the amount of pay it’s going to provide to its workers with a significant drop. This is a great problem which workers are not ready to accept the desired change of the company. Another force for change is that competitors are in the market and of late they have threatened the company from the services and products that they are providing to the society. Quality is one thing that the company should look at so as to retain its market segment else the upcoming companies will outperform the company. 3) What is the primary type of change needed – changing â€Å"things† or changing the â€Å"people and culture†? The primary change that is appropriate at the moment is changing the people and their culture. The reason as to why changing people and culture is of importance to the company is that having changed people all other things will work accordingly. People’s culture is of importance in the way the company operates simply because if the culture or people fit in the objectives of the company then all other things will be in place. People are the main target of any given business set up. This means that in changing anything that is in respect to the company’s operations then the people and their culture is the initial thing that should be taken into consideration. Another thing is that having changed people’s perception competitors will have no say because you would have drove the attentions of the market to your operations. 4) What do you think is the underlying cause of the union leaders’ resistance to change? Union leaders are resistant to change due to a single reason which the company is reluctant to handle. The reason as to the resistance is that Oconomo plant has plans to provide workers with less wages which they feel they cant live within that budget. Looking at some companies which are emerging, union leaders are not ready to accept the change simply because those companies are giving out wages which are high and the quality of services and products that they have is almost outdoing the one Oconomo plant is providing. Jim has a hard time of convincing union leaders on what should be done. What he is supposed to do is to give union leaders the risk behind getting a new job if they lose the one they have. There are so many people in the town who are looking for job. Also, he should convince them to work as the negotiation is being carried out for a better change. There are benefits that workers get from the company and if they resign, such as medical and insurance benefits, then they will no longer get until they get another job.