Family Planning among Teenagers Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Family Planning among Teenagers - Term Paper Example The provision of family planning services to a minor depends on the legal concept of â€Å"personal representative.† According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2003), a personal representative is a person who has the legal authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the individual as in the case of minors (n.p.). Parents are often the personal representatives of minor children; thus, parents have the right to obtain health information about a minor child. However, the Privacy Rule specifies three circumstances in which certain minors can obtain specified health care without parental consent such as when the State or law does not require parental consent when obtaining particular health services (e.g., mental health treatment), when the court determines other authority rather than the parents to make treatment decisions for the minor, and when the parent to confidential relat ionship between the minor and the physician (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003, n.p.). In the case study presented, the 14-year-old teenager in an unemancipated minor with parents acting as the legal authority. ... A physician can prevent the transfer of billing/insurance information to reach parents by letting the minors use the option of requesting restrictions on disclosure of confidential communications. 2. What is the normal age range for menarche? According to Pillitteri (2009), the normal or usual age range for menarche is 9 to 17 years with average age of onset at 12.4 years (p. 99). The 14-year-old female in the case study experienced menarche at age 13 and thus, falls within the normal range. 3. What are some common treatments for dysmenorrhea? In the case study presented, the teenager stated that she experiences pain when she has her menses. The teenager also stated that the pain is occasionally bad enough that she misses school. The teenager suffers from a condition called dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation where treatment measures are geared towards pain relief and development of coping strategies. Treatment measures are grouped into three, namely: administration of low-dose oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera to suppress endometrium, administration of prostaglandin inhibitors or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain, and initiation of lifestyle changes. Patients treated with NSAIDs are usually prescribed to take Ibuprofen 400-800 mg or Naproxen 250-500 mg both three times a day (Ricci & Kyle, 2009, 94). In addition, patients treated with NSAIDs must be advised to take it with meals, cautioned against taking with aspirin or alcohol, and watched for signs of GI bleeding. Meanwhile, low-dose contraceptives are taken daily with advice to take active pills for an extended period of time to reduce the number of monthly cycles while the 150 mg of Depo-Provera is administered intramuscularly every 12th week with information that one could be

Personal Training Case Scenario Essay Example for Free

Personal Training Case Scenario Essay Please type your response in paper format, double spaced. Paper should include questions and detailed answers and should be 6-8 pages in length. Citing is not necessary as it will be assumed that all of the information obtained will be from the NSCA Essentials of Personal Training text. Papers will be due April 19th and will be 20% of your grade. You have just been contacted via telephone by Jane Doe, a 40 year old female who would like to meet with you to discuss the possibilities of obtaining your personal training services. Please describe the consultation process that you will use. (Client-trainer compatibility should be a main component here). Jane Doe called me on the phone one day while I was at the Community Center working at the help desk. We set up the initial interview for the following day. The importance of the initial interview is for the personal trainer and the client to assess compatibility, develop goals, and establish a client-trainer agreement. When Jane first arrives for the interview I will provide a description of the services available and that I can provide her. I will explain to her that I am certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association as of May 2012 and I have completed an Essentials of Personal Training class for credit at Northern Michigan University. I will explain to her the mission statement of the Community Center (mission statement of NSCA is to unify members and facilitate a professional exchange of ideas in strength development as it relates to the improvements of athletic performance and fitness) unique features to the program, and where and when services are available. I will then need to evaluate her readiness for fitness by assessing her level of motivation and commitment. I will ask her to discuss her past experience with exercise, time management skills, and possible obstacles that would prevent her from meeting with me. I would have her complete an attitudinal assessment which helps me understand her relationship with fitness. It is also important for me to explain for her and to understand roles, r esources, expectations and boundaries of the program. I will try to get an understanding in what kind of training that Jane is interested in and if I think that my abilities would allow us to make a good match. After establishing compatibility I would discuss with Jane her goals and objectives as it relates to motivation. I would help explain that developing specific goals are important that they are able to be measurable, realistic, and time sensitive. If her idea in losing weight is 15 pounds a week, I will have to explain to her that it is simply not a realistic goal, because a more fitting objective would be 1-2 pounds per week. After establishing goals, a very important part of the initial interview is the client-trainer agreement. I will then present Jane with a written document describing the services, people involved, expectations of those people, cost structure and payment process. It will also include termination policy and other issues that may be pressing. I would give J ane the document and ask her to read it so she understands everything and we would discuss it thoroughly so there is no miscommunication; once it is signed by both of us it becomes valid. After meeting with Jane, she has decided she would like you to be her personal trainer. You have scheduled a fitness assessment with Jane for the following day. Please describe what information you will need to tell her to so that she is prepared for the assessment. I will let Jane know that the purpose of the assessment is to gather baseline data and provide a basis for developing goals and effective exercise programs. I want to choose tests that will match with her goals. I will tell Jane to dress in comfortable athletic clothing and to wear appropriate tennis shoes. I will make sure that before she comes to the fitness assessment that she needs to make sure she gets adequate rest, that she stays hydrated throughout the day and brings water with her, and that if she eats it should be at least a c ouple hours before our meeting. Her goals are: * Lose 30 pounds * Decrease body fat * Increase overall health * Increase muscular strength and endurance * Increase mobility * Increased cardiovascular capacity * Better eating habits Jane has arrived for her assessment. Which paperwork will you complete with her and why? Based on her goals, which fitness tests will you perform? Will nutrition advice be included in your assessment process? Why or why not? Some paperwork I will have Jane complete is a health appraisal screening. This is to help identify known diseases and possible risk factors associated with coronary artery disease and question if Jane may need medical referral before starting the exercise program. I would have Jane fill out a Par-Q (physical activity readiness questionnaire) form which identifies if individuals are healthy enough to start training or if they need additional medical attention. Another form I would have her fill out is the health/medical questionnaire. This form identifies any diseases, personal medical history, health concerns, medication and lifestyle management. I would then proceed to ask Jane questions to gather a lifestyle inventory so I can understand some of her daily habits and figure if she has any behaviors that are positively or negatively impacting her health. I would ask questions about her diet, stress management, physical activity, and sleep pattern. I would then give Jane a document on informed consent which gives her information about the content and process of the program delivery. I will evaluate all this information and collect all the paperwork and keep it in a personal file for Jane Doe so I can keep a record of my client. After filling out paperwork we will began some of the fitness testing. I will start with some of the rest tests (blood pressure and resting heart rate) first, because if Jane wants to improve her cardiovascular capacity and overall health, it is important to take note of how her exercise affects her blood pressure (exercise is proven to lower BP) and if her resting heart rate decreases after the program (that would mean the program was effective). To asses her body fat and weight I would perform two body composition tests on Jane to make the assessment more valid. I would use the waist to hip ratio, and then I would perform the skinfold test because it directly measures thickness of fat tissue. This test is valid and can be reliably measu red properly and this test you can easily see results. I would use waist to hip ratio instead of body mass index because that is not always accurate and it doesn’t account for muscle weight (muscle weighs more than fat). After the resting tests I would have Jane move on to some flexibility tests for reasons that she wants to increase her mobility. I would have Jane perform a sit and reach test because it measures hip and low back flexibility. Since Jane wants to increase her muscular strength and endurance, I will have her complete the muscular strength test last so it won’t tire her out before the muscular endurance tests. I will have her perform the one-minute sit-up test because it measures abdominal strength and hip flexor muscle groups. I will also have her perform the push-up test because it uses her own body weight. For muscular strength I will have her complete a 1-repetitions maximum bench press and leg press to see where her maximum strength is in her arms and legs. To asses for cardiovascular endurance, I will have Jane complete the YMCA step test because it measures the heart rate recovery response immediately after the test. I will also have Jane complete the Rockport walking test which estimates the VO2 max for older men and women and it requires only walking at a fast pace. I will give general nutrition a dvice to Jane to address misinformation and advice as it relates to physical performance, disease prevention, weight loss and weight gain. I can refer Jane to a dietician if I believe she has a disease state affected by her eating, but I should only give information on nutrition after assessing Jane’s diet, and I can give her recommendations that can match to Jane’s dietary goals. I can help asses Jane’s diet through dietary recall, diet history, and ask her to keep a diet record. I am not certified to prescribe anything to Jane, but if I recognize more complicated nutrition issues, I am only here to guide her diet, be a source of credible information, and refer her to someone when necessary. During the assessment, Jane explains to you that she suffers from anxiety, stress and mild depression. How will you educate her regarding exercise and its effects on these conditions? I will explain to Jane that the benefits of exercise are endless and that there is evidenc e that participation in physical activity has significant mental health benefits, which include a reduction in anxiety and depression, decreased reactivity to psychological stress, and enhanced cognition. Many workout routines for continuous periods of time can be relaxing, and many routines are rhythmic which can be calming to the central nervous system and this can cause a quieting of the cognitive activity associated with anxiety or stress. Along with anxiety, research evidence consistently reveals that physical exercise yields significant effects for men and women who suffer from depression and less severe forms. Exercise offers an appropriate and effective means of coping and feeling better, while also increasing ones overall health. When exercising, your brain releases serotonin (neurotransmitter with antidepressant effects) and the levels are elevated during and following the activity. Being socially interactive that occurs in an exercise setting or forming a sense of accomplishment after a workout makes people feel a sense of independence and decreased feelings of helplessness. Therefore, being physically active not only helps you to look better, but it helps to make you feel better on the inside as well. Explain to Jane some of the resistance and aerobic training adaptations she can expect to see as a result of her training program. Why would it be important to someone starting an exercise program to understand these training adaptations? Acute responses to exercises are changes that occur in the body during and shortly after an exercise bout. And chronic responses to exercise are changes in the body that occur after repeated training bouts and persist long after the training session is over. During the initial phases of resistance training there is a dramatic increase in the activation of motor units and improvements in strength are due to neural adaptations. Resistance training leads to muscle hypertrophy but it is usually not measured until 8-12 weeks after the beginning of the program. A lot of neurological responses, muscular and endocrine changes will be seen in resistance adaptation. An example of a neurological change would be the number of motor units recruited. An endocrine change includes an increase in epinephrine which increases fat and carb breakdown by the cell for more ATP (energy) production. Some chronic adaptations include after about 1-2 months most strength increases due to hypertrophy and skill of movement. Women tend to build stronger and thicker bones and high volume resistance training may induce glycolitic enzymatic adaptations that increase muscle endurance. Resistance training programs increase fat-free mass, improving body composition. Resistance training programs increase metabolic rate, due to the high metabolic activity of muscle. The effects of aerobic exercise are regulated by the intensity, frequency, and duration of the activity. If one exercises at a greater heart rate, then the training adaptation will be greater. Heart rate and stroke volume increases because the cardiac output is increased, yet the heart also becomes stronger in size because it has to pump more blood (decreased resting heart rate). The energy systems in t he body also become better at producing energy and stored energy in the form of fat is utilized during aerobic training which leads to a change in body composition. Body increases the available fuel sources as well as the enzymes responsible for utilizing those fuel sources. The respiratory changes include increased lung capacity and blood flow. It is appropriate to know this so the client won’t over train or detraining. Changes are the exact opposite of what occurs during training programs. Some common markers for overtraining include decreased performance, decreased body fat, decreased maximum oxygen uptake, increased muscle soreness and increased sympathetic stress response among other things. It is important for Jane to recognize the changes her body will be making as a result of exercise so she can see improvement and stay motivated. During your assessment, you find the following: * Height: 62 inches * Weight: 180 lbs. * Body Fat: 30% * Blood pressure: 138/85 mmHg * Resting HR: 70 * Upper body endurance: average * Lower body endurance: poor * Rockport walk test 18 minutes * Sit and reach: 16 inches Jane has committed to training with you two days per week and three times on her own. Based on your fitness testing and her stated goals, what will be some of the short-term and long-term goals you will set at the end of the assessment? Why is it important to set goals? What are some important characteristics of goal setting? Goals are important to set because they keep the client motivated to not only work out with the trainer but also make sure they are making the program effective by working out on their own too. It is important to have something to work towards because there is always room for improvement and once achieved, setting a goal gives you a sense of accomplishment. Some easy goals I would first start out with are that Jane commits to show up to train with me two days a week for at least one month, three on her own, and that she aim to work out 5 days a week total. Another short-term goal is that Jane aim to lose about a pound a week. A long-term goal for Jane would be to have a 10% reduction in body weight at the end of 6 months, so her goal would be to lose 18 pounds in 6 months. According to Jane’s BMI she falls in the class one obesity, and has a very high blood pressure which puts her at risk for heart disease and diabetes, so it would be an important goal to drop her blood pressure to about 130/85 at the end of 6 months. Her Rockport walk test also fell in the range of poor so a long-term goal would be to get her time down to 14 minutes instead of 18 which would help improve her Vo2 max which ultimately helps increase her cardiovascular capacity and aerobic endurance. A short term goal would be to drop about 12 seconds off of her time each week. Some general goals would be to increase her upper and lower b ody muscular strength and endurance. A nutritional goal I will first start out for Jane is to eat a healthy breakfast every morning after she wakes up and to drink at least six cups of water every day. A long-term goal is to eventually have Jane eat 2-3 cups of fruit and veggies, 5 ounces of lean/low-fat meat and poultry, 3 ounces of whole grains, and about 3 cups of low/non-fat dairy every day (recommendations are referenced from choosemyplate.gov). Some characteristics of goal setting include that they should be specific, measureable, and observable. It’s important to clearly identify time constraints. By beginning with goals that are simple to achieve, the personal trainer can create a sense of achievement and self-confidence for the client so they can eventually make their goals more challenging. Goals should be recorded, monitored, and evaluated. Short-term goals should be set first to achieve long-term goals, and they should also be prioritized so the most important one s are first. Describe your resistance training program in detail and why you have chosen this plan for this specific client. Jane is a beginner when it comes to resistance training. Topics to include are: Since Jane is a beginner in resistance training I will have her meet with me for an over an hour on Mondays and Thursdays. Her main goal is muscular endurance so I will alternate the upper and lower body exercises. Bench Press (free weight) 2 sets x 15 reps at 50 pounds Leg Press (pivot based machine) 2 sets x 15 reps at 140 pounds Seated row (cam based machine) 2 sets x 15 reps at 30 pounds Leg curl (cam based machine) 2 sets x 15 reps at 20 pounds Shoulder press (cam based machine) 2 sets x 15 reps at 15 pounds Squat (FW) 2 sets x 15 reps (try without any weights and then slowly add bar or dumbbells) Bicep curl (FW) 2 sets x 15 reps at 30 pounds Standing calf raise 2 sets x 15 reps Triceps pushdown (pivot based machine) 2 sets x 15 reps at 15 pounds Stability ball abdominal crunch 2 sets x 15 reps * Exercise choice: I used a mixture of free weights and machine based exercises because Jane is a beginner. The core exercises I chose are bench press, leg press, squats, seated row, and shoulder press because those work major muscle groups. The assistance exercises are leg curl, biceps curl, calf raises, triceps pushdown and abdominal crunches which work small muscle groups. * Frequency: Because Jane is a beginner, she is only meeting with me two times a week and I want to make sure she has proper form when weight training so I would prefer she did her resistance exercises with me in the gym so I can coach her. The days are spaced out evenly so Jane has enough recovery time in between. * Order: It is important to alternate upper body and lower body exercises so that Jane doesn’t get too fatigued. She will complete one set of each exercise and then repeat because muscular endurance goals call for between 2-3 sets. * Load: Because Jane is a beginner I used percent of body-weigh t testing protocol for a guideline. Her weight is 180 pounds but I used the maximum 140 pounds as an average to get a good idea on how much weight she should be lifting. I used table 15.5 to help with body weight factors and used the calculation to estimate how much weight Jane should be lifting. * Repetitions: Because Jane’s goal is muscular endurance it is important to do 2-3 sets within 12-15 repetitions to get good results. * Volume: (total number of repetitions times the weight lifted per repetition) If I calculated all the repetitions times the weight lifted in a given day, Jane is lifting around over 5000 pounds. * Variation: Jane is only working out with me for two days out of the week and the only variation I will use is alternating upper body and lower body. * Progression: 2-for-2 rule: if a client can complete two more repetitions than the repetition goal in the final set for two consecutive training sessions then I will add on more weight depending on the exercise and the amount of weight Jane can lift in the first place. Jane is inexperienced in weight training so for every exercise I show her how do it first and then see if she can do it with no weight. Then I will add on a third of the set weight and have her do 12 reps and then if she can complete that with proper form then I will have her complete the actual exercise. After about two weeks I will start progressing Jane and adding more weight so she can slowly increase and improve her performance. After a few months I will slowly increase the frequency and exercise choice to add variation so Jane’s muscles don’t get used to the same workouts and to also see improvement. Describe your cardiovascular plan in detail and why you have chosen this plan for this specific clien t. Topics to include are: When Jane meets with me on Mondays and Thursdays I will also have her do some aerobics but a light workout because those are also the days she will be lifting. * Exercise mode: On Mondays Jane will be on the machine (treadmill) and then on Thursdays the bike. On the treadmill Jane will be walking, and on the bike Jane will be biking. On Wednesdays and Saturdays Jane will not be using a machine she will just be walking, and then she will use stairs at her home to do stair stepping. On Sundays Jane will be doing stretching and flexibility exercises. * Exercise intensity: Jane’s maximum heart rate is 190 bpm. Her HRR is 120. Because one of Jane’s main goals is to lose weight and burn fat, she should aim to be in the fitness zone which targets fat burning and her heart rate target should be 114-133 bpm. Since Jane is still a beginner, her exercises should be low to moderate intensity, she should still be able to hold a conversation and talk while exercising. * Exercise duration: 20-30 min for five days a week is a good goal to have for Jane. Although on the days she meets with me on Mondays and Thursdays her aerobic exercise will only be duration of 10 minutes so she doesn’t become too fatigued. On Wednesdays and Saturday s Jane will walk for 20 min and do stair stepping for 10 min for a total workout of 30 min. * Exercise progression: After a few months and losing weight and after Jane becomes more experienced, I will evaluate her and one of her goals will be to slowly move to the aerobic zone and her target heart rate will become 133-152 bpm. Every two weeks I will add five minutes to her walking time on Wednesdays and Saturdays so in two weeks instead of walking for 20 min she will be walking for 25 min and so on. I will also increase the intensity at which Jane walks on the treadmill and bikes on the bike by very small increments every two weeks. * Which types of aerobic training programs will you choose? Why? Jane’s goal here is weight loss and aerobic improvement, so progression is a very important component to this aerobic training program. Because Jane is still a beginner and needs to improve her Rockport Walking Test score, I chose walking as a main exercise. Using the treadmill at the gym will help give Jane an idea as to what pace and intensity she should be walking at so it makes it easier for her to walk on her own. I also chose biking because cycling is also a good way to get your heart rate up and improve your cardiovascular endurance. On her days not at the gym I also chose for Jane to do stair steppi ng because she can easily do it at her home and it is also a good activity to get your heart rate up and it works on coordination, leg muscles, and improves cardiovascular endurance. On Sundays Jane should have an easier day but it is still important for her to stretch and work on flexibility. Some exercises I will have her do include lunge walk, butterfly, arm circles, side lunges, behind neck and back stretch, semi straddle, wall stretch, and walking knee tuck. It is important for Jane to get her blood flowing before performing any stretches and for every workout it is also important that Jane have a five minute warm-up and cool down. I will show Jane how to do each stretch and then I will give her a sheet that explains and gives pictures and a specific order on how to do them so she can perform them on her own. Jane would like to set up an exercise area at her home. What are some SPECIFIC guidelines and recommendations you could give her regarding which equipment to purchase and the logistics of setting up an exercise area? Some guidelines and recommendations I would give Jane regarding setting up an exercise area in her home would include that it is imperative that any exercise equipment purchased will fit into the home (think about ceiling height, door width, space of room). Cost is an important factor, and the equipment should not be kept out of sight because this might hinder the client being motivated to work out. The safety issues of a home exercise area includes keeping children and pets away from electrical outlets, running treadmills, free weights, bike pedals etc. A see-through gate around the area is always a good idea for a safer environment. When the equipment is not in use it should be turned off or locked or disabled or put into a different room. Other factors to think of are available electricity outlets and their safety, adequat e lighting, air circulation, mirrors, and protective flooring and celling. All the equipment should be placed along the perimeter of the room close to the walls. Another thing to consider is to allow 25 to 49 square feet for activities such as aerobic dancing, free body weights etc. It is also good to think about allowing enough space for a TV, DVD player, or music system for exercise tapes or listening to music. A home exercise facility that has good lighting and air circulation, and good entertainment is more desirable to work out in. How would your overall approach to the program change if Jane was 30 years old and 3 months pregnant? If Jane were three months pregnant there are definitely some different guidelines that I would use to be cautionary and safe. First and foremost I would check with her healthcare provider to make sure that exercising would be safe and beneficial to Jane. After the first trimester I would not have Jane lie in any supine position for any exercises and I would have her use more weight machines because it changes the center of gravity, but non-weight bearing activities are favored because this would reduce the risk of injury and body weight is always an effective way of working out. I would adjust the program according to avoid training at high levels of fatigue and be careful with balance and agility exercises. I would avoid any activity that would increase the risk of falling or trauma to the abdomen. 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise is very beneficial for most days of the week and abdominal and pelvic floor strength is emphasized. Large increases in body temperature should be minimized as well. I would definitely still have Jane continue her walking and stair stepping and most of her stretches. I would decrease the amount of weight she would be lifting for her resistance training and I would get rid of any of the lifts where she has to lie down. I would make sure she didn’t become too fatigued and I would closely m onitor for proper form.

Impact of BIM on Construction

Impact of BIM on Construction Building Information Modelling is certainly beginning to change the way the building looks and the way they function. This implementation of BIM has taken the construction industry into a new-era where all processes has fasten up, the benefits are not just time and cost savings but also reduction of risks and uncertain in construction process. From the through literature review of many researchers works published in various journals suggestions are being made as how this BIM approach is being carried out in construction industry, at the same time a critical literature review is also being conducted on the cost estimation within BIM technologies and whether this can benefit or harm the future role of the quantity surveyor. A questionnaire was designed to identify how the use of BIM will affect the future role quantity surveyor. The questionnaires were distributed to construction professionals within UK. From the analysis of the results obtained and comparing them with the literature review it is very clear that the construction industry is lagging in implementing e-procurement approach when compared to other industries and having realizing the potential benefits the BIM is being offering in various fields of construction industry the construction professionals are very much confident that BIM approach can enhance the procurement process and were also looking forward to implement this type of approach into their projects which makes room for bringing the whole project under a single platform Contents 1.0 Introduction The following research will investigate and analysis how the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. According to the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA (2012), almost a third of construction consultants are now using BIM .Thenbs (2011) provided information that in May 2011 UK Government Chief Construction Adviser Paul Morrell called for BIM adoption on UK government construction projects of  £5million and over. Thenbs (2012) provide information that Building Information Modelling covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, quantities and properties of building components. BIM data can be used to illustrate the entire building life cycle. quantities and properties of materials can be extracted easily and the scope of works can be easily defined. Furthermore systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale to each other and relative to the entire project. 1.2 Problem identification and purpose of study The main role of Quantity Surveyors is to estimate the building cost the modern quantity surveyor provides a service that covers all aspects of procurement, contractual and project cost management. The role of the quantity surveyor plays a very important role in all phases of any type of Construction Company  estimators have developed their computing skills in using estimating systems but mostly relying in adopting spread sheets and database ages(EstimatingTendering book) I believe there is still a market for large databases and standardized items (connections, assembly options) that can assist in the bill production phase. Repository (2012) stated that over the years the need for more cost effective, better quality and environmentally friendlier construction has grown, these factors are the main Influences on the development of technology in the construction industry. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the technologies that have been creating a buzz in the construction industry over the last few years. Ukconstructionessays (2012) provided information that Building Information Modelling, or better known as BIM is not; strictly speaking a new technology as it has been developing and used by other industry sectors since 1950s i.e. the automotive and aero plane industries. As technology evolves, we are forced to evolve with it or run the risk of being left behind. The traditional way of utilising the services of a quantity surveyor has largely been at the stage of costing a design, and the production of procurement and construction documentation (Asworth and Hogg, 2002). With the development of technology like BIM, the responsibilities of professionals are starting to shift. BIM includes a series of cost management functions that could change the processes of cost management of construction projects. This forces the quantity surveyor to focus more on different parts of the cost management process, than what would have previously. Not only will BIM influence the cost management functions and responsibilities of the quantity surveyor, but also the technology and types of software that are currently used in quantity surveying offices. 1.5 structure of the dissertation The whole dissertation is primarily divided up into 6 chapters Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Literature review Chapter 3: Research Methodology Chapter 4: Analysis Discussions Chapter 5: Conclusion Recommendations Chapter 6: References 1.6 Aims Objectives Aim: The objective of this dissertation is to identify if the use of BIM in the construction industry is going to affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. Objectives: To understand what is BIM To Research into whether BIM will help aid the Quantity Surveyor To Research into whether BIM will affect the role of the Quantity surveyor To summarise, analyse and evaluate the data collected in order analyse how the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. Critically analyse the data collected from these questionnaires by comparing theoretical conclusions with the empirical research findings to draw conclusions. To prepare a questionnaire to collect data from practitioners within the construction industry in the UK in regards to whether the use of BIM will affect the future role of quantity surveyor. Clear objectives are important to determine whether this study is achieving what it set out to do. It is also important to write program objectives as specifically as possible to provide program clarity and strong links to evaluation. It is much easier to evaluate a program when clear objectives have been developed my peer (2012). 1.7 Restraints Limitations The main restraint is the access and use of BIM software as a full time student I do not have access to BIM software within the construction industry or at the university. Archicad or Autodesk will need to be used to understand fully what BIM is and how it works; a student version can be downloaded online. The research will involve the use of academic materials such as textbooks, journals, published and unpublished documents and internet sites. The data analysis will be carried out by sending out questionnaires to a range of construction professionals working within a Birmingham consultancy, and the results presented in bar charts and analysed after. Another restraint is how many people answer and return the questionnaire, the more people that answer the questionnaire will be beneficial within the analysis as a greater number of people will give much more accurate results. Many of the potential individuals who will carry out the questionnaire may have busy schedules so research must be taken into ensuring that questions are suitable and are able to draw suitable responses from at the end. It will be hard to measure how many construction companies currently use BIM and whether It is having an effect on the role of quantity surveyors working within the construction industry as there isnt enough time to gather research from every construction around the UK .Throughout the study an open mind will be maintained whilst undertaking the research and analysis of the data collected. 1.8 Research Beneficiaries / Dissemination This research will be useful into identifying whether the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor or aid the future role of the quantity surveyor. And to also identify what specific ways the quantity surveyor may benefit from using BIM and in what specific ways the quantity surveyor may be affected by the use of BIM in the future. Other categories to benefit from this research include the researcher, students and academics. By undertaking this research companies and people working within the construction industry can have a better understanding on the use of BIM approach and how it can be implemented within the cost estimation stage of a project and also into different phases of a project and the views of other professionals working within the UK construction industry on this application can be found and thus can implement that application effectively for the success of the project. 2.0 Literature review 2.1 Introduction: In this chapter 2 of literature review, a critical literature has been conducted about how the use of BIM can aid the role of quantity surveyor and how BIM may be a threat to the future role of the quantity surveyor. 2.2 Building Information modelling Constructionbusinessowner (2012) provided information that BIM allows early collaboration and integration of the design information in a 3-D environment programs are widely used in the early stages to eliminate potential issues that would be costly to rectify in the field. All parties involved benefit. Designers can identify and correct design issues before they result in rework and schedule delays. Contractors have more reliable information and can better plan for equipment use and construction sequencing. Owners can walk the project in a 3-D environment during the design. And facility managers can pinpoint ergonomic issues and plan maintenance activities more efficiently by sharing the model with their vendors and contractors. BIM will only benefit users if it leads to improved design, faster delivery, reduced price or improved value. A combination of these factors will dictate how successful BIM implementation will be in the coming years. When all members of the construction team work on the same model, from early design through to completion, changes are automatically coordinated across the project and information generated is therefore of high quality. The construction industry is widely acknowledged as unique and conservative. Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems have the potential to revolutionize current practices and to automate the measurement of quantities from construction drawings. However, there are fears that such developments could threaten the future role of the quantity surveyor. 2.3 Advantages of BIM The application of BIM has the result of many advantages, such as: Greater speed The multi-dimensionality of BIM allows various deliverables and documentation to be prepared simultaneously to the design of the building. Furthermore, the use of object-oriented design and the re-use of information accelerate the creation of drawings (Ashcraft, 2007). Changes made to a certain aspect of the model or the design will be automatically updated through the rest of the project, which allows for major time savings. Lower costs Sabol (2012) provided information that BIM offers the capability to generate take-offs, counts and measurements directly from a model. This provides a process where information stays consistent throughout the project and changes can be readily accommodated. Building information modelling supports the full project lifecycle and offers the capability to integrate costing efforts throughout all project phases. According to chuck Eastman (2011) at any stage of the design, BIM technology can extract an accurate bill of quantities and spaces that can be used for cost estimation. Cost estimating is currently a time consuming process, requiring an entire team of estimators. Acebytes (2012) provided information that there are multiple factors hindering the transition to model-based estimating; however, the risks are justified by the benefits of estimating with BIM. Building Information Modelling has the capability to automate a quantity take-off, which will reduce the time and costs required to estimate a project. By using a building information model instead of drawings; the take offs, counts, and measurements can be generated directly from the underlying model and the information can be linked to generate bills of materials, size and area estimations along with other related estimating information. According to Hardin (2009) another strategy for leveraging BIM during a project is to use the BIM file for updating estimates very quickly, last minute design changes can be altered and updated much more quickly than typical take off methodologies can catch up with . Disadvantages of BIM Precisedraftunginc (2012) provided information that BIM requires more effort at the front end of a project to establish the initial framework. But the payoff is that you are able to extract a much higher quality and greater quantity of information from that model. BIM allows changes to happen easily, so clients may continue to make changes too late in the process, and that can impact construction and design costs. BIM results in much larger file sizes than traditional CAD systems, and requires higher performing computer hardware to operate it effectively. BIM requires more thoughtful design. We now have to do what all good designers have done in the past: Think in 3d and visualize the final product! 3.0 Research Methodology A Quantitative research methodology will be used. According to Shamil Naoum, (2006 p.g39) quantitative research is based on a hypothesis or a theory composed of a variable measured and analysed with statistical procedures. Quantitative research enables the author to measure and analyse data. Benefitof (2012) provided information that the relationship between an independent and dependent variable is studied in detail. The use of standard means in quantitative research means that any research may be replicated, analysed and also compared with other similar studies. Quantitative research allows for greater accuracy and objectivity of results gained .Quantitative research usually filters out all external factors and if well designed, it provides unbiased and real results. Quantitative research is a great method to finalise results and disprove or prove a hypothesis. It is useful for testing results gotten from doing various qualitative experiments, thereby leading to the final answer. Qu antitative Research will provide the advantage of finding a premeditated set of result from a range of professionals in the construction industry. The main strengths of quantitative data collection: Numeric estimates Opportunity for relatively uncomplicated data analysis Data which are verifiable Data which are comparable between different communities within different locations Data which do not require analytical judgement beyond consideration of how information will be presented in the dissemination process. The Weaknesses of quantitative data collection: Gaps in information issues which are not included in the questionnaire, or secondary data checklist, will not be included in the analysis A labour intensive data collection process Limited participation by affected persons in the content of the questions or direction of the information collection process. (Reliefweb 2012) A Questionnaire will be produced to obtain data. Statpac (2012) provided information that Questionnaires are very cost effective when compared to face-to-face interviews. Questionnaires are easy to analyse, they are familiar to most people. They are less are less intrusive than telephone or face-to-face surveys. The results from the questionnaires will then be produced into bar charts and analysed. The questionaries will be sent by letter to a construction consultancy in Birmingham Rider Levett Bucknall in which I gained work experience with in 2011. Questionnaires will also be sent out to a number of Contractors within the west midlands area this will aid within the analysis as the research will be gained by both contractor and consultants and a deeper and more accurate conclusion will be gained at the end of the study. The nature of the data required will be based on personal opinion from a range of construction professionals working within a construction consultancy and a construction contractor. 4.0 Results 4.1 Introduction This chapter is mainly intended to cover the results in detail from the questionnaire sent to the various construction professionals within the UK in a statistical format by making use of Excel and MS Word. The questionnaire data has been broke down critically by representing in graphs and tables. 4.2 Results Explanation The questionnaire has been distributed to 79 construction professionals through email. Out of these 79 questionnaires 37 complete responses have been obtained and 13 responses were incomplete responses. Sample Size originally distributed = 79 Response received (complete response) = 37 No: of incomplete Responses = 5.0 Discussion of Results 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations The aim of this research report was to study the influence of BIM on the quantity surveying profession. One of the most apparent and vital consequences that will result from implementing BIM into the quantity surveying profession is the effect that it will have on the traditional roles and responsibilities of the quantity surveyor and the structure of quantity surveying firms. BIMs capabilities of automating the production of bills of quantities, which is one of the quantity surveyors fundamental tasks, will have both positive and negative effects on the quantity surveying industry. The automatic production of bills of quantities will enable quantity surveyors to get involved in the early design stages of a construction project and make designers aware of cost implications and manage costs from early on. This will enable designers to design to a cost instead of quantity surveyors costing to a design, which will satisfy the employers need for cost effective construction. In the past m easurement was usually undertaken by senior quantity surveyors, but over the years it has diminished into a task delegated to more junior personnel while professional quantity surveyors take up more strategic roles (Ashworth and Hogg, 2007). Although work is required initially to develop the skills and processes needed to integrate BIM and QS processes, the resulting benefits undoubtedly justify the investment. Recent years have witnessed the realization of many of the ideas of BIM visionaries, and the next five years will see increasing numbers of successful implementations, changes in the building industry, and new trial uses and extensions of what can be achieved with BIM, beyond its use today. This period will see the transition of BIM to accepted mainstream practice; and the transition will impact all building professionals and participants. But the greatest impact will be on the individual practitioner, who will need to learn to work, design, engineer, build, or manage with BIM. Estimators have to access the risks of the project and with BIM you can be more sure of the correct-ability of the drawn material and the demonetised possibility of errors under the build. The question is only how soon they will be liable to correct their ways of working with the same percent advised. It will only take one company to burst the bobble all of the sudden all eyes will be turned to the contractor who went 5-8% under all the other tenders. The companies left behind still stuck to the 2D system will never know what hit them and will very soon have to turn the key. In practice this is time-consuming both for contractors and sub-contractors, and the amount of paperwork had increased immensely. Nevertheless, contractors always need a bill of quantities, whether produced by the clients quantity surveyor, by an in-house commission or by sharing the services of an independent quantity surveyor. There will be a higher demand to the contractors to be able to build accordantly to drawings as a model can be pulled out and digitally measured. They will have to be more accurate in their tenders as the possibility of extra works cause of quality on the drawings will be higher. http://www.7star.dk/b-link/Dissertation_QuantityExtractingInBIM.pdf References [ONLINE] Available at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/qualitative_and_quantitative_research_techniques.pdf. [Accessed 11 November 2012]. How to Benefit From Using BIM | Construction Business Owner Magazine. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/topics/software/how-benefit-using-bim. [Accessed 13 November 2012]. Cost estimating. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dcstrategies.net/files/2_sabol_cost_estimating.pdf. [Accessed 13 November 2012]. Tiwari, S., Odelson, J., Watt, A., Khanzode, A.(2009). Model Based Estimating to Inform Target Value Design. AECbytes. [ONLINE] Available at :http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html.[Accessed 13 November 2012] Setting objectives. 2012. Setting objectives. [ONLINE] Available at: http://mypeer.org.au/planning/setting-objectives/. [Accessed 14 November 2012]. Advantages of Written Questionnaires. 2012. Advantages of Written Questionnaires. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.statpac.com/surveys/advantages.htm. [Accessed 04 November 2012]. BIM in construction Building Information Modelling (BIM) article from NBS. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bimInConstruction.asp. [Accessed 04 November 2012]. BIM, What is Building Information Modeling?. 2012. BIM, What is Building Information Modeling?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.precisedraftinginc.com/bim.html. [Accessed 21 December 2012]. Benefits of Quantitative Research | Benefits Of. 2012. Benefits Of Quantitative Research | Benefits Of. [ONLINE] Available at: http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-quantitative-research/. [Accessed 04 November 2012] Definition of Quantity Surveyors . 2012. Definition of Quantity Surveyors . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.surveyors.com/quantity-surveyors/definition-of-quantity-surveyors-/. [Accessed 19 December 2012]. Building information modelling. 2012. Building information modelling. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukconstructionessays.com/essays/construction/building-information-modelling.php. [Accessed 19 December 2012]. NBS: BIM Roundtable Discussion. 2012. NBS: BIM Roundtable Discussion. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thenbs.com/roundtable/. [Accessed 07 November 2012]. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/16349/Gee_Influence%282010%29.pdf?sequence=1. [Accessed 20 December 2012]. Bibliography Ashcraft, H. 2007. Building Information Modelling A Framework for Collaboration, Construction Lawyer, vol. 28, Number 3, accessed: February 2010, Ashworth, A., and Hogg, K. (2002). Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, 11th Edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford London Chuck Eastman, 2011. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modelling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. 2 Edition. Wiley.p.g 22 Shamil Naoum, 2006. Dissertation Research and Writing for Construction Students, Second Edition. 2 Edition. Butterworth-Heinemann.p.g 36 Brad Hardin, 2009. BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows. 1 Edition. Sybex.p.g 152

Introduction to Macrobiotics Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Paper

Introduction to Macrobiotics Macrobiotics is one of the many alternative diets that has gained popularity in the United States over the last couple decades. Michio Kushi introduced macrobiotics to New York City in the 1970's. Proponents of macrobiotics contend that it is not merely a diet, but a philosophy that, if properly observed, will ensure emotional, physical, spiritual and mental well-being. Good physical health is necessary before emotional, physical and spiritual wellness can be cultivated. See Foundation for the Macrobiotic Way Macrobiotic theory is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang as interpreted by George Oshawa, a self- proclaimed expert in the macrobiotics world. The principle of yin and yang as applied to food creates a spectrum with yin at one end and yang at the other. Whole grains are at the center of the spectrum, and are considered the best food to eat. Drugs are the 'most yin', with sugar, cheese, fruit, water, nuts, vegetables and beans falling progressively closer to the center of the spectrum. Refined salt is the 'most yang' with eggs, meat, fowl, and fish approaching the mean. The standard macrobiotic diet recommends that 50-60% of calories come from whole grains, 25-30% from land vegetables, 5-10% from sea vegetables and 5% from soups. Only 6% of calories should come from protein. Fat should be avoided. Only foods that are natural and organic should be eaten if at all possible. The macrobiotic diet emphasizes adopting one's diet as seasons and environments change. In sp ring and summer food that requires less fire in cooking should be eaten. Only in colder months, when food is used as a source of heat, should fire be used in cooking. Therefore, people who live in hot places ... ... built around balance. However, the very essence of a macrobiotic diet deprives an individual of ever achieving a balanced diet. All of the scientific studies advised people on macrobiotic diets to increase their consumption of fish, fat and dairy products in order to maintain normal development in children and obtain the proper vitamins and nutrients. Works Cited: American Dietetic Association. Position Paper on food and nutrition misinformation on selected topics. Journal of American Dietetic Association. 1974;66: 277-80. Dagnelie P.C., Van Staveren W.A. and Hautvast. Stunting and nutrient deficiencies in children on alternative diets. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1991;347: 111-118. Dagenlie PC, Van Staveren WA, Klaveren JD and Burema J. Do Children on macrobiotic diets show catch up growth? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1988; 42;1007-16.

Globalization of Deforestation

Before you can understand anything surrounding deforestation, you must know what it actually is. Many people believe that it is just cutting down trees, specifically in the rainforests. They are correct, but there is much more to it than that. Yes, deforestation is cutting down trees, but what many people don’t know are the effects that it has. Deforestation affects almost every aspect of life. It affects the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, as well as the global economy and politics. Many people believe that deforestation is a modern idea that was brought on by the industrialization era.The truth is deforestation has been around since the beginning of mankind. Scientists believe that most of Europe had become deforested by 1850 (Kaplan 3024). As you can see, deforestation has been occurring for a long time, and globalization has just sped up the process and increased the rates. But what all does deforestation actually affect? The list is nearly endless, becaus e it is different in every environment and population. On a global scale though deforestation affects greenhouse gases, climate, soil fertility, water quality, watersheds, and biodiversity.Deforestation causes all of the CO2 gases stored in trees to be released into the atmosphere which increases greenhouse gases and ultimately affects the climate and global warming. Tropical deforestation alone, â€Å"accounts for about 15 percent of the world’s global warming pollution—more than that produced by every car, truck, plane, ship, and train on Earth† (Boucher 1). The area where deforestation occurs destroys the soil’s fertility inhibiting it from being able to regrow there. Erosion caused by deforestation runs off into streams, rivers, and lakes which affect the water quality and watersheds.Deforestation also affects biodiversity, because it kills or helps kill off plants and animals that are important to the local environment. With all of these negative eff ects, you would think that deforestation would be a hot topic. The truth is that most people will agree that deforestation is wrong, but very few of them will do anything about it. That is why I believe all of the policies, laws and programs which surround deforestation should be brought to greater attention and enforced. One of the leading rograms which has helped reduce deforestation in several countries is REDD, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. Seeing deforestation has a leading cause of emissions is new and this program has had more success than past ones. Basically, â€Å"countries are compensated if they reduce their carbon emissions from forest clearing† (Boucher 1). This gives developing and developed countries incentive to reduce deforestation because they would make more money from not deforesting than they would from deforesting.This program has gained support from the United Nations and several countries are already adopting it. But, i f we want to slow down or even stop this â€Å"monster† called deforestation then we need all of the world’s help. That is why we need to get programs like REDD and the effects of deforestation out to the public. We have all of these ideas, programs, policies, and laws which could help with the issue of deforestation, but nothing is being done to help enforce and inform people about them.All industries should try to make their products as green as possible because every little bit counts. Sure, it might cost a little more, but in the long run it is for the greater good. Just as Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, â€Å"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. † Although the forests are much more than that, it is true that deforestation will destroy a country and the world in time.

Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay Example

Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay Example Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Paper Citi Trends External and Internal Environmental Analysis Paper his paper will include an external and internal environmental analysis of Cit Trends, including the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and operating environments, the most important internal strengths and weaknesses, an assessment of their resources, and an assessment of their competitive position and possibilities. Most Important External Factors in the Remote Environment Factors that Cit Trends cannot control make up the remote environment. The remote environment of Cit Trends includes economic factors, social factors, political factors, and technological factors (Frenzy, 2012). Cit Trends Economic Factors Cit Trends most important economic factors are a fall in customer transactions and below normal total price of customer purchases. The main reason for these factors was a defying economy for their essential customers. The downfall in the economy has had a large impact on many businesses. Customers have not been spending the money they used to spend and some have stopped shopping altogether for name brand clothing settling for heaper brands to stretch their dollar because of a low economy (Form 10-K for Cit Trends Inc. 2012). Cit Trends Social Factors Changes in fashion trends are a major social factor for Cit Trends. The clothing industry universally and Cit Trends essential customers are specifically exposed to quickly changing fashion trends. Cit Trends will have to expect and identify any changes in fashion trends so they can make appropriate changes in the products they carry (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011). Cit Trends political Factors An increase in minimum wages is one of the main political factors that will have effects on Cit Trends. Cit Trends present employees and new hires will have to make at least the new federal minimum wage of $7. 25 per hour. This means any employees currently working at a rate of below $7. 5 per hour will have to be raised to a level of pay at or above this rate. The increase in minimum wages could have an opposing effect on Cit Trends financial situation and their results of operations (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011 Cit Trends Technological Factors Todays technology progresses at a fast rate. Cit Trends uses many information technology systems, such as IBM computer systems, software programs to support many areas of its business, point-of-sale software to operate its cash registers, hand-held scanners to mark sown and reticent merchandise, and software from Workday to process payroll and simplify unman capital management processes. They have to stay up-to-date on any upgrades and updates needed to their software to perform satisfactory business operations (Cit Trends Inc. Form 1 0-K, 2011). Cit Trends P. E. S. T Analysis Valetudinarianisms Laws, Current Federal Minimum Wage Law, proposed New Federal Minimum Wage Law, Antitrust Laws, Fair Trade Decisions, Tax Programs I Economist current recession of the home economy in the United States, Current recession of the Global economy I Socializing trends, stores located in inner city locations in tough areas whose annual should income ranges from targeting specifically the urban African-American shopper I Technological developments in software, Upgrades and updates in current software currently being used by Cit Trends, Replacement solutions for any out-of-date information technology currently in use Most Important External Factors in Industry Environment The retail clothing industry in the united States has about 100,000 stores nationwide and collects a shared SSL 50 billion in proceeds annually. The industry is very intense the 50 biggest companies bring in 65% of the entire industry incomes. Most of the companies are specialized and have found a particular market of customers to please. The size of companies making up the industry ranges from small independently owned shops to large department stores (Fulcrum Inquiry, 2010). Most Important External Factors in Operating Environment The operating environment includes customers, creditors, investors, employees, the marketing environment, and how Cit Trends uses and obtains resources (Frenzy, 2012). The external operating environment consists of Cit Trends competitive position, their customer profile, their reputation mongo suppliers, their reputation among creditors, and accessible labor market. Cit Trends Customer Profile Cit Trends caters to urban African-American consumers. They provide clothing and accessories for men, women, and children (Haynes Publishing Group, 201 1). They sell hip-hop jeans and over-sized t-shirts to younger consumers as well (Reference for Business Company History Index, 2012). Cit Trends Reputation among Suppliers Cit Trends upholds sound sourcing relationships with a large group of suppliers. They have bought merchandise from around 1,000 vendors in a 12 onto period. They buy merchandise through planned programs with vendors at reduced prices and resourcefully through close-outs. To promote vendor relationships, they pay vendors on time and seldom ask for typical retail reductions like promotional and markdown allowances (Form 10-K for Cit Trends, 2012). Cit Trends Reputation among Creditors Cit Trends maintains a good reputation with its creditors. On October 27, 201 1 they entered a $50 million dollar line of credit with Bank of America that replaced a prior $20 million dollar line of credit. With the new line of credit Cit Trends has the capability to increase the line of credit to $75 million. Cit Trends has not borrowed any money with either the new or old line of credit (Cit Trends Inc. ? Form 1 0-Q, 2012). Accessible Labor Market Cit Trends employs 5,300 employees as of 2012. They have 108 executives at their Savannah, Georgia location alone (Hooker, 2012). Cit Trends rates below average in their number of employees among other like compan ies. The whole workforce of the apparel stores industry is estimated to have about 304,450 employees. Cit Trends employs 85. 65% fewer employees than the services sector, 81. 4% fewer that the apparel stores industry, and 78. 8% fewer than the total number of employees for all stocks. Cit Trends uses the Internet as a means of filing a job application for employment with them (MicroVAXs, 2012). Number Of Employees among Related Companies (MicroVAXs, 2012) Cit Trends Most Important Strengths Cit Trends effectively TA regrets the African-American culture of shoppers. Nearly 70% of their customer base is African-American. This is achieved by being able to locate stores in the neighborhoods where this particular demographic is located. They also carry mainly urban apparel, brands, and a mall home dcord section that focuses on the black culture (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends can sell name brands of clothing and accessories at a low price. They sell name brands, such as Apple Bottoms, FEB., Rockaway, Path Farm, Baby Path, Sean Jean, and Decides. Cit Trends sells these name brands at 20 to 60% below the prices of department stores (Business Library, 2006). This merchandising puts them in a position for continued growth and profits. Cit Trends is a family oriented store. They carry apparel and accessories for the entire family, men, women, and children. Some of their competition like Dots and Rainbow also target African-American shoppers but they carry mainly womens apparel (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends has an effective buying team. They believe looks are more important than the brand. The look has to be right first and the brand second. The buying team is trend-driven and can focus on key looks in season instead of concentrating on specific name brands. They purchase apparel worldwide at exceptional prices to pass the value on to the customers (Business Library, 2006). Cit Trends Most Important Weaknesses Cit Trends has a large turnover in employees. In 2005 and 2006 they had a 0% turnover rate in store managers alone. They also have a considerable turnover rate in sales associates. Many of the employees they hire as sales associates lack experience and must be properly trained (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 2011). Store shrinkage is another weakness. 50-70% of Cit Trends shrinkage was coming from employee theft, including merchandise being taken out the back door, and cashiers performing falsified voids. Another substantial portion of loss was coming from shoplifting and burglary (Verify, 2012). Assessment of Cit Trends Resources Cit Trends has many valuable resources. They take pride in their inventory that includes name brand and private label apparel for the entire family, accessories to accent the apparel, and home dcord. They have many valuable employees in their stores and distribution centers including executives, managers, assistant managers, and sales associates. They also have a cash flow from operations, short-term trade credit, borrowing under their revolving lines of credit, long-term debt, capital leases, and cash proceeds from their initial public offering. They offer a layaway program in which customers pay 20 percent Of their purchase and a $2 fee down and they aka payments every two weeks with 60 days to pay the layaway out (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Cit Trends Competitive Position and Possibilities Cit Trends depends on suppliers having leftover inventory and they resourcefully purchase the inventory. They have good access to inventory. Some of their competitors have been going out of business. Their stores are in strip malls. Overall Cit Trends seems to have a fairly good competitive position (Haynes Publishing Group, 2011). Some of Cit Trends competitors include TAX Companies, Ross Stores, Coat, Burlington Coat Factory, Its Fashion, Rainbow, Dots, Fashion Cents, Simply Fashions, Wall-Mart, Roses, Target and Smart. The methods of competition used are fashion, assortment, pricing, and presentation of the merchandise. They also believe they offer a more inviting Store format than the off-price retailers, including using carpeted floors and remarkably displayed brands (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Cit Trends faces many possibilities in competition. Many of their competitors are larger than them and have significantly better resources than them. As a result, the competitor may adjust better to changing market notations, take advantage of new opportunities and apply better pricing demands on suppliers than they can. Many of their competitors have better name recollection among customers than they do and purchase considerably more merchandise from vendors. These competitors may buy branded merchandise that Cit Trends cannot purchase because of their name recollection and relationships with their suppliers, or they may buy branded merchandise with better pricing reductions than Cit Trends. Their local and regional competitors have widespread knowledge of the customer base and may acquire more loyalty from customers than Cit Trends. If the customer base they serve is satisfied with the selection, quality, and price of their competitors products, customers might decide not to shop at Cit Trends. Furthermore, if their current competitors or other retailers choose to concentrate more on Cit Trends core customers, mainly African-American customers, they may have more difficulty in competing effectively, their business and results of their operations could be badly affected, and the market price of their common stock could suffer (Cit Trends Inc. Form 10-K, 201 1). Conclusion Performing an external and internal analysis of Cit Trends helps to identify heir strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This process, better known as a SOOT analysis is a very helpful tool in strategic planning. The PEST analysis is used in assessing the external environment of Cit Trends.