Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 11

Strategic Management - Essay Example r apprehending trivial matters such as where to dispose litter, and important matters such as departmental or a fellow employee’s internal telephone code. This organisational learning process is important since it enables employees to be absorbed deeply into organisational culture, mission, values and goals without a considerable input of the organisation. Another learning process which I came to appreciate during my tenure in Skipton Financial Services [SFS] is the use of training programmes. To ensure that this programme is effective, SFS has made several arrangements such as workshop drives, learning travels and retreats. SFS has seasoned heads of departments and these come in handy when learning programmes are being conducted. SFS uses its spacious conference rooms and state-of-the-art sound systems to facilitate the workshop drives. Secondly, learning travels are conducted annually, and involves, traveling with a designated team to an institute or a centre for professional learning, for the inculcation of higher organisational values, skills and talents. Retreats may also be conducted to aid the impartation of desired organisational skills and talents. Like all other corporate retreats, SFS’ case involves withdrawing the personnel from the normal organisational scene, with the intention of reflecting, evaluating and giving employees the chance to contemplate, recharge, bond and renew their vigour, skills and commitment. Workshop drives and training programmes, corporate retreats and learning travels have all proved useful in furthering the attainment of performance target. Nevertheless, since corporate retreats and learning travels are always expensive, they are usually attended by designated employees. This designation may be informed by rank or the portfolio that an employee holds, the exhibition of exemplary talents, skills and commitment to SFS’ goals and values, or tremendous improvement in an employee’s performance. Conversely, workshop drives

Chemical vapor deposition- principles and implementation Research Paper

Chemical vapor deposition- principles and implementation - Research Paper Example CVD has wide applications which include provision of wear and corrosion resistance, formation of barriers and net shape components. INTRODUCTION Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a versatile technique of applying required coats of metals on surfaces of components. Unlike other types of painting techniques, this technique applies a coat of the wanted solid on all the accessible surfaces of a component. This therefore makes this technique very appropriate for coat application on surfaces which are of unorthodox nature. In this report, the principles and implementation of CVD are examined. In examining the principles of CVD, the CVD process is closely examined by specifically discussing what takes place inside the reaction chamber of a CVD reactor. The types of CVDs are also discussed. On the second part of this report, the implementation of CVD is discussed whereby the complete equipment set for typical CVD set up is examined. The types of CVD reactors and the applications of CVD are also discussed. PRINCIPLES OF CVD Under this section, the principles of CVD are examined. Specifically, the CVD process is discussed and types of CVDs are also examined. CVD Process The basic principle of the CVD process is the reaction of gaseous precursors to form a solid coating on a heated substrate (ATL 1). This process takes place in the reaction chamber located inside the CVD reactor. ... The temperature will depend on the level of coating required, the gaseous precursors involved and the substrate type. After the substrate has been heated to the required temperature, a controlled gaseous precursor (from the left in the above diagram – Fig. 1) is introduced into the gas chamber. The type of gaseous precursor to be used will depend on the type of deposit required. Figure 2 (ULTRAMET 1) For illustration purpose if metal M is to be deposited on the surface of a substrate, then a gaseous precursor such as MCl2 can be used. It is imperative that the precursor has to be in a gaseous form. After introducing a controlled flow of MCl2 gas, a controlled flow of hydrogen is also introduced. The mixture conditions are adjusted in such a manner that the mixture only reacts when in contact with the substrate surface (ATL 2). MCl2 + H2 = M + 2HCl The reaction on the surface of the substrate releases the metal atom and exhaust gas hydrogen chloride. The metal atom is bonded on the surface of the substrate while the waste gas is drawn out of the reaction chamber by use of a vacuum pump. In the schematic diagram above (Fig 1) the gas is removed to the right. The vacuum pump creates a constant flow of reacting gases into the chamber and waste gases out of the chamber (ATL 3). At the start of the reaction process, the metal deposition is localized (deposited on particular points on the substrate) but as the process progresses the atoms are evenly deposited all over the surface of the substrate. The deposition of the metal applies to all the accessible surfaces of the substrate no matter what shape the substrate has. The process is allowed to progress until the desired thickness of the metal is achieved. In some cases the coating is left to

Critical Thinking at Work Essay Example for Free

Critical Thinking at Work Essay The aforementioned â€Å"Rational Model† actually entails following 4 processes including: First of all is to pinpoint or identify the problem; second is to bring into being diverse alternatives/answers to the problem that has just been identified; third is to choose or pick a solution from the second stage or process; and last but not least is to implement the chosen solution before finally assessing it (Decision Making, n. d. ). The description provided will be further understood in the following example taken from my personal experience at the William Smith Sr. Tri-County Early Head Start. Example from My Personal Experience at William Smith Sr. Tri-County Early Head Start Keith A. , a student of the William Smith Sr. Tri-County Early Head Start has often been exhibiting temper tantrums. There are times when he would throw objects at other kids, slap them, lash out at them, etc. He does not seem to know how to calm down. The same thing happened during one of the weekly field trips. All of a sudden, he pushed his seatmate in the bus, yelled at her, and then eventually hit her. Following that incident, a school official seated behind him stood up and sat next to him. I thought she was just going to speak to the child, remind him that what he did was an unacceptable behavior, and oblige him to apologize to his seatmate, etc. But instead of doing so, he held the boy’s hands tightly and angrily told him to behave. When the young boy yelled at the school official, he held Keith’s cheek tightly, said â€Å"you better show some respect young man†. Keith spit at the school official as a response and so he was slapped in return. I did not protect the child. I did not have the courage to tell the school official that he should not treat the young boy that way even if what he did was wrong. Later that day, I was torn between telling the truth and just letting the occurrence pass. I knew in my heart that what the school official did was wrong. It clearly defies the philosophy/vision/mission, as well as, goals of the programs offered in William Smith Sr. Tri-County Early Head Start (William Smith, Sr. , Tri-County Child Development Council, Inc. , n. d. ). I would like to tell the head of the school about what I saw so that the school official who did that to Keith would be subjected to disciplinary action/s and so that such an untoward incident would never happen again because if it did so many students will probably be traumatized if that is how they will be treated if they misbehaved. It is quite difficult on my part to go to the head of the school though and relay what I had just witnessed earlier that day because I am only an ordinary â€Å"rank-and-file employee†. It would be my word as an ordinary employee against the high and mighty school official. It could mean loss of a job on my part. Importance/Benefits of Critical Thinking in the Decision-making Process I utilized the â€Å"Rational Model† here. First, I have identified the problem, which is whether or not to report the untoward incident that I witnessed. Second, I have realized the choices: a) I will tell the head about it to prevent such occurrence in the future; or b) I will just keep it to myself so as to keep my job as well. Third is to pick choice â€Å"a† because it is the right thing to do. Finally, carry it out. Critical thinking played a large role in the decision-making process that I had engaged in since I was able to balance/weigh everything before I moved. Without the â€Å"Rational Model† and without the process of critical thinking, I would not be able to decide objectively and probably arrived at the wrong/unethical decision. References Decision Making. (n. d. ). Retrieved January 17, 2008 from http://72. 14. 253. 104/search? q=cache:ycQOog9jFygJ:www. unf. edu/~gbaker/Man6204/Decision. PDF+decision-making+modelshl=tlct=clnkcd=2gl=phclient=firefox-a William Smith, Sr. , Tri-County Child Development Council, Inc. (n. d. ). About Us. Retrieved January 17, 2008 from http://www. wsstricounty. org/About. html

Strategic Review of LOreal External Environment

Strategic Review of LOreal External Environment This essay firstly introduce LOreal and their main operations in recent years, and then emphasize to analysis their external environment, such as P.E.S.T analysis, five forces analysis, sector level analysis and product life cycles analysis. And in the end analysis the opportunities and threats which the company faces over next 3-5 years 2. Company and Product Overview The LOREAL Group is the worlds largest cosmetics and beauty company and it headquartered in the Paris suburb of Clichy, France. LOREAL has developed activities in the field of cosmetics, concentrating on hair color, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfumes and hair care. LOREAL is active in the dermatological and pharmaceutical fields. LOREAL is also the top nanotechnology patent-holder in the United States. à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%E2%80%99Orealà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° It operates in over 130 countries. It markets 18 brands through two divisions, cosmetics and dermatology. The cosmetics division of LOREAL has four segments: professional products, consumer products, luxury products and active cosmetics. The dermatology segment includes dermatological and pharmaceutical activities of the company. LOREAL got its start in the hair-color business, but the company soon branched out into other cleansing and beauty products. LOREAL now markets over 500 brands and many thousands of individual products in all sectors of the beauty business: hair color, permanents, styling aids, body and skin care, cleansers and fragrances. They are found in all distribution channels, from hair salons and perfumeries to hyper and supermarkets, health/beauty outlets, pharmacies and direct mail. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Oreal) 3. External environmental analysis 3.1 P.E.S.T Analysis PEST analysis stands for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis and describes a framework of macro-environmental factors used in the environmental scanning component of strategic management. 3.1.1 Political and Legal Forces The political challenge is that LOreal should conform to all the different government leadership styles in various countries it operates within. LOreal faced a decline in the dermatology branch led by its Galderma brand due to new legislations governing drugs (Euromonitor, 2005). The EU law affects LOreal. LOreal is restricted in their use of certain kinds of chemicals, such as Phthalates which is carcinogenic (The Rules Governing Cosmetic Products in the European Union). LOreal is obligated to produce safe products that do not contain any harmful substances. Also, legislation for advertising is also affecting LOreal. LOreal has to follow the rules set by Advertising Standards Authority. For example, advertisements cannot be misleading that over-exaggerating the functions of a product (The Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988). Recent policy developments in the European Union (EU), that is the safety of cosmetics is directed standards. Seventh Amendment cosmetics directive finally approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, It is expected an immediate ban on animal testing products and a total ban on animal testing of cosmetics raw materials, no later than six years to implement the directive. (Anonymous,http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/more_information/download/ecvam2.pdfà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° In addition, It needs an immediate ban on new cosmetics sales (of finished products and raw materials) and the experimental animal alternative methods have been tested in ecvam and accept the existence of the ban on the sale of cosmetics, on human health affected to a certain extent. It is thought that LOreal should fully understand these policies, and to avoid a violation of these policies and regulations, strictly control chemical products and related banned substances content 3.1.2 Economic Environment Analysis LOreal should adapt to all the different economic environments and problems in all countries it operates in. For example in 2004, LOreal was affected by the continued weakness of the dollar and other currencies. Economic crisis is a bad news for LOreal, The world GDP is fall sharply from 2007 to 2009, The economic downturn will be a great chanllege for the development of LOreal Although the growth last year is below that in 2008 due to the financial crisis, it is fortunate that it still met the target, said Paolo Gasparrini, president of LOreal China, at the 6th China Young Women in Science Fellowship Award Ceremony sponsored by LOreal in Beijing Tuesday. In the first three quarters of 2009, LOreals total gross sales increased 0.7 percent compared to last year, of which growth in Asia, where the Chinese market is a large contributor, totaled 21.2 percent, he said. (http://msn.huanqiu.com/bizchina/2010-01/700911.html) 3.1.3 Social Environment Analysis The culture of countries in which a business operates can be of particular importance. The culture of a country consists of the values, attitudes and beliefs of its people. (David Campbell, George Stonehouse and Bill Houston: 119). For example, with modern standard of living continues to improve and the level education get higher and higher, the social increasingly recognize the external image, and people are increasingly focusing on the image appearance, the demand of quality and effectiveness of cosmetic and related skin care products become higher and higher. 3.14 Technological Environment Analysis Changes in technology affect the products available to consumers and business, the quality of the products and their functionality. (David Campbell, George Stonehouse and Bill Houston. 124). Todays society is constantly changing, technology updates means that the product updates, cosmetic update speed, short product life cycles, a cosmetics market, we should immediately prepare for the next period. As the technology develops, people can be more channels to purchase products, business and customer contacts more and more ordinary. So technology is the enterprise competitive advantage. Along with the development of science and technologyà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’ the latest scientific and technological achievements and advanced technologies rapidly apply in cosmetics industries, particularly biotechnology, nanometer technology, information technology, electronics technology, which provide a lot of opportunities for the development of cosmetics industry. LOreal has strong research and development (RD) capability, According to new technological development, the company registered 529 patents related to cosmetics and dermatology in 2005. (http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company ) 3.2 Five Forces Analysis According to Porters five forces which determine the nature of competition within an industry. The five forces are: The threat of new entrants to the industry; The threat of substitute products; The power of buyers or customers; The power of suppliers; (to business in the industry) Rivalry among businesses in the industry. Force 1: It is thought that because cosmetic industry needs products quality inspection for safety, and large investments which including technology and a great deal of capital, it is difficult to enter the cosmetic industry. However, at present, there is few entrants can threat LOREAL. Force 2: By reason of many personal cosmetics may contain a series of potentially toxic compounds, including artificial membrane. One research found cosmetics containing some spices and xylene which easily lead to the abortion of pregnant women. Many facial cream are also contain compounds which similar with the role of female hormones. So the threat of substitutes is using pure natural products. Force 3: According to a survey commissioned by New Woman magazine and published in April 2006, the average woman is estimated to spend a staggering  £182,528 on beauty products between the ages of 18 and 80. 5,000 women were questioned, (Anonymous, http://www.keynote.co.uk/kn2k1) eight in ten of whom said they wore make-up every day and almost half of whom admitted that they would not leave the house without it. So the power of buyers is very strong, which is very favorable to LOREAL. Force 4: LOREAL products were sold in many large department stores or supermarkets. The suppliers are all have strong bargaining power. So LOrà ©al should develop a close partnership with suppliers, in order to sell products better. Force 5: The global cosmetics business is intensely competitive, with a few big corporations and a large number of small companies vying for market share. The company competes against global companies such as Avon, Està ©e Lauder, Procter Gamble, Revlon, and a number of smaller companies as well. Of late, those bigger companies sharpened their focus on the market of beauty and personal care products. Increased competition may lead LOrà ©al to price reductions, reduced profit margins and loss of market share. 3.3 Strategic Space/Group Analysis A business can rarely confine its analysis to the level of the industry and markets in which it operates. It must also pay particular attention to its closest competitors who are known as its strategic group. PRICE BRANDING INTENSITY LOW HIGH LOW HIGH Està ©e Lauder Avon Revlon P G LOrà ©al From the strategy groups above, it is obviously that LOrà ©al has a high branding intensity and medium price, therefore compare with other competitor LOrà ©al has competitive advantage. 3.4 Life Cycles Analysis Generally speaking, cosmetic products are in the maturity period of the product life cycle. In this period users tend to saturation and users repeat purchase reliance. In competitive condition competitor fight to maintain market share, but it is difficulty in gaining market share. All competitors emphasis on low cost (efficiency). LOrà ©al should pay attention to the quality of products and improve the packing, in order to keep old customers and attract new customers. 4. Opportunity and threat analysis over next 3-5 years 4.1 Opportunities It is thought that LOrà ©al faces the following opportunities and threats, these main changes will influence the companys planning over the next 3-5years. First of all, it is thought that the opportunity of LOREAL is aging population. The most developed countries are already highly aging society, aged 60 or older in the proportion of the population is above 15%, and for example the percentage of the US population who are over 55 years is forecast to increase from 20% in 2007 to 33% in 2027. (Anonymous, http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company ) This is likely to increase demand for anti-aging products. LOREAL successfully launched many anti-aging products in 2007, including RevitaLift Double Lifting, Collagen Filler, and Lancomes Renergie Morpholift. As aging baby boomers attempt to preserve their looks through anti-aging products, LOREAL will not be short of opportunities. The second opportunity is proposed acquisition of Body Shop. As the rapidly growing of personal care products market, demand for the products is rising as consumers shift to products which are safer and more eco-friendly. The natural personal care products market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 12% a year, to reach an estimated $1 billion in 2010. (Anonymous, http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company) The proposed acquisition of the UK-based Body Shop International, a company founded by Anita Roddick that uses primarily organically-derived ingredients, would allow LOREAL to capitalize on the growing demand for natural personal care products. Thirdly, the growth of India and China. LOREAL could offset weak performance in Western Europe by expanding its presence in fast-growing markets such as India and China. The company already has a presence in these two countries, whose economies are forecasted to grow at a high rate in the coming years. In 2007, the companys sales in China grew by 27% while sales in India expanded by 46%. (Anonymous,http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company)Further expansion in China and India may help LOREAL overcome sluggish growth in Western Europe. 4.2 Threats Howeverà ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’it is thought that there are three main threats which will influence LOREAL. Firstly, Economic crisis is a bad news for LOreal, The economic downturn will be a great chanllege for the development of LOreal The secondly, the competition is intense in the market. The global cosmetics business is intensely competitive, with a few big corporations and a large number of small companies vying for market share. The company competes against global companies such as Revlon, Estee Lauder and Procter Gamble, (Anonymous, http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company ) in addition to a number of smaller companies. Recently, some big companies have sharpened their focus on beauty and personal care products market, as well as emerging markets. Increased competition could result in price reductions, reduced profit margins and loss of market share. The third one are new regulations. Several consumer protection groups are voicing concerns over the presence of harmful chemical ingredients in cosmetic products. A recent study showed that about one-third of cosmetic products contain known carcinogens. (http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company ) Due to increasing public pressure, in US the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to impose stringent quality norms on cosmetic products. (Anonymous, http://dbic.datamonitor.com/companies/company ) New regulations may delay the launch of new products and result in higher product development expenditure, not to mention the possible effects of the adverse publicity generated by the new regulations. The last one is counterfeiting. The counterfeiting of popular cosmetic products has increased in recent years. Increasing sales of counterfeit products negatively impact the companys sale. Low quality counterfeits also reduce consumer confidence in the products of a company. More important, the companys key differentiator, exclusivity, is damaged by counterfeiting operations. Widespread counterfeits reduce the exclusiveness of the companys brands. Counterfeit products not only deprive the company of revenues, but also dilute the reputation of the brand. 5. Conclusion According the discuss above, it is conclusion that among LOrà ©als external environment, it is thought that the competition of cosmetic and fragrance market become more and more drastic, especially faced with strong competitors, and it is thought that there are opportunities and threats to LOrà ©al, the company should take advantage of these opportunities and to etain its status as the leader of cosmetic and fragrance industry. Word :1779

ExploringThe Bhagavad Gita :: research papers, literary analysis

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bhagavad-Gita begins with the preparation of battle between the two opposing sides: on the left stands the collected armies of the one hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and on the right lies the soldiers of the Pandava brothers. Warring relatives feuding over the right to govern the land of Kurukshetra, both forces stand poised and ready to slaughter one another. The warrior Arjuna, leader of the Pandava armies, readies himself as his charioteer, the god Krishna, steers toward the opposition when the armies are ready to attack. Arjuna stops Krishna short before the two sides clash together. Hesitation and pity creeps into Arjuna’s heart as he surveys his family and relatives on the other side; he loses his will to win at the cost of the lives he still loves. As Arjuna sets down his bow and prepares for his own death, the god Krishna begins his council with Arjuna, where Krishna uses various ideas on action, self-knowledge, and discipline to reveal to Arjuna the freedom to be attained from the suffering of man once Arjuna finds his devotion to Krishna.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before Krishna begins his teachings, Arjuna analyzes his emotions and describes to Krishna the way his heart feels. â€Å"Krishna, I seek no victory, or kingship or pleasures† (The Bhagavad-Gita, p. 25). Arjuna admits that he stands to gain nothing of real worth from the war. He knows he cannot consciously triumph over family for his own wealth and glory. â€Å"We [Pandava brothers] sought kingships, delights, and pleasures for the sake of those assembled to abandon their lives and fortunes in battle† (The Bhagavad-Gita, p. 25). Arjuna continues on to state that once the family is destroyed and family duty is lost, only chaos is left to overcome what remains. He goes so far as to describe how chaos swells to corrupt even the women in the families, creating disorder in society. Arjuna tells Krishna that the punishment for men who undermine the duties of the family are destined for a place in hell. Finally, Arjuna asks Krishna which is right: the tie to sacred duty or reason?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Krishna begins his explanation by stating that all life on earth is indestructible. â€Å"Never have I not existed, nor you, nor these kings; and never in the future shall we cease to exist† (The Bhagavad-Gita, p. 31). Because life has always been, reasons Krishna, then how can man kill or be killed when there is no end to the self?

Roswell Crash Government Coverup :: essays research papers

Phenomena of the Roswell crash in 1947 July 8, is one the most famous incidences in our time, the reason we have computers, mobile phones, night vision goggles and Kevlar armor. All this was made possible within one year of the Roswell crash. Roswell crash was covered up for more than 30 years. Then, in 1978, ufologist Stanton T. Friedman restarted the investigation behind the Roswell crash. From what he fond out about the crash showed us that the governments' cover-up was a fraud and we have all the proof we need. In the Roswell cover-up they stated that the debris they found was parts of a weather balloon. A year later they confessed that they lied about the weather balloon and that the debris was part of a secret government project called ?Project Mogul? which was planed to spy on the Russians just in case of a nuclear attack and that they had to cover-up for the security of the nation. The ?Project Mogul? could not be part of a secret government project that cost the government more than $5 million dollars. The project it self looks like someone put together a big balloon kite thing from household things, and our reports also mention 3 people confirming that the RAAF (Roswell Army Air Field) got instructions to bribe some soldiers to pretend that they were part of the construction of the ?Project Mogul?. Even fake files have been made to prove it. In total RAAF bribed 10 people (entire ?Project Mogul? staff was composed of only 10 people) but 3 people mysteriously disappeared, 2 people were shot dead proclaimed for going AWOL, 2 more people still refusing to cooperate from the fear of what the RAAF might do to them and only 3 cooperated knowing they would die from natural causes, so they confirmed that there was a UFO and some of the 500 first hand witnesses said that they saw ?little people? on the crash sight. The government said that the ?little people? were not people, or in that case aliens, but test dummies from ? Roswell Crash Government Coverup :: essays research papers Phenomena of the Roswell crash in 1947 July 8, is one the most famous incidences in our time, the reason we have computers, mobile phones, night vision goggles and Kevlar armor. All this was made possible within one year of the Roswell crash. Roswell crash was covered up for more than 30 years. Then, in 1978, ufologist Stanton T. Friedman restarted the investigation behind the Roswell crash. From what he fond out about the crash showed us that the governments' cover-up was a fraud and we have all the proof we need. In the Roswell cover-up they stated that the debris they found was parts of a weather balloon. A year later they confessed that they lied about the weather balloon and that the debris was part of a secret government project called ?Project Mogul? which was planed to spy on the Russians just in case of a nuclear attack and that they had to cover-up for the security of the nation. The ?Project Mogul? could not be part of a secret government project that cost the government more than $5 million dollars. The project it self looks like someone put together a big balloon kite thing from household things, and our reports also mention 3 people confirming that the RAAF (Roswell Army Air Field) got instructions to bribe some soldiers to pretend that they were part of the construction of the ?Project Mogul?. Even fake files have been made to prove it. In total RAAF bribed 10 people (entire ?Project Mogul? staff was composed of only 10 people) but 3 people mysteriously disappeared, 2 people were shot dead proclaimed for going AWOL, 2 more people still refusing to cooperate from the fear of what the RAAF might do to them and only 3 cooperated knowing they would die from natural causes, so they confirmed that there was a UFO and some of the 500 first hand witnesses said that they saw ?little people? on the crash sight. The government said that the ?little people? were not people, or in that case aliens, but test dummies from ?

Eating Disorders Research paper Essay

Eating disorders are considered critical attitudes, emotions, and eating behaviors. Minimized food intake, overeating, and the perceptions of body image, weight, and shape are some examples. There can be contributing factors and influences that develop the idea of an eating disorder. There are three types of eating disorders, binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. The two most common forms are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, â€Å"25% of girls 12-18 years old were reported to be engaged in problematic food and weight behavior† And in men and boys, according to the website nimh.nih.gov, â€Å"one in four preadolescent cases of Anorexia occurs in boys, and binge-eating disorder affects females and males about equally†. While the causes aren’t concise, some contributions can be cultural, personal characteristics, stress events or life changes, family, peers, and media. Individuals of low self-esteem or feeling useless can be a big contribution. For most adolescents they tend to compare themselves to others and they can develop an eating disorder because of this aspect. For example if their friends have an eating disorder they may develop one because they want to fit it. Some adolescents can develop an eating disorder from a stressful event such as; teasing, transition from middle school to high school, or a more traumatic event like rape. Families can even contribute to a teen developing an eating disorder. If parents are fighting a lot or may be considering divorce, this can be stressful and some adolescents handle it by not eating or induce vomiting as a means to obtain control over their parents in the household or gain back the attention. If the adolescent seems to feel like their life is spiraling out of control, they may feel like an eating disorder is a way to gain that control back. Also family studies show that anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders do run in families. The heritability of anorexia nervosa is around 60%, and of bulimia nervosa can be 28 and 80%. For binge eating disorder currently it is 41%. According to some studies conducted across  countries eating disorders can be influenced by genetic factors. Another large contribution to eating disorders is our societal views. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, we develop these ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about what is acceptable according to our culture. To put this into perspective if our culture says your beautiful when you skinny, then some people believe that if they’re not skinny, they aren’t beautiful. Essentially since girls are generally valued for their appearance, they are likely the ones to internalize this idea into their thought process. The media also plays a role in the cultural and societal acceptance. A couple of examples that are very common are models and movie stars. Most often models are in every magazine, on every billboard, and in most commercials. Even T.V. shows like America’s Next Top Model gives children at a young age what the idea of â€Å"beautiful† is. Most movie stars aren’t overweight, which generally can contribute to both males and females being self-conscious about what the ideal appearance should be. There are three kinds of aspects that deal with the development of an eating disorder; behavioral, mental, and physical. The National Eating Disorder Association explains the more we focus on thoughts and feelings of our weight and how we look the more we may be missing out on life overall. When we focus on weight and body image, it can become an obsession, which can contribute to emotional and physical issues. The mental aspect of an eating disorder focuses on the opinion of yourself or your self- esteem. Self-esteem and body image both go hand in hand when it comes to one’s body. Eating disorders not only deal with the mental and behavioral aspects, but those of physical as well can contribute. Anorexia and Bulimia can lead to serious health problems such as kidney failure, heart problems, dehydration, and in excessive cases malnutrition, which can lead to death. A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that, â€Å"The mortal ity rate associated with Anorexia nervosa is twelve times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for females 15-24 years old.† Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which results in thinness through starvation. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder, although we know little about the causes of this disorder. Generally the standard cause of death includes both  effects of starvation and suicide. This is disorder is also known as a visible eating disorder, because most are noticeably thin, although some hide their thinness with big clothes or wearing layers. During this time this individual is not maintaining a normal or healthy weight for their age, height, or gender. Anorexia nervosa tends to have two forms first being starvation or restricting. These individuals reduce their caloric intake and increase physical activity to maintain an abnormally low weight. When your body goes into starvation mode, it can alter your body. The second form is either binge eating, purging, or can be both. When anorexia nervosa is in its early stage these behaviors were seen in over half of the individuals. During anorexia nervosa a person can come to weigh less than 85% of the ideal body weight. Anorexia tends to occur during early adolescence or 10-12 years old. People who suffer from anorexia suffer from not only physical illness, but psychiatric too. Some include cognitive impairment, body-checking, low self-esteem, self-absorption, ritualistic behaviors, extreme perfectionism, and self-consciousness. The two most common psychiatric illnesses with anorexia are depression and anxiety. Some physical symptoms that may occur or develop over time are electrolyte imbalances (sodium and potassium levels), osteoporosis (decreased bone density), lanugo hair, dry brittle hair, low body temperature, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, growth retardation, bloating, constipation, fidgeting, and loss of tooth enamel and dentin, and dehydration. However, the official diagnosis of anorexia nervosa in females requires the absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), for at least three consecutive months. The deficiency of menstruation is a normal response to starvation and weight loss and the body will then shut down the reproductive functions. Treatment plans of Anorexia nervosa often depend on the individual’s needs which may include medical care and supervision, nutritional counseling and therapy. If they have had severe weight loss, hospitalization is essential to get them back to an appropriate weight. This individual will need assistance in developing new patterns of thought process in their eating patterns. The earlier detected the less treatment necessary. Depending on the individual and the amount of time they have had the eating disorder; treatment can take a short or long period of time. Each person varies in the recovering process of the disorder. According to the National  Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, â€Å"Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive that treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders.† Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by a binge and purge pattern. Unlike Anorexia, people who have Bulimia can be at a normal weight range, but still have that fear of weight gain and they are generally very unhappy with their body image, shape, and size. It is also an invisible eating disorder, because individuals are usually of normal weight or over-weight. It can be difficult to place a caloric intake on a binge, but most agree around 1,000 calories is the minimum; however it can be up to 20,000 calories. Bulimia, unlike Anorexia, usually occurs during late adolescence or early adulthood, about 18-22 years old. These individuals persistently follow the pattern of binging in combination with some form of compensatory behavior, which is intended to reverse the effects of the binge or prevent weight gain. Compensatory behaviors include actions such as; self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other agents, fasting, and excessive exercise. The behavior of Bulimia may not be obvious because they do it in secrecy, because they feel a sense of shame and sickness of what they did. This pattern of binging and purging most likely occurs several times a week. Some data addresses a theory that individuals born after 1960 are at greater risk for the disorder, because it is more of a â€Å"modern occurrence† than anorexia. Usually more common in urban areas which suggests that environmental exposure and social learning play a role in the development of this disorder. This disorder is 9 times more common in females than males. Coincidentally, people with Bulimia also have psychiatric and physical aspects. It is estimated that 80% of individuals with bulimia have another psychiatric disorder. The psychiatric features are depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, extreme perfectionism, self-consciousness, irritability, impulsive spending, shoplifting, and may or may not have substance abuse problems, although the most common are anxiety disorders, major depression, substance use, and personality disorders. The two most common personality features those similar to those who have anorexia nervosa, perfectionism and low self-esteem. People with bulimia are likely to be more impulsive and have higher stimulus or sensation-seeking behavior. They also have a  tendency to exhibit more erratic and impulsive traits. Some physical symptoms of bulimia include; dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, kidney problems, inflamed sore throat from purging, acid reflux, swollen parotid glands, gastrointestinal complications, irregular menstruation, constipation, bloating, sensitive and decaying teeth and tooth enamel from stomach acids. Like Anorexia the treatment for Bulimia is essential for the individual’s health. For Bulimia there are a few more options such as; reducing or ending the binging or purging pattern, nutritional counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy, prescribing medication, and accessing reasons for the illness. About 70% of people who have the disorder of Bulimia recover from it. According to the DSM the criteria is specific for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. However, most people who have eating disorders do not meet the criteria. There is a different way of diagnosing these particular individuals which is by the Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). According to the textbook, Abnormal Psychology the â€Å"DSM-IV lists six examples of how the symptoms of EDNOS differ from those of the other disorders. Patients may have: 1. all features of anorexia nervosa except amenorrhea. 2. all features of anorexia nervosa except drastic weight loss. 3. all criteria for bulimia nervosa except frequency of binge eating or purging or duration of 3 months. 4. regular, inappropriate compensatory behavior after eating small amounts of food. 5. chewing and spitting out food (purging disorder). 6. binge eating disorder (binging without compensatory behavior.† Binge eating disorder is characterized by regular binge eating behaviors, but without the compensatory behaviors. Binge eating disorder or BED is a recent addition to the DSM, and is not yet an official psychiatric disorder. Since it was a recent addition little is known about its morbidity and mortality. Some research indicates that a person can be ill with BED for approximately 14.4 years which may suggest that BED is not just a temporary stage. The two most common forms of psychiatric disorders are depression and anxiety like most other eating disorders. Of females 3.5% meet the criteria of BED and of males 2%. BED is also found in approximately 5 to 8% of obese individuals. Eating disorders in females and males as discussed are not generally similar. In anorexia nervosa women and girls are more common to have this disorder than men and boys, essentially the ratio being 9 to 1. Many different theories  have been presented as to why it affects women more than men. The most effici ent theory is believed to be the increased pressure on females to have the ideal appearance or the â€Å"perfection† of the female body. Even though bulimia nervosa is also approximately 9 to 1, women to men can be somewhat sex-biased. Men tend to rely on nonpurging forms of compensatory behavior after binge eating, rather use excessive exercise. It is male athletes that feel pressured to remain thin and fit and focus on their weight and body shape excessively. For binge eating disorder the sex ratio is equally balanced. The developmental factors of eating disorders can assist in determining the causes as well. In anorexia nervosa it generally uncommon during childhood, although it is occurring increasingly. Bulimia nervosa is usually seldom conveyed before puberty. In anorexia nervosa the disorder itself and the associated symptoms can lead to isolation from peers and family. It can also have negative effects on the family emotionally and financially. The parents especially undergo extreme anxiety and struggle to understand why their children are doing this to themselves and their body. All this stress and financial difficulties with the expense of treatment can weaken or ruin a family’s functioning. For bu limia girls who develop mature figures earlier than their peers may develop disappointment, which can lead to earlier experimentation to design controlled eating and weight, which could very well increase the risk of an eating disorder. Binge eating generally begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. There are many treatments for eating disorders, the treatment goals for individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder differ somewhat, although there are some aspects in common. The treatment goal of anorexia nervosa are increased caloric intake and weight gain so later treatments for psychological aspects of this disorder can be dealt with more effectively. For bulimia nervosa the focus is on the normalization of eating, elimination of binge eating and purging, and improvement of the psychological aspects of the disorder as well. For binge eating disorder individuals who are overweight the goal is to elimination of binge eating and normalization of eating. Also either weight stabilization or weight loss can be effective. In anorexia nervosa inpatient treatment can be accomplished by having a disciplined team to succeed. The first and most important step is weight restoration. Weight is generally not the only  factor to consider some other crucial factors such as medical complications, suicide attempts or plans, failure to improve with outpatient treatment, interference with school, work, or family, and pregnancy. Inpatient treatment is very difficult for the patient and the family as the patient is feared of giving up the symptoms, essentially the patient could have developed a phobia of food. It is important for the doctor to create a safe environment to make the patient feel safe and to also obtain the patients trust to make the hospitalization a success. Biological treatments include medications to assist in the cure of the disorder or assist in decreased symptoms of the disorder. Medications prescribed for anorexia nervosa have shown to be ineffective currently. In bulimia nervosa fluoxetine (Prozac) has been known to decrease the core symptoms of binge eating and purging and associated psycho logical features such as depression and anxiety. The FDA approved the treatment of fluoxetine for the treatment of bulimia nervosa, but for no other eating disorders. Although fluoxetine reduces the symptoms it is still not found to reduce or have permanent remission on long-lasting effects. A treatment that is necessary but not a sufficient intervention for all eating disorders is nutritional counseling. An additional treatment that helps individuals change their thinking patterns that contribute to their problem is cognitive-behavioral therapy or (CBT). Recovery rates with CBT wavy from 35-75% at five or more years of follow-up. For anorexia nervosa some evidence suggests that CBT may reduce relapse in adults after weight has been restored. However it’s unclear how effective CBT is with individuals who are extremely underweight. For bulimia nervosa the basis of CBT is self-monitoring. The individuals keep track of what they eat, the situation they were in, and their thoughts and feelings. CBT focuses extensively on relapse prevention for all eating disorders. It is also an effective treatment for a binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorders may first be offered a help-book or an online cognitive-behavioral program online to use at their own pace. For the family theories of anorexia nervosa a family-based intervention is directed to change the dysfunction of the family. This therapy can assist the family in being around healthier and a place to have open communication. Some modern approaches to family therapy for anorexia nervosa include conjoint family therapy, separated family therapy, parent training, and the Maudsley method,  which focuses on parental control of the initial stages of renutrion. The seven values include working with experts who know how to help you, working together as a family, to not blame your child or yourself for the problems you are having, focusing on the problem before you, not debating with your child about eating or weight-related concerns, knowing when to begin backing off, and taking care of yourself because you are the child’s best hope. In conclusion I have discussed and explained the three types of eating disorders; anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. I explained what factors can contribute to the development of an eating disorder. I deliberated three aspects of eating disorders such as the mental, behavioral, and physical. The analyzed the three eating disorders and gave a definition for each. I gave various personalities and other psychological dysfunctions that can come along with eating disorders. I expressed the sex ratios and developmental factors of eating disorders and explained the contributing factors for each. Also in discussing the symptoms of eating disorders lastly I identified some treatments that can assist in reducing symptoms and essentially preventing relapse. Some treatments that were acknowledged are inpatient treatment, biological treatments, nutritional counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and family-based interventions. Works Cited About eating disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders website: http://www.anad.org/â€Å'get-information/â€Å'about-eating-disorders/â€Å'bulimia-nervosa/ Body Image: Loving Yourself Inside and Out. (n.d.). Retrieved from The National Women’s Health Information Center website: http://www.womenshealth.gov/â€Å'bodyimage/â€Å'eatingdisorders/ Eating Disorders. (2008). Retrieved from National Eating Disorder Information Centre website: http://www.nedic.ca/ Eating Disorders: anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S. Library of Medicine, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health website: www.nlm.nih.gov/â€Å'medlineplus/â€Å'eatingdisorders.html Eating disorder statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from