Essentials of Planning Study Guide Free Essays

CHAPTER 4—ESSENTIALS OF PLANNING MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Planning is a. a complex and comprehensive process involving interrelated stages. We will write a custom essay sample on Essentials of Planning Study Guide or any similar topic only for you Order Now b. organizing, implementing, and controlling. c. finding the best person for a job. d. communicating effectively with stakeholders. 2. Strategic plans are designed to a. implement operational plans. b. establish day-by-day procedures. c. shape the destiny of the firm. d. carrying out the functions of management. 3. The purpose of tactical planning is to a. establish a general purpose for the organization. b. translate strategic plans into specific goals and plans for organizational units. . tell entry level workers what to do on a daily basis. d. compensate for past mistakes. 4. Branch manager Hector establishes recycling goals for his branch to support the company’s strategic goal of being a good environmental partner. What is Hector doing? a. tactical planning b. strategic planning c. long-range planning d. vision formulation 5. A study of CEO failure indicated that 70 percent of the time their failures were attributed to a. poorly developed plans. b. poor execution, not po or planning. c. over-ambitious plans. d. lack of adequate cost controls. 6. A manager controls the plan when he or she a. creates a vision statement. b. creates a mission statement. c. establishes a budget to pay for the action plan. d. checks to see how well goals are being attained. 7. A contingency plan is implemented if the a. strategic plan is too modest. b. control processes do not work. c. original plan cannot be implemented. d. action plan succeeds. 8. Which one of the following is a component of true business strategy? a. a high level of operational effectiveness b. a set of activities common to other firms c. giving customers trade-offs d. aving quite different activities to make similar products for different markets 9. A key difference between a vision and a mission is that a. b. c. d. the mission relates more to today’s realities. a mission is set farther into the future. a vision does not deal with products or services. a vision deals more with operations. 10. A recommended procedure for formulating strategy is for top-level managers to a. form a small committee to do most of the work. b. gather inputs from large numbers of people. c. perform the task themselves during a retreat. d. base strategy on fixing customer complaints. 1. The purpose of the strategic inventory is to help the manager a. size up the environment accurately. b. determine how much inventory is on hand. c. involve workers at all levels in formulating strategy. d. develop operating plans. 12. Which one of the following strategies should be classified as a business-level strategy? a. strategic alliances b. diversification of goods and services c. product differentiation d. sticking to core competencies 13. The purpose of a SWOT analysis is to assess a. strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. b. strategy, weaknesses, options, and time. . satisfactions, worst options, and trade-offs. d. successes, winners, and ominous threats. 14. Which one of the following is not one of the five competitive forces that business strategists are supposed to take into account? a. competition among business units within the firm b. the power of customers to affect pricing and reduce profit margins c. the threat of similar or substitute products d. the power of suppliers to influence the company’s pricing 15. The firm’s purpose and where it fits into the world is identified by the a. strategy. b. policy. c. mission. d. objective. 16. McDonald’s states that it would like â€Å"to satisfy the world’s appetite for good food, well-served, at a price people can afford. † The preceding reflects McDonald’s a. cost-leadership strategy. b. mission. c. annual goal statement. d. advertising campaign. 17. Krispy Kreme donuts, a well-known donut retailer (but much smaller than Dunkin Donuts), most likely emphasizes which one of the following business strategies? a. cost leadership b. product differentiation c. strategic alliances d. high speed 18. When two pharmaceutical firms get together to market a drug, their strategy is referred to as a. igh speed. b. cost leadership. c. product differentiation. d. a strategic alliance. 19. Suppose that Starbucks opens a nation-wide chain of carwashes, called Starbucks Car Wash. After two years, the executive team sells of the car washes, and invests the cash back into building more Starbucks stores. The strategy illustrated is referred to as a. high speed. b. sticking to core competencies. c. product diversification. d. a strategic alliance. 20. A functional strategy for becoming and remaining a successful organization is to a. form a strategic alliance. b. ind and retain competent people. c. get to market faster than others. d. export products. 21. Assume that Motorola developed a cell and camera phone so small it comes with a strap to wear on the wrist like a watch. Which strategy does this product launch most likely fit? a. cost leadership b. product differentiation c. focus d. high speed 22. Save-A-Lot has become one of the most successful grocery chains by serving the poor and offering low prices. This is an example of a. focus strategy. b. premium pricing. c. product differentiation d. cost leadership 23. Policies serve as guidelines to action a. that still allow for some interpretation. b. that must be followed quite strictly. c. for workers below the top-management level. d. mostly in the areas of finance and human resources. 24. Management by objectives (MBO) includes a. reviewing group members’ proposals. b. creating action plans to achieve objectives. c. establishing unit objectives. d. all of the choices. 25. Part of Domino’s Pizza’s original success was based on getting pizzas delivered more quickly than competitors. This strategy is called a. strategic planning b. cost leadership c. ocus. d. high speed TRUE/FALSE 1. T The first step in the planning process is defining the present situation. 2. T In planning, measuring external threats is part of defining the present situation. 3. F The major thrust of business strategy is to achieve a high level of operational effectiveness and efficiency. 4. T An exit strategy might be part of the contingency plan. 5. T A firm’s strategy is a master plan for achieving its goals and objectives. 6. T A major aspect of the nature of business strategy is to choose a unique set of activities to deliver a unique value. 7. T The mission of the Grand Union supermarket chain is probably to provide food, beverages, and related merchandise (all of high quality) to the general public. 8. T The purpose of crowdcasting is to obtain widespread input into the development of business strategy. 9. T To bring about a successful SWOT analysis, it is important to be clear about what you are doing and why. 10. T Firms must constantly change in order to be aligned with their key environments. 11. T The major purpose of the strategic inventory is to help the manager size up the competition, the customers, and the technology necessary to compete effectively. 2. T Corporate-level strategy is concerned with the total direction of the enterprise and the selection of specific businesses. 13. F A SWOT analysis is often used to decide upon which weapons and tactics will be used to deal with a corporate crisis such as a contaminated food product. 14. T One of the five competitive forces is the power of customers to affect pric ing and reduce profit margins. 15. F Corporate-level strategy helps answer the question, â€Å"Which businesses should we enter? † 16. F One of the competitive forces identified by Michael Porter is the power of charities to extract money from a corporation. 7. F The experience of General Motors in diversifying into financial services illustrates how sticking to core competencies is the most effective business strategy. 18. F The Rolls Royce and Mercedes Benz automobiles are examples of a cost leadership strategy. 19. F Nike and Apple get together to produce a soccer ball that plays tunes when in motion, illustrating a functional-level business strategy. 20. T An example of the business strategy of sticking to core competencies is for a company like Papa John’s Pizza to concentrate on selling pizza and related food and beverage items to the public. 1. T A medical products firm specializes in the manufacture of prosthetic arms and legs, thereby illustrating a focus stra tegy. 22. T A rule is a specific course of action or conduct that must be followed;. 23. T Operational planning often focuses on the short term. 24. T An MBO program involves people setting many objectives for themselves. 25. F In management by objectives, the objectives start at the bottom of the organization and move upward. ESSAY 1. Explain the nature of business strategy, including its four major components. Use a real or hypothetical company in at least two places in your answer. ANS: A strategy is an integrated overall concept and plan of how the organization will achieve its goals and objectives. According to Porter, business strategy has four components: Strategy involves more than operational effectiveness; Strategy rests on unique activities (Southwest Airlines’activities focus on low-cost, convenient service); A sustainable strategic position requires trade-offs (Dollar General has low prices but lacks an inviting store atmosphere); and Fit drives both competitive advantage and sustainability. PTS: 1 DIF: M REF: pp. 123-125 NAT: AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Strategy 2. Several laptops were stolen from an office by a group of people pretending to be part of the cleaning company. Every laptop stolen contained sensitive client data. After the theft, all clients had to be notified that their personal information may have been compromised. The breach of security prompted 25 percent of the company’s clients to close their accounts. 1. What are policies and rules? 2. Could policies and rules have prevented this situation? Explain ANS: 1. Policies are general guidelines to follow when making decisions and taking action; they are plans. A rule is a specific course of action or conduct that must be followed; it is the simplest type of plan. Ideally, each rule fits a strategic plan. 2. If the company had policies and rules on how computer ID and passwords should be stored, and how laptops should be secured, these problems would most likely have been avoided. PTS: 1 DIF: D REF: pp. 140-141 NAT: AACSB: Technology, Information Technology 3. Write a memo to managers in your company, explaining an MBO program that your company intends to implement. ANS: An MBO program involves sequential steps: Establishing organizational goals; Establishing unit objectives; Reviewing group members’ proposals; Negotiating or agreeing; Creating action plans to achieve objectives; and Reviewing performance. PTS: 1 DIF: M REF: p. 143 NAT: AACSB: Reflective Thinking, HRM 4. Using the planning model, how would you plan an event for 500 people. ANS: The steps of the planning model include: 1. Define the situation (a birthday); 2. Establish the goals and objectives (good food, good music, good setting, 500 friends); 3. Analyze the environment in terms of aids and barriers to goals and objectives (aids: many people to help, ballroom with a nice atmosphere available–barriers: high costs); 4. Develop action plans to reach goals and objectives (list calls to be made to florist, restaurant, musicians); 5. Develop budgets (establish cost per person for food and beverage, cost for centerpieces, cost for musicians); 6. Implement the plans (reserve the ballroom, musicians, send out invitations); 7. Control the plans (oversee the food service, the music, the seating. ) PTS: 1 DIF: M REF: p. 119 NAT: AACSB: Reflective Thinking, Strategy How to cite Essentials of Planning Study Guide, Essay examples

Research & Decision-Making for Business

Question: Analyse a business situation, formulate a research problem and devise an appropriate research design demonstrate effective communication skills? Answer: 1. Background to the Business Problem/Context for the Research While doing a business, a company faces a lot of problems. The problem that is focused in this study is the improvisation of the technology. The technology should be updated in order to overcome problems of the organization and resolve the problems for the employees of the organization. The communication styles in the business are improvising due to the update of the information technology. The outside business is controlled, developed, and flourished by the telecommunication. Tele work provides an efficient way of communicating within the organization. Under this study, the following factors are included; the importance and benefits of tele work, obstruction and hurdles of tele work, and why the tele work should be adapted by the organization in order to improve the working system. The employees work as full time or part time in an organization, this is followed by the traditional work practices. The employee normally works from morning 9 to evening 5 in the organization. The problems associated with the traditional work practices are recognized and understood by following some measures such as social trends, technology, etc. The communication process has become very fast, easy and less expensive by the introduction of the internet facility in the organization. And the processes of exchanging messages and some important information has become quick in the organizations (Albert, 1980). The organization is forced to adapt the competitive business actions by rationalizing the actions that are currently adapted by the organization and following a profitable business practice. The workforce needs and the alteration in the demand and the legislation manipulate the organization in managing the work with more responsibility. The flexible work regulation act is followed by the organization for making a better work environment (Robertson, 2000). In order to fulfill those demands and needs by developing a modern work culture, some changes should be made to the organization. Presently, as the technology has improved a lot, there are many different types of work practices that are now available for the organization such as contract terms, the mode of working, the working hours, etc. Permanent, casual and temporary terms are included in the contract terms. An employee can work as a part timer, fill timer, flexi timer, etc. Similarly, the working modes comprise of home based wor k, office based work, tele work, etc. The tele work can also be done from home rather than office. The information technology is used in the tele work to connect to the work place. This report will help in examining the traditional work practices going in the organization and its problems that arises, and in order to overcome the problem, some changes, like tele work, is implemented in the organization. 2. Overview and Background to the Proposed Method The organizations should take following steps in order to overcome this problem. First of all the functions of the tele work should be properly known. Tele work means that the employees would be working at any other place that is from anywhere other than the office and away from the managers supervision. The tele work can be done in a place where the basic necessities are outfitted that also includes secured network (Wiggins, nd.). Wireless connectivity is provided in some retail outlets with the help of which the employees continue their work. The technology has been advanced in providing better communication such as video conferencing, and sending of large amount of data quickly through the help of internet, have improvised the tele work and made it easy for the employees to work from home through tele work. Tele work provides benefits that are simultaneously with the completion of work. It also provides benefits to the environment, organization, communities, etc. The traditional w ork practices is replaced by the tele work through computers, telephones, etc. As per the needs and requirements of the employees the tele work makes the arrangements. The part time tele workers are known as the freelancers and includes the designers and the editors. The full time tele workers are known as practical teams who access from different locations in order to solve the business problems such as medical transcriptionist who carry out its work from home. The full time tele workers are provided with training and learning experience so that they give more efficient work to the organization. The tele work provides a good work practiced but besides that it also includes some complications. So, the management should go through the complication of tele work before implementing it in the organization. 3. Sample Requirements Sampling Options A questionnaire should be developed by the organization in order to know the advantages of the tele work, how its working in the organization, and its effect on the employees, etc. The questionnaire should be relevant which would have questions that would be of academic and intellectual interest to people. The questions that are to be asked should be manageable. The questions should be substantial and providing original dimensions (Patten, 2001). The questionnaire should be consistent with the requirements of the assessment. The entire question should be clear and simple so that it could be easily answered by the employees. The questions should maintain the interest of the management. The research questionnaire includes: - Is tele working a substitute to the traditional work practice? If yes? Why it is regarded as so? How the telecommunication should be carried? What are the requirements for carrying out the tele work? What are the benefits of tele working over the traditional work practice? How tele work cooperates with the modern work culture? 4. Data Collection Details A detailed information of the system is required which is known as the secondary data. The primary data and information on the business report of the tele communication are already collected. The different information regarding the tele works that are collected by various ways such as face-to-face interview, observations, analysis, survey, and experiments (Wilmot Stopher, 2002). Through this, it is clear that there are different challenges associated with the tele work such as social isolation, information and maintenance of file security. It should also be checked if there is any deficiency in the group discussion programs and group simulation. This affects the productivity and growth of the organization. This should be overcome in order to increase the productivity of the organization. The workers face the problem of control due to the monitoring of work from home. The good work that is provided by the workers to the management are often not recognized and considered by the manage ment. The goal is sometimes not clearly conveyed by the tele work and also often in tele work the practical work is not avoided from physical attendance. Besides these challenges and hurdles, it also gives more benefits to the workers such as good lifestyle, improved working environment, and work satisfaction, cast reduction in food, clothing and transportation. The tele work also helps the employees with disability in working by providing ease to them while working. Another benefit of the tele work is that the employees of tele work are also effective and productive in other work environments. Through the tele work many expenses ore also reduced because employees do the work from their home. The expenses such as office rent, electricity and other overhead cost, etc. are reduced. More recruitment options are offered due to larger and talented pool of labor. It also provides extra time for work without any disturbances because this is carried out from home itself. 5. Ethical Issues More different types of effective business modes are available due to the advancement of the technology. Similarly, the advanced technology also provides different types of business communication systems that is applicable for the practice of modern technology (Patten, 2001). The tele work system provides an effective and proficient system of communication which also flourishes the outside business. There are also ethical issues regarding the tele working system. The issues that are associated with the tele working system are: - Is the work done by the home based worker, productive? How to measure the work time of the home based worker? How a company determines that the worker works 30 hours a week? Should the inspection of the home officers be done by the employers? Besides these issues, the telework provides more advantages to its workers. The tele work provides more flexibility to its employees as they can do their work from home so they can manage their work life and personal life, better. This modern system of technology provides flexibility in the work that fulfills the requirements of each individual. The communication skills needs to be good in this system as every work in this system is done by tele communication and there is lack of face to face conversions (Zuboff, 1988). This system helps in the reduction of expenses as discussed above and due to this, the profits and the earnings is increased. It is a cost effective way of doing business and provides a competitive advantage in the recruitment and getting the best talent for the organization. This helps in increasing the margin of the profit of the business. The ethical problems can be avoided as through the telecommunication, it would contribute more towards the success of the organization by increasing the performance of the employees. This tele work system has earned name and fame regarding a progressive work option. A better life is provided to the workers which helps in improving the work performance of th e employees. So, tele work should be preferred by the organizations. 6. References Albert, K. (1980). Handbook of business problem solving. New York: McGraw-Hill. Donaldson, T., Werhane, P. (1979). Ethical issues in business. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Patten, M. (2001). Questionnaire research. Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak Pub. Robertson, S. (2000). A class act. New York: Falmer Press. Wiggins, J. Facilities managers desk reference. Wilmot, C., Stopher, P. (2002). Cost-effective data collection in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana Transportation Research Center. Zuboff, S. (1988). In the age of the smart machine. New York: Basic Books.

Paul Reveres Midnight Ride Essays - Foundrymen, Paul Revere

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride Paul Revere was a very patriotic man who would later save some of the leaders of what now is our country. Paul was a silversmith in the town of Boston. He came over to the colonies from France. His father taught him the silversmiths trade. He also became a gold and copper smith. Then on, He became very interested in patriotism and independence from Britain. He engraved alot of cartoons which were published in the Boston news papers. He was also one of the fifty people who took place in the Boston Tea party. He married Sarah Orne and had eight kids who most died at infancy. Then his wife Sarah died after having their eighth child . A few years later he married Rachel Walker and had eight more children. He served for the people of Boston as a special messenger.(101) On March 5, 1770 people were taunting the British and throwing snowballs at them . They got so fed up and started firing shots. Six people were killed. The Boston Massacre was just one of the many violent acts that were to follow. After the Boston Massacre the British removed all taxes except for a small tax on tea. Boston wasn't the only town who refused the tea just one of the most violent. Paul Revere and his accomplices came up with a plan. They would paint their faces and dress up like Indians and go aboard the boat that held tea from the East India Company. They emptied the tea chests into the water while people cheered from the docks. One man stole some tea for his own use had to run around town(100) with no water or breaks and they also nailed his coat to a wall which was some kind of symbolic gesture. After the Boston Tea Party King George shut off Boston Harbor which was Boston's only resource. Paul's first ride was to ride to other colonies and tell them about what happene d and to ask them for

Band, Bend, Bind, Bond, and Bund

Band, Bend, Bind, Bond, and Bund Band, Bend, Bind, Bond, and Bund Band, Bend, Bind, Bond, and Bund By Mark Nichol One of the joys of researching word origins and usage is discovering facts such as that the five English words formed on the frame of b_nd, with different vowels, are cognates, all stemming from a common proto-Indo-European ancestral verb meaning â€Å"restrain.† Band, meaning â€Å"a flat strip† or â€Å"something that binds,† came to refer not only to an object with either or both of those characteristics but also to an organized group of people, perhaps from the use of uniform pieces of cloth worn by affiliated warriors. This usage extended to refer to a group of musicians attached to a military unit, from which derived the use of the word for a civilian ensemble. Band is also a verb, meaning â€Å"bind† or â€Å"fasten† in one sense or â€Å"join† in another. Bend began as a verb describing fettering, or restraining of a person’s or animal’s feet, and the similar action of stringing a bow; from there it came to refer to any turning of a straight line or object and, as a noun, to a physical turn. To bind originally meant to tie something or someone up, as if to fasten or restrain, or to dress a wound, and later acquired the figurative meaning of â€Å"commit,† â€Å"oblige,† or â€Å"require.† The noun bind usually applies to the figurative sense, often with the connotation of being placed in an awkward situation, although someone may place someone else in a physical bind, as in wrestling. Bond, meanwhile, developed as a variant of band and describes physical adhesions, forces, and restraints as well as financial or legal documents, plus figurative connections, such as that described in the phrase â€Å"bonds of matrimony.† Like the related words above, it has a verb form as well. The last and least common word in this family is bund, taken directly from the German word for a confederacy or league, used in English to refer to a political organization, especially one for German-Americans, such as a pro-Nazi group that flourished before World War II. There is no verb form for this word. Also, the word describes a type of levee-type embankment often used in Asia; this term, ultimately from Persian, may be distantly related to the other terms. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Is She a "Lady" or a "Woman"?60 Synonyms for â€Å"Trip†25 Idioms with Clean

IBM(MR) Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

IBM(MR) - Dissertation Example Its major competitors are Hewlett Packard Co. and Microsoft Corp (AOL Daily Finance, 2011). In order for IBM to remain competitive and to remain at the top it has to ensure that not only its managers and the decision-makers, but also its customers are content with the products that IBM offers. In this regard, IBM generated an annual IT Industry Customer Benchmark Survey (Malhotra 2010, p. 826). The survey results are used to help IBM’s management and decision-makers gain an understanding of how its customers perceive IBM’s competitors. This report examines the survey for its intended purpose and determines the extent to which the survey can generate the intended data for optimal analysis. This research report will identify any weaknesses in the survey and will make recommendations for improvements so that any gaps between IBM and its competitors in terms of customer advantages can be closed in IBM’s favour. The research report provides a background, an analysis o f the data, offers some recommendations and provides a conclusion. ... Introduction During the 1990s IBM acquired a reputation as a â€Å"sinking ship† (Malhotra 2010, p. 825). However, leadership and management within the business has reversed this situation so that IBM is once again in top of the IT industry earning US$103.63 billion in 2008 and is now regarded as the world leader in computer hardware and software products and services. The fact is, IBM maintains leadership in virtually all of the markets that it competes in. (Malhotra 2010, p. 825). At this point, IBM has virtually all the products and services that it needs to effectively compete in and retain leadership in the IT industry. IBM has made significant changes since the 1990s in reorganizing its â€Å"hardware business, merging its desktop and laptop operations† and in 2004, IBM made plans to merge â€Å"technology (microchips) and systems (servers, storage) groups (Malhotra 2010, p. 825). In order to maintain the lead and to remain competitive IBM conducted a survey enti tled the IT Industry Customer Benchmark Survey in 2008. The survey was directed at company officials who make purchasing decisions and respondents were able to choose IBM or one of its competitors as the subject of the survey. The purpose was to provide IBM’s management with the data necessary for making â€Å"strategic decisions to improve IBM’s standing in the eyes of its customers† (Malhotra 2010, p. 826). This report conducts an analysis of the survey itself and determines whether or not it can be improved upon to obtain the intended results. In other words, this report analyses the IT Industry Customer Benchmark Survey, the purposes for which it is intended to be

TEXT ANALYZE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TEXT ANALYZE - Essay Example se of the logical argument they present, against Bastedo and Vedder’s argument that presents an ethical argument (ethos) on the weaknesses of the rating system. Thesis statement: The government should grade rate colleges because its bases are not clear. Bastedo’s argument is most effective among the four authors because it touches on quality of education against the rating policy. Joseph B. Moore advances his credibility by thrusting an ethically correct argument. According to Moore, higher learning institutes have different rates of graduation and graduation success. After pointing this fact out, Moore fails to question this difference. This question is crucial for an administration attempting to rate colleges and universities and connected them to federal aid (Moore 2014). Richard Vedder says the Obama administration does not deserve the people’s attention since graduation and performance outcomes of higher learning institutes are problems caused by Obamacare. However, this is an unethical approach to the problem since Vedder implies state governments should determine rating systems of colleges and universities. Vedder does not consider the fact that state authorities have no experience in handling rating systems for the education sector (Vedder 2014). Michael Bastedo argues for the exchange of student assessment for government assessment. One finds that the ethics of this approach are not new. The government tried this approach nearly a decade ago and the quality of education dropped. Afterwards, the government institutionalizes this deteriorated nature of education slowly because of the implementation of Bastedo’s argument (Bastedo 2014). Lastly, Jose L. Cruz points out the heterogeneous nature of higher learning and skills grasped by alumni in a given discipline. There is poor understanding by accrediting powers that led to higher learning institutes releasing immense numbers of students unqualified for high-grossing jobs (Cruz 2014). Cruz uses the

Dementia Care Training for Nurses

Dementia Care Training for Nurses Improving Dementia Care Training for Registered General Nurses and Adult Student Nurses: examining the need, efficacy, content and barriers. This Independent Project aims to explore the efficacy of current provision for Dementia care training for Adult branch Student Nurses and Registered General Nurses (RGN’s). A range of audits and research literature on this area of special interest will be examined to obtain a better picture of the situation with an aim to discover a recommendation for whether more training in this area is needed. The content and provision needs of training will also be explored with barriers to effective care and training critically analysed. Introduction Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of symptoms caused by certain diseases or conditions associated with decline in a person’s cognitive abilities such as memory, personality changes, impaired reasoning and use of verbal language, which are severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform every-day activities (Chater and Hughes 2012). The most common of these diseases is Alzheimer’s reference. Dementia is progressive and incurable, therefore it is vital these people are supported and cared for by nurses who have been trained with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high quality evidence based care. ADD IN STRONG REFERENCE THAT TRAINING IMPROVES QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED CARE. There are currently 800,000 people with dementia living in the UK, with these figures expected to rise by 40% over the next 12 years and by 156% over the next 38 years due to an ageing population. Evidence from the Department of Health (2012) shows that 95% of these people are over the age of 65 and are therefore more likely to have complex medical needs. As a result; they spend increased time in acute hospital wards under the care of RGN’s, making training in this area for this group of health professionals a contemporary issue which needs exploration (Department of Health 2012) . The rising number of patients with dementia presents a challenge for all acute hospital trusts and many different health professionals. Such patients experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to have longer lengths of stay than others, they are also more at risk of falls and other incidents whilst in hospital (Cornwell et al 2012). Aside from the cost implications to the NHS when trusts do not get to grips with this challenge, the patients are not getting appropriate care – they are not ‘living well with dementia’ (Department of Health 2009). The National Dementia Strategy set a clear vision that people with dementia and their carers should be helped to live well with dementia, no matter what the stage of their condition or where they are in the health and care system. Through examination of Dementia training efficacy, it is hoped a recommendation will be made to improve the lives of those living with Dementia through changes in Dementia Care training for RGN’s. Following initial exploration of evidence available surrounding Dementia care training, the following issues will be addressed and critically analysed: Why is Dementia Training for RGN’s needed? How can the efficacy of training on Dementia care for RGN’s be improved? What content should be used in Dementia care training? What are the barriers to implementation of Dementia care training? Why is Dementia Training for RGN’s needed? Patients admitted to acute hospital wards with dementia have comparatively poorer outcomes regarding length of stay, mortality and further institutionalism (DH 2009, Alzheimer’s Society 2012). In addition, this group of patients place higher demands for nursing care, are more likely to functionally decline during admission and suffer increased rates of delayed discharge. This can result in permanent decline in health and added costs to NHS trusts (Mukadam and Sampson 2011). Though thought by many to be due to their complex health needs (REFERENCE), The Health Foundation (2011) has suggested a significant reason for these poorer outcomes is lack of professional understanding by RGN’s in providing appropriate care. Improvement in Dementia care is currently a nationwide health initiative reference. National audits over the last 5 years have recommended implementation of dementia services such as dementia lead nurses, standardised assessment and care protocols and compulsory staff training (DH 2009, Harwood et al. 2010, Thompson and Heath 2013, RCP 2013). Yet there are many recent reports of poor and sometimes negligent care suggesting these recommendations have not yet been followed or implemented (Leung and Todd 2010, Francis 2013, RCP 2013). Results from the National Audit of Dementia Care in general hospitals indicated that nurses working on acute wards rated significantly lower adequacy of training than nurses working on care of elderly wards. Other audits such as Counting the Cost report (Alzheimer’s Society 2009) indicated that more than half of nurses had not received any pre or post registered dementia training. Elliot and Adams (2011) further identify the lack of understanding around Dementia, meaning the needs of older people with Dementia are not addressed in many acute hospital settings. As can be seen, the need for specific training in Dementia care for RGN’s is strong. There is evidence to support positive influence on effective care with training. The National Audit of Dementia Care in General Hospitals (NAD 2012) was commissioned by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership to address the concerns of care for people with dementia (Tadd et al. 2011). These audits aimed to identify hospital’s provision of assessment, care models and staff training. Following the 1st round of audits in 2011 a report by Thompson and Heath concluded that the main barriers to providing good care were lack of understanding of the condition, not enough time to care and failing to communicate with patients. Improvements are not as forthcoming in dementia assessment on admission to acute wards. Results from the 2nd round audit of NAD acknowledge that there had been improvement in implementation of staff training frameworks in hospitals since the 1st round audit and represented an improvement in care as a result (Royal College of Psychiatrists 2013). The 2nd round report highlighted that approximately 75% of hospitals now provide dementia awareness training to nurses, although almost 50% are still failing to provide dementia awareness training as part of induction programmes. The report suggests that further improvement is required in providing better and more consistent staff training, as despite some progress, there appears to be a gap between actual training and written reports (RCP 2013). As a result, the recommendations outlined and analysed in this Independent project may be of some use in raising positive statistics. How can the efficacy of training on Dementia care for RGN’s be improved? It is the evaluation of this evidence which aims to generate key recommendations for provision of Dementia care training. Elliot and Adams (2011) were able to show improvements in needs met where specific education for RGN’s is provided by a Dementia Nurse Specialist (recommendation number 1). This shows the role of the Dementia Nurse Specialist to be vital in improving the efficacy of Dementia training and infiltrating best possible evidence-based care into clinical practice. However, despite this, the minimal numbers of Dementia Nurse Specialists currently practicing has to be identified as a limiting factor. In many trusts and academic institutions, there is no availability for a Dementia Nurse Specialist to provide training, therefore limiting efficacy even when extensive training is to be provided (Knifton et al. 2014). In terms of training content, it is well documented that evidence used should be reliable and credibly underpin clinical practice as this promotes evidence –based practice and better health outcomes (Jeffs et al. 2013). Evidence based practice is vital in all nurses’ roles (REFERENCE NMC CODE). REFERENCE suggests up to date qualitative and quantitative research is the only knowledge and information base which should be used to allow best care to be provided, hence placing important value of increased use of evidence based research in training sessions. Currently, Moyle et al. (2008) suggests the lack of research used to underpin Dementia training for RGN’s is limiting ability to not only provide best care but also identify those living with Dementia (Chang et al. 2009) RECOMMENDATION 2. However, barriers to evidence based care remain even when high quality evidence is used to support training. Smith-Strom and Nortvedt (2008) have identified that RGN’s ofte n find evidence difficult to interpret and evaluate while Oermann (2009) suggests very little of the content is retained to be implemented into practice. This suggests RGN’s may also need training on evidence based practice and processing research (REFERENCE). Gerrish (2008) suggested the knowledge and skill of the individual nurse prior to receiving specific training heavily influenced their ability to improve their practice following. This suggests multiple training sessions on Dementia may be needed before practice can be changed and improved (REFERENCE). RECOMMENDATION 3. What content should be used in Dementia care training? Tadd et al. (2011) explain that one reason for increased functional decline is that care of patients on acute wards is prioritised from the perspective of the medical condition for which they have been admitted, often overlooking their mental health condition. Most acute wards follow rigid, task driven routines such as drug rounds, meal times and washing, while staff lack the necessary skills required to provide proficient dignified care. This form of nursing can cause increased anxiety and delirium resulting in poorer outcomes for individuals (Tadd et al. 2011, Calnan et al. 2013). Alzheimer’s Society (2009) report that patients admitted to acute hospital wards for longer periods are more likely to suffer from permanent worsened effects of dementia and physical health. They are more likely to receive prescribed antipsychotic drugs and to be discharged to residential care rather than their home (Thompson and Heath 2013). Leung and Todd (2010) acknowledge that specialist services do exist in some trusts and that training in managing behaviour, using life stories and implementing dementia care mapping are all good techniques that can help nurses to improve quality care. Dementia care mapping is an observational method of recording interactions that take place between individuals and nurses over a period of time (Ervin and Koschel 2012). This enables evaluation of what works and doesn’t work for patients, it is a useful way of tailoring person-centred care to help staff understand the experience of dementia from the patient’s perspective while rating quality of care given (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and Social Institute for Care Excellence 2007) (NICE-SCIE). Alzheimer’s Society (2013) suggest that nurses must challenge their task driven ward environment and provide a more flexible approach providing care from the patient’s perspective as this is achievable and beneficial to patients. Leung and Todd (2010) reported that most nurses have received little or no training and are ill equipped to deal with the many challenges that face both patients and nurses. Additionally NICE (2013) state that nurses suggest dementia education programmes should include identifying signs and symptoms, communication and person-centred care methods, treatment to include medicine administration and how to monitor side effects, particular emphasis was placed on requirement to assess pan. Nurses also suggested that learning about the impact of dementia on the individual and managing challenging behaviour would be useful. Dementia training is not a compulsory element of the pre-registered nursing curriculum although this has been recommended to the Nu rsing and Midwifery Council (NMC) by several national organisations. (NICE-SCIE 2007, Alzheimer’s Association 2009, All-party Parliamentary Group on Dementia 2012, Higher Education for Dementia Network 2014 (HEDN)). The NHS Confederation (2010) recognise that providing dementia training to staff could benefit hospital trusts in several ways. These include nurses being equipped to identify those with dementia, therefore being able to implement care pathways appropriate to patients. Effective management of patients with dementia helps avoid disorientation and anxiousness which could reduce the amount of time spent attending to challenging behaviour and allow staff more time to care for all patients on an acute ward. What are the barriers to implementation of Dementia care training? Even when effective dementia training has been provided, barriers to good quality evidence-based care remain and it is important these do not go unnoticed. Identification and knowledge of these barriers alone can minimise their limiting factor (reference). Acute hospital settings pose many challenges to both patients with dementia and the nurses caring for them. Yet Harwood et al. (2011) report that there is little evidence of research aimed at investigating these challenges and the provision of detailed policies on how to deal with them. Patients with dementia are more likely to find an unfamiliar environment unsettling, frightening and confusing due to the nature of impaired cognitive ability (Moyle et al. 2008). This accounts for literature suggesting that an acute ward environment comprised of identical doorways and bed spaces causes added confusion to patients (Reference). This often creates increased disorientation, aggression or withdrawal (Leung and Todd, Thompson and Heath 2 013). This further challenges the nurse’s role in maintaining nutritional, personal hygiene and drug administration tasks as individuals can no longer respond to familiar faces, environment and daily routines (Tadd et al. 2011). Barriers Overcoming the barriers The government accepts improvements are needed and is pinning hopes on the  £3.8 billion Better Care Fund, which will was launched in April 2015. The pot has been earmarked for joint projects between the NHS and local government to encourage more integrated care. STUDENT NURSES 2015 report: Dementia education to bestandardised at degree level some nursing degrees offer only three hours of dementia education throughout the whole three-year course. How this should change following the dementia core skills framework, but it doesn’t state how many hours students will be required to undertake. Student nurse attitudes towards working with the elderly Future plans for RGN’s HEE 2013 Mandate targets. – ensure that tools and training opportunities in dementia are available to all staff by the end of 2018. Current training requierments of RGN’s in relation to Dementia training References Department of Health (2009) Living well with dementia: a national dementia strategy. The Stationery Office, London. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence/Social Care Institute for Excellence guideline (2006) Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. NICE/SCIE, London.