Small Enterprise Strategies in an Unstable Public Environment

Many small business owners in the United States dream about getting a large contract with the federal government, feeling that their lives would be easier if they did. Ironically, there have been numerous occasions where small businesses have gone out of business after being overwhelmed by a government contract. This case study addresses how small businesses can improve their survival and success rate in the public sector with a strategic approach to their operations. It begins by discussing the preparation that goes into federal contracting by small businesses. Case examples of four American companies involved in contracting with the Department of Energy are evaluated. Data collection is achieved through qualitative analysis. The application of these conclusions could increase the survival rate of small businesses operating in an unstable public environment. The study is significant because this research widens contemporary assumptions about strategic thinking for small businesses engaged in government contracting

Small Enterprise Strategies in an Unstable Public Environment

Many small business owners in the United States dream about getting a large contract with the federal government, feeling that their lives would be easier if they did. Ironically, there have been numerous occasions where small businesses have gone out of business after being overwhelmed by a government contract. This case study addresses how small businesses can improve their survival and success rate in the public sector with a strategic approach to their operations. It begins by discussing the preparation that goes into federal contracting by small businesses. Case examples of four American companies involved in contracting with the Department of Energy are evaluated. Data collection is achieved through qualitative analysis. The application of these conclusions could increase the survival rate of small businesses operating in an unstable public environment. The study is significant because this research widens contemporary assumptions about strategic thinking for small businesses engaged in government contracting

Yellowjacket Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Trapped in Alaska with Heptyl Butyrate, Acetic Acid and Isobutanol

Eight species of vespine wasps were captured in traps near Fairbanks, Delta Junction and Palmer, Alaska, during 2003 and 2004. These were Vespula vulgaris L., V. acadica (Sladen), V. consobrina (Saussure), V. rufa (L.)(=intermedia [Buysson]), Dolichovespula maculata (L.), D. arenaria (F.), D. norwegica (F.)(=albida [Sladen]), and D. norvegicoides (Sladen). Workers and males of V. vulgaris were captured primarily in traps baited with the combination of acetic acid and isobutanol. Workers of V. acadica, V. consobrina, and V. rufa were captured primarily in traps baited with heptyl butyrate. Queens and workers of D. maculata were captured primarily in traps baited with acetic acid, or acetic acid plus isobutanol. The small numbers of D. arenaria, D. norvegicoides, and D. norwegica captured did not permit treatment comparisons. Season-long trapping indicated a presence of V. acadica, V. consobrina, and V. rufa workers from late June through July, D. maculata from early July into early August, and V. vulgaris from late July to early September. The earliest wasps captured were queens of V. vulgaris and D. maculata in late May, while the latest wasp captured was a worker of V. vulgaris the first week of October, in Palmer

The Intersection of an Entrepreneurial Mindset and Hip Hop: A Case Study on BEATS by Dre

This case study examines how the product BEATS by Dre, entered pop culture and rose to success in the current market. Through a literature analysis and a review of the company’s organizational structure, Beats Electronics is assessed due to its entrepreneurial prowess. The success of Beats by Dre addressed a critical problem in the marketplace, consequently, becoming the top premium sound model to entrepreneurs across the globe. Through the lens of Hip Hop, readers can observe the characteristics of effective entrepreneurship, which is essential for success in the business world. The result of this investigation is significant because the results can better assist scholars and practitioners in how to inject the entrepreneurial mindset in popular culture

Heroic Helping: The Effects of Priming Superhero Images on Prosociality

Two experiments examined how exposure to superhero images influences both prosociality and meaning in life. In Experiment 1 (N = 246) exposed individuals to scenes with superhero images or neutral images. Individuals primed with superhero images reported greater helping intentions relative to the control group, which, in turn, were associated with increased meaning in life (indirect effect only; no direct effect). In Experiment 2 (N = 123), individuals exposed to a superhero poster helped an experimenter in a tedious task more than those exposed to a bicycle poster, though no differences were found for meaning in life. These results suggest that subtle activation of superhero stimuli increases prosocial intentions and behavior

Medical Emergency Team syndromes and an approach to their management

INTRODUCTION: Most literature on the medical emergency team (MET) relates to its effects on patient outcome. Less information exists on the most common causes of MET calls or on possible approaches to their management. METHODS: We reviewed the calling criteria and clinical causes of 400 MET calls in a teaching hospital. We propose a set of minimum standards for managing a MET review and developed an approach for managing common problems encountered during MET calls. RESULTS: The underlying reasons for initiating MET calls were hypoxia (41%), hypotension (28%), altered conscious state (23%), tachycardia (19%), increased respiratory rate (14%) and oliguria (8%). Infection, pulmonary oedema, and arrhythmias featured as prominent causes of all triggers for MET calls. The proposed minimum requirements for managing a MET review included determining the cause of the deterioration, documenting the events surrounding the MET, establishing a medical plan and ongoing medical follow-up, and discussing the case with the intensivist if certain criteria were fulfilled. A systematic approach to managing episodes of MET review was developed based on the acronym 'A to G': ask and assess; begin basic investigations and resuscitation, call for help if needed, discuss, decide, and document, explain aetiology and management, follow-up, and graciously thank staff. This approach was then adapted to provide a management plan for episodes of tachycardia, hypotension, hypoxia and dyspnoea, reduced urinary output, and altered conscious state. CONCLUSION: A suggested approach permits audit and standardization of the management of MET calls and provides an educational framework for the management of acutely unwell ward patients. Further evaluation and validation of the approach are required