Federal Trade Commission and Merger - Arbitron, Nielsen Research Paper

Federal Trade Commission and Merger - Arbitron, Nielsen - Research Paper Example This implies that for any merger to be acceptable it must comply with the business laws as provided by the government. For example, in US, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an agency that has been established by the government to ensure unfair business practices are avoided. Additionally, FTC is responsible for prevention of fraudulent business strategies that would jeopardize not only the shareholders investments but also the consumer’s money. Another notable function of FTC is to create a competitive business atmosphere. In this way, the negativities of monopoly as well as price discriminative policies are addressed. During the merging and acquisition processes, it is imperative for managers and directors to engage all the stakeholders that include the shareholders, creditors, auditors and other investors. This paper aims at discussing the merger between Arbitron, and Nielsen companies and the implications of FTC on the merger. Nielsen Holdings is an American based firm that deals in providing its local and global clients with information regarding the behaviors of their consumers in the market. With its headquarters based in New York and in Netherlands, the company operates in more than 100 countries in various regions world wide. In this regard, the company enjoys wide market segment that places it at a competitive position. Key people who oversee the operations of the company includes David Calhoun and Rick Kash, the CEO and the vice chair respectively. Other individuals in the management team include Brian West, Steve Hasker, Mary Liz, Mitchell Habib and Itzhak Fisher among others. One of the notable aspects that have contributed to the success of the company is the establishment of quality services that are highly demanded by companies that are focused at facing off the various challenges in the local and international markets. The three key products by Nielsen include provision of consumer information, market measurement as well as consumer resea rch. Nielsen has been involved in a number of business strategies that have not only positive impact on its capital base but also in its marketing strategies. These include strategic alliances, mergers as well as acquisitions. Some of the companies that the company has either acquired or formed a merger with include WPP Group, VNU, Buzzmetrics, Blackstone Group, IAG Research, The Cambridge Group and more recently Arbitron among others1. Arbitron is a US based firm with its headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. Having been founded in 1949 by Jim Seiler, the company original services included collection of television ratings that it adopted during the research process2. Just like Nielsen Holdings, Arbitron is engaged in a number of mergers immediately after it was established. Some of the notable companies that the company has merged with include Cooper, Clay and Coffin. In a deal that was aimed at making the company more competitive in the global market, Arbitron merged with Nielsen Ho ldings in 2012 resulting into change of names to Nielsen Audio. Key person who oversee the acquisition process was Sean Creamer, the company chief executive officer. Summary about the merger between Arbitron and Nielsen Arbitron and Nielsen Companies have for a long time been used by firms to provide with information regarding the consumption of their brands. Based on the need for two firms to improve their market

Scottish & Southern Energy plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Scottish & Southern Energy plc - Case Study Example "SSE's strategy is to deliver sustained real growth in the dividend payable to shareholders through the efficient operation of, and investment in, a balanced range of regulated and non-regulated energy-related businesses. The successful implementation of this strategy in 2006/07 delivered another year of excellent financial performance, with profit before tax exceeding 1 billion for the first time, and strong operational performance, with our policy of responsible pricing helping us to gain more than one million additional customers" (Miranda.com, 2007). "We are committed to offering customers a combination of price, service and products which will enable us to achieve further growth during the rest of the financial year and beyond" (Ian Marchant, as quoted by Hamish Rutherford, The Scotsman, 2007). Scottish and Southern Energy plc, believe that the company's rapid growth has been due to a consistent and continuing focus on four essential areas: the maintenance and investment in present energy networks; continued investment in SSE's "leading-edge portfolio" (Annual Review, 2006, p.1); increasing and developing energy supply; and through the development of a strong presence in businesses such as gas storage, contracting connections, and telecoms. As a result of the achievements and progress made within these central goals, the company's 2006 reported its financial performance, with adjusted profit before tax, as being at approximately 858.2 million (Annual Review, 2006). Scottish and Southern Energy was formed in 1998, following the no-premium merger of Southern Electric and Scottish Hydro Electric, and required Connect South West contracting business just a year later. Following this Scottish Hydro Electric Contracting was launched, while by 2000, the company had acquired the energy supply business, SWALEC, it had completed its 50% investments into the Seabank 2 gas-fired power station, and the number of customers had exceeded more than four million. Then, in 2001, SSE began operating Cuilieg, the corporation's hydro election power station - it's first in forty years - and in 2002, the company's Annual Report showed profits of some 597.2 million (Annual Report, 2002). SSE's growth continued in 2003, the year in which the company acquired Neos Telecom, and customers passed the five million mark. It was also during this period that Scottish and Southern Energy announced its plans to construct the Glendoe hydro-electric power station, while also acquiring the balance of equity for the

Dickens's Treatment of Education and Social Mobility in Hard Times Essay

Dickens's Treatment of Education and Social Mobility in Hard Times - Essay Example Utilitarianism was the brainchild of Jeremy Bentham ( 1748-1832), a personally eccentric philosopher and social reformer, who held that virtue was a matter of utility: an action was good if it helped to bring about the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Promulgation of that happiness was the function of the State, and education of the populace and extension of political franchise were fundamental tenets of Benthamism. Political Economy, on the other hand, was a socio-economic system deriving from Adam Smith ( 1723-90) and David Ricardo ( 1772- 1823), whose disciples taught that the distribution of wealth was governed by immutable laws of nature. National prosperity depended on the profits of industrialists, and the wages of workers could not rise without jeopardizing economic harmony, to the detriment of workers and industrialists alike. Because the pursuit of individual self-interest was held to promote the general welfare, the duty of the state was to adopt a policy of lais sez-faire, in order to allow that inevitable process to operate freely, without interference. ( Dickens, Schilicke, 1989) Dickens was vociferous against these theories and as he wrote to Charles Knight, he directed his satire " against those who see figures and averages and nothing else----the representatives of the wickedest and the most enormous vice of this time." (30 December 1854, Letters, 7: 492). Dickens was above all a humanist, and he deeply resented the reduction of human beings, their activities and perceptions to bare facts and figures, without emotion, feeling, or imagination. Having already written books like Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, he had realised that his satire and criticism hit home, and thus deliberately set out to write a novel in the background of industrialisation and its resultant severe inequalities of wealth, social class and education. 2.0. Coketown: the emblem of Dickens' message In the course of the novel, Dickens' fictional Coketown, loosely based on towns like Manchester in Northern England and the Lancashire town of Preston, becomes emblematic of Dickens' perception of the connections between industrialisation, utilitarianism, education and the Victorian society. In Chapter 5 he describes Coketown: "It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but as matters stood, it was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted face of a savage. It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever, and never got uncoiled. It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of building full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness. Dickens paints the picture of an unnatural, defaced, polluted town filled with the noise and stench of machines at work, which is "savage". All public inscriptions in the town which are essentially its voice, are written in "black and white", in effect colourless, banal, with no identity of their own. It is the antithesis of individuality and personal freedom of expression, which are so essential to human happiness and virtue. It pays no tribute to civilisation, culture or refinement, everything in it is "severely workful" and utilitarian. This starves the human craving

Public Relation (Proposal) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Public Relation (Proposal) - Essay Example When looking at Draco Corp, an electronic store, it can be seen that specific changes need to be made with the website to begin altering the ways in which it is able to grow. The website can be enhanced to reflect the brand identity of the business while creating a sense of press relations through interactions, image and the presentation of the business. Examining the best approaches that Draco Corp can use for enhancing the website for larger consumer interactions, brand loyalty and trust will begin to change the associations which this business has for online transactions. Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 1.1 Problem Statement†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦.4 1.2 Aims and Objectives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 2.0 Strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 2.1 Redeveloping and Redesigning the Site†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 2.2 Web Site Content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7 2.3 Security and IT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...8 2.4 Promotional Plan†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 2.5 Comparison to Competitors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 3.0 Conclusion and Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 4.0 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 1.0 Introduction The ability to have a strong web presence is one which is able to provide a difference in functioning to businesses. The expansion into a global market and the legitimacy of a professional company is one which is specifically based on the alternatives to build an online portal where indi viduals can determine what is needed. When looking at various companies, it can be seen that there isn’t the ability to create the right image, leaving to a lack of representation with the online company. Draco Corp is an example of a company which has several branches and business interests worldwide. It works as a multinational company that is able to product and sell consumer electronics to a global market. However, the lack of a website is one which is creating difficulties when working against competitors and into an international field. Finding a different way to manage and change the online presence will also make a change in the functions of Draco Corp while allowing their global presence to move forward internationally. 1.1 Problem Statement Draco Corp is known internationally for selling consumer products with the focus of electronics. However, the world is now turning to technology and online portals to gather information, order from portals and to define what is n eeded from a business. It is now known that the basic business dynamics are located and expanding to move online, specifically because of the consumer demand to find the level of legitimacy of a company and to evaluate the products which are used from those that are online. At the same time, most consumers are aware of the needed elements of a website to ensure the proper growth and to understand what the reputation of a company is. If the right standards aren’t met, then most consumers will continue browsing to another website for the same products (Neumark, Zhang, Wall, 2006: p. 79). 1.2 Aims and Objectives For Draco Corp to keep up with the competition and to find the needs of the consumer awareness and growth there is also the need to expand the website so it is able to

Fair Work Act 2009 based on the pluralist frame of reference Essay

Fair Work Act 2009 based on the pluralist frame of reference - Essay Example Firms have also faced with a growing need for emphasizing more on the alignment between commercial objectives and employment practices in the organization. The research identifies the logics of managerial authority and also its legitimacy; and the way value systems and personal assumptions held by managers can predispose them to perceive workplace relations and characteristics of work in particular ways. The paper researches on some of the contemporary theories within the domain of such systems. It analyzes the way judgments made about the worth of these theories are shaped by the value systems and the set of assumptions that people hold towards the workplaces. The analysis works as a guide towards evaluating one’s own value systems and assumptions by application of practical theories to the real world concepts. The discussion revolves around the concepts identified by Alan Fox (1966, 1974) as a means of classifying the various assumptions that people hold towards workplaces. The three frames of references which he refers to in his arguments are the unitarist, pluralist and radical (Marxist) assumptions. The project brings forth arguments for the Fair Works Act 2009 being significantly grounded on the pluralist frame of reference. The specific clauses within the act which supports the argument are identified and put forth (Abbott, p.187-189). Frames of Reference Every individual have different manners of opinions regarding the events that they witness in their day to day lives. These opinions are largely shaped by their families, friends and also circumstances such as the jobs they carry out in their respective fields, churches and clubs that they patronize, the communities they belong to etc. Because of the fact that that works is an essential part of people’s lives, its characteristics and nature is regarded as an important social phenomenon which evokes passionate debates. These debates are popularly framed in terms of the values and assumption s that individuals use as reference points while perceiving their governance and nature of works. This has generated the term ‘frame of reference’ by Alan Fox (1966, 1974) as a way of categorizing the various opinions and propositions put forth by people towards these issues (Abbott, p.191). Fox has claimed that these frames of references capture the recent opinions which he defined with regards to the credentials of the unitarist, pluralist and Marxist approaches. The idea is to understand that two different interpret two different situations differently and arise at two different conclusions from the very same phenomenon. The meaning that Fox applied to his frames of references is that differences in values and assumptions about workplace relations, nature of works and conflicts at the workplace generate differing theoretical explanations and conclusions about the matter. The popular theories which have generated out of these are unitarist, pluralist and Marxist conce pts (Abbott, p.191). The unitarist views begin from the values and assumptions which say that conflicts are not considered an inevitable characteristic of relationships between employees and managers. It is possible for conflicts to arise on periodic basis. However, such occurrences are regarded to be aberrations in relationships which are inherently tended to be cooperative. People with this perspective perceive managers and employees as having the same interests in the

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Example for Free

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Ralph Waldo Emerson was born into a pre-determined life. His father was a minister, so he was already set to become a minister. However, Emerson didn’t believe in organized religion. This was the reason that he became a transcendentalist and wrote his essay â€Å"Self Reliance†. In 1817, Emerson attended Harvard College where he first began to formulate his ideas that were portrayed in his most famous essay. In his essay, Emerson uses two main strategies to persuade his readers. These strategies were anecdotal stories and reasons supported by evidence. Throughout his essay, Emerson uses anecdotes as his main strategy for persuasion. For example, he tells an anecdote about when he was a child. When he was a child, he expressed his true beliefs to a close adult. When asked how he knows that his beliefs aren’t from the devil, Emerson responds by saying, â€Å"They do not seem to me to be such; but if I am the Devil’s child, I will live then from the Devil. † In this response he is saying even if his beliefs are from the Devil, it doesn’t matter. This is what he believes in and nothing can change that. This idea was Emerson’s main virtue that he lived by and wanted others to live by: trust thyself. Emerson’s anecdotes prove to be a very effective way to persuade his readers to believe in his ideas. The anecdotes in this essay are so effective because the reader is able to connect with him, and place themselves in his shoes. The anecdotes are also effective because they are a portal into Emerson’s life. Instead of just listing facts and statistics, Emerson chooses to tell stories about his life. This allows his readers to connect with him on a personal level and the readers develop a stronger emotional connection with Emerson. Another strategy that Emerson uses is reasons supported by evidence. This strategy is also effective because it gives the reader a reason why they should trust themselves, and then supports the reason with evidence to show why the reason is true. For example, he says that if people don’t trust themselves, then they will feel guilty and ashamed. This is the reason Emerson gives of why people need to trust themselves, and then he supports the reason with evidence by saying that it is a waste of time to want what thers want and â€Å"envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide†. He also says that to be truly happy, a man must accept himself for better and for worse. This evidence supports the reason that people should be happy with themselves the way they are. Emerson’s strategy of reasons supported by evidence is very effective because it gives the reader concrete evidence. The evidence supports the reason, and the reason supports the overall claim. The reasons and evidence are logical appeals which appeal to the reader’s good sense; this also makes the strategy effective. It is hard to argue when Emerson gives many concrete reasons to support his claim and then backs it up with even more evidence. Although Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† has many good strategies and qualities, it also has some weaknesses. The essay is aimed at a small audience, educated white males. If he were to open the essay up to a broader audience, he would be able to spread his idea more effectively. For example if women were also targeted in the essay, then Emerson’s ideas would be spread to almost twice as many people. Another weakness in the essay is the overall claim. He says that people should trust themselves. This claim has no qualifiers; therefore Emerson is saying that people should trust themselves, always. This is not always true. Yet another weakness in the essay is that Emerson uses mostly anecdotal evidence. Although the anecdotes prove to be effective, the evidence inside of them is not all that concrete. The claims he makes in these anecdotes are not as strong as they could be if he had more of a variety of strategies to support his claims. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† tells its readers to trust themselves. He says that every heart vibrates to this iron string. Emerson uses many strategies in his essay; however the two main strategies are anecdotes and reasons supported by evidence. Both of these strategies prove to be very effective on the reader. The anecdotes allow the reader to connect with Emerson, and have strong emotional appeals on the reader. While the reasons supported by evidence apply the reader’s logic and give concrete examples that support his claim. â€Å"Self-Reliance† is a well written essay that persuades its readers to listen and trust themselves.

A Concept Analysis of Advanced Nursing Practice

A Concept Analysis of Advanced Nursing Practice Introduction The idea of advanced practice in nursing presents a challenge to the general nurse in terms of exploring scope of practice and potential professional development (An Bord Altranais, 2000; Thompson and Watson, 2003). There appears to be a lack of clarity in defining the concept of advanced practice (Thompson and Watson, 2003), with terms such as specialist practice, consultant nursing roles and the like clouding the waters of the debate, suggesting a need to perhaps amalgamate and standardise roles (An Bord Altranais, 2000;) . This author, as a Community General Nurse in Ireland, is aware of two advanced practice roles within her own practice area: one within the Accident and Emergency Department, an acute care facility, and one within Education, which straddles the academic/practice divide. However, the changing and developing role of the nurse and rapid changes towards higher levels of practice (NMC, 2002; Thompson and Watson, 2003; Lorentzon and Hooker, 2006) seems to suggest that advanced practice may be an integral part of career progression within nursing (An Bord Altranais, 2000), which leads to a need to clarify the concept and map its components and meanings. Concept analysis and conceptual clarification form an identifiable genre within the nursing literature (Paley, 1996). This essay will follow one model of concept analysis to map the concept and explore the implications for practice through an exemplar model case. Concept Analysis Concepts and theories within science are strongly linked (Paley, 1996), and both seem to be interdependent. Concept analysis enables the definition of a concept and allows the critical reader to differentiate between similar and dissimilar concepts (McKenna, 1997). Achieving conceptual clarity is an important task for both research and practice (Walker, 2006). There are a range of concept analyses that have been used within scientific and nursing literature. Morse (1995) suggests that techniques to map concepts should relate to the maturity of the concept concerned. In this case, Advanced Practice is an extant concept which demands clarification in relation to specific areas of nursing activity. Therefore there is a need to determine a means of concept delineation and clarification (Morse, 1995). There is also a need to identify an appropriate means of clarifying the concept, for example whether or not to utilise qualitative or quantitative methods (Morse et al, 1996.) In this instance, a qualitative approach based on Rodgers (1989; 1991;1993) model of concept analysis will be utilised. This particular model has been chosen because of its firm grounding in research traditions of sociology and nursing (McKenzie, 2000). The Rodgers’ approach has already been utilised to map evolving phenomena (Walker, 2006) and so is particularly applicable to a still developing topic area. As Rodgers’ approach is an inductive, cyclical approach (Walker, 2006), it is a more creative endeavour suitable to the generation of new ideas and definitions. A literature review will be carried out, in a targeted manner, utilising a structured approach (see Table 1). Table 1 Framework for concept analysis Identify concept of interest List published literature relevant to the topic and select papers to be included in the sample Identify surrogate terms and relevant uses of the concept. Identify and select appropriate sample for data collection. Identify the attributes of the concept Identify the references, antecedents and consequences of the concept. Identify concepts that are related to the concept of interest Identify a model case of the concept. The Process of Analysis. Concept of interest McKenna (1997) suggests that when choosing a concept, it is best to select a concept that represents phenomena of interest to the researcher. McKenna and Cutcliffe (2005) also suggest that there should be some confusion or lack of consensus about the concepts’ meaning, but the scope should not be too broad. The concept of interest is advanced nursing practice in community general nursing, which is related to the author’s own area of practice and experience of practice delivery. This concept also meets McKenna’s (1997) stipulation that the concept should also be abstract enough o retain its meaning when removed from specific situations. Therefore, the concept of advanced nursing practice is being analysed, with reference to one specific area of practice but not limited by that practice. Surrogate Terms Higher Level of Practice Specialist nursing practice Role of the Specialist nurse and consultant nurse Professional Development in Nursing Community nursing practice Sample Please see Appendix for the audit trail of sample selection. Attributes of the Concept The concept of advanced practice is not a new one (Carroll, 2002). Clinical nurse specialists have been cited since the 1940s (Carroll, 2002). It is a nursing concept (Carroll, 2002) despite being associated with advanced practices traditionally carried out by the medical profession (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). The literature is in agreement that the concept of advanced nursing practice lacks agreement on the core characteristics and roles of such a practitioner (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). The concept is related to specialism (Mantsoukas and Watkinson, 2007) suggesting that the role emerges as a unique expression of need within a distinct area of practice (Gardner and Gardner, 2005). Hamric (1996) links advanced nursing practice to practical, theoretical and research based interventions within a specific clinical area linked to the larger discipline of nursing. However, it can also be a more general theoretical construct of any form of nursing which progresses to an advanced level of practice (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). Evidence does seem to suggest that similarities between specialist nurses and clinical nurse specialist roles and between nurse practitioner and advanced nursing practice roles (Carnwell and Daly, 2003). Therefore it would appear that an eclectic set of role schema have emerged from the general stew of advances in nursing practice. Bryant-Lukosius et al (2004) further define the term advanced nursing practice as referring to the work, or to what n urses actually do in their roles, but also makes reference to the multi-dimensional scope and mandate of the concept. Specific attributes of the concept include the ability to discover, innovate and expand the nursing profession by employing multiple types of knowledge and skills, support by research evidence and academic thinking processes (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). Other attributes are: the use of the knowledge in practice; critical thinking and analytical skills; clinical judgement and decision-making skills; professional leadership and clinical inquiry; research skills; mentoring skills; and the ability to change practice (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). Furlong and Smith (2005), analysing the edicts of the National Council in Ireland, describe the core concepts of advanced nursing practice as: autonomy in clinical practice; clinical and professional leadership; and expert practitioner and researcher. All of these appear to relate meaningfully to nursing as a profession but do not address the application of the role to patient outcomes and clinical effectiveness. However, Benner et al (1 999) relate critical thinking to active thinking in practice, the application here being evident. This would then relate to clinical judgement, but the question arises of acceptability of nurses undertaking clinical decision making in the current NHS climate. References, antecedents and consequences of the concept Antecedents or prefixes to the concept include the notion of education and individual roles, historical development of the profession (Carroll, 2002), and advanced roles as part of the development process of the nursing profession (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). In order for the advanced nursing role to exist, there must be an identified need for such a role in specific areas of nursing practice (Caroll, 2002; Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). In particular, the need to perform specific nursing tasks, interventions and clinical monitoring for individual conditions may be viewed as an antecedent (Gardner et al, 2004). Specialist preparation and legislative/professional evolution are also antecedents (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). Education for advanced nursing practitioners is linked to research-derived curricula and learning defined by clinical practice (Gardner et al, 2004). However, education and specialist preparation of the advanced practitioner in nursing could also be viewe d as a consequence, as specific programmes of education have had to be developed in response to the developments of these nursing roles (Gardner et al, 2004). Consequences include lack of role clarity (Carroll, 2002; Griffin and Melby, 2006) and the notion of the mini-doctor role which leads to nursing practice being carried out within a medical model rather than the optimal holistic nursing model (Carroll, 2002). This would have an impact on nurses themselves and their professional self concept, and on the client/patient, affecting the type and perhaps quality of their care. It might also lead to the erosion of general nursing roles in favour of specialisation, again following a medical model of professional development (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). However, other literature sees advanced nursing practitioners as being a result of recent health care policies, the role having developed to meet the complex demands of health care systems (Carnwell and Daly, 2003). Another professional consequence of the concept is the need for regulation and supervision (NMC, 2002). In relation to this is the development and evolution of professional nursing autonomy (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). The expansion of advanced roles can also be seen as a consequence of the concept, whereby established areas of advanced practice pave the way for its implementation in a range of specific clinical areas (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). This may be related to practice development ensuring that nursing remains responsive to the changing needs of patients and clients (Thompson and Watson, 2003). This related to another consequence of advanced practice, ongoing change in clinical practice (Mantzoukas and Watkinson, 2007). However, it could be argued that practice development is an antecedent to the concept of advanced nursing practice as well, echoing the blurred nature of the concept from a range of perspectives. Autonomy could also be viewed as a consequence (Wade, 1999). The fact that advanced nursing practice is valued within the healthcare arena is also an important factor (Dunn, 1997; Griffin and Melby, 2006), and makes its most important consequence improvement in patient outcomes and the associated improvements in healthcare and reduced demand on resources (Coster et al, 2006: Gardner and Gardner, 2005). Concepts related to the main concept One concept related to advanced nursing practice is fitness for practice (Thompson and Watson, 2003; NMC, 2002). Another is that of barriers and resistance to advanced practice, particularly in relation to the current NHS climate (Thompson and Watson, 2003). Systems and processes must be in place and be effective for advanced practice to establish itself and its efficacy (Gardner and Gardner, 2005). Policy background and political drive are also related to this particular practice development (Carnwell and Daly, 2003). The international or global scope of the concept is also evident from the literature sampled here (Bryant-Lukosius et al, 2004; Sutton and Smith, 1995). Nurse prescribing and authority in pharmacological intervention is another related concept (Lorentzon and Hooker, 2006). Model Case. Patient K, a 65 year old woman had been referred to the author (a community RGN), due to a recurrent, chronic leg ulcer on the left ankle. This ulcer had been treated for some years with topical preparations and dressings, including antibiotic treatment and a variety of therapeutic dressings, and the involvement of other professionals such as dietician and physiotherapist had attempted to address potential underlying causes of failure to heal, such as lack of mobility and poor diet. However, after some deterioration in the condition of the ulcer, increased haemoserous loss and offensive odour, K attended the GP and was referred by the practice nurse to the wound specialist clinic at the local outpatient department. The clinical wound specialist nurse reviewed K’s case, identified the ulcer as a venous ulcer and prescribed four-layer pressure bandaging to treat the wound, based on her own awareness of the research evidence that demonstrated the efficacy of this intervention. The four-layer bandaging technique improves venous return in the lower extremity by providing a gradient of pressure from the bottom of the lower limb towards the knee. The specialist nurse engaged K in a degree of learning about her condition and its treatment, in order to ensure compliance. The four-layer bandages are left on for two to three days at a time, then removed to dress the ulcer, then replaced with clean four-layer bandages. They can be uncomfortable, and so patient compliance is important in the success of treatment. The specialist nurse spent time with the client, informed her of the rationale and evidence base, and then further contacted this author, her community general nurse, to ensure that those treating K were fully competent in the four-layer bandaging technique. She also advised K to return to her for regular review of her condition. Within 12 weeks the ulcer was healed, which greatly pleased K and allowed her discharge from nursing care. This case demonstrates many of the features defined by the concept analysis of advanced nursing practice. The advanced practice developed out of a defined need for a specialist wound clinic staffed by specifically trained and experienced staff. The specialist nurse occupies a senior role with a large degree of autonomy. She has been educated in her specialism, utilises evidence-based practice, and engages in an educative role with clients and with non-specialist nurses, demonstrating the components of expert practice but also advancing the expertise of those around her (Benner, 1994). Conclusion Professionalizing forces in nursing, clinical need and extension and changes in primary health care appear to have combined to create new roles for nurses in the NHS (Lorentzon and Hooker, 2006). These roles appear to have functional bases defined by gaps within service provision and focus on client need. Therefore, given this concept analysis, it would appear that advanced nursing practice is a needs-driven development of specialist nursing management to provide optimum clinical outcomes for client and service provider. Such practice is evidence based and provided by a trained, competent clinician with the academic and experiential authority required to implement theory into practice, bridging the theory-practice gap through exemplary implementation of clinical judgement (Upton, 1996). It can also be viewed as a logical outcome of continuing professional development within nursing. This author’s role within the community nursing team encompasses a range of nursing challenges, one of which has been described here. It is through liaison with such specialists that the community nurse can facilitate evidence-based practice and bridge the theory-practice divide which continues to challenge the achievement of best practice in every clinical situation. However, it is also evident that there is a need for further clarification and consensus around such roles and better awareness of the scope of advanced nursing practice both within individual specialisms and in the wider realm of NHS nursing care. This author can see that the role of the community general nurse itself could be further developed into an advanced nursing role, drawing on the successes of such roles in other areas, but this would need policy, systems and ideological change to achieve. Ultimately, if the results are demonstrable improvements in patient outcomes, it would be well worth the challenge. 2,500 words. References An Bord Altranais (2007) http://www.nursingboard.ie. Accessed 13-4-07. Benner, P., Hooper-Kyriakidis, P. Stannard, D. (1999) Clinical Wisdom: Interventions in Critical Care WB Saunders: Philadelphia. Benner, P. (1984) From Novice to Expert California: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Browne, G. Pinelli, J. (2004). 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Appendix Audit Trail The search engine/gateway British Nursing Index was accessed and searches were carried out utilising the following keywords with their associated hits: Advanced Nursing Practice Higher Level of Practice Specialist nursing practice Role of the Specialist nurse and consultant nurse Professional Development in Nursing Community nursing practice The list of returned citations was further limited by defining parameters as follows: Full text English Language Nursing. Peer-reviewed Research Original Articles. The express aim was to review 20% of the returned citations, leaving the author with a targeted sample of articles from a range of nursing journals including Journal of Advanced Nursing; Journal of Clinical Nursing; Advances in Nursing Science; International Journal of Nursing Practice; Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing; International Journal of Nursing Studies; Nursing Standard; Graduate Research in Nursing. The focus of the concept analysis being Advanced Nursing Practice, only those articles which deal specifically with this concept were included in the sample.