A Case Study Of Ray Ozzie Software Strategist Marketing Essay

A Case Study Of Ray Ozzie Software Strategist Marketing Essay Ray Ozzie was the known to play a major role at the lotus notes before he became the Chief Software Architect of the Microsoft team (Microsoft, 2010). In 2005, he aimed to webify Microsoft in order to level up with the wide use of internet and search engines such as Yahoo! and Google. He had to create a management strategy in order to find out the best way to share the information through his colleagues and be able to sum up the ideas on how to maintain the revenues of the company. The case study, Ray Ozzie, Software Strategist, relates with the everyday processes, practices and activities that are involved in creating a strategy. Why was the Semiahmoo retreat not successful in creating sustained momentum around the issue of Microsofts core? The March retreat of the companys top 110 or so executives including Bill Gates was not successful because they failed to discuss the key factors about the Microsofts core. It is said that the company relied on selling proprietary software straight to users or to the manufacturers of computer for pre-installation on machines. However, the strategy was being challenged by free open-source software like linux and web- based companies whose software was free off the internet and supported by advertising such as Google or Yahoo!. This seemed to leave the company behind the emerging software that offers free access over the internet and is able to use by the customers directly. The companys processes of reaching the market have had difficulties most especially the shipping of products. Retreat at Semiahmoo was not able to initiate a clear discussion of the things that Microsoft has to do in order to get back to the emerging companies in the Information Technology industry today. They have got breakout sessions in order to brainstorm various strategic issues and it was observed that the people within the company relate to Bill. It appeared to be more of a team building for the executives and the group refused to organise the issues covering the strategy or the issue of the Microsofts core. They argued it was untimely and likely to cause unnecessary apprehension to engage more people as it involves the past strategies. Thus, the momentum from the retreat on Semiahmoo did not have enough space to tackle the said issue. The importance of focus on the processes and practices with regard to the activities of the company is given much attention rather than the issue of sustaining the strategy for selling products in a unique manner (Christensen, 1997). The practice of strategy involves the important components of how the organisation manages its people and links the outcomes from strategising events, activities, meetings and other. In addition to, the focus of the group went to the attraction of the place, perhaps, and the experience to bond with each other. The strategic challenge that Microsoft was facing was not clearly defined as well. The team relied on the past strategy and thought it was irrelevant to review. The retreat ended without accomplishing what was really tasked to do because the team overlooked the criticisms about the past strategies without realising that it is important to be able to figure out what specific changes to focus on or where exactly they should concentrate. Why was Ozzie more successful in creating follow-on action after the Robinswood retreat? After the Semiahmoo retreat, the company had a second retreat because the first attempt to create a strategy for the Microsofts core evaporated. Ozzie took charge of the second retreat and it was successful. Although Ozzie have not tried working intimately with the team, he took his chance on delivering and defining the strategic challenge that the company was facing. The retreat was held as Robinswood house where in it appeared to be substandard unlike the Semiahmoo retreat. Ozzie provided a 51- page memo beforehand that describes his diagnosis of the strategic challenge facing Microsoft. He detailed out the challenges for the company through his friendly mood and did not confront anyone with the past mistakes of the company. He opened up a discussion through an invigorating exercise about the unfavourable things happening in the present technical and organisational strategy of the company (Fried, 2009). Thus, it gave the team a chance to speak up and raise the issues with regard to the mistakes of the company on its operations most especially the issues that they have to solve most especially the fluctuating revenues of Microsoft. The meeting resulted on a more intense discussion with the team about the future strategies that could benefit the organisation. A progress was made although a good deal of controversy was still present. Furthermore, Ozzie put a highlight on the changing environment and the importance of service to the clients. The communications technologies have drastically developed into a more convenient form. In the modern world, the people pay much attention to the interaction with the company and its products and services and how they are able to use in a simple way. The businesses are directly reaching the customers with lower costs and provide a great service. Technology companies are now practicing ways to sell the products without the hassle of shipping and most importantly with lower costs such as downloading the application directly from the website supported by advertisements and the like. As Ozzie have seen, Microsoft is not developing a strategy on how to compete within the industry most especially the strategy of advertising- supported services and software over the internet. The strategy depicts innovation and fives the foundation for the web developers to improve and develop the services to the customers. Microsoft has to embrace this kind of business strategy in order to come up with a more practical way to reach and interact with the market and benefit the company with remarkable revenue. The company have to reflect on its past mistakes and relate to the present environment to be able to emerge with what is going in the market. The leadership responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses of the company should be discussed in a genial manner so an immediate response from the team could result to a better strategy to solve the challenges. The business might be at risk if the team fails to handle the dilemma accordingly and did not maintain an open communication (Levy, 2008). Comment on Ozzies communications strategy with regard to the Internet Services Disruption. The communication strategy of Ozzie is indeed a good way to reach the executive staff and he explained clearly what his goals are for the company. According to the memo, he has a lot of positive reasons to innovate more with regard to the strategic challenge that the company is facing. He delivered the memo very well such as stating that the leaders understand the efficiency of eradicating the hindrances on developing products. Reorganisation is considered to be an important step for improving the alertness of the company (Ozzie, 2005). He maintained a positive outlook on the past strategy of the company although it prevailed to put the business at risk. He still considered past strategies to start the development of the company on what he aims on his recent strategies. It is a very good way to motivate the organisation to move on to the next stage and be able to encourage them to participate and work accordingly. His idea of differentiating the strategy from the past developments of the company made it significant to understand the whole point. He immediately perceived the feedbacks of the readers so he addressed, in advanced, the possible doubts of the readers of his memo. Ozzie continues to innovate as he mentioned a continuous change every five years for the company to cope with the changing environment of the market considering that technology is growing rapidly. His focus on the recent strategic issues gives the memo a clearer objective to increase the motivation for the team to work well on creating new products and continuously creating a solution to the challenges. Ozzie is catered to the transformation of the company into a more user-friendly and interactive to reach the customers, partners and other for bigger opportunities (Ozzie, 2005). Thus, Ozzies communication strategy promotes a vision and a set of well- defined goals and objective that makes a dependable leader to integrate the varied activities and ideas of the whole team. Conclusion Ray Ozzie worked well on the creation of new strategies for the Microsoft such as going live and being more interactive with its users. Advertising-supported software and other internet-based applications are emerging in the market and are doing well with its revenues. The techniques of internet advertising have drastically affected by the innovations on technology. The use of broadband is considered to be a blanket for the market starting from the purchase of the computer up to the installation of its software and applications. Hence, it calls for an extensive innovation for Microsoft to comprehend with the use of the World Wide Web.

Health Care Reform Matrix Essay

With your learning team, complete the Health Care Reform matrix below. Listed in this matrix are some of the topics addressed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act policy. You are required to describe the issue, in your own words, and list 2-3 points about each topic under each heading in the matrix. Describe the issue: Key concerns regarding the issue: How is this issue addressed in the current health care environment? How will this issue be addressed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? Patient Bill of Rights A newly implemented set of protections that apply to health coverage starting on or after September 23, 2010. The patient bill of rights was implemented to end common insurance abuses such as discrimination against children with preexisting conditions, ban on insurance companies dropping or limiting coverage for individuals in their utmost time of need, and coverage for preventive care. In the past insurance companies were known to deny coverage for people with preexisting conditions including children. Also in the past insurance companies were allowed to deny coverage for preventive treatments. Currently in the health care environment insurance companies are no longer allowed to discriminate against children with preexisting conditions and are not allowed to deny or limit coverage. Individuals are now entitled to coverage regardless of their health status. The affordable care act has implemented the patient bill of rights which makes it mandatory for insurance companies to accept individuals and provide coverage regardless of their health status and regulates coverage for certain preventive testing mandatory such as cancer screening, immunizations and hearing and vision test for children and newborns Medical Loss Ratio Medical loss ratios are defined as when an insurance company spend a substantial portion of consumer premium dollars on administrative costs and profits including executive salaries and marketing. Lawmakers have raised some concerns about the MLR  provisions, including the issue that insurers are not allowed to deduct insurance agent, broker and salary bonuses and commissions from their medical loss ratio expenses The ACA requires certain health  insurers to provide consumer rebates if they do not meet a set financial target known as a medical loss ratio (MLR) Beginning in 2011 all health insurers are required to publicly submit data reports detailing aggregated state level financial data as well as income from premiums and expenditures on health care claims quality improvement taxes licenses and regulatory fees under the ACA. State-based Health Insurance Exchange Online State Health Insurance comparison websites A state can offer it’s own insurance or work with other states to establish regional insurance coverage exchanges People who are not able to obtain affordable insurance through their workplace, Medicaid or CHIP had the opportunity to purchase health insurance during open enrollment October 2013. 25 states out of the 50 united states have decided not to run an exchange for their specific state residents People who are not offered affordable insurance through their workplace must purchase coverage individually which can be quite expensive. Residents of states that do not offer specific insurance can explore coverage’s offered by regional exchanges The Act promises to give individuals health coverage by reforming the insurance markets and insurance. Individuals can compare and contrast coverage. Coverage will be of one of two packages, Family/Individual coverage and Small Business coverage. Federally-facilitated Insurance Exchange Federal government will have to be aware of insurance laws that are state specific Federally Facilitated exchanges do not have the option to regulate which health plans are purchased through the exchanges like states do States are allowed to decide which health plans they want to have participating in their exchange If plans out side of the federally facilitated exchanges offer coverage that is less-comprehensive and more affordable residents may  choose to purchase that rather than the federal The National Committee for Quality Assurance use accrediting companies to determine which health plans are qualified Residents are able to chose which insurance provider they would like to purchase from if they chose to do so All health plans within the state will be allowed to participate in the Affordable Care Act It is projected that as sicker people begin to make more claims on coverage purchased through exchanges the price for coverage will increase Consumer Assistance Programs Consumer assistance programs under the Affordable Health Care Act were implemented to help and assist consumers with filing complaints, Appeals, as well as to assist consumers in enrollment in health care coverage, and educate consumers on the rights and responsibilities. Also by law data is collected on consumer inquiries and complain as well as problems to help identify concerns with in the marketplace and strengthen enforcement in a quality improvement A ley concern with consumer assistance programs is the lack of adequate funding. Aside from the lack of adequate funding consumer assistance programs were put in place to address consumer complaints and concerns and assist consumer when enrolling in health care coverage, as this will be a fundamental necessity to expanding coverage to millions of Americans. new resources will help develop and expand programs to help consumers with health insurance questions and concerns consumer assistant programs vary from state to state but typically states are utilizing consumer assistance programs to help improve coverage expansion Future federal funding and the improvement of available resources can help states improve consumer assistance programs which deal with consumer complaints, enrollment concerns, and enrollment and coverage assistance Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan A pre-existing condition is a health or medical condition that a patient has prior to having an active insurance policy. These conditions include but are not limited to: Heart problems, Cancer, Asthma, or Kidney disease. This plan also known as PCIP provides coverage for those patients with pre-existing  conditions under a special plan. In the past patients have been denied medical insurance due to pre-existing conditions or received medical benefits but exclude pre-existing conditions. Therefore, patients have larger out of pocket costs for the medical care they really need. Currently with the changes that are being done with the healthcare reform, insurance companies are not allowed to deny coverage to patients due to a pre-existing condition. However, there is an exception with grandfathered plans which don’t benefit the patients at all. PCIP was started to help those patients who need the coverage while the reform is fully enforced. PCIP was closed due to funding could not be guaranteed. However as of 2014 the exchange plans were opened to those who need it and provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. This allows patients to obtain coverage for their medical conditions without having to pay extra premiums or meet certain guidelines in order for medical services to be considered for payment. Annual Limits Alisha In the past many health coverage plans included a lifetime dollar limit or annual limit that the healthcare plan would cover for a patients treatment and patients were required to pay all funds exceeding that limit patients with expensive healthcare would face paying costs when they exceeded their lifetime limits Coverage for Young People Young Adult Coverage is provided for dependants under the age of 26. This allows them to maintain insurance coverage through their parents. This plan is available even if the dependant gets married, has their own insurance, a student or living independently. Before the Affordable Care Act adult children would be removed from policies due to their age, school status or where they lived. Automatic enrollment Losing coverage Extended coverage Are dependents required to get parents insurance when they can get their own? The young adult coverage is not a requirement. Parents can decide if they add their children and if they continue to do so until they are 26 years of age. Some policies offer additional coverage for young adults but they need to check with their insurance carrier. The young adult does not have to be financially dependant or live with their parents in order to receive coverage. This issue was addressed to help lower the amount of uninsured individuals. They ensured that increased premiums will not exist in order to make it affordable and convenient. The Affordable act states an insurance carrier cannot increase payment or deny to add a dependant. They provided a special enrollment period in September 2010 in order for young adults to take full advantage of the changes. Grandfathered Plans According to â€Å"Healthcare.gov† (2014), â€Å"Grandfathered plans are those that were in existence on March 23, 2010 and haven’t been changed in ways that substantially cut benefits or increase costs for consumers. Insurers must notify consumers with these policies that they have a grandfathered plan.† (Grandfathered health insurance plans). These types of plans can be obtained from employer or individually (paid directly by the consumer) A key concern with this type of policy is changes that can be made such as increased premium payments. These plans are not subject to have a fixed rate or fixed increase. Individual policies do not have to cover pre-existing conditions even with the new reform law in place This plan can limit which doctors a patient can visit. There is a way around this type of insurance plan. If there is a significant change in the policy the insured individuals need to be notified. With significant change the policy may be required to drop the â€Å"Grandfathered plan† status and therefore positive changes in the insured’s coverage. Considerations were taken when making the decisions for this law. The law did not go into effect until March 2010 therefore old policies do not fall under this act. The only insurance policies that were going to be impacted are those that became effective 04/01/2010. Prevention Due to the high rise in cost and health care, Americans throughout the world were unaware and uneducated about health care prevention. Therefore, individuals had minimal knowledge how to decrease the chances of disease. Costs 75% of health care costs on chronic illnesses can be prevented 7 out of 10 deaths a year are due to illnesses that could have been prevented with the use of preventative health care The ACA helps make prevention for Americans, affordable and accessible. The act ensures that most of their health plans cover the recommended preventative services. Americans with private health insurance are able to gain access to preventative services at no cost. In March 2010 congress passed a new health legislation law, â€Å"Affordable Care Act†, in which makes health care, and preventative care services an easier and less costly way for Americans to have access to these types of services. Review of Insurance Plans The Affordable Care Act is providing health care coverage to millions of Americans. On January 1, 2014 , the health care market was open to those who wanted to sign up under the Affordable Care act. There are 5 different categories or â€Å"metal levels† of coverage in the Marketplace. According to â€Å"Marketplace Insurance Categories† (2014), Plans in each category pay different amounts of the total costs of an average person’s care. Bronze: Your health plan pays 60% on average. You pay about 40%. Silver: Your health plan pays 70% on average. You pay about 30%. Gold: Your health plan pays 80% on average. You pay about 20%. Platinum: Your health plan pays 90% on average. You pay about 10%. Catastrophic: Catastrophic coverage plans pay less than 60% of the total  average cost of care on average. They’re available only to people who are under 30 years old or have a hardship exemption. As of January 1st, 2014 most Americans had to obtain a qualifying health plan. If they did not they will face a fine. All health plans on the Marketplace can be purchased with subsidies if you qualify. Currently Plans and estimated prices for 2015 coverage will be available in early November. The Affordable Care Act wanted to provide individuals and families health care coverage. The Marketplace plans that are offered help consumers find the policies that best meet their needs. Student Health Plans Students attending college are often limited to health insurance coverage, possibly leaving students and their families with extreme costs in medical bills. Limited benefits Not all student health plans are the same High cost in medical bills Difficult to understand health insurance plans and coverage Through the ACA students have preventative coverage and consumer protections. Protections provided to students who enroll are; annual limits, medical loss ratio and notice requirement. In February 2011, a proposed regulation was issued from the HHS for students, therefore ensuring students the enroll in ACA coverage, get the health plan they need. Self-funded, Non-federal Governmental Plans Alisha A non-Federal governmental employer that provides self-funded group health plan coverage to its employees (coverage that is not provided through an insurer) may elect to exempt its plan from certain requirements of Title XXVII of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act. (CMS 2014) In the past sponsors of self-funded, non-Federal governmental plans were permitted to elect to exempt certain provisions of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act Medicaid Expansion BREE Providing states with additional federal funding to expand their Medicaid programs to cover adults under 65 with income up to 133% of the federal poverty level. So the states that have expanded Medicaid, will be able to provide free or low-cost health coverage to people whose income is below a certain level. Medicaid expansion is a voluntary action by each state. Over 15 million men, women and children will be eligible for Medicaid in State’s that participate in Medicaid Expansion. Although in the states that have not expanded on Medicaid, will leave 5.7 million people uninsured in 2016 . Currently out of the 50 states , 20 are states still have not expanded their Medicaid program. Supporters of the healthcare law believe that the Medicaid expansion will save both state and federal money while extending healthcare coverage to millions of lower-income Americans. Opponents say it is just another example of government overreach and that it is up to the states to determine whether they can afford such an expansion (â€Å"Is Medicaid Expansion Good For The States?† 2014). The Affordable Care Act is actually the reason states are being provided extra funding to expand their Medicaid programs References: About.com. (2013). Retrieved from http://patients.about.com/od/AffordableCareAct/a/Pre-Existing-Conditions-And-The-Affordable-Care-Act.htm CFDA, (N.D). Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Consumer Assistance Program Grants. Retrieved from: https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=program&mode=form&tab=core&id=a8b2f9cc8e4dee31438c7bf8cf918532 Healthcare.gov. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/pre-existing-conditions/ Healthcare.gov. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/grandfathered-plans/ Health Policy Briefs. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=84 Kaiser Family foundation, (Feb, 29, 2012). Explaining Health Care Reform: Medical Loss Ratio (MLR). Retrieved from: http://kff.org/health-reform/fact- sheet/explaining-health-care-reform-medical-loss-ratio-mlr/ Marketplace insurance categories. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/choose-a-plan/plans-categories/ Medicaid Expansion Good for the States?. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-medicaid-expansion-good-for-the-states U.S Department of Labor. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-dependentcoverage.html

Greatest Place on Earth Essay

I believe the Greatest Place on Earth is Greenville Tennessee. The time that me and my family spend there are magical. I call Greenville Tennessee the Greatest Place on Earth because of the times and the memories that has been spent and made there. The country roads are so peaceful and clean, the air is fresh and the people are super nice. There are so many things there to do and most of the things that we have found are free. There is the beautiful waterfall that is so peaceful to take the kids to play while you sit by and read a book and drift away into what I call the fantasy world. The kids will play for hours in the falls a beautiful place where my family and I love to take pictures and capture the moments of our lives. Where the waterfall has crystal clear water and the sounds from it is so peaceful and relaxing my family always chose to go to the waterfall for those very reasons. There is also a place where there is small sandy beach better known as the kids own mini personal beach where they enjoy the hot summer days of swimming, building sand castles, and playing beach volleyball with the rest of the family. The family sits back and lets the children enjoy the sun and sand while they relax in the sun with a book or listen to music as memories are made once again. The children all feel special because the small sandy beach is what they like to call their very own. Then there is what we all call outlook landing it’s an intense hike up a mountain side in the woods that will leave to tired and sweating, but well worth the hike. Once getting to the top all the stress that the world throws your way leaves and the sight is the most beautiful thing that my eyes have ever saw. The mountain is such a beautiful sight being able to see for miles and miles around, with the big rocks to set on and look out over the mountain you are able to see the three surrounding states. Packing drinking supplies and food to cook while on the mountain we set under the shelter and enjoy the view as the sun is about to set . Every season is different the fall the leaves are starting to turn beautiful shades or orange, yellow, and red the climate is starting to change as the days are getting cooler. When in the summer months the sun is bright, the birds chirp, the sound of traffic is never heard, the cars and trucks on the tiny road ways look like ants. Spring time the flowers are blooming, leaves are growing back, animals are starting to come alive, the weather is starting to warm and view is amazing while all the beautiful things are growing. Outlook Mountain is one of the places where my family and I enjoy spending time while visiting the greatest place on earth. While staying in Greenville Tennessee my family and I also spend time at a private family owned fishing lake. When spending a day at the lake the whole family gets together and sits back to fish and talks about the memories make at the lake. Nothing is better than making a fire and letting the kids chose their own sticks to make their roasted hotdogs and marshmallows for their homemade smores. The children are having the best day catching fish and taking pictures so that they are able to show how well they did on their fishing trip that day. With a fun filled day the children have dirty hands and faces to prove their great time at the lake. As the day slowly starts to end the family starts to pack up all the fishing gear to rest up for another fun filled day in the morning. Greenville Tennessee is the Greatest Place on Earth because there are so many things that we as a family love to do. When our family takes a trip to the Greatest Place on Earth we never know what the next day will have in store for us. Maybe it’s taking a trip to Dollywood, Cherokee, a day of shopping the waterfall, outlook mountain, or the fishing lake my family and I always knows that when heading to Greenville Every trip that my family and I make to Tennessee is always filled with fun and memories are always make. As our trip is near the end, we look forward to the next time that we get to visit Greenville Tennessee for more family fun. That is why Greenville Tennessee is the Greatest Place on Earth.

Chaucer’s Placement and Description of the Manciple and...

On Chaucer’s Placement and Description of the Manciple and the Reeve in the General Prologue nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the general prologue of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the manciple and the reeve are described one after the other. Given the proximity of characters such as the prioress, the friar and the monk to each other, while the parson is hundred of lines away, Chaucer clearly grouped characters not only by social standing, but by character and attitude as well. This is shown in Chaucer’s placement of the manciple and the reeve, as these two characters have similar occupations, social standing, though these are contrasted through their urban and rural viewpoints. However, each has similar attitudes towards their†¦show more content†¦The manciple lives and works in London, a business agent who deals not only with his clients, an enclave of lawyers, but also with a variety of food providers on a daily basis. His is an urban lifestyle. The reeve, on the other hand, encounters a fairly fixed group of people every day. However, these lifestyle d ifferences seem to have little effect on Chaucer’s portrayal of the similarities between the two characters. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The manciple and the reeve perform similar duties. Each cares for the needs of another of higher social status more adeptly than their superiors could do for themselves. Their most basic similarity, and the one which Chaucer highlights in most detail, is the excellence in which they perform their labors. They are each hard-working, effective, and, when compared to most of the other pilgrims on their way to Canterbury, morally sound as well. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The manciple had â€Å"maistres†¦ mo than thries ten / that were of lawe experte and curious†¦/ and yit this Manciple sette hir alle cappe! (578-9, 589)† According to Chaucer, the manciple was more skilled at his duties than even the lawyers he worked for, who were to â€Å"worthy to be stewards of rente and lond / of any lord that is in Engelonde (583-4).† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The reeve is charged with controlling much more than his lord’s foodstuffs. Indeed, â€Å"His lordes sheepe, his neet, and his dayerye, his swin, his hors and his pultrye was hoolly in