Cigna Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cigna Corporation - Essay Example CIGNA Corporation has several opportunities in its external environment, including market exchange rates, which, by being an International Corporation, it can take advantage of by getting higher earnings from regions with high exchange rates. There is also increased demand for healthcare, increased disposable income that would benefit CIGNA, ethical growth from an expanding population, and a growth in retirees who require increased levels of health care. The various threats that face CIGNA include the reduction of premiums due to decreased disposable income after the financial crisis, health care reform regulation that directs them to insure patients through using pre-existing conditions, and the global recession that has seen unemployment levels go up thus plummeting a number of premiums to be paid. The paper also evaluates internal factors that affect the operations of CIGNA Corporation, i.e. strengths and weaknesses. The strengths that are inherent in CIGNA Corporation include a s trong national network that helps build credibility, a comprehensive offering that attracts a large customer base, growing global operations that ensure less reliance on the local market, and a well-coordinated workforce that helps realize the potential of its employees. The weaknesses that CIGNA Corporation possesses includes unstable earnings in the healthcare industry, lower market share in Medicare products, a maturing/mature industry, increased competition in the industry, and uncertainty facing the industry.... The paper also evaluates internal factors that affect the operations of CIGNA Corporation, i.e. strengths and weaknesses. The strengths that are inherent in CIGNA Corporation include a strong national network that helps build credibility, a comprehensive offering that attracts a large customer base, growing global operations that ensure less reliance on the local market, and a well-coordinated workforce that helps realize the potential of its employees. The weaknesses that CIGNA Corporation possesses includes unstable earnings in the health care industry, lower market share in Medicare products, a maturing/mature industry, increased competition in the industry, and uncertainty facing the industry. The paper then performs a TOWS analysis that seeks to analyze how the corporation can leverage strengths to take opportunities, how it can use opportunities to improve weaknesses, how it can use strengths to stave off threats, and finally how they can defend themselves from threats that cou ld take advantage of their weaknesses. Four major strategies came out of this TOWS analysis including: Leveraging their market visibility to take advantage of increased demand for health care, Use ethnic growth and retiree growth to counter the lower market share in Medicare products, Use its growing international market to counter the economic slowdown in the US, Come up with strategies to retain and increase market share especially with advent of health care reform. CIGNA Corporation Business Strategy Cigna Corporation (Cigna) is a global health service company. The company offers variant insurance products under medical and accident cover throughout United States.  These services are sold through the company employees and selected groups.  Beyond, United States, the

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Assistive technology has a great impact on the lifestyles of people with physical disabilities. AT provides necessary assistance for people with disabilities in education, employment, and gaining independence for a good quality of life. Many people with physical disabilities are in need of mobile devices as well as communication devices to enhance their overall quality of life. As technology advances developers of AT devices, law makers, and rehabilitation counselors are instrumental in providing services that will close the gap and include instead of isolate people with disabilities. Impact of AT in Education â€Å"Assistive technology can be a powerful tool to help equalize learning environments for students with disabilities† (Stumbo, Martin & Hedrick, 2009, p.103). For example distance learning, online classes, and the use of the internet provide an alternative to the struggles and hardships for people who rely on mobility devices. For that reason AT devices such as computers are vital for providing communication in the educational journey of people with physical disabilities. Although distance learning and online classes are â€Å"typically not created with the intention of serving disabled students† it demonstrates an effective course of action for individuals to enhance their education (Foley & Ferri, 2012, p. 197). Acquiring the knowledge to use computers and the different AT devices, such as Ipads and smartphones at an early stage in the educational process offers the ability to keep up with the AT devices enhancements and new developments. The correlation betw een education and employment is well documented with higher education increasing the quality of employment and earnings. Stumbo et al. refer to a case study of 71 Au... ...l as Rehabilitation counselors promote autonomy and accessibility within education, the workplace, and the quality of life of people with physical disabilities. Barzegarian & Sax conducted a study of 140 professionals who graduated from San Diego State University Rehabilitation Program to determine how well graduate students who have taken a class in AT have incorporated AT device selection and referrals into their professional practice. They found that the majority of referrals for AT devices were recommended â€Å"first† to people with low-vision impairments, â€Å"second† to people with upper extremities impairments, and â€Å"third† to people who were paraplegic or quadriplegic. (pp. 381 – 383). Therefore educating and bringing awareness of AT to clients, professionals, and the community must continue to assure a good quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

Leadership †Chrysalids Essay

A leader is someone who guides, helps, or directs others. In the novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndhyam, leadership is what helps the telepathic group escape successfully and survive outside the community of Waknuk. David, Gordon and Michael’s leadership skills help all of the group members in various ways. These three characters are good leaders because they guide and direct their group to reach their goals. Firstly, when David takes on the role of being a leader, he gives precise orders, which helps their plan be successful. For example, when Michael informs David that they need to escape out of Waknuk at that very moment, David tells Petra, â€Å"Get dressed as fast as you can. Overalls. And be very quiet† (123). David is making sure Petra knows exactly what needs to be done in order for them to get out of Waknuk safely and quickly. Another example is when Michael tells David what to tell the Norms in case of an examination. David passes on the information to Petra by saying, â€Å"Do you understand that Petra? You tell them you can just make think-pictures to Rosalind and me. Nothing about Michael, or Sealand people† (155). David is reassuring that Petra understands what to say and what not to tell them because if she tells them something she’s not supposed to, their plan will be unsuccessful. Finally, when David is teaching Petra about thought shapes, he tells her, â€Å"Do it slowly and gently, as if you were making it out of cobwebs† (113). As David educates Petra, he specifically tells her how and what the thought shapes should be like, which helps Petra learn everything faster. David always has an objective in mind and it’s always reached when he tries his best to guide others. Secondly, Gordon leads his group by making sure his men are strong enough to know that they need to go to any extent until their purpose is complete. For example, when Gordon is telling his men what to do with David, he says, â€Å"Chuck him out. And if he doesn’t seem to understand that that means stay out, shoot him† (164). Gordon’s men know that they will need to go to any extent like killing David if any problems arise. Also, when all the Fringes people are getting ready to ambush the Norms, David thinks to himself, â€Å"He seemed [seems] to be dividing his men up into parties and instructing them by drawing diagrams in the bare earth† (184). Gordon tries to explain to his men carefully and completely what needs to happen, by drawing the diagrams in the bare earth. That helps them give a visual view. In addition, when everyone is getting ready to attack, David thinks, â€Å"For one thing there were standing orders from the spider-man to shoot me† (185). He knows that if he does anything foolish, Gordon’s men won’t think twice before shooting David. This shows that Gordon is a strong leader because all his men will not dare to go against his word and will make sure they go to any limit to fulfill orders given. Gordon conducts his group and makes sure anything and everything is done so the victory is his. Also Michael does everything in his power to ensure the safety of his group. Whenever Michael advises the group, he makes sure every detail is covered so there is no chance of error. Firstly, when all of the group members are trying to put together the details of what the Sealand woman says, Michael tries to figure it out by saying, â€Å"But what she seemed to me to be putting across was that she was particularly surprised to find it among†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (140-141). Michael discusses what is heard with the group. Secondly, when David, Petra and Rosalind are on the run, Michael keeps filling them in and tells them, â€Å"They’ll start to follow your tracks as soon as it’s light. Better get moving soon. I don’t know how it is in front of you, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (142-143). Michael helps his group by telling them all the information he knows. The information Michael finds out and passes onto the rest of the group, is helpful for their goal of getting out of Waknuk without getting caught. Lastly, when David, Petra and Rosalind are on the run, while Petra and Rosalind are sleeping, Michael tells David, â€Å"You mustn’t let them get hold of Rosalind or Petra – far better to kill them yourself than let that happen to them† (143). Michael ensures that David knows that it is better for them to not live than to go through the torture the norms would put them through if they were to be caught. He tells David what the best thing to do is if they are in that situation. The group reaches their goals faster when Michael keeps filling them in on what’s going on everywhere else and when he helps them with what needs to be done. In conclusion, in order for goals to be reached, a group needs strong leaders for guidance and direction. David gives precise orders as a leader, which helps everything to be done quicker and there are more chances of the plan being successful. There are times when Gordon gives strong orders, causing people following the orders to go out of their way to fulfill them. Michael is a good leader who will do everything possible to keep his group away from any danger. Good leaders possess strong leadership qualities such as guidance and direction that help to succeed in what needs to be accomplished.

The Theory Of Mind A Research Study Into Autism Spectrum...

People understand each other using cognitive skills, such as mindreading. Mindreading abilities also referred to as the theory of mind (ToM) is acknowledging that other people have mental states, such as understanding that others have desires, motives, beliefs and intentions (Hewson, 2015a). For most people this is generally an essential, undemanding skill for social interaction. Thereby, this essay will evaluate how psychology has helped to explain how people understand each other by firstly, explaining how different aspects of ToM have been studied in children. Additionally, adult mindreading will be evaluated to appreciate how people interpret other people’s behaviour. Subsequently, mindreading difficulties will be examined by exploring research into Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), indicating a link between deficits in ToM and cognitive empathy. Finally, relationship conflict will be discussed showing the cognitive processes, people use in these circumstances, which create mindreading difficulties in people who do not generally have a problem with it. An aspect of ToM is false belief. A false belief is the understanding that other people will have different beliefs to one’s own. Studies have shown that false belief develops throughout childhood. The Sally-Anne task (Hewson, 2015c) seeks to discover how false belief progresses in children. Briefly, the experimenter shows a child two puppets, Sally and Anne. Sally places a marble into a basket and leaves the room. AnneShow MoreRelatedThe Characteristics Of Autism Spectrum Disorders ( Asd )949 Words   |  4 Pages 1. What are the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? As described in the textbook, there is a broad range of characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). 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