Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Toyota Production System -Business and Marketing Strategy, Swot Analysis and Its Implementation Plan

{draw:g} Contents Executive Summary *â€Å"Toyota Service Management and Project Implementation Plan*† Report provides the complete analysis of Toyota and its Production System. The report includes the brief history about organisation and consists of a comprehensive description about Toyota Production System (TPS). Further we have analysed the Business and Marketing strategy of the Toyota and performed the â€Å"SWOT† analysis in order to understand the strengths, weaknesses of the organisation and also threats to the organisation. The information that had been gathered via various means of the overall Business functioning of Toyota has been transformed graphically into â€Å"Blueprint† that helps us to have a better picture of Toyota’s business. Blueprint of Toyota has been embedded as a major part of the report. On the basis of analysis and blueprint a project plan has been devised to implement the project in a new location. The Project plan has been developed using MS Project and report encompasses the Activity on Node Diagram (Network Diagram) and Gantt Chart to give a detail explanation of the project implementation by breaking down the implementation process into different phases. Finally the report includes financial statements that include the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow sheet to implicate the financial transactions and cost the project would imply on organisation for starting a new venture in Melbourne. The Purpose of this report is to Analyse a Service Industry, its Business and marketing strategy, develop a blueprint, devise a project plan and financial budget for successful implementation of the company in Melbourne using various statistical and organizational information available. History and Background Toyota Motor Corporation is a multinational company headquartered in Japan and it is one of the best car selling companies in the world. The company was founded in the year 1937 by a successful businessman – Mr. Kiichiro Toyoda. [1] Toyota Group is the largest group of industries in the world. Toyota Industries develops and manufactures automobiles and automobile-related products, such as vehicles, engines, car air-conditioning compressors, car electronics components and devices, and stamping dies. In the vehicle and engine businesses Toyota has achieved a top-class level of quality and productivity within the Toyota Group and is contributing to Toyota Motor Corporation's car production. 9] Toyota employs the expertise it has mainly accumulated through its automobile manufacturing business to conduct business in a variety of other fields including housing, finance, communications, GAZOO, marine, and biotechnology and afforestation. [10] {text:list-item} Toyota's management philosophy has evolved from the company's origins and has been reflected in the terms â€Å"Lean Manufacturing† and Just In Time Production, which it was instrumental in developing. The Toyota Way has four components: Long-term thinking as a basis for management decisions. A process for problem-solving. Adding value to the organization by developing its people. Recognizing that continuously solving root problems drives organizational learning. The Toyota Way incorporates the Toyota Production System. [2] {text:list-item} Toyota has long been recognised as an industry leader in manufacturing and production. Regardless of the origin, the principles, described in Toyota's management philosophy, The Toyota way, are as follows: Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term goals Create continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface Use â€Å"pull† systems to avoid overproduction Level out the workload Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time Standardized tasks are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment Use visual control so no problems are hidden Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and processes Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others 10. Develop exceptional people and teams who follow your company’s philosophy 11. Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve 12. Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation (genchi genbutsu) 13. Make decisions slowly by consensus, thoroughly considering all options; implement decisions rapidly 14. Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement [2] Business and Marketing Strategy text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:t oc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:list-item} Toyota adopted series of globalization strategies to become a formidable contender in the global automobile market from being Japan’s number one automaker. The Business strategies have evolved over the years to earmark its global development and drive through all the steam in mist of challenges. Business Strategy currently pursued by Toyota has been described in detail: Growth Strategy by region:- Operations tailored to various conditions in each region Hybrid Vehicle (HV) Strategy: The strategy is to become number 1 selling automaker in HV market. Thus motive is to increase hybrid vehicle and unit supply capacity and making HV systems smaller and lighter and thereby reducing the cost. Management Foundation Strategy*: This is a unique strategy being adopted by Toyota for self improvement. The Binding reasons for developing these strategies are improving quality, reducing cost and developing human resources. {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Toyota has been aggressively pursuin g marketing strategy to effectively implement the business strategy. Toyota’s successes are largely due to its ability to identify growth opportunities and develop marketing strategies to capture them. Firstly, they achieved greater market penetration by marketing their cars as fuel-efficient, well-built alternatives to the gas-guzzling, problem-prone American cars. Secondly, Toyota was also able to identify new opportunities for market development and spent time on product development to tap into these markets. The results of Toyota’s product development were the creation of Lexus and Scion, brands that both offered a unique line up of cars, a unique brand philosophy, and services that target the luxury and youth market. Third, in spite of their successes in capturing new markets and achieving greater market penetration, Toyota occasionally downsizes their products such as the Celica and MR2. The goal was to make difference using sophisticated, normal way while still encompassing luxuries of everyday life. Toyota adopted marketing strategies to brand their car among the identified segmented market. [8] Marketing Strategy for Youth Toyota focuses mainly on the youth market by advertising through youth-oriented media (Rolling Stone, MTV, late-night programming), creating a flashy website to highlight their brand philosophy, and sponsoring live concerts. Not only does it specifically target the young buyers, but they also simplified their sales tactics by offering no-haggle pricing, which means that Scion dealers will not be allowed to negotiate prices or pressure a potential customer into buying, and giving their customers a high degree of vehicle customization. Because of these marketing tactics, Toyota was not only able to bring in younger customers but it also encouraged Honda and Nissan to consider introducing youth-oriented cars into their line up. [7] Marketing Strategy for US Toyota and other Japanese carmakers aggressively marketed their cars to Americans as being fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly, and having better build quality than American cars. In addition, Toyota marketed their cars as being hip and fun with memorable slogans like, â€Å"you asked for it, you got it, Toyota,† and with commercials involving young Toyota drivers jumping in the air. Toyota also decided to create a new brand because they had a reputation of being a company that only offered fun and fuel efficient compact cars. Hence they decided to launch a new car with heavy emphasis towards quality customer service. They also focussed on major metropolitan cities in US in order to maximize their revenue. 8] To sum up, Toyota is a great case study on how a company should develop, identify, and evaluate market opportunities and how to develop the right products and marketing tactics to capture such markets. SWOT Analysis Toyota Motor Corporation – SWOT analysis com pany profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Toyota Motor Corporation- SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. SWOT analysis provides a study of major internal and external factors affecting Toyota Motor Corporation as well as breakdown and examination of leading product revenue streams of Toyota Motor Corporation. [4] Strengths Global organization, with a strong international position in 170 countries worldwide. High financial strength (1997, sales turnover, ? 131,511 million), sales growth of 29. 3%. Strong brand image based on quality, environmental friendly (greener), customized range. Industry leader in manufacturing and production. Maximizes profit through efficient lean manufacturing approaches (e. g. Total Quality Management) and JIT (Just in Time) manufacturing and first mover in car research and development. Excellent penetration in key markets (US, China, EMEA) and now the second largest car manufacturer in the world, surpassing Ford. Weakness Japanese car manufacturer – seen as a foreign importer. Production capacity. Toyota produces most of its cars in US and Japan whereas competitors may be more strategically located worldwide to take advantage of global efficiency gains. Some criticism has been made due to large-scale re-call made in 2005, quality issues. Opportunities Innovation -first to develop commercial mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicles (gas and electric), e. g. Prius model. Based on advanced technologies and R&D activity. With oil prices at an all time high – this investment and widening of product portfolio fits consumers looking to alternative sources of fuels away from gas guzzling cars. To expand more aggressively into new segments of the market. The launch of Aygo model by Toyota is intended to take market share in youth market. To produce cars which are more fuel efficient, have greater performance and less impact on the environment. To develop new cars which respond to social and institutional needs and wants. The development of electric cars, hybrid fuels, and components reduces the impact on the environment. Toyota’s Eco-Vehicle Assessment System (Eco-VAS) has helped in production, usage, and disposal. Continued global expansion – especially in the emerging markets e. g. China and India, Russia, where population and demand is accelerating. Threats Saturation and increased competition, intense marketing campaigns increasing competitive pressures. Shifts in the exchange rates affecting profits and cost of raw materials. Predictions of a downturn in the economy e. g. recession, will affect car purchases (especially new cars). As household budgets tighten – this could lead a decline in new car sales and possible rationalization of dealerships. Changing demographics e. g. number of large families is declining. Undermining the demand for large family cars. Changing usage – families using the car less for taking children to schools. Home deliveries. Businesses – restricting business travel (tele-conferencing). Governments encouraging alternative forms of transport – cycling and incentives to use public transport across Europe. Service Blueprint A â€Å"Services Blueprint† is a process design tool which is a flow chart of the business operations. The blueprint for Toyota has been developed using the information available from different Toyota websites. The Blueprint involves all the steps from customer placing an order to delivery of car to customer. The blueprint is explained as follows: Customer Actions: The various customer action that have been identified are customer placing an order, Checking specifications on internet and enquiring about the details of car and placed orders. Final Customer action that has been identified is customer receiving the car and documents pertaining to car. The identified Onstage customer actions are the different payment details that will be available after customer places the order and also Customer Representatives that will be answering the customers queries regarding the current status of production stage i. e. whether car is in assembly stage or the car is still in welding stage or in delivery stage. Backstage Contact Employee Action: The Different Backstage Contact Actions that have been identified are the overall manufacturing process and the delivery of car from factory. Again the manufacturing process is broken down into Building the engine, making the body i. e. Press Plant, Welding the different parts of car to the body, Painting the car and finally assembling the different sections of car together with the body. Support Process: The different Support processes that have been identified are the records of the current production status for a particular customer. The need for carrying out thorough quality check is imperative to satisfy customer satisfaction level and has been identified as a Support process that complements the manufacturing process at every stage. {draw:frame} Implementing Project Plan The report encompasses project plan for starting a new venture of Toyota in Melbourne. Project Plan is a critical part in implementation and success of project. The estimated time, cost and resources help us to identify the budget and expected duration of project. The project Plan has been designed to implement a new project for Toyota from scratch by breaking down the whole process from setting up plant to delivery of car into different stages. The project plan also includes the time that will be required for completing the different tasks. The constraints that will affect the various task at different stages has been identified and defined in the plan. Following are the relevant activity and its brief description which can be tailored to fit the needs: Conceptual: – The first phase of project is to identify the Business objectives, conceptualising a plan, assessing the place for constructing a plant, staffing requirement and the different requirement for equipments. This again can be broken down into following tasks which consists of above mentioned subtasks: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:list-item} Following is a brief overview of different activities or task with its subtasks. {draw:frame} {text:list-item} {draw:frame} Gantt Chart is a graphical representation of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. It is really useful while monitoring a project’s progress. The above Gantt chart helps us to identify the constraints and the tasks that are dependent on completion of other tasks in the overall Toyota project. Hence it helps to visualize the criticality of project and path and the success of project in Melbourne. Note: Due to Space constraint we have not been able to include the complete Gantt Chart. {text:list-item} Activity Network Diagram can be used within Toyota for detailed evaluation planning. Below is the screenshot of all major tasks identified in the project plan. {draw:frame} The screenshots attached below are of the tasks broken down into its subtask identified in the Project Plan. {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} Financial Factors of Project and Business The Financial factors play a major role in success of project. The financial factors that have been identified and will be impacting the implementation and success of project are: Changes in economic conditions affecting, and the ompetitive environment in, the automotive markets in Australia. Toyota's ability to realize production efficiencies and to implement capital expenditures at the levels and times planned by management. Political instability in the markets of Australia. Toyota's ability to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new products. Fuel shortages or interruptions in transportation systems, labour strikes, work stoppages or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in the major markets where Toyota purchases materials, components and supplies for the production of its products or where its products are produced, distributed or sold. 6] On the basis of project plan – the estimated time, resource requirement and cash flows for carrying out the various activities we have prepared Balance Sheet and Cash Flow for the whole Toyota project. The assumptions that have been made are listed below: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} On the basis of above assumption we have developed the Balance sheet at the beginning and end of year and Cash Flow statement at the end of year which is given below: Balance Sheet at the End of Year Balance Sheet at the End of Year Cash Flow at the End of Year Conclusion The Primary goal of the report is to analyse Toyota- the way business is carried out and mechanisms by which it implements different processes. The analysis carried out about its business and marketing strategies helped us to devise the overall project plan for starting a new business in Melbourne. Hence on the above basis we devised blueprint and finally prepared the financial statements. The report has taken into account the various constraints i. e. technical and financial constraints that may affect the success of project. The Project that is stated for implementation is a profitable venture. Hence the wise move will be to implement the project due to huge demand in Australian market. References http://ezinearticles. com/? The-History-of-Toyota&id=2790459 ttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Toyota http://www. toyota. co. jp/en/ir/presentation/2008/pdf/080828presen_1. pdf http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/541936 http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_ of_Toyota http://www. thefreelibrary. com/Toyota+Announces+Third+Quarter+Financial+Results+-+Net+Revenues+and†¦ -a0141766841 http://www. detnews. com/2003/autosinsider/0304/21/a01-141863. htm http://lifeinmotion. wordpress. com/2006/12/23/%E2%80%9Ctoyota-developing-strategies-for-growth%E2%80%9D/ http://www. toyota-industries. com/product/auto/ 10. http://www2. toyota. co. jp/en/business_field/ 11.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Shortage of Correctional Officers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Shortage of Correctional Officers - Essay Example This shortages could hardly accommodate the increasing number of convicted inmates. As the size of the inmate population increases at a facility, so does the number of custody staff. Variation in the inmate to custody staff is related to many factors including inmate population, facility design , security level, facility population and status of inmates at a facility. The Department are unable to hire enough correctional officers to meet its prison's needs so they often uses costly overtime hours to cover for the shortage of officers. One factor that influence the supply of correctional officers is that there are difficulties in attracting and training enough correctional officers. Although hiring more correctional officers would ease problems, the department may not fill the needs to operate its academy at full capacity. Another is shortfall of budget and plan. Based on Audits report During the first half year of 2001-02, the department spent more than 110 million for staff overtime. The budgeted amount for staff is worth $74 million but surprisingly its already $36 million more than the budgeted amount was spent for overtime. During their study they found out that hiring 3,200 staff of officers is needed to work the hours assigned as overtime to current staff. Other problems must be consider though overtime can be pleasurable to some officers b ut because excessive overtime can raise health and safety concerns, it suggests to assign academy graduates to prisons experiencing high rates of overtime. The department of Correction can give safety concerns by monitoring the amounts of overtime of an individual correctional officer. In regards to salary, based on the audit report, State Correctional Officers salary start at $2,001 a month during their six-week training period. After successful completion of training they receive $2,355 a month with in-grade raises up to $3,835. The usual work week is forty hours, but officers may be assigned to any one of three eight-hour shifts. Overtime, which may be required during emergencies, is compensated at time and a half. Federal employees start their careers at the GS-5 level, which offers a pay range of $ 1,627 to $2,115 a month. The top step usually achieved is the Senior Officer Specialist, GS_8, which ranges from $2,231- $2,901 per month. Correctional shortages at California prison can increase its supply of correctional officers by exploring opportunities to attract more qualified applicants. Make attention of the operating academy to pursue additional funding to give its full capacity. It also recommend to consider the feasibility of increasing the number of correctional officer applicants and physical capacity for training them. Maximize the use of officers by converting them to full time or ensure them that they work as close to the maximum of 2,000 hours a year if possible to fill the needs being met with overtime. Once it attract cadets to the academy than its budgeted positions, then the department should pursue funding for additional correctional officer positions it will need in order to reduce its reliance on overtime. Hiring for additional

Premier profile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Premier profile - Essay Example It will explore some background information about him, his contribution to federal-provincial relations and finally his political legacy. Rene Levesque was born in August 24, 1922 and later died in November 1, 1987. He started his career as a reporter and a journalist then later went into politics. In his political life he served as a minister of the government of Quebec (1960-1966) and was founder of the political party, Parti Quebecois. As the 23rd premier of Quebec between the periods (November 1976- October 1985) he became the first political leader since the confederation that attempted to negotiate the political independence of Quebec. Rene Levesque was born in Campbellton in New Brunswick and was brought up in New Carlisle in the province of Quebec by his parents Dominic LÃ ©vesque who was a lawyer by profession and Diane Levesque in the Gaspe Peninsula. He went to school at the seminaire de Gaspe and then later joined Saint-Charles Garnier College. From there he joined Universite Laval in Quebec City to pursue a degree in law. In 1943, LÃ ©vesque quitted his studies and left the university without completing his degree. From quitting university LÃ ©vesque went into journalism and joined the radio station called CHNC located in New Carlisle. While at the radio station LÃ ©vesque became a substitute announcer for CHRC and then later announced for CBV. His journalism career looked promising when he went to serve as a correspondent and a liaison officer for the USA army in Europe during the Second World War (Wall, 2014). During his stay in Europe, he was based in London where he made his reports through the print media and on the air waves. From there he went to work as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He again worked for CBC as a war correspondent in the Korean War. While working as a journalist he got married to Louise L’Heureux with whom he had three children with. Levesque gained fame and popularity when he started

Monday, August 12, 2019

Globalization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Globalization - Research Paper Example Although the term ‘globalization’ is widely used and assumed to be crucially important across the globe, most people are unaware of the exact meaning of this term, as they have only a scant idea about this process. As Jan Aart Scholte (2000) maintains, â€Å"globalization is a distinctive and significant feature of recent world history. Moreover, the dynamics of globalization involve several of the core forces of modern social life: rationalist knowledge, capitalist production, automated technology, and bureaucratic governance.† (Scholte, 2000, p. 3). Therefore, a critical introduction to the concept of globalization confirms that it is a vital process involving almost all levels of social system of current world, although the discussions of globalization are generally muddled, redundant, unsubstantiated, and hyped due to the context of the world today. It is fundamental to recognize that globalization as a concept refers to the compression of the world as well as the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole. Significantly, the processes and actions connected with globalization have been proceeding from the past over a long period and it is probable that it will go on to be the most engaging concept of discussion in the socio-political and economic spheres for long.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Human resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Human resource - Essay Example One such factor is the excellent performance and reward management of the company. The founders of the company abided by all the principles and produced products accordingly. The performance of the company and its progress within a short period of time has made it a nationalised company holding the majority portion of the market share. Current Performance and Reward Management practises at Innocent Performance management is an important cornerstone in the Human Resource practises of an organization (Smither and London, 2009). It is all about measuring the performances of the employees doing their jobs and designing and implementing systems in order to strengthen the performance standards which have been set. It starts with measuring the daily operational performances of the employees. An organization should have a clear understanding about the kind of job for which they are hiring the employees. Based on that the training should be provided and finally the performances of the employe es should be measured. Performance management involves partnership agreement with the employees or the team of employees in order to increase their level of involvement in the organization (Cardy and Leonard, 2011). Moreover the future improvement in the performance of an organization needs the assessment of the past and the present performance. Every section of activities like providing feedback, coordinating with the employees to solve the problems related to their decreased performance, developing improved performance level etc play an important role in performance management. The method of evaluating the performance of a particular employee is known as the performance appraisal. It is a part of the career development and involves review of the performances of the employees

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights With Information Assurance Research Paper

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights With Information Assurance - Research Paper Example Thus, information assurance was given birth as a response to the threat of hacking and stealing vital information, especially data from particular high-profile government or institution. The definitions and practices pertaining to information assurance, on the other hand, are multifaceted and multifarious. Like the complicated Web and its laws, if there are any, the information assurance is an intricate field of human knowledge. This paper discusses the numerous and various definitions of the concept called information assurance (hereinafter IA). It also examines the security services prominent in the information assurance. Of Definitions There are numerous definitions or categorization to the concept of â€Å"information assurance.† Most of these definitions are defined or categorized by various U.S. government institutions such as the U.S. Air Force, the National Defense University, the Pentagon, among other institutions. The U.S. Air Force, for one, categorizes the term inf ormation assurance as a representation of â€Å"measures to protect friendly information systems by preserving the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the systems and the information contained within the systems† (as cited in Curts & Campbell, 2002, pp. 1-2). What is peculiar in this definition of IA is the description of the information systems as something friendly. ... (The emphasis of Curts and Campbell’s IA is on the protection through preservation.) On the one hand, the Pentagon’s Office of the Secretary of Defense categorizes IA in this fashion: â€Å"Informational assurance is the component of information operations that assures the Department of Defense’s operational readiness by providing for the continuous availability and reliability of information systems and networks† (as cited in Curts & Campbell, 2002, p. 2). Here, the definition of the phrase â€Å"information assurance† centers on, as the phrase implies, the assurance of readiness via the provision of availability and reliability of information systems or networks. In contrast to the U.S. Air Force’s, the Pentagon views IA as an assurance -- not as a protection of authenticity -- for availability and reliability of the systems and/or networks. Further, Pentagon’s concept of information assurance is contextualized -- that is, the praxis of IA largely belongs to certain operational activities or transactions by its Department of Defense. The National Defense University (NDU), on the other hand, describes IA as â€Å"information operations (IO) that protect and defend information systems by ensuring their integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation† (as cited in Curts & Campbell, 2002, p. 2). Like the Pentagon’s IA, NDU’s information assurance is synonymous or attributed to the information operations. This similarity is grounded on the fact that both institutions, by nature of their office or function, are military in orientation. But unlike the Pentagon’s, IA as outlined by the National Defense University is perceived in terms of protecting and defending the systems or networks through ensuring or ascertaining not only their CIA but

Friday, August 9, 2019

Discussion and reply to a discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion and reply to a discussion - Essay Example The family's capacity to deal with these challenges is determined by the family's patterns of communication, problem-solving skills, degree of cohesion within the family, interfacing with the external world, and conflict resolution abilities. According to the literature on the topic, the involvement of families in critical care settings has a positive effect on the effective service to the needs of families and patients during a medical crisis. "The challenges for the critical care nurse are to (1) understand how the medical crisis affects family functioning and dynamics, (2) understand the emotional intensity often experienced by families, and (3) determine the appropriate level of family involvement in the patient's holistic care during the hospitalization." (Leon and Knapp, 2008, p 256). Therefore, family nursing is an essential reality of the health care system of the day and the importance of holistic nursing cannot be ignored by the schools of nursing.