Eduardo Souto de Moura, A Portfolio of Selected Works

War Photographer by Nachtwey Book Report/Review Example

Essays on War Photographer by Nachtwey Book Report/Review The paper "War Photographer by Nachtwey" is a good example of a book review on visual arts and film studies. This is a book that is written on a particular photographer who takes photographs of war scenes. The reading is all about the effects of war on society. This can be well attributed to the fact that the writer presents the many photographs that the photographer takes on various war scenes. The photographs are the clear implications of pain and suffering among the victims. The writer thinks that it is very crucial if an action was taken in order to end the raging wars. This, in regard to him, would assist him in the reduction of the various horrible cases covered by the photographer. The writer emphasizes his implications by ensuring that there are as many photographs of the war scenes as possible (Nachtwey) Among the photographs presented, there is a photograph of an individual with serious bruises in the face. He has a very irregular facial texture due to a cause that is proposed said to be fire burns. These fire burns were a result of war where he was set on fire inside a house. This tries to indicate the intensity of the effects of the wars. The [photograph indicates that the individual is recovering from the tragic bruises. However, the photograph also indicates that the bruises are recovering poorly. This is a possibility of poor medical attention among victims of war (Nachtwey)This in general highlights the need for the required measures to be taken to stop wars. It also indicates the courageousness of the photographer. He goes to astonishing heights to take photographs that uncover various evils caused by wear that have to be stopped immediately (Nachtwey)

Analysis of Tata Nano in India-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Analyse the Initial Failure of Tata nano In Indian Market. Answer: This project is about the initial failure of the Tata Nano project in India. Tata Nano is a car, the invention by Ratan Tata for the middle class families. The car is a five-seater, four-wheeler and comes at an affordable price in the country. In its initial days there have been reports of the car catching fire which affected the brand. Data has been sourced from the Tata Nano project in India, an invention of a four wheeler at low cost by Ratan Tata The company faced problems that were political in nature related to the shift in location of the plant, which led to delay in the production. Inflation was another reason that led to the rise in the prices of the raw materials required for manufacture of the car (Bhasin 2017). The report can be found at https://www.iosrjournals.org/. The main threat was that the people were looking for an alternative, as this car could not be used for driving long distances due to the engine cc being low. The Tata Nano has an indirect competitor, which are the motorcycles. Nano was proving to be unreliable due to all the technical glitches it was suffering from. This led to the people shifting to a cost effective solution, which affected the sales of the Nano car (Aschmoneit and Janevska 2013). The positioning attributes also caused the failure of the brand in the market. The car was promoted initially as a replacement for two wheelers. It was stated to be the cheapest car but this term was not used in absolute word meaning, rather it showed the relative price of Nano to the other cars that were available in the market (iosrjournals.org 2017). All together, the production delays, the product attributes along with economic crisis, the political controversies and the failure to in selection of the right market segment led to the initial failure of the Tata Nano project in India. References Aschmoneit, M. and Janevska, D., 2013. Closing the gap between frugal and reverse innovation: lessons learned from the case of the Tata Nano. Bhasin, H. (2017). Swot Analysis of Tata Nano and why it failed to deliver. [online] Marketing91. Available at: https://www.marketing91.com/swot-tata-nano-failed-deliver/ [Accessed 3 Aug. 2017]. iosrjournals.org (2017). Tata Nano: A Positioning Disaster. [online] https://www.iosrjournals.org/. Available at: https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/ies-mcrc-icscm/Part%205/47.pdf [Accessed 3 Aug. 2017].

Rebirth Review Essay Example

Rebirth Review Paper Essay on Rebirth Lightning. Homeland, take our report: IS ZAPORIZHZHYA IRON Leonid Brezhnev, Revival Poetic and remarkably begins the second book of the trilogy Brezhnevs Renaissance: The grass has already managed to grow through iron and rubble from afar came howling feral dogs and were around and hung in ruins Ravenholdt socket charred on branches of trees. However, unfortunately, almost all at once lyrical salvo comes to naught, and the first half of the memoirs Revival read the hard, tedious and absolutely do not want. Written in such a way as, probably, would have to be written instructions on drawing up guidelines for instructions on drawing up instructions, this book at first, strongly impressed me by how she is not interested and simply unreadable. Which can not be said of the read not so long ago. Bright dissonance is puzzling. After all, they wrote the secretary general of the journalists, the acknowledged masters of the pen. So Revival has created a Anatol Agranovskiy (which is even credited with creating the entire trilogy). So why is it so bad? A bad there? We will write a custom essay sample on Rebirth Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rebirth Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rebirth Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The fact is that the revival is dedicated to the recovery of the domestic industrial sector in the early postwar years. The scale of the devastation is staggering, the magnitude of what you need to do is seem unreal: Sisyphean toil, the Augean stables. Therefore, it is said about them in the book without undue sentimentality, on the case, dry and laconic, tough. However, it seems that it is necessary to overcome the first half of this short book (62 pp.), And when will be overcome first, the most difficult years of recovery, then there will be the ease of style, melodiousness; a place amusing tales. Unexpectedly for himself, discovered that the Revival, contrary to the expectations, reading a fascinating and useful. Perhaps for this need to read it today? When the book does not prevail order when it looks anachronistic document of the era? Perceive what is written, not the age in which you read the book, distracting you. Firstly, as I said above the book conveys a sense of the enormous scale and scope of the industrial sector of the state. Suddenly, as if weights on the head, you Blindside what the universe is, what is the mechanism of the Titans, turns to provide the framework under which the state exists. Secondly, as it does not apply to the person Brezhnev, but we can not be treated with respect for the tremendous work that has been entrusted to a person being at the office, before which those objectives were set. Third, the Revival is quite good production novel, in which there is a place and a description of the technology, and the introduction of the control unit, and in which the well is shown that for the whole system are ordinary people with their weaknesses. Fourth, in the book a strong emotional charge. The fact that it was necessary as a means of propaganda initially (I think), now seen more in a more pure emotional plane. It is impossible not to enjoy lightning of cast iron, not to do from the first ingot emerging from the steel-rolling plant a monument, coming into contact through the word with the bit of the feelings and emotions that have been experienced by people who, literally, with their hands raise the dead giant blast furnaces , March, power to In general, I liked the book Read the book: ..

Material Selection and Process Office Chair

Introduction It has been argued that the success of a product depends heavily on its industrial design through visual and emotional appeal to the customer. This conclusion can be drawn based on the role of technical design which in turn relies on sound information on material (Ashby and Johnson 56). For this reason the material used in production of a product is very essential to the usefulness and effectiveness of the end product.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Data on materials can be found from a wide variety of sources including data sheets from material suppliers. Other sources of data included those tabulated in hand books. These data sheets are essential as they provide a source of vital information that needs to be considered in technical design (Ashby and Johnson 56). This information includes engineering data such as str ess analysis, thermal analysis, methods fro optimization and simulation. In addition to such data there is the role of sophisticated software tools that can be used in the design process. The design process is crucial to avoid issues related to poor design interface. For example, a TV switch so cleverly integrated into the body panel it can not be located with ease, or a tap designed too smooth for soapy fingers to turn, etc (Ashby and Johnson 56). A well designed product on the other hand will not only work well but will be easy to work with, thus user friendly. It is essential therefore to take into consideration the user friendliness of a product during design to improve the potential success of the product. In this report the product being considered for design is an office chair. As it has been established that material selection is crucial to this process, the report will concern itself with making appropriate decisions for material selection. It is hoped that by the end of th e report the major considerations will be understood and some potential candidates identified for the design of an office chair. Ergonomics Ergonomics is a discipline that is concerned with the study of work performance with special emphasis placed on worker safety and performance. This discipline developed form the interests of experts in various fields including medicine, physiology and engineering. This came following the realization that many work related injuries and diseases could be avoided through improvements in design of equipment and the workspace (Jacobs 5). The study of ergonomics is crucial as it is through such improvements that both the organization and individual can maximize performance and results (Jacobs 18). It has already been established that prevention of work related injuries is far cheaper than the treatment and potential litigation that may arise from negligence.Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get yo ur first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Within an organization the prevention of accidents and disability management are the responsibility of all members of the organization. Such initiatives success relies entirely on the continuous support and commitment of the staff and and employers (Jacobs 278). This may be at times difficult given that occupational therapists may not be conversant with business and management concerns such as cost benefit analysis. For this reason it has been suggested that for improved acceptance it is important to consider business terms when preparing a proposal for ergonomic adjustments. Common Issues with Poor Chair Design It is not uncommon to receive complaints from workers whose duties require them to be seated for long hours. It is sometimes difficult to establish whether the chair itself is poorly designed or poorly suited for the individual. More often than not the case is the chair is not suited for the individual raising the question of a djustments (Jacobs 197). A poorly designed ergonomic chair design will be difficult to adjust and has poor access to features for height, inclination, a back rest and appropriate lumbar support (Jacobs 199). As opposed to this a good seat design will thus provide stability through the buttocks via the seat pan and the to the back via the back rest. In addition to this it may necessary to provide the seated individual easy movement while seated to allow to the user shift easily to various positions. There are three basic chair designs to consider when selecting an appropriate office chair. The first design is the fixed posture chair. This design tends to lock the user in an ‘ideal’ position by static posture settings. Alternatively the chair can be designed using a dynamic chair design which allows the user to move freely. These allow relatively easy adjustments in the features such as the backrest and in movement. The last option is the combination chair which allow the user to lock the chair in a suitable position as well as automatic changes (Jacobs 199). Regardless of the design selected it is crucial that the chair provide a satisfactory experience to the user. The Role of Material in Form The material selected plays a major role in the final form of the end product. This relationship is most visible in the case of architecture. The Eiffel tower, Parthenon and Golden gate bridge are well known symbols of specific ages expressing the possibilities using varied materials (Ashby and Johnson 99). However, a change in material would render the artistic concept of the architect useless and possibly destroy the renown of these well known structures.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This direct link arises due to the forces that materials possess thus suggesting varied capabilities with each new mate rial. Consideration must be given to the varied needs of the material in question during design to ensure the safety and suitability of the completed product. Due to this it has commonly been quoted that ‘form follows material’ (Ashby and Johnson 101). Though chairs must meet certain mechanical constraints these are not fixed thus allowing choice in material and form of the completed chair. That being said it is clear to see that the form desired will have some effect on the choice of material. In relation to form it is also essential to consider the organizational theme where possible. It is common for some organizations to use a theme in their premises to improve their competitive position. Such themes include sporting themes, outdoor themes that are designed to attract clientà ¨le (Stephenson and Thurman 119). In such cases it will be essential to consider selection of a material that can be customized to suit the existing theme. In relation to the form of material it is essential to consider several physical factors such as the size, shape and weight of the desired material (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 94). This is useful as the size is relative to the available space on the site. Thus an appropriate material will allow the company to provide an adequate number of seats within the required space. Further in relation to the shape is the complexity required to shape the material to the required dimensions. In addition to this consideration must be made to account for the mechanical factors in relation to the material in question. This should be done because different materials will reflect varied mechanical considerations. Some mechanical considerations worth mentioning at this point include strength, ductility, modulus, fatigue strength and creep (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). In addition to this it is also vital to consider environmental factors and their effect on these mechanical factors. One concerned with designing a pr oduct will typically consider the static strength needs of the product. In addition to this it is essential to know whether the product will experience a static or dynamic load and what are the parameters expected. It will also be important to consider the products ability to cope with wear and tear and if there is a need to incorporate additional material to reduce wear and tear (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). Other factors in relation to material selection include processing and fabricating factors. These influence the ability or responsiveness of the material with regard to forming a shape. This is most commonly achieved by casting and deformation procedures (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95).Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Based on these factors it will be possible to assess whether the design can easily be achieved and manufactured. These factors will be useful in determination of potential production rates of the completed product. Through these factors it can be determined whether the desired quality level can be attained. Other essential factors include the life of components and availability. The components selected are likely to be affected by environmental factors such as corrosion and oxidation which need to be considered when selecting an appropriate material. It has been reported that performance of materials based on these properties is very difficult to predict thus it is important to make such consideration beforehand (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 95). Further, there is the question of availability of the preferred material. In some cases a material may be very well suited for a particular design but unavailable in the desired quantities. In such cases the selection of the material may have been done after identification of the first suitable material. This suggests that it is better to go through a whole range of materials while making a selection to allow for the identification of several options (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). Another consideration to make when selecting material for an office chair is the personality of the product. This is best described by the color, texture, feel and form of the end product (Ashby and Johnson 116). These aspects are useful in describing the perception that will be aroused on observing the product and can be seen in the use of terms such as ‘rugged’, ‘feminine’, etc. This aspect will be heavily influenced by the nature of business the organization is engaging on the premises. Types of Design In selecting material for a product it is also essential to consider the type of design in question. An original design is an approach that requires the creation of a working principle from scratc h (Ashby 115). In such cases it is common for the designer to be working with an entirely new concept such as the ball point pen, compact disk, etc. In such a case the designer has no choice but to make decisions based on tests carried out and individual design decisions (Ashby 2002, 15). In such cases the designer is free to experiment with new materials that can offer unique combination of properties that enhance the originality of the design. Another type of design the developmental or adaptive design that involves an existing concept and making some incremental improvements to the product. In the case where this is the approach used to design the chair in question it is possible to perform experiments with various existing materials. New materials may not necessarily be appropriate as the new product need not necessarily cost much more than its predecessor (Ashby 2002,16). In many cases this approach has been the force behind major improvements in product performance. Another ap proach to design that will affect the selection of material is the variant concept of design. In this case the objective of the design process would be to alter the colors, size or details of the product without making any significant changes to the function (Ashby 16). In some cases such as change of scale the designer may change the material due to changes in performance requirements. It has been noted in other variant design efforts that a change in material can provide significant improvements in performance. For example, in the use of fiber glass to design smaller boats (Ashby 2002, 16). Selection Procedures Having mentioned some of the important factors to consider in selecting an appropriate material to use the report will now briefly discuss procedures to use when making a selection. One approach is the use of screening to filter from a list of possible materials (Ashby 2009, 167). In this approach the constraints act as gates and if satisfied the material passes or else it is excluded. An example ,of a constraint is, ‘the chair must allow the user adjust height and inclinations’. Based on this therefore only materials that can be attached with components that handle such actions can be considered for the final product (Ashby 2009, 167). After completing the screening process what remains is a list of potentially useful materials. To achieve this you need to have an excellence criteria which can be used to rank the materials (Ashby 2009, 167). This can be based on what may be defined as objectives. Performance is sometimes limited by a single property or through a combination of properties. Based on this procedure the best candidate will be the material that satisfies the greatest number of objectives. Having established the best candidate it is also useful to provide some documentation on the material. This will include its potential weaknesses, reputation, track record, etc (Ashby 2009, 170). This documentation typically is in the form o f some graphical material and case studies on the material. In addition to this there may be some information on its corrosion behavior in specific environments. Other useful information to include will be the price and availability of the material and any environmental warnings in relations to its use. In the text above the methods of selection have focused on a manual approach to selecting the appropriate material to use. This approach to selection is useful when the constraints are not that many and thus the process is easily completed. However, when the set of constraints is long a more apt solution maybe the use of computer aided selection (Ashby 2009, 184). This software comes with a database of records arranged in a hierarchical manner. Every record in the database contains data relating to properties of the material, and some pictorial data and sources of reference for the material. Through this scheme the data is interrogated using a search engine that provides the user sys tematically arranged search interfaces. Other Considerations Though the report has already mentioned that cost is an important consideration in the selection of an appropriate material for an office chair, there are other cost related factors that may need to be kept in mind. For example the constraint the budget places on the entire process. Through the screening process it is possible several options may be identified. Despite of this it is necessary to keep in mind that the company has a budget for the entire activity and as such the best material may not be suitable for the budgetary requirements (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). In addition to this there are other hidden costs that need to be considered in addition to the cost of the material. As mentioned earlier in the report the selection of material must take into consideration the additional effort to produce the desired product from the material (Mital, Desai, Subramaniam and Mital 96). Such costs include discrete costs such as fabrication costs. These discrete costs are likely to make major adjustments in the final figures thus resulting in selection of an alternative material. An important consideration that has been ignored through the report but is essential nonetheless is the purpose of the product. In this case the product is an office chair but the purpose is not clearly defined. Where the chair is for the computer operator it can be expected that whereas quality is essential cost will be also very crucial in choosing the material. However, if the seat was to be designed for the CEO of a huge multi national cost may not be a factor and thus the aspect of prestige may be considered. In the design of such a chair quality will be given the highest priority in comparison to all other factors. Based on this approach cost becomes a less crucial factor and quality becomes the dominant requirement (Kutz 1253). Having provided some information on possible and useful considerations when selecti ng the materials to use in designing an office chair, the report will conclude the report. Conclusion In this report the discussion presented was focused on the considerations to make in selecting material for building an office chair. The report began by mentioning the importance of design and its role in the success of the end product. In this regard it was noted that a good design does not just consider the physical components but also the materials used in construction of the end product. In a similar fashion the report continues to provide a brief description on ergonomics and its role in the workplace. It is observed that through a well designed and efficient workplace the degree of injury and disease can be reduced significantly. Further it is noted that through appropriate ergonomic design the cost of potential litigation can be significantly reduced. Therefore it would appear that the time taken in selecting an appropriate material is useful as it can directly influence the productivity of the organization. The report continues to provide information that can assist in the selection of appropriate material to be used to accomplish the design process. Further the report provides some of the basic issues that arise in the case of office chairs as reported by the users. In line with this the report mentions the role of the selected material in the form of the final product. It is noted that based on a selection of material there specific constraints that the user is bound to based upon the chosen material. Because of this above position the report concludes that material has a strong influence on the form of the final product. It is also mentioned that the type of design in this case will also influence the material selection made. In addition to this the report also touches briefly on other considerations such as prestige. In line with this it was noted that costs such as those associated with crafting the material to the desired shape need to be consid ered so as not to over step the budget. Lastly it was noted that the budget will influence the choice of material in terms of expected quantity as well. It is hoped that by going through these requirements it is possible to make a suitable choice for the production of the office chair. Works Cited Ashby, M. F. Materials Selection in Mechanical Design. Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005. Print. Ashby, M. F. Materials and the environment: Eco-informed material choice. Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2009, Print. Ashby, Mike, and Kara Johnson. Materials and Design: the art and science of material selection in product design. Woburn: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. Print. Jacobs, Karen. Ergonomics for Therapists. Philadelphia: Mosby Inc, 2008. Print. Kutz, Myer. Handbook of Materials Selection. New York: John Wiley Sons Inc, 2002. Print. Mital, Anil, Anoop Desai, Anand Subramanian, and Aashi Mital. Product Development: a structured approach to customer product development,design a nd manufacture. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008. Print. Stephenson, James, and Courtney Thurman. Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide. Dubuque: Entrepreneur Media Inc, 2007. Print. This assessment on Material Selection and Process: Office Chair was written and submitted by user Eli W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Effective Study Skills Joe Student

Effective Study Skills Joe Student Explaining Effective Study SkillsMr. Student, it has been brought to my attention that you believe that you can work full-time at Domino's and pursue an online degree in Business Management without modifying your study habits that you used in high school. If this is in fact your intention; please allow me to offer you some insight.Online/Distance learning is "No Joke", Joe. I am actually taking that same course that you have registered for right now. I can assure you that those old tricks from high school are not going to be sufficient enough for distance learning.You may be used to sitting in a conventional class room where you would listen to your teacher give blocks of instruction as he/she summarized the chapter for the class while you took notes. You are probably used to getting together with study groups as well. You may even be used to having your questions answered on the spot by your teachers and class mates.Mesa Distance Learning ProgramI know that you are used to having yo ur books on hand to flip through the pages for quick reference.Online/Distance learning is quite the opposite of what you are used to from high school. For instance, you will never actually meet your Instructor or class mates. Every thing you do is via the internet/computer to include your books. No one is at class at the same time, so you will never get quick/on the spot answers for any of your questions. You will have to read all your material for assignments well enough in advance that you will have ample time to wait for an answer to any questions you may have pertaining to an assignment. There are no study groups either; you are expected to understand and do your own work, which means that you will...

Hollow Victory, On the Brink of the Revolution Essay

Hollow Victory, On the Brink of the Revolution - Essay Example In addition, 13 million from among the Allied powers were wounded compared to 8.3 million from among the Central Powers. The Allied powers also reported 4 million either missing or held as prisoners of war, while the Central Powers reported 3.6 million. In total the Allied powers suffered 22 million casualties altogether compared to 15 million for the Central Powers. The total death toll for the First World War was 8.5 million, and total casualties were 37 million (History Learning Site, 2012). Human suffering during the First World War was not limited to soldiers however. According to Tucker (2005), the consequences for the First World War were â€Å"far-reaching† (p. xxix). For instance approximately 750,000 German civilians perished as â€Å"a result of the British naval blockade† (Tucker, 2005, p. xxix). World War I also marked the first case of genocide during the 20th century. This case of genocide was inflicted by the Ottoman Empire against Armenia. The Ottoman E mpire murdered 1.5 million men, women and children in Armenia (United States of America, Congressional Record, 2001). The financial consequences of the First World War were also enormous. Total war expenditures were 82 billion US Dollars which is equivalent to 209 billion US dollars today (Hardach, 1981). The high expenditure is attributed to two main reasons. First, the power struggles emerging in Europe left all European powers willing to pledge all assets in order to emerge the victors during the First World War. Secondly, the First World War represented the first major conflict of the industrialized world. Thus, technological advances offered both sides unprecedented machinery and artillery. Naturally, both sides were compelled to invest in more sophisticated weaponry and machinery if they were to have any chance of succeeding against the enemy (Oliver & Aldcroft, 2007). According to Thompson (1983) Churchill’s eventual analysis of the First World War in the aftermath of the Second World War, was that the First World War set in motion significant cost for mankind. As the first part of the two Great Wars, the First World War saw the political and financial destruction of Europe and can be credited with given birth to Communism in the Soviet Union. According to Thompson (1983), in looking back on the First World War, Churchill noted that: Events passed very largely outside the scope of conscious choice. Governments and individuals conformed to the rhythm of the tragedy, and swayed and staggered forward in helpless violence, slaughtering and squandering on ever-increasing scales, till injuries were wrought to the structure of human society which a century will not efface, and which may conceivable prove fatal to the present civilization (p. 195). Thus the cost of the First World War, from Churchill’s perspective was timeless and can be measured politically, socially and economically. Assignment 2: On the Brink of Revolution Afrikistan is a count ry in North Africa with a disproportionately large youth population. Afrikistan’s dictator has been in power for upward of thirty years. Afrikistan’s primary source of income is derived from oil reserves which are owned by the State. Increasing literacy and access to social and news media via the internet have rendered Afrikistan’s youth profoundly aware of their diminished returns and their dictator’

Strategic Management SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Management SLP - Essay Example that the overreliance on the artificial intelligence of computers costs individual’s an arm and leg as far as thinking capacity is concerned (2015). Instead of lifting human thinking ability, the smart software slowly makes us dumb. The gradual process that traces from the industrial revolution is effective in its mission. Carr (2015) asserts that computers have become decision-makers and conduct an analysis that human people are not capable of doing in a short duration. I strongly concur with the author on this opinion. It is true that every human thinking is experiencing overshadowing by the existence of computer software applications. For example, it is challenging to perform simple statistical analysis such as standard deviations, mean, average and others. It is because of the knowledge that software that only requires me to feed the figures and exist. The software minimizes the workload that would otherwise be undertaken manually. Also, I think that automation in the manufacturing fields makes workers in such plants less efficient. For instance, an automated production process only requires an individual to sit in front of a screen and monitor the parameters such as pressure levels, temperatures, and opening valves at intervals. The challenge that remains is that the workers may not understand the operations if the automated machines stall. Since the workers are not exposed to handling the actual valves and pressure gauges, they may not have the capacity to think swiftly and save the situation. The increasing trends in plant accidents globally are a better manifest of automation increasing human dumbness. Carr continues with his agenda in discrediting the overreliance on technology with his arguably challenging articles. In his article â€Å"The Shallows: What Internet is Doing to Our Brains,† the author highlights that search engines such as Google reduce Individuals cognitive abilities. I am of the same opinion because in my experience as a student, I

The World History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The World History - Essay Example The chapter also discusses the formation of the fresh empires of Eurasia such as the Ottoman and the Russian Empires. This was the basis for the fall of the new world as manifested in chapter 18. It was also a basis for the microbial changes that Eurasia experienced especially with the advent of plagues and diseases that were previously unknown. Chapter 16 describes the new empires that came into being in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These empires were divided into both maritime such as Portugal, Asia and Dutch and land empires such as China, Ottomans, and India. America also experienced novel land empires and they worked towards ensuring their success. These efforts by the Americans had a big impact on the world at large and specifically on matters of trade. This set a framework for the ecological revolution that took place in these centuries. For instance, people were able to move labor across the globe as analyzed in chapter 17. Others migrated to new places where they settled. People were also able to reclaim new lands and discover new sources of energy. Culturally, people were able to interact and exchange with one another various plants and animals that were not existent in the other cultures. Some of these were coffee, tea, maize, and livestock. The formation of the new world also gave rise to a change in the religious views of the people. Christianity was introduced in the delicate empires of Africa as indicated in chapter 18. Buddhism and Islam also spread to other nations such as Japan and China.

Strategic analysis of FedEx

Strategic analysis of FedEx This report analysis the strategic capability of federal express and suggests ways in which the organisation might use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. This work is done to fulfil the requirements for the MSc module International management under the observation of tutor Mr.Robert. First the report explains an outline of the organization including the company performance, vision and mission, values. Then about the key competitors and examines the external and internal business environment of the company (SWOT analysis). Then it analyses FedEx corporation key resources and competences, capabilities for competitive advantage and critical success factors. Then it comes to conclusion about the core competences to create opportunities in new arenas.Finaly it identifies the problem faced by FedEx and gives recommendations for the future developments. FedEx is a multinational company which represents the widest range of supply chain, transportation and business related information services. It provides services to more than 220 countries and territories, including every address in the United States. FORTUNE magazine declared that FedEx has ranked No. 13 among Worlds Most Admired Companies 2010. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. The research method which I used in this report is qualitative method. For this I focused on management books written by authors like David Boddy, Johnson et al, John R. Schermerhorn and Tim Hannagan. I also reviewed research methods book written by Saunders et al, to understand structure of a scientific article and writing style. Overall I used secondary data to analyze the strategic capabilities of FedEx to enter new arenas. The secondary data are books, scientific journals and webpages. According to this analysis FedEx capabilities for competitive advantage are innovation, loyal customers and technology and communication. This report also identifies the companys critical successes factors which are speed and efficiency, innovation and global expansion. Finally this report concludes with FedEx core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. They are innovation, loyalty, technology and communication, speed and efficiency. Introduction: This work is done to fulfil the requirements for the MSc module International management under the observation of tutor Mr.Robert. Our tutor gave us five options and asked us to choose one. I was really interested in analysing strategic capabilities and core competences. So I have chosen the topic three that is Analysing the strategic capability of an organisation of my choice and Suggesting ways in which the organisation might use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas. Since my husband is working in FedEx and it is a multinational company I started doing analysis on this company. I have chosen this topic because in todays hypercompetitive business world the competition is direct and aggressive. Competitive advantages are often imitative. So firms should analyze their internal resources, capabilities and external environment to expertise core competences. They are the strong points that a firm extremely does well in contrast with competitor. The core competences are the capabilities which should be rare, costly to imitate and non- substitutable. Strategic capability is the ability of a company to sustain and to achieve long term goals. Strategic capabilities are the abilities to perform at the level required to survive and prosper, and includes resources and competence (Johnson et al.2006). Research questions: This project report will analyze what are the strategic capabilities Of FedEx and how to use its core competences to create opportunities in new arenas? This question is sub divided as what is strategy? What are capabilities? What is core competence? What is the SWOT analysis for FedEx Corporation? Research objectives: This project report will fulfill the following research objectives. To identify the strategic capabilities of FedEx based on SWOT analysis and to describe how to use its core competence to create opportunities in new arenas. Company profile: FedEx is a multinational company which represents the widest range of supply chain, transportation and business related information services. FedEx was started as Federal Express Corporation in 1971, by 28-year-old Frederick W. Smith. Smith, a former Marine pilot identified tremendous difficulty in getting packages and other airfreight delivered within one to two days while operating his new firm. This problem driven him to do the required research for resolving the ineffective delivery system. Thus, the idea for Federal Express was born: a company that transformed global business practices and now defines promptness and trustworthiness. The corporation was created in 1998 as FDX Corporation and became FedEx Corporation in January 2000. FedEx motivates its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain unconditionally, absolutely committed on safety, on ethical standards and professional standards for the needs of their customers and communities. It provides services to more t han 220 countries and territories, including every address in the United States. FORTUNE magazine declared that FedEx has ranked No. 13 among Worlds Most Admired Companies 2010. This was based on input from executives, directors and financial analysts worldwide. FedEx Corporation delivers strategic path and combined financial tasks for the operating companies that compete jointly under the FedEx name worldwide: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx Supply Chain and FedEx Services. FedEx Corporation has visibly outlined goals and strategies for the future. Headquarters for FedEx is Memphis, Tennessee, USA (FedEx, n.d) Vision and mission: The complete history of FedEx Company is based on a particular vision: to make it possible for people and businesses to connect and collaborate with each other, no matter where they are in the world. FedEx puts its people first because they are their most important assets through which they achieve their business goals. The Corporate philosophy is briefly stated as people-service-profit. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. Customer necessities will be met in the highest quality mode suitable to each market segment served. FedEx will endeavor to develop mutually fulfilling relationships with its employees, allies and suppliers. Safety will be the first concern in all actions. (FedEx, 2010) Values: People: They value their people and promote diversity in their workplace and in their way of thinking. Service: Their absolutely, positively spirit puts their customers at the heart of everything they do. Innovation: They invent and inspire the services and technologies that improve the way they work and live. Integrity: They manage the operations, finances and services with honesty, efficiency and reliability. Responsibility: They defend safe and healthy environments for the communities in which they live and work. Loyalty: The firm earns the respect and confidence of their FedEx people, customers and investors every day, in everything they do. (FedEx ,2010). Corporate performance: FedEx was started as Federal Express Corporation in 1971. In 1975 it gained $43.5 million in sales. In 1985 FedEx had chosen an important step to expand its services to Europe by opening a European hub at the Brussels airport. Due to this act Revenue reached $2 billion in 1985. In 1994 FedEx was the first international express cargo carrier to receive system-wide ISO 9001 certification. FedEx is holding the assurance of its customers through its logistical capabilities, intensifying the carrying capacity of its fleet of over 675 fuel-efficient aircraft and 70,000 vehicles. Revenues have continued its decline that began at the end of 2008. Since 2008, total revenue has decreased by $3.2 billion amount due to less consumer demand brought forth by the recession. FedEx has increased their prices based on increase in demand, improving operating margin to 5.8%, more than the pre-recessionary level of 5.5%. Revenue for 2010 was $34.73 billion, down from 2009s $35,497 billion. Revenues decreased 2% during 2010 primarily due to profit decreases at FedEx Express and the FedEx Freight LTL Group as a result of continued competitive pricing environment. (FedEx, 2010) Key competitors: The main competitor for FedEx in US- market is UPS.UPS is the first largest package delivery company in U.S. FedEx is the second largest package delivery company in U.S.UPS gives FedEx tough competition locally and globally. Other than UPS in international market DHL also giving tough competition to FedEx. They are also facing lot of competition from local companies in china, Europe and India. In Europe TNT is also one of the key competitors for FedEx. Research methodology: The research method which I used in this report is qualitative. For this I focused on management books written by authors like David Boddy, Johnson et al, John R. Schermerhorn and Tim Hannagan. I also reviewed research methods book written by Saunders et al, to understand structure of a scientific article and writing style. I reviewed scientific journals like Emerging markets and innovation: A partnership for global progress, Interconnected firms relationships as a source of a competitive advantage, Valuing real options: Insight from competitive strategy and Strategic development, SWOT analysis at the University of Warwick and Strategic Capability: A Concept and Framework for Analysis. Overall I used secondary data to analyze the strategic capabilities of FedEx to enter new arenas. The secondary data are books, scientific journals and webpages. Literature review and application: SWOT analysis: SWOT analysis brings together the internal analysis about the strengths and weaknesses of the resources within the organization and the external opportunities and threats. This analysis will help in strategic development of the organization. According to my analysis the FedEx Corporation consists of the following strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Organizational strategic capabilities Strengths Strong brand image Strong financial position Wide range of operations Global presence Innovation Technology and communication Strong leadership Business to business Weaknesses Rising prices Labour disputes Opportunities Strategic alliance Strategic acquisitions Intensive global expansion Expansion of e-business Threats Intensive global competition Economic and political conditions Fuel price fluctuation Figure 3.4 SWOT analysis of FedEx in global business environment Strengths: Strong Brand Image: FedEx has a strong reputation by providing time-definite and reliable services from documents and small parcels up to unique freight shipments like panda shipment from US to china. According to BrandZ top 100 brands worldwide FedEx ranked 74th for 2010.The brand value for FedEx is $9.418millions during 2010, 1% less than 2009.But it is still better than 2008.This dip is due to global recession which affected US very bad and the price rise by the company (BrandZ,2010). Strong financial position: In the financial year 2006 the total assets for FedEx Corporation was $ 22,690 billion which is 11% more than previous year (FedEx Annual Report 2006).During financial years 2006 to 2010 the growth rate of total assets were 11%,5%,7%,-5% and 3% respectively. The dip during 2009 was due to global recession. Due to strong financial position it didnt loss much in global recession. Strong financial position gives confidence and backup for strong business position in the market. They improved very fast from the downturn because they enhanced to deliver even more reliability and value to the customers. This was achieved with the help of the strong financial position (FedEx annual report from 2006 to 2010). Wide range of operations: FedEx is the modern air and ground express courier service multinational company with wide range of operations like FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx Global Supply Chain and FedEx Services. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, usually in one to two business days with the delivery time guaranteed. FedEx Ground focuses in cost-effective, small-package shipping, offering reliable business-to-business delivery or suitable residential service through FedEx home delivery and FedEx Smart Post. FedEx Freight is the provider of next- and second-day regional, less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services. FedEx Freight is known for excellent ability, reliability and on-time performance. FedEx Custom Critical offers the fastest, door-to-door same-day and next-day delivery of critical freight, valuable items and hazardous goods. FedEx Trade Networks offers FedEx global customers with end-to-end transportation and customs clearance solutions around the world. FedEx Services organizes sales, marketing, information technology, customer service, and worldwide supply chain services support for the global FedEx brand. FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinkos) offers access points to printing and shipping services with reliable service when and where you need it. The above wide range operations help the company to have a strong hold in international market because this kind of wide range of operations will satisfy the needs of the customers. This will make customers to be more dependable to the company. (FedEx, 2010) Global presence: FedEx is a multinational company with its wide range operations like express, ground, freight, and faster delivery service that deliver over 6.5 million packages to more than 220 countries daily. FedEx also has 684 aircraft and trips to over 375 airports worldwide. It covers US, Europe, Indian Subcontinent and Africa. It works with the theme FedEx delivers to a changing world. Its revenue over 65% is from international operations. The international operations afford FedEx the revenue growth and market position advantage. (FedEx, 2010) Innovation: FedEx has strong history of innovation installing computers in delivery vehicles, providing latest automation for mailing services and developing tracking capabilities and software. In the year 1979 it became the first shipping company to use a computer to manage packages when it launched COSMOS (Customers, Operations and Services Master Online System), a centralized computer system to manage people, packages, vehicles and weather scenarios in real time. In 1980 the company implemented DADS (Digitally Assisted Dispatch System) to coordinate on-call pickups for customers; this system allows customers to schedule pickups for the same day. In 1994, they were the first to offer package-status tracing for better customer service via fedex.com.They were Innovative using wireless technology for shipping from past 25 years with the introduction of the Digital Assisted Dispatch System (DADS).( Wikipedia, November 13,2010).To continue this FedEx established the FedEx Innovation Labs, an inform ation technology project designed to create an atmosphere of collective thinking about critical technologies such as advanced optics for scanning, robotics, social networking and more. Technology and communication: FedEx continues to explore new technology. That commitment makes the customers loyal to them. They have outstanding communication with their customers. They use tracking devices on all shipments, and customers can find out where their shipment is and at what time they are going to receive it.This is one of their significant strategic capability. FedEx has announced Sense Aware (SM) powered by FedEx, a next generation, first-of-its-kind information service that combines a GPS sensor device and a web-based collaboration platform. Innovation is one of the important aspects for a multinational company to be competitive in the dynamic international business environment. (FedEx, 2010) Strong leadership: For over past 30 years the company is being led by Mr. Frederick W. Smith. Because of his strong leadership, dedication and commitment it is one of the top 100 companies in the world. For a successful company good leadership is important. Business to business: FedEx main business depends on B to B.They have very good contract with different industries for business. This year they applied for ISO certificate to transport medical equipments.This shows how they are really focusing on B to B. Weaknesses: Rising prices: FedEx has increased their prices based on increase in demand, improving operating margin to 5.8%, more than the pre-recessionary level of 5.5%.This is not good for markets like China, Africa and India because everybody cannot afford the high price. If they follow economies of scale in markets like Asia and Africa that will have a good impact on growth rate of the company. (FedEx, 2010) Labour disputes: FedEx announced drastic cuts in pay for most of its U.S. workforce. They announced permanent 5 percent to 10 percent base salary reductions for all U.S. employees. Because of this labour dispute FedEx workers requested for Teamster representation. The Teamsters Union Founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.This kind of labour disputes will spoil the reputation of the company and also it affects the business which in turn will affect the customer confidence (smallcapwatch,2010) Opportunities: Strategic alliance: Strategic alliance is a new trend in international business world to achieve successes factor. FedEx should look for strong alliance in different geographical locations to have a good market share internationally. FedEx Trade Networks has established alliance in Israel with leading international freight Fritz Companies Israel. This alliance will help the company to provide shippers with expanded international ocean and air freight services. (FedEx, July 6, 2010). If they can achieve this kind of strategic alliance they will achieve their goals in international market. The strategic alliance will help them to understand the domestic market of that particular location and to act according to that. Strategic acquisitions: In global business environment you cannot just go where ever you want and open a business unit. This may lead you to failure. Strategic acquisitions are some of the important factors for international business. FedEx acquired Kinkos Inc. in February 2004. This acquisition helped FedEx in all U.S. locations to offer new or expanded FedEx shipping options for better customer accessibility. If they can do such kind of strategic acquisitions globally, they will be more successful in their business in global environment. If FedEx can acquire in different geographical locations a local transportation company with good reputation background it can be their competitive advantage. (FedEx, 2010) Intensive global expansion: If FedEx can do the same wide range of business globally which they are doing in U.S. it will have very good brand value. To achieve this FedEx should undertake intensive global expansion. All the companies which are collectively working under FedEx Corporation should do global expansion collectively for good results. Expansion of e-business: Currently FedEx is using internet for most of its business. They should keep finding online shopping companies to contract delivery of their products. Now the growth of e-commerce is very fast .Federal Express can enjoy both profit and brand name from this kind of expansion. Threats: Intensive global competition: FedEx is facing a lot of competition from UPS, DHL and from some domestic companies in different geographical locations, for example TNT from Europe. The business which they are doing is easily imitable. Because of this there is a small dip in their total revenues for past two years. Economic and political conditions: The major consideration is Economic growth prospects. For past three years due to global recession the economic growth rate is very low. Due to this the growth rate for FedEx came down to -5%. (FedEx, 2010).Next comes the political factors. To achieve competitive advantage UPS is playing Brown bailout a political trick on its key competitor FedEx. If the U.S. congress reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration then FedEx will face lot of labour issues which will paralyze their business. (Brownbailout, 2009) United Parcel Service Inc., whose political action committee has given more money to federal lawmakers than any other company over two decades, is a major beneficiary of legislation before the House that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. (Bloomberg, May 21, 2009) Fuel price fluctuation: The fuel price fluctuation also disturbs the business. Currently the fuel prices are not stable. If the prices are low then no problem, but if the prices increases then it will be real problem for the company. The fuel price increase will affect the annual revenue growth. Because whenever the fuel prices increase they cannot increase their shipment prices. FedEx is operating 672 aircrafts and 70,000 motorized vehicles every day; this will consume lot of fuel. If the fuel price fluctuation is too much it will affect the business. (BBC news, 20 march, 2008) Resources and competences: Analysis of resources and capabilities are very important to identify strategic capabilities of an organization. Resources are about physical assets and production facilities. Competencies are the performance of the organization in the activities like producing, marketing, delivering and supporting its services. For achieving competence, strategy is important. A strategy deal with what is to be achieved, how it is achieved and for what it is achieved. Strategy should fit between the internal strengths and external opportunities. That means the organizations opportunities should fit between organizations internal resources, capabilities and opportunities in the external environment. Strategy helps to identify the factors that develop sustainable advantage for an organization. This will be the core competence for an organization. Core competences are the activities and processes to organize resources to gain the competitive advantage for an organization. This competitive advantage will be achieved through the strategic capabilities of an organization. (David Boddy) Figure 3.7 Identifying the organizations opportunities (Source: Management: David Boddy) For multinational companies Global strategy is very important. Global strategy is helpful to expand the market of an organization outside its domestic market. The following figure explains the opportunities and outcomes of the Global strategy. Identifying International opportunities are the important aspects of international strategy. Then you have to discover the resources and capabilities to form international strategies. These can be divided into International business level strategy, Multidomestic strategy, Global strategy and transnational strategy. For the successes of these strategies an organization should look for strong strategic alliances, Acquisitions, New wholly owned subsidiary and Exporting (These are the Modes of Entry for an organization into international market). After successfully managing all these and risks the final outcome will be better performance. (Michael A et, al) FedEx threshold capabilities: Threshold capabilities are significant elements for FedEx to be competitive in business environment. These elements can be divided into tangible and intangible resources. The tangible resources of FedEx are wide range of operations, 672 aircrafts, 70,000 motorized vehicles and 10 main air express hubs. The intangible resources are 275,000 employees, reputation and intellectual capital. FedEx has 42,000 drop boxes, over 9,000 centers, and 70,000 vehicles for express, ground, freight, and advanced delivery service that deliver over 6.5 million packages to more than 220 countries daily. They are planning for global expansion at the rate of 25% every year. This strategy will increase brand value and loyal customers worldwide. (FedEx, 2010) Intangible resources are difficult to be imitated by competitors. For FedEx as mentioned in their vision and mission employees are their most important assets through which they achieve their business goals. The Corporate philosophy is briefly stated as people-service-profit. They are the important element for FedEx brand value. FedEx capabilities for competitive advantage: The unique resources are the capabilities for competitive advantage. Every business will have capabilities to achieve business goals. But the capabilities which give the organization strong market position and which are rare and cannot be imitated by others are the core competencies. The strategic capabilities transfer the core competencies into competitive advantages of an organization. The following are the capabilities for competitive advantage of FedEx. Innovation: FedEx has the first mover advantage for past 30 years because of innovation. For an organization innovation will be associated with positive changes in efficiency, productivity, quality and competitive positioning. You absolutely, positively have to innovate-if only to survive.-Fred Smith (entrepreneur, October 9, 2008) Innovation . . . is generally understood as the successful introduction of a new thing or method . . . Innovation is the embodiment, combination, or synthesis of knowledge in original, relevant, valued new products, processes, or services. (Luecke and Katz 2003) Innovation is part of the business at FedEx. It can be web services or the development of high-technology, FedEx sees innovation as a strategic business practice that is endlessly improved, developed and encouraged. Technology and communication: FedEx continues to search for new technology. This commitment keeps customers not switching to other providers. FedEx also has excellent communication with their customers. They are using latest online tracking system for all shipments, so that customers can find out where their shipment is and at what time it will reach. The FedEx brand is based on speed and efficiency. So they developed IMS tool to ensure that all transactions running on the mainframe are being processed quickly and efficiently. The new features are the result of intensive research into what their customers need and want. They are meeting the needs of customers with the latest user technologies. (IBM, 30 Jun, 2010) Loyal customers: Loyalty is created among customers based on A strong brand name, Pricing competitiveness, Product quality and service satisfaction. The building blocks of loyalty for FedEx are strong customer service, fast customs clearance, clear invoicing, reliable tracking information and quick problem handling. A loyal customer is one of the competitive advantages for FedEx who will do business with them again and happily recommend others. Corporate social responsibility: FedEx recognizes that their social responsibility is greater than the services they provide. They are dedicated to be a thoughtful representative for the environment and a caring citizen in the communities where they live and work. They are passionate about sustainably connecting people and places and improving the quality of life around the world. Philanthropy: FedEx is devoted to energetically supporting the communities they serve, through strategic investment of their people, resources and network. Their corporate resources include financial contributions, charitable shipping services and volunteer services by their team members. They have three core focus areas and meaningful ways: Emergency and Disaster Relief, Child Pedestrian Safety, and Environmental Sustainability. By doing this they will have good image in public which in turn increase the brand value. (FedEx, 2010) Environment: FedEx is dedicated to providing global network with minimized environmental impact. FedEx is mainly focusing on Fuel efficiency, using recycling material and reducing noise pollution. As part of its Fuel Sense program, FedEx uses rigorous operations and recent advancements in aircraft technology to significantly reduce emissions and fuel use for their aircrafts. They are working with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess their fuel use and identify potential savings. They started replacing their trucks with hybrid electric trucks and Boeing 727 aircraft with Boeing 757 which will reduce fuel consumption up to 36 percent while providing 20 percent more capacity. FedEx has started using recycling material for their packaging to minimize the environmental impact. FedEx is concerned with aircraft noise and has taken steps to reduce noise levels for more than 10 years. As part of its global environmental sustainability program, FedEx empowers its team members to mak e meaningful earth-friendly changes in the communities where they live and work. (CNBC news, Nov 15, 2010) Employees: FedEx is much concerned about the culture of service which is absolutely, positively spirit of employees. This builds customer loyalty. FedEx has been honored as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 10 of the past 11 years and was named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Hall of Fame in 2005. (FedEx, 2010) Critical success factors analysis: FedEx critical success factors can be identified as speed and efficiency, innovation and global expansion. Speed and efficiency Innovation Global expansion Speed and efficiency: Speed and efficiency is one of the critical success factors for FedEx. For a global transportation company speed and efficiency is very important for competitive advantage. For FedEx this is consistently going on for more than 30 years. This is happening with the help of reliable and dedicated team work of FedEx employees. For todays changing life style, people want everything to happen very fast. For small businesses time-definite package deliveries are important for their business growth. FedEx is doing this with convenience and reliability. For FedEx speed and efficiency with consistency creating loyal customers. This speed and efficiency helped FedEx to grow globally within a short time. It also added value to the brand. Innovation: As I discussed in SWOT analysis innovation is creating first mover advantage for the company. FedEx established the FedEx Innovation Labs, an information technology project de

Assignment Verbal and Non Verbal Communication Essay

Answer 1.1. A primary industry is one that cultivates and exploits natural resources, such as agriculture or mining. A secondary industry takes the outputs of primary industries and converts them to consumer and capital goods. Examples of secondary industries are textiles and electronics. A tertiary industry is in the service sector of the economy. Examples of tertiary industries are banking and education. Answer 1.2. A capital good is a durable good that is used in production of goods or services Capital goods are acquired by a society by saving wealth which can be invested in the means of production. Individuals, organizations and governments use capital goods in the production of other goods or commodities. Capital goods include factories, machinery, tools, equipment, and various buildings which are used to produce other products for consumption. Capital goods, then, are products which are not produced for immediate consumption; rather, they are objects that are used to produce other goods and services. These types of goods are important economic factors because they are the key to developing a positive return from manufacturing other products and commodities. Answer 1.3. Generally production quantity is inversely related to product variety. A factory that produces a large variety of products will produce a smaller quantity of each. A company that produces a single product will produce a large quantity. Answer 1.4. Manufacturing capability refers to the technical and physical limitations of a manufacturing firm and each of its plants. Three categories of capability include technological processing capability, physical size and weight, and production capacity. Answer 1.5. Polymers, ceramics and metals are three basic categories of materials. Answer 1.6. A shaping process changes the geometry of the work material (machining or forging). A surface processing operation does not alter the geometry, but instead alters the properties and/or appearance of the surface of the work (painting or plating). Answer 1.7. A shaping process changes the geometry of the work material (machining or forging). A surface processing operation does not alter the geometry, but instead alters the properties and/or appearance of the surface of the work (painting or plating). Answer 1.8. Batch production is where groups, lots, or batches are processed together through the manufacturing operations. All units in the batch are processed at a given station before the group proceeds to the next station. In a medium or low quantity production situation, the same machines are used to produce many types of products.

Reflection On Experience

Last fall I started my Full-time MBA program. I was assigned to a group of five members, including myself. As part of our orientation, our first exercise was to take on a ropes course as a group. This exercise helped us to know more about each other and become more cohesive as we were unfamiliar with each other and meeting for the first time. We came from different backgrounds, different cultures, and different countries, but we shared similar goals.We had members that worked in operations, marketing, finance, and supply chain; some of us never worked in teams, so it was important for us to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and address each. We agreed as a group to make the most of our experience and try to help each other in achieving our goals. There were two sets of goals that our team worked for. We, as a group, hoped not only to deliver whatever requirements were in the program’s curriculum, but also we aimed to grow as individuals and as a group.It was ev ident from day one that each member of this team was aiming to excel and becoming distinct from other groups. Our common goal of excelling made it easier for us to find a common ground, and we felt that our goals were attainable as long as we show commitment and dedication. As any group, we had our share of positive and negative experiences that I will shed some light on in this paper. Although our group was highly functional and motivated towards succeeding in achieving our goals, there were few unexplored issues that I hope we work on in the remainder of our tenure.This paper provides my personal reflection of some behaviors administered by members of my group and myself as well. Those behaviors impacted the functionality and the effectiveness of our team. The first part shall discuss the positive behaviors that I observed from other team members whom I believe had a huge impact on our team. The second part will be a self-evaluation of my behavior in the context of a study group, in particular negative behaviors and how to avoid them in future projects.One positive behavior that I observed from a couple of our team members on a regular basis is taking the initiative. In my opinion, this was a significant factor in our success as a group last quarter, and it taught me how to perceive my self and others in order to identify strengths and weaknesses and how vital it is to be proactive within a group. On several occasions throughout the last quarter, those two members launched new initiatives that led to changes in the way we tackle things as a group and the way we approach problems.This proactive behavior helped us to avoid some problems that we might have faced before they even occurred. Some problems like working under pressure when deadlines are imminent or doing repetitive work were avoided as both of those members anticipated them in advance and pointed out how to avoid such problems. Those two members’ actions were usually consistent with our goals as a group, and I believe that we helped them become proactive by allowing them to take the initiative and not squandering their efforts. Their ideas were usually listened to carefully and we allowed them to try it.Also if mistakes were made, it was never held against them so we don’t close the window on takinf the initiative in the future, whether from their side or any other group member. It is the same concept as â€Å"reward† and â€Å"punishment† that was discussed in class; as any other behavior, proactive behavior if rewarded it will flourish and if punished or blamed it will be discouraged. The difference in our case is that the â€Å"reward† was being listened to or appreciating the effort, and the â€Å"punishment† was blaming them for making mistakes.Although our team never had an assigned leader, but usually those members who took the initiative assumed the role of leadership by default. This was another enlightening moment for me as I learned in order to lead, I have to take the initiative and become more proactive. I believe that this proactive behavior from those members helped us enhance our performance and helped us to avoid being complacent or passive. Another reason, in my opinion, motivated us in embracing some of their ideas, is our sense that those ideas were for the greater benefit of our group and wasn’t seeking any personal benefit or gain.Even though at times the room for being proactive was narrow, especially when we were working on tight schedules or deadlines were approaching, such behavior was evident throughout the quarter. Another positive behavior that I noticed from one of our group members is support. Support plays an essential role in the success of any group as it not only enhances the overall performance of the group, but it makes the group more cohesive and helps building trust. Each member of our group came from a different functional area or background, so it was essential to r ecognize that each of us is stronger in certain areas and weaker in other ones.This particular member was very supportive to our group members, and by support I don’t mean only helping in solving problems. His support extended to helping completing tasks on time even if it wasn’t assigned to him, giving encouragement and feedback to our group members, and taking extra tasks when needed. This behavior helped in creating a sense of collaboration and made the group more cohesive. He also supported any ideas that were suggested, regardless whether they were approved or not, he showed real interest in every idea or suggestion.Such behavior encouraged our group members to speak more openly and allowed for more contribution. It increased our group loyalty and generated trust among our group members. On the other hand, one negative behavior that I personally need to work on is not allowing other team members to express their ideas and opinions. Sometimes I feel very strong abo ut my ideas that I shut down towards other ideas from other team members. In particular there is one team member of ours that is usually left out, so we as a team should take the responsibility for such a negative behavior.I realize that a group works best when everyone is allowed to contribute in the discussions during the meetings and benefit from the diversity in our group by bringing in different ideas; however, this one member usually chooses not to contribute and we never encouraged her to overcome this obstacle. We tend to forget that this member is not used to working in teams, and this might be the reason she is finding difficulties to contribute effectively in our team meetings and in the decision making process. I believe that we, as a group, allowed this behavior to develop throughoutthe quarter until it became a habit. According to the â€Å"Social Information Processing Model†, as part of the judgment process, Fundamental Attribution Bias is â€Å"the tendency to develop explanations that rely on the internal state of people when we focus on someone else’s behavior. † We attributed her lack of participation to her lack of skill or ability, and completely over looked the possibility that it could be attributed to other external factors. External factors such as cultural difference or unfamiliarity of working in a team could have been the reason behind her lack of contribution.Our failure to address those issues on the spot could have been the reason why those issues evolved and led to a self-limiting behavior from her side, which ultimately led to a lack in self-efficacy. This behavior affected her self-confidence in her ability of making significant contributions to the team causing her to disengage from team discussions and withhold ideas or opinions. Another negative behavior that I need to address is procrastination. I have a habit of putting off work until last minute.I do not believe I demonstrate this behavior because I am lazy or because I cannot manage my time efficiently, but because I always have a sense of ability of finishing the assigned task in less time. During earning my undergraduate bachelor degree in Civil Engineering, I was used to working in crunch time and finishing the tasks right before they are due. It was not much of my choice, but due to the enormous amount of work I was rarely able to finish those tasks ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, I carried this habit with me to my group work last quarter.I never failed to meet a deadline, but by the end of the quarter a considerable amount of work was accumulated and I had to work extremely hard in order not to miss deadlines. I could have easily avoided this issue if I had started working earlier on those projects. A huge reason for my procrastinating issue, in my opinion, is lack of self-control. Usually, I look for distractions deliberately or reasons to postpone working on the task at hand. I like to convince my self that I work be tter under pressure, using this as an excuse to postpone work.Although it might appear at first that this behavior affects only me as an individual and not the group as a whole, but my tendency to procrastinate might cause my group to miss opportunities for improvement. By submitting my task just as it is due, I didn’t leave room for improvement. My work could have needed further review or it might have shed some light on an area that we overlooked, which gives us an opportunity to further enhance our body of work and make it even better. In my opinion, for our group to advance and improve we need to set some goals in order for us to reach a higher level of understanding and collaboration.Involvement is a huge factor in the success of any group; consequently we should aim for having every member’s input in the decision making process and in the group discussions. Discussions should be managed differently to make sure every member participates. Participation from all me mbers is vital for any group because it allows different views and ideas to be shared so we need to create a decision-making environment that allows all members to share views and ideas. We should ensure that everyone understands the objectives and the task at hand.We also need to develop more trust among our team members and avoid using shortcuts to form our perception. The Social Information Processing Model talks about Self-fulfilling Prophecy or Pygmalion effect as a shortcut that influences perception, which is a â€Å"situation in which our expectations about people affect our interaction with them in such a way that helps our expectations be fulfilled. † For instance, in dealing with the group member that is having difficulties in participating, if we allowed our expectations to influence how we interact with her, we will never be able to address this issue and we will maintain status quo.Moreover, I could improve on a personal level and work on my procrastinating issu e, which will eventually improve the overall performance of the group. I believe I already took the first step towards addressing this issue by recognizing it and admitting that it’s a negative behavior that needs to be eliminated. Another step, in my opinion, in addressing this issue is identifying whether I am procrastinating due to external reasons or internal reasons. External reasons could vary from time constraint to the type of job at hand, and internal reasons could be lack of motive or laziness.I tend to believe it’s the latter, as I occasionally procrastinate some tasks that are not work related or that does not have a time constraint. Procrastination is a habit that develops over time and hence, needs time to be eliminated. Although it is true that it is not a permanent habit of mine, i. e. it comes irregularly, it still affects my performance and hinders my abilities. I started trying to reward my self upon completing tasks, in an attempt to avoid putting o ff those tasks for later.

The eNotes Blog Seattle City of Literature and Our Bookworm’s Guide to Enjoying theCity

Seattle City of Literature and Our Bookworm’s Guide to Enjoying theCity What Is a City of Literature? The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced in October that Seattle has been designated a City of Literature. After five years of attempting to secure a bid, Seattle City of Literature finally achieved its goal. Seattle now joins an exclusive group of culturally creative cities across the globe and is the second city in the United States to be classified as a City of Literature, the other one being Iowa City (home of the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop). What Is a City of Literature? A City of Literature is a city that has demonstrated fervent enthusiasm and passion for literature, publishing, and other forms of written expression. UNESCO designates cities in seven different fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music. Essentially, all creative cities seek to enhance a deeper understanding of history and culture through creative endeavors. Furthermore, they wish to implement creativity and culture into   policies and industries specific to their respective cities. What Does This Mean for Seattle? As Stesha Brandon, literature and humanities director of Seattle Public Library said, â€Å"What it does is that it allows us to connect with networks all over the world, in multiple disciplines, to find opportunities to build understanding through the literary arts and other arts. We look at it as an opportunity, especially in this very divisive time, for us to help build bridges to people through the literary arts.† Exploring Seattle as the City of Literature: If you are visiting Seattle or showing visitors around, Seattle is the perfect city for booklovers. With hot mugs of coffee or tea waiting on every corner, and the perfect reading weather at all times, Seattle was made for readers. Here at (located right here in Capitol Hill!), we’ve compiled a list of must-see places to enjoy Seattle as a bookworm. (You should also download a handy map we made of must-visit Seattle-area bookstores.) Elliott Bay Book Company Perhaps the most famous independent bookstore in Seattle, Elliott Bay Book Company is located in the eccentric neighborhood of Capitol Hill. With towering cedar shelves, numerous levels with countless titles, selections, and exciting events happening every day, Elliott Bay Book Company is a delight to visit. Stop by Little Oddfellows, the cafe located in the store, and enjoy a cappuccino or, my personal favorite, their kombucha on tap.    Open Books: A Poem Emporium Open Books is brimming with over 100,000 used, new, and out-of-print poetry books. Situated in the charming neighborhood of Wallingford, Open Books maintains a peaceful and calm ambiance as shoppers browse the titles and even read a couple of poems. Open Books hosts readings, workshops, and discussions in-store as well. Seattle Public Library: Central Location Just a few blocks away from the famous Pike Place Market, the Central Location of Seattle Public Library is a modern and towering building with the capacity to hold more than 1.45 million books and other materials. Currently, they have a million items in their collection. In addition to their impressive collection, the architecture is unique and modern. Pro Tip: Head straight to the top and you can catch amazing views of the interesting windows and sights of downtown Seattle. With countless events, talks, and discussions hosted at the location, as well as innovative technological adaptations, the Central Location embodies Seattle’s intersection of tech and literary arts. University of Washington: Suzzallo Library Reading Room A literary trip to Seattle is not complete without visiting University of Washington’s famed â€Å"Harry Potter Room.† Suzzallo Library’s Reading Room features vaulted ceilings, leaded-glass windows, and long wooden tables and shelves full of books. Step in and you feel like you’ve been instantly transported to Hogwarts- perfect for hiding in the rain and reading the day away. Ada’s Technical Books Cafe What would a Seattle exploration be without some good coffee? Ada’s is part-bookstore, part-cafe centered around computers, mathematics, and physics. It’s a nerd’s paradise with themed decorations, eclectic used and new gifts, toys, and an impressive vegetarian-food and coffee menu. Book Larder For the foodie and cookbook fanatic, Book Larder is the destination to visit. Self-proclaimed as a â€Å"community cookbook store,† Book Larder hosts many cooking classes and visits from cookbook authors. Selling an extensive collection of cookbooks including new, used, and imported from different countries, they will leave you hungry and ready to cook!

Models help or hinder the search for knowledge Essay Example

Models help or hinder the search for knowledge Essay Example Models help or hinder the search for knowledge Essay Models help or hinder the search for knowledge Essay A model is a representation of a complex structure or concept that is used to explain it and represent it in a more simplistic manner with the aim of facilitating the understanding of it. Models are used in a variety of subjects such as natural sciences, government structures, history and many more. Although they are simplified simulations, they provide a representation of reality that help our learning and understanding of the phenomena that occur. However, models have the possibility of leading us into an error or incorrect information and thus present limitations that have the potential of hindering the knowledge. Models can be broken down into four main categories. Experimental models which can be constructed and put to use in a laboratory. A ‘scale models would fit under this category, representing spatial relationships, and ‘working models’ representing temporal sequences. At the other end of the spectrum are logical models. These start from the axioms and theorems of a formal deductive system, they are used to illustrate abstract systems and provide a possible interpretation of it. Lastly, there are theoretical models. These are imaginative mental constructions made to conceptualize observed phenomena. They are usually imagined mechanisms that are described with analogies to familiar processes. For instance, in physics, the â€Å"billiard-ball model† of gas is a perfect example of a theoretical model. Although it is intended to represent an underlying structure of a physical system, it is merely a symbolic representation that is developed into a theory that explains the phenomena as a model. A relevant knowledge issue concerning theoretical models would: to what extend can models give a realistic and accurate representation of reality? Consider a container full of a gas such as air and imagine that it is composed of minuscule elastic spheres bouncing around. It can be assumed that the mechanical behavior of the spheres is similar to the behavior of colliding billiard balls. From this assumption, a theory can be put forward, the one of Kinetic Theory of Gases that involves equations interrelating the velocity (p), mass (m), momentum and energy of the hypothetical spheres. None of these theoretical properties can be physically observed. On the other hand, some theoretical terms could be related to observable properties of the gas, for instance, a change in the momentum of the collision amongst particle with the containing wall may be identified as the pressure of the gas. These assumptions lead to Boyle’s Law stating that if the volume of a gas is reduced by 50% then the pressure of the gas will double. (e.g. compressing air during a bicycle jump). Hypothetical minuscule elastic spheres were assumed to have mass and velocity similarly to billiard balls do although no color. The analogies are not simply formal like they are in mathematics, they may be physical, elasticity and mass. In the creation of a theory, scientist may suggest a model incorporating analogies drawn from a variety of familiar situations combined with radically new assumptions. In the diagram below, all the lines going into the model are represented as dotted due to their origins lying in an act of creative imagination instead of making a purely logic based inference. Generally speaking, dotted arrows should be added coming in from other familiar situations, on the left. When imagining a model, there are explicit or implicit references to what is similar and previously intelligible, furthermore there is freedom allowing to interpret a phenomena in the desired model. It can be assigned to any property that are thought of as fruitful contributors to the theory. This depends on the perception of the scientist of the phenomena in question. Therefore, since theoretical models are based on a scientists interpretation of what they perceive and the analogy that is made to an already known model, models do not provide a fully reliable and accurate representation of reality. Theoretical models can further be perceived as subjective and self determined, thus the numerous debates and disagreements amongst scientists concerning more complex models. Theoretical models convey associations and implications that aren’t specifically determined and that may be transferred if a shit in paradigm occurs due to the application of a different analogy to the phenomena. Additional developments and modifications may be proposed.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A metaphor proposes analogies between the familiar context of a word and a new context into which it is introduced †. Models can be compared to metaphors due their similar property of open-endedness. Max Black said that ‘It may help us to notice what would otherwise be overlooked and to shift the relative emphasis attached to details in short, to see new connections.† A model suggests new ways of perceiving a situation that presents problems by transferring some of the features of another given situation that is fully understood. The implications implied by the use of a metaphor to refer to a model is not merely subjective as it is employed by the majority of a community using a language. For instance, the use of an analogy that might not have been essential to the formulation of the model could potentially influence the development of the paradigm. Science, most often doesn’t recognize the line separating theoretical language from observational language; the distinction is relative to the situation and depends on the context. A close parallel between the interaction of metaphorical language and literal language can be made, there is a lack of division line between the two. ‘Billiard-ball model’ incites one to think about the whole kinetic gas model as a pool table and the movement of billiard balls. The term was initially introduced as an analogy to visualize a non ‘touchable’ matter. The metaphor has now become a standard reference and is often used to teach with in education. Metaphors, like models, have the potential to extend language and influence the literal recordings of facts and therefore create new meanings. Since the new meanings are based on analogies from the start, they could have distorted the reality of the model to a great extent, providing a less accurate representation. A metaphor evokes emotional responses whereas a scientific model was designed to be systematically developed, specifying the positive and negative analogy although the neutral analogy is open ended and leaves spaced for further interpretation. Furthermore, a scientific model leads to a testable theory. Nevertheless, the similarities between metaphors and models are significant enough to illustrate the importance of imagining analogies. Metaphors aren’t literally true, although, according to Wheelwright, they do â€Å"say something, however tentatively and obliquely, about the nature of what is†. Metaphors help illustrate a model by drawing a direct comparison between the phenomena that is desired to be represented with an analogy that is already existent in our world, defined, explained and understood. The ‘double-helix’ model of the DNA molecules in biology is also considered as a theoretical model, but that one specifically is closer to observational evidence that can be collected in a lab and can therefore be literally taken. Nevertheless, even in this theoretical model, only a defined number of aspects that compose world are brought into prominence, while a few more are neglected. For instance, the model exhibits the spatial relationships between the DNA components but doesn’t take account of the character of the existing bonds between them. In conclusion, models are used in various manner in science. They serve different functions among which you may find practical and theoretical. Theoretical models are innovative mental constructions based on imagination, perception and the ability to relate to already existing models. They end up in a combination of analogies that are usually open-ended and leave space for further development and possibility for shifts in interpretation. Models are usually taken very seriously but not literarily as they are only simplistic representations of complex phenomena. They can’t be defined as pictures of reality nor useful fictions, rather as inadequate and partial manners of imagining and creating what is not observable – in theoretical models.

Nuclear Accidents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nuclear Accidents - Essay Example This paper reviews basic nuclear protocol as supplied by engineers and government agencies, looks at case studies of failure, and offers proposals and conclusions. Cases reviewed include Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the 2002 degradation in Davis-Besse. Nuclear Protocol Nuclear safety mandates are highly detailed and specific (United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2004; Health and Safety Executive, 2006; CANDU, 2005a; CANDU, 2005b; IAEA, 2006). Regulations are provided at multiple levels: Local, provincial or state, national, and international under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Reviewing these mandates is illustrative for understanding major nuclear failures. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or USNRC, emphasizes a â€Å"strong nuclear safety culture† (2004). They instruct â€Å"managers† to make comparisons between provided principles and day-to-day operation. They argue that organizational culture is as important to long-term safety as engineering issues. Safety culture and safety-conscious work environments are essential, and the USNRC argues that, in fact, there is no tradeoff between safety culture and cost-effectiveness, as the same procedures and policies apply for both. They point out that the nuclear safety of a plant is a collective responsibility. In the failures reviewed in this paper, buck-passing, attempts to duck responsibility and other factors plagued the ability of the plants to cope with problems. They recommend, among other proposals, that Partnerships along the utility corridor not be used to decay responsibility Board members and corporate officers personally assess safety Support and administration departments are briefed on nuclear safety Coaching and mentoring with supervision by managers Production goals be secondary to safety concerns, and this commitment be explicitly stated in production goal review Trust is maintained: Management and labor give concessions to keep the plant's atmosphere trust-sustaining Probabilistic risk analyses used in day-to-day operation Design and operating margins kept under control and review, activities affecting core functionality be especially reviewed The UK's HSE lists over thirty engineering principles that must be strictly followed, with risk erring on the side of caution (2006, 4-80), as well as principles of radiation protection. Shutdown systems, for example, should have two redundant and diverse mechanisms in place ( Health and Safety Executive, 2006, 80). Need for personnel access should be controlled (Health and Safety Executive, 2006, 75). Passive sealed containment systems and intrinsic safety features should trump active dynamic systems (Health and Safety Executive, 74). Each of the failures reviewed stemmed from a failure to adopt a parallel standard. CANDU (2006b) finds that the mechanism for handling problems should be control, cool and contain, or the three Cs. If reactor power is controlled, fuel is cooled an d radioactivity is contained, threats are controlled. This mean that 3C-compliance has to be in place at all times: Emergency conditions or regular, peak hours or slow, shutdown or upset operation, etc. The IAEA (2006) add a few salient principles. Principle 4 notes that any radioactivity gain must be justified by a pressing need. Principle 5 states that protection must be at the maximum feasible level at