Blog exercise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Blog exercise - Assignment Example As a result, ‘white’ fails to commonly qualify as a racial marker. Being white is often not associated with ethnicity or collective social groups that make up a race. In this respect, it would appear that race and whiteness are two independent factors, such that they do not relate or interrelate in any way. Therefore, the perceived disconnection between ‘white’ and race fails to account for ‘white’ as a racial marker. Finally, the attitude, environment, beliefs, and social perceptions towards whiteness shape the underlying notion relative to racial marking. The aforementioned factors inform the superiority aspect attributed to being white. Whiteness is mostly associated with the best and perfect things, thus the reluctance to use ‘white’ as a racial marker. The documentary, Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAljja0vi2M) presents the whiteness factor in the western context. The film shows just how much white people denounce racism. A global perspective of racial marking is highlighted, alongside how the white people constitute the white

Christianity and Islam Essay Example for Free

Christianity and Islam Essay A few months ago, when a Vatican official announced that Catholicism was surpassed by Islam as the world’s largest faith, many news agencies around the world carried what seemed to have been a largely unnoticed issue for this present generation – religion. At least for some time, renewed debates about whether or not one should indeed consider Islam as a religion that commands world’s largest followers surfaced one after another. The issue many people think should not be dismissed is the fact that Christianity – a religion which combines an array of all its offshoots namely Roman Catholicism, Orthodox, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Evangelicals, among others – still has the largest adherents compared to any other religion, including Islam. Even if Christianity may be broken down into some larger or other smaller denominations, many people subscribe to idea that since all Christians root their belief in Christ, one must take them as belonging to a singular religion, the largest in the world to be exact. To consider Christianity as a single religion involves rounds of new separate debates. Surely, when the differences between the mainstream Christian blocks and the thousand of other minor denominations are brought into the fore, their respective beliefs will manifest diversity, resemblance, opposition, and even contradiction. Tedious as this process may appear, one may not yet consider the fact that even in the Islam religion itself there are further classifications of membership that must be taken into careful account. Again, it is legitimate to inquire whether it is proper to take Islam as a unitary religion, or they too must be broken down into their finer types. As one may correctly observe, inner divisions within the world’s largest religions – Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. – appear to be a fundamentally given fact. One can perhaps inquire whether it is possible to identify a major religion with millions, if not a billion of adherents, which does not have any, or have not suffered from any inner rift at any given point of its history. It may be interesting to ask therefore, what accounts for the eventual internal fall out of world religions in history? Better yet, how must we attempt to understand what happens in a religion that has been divided into smaller aggregate types in the course of history? II. Rationale and Scope This brief study presents a case for divisions transpiring within world religions. But since the scope of studying the issue is broad (considering that there are many major world religions to cite), this research shall be restricted at tackling Christianity and Islam as chosen types. Specifically, the study shall describe the events that transpired during the Catholic-Protestant divide of the mid 1500’s for Christianity, and the Shiite-Sunni divide for Islam. To be sure, there are other identifiable divisions which can be noted in the history of Christianity. While there are small schisms involving â€Å"heretics† who refuse to accept fundamental Christian teachings, Christianity is said to have been divided into two major blocks during the 11th century. It produced the dichotomization between the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox, which until the present still exists. For the purposes of limiting this study, the Christian division which shall be discussed in this study shall dwell on the Luther-led Reformation of the 1500’s. Meanwhile, it is also insightful to note even in the Islam religion, there have been various types of smaller divisions and schisms. For the purposes of this study too, the rift between the Shiites and the Sunnis that was created in the early years of Islam religion shall be the one in focus. A short analysis and interpretation of the sample religions used shall comprise the conclusion of this study. III. Discussion Proper a. Nature of Religion Before relating the events defining the divisions that were experienced both by Christianity and Islam, it will be helpful to cite some theories to help explain the dynamics of religion. This is important since it shall provide a working perspective which is to be used later on in the analysis. Religion is a phenomenon which may be understood in many ways. Basically speaking, it refers to the common innate feeling or â€Å"belief in a Supreme Being† (McCutcheon, 2007, p. 22). Religion obviously stems from a belief that there is a higher being that must be worshiped or adored. But religion does not pertain to kind of personal belief alone. It also describes how a believer finds the need to belong to a community which shares the same belief, and thus obey a given set of rules within it. Thus, another definition for religion may also be expressed as a â€Å"unified system of belief and practices relative to sacred things† which â€Å"unites (believers) into one single moral community† (McCutcheon, 2007, p. 22). Combing both definitions enable one to fully appreciate the fact that religion pertains to both a personal ascent to God, and a commitment to a community, a set of rules and a specific set rituals. When seen under the lenses of scientific inquiry (e. g. anthropology, sociology, philosophy, etc. ) religion reveals patterns and dynamism consistent with human belief system, knowledge, interest and relationships. This means that religion is molded into the belief system of the believers. For instance, if Christians hold that Christ in his lifetime was compassionate to the poor, it follows that they too, since they follow Christ, must do something good for their less fortunate brethren. Or if Moslems take Mohammad as their example, and Mohammad was a deeply spiritual man, they too must not take spirituality lightly in their lives. Religious mindset is committed to certain courses of action (Slater, 1978, p. 6); and these actions are meaningful only because believers draw their identities from a person or a belief system they embrace – be it the Lordship of Christ, or the greatness of the Prophet Muhammad (Slater, 1978, p. 82). This is one of the primary reasons why religions possess their â€Å"continuing identities† (Slater, 1978, p. 82). So long as a group of Christians identify themselves to the teachings of their religion, say Catholic Church, they will remain to be Catholics. As indeed, so long as a group of Moslems identify themselves to the teachings of their religion, say Shiite group, they will remain to be identified with it. What explains the shift in a belief system is when one cannot anymore identify either with a teaching, or specific religious structures. It is a general rule that key to a religion’s perpetuity is establishing an identity. When people start to feel alienated with what they used to hold or believe it, it can explain why a group of believers create their own groups to accommodate their otherwise alienated belief system. To help establish the point, it may be good to lay down two glaring examples. b. The Shiite-Sunnis Divide Islam was born at least five hundred years after Christianity was already an institutionalized religion. But what started out only as a small community following Muhammad, Islam grew in exponential proportion in just a short span of time. Within the rapid growth came bitter disputes and eventual breakaways. Although Islam is a religion which does not readily recognize that there are divisions within them, scholars are almost unanimous in agreeing that some factions already broke from within the Moslem community dating back to the days when the religion itself was merely beginning to be established. In a sense, Islam is a religion broken down into at least two major divisions even before it got to be formally established as a religious phenomenon. It all started when a certain man named Muhammad, who by the way was born in 570 to a very poor family, begun to attract followers after experiencing visions and revelations (Renard, 1998, p. 7). His reputation spread in neighboring places, and soon found himself at odds with ruling empires for the large number of followers he had gathered. After this increasingly expanding community finally settled in Mecca in 630, Muhammad would die two years after (Renard, 1998, p. 7). His death would then see his community figure in a prolonged tug-of-war for rightful succession, and would officially begin the drift within the newly established religious community. One group claimed that Muhammad chose his rightful successor in the person of his son named Ali before he died. The other group contested the claim and said, no instructions were made by the Prophet whatsoever. Instead, they held that it was appropriate for to appoint leaders themselves, and eventually chose Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law, as the first of the four caliphs (meaning head), to rule the Islam community. Those who embraced the leadership of Ali were eventually known as the Shiites, while the followers who believed Abu Bakr’s caliphate eventually came to be known as Sunnis. As such, the neat separation within the just-emerging Islamic religion has been established. Since it exists up until today, it can be described as the â€Å"largest institutional division within the Muslim community† so far (Renard, 1998, p. 13; Ayoub, 2004, 72). c. The Catholic-Protestant Divide The era that colored the Catholic-Protestant divide was a Church marred with controversies, silent disenchantment and an ever growing discontent among Christian faithful. As history would show, it was through and because of Martin Luther – and his whole ebb generating protests against the Church – that the radical break from Catholicism was to be established. But hundreds of years before the supposed break, there had already been numerous events that point to the restlessness within the membership of the Church which it tried to quell. What were the controversies about? As early as the 1300’s, roughly two hundred years before Luther was born, an ordained priest by the name of John Wycliffe started to publish series of attacks against some of the major teachings and traditions of the Church. In 1372, he was summoned and reprimanded by Church authorities for his teachings that dwelled on the following: his denial of the doctrine of transubstantiation (a belief that the bread and wine used in celebrating the Eucharist is transformed into the real body and blood of Christ), attacks on the authority of the Pope as the head of the Church, corrupt practices within the Church, and emphasis on preaching and the use of Scriptures for teaching the doctrines of the Church (Cook, 2008, p. 95). Wycliffe probably represented the first courageous voices which tried to confront what’s wrong with the Church. In fact, he did try to raise legitimate concerns about both the divisive doctrines and lamentable discipline which the Church at that time practiced. Years after, Luther would pick up from where his predecessors had left out. In 1517, he released his Ninety-Five Theses to the public – a collection of ninety-five protests against many Church teachings – both doctrinal and moral – and Church practices, such as indulgences (spiritual merits obtained in return for monetary donations), celibacy (the promise for priests not to marry), Eucharist, among others (Cook, 2008, p. 100). Since the general religious atmosphere at that time was already ripe for reforms, his ninety-five theses were easily duplicated and spread throughout the German empire – a testament, as it were, to a huge popular support he enjoyed for the risks he took. Luther’s break from the Church was formally established when he burned the Papal bull Exsurge Domine (a decree which threatened him of excommunication if he did not recant his protests) in front of many people in a public square (Cook, 2008, 101). After which, he did subsequently ask the authorities of the German kingdom to support his cause for Church reform. Luther is remembered as a man who broke the Catholic Church apart. True enough, even before he died, he already saw the far reaching effects of his call for reforms he perhaps initially did not intended to jumpstart. Thanks to Luther, Christianity would never be the same again. The â€Å"Germany after (the) Reformation† movement in the mid 1500’s became a home to a new breed of Christians who came to be branded as Lutherans, Calvinist, Reformers, or even Protestants (Pennock, 2007, p. 168). In principle, Luther earned the reputation of being an agent of division within the Christian religion. IV. Conclusion To be sure, Christianity and Islam are not the only major religions in the world which had suffered a kind of break-up from within. Religious divisions are commonplace, and that variations sprouting from within large communities may be brought about by various factors. When divisions occur, one normally observes that differences pertaining to a host of issues including (but not limited to) doctrines, practices, or even recognized leadership become patent. As earlier mentioned, the dynamics of religion may help explain why a feeling of alienation (or a loss of identity) can push a believer or a group to break-away from mainstream religion to form their own set of practices and norms independently. Christianity and Islam were taken as exemplifications. In the points that were developed, it was seen that they share a history with lots of bitter disputes, which in turn led to an eventual division. But both religions suffered from internal rifts quite differently as well. Islams division was more political in nature, as two major factions with their respective claims to rightful succession to their now-dead Prophet-leader tore the emerging community apart thus, the Sunnis and the Shiites. Christianity on the other hand, after experiencing many breakaway groups in the course of history, had to suffer yet another major blow from internal disputes led by Martin Luther in the 1500s on account of doctrine and practices. What followed was a Christian religion torn once again, which ushered the creation of a big faction named Protestants. Religious divisions can be put under rigorous inquiry. There are viewpoints that consider these divisions as something that separate one group after another, while there are those who propose to see the same divisions as something that merely distinguish (but not separate). While the two viewpoints may be valid in their respective senses, this study places much interest not on their â€Å"distinguishability† or â€Å"separability†, but on the fact that, truly, religious divisions from within happen. References Ayoub, M. (2004). Islam. Faith and History. Oxford: Oneworld. Cook, C.. (2008) The Routledge Companion to Christian History. New York: Routledge. McCutcheon, R. (2007). Studying Religion. An Introduction. London: Equinox. Pennock, M. (2007) This is Our Church. A History of Catholicism. Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press. Renard, J. (1998)101 Questions and Answers on Islam. New York: Paulist Press. Slater, P. (1978). The Dynamics of Religion. Meaning and Change in Religious Traditions. San Francisco: Harper and Row. (Also consulted) http://ca. news. yahoo. com/s/capress/080330/world/vatican_muslims

Classifications of Government Expenditure

Classifications of Government Expenditure The welfare of the people of India highly depends on the expenditure of the Government of India (GOI). Government expenditure is a very important aspect of the governments budget presented by the finance minister every fiscal. Through it GOI tries to maximise the welfare of the people by appropriately allocating economic resources to various government activities. Government expenditure can be broadly classified into four categories: Functional Classification or Budget Classification: In April 1974, the GOI introduced a new accounting structure in order to serve the requirement of financial control and accountability. Under this structure, a five tier classification has been adopted sectoral, major head, minor head, subhead, and detailed heads of accounts. Sectoral classification has clubbed the government functions into three sectors, namely, General Services, Social and Community Services and Economic services. In the new structure, a major head is assigned to each function and minor head is assigned to each programme. Each minor head include activities or schemes or organizations as subheads. Economic Classification: Economic classification of the government expenditure signifies the way of the allocation of resources to various economic activities. It involves listing the government expenditure by significant economic categories, separating current expenditure from capital expenditure, spending for goods and services from transfers to individuals and institutions, inter-governmental loans from grants etc. This classification provides a record of governments influence in each sector of the economy. Cross Classification or Economic-cum-functional Classification: Cross classification provides the break-up of government expenditure both by economic and by functional heads. For example, expenditure on medical facilities, a functional head, is split as current expenditure, capital expenditure, transfers and loans. Accounting Classification: Accounting classification of the government expenditure can be presented under (i) Revenue and Capital (ii) Developmental and Non-Developmental and (iii) Plan and Non-Plan. Each classification of expenditure has an objective associated with it. For instance, Revenue and Capital expenditure indicates the creation of assets by government expenditure and unproductive expenditure. Further, the developmental and non-developmental classification differentiates the government classification as the expenditure on social and community services and economic service from that against general expenditure. Similarly, the Plan and Non-Plan expenditure represents the expenditure on planned schemes of government and non-plan expenditures. The above classification of the government expenditure serves one or more of the purposes of the government, such as, parliamentary control over expenditure, economic development, price stability etc. Analysis of Government Expenditure in India The chart given below shows the division of government expenditure in terms of capital and revenue expenditure for some selected years. The percentage share of revenue expenditure in government expenditure has increased over time due to increase in expenditure in society welfare. The growth story of the India can be said in terms of five year plans which give an account of government expenditure during the plans. The first five year plan (1951-56) laid emphasis on agriculture, including irrigation and power, wherein the government had spent 36% of its subject on these heads. The second five year plan (1956-61) marks the foray towards industrialization with an increased government spending in transport and communication sector with an contribution of 28.9% of its expenditure. The urge for industrialization continues even during the third five year pan (1961-66) with 24% and 20% public spending on Industry Minerals, and Transport and Communication respectively. Fourth to seventh five year plans have social services of education, health, welfare sharing a majority of the pie with 24% and 26% expenditure in fourth and fifth plan. The eight five year plan (1992-97) commenced the era of fiscal reform and liberalization. There were increased efforts to improve the economic growth and quality of life of the common man. There were high public spending on the sectors like energy (26.6%), Transportation and communication (20.8%) and Social and other services (19.6%). The Ninth five year plan (1997-2002) focussed on the development of infrastructure by allocating 72% of the funds to irrigation, energy, transport and communication and social service. The tenth five year had an objective of atleast 8% growth rate by providing a boast to power sector spending (26.56%) and increasing social Community services sector spending to 29.27%. COMPARISON OF INFLATION BASED ON CPI AND WPI Consumer Price Index (CPI), is defined as the weighted average change over time in the prices of a basket of the good and services consumed by a consumer. While, Wholesale Price Index is defined as the weighted average change over time in the price of a basket of wholesale goods. Inflation rate is calculated based on the CPI and WPI as the percentage in the respective indices over time, generally a year. The calculation of inflation rates based on CPI and WPI form 1994-95 to 2006-07 is given in the table provided below: CPI and WPI differ in terms of their weights assigned to their respective constituent basket goods and services. Food has been assigned a higher weight in CPI (46% in CPI-IW) as compared to a weight of only 27% in WPI. As a result, the CPI changes more with the change in the food process as compared to the WPI. Further, the fuel group has a much lower weight in CPI (7% on an average) relative to that in the WPI (14.2%). Consequently, the variations in international crude process affect the WPI more than CPI. Also, services are not included under WPI, but are included in the CPI to different extents. Hence, the CPIs are influenced by the service price inflation. Considering the data provided in the table above, it can be inferred that on an average CPI-IW inflation is higher than that of WPI inflation. Also, in terms of WPI inflation the period from 1994-95 to 1995-94 was of higher inflation, then the inflation decreases and increases again in 2000-01 and then decreases again. It can be seen that the inflation rate, both CPI inflation and WPI inflation, follows a cyclic pattern.

An Inspector Calls Essay -- miscellaneous

An Inspector Calls How does Priestley use the character of the Inspector to convey his own opinions and attitudes? An Inspector Calls, set in 1912, is a play with many social and political messages. J. B. Priestley believed a great deal in socialism and believed that many other people needed to be more caring about their community and the people in it. Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to convey his own thoughts, feelings and opinions about social issues. However, he also uses other characters, particularly Mr.Birling, to show the audience how cynical some people can be. It is possible that J.B.Priestley set this play in 1912 for a reason. Arthur Birling is a rich businessman who thinks very highly of himself, even though he is often wrong. Arthur's family respect him and listen intently to his ideas that 'there isn't a chance of war' and the Titanic is 'unsinkable.' As the play was written in 1947 and set in 1912, this is an example of dramatic irony and the audience would know that Arthur was very wrong in his opinions and might even think him to be stupid. When he says 'the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else', he explicitly says that he is strongly Capitalist and is narrow minded. Priestley wanted the audience to have a low opinion of Birling because he was discouraging his Capitalist politics and trying to show people like Birling to be at fault When Mr.Birling makes his speech he makes several points which Priestley himself disagrees with, he uses the Inspector as a medium to make a point to both the Birling family and the audience that we shouldn’t all â€Å"Look out for our own† which is how Birling describes it. According to Mr.Birlin g every man should put himself first, even before his family. We know this when he says â€Å"A man should look out for himself, and his family if he has one†; this shows just how full of self-importance he actually is. The timing of the Inspector’s entrance is immediately after Birling has made this speech. Throughout the play there are hints that the Inspector isn’t all he seems to be, is it possible that he’s actually just a fraud claiming to be an Inspector? The Inspector called himself 'Goole,' which could be a pun on the word 'ghoul' which is often referred to as some kind of ghostly being. Towards the end of this script it becomes appa... ...police saying that 'A girl has just died.... after swallowing some disinfectant' and a real Inspector will question the family. This is an unexpected twist. The fake Inspector was there to punish them on a moral level and to try and make them feel guilty enough to change their behaviour. This was accomplished with Eric and Sheila, but not with the others. The only thing that they would be affected by was a 'public scandal,' and the real Inspector would ensure that that is what they would get. Without this twist, it would seem that the Birling parents and Gerald would escape unpunished. The Inspector's main purpose is to teach. In the context of the play, he told the characters what had happened to a particular girl because they had each been guilty of selfishness. In regards to the whole of society, he voiced Priestley's opinions that we cannot make any progress if we do not work together. In my opinion, those watching or reading the play today would not gain as much from the story in regards to the moral teachings because most have now accepted the advantages of Socialism over Capitalism and so do not have as much to learn on the arguments of this issue as the audiences of 1947.

Arterial Blood Gas Essay

Understanding arterial blood gases can sometimes be confusing. A logical and systematic approach using these steps makes interpretation much easier. Applying the concepts of acidbase balance will help the healthcare provider follow the progress of a patient and evaluate the effectiveness of care being provided. Copyright 2004 Orlando Regional Healthcare, Education & Development Glossary ABG: arterial blood gas. A test that analyzes arterial blood for oxygen, carbon dioxide and bicarbonate content in addition to blood pH. Used to test the effectiveness of ventilation. Acidosis: a pathologic state characterized by an increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions in the arterial blood above the normal level. May be caused by an accumulation of carbon dioxide or acidic products of metabolism or a by a decrease in the concentration of alkaline compounds. Alkalosis: a state characterized by a decrease in the hydrogen ion concentration of arterial blood below normal level. The condition may be caused by an increase in the concentration of alkaline compounds, or by decrease in the concentration of acidic compounds or carbon dioxide. Chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD): a disease process involving chronic inflammation of the airways, including chronic bronchitis (disease in the large airways) and emphysema (disease located in smaller airways and alveolar regions). The obstruction is generally permanent and progressive over time. Diamox â„ ¢: a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that decreases H+ ion secretion and increases HCO3 excretions by the kidneys, causing a diuretic effect. Hyperventilation: a state in which there is an increased amount of air entering the pulmonary alveoli (increased alveolar ventilation), resulting in reduction of carbon dioxide tension and eventually leading to alkalosis. Hypoventilation: a state in which there is a reduced amount of air entering the pulmonary alveoli. Hypoxemia: below-normal oxygen content in arterial blood due to deficient oxygenation of the blood and resulting in hypoxia. Hypoxia: reduction of oxygen supply to tissue below physiological levels despite adequate perfusion of the tissue by blood. Iatrogenic: any condition induced in a patient by the effects of medical treatment. Kussmaul’s respirations: abnormal breathing pattern brought on by strenuous exercise or metabolic acidosis, and is characterized by an increased ventilatory rate, very large tidal volume, and no expiratory pause. Oxygen delivery system: a device used to deliver oxygen concentrations above ambient air to the lungs through the upper airway. Oxygenation: the process of supplying, treating or mixing with oxygen. Oxyhemoglobin: hemoglobin in combination with oxygen. Pneumothorax: an abnormal state characterized by the presence of gas (as air) in the plueral cavity. Pulmonary Embolism: the lodgment of a blood clot in the lumen of a pulmonary artery, causing a severe dysfunction in respiratory function. Thyrotoxicosis: toxic condition due to hyperactivity of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, tremors, increased metabolic basal metabolism, nervous symptoms and loss of weight.

Phytoplankton essays

Phytoplankton essays Upon a short period of very extensive research, one can conclude many things about the phytoplankton content of the waters surrounding the continent of Antarctica.First of all, what is phytoplankton? Phytoplankton is defined as planktonic plants and other autotrophs which are the most important primary producers in many marine ecosystems. (p. 213 Castro-Huber) Many factors influence the growth of phytoplankton such as sunlight, water temperature, and water current. In my specific study of the pytoplankton present in Antarctic waters, I discovered a most unusual pattern of growth: only on three occasions from September 1997 to March 2000 was phytoplankton present in the waters of Antarctica. Of the three individual times that phytoplankton was present in the water, two of these occured in December 1998 and 1999, the other in September 1998. Every other month from September 1997 until March 2000, the waters contained a phytoplankton reading of 0 (zero). The only conclusion that can be made about the numerous occasions in which phytoplankton was absent from the waters is that massive sheets of ice cover the water around the continent of Antarctia making unacceptable conditions for the ...

Mangrove Forests

Mangrove Forests Free Online Research Papers If there are no Mangrove Forests, then the sea will have no meaning. It is like having a tree with no roots, for the mangroves are the roots of the sea.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­- fisherman, Trang Province, southern Thiland Mangrove forests, together with their adjacent intertidal environments are among the most productive ecosystems on the earth. The great importance of these ecosystems to marine fauna was shown by Odum and Heald14 and has led to an interest in their conservation. Continuing loss of mangrove systems has, among other causes, been attributed to erosion of delicate coastal wetlands. In a broad floristic sense, mangroves include about 53 species in 23 genera and 16 families. However, Tomlinson15 recognises 34 species in nine genera and five families as exhibiting restriction to mangrove environments in which they play a major role and having specialised adaptations to this unique environment. Fig: 1.1: Mangrove distribution in India The name ‘mangrove’ is applied to other unrelated constituents of mangrove vegetation, such as Avicennia nitida, a bush of the vervain family, called black mangrove. True mangroves are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Rhizophorales, family Rhizophoraceae. Mangrove, a large tropical evergreen tree, grows on muddy tidal flats and along protected ocean shorelines. Mangrove ecosystems are found throughout the tropical regions of the world. They are most abundant in tropical Asia, Africa, and the islands of the SW Pacific. Several mangroves produce from their trunks aerial roots that become embedded in the mud and form a tangled network; this serves both as a prop for the tree and as a means of aerating the root system. Such roots also form a base for the deposit of silt and other material carried by the tides, and thus land is built up which is gradually invaded by other vegetation. Some mangrove species lack prop roots but have special pores on their branching root system for obtaining air. The mangrove fruit is a conical reddish-brown berry. Its single seed germinates inside the fruit while it is still on the tree, forming a large, pointed primary root that quickly anchors the seedling in the mud when the fruit is dropped. Mangroves have been harvested destructively on a large scale; the bark is a rich source of tannins, and the wood is used for wharf pilings and other purposes. Fig: 1.2: Aerial roots Fig: 1.3: Prop roots Mangroves provide a vide range of services and benefits to the mankind. Ecological and economical values of mangroves are recognized world over. They are instrumental in providing ecological and livelihood security to coastal regions and people. People are making use of mangroves by protecting them as a nursery ground for various fish and crab species, which form a part of their daily food. Good use of mangrove areas can be made for eco-tourism and tourists from India and abroad for a pleasant trip and crocodile watching. Mangroves have long functioned as a storehouse of materials providing food, medicines, shelter and tools. Fish, crabs, shellfish, prawns and edible snakes and worms are found there. The fruit of certain species including the nypa palm can be eaten after preparation along with the nectar of some of the flowers. The best honey is considered to be that produced from mangroves, particularly the river mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum. Numerous medicines are derived from mangroves. Ashes or bark infusions of certain species can be applied to skin disorders and sores including leprosy. Headaches, rheumatism, snakebites, boils, ulcers, diarrhoea, hemorrhages and many more conditions are traditionally treated with mangrove plants. The latex from the leaf of the blind-your-eye mangrove Excoecaria agallocha – claimed to cause blindness13 – but the powerful chemicals in it can be used on sores and to treat marine stings. The leaves are also used for fishing; when crushed and dropp ed in water, fish are stupefied and float to the surface. This sap is currently being tested for its medical properties and may play a part in western medicine. Certain tree species, notably the cedar mangrove, cannonball mangrove (relatives of the red cedar) and the grey mangrove, are prized for their hard wood and used for boat building and cabinet timber as well as for tools such as digging sticks, spears and boomerangs. The fronds of the nypa palm are used for thatching and basket weaving. Various barks are used for tanning, pneumatophores (peg roots) make good fishing floats while the wood from yellow mangroves (Ceriops species) has a reputation for burning even when wet. Fig: 1.4: Pneumatophores or peg roots of mangrove plants Ethnobotany and medicinal uses: Many of the substances in the wood and bark, the Diaspora and the leaves of different types of mangroves for instance the Indian Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis), the Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) are used in traditional medicine they are however also used as poisons. The Black Mangrove is used for diarrhoea and rheumatic aliments. The resin of black mangroves is among other things used as medicine against tumours, insect repellents can also be made out of its resin. In Uthoff (1996) one can find an outline of the manifold and long-range ethno-pharmaceutical usages. Up until today most of the substances have not been examined for their effectiveness. In the genetic pool of our mangrove ecosystem there is presumably a large potential for the discovery of powerful substances for modern medicine. The mangrove extracts were a source of mosquito larvicidal compounds, as well as of polyphenols highly active against viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B virus16 . Ecology and Mangroves 1. Prevention from soil erosion and stabilization of coasts and beaches 2. Protection of land from tidal surges and cyclonic storms. 3. Provides an excellent home to different plant species, birds and animal 4.Useful as eco-tourism niche for educational and recreational purpose Local population put the mangroves to several uses including the following: 1.Provides fuel wood, green manure, charcoal, timber, etc 2.Used for boat / canoe making 3.Used for thatching material, cordage and rope material 4.Used for medicinal purposes. 5.Useful for to produce honey and bye products.. Threats to mangroves: The threats are as given below, Man and his greed being the greatest threat: (1) Conversion of mangrove areas : It has been observed that mangroves in private areas / khazan lands face threat due to conversion of these lands for human habitation, aquaculture, agriculture and other developmental activities. Reclamation of these areas results in damage to saplings and small mangrove plants in general. Sporadic incidents of felling of trees illegally for conversion of land have also been reported, though damage due to this is almost negligible, as per official records. (2) Unauthorized felling: Cutting of Trees and branches of mangroves for firewood purpose, house and fence construction, reclamation of land etc is common. (3) Pollution : Oil slicks, solid waste disposal, industrial effluents etc. pollute the mangrove habitat and thereby affect them adversely. (4) Fishing : Illegal fish / fishling culture / aquaculture is common in Mangrove forests. Fishing using dragnets is common. This results in damage to the young regeneration and plantations. Besides, fisherman find mangrove regeneration an obstacle in their fishing activity and they uproot / damage the young crop and this is one of the major threats to the mangroves. (5) Insect attack / diseases: There are some species of insects or borers, which cause considerable damage to the stems and therefore to the mangroves. Besides, insect attack on the leaves of Rhizophora mucronata has been observed to take place regularly, which some times results in total damage to young plants. Also, insect attack on Avicennia alba is observed at a regular interval of 5 years, where the larvae of the insect eat all the leaves of the plants and make them leafless and causes severe damage to young crop. Fungal attack on the leaves of plants has also been observed, mainly on the leaves of Sonneritia alba, and other species also found to have been attacked by fungus. (6) Barnacle infestation: Plantations and young plants are being damaged by the attachment of barnacles to their stem. The plant affected generally is Rhizophora mucronata, which probably is due to its rough bark, thereby providing a good substratum for their attachment Research Papers on Mangrove ForestsGenetic EngineeringMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHip-Hop is ArtOpen Architechture a white paperMind TravelCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Free Essays on Odwalla, INC., And The E Coli Breakout

Odwalla, Inc., and the E. Coli Outbreak In the fall of 1996, Odwalla, Inc. emerged as a leading distributor of fresh juice products. Odwalla believed that the avoidance of heat treatment and artificial ingredients, including preservatives, in the bottling process maximized the retention of vitamins, enzymes, and the flavor of fresh fruits and vegetables. Their approach contributed to the company’s growth and success, but may have also been responsible for an outbreak of E. coli. This paper explores the options Odwalla examined and the ultimate decisions the company faced in three key areas during this crisis. Background Odwalla began as a small company when Greg Steltenpohl and two associates started delivering fresh squeezed orange juice to restaurants in 1980. Between 1980 and 1995 Odwalla expanded by acquiring other juice companies and increasing distribution capacity. Additionally, they expanded their product line by including additional juice products and creating new blended juices. In 1993, Odwalla became a publicly held company, which enabled their continued expansion. The â€Å"Odwalla† name was derived from a jazz composition which led to their â€Å"Odwalla vision – Odwalla, a breath of fresh intoxicating rhythm, living flavor, soil to soul, people to planet, nourishing the body whole.† In harmony with its vision, Odwalla marketed its juice as â€Å"fresh† whereby the products have no preservatives or artificial ingredients, and are not pasteurized (heat treated to kill microorganisms and to extend shelf life). Odwalla juice products were distributed from varied outlets including supermarkets, warehouse outlets, specialty stores, natural food stores, restaurants and colleges. Odwalla relied on their direct store distribution system to ensure their products’ are fresh. Most outlets were equipped with a stand-alone refrigerated cooler, and route sales people (RSPs) serviced the accounts. The RSP was respons... Free Essays on Odwalla, INC., And The E Coli Breakout Free Essays on Odwalla, INC., And The E Coli Breakout Odwalla, Inc., and the E. Coli Outbreak In the fall of 1996, Odwalla, Inc. emerged as a leading distributor of fresh juice products. Odwalla believed that the avoidance of heat treatment and artificial ingredients, including preservatives, in the bottling process maximized the retention of vitamins, enzymes, and the flavor of fresh fruits and vegetables. Their approach contributed to the company’s growth and success, but may have also been responsible for an outbreak of E. coli. This paper explores the options Odwalla examined and the ultimate decisions the company faced in three key areas during this crisis. Background Odwalla began as a small company when Greg Steltenpohl and two associates started delivering fresh squeezed orange juice to restaurants in 1980. Between 1980 and 1995 Odwalla expanded by acquiring other juice companies and increasing distribution capacity. Additionally, they expanded their product line by including additional juice products and creating new blended juices. In 1993, Odwalla became a publicly held company, which enabled their continued expansion. The â€Å"Odwalla† name was derived from a jazz composition which led to their â€Å"Odwalla vision – Odwalla, a breath of fresh intoxicating rhythm, living flavor, soil to soul, people to planet, nourishing the body whole.† In harmony with its vision, Odwalla marketed its juice as â€Å"fresh† whereby the products have no preservatives or artificial ingredients, and are not pasteurized (heat treated to kill microorganisms and to extend shelf life). Odwalla juice products were distributed from varied outlets including supermarkets, warehouse outlets, specialty stores, natural food stores, restaurants and colleges. Odwalla relied on their direct store distribution system to ensure their products’ are fresh. Most outlets were equipped with a stand-alone refrigerated cooler, and route sales people (RSPs) serviced the accounts. The RSP was respons...

Managing Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing Resources - Essay Example However, due to the rising competition in the service industry and the demand for quality services, service industries have also embarked on and implemented resources management practices in their organisations. The fire and rescue industry has also not been left out in implementing resources management techniques in their operations. Devon and Somerset is one of the largest fire and rescue service in the UK which was established in the year 2007 through a merger of Somerset and Devon fire brigades. This company operates different fire and rescue subsidiaries in the region thus making resources management vital to ensure growth and survival of the company and also to ensure that the services given to their customers are of higher standards (Cameron, 2009). Devon and Somerset Company have different appliances which enable it to perform its core competencies of rescuing and fighting fire during fire emergencies. The company has different and diverse special appliances as well as front line gargets for putting out fire. One of its major appliances which are vital for putting out fire is the water tender ladder. The company’s water tender ladder has the capability of pumping about 3,000 litres of water per minute for two locations and it has a storage capacity of more than 1,800 litres. This pump also has various types of ladders which are up to 13.5 metres. The cab also contains four sets of air breathing apparatus which are compressed. Each of the pumps also contain outside lockers located at the outside part. Inside the pumps, there are a number of powdered rescue equipment usually hydraulic and also a thermal imaging camera, pressure fans, equipment for safety heights and water rescue equipment. Water tender ladder has call sig ns one and three (Trotman Publishing, 2001). Another appliance is the water tender which is almost similar to the above mentioned water tender ladders. The difference is that these two appliances carry different set of equipment with

Virtual Reality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Virtual Reality - Research Paper Example At some point in 1990s other terms related to VR appears such as, virtual environment or synthetic environment (Mario Gutierrez, F Vexo, & Thalmann,). Virtual reality is considered as the most powerful human-computer interface. However a number of TV shows, magazines, newspapers and discussions have described virtual reality in many different as, well as in confusing ways (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003). In terms of functionality, virtual reality is defined as the simulation of computer graphics in order to create the real looking world. The three I’s of virtual reality is immersion, interaction and imagination (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003). Some people link virtual reality on the basis of devices such as the head mounted displays also known as goggles are considered as the simulators however, in recent year’s virtual reality is not conducted via head mounted displays but it is done through huge projection screens or desktop PCs (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003). In the same fashion, sensin g gloves i.e. another example of virtual reality device is now being replaced by the trackballs and joysticks. Hence, virtual reality cannot be defined on the basis of devices as, new devices are being manufactured and improvement in technology is being escalated every year therefore, replacing the previous technology and devices (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003). ... Display of organ reactions such as bleeding from an artery. Interactivity between objects such as surgical instruments and organs. Sensory feedback – tactile and force feedback. Definition Virtual reality is defined as the transfer of information effortlessly, efficiently and fluently from the device to the operator by means of a well-organized man made computer interface. The specific components such as head-coupled virtual images, stereoscopic displays, hap tic interfaces and position-tracking systems characterize virtual reality as a technological system. Virtual reality as illustrated by Kalawsky as: â€Å"Virtual environments are synthetic sensory experiences that communicate physical and abstract components to a human operator and participant. The synthetic sensory experience is generated by a computer system that one day may present an interface to the human sensory systems that is indistinguishable from the real physical world† (Beutel,). Another book named The Silicon Mirage defines virtual reality as â€Å"Virtual reality is a way for humans to visualize, manipulate and interact with the computers and extremely complex data† (Beutel,). The above definitions state that the virtual reality is a group of technologies as, well as the new example of human interaction and manipulation of information. In other words, virtual reality offers its users to navigate, act together in a three dimensional computer generated environment in actual era. History The history of virtual reality starts in the late 1960s. Virtual reality (VR) was narrated as the multisensory simulation of the real world. Morton Heilig a cinematographer constructed a multisensory vehicle simulator in 1962 which was named as ‘Sensorama’ (Mario Gutierrez,

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Economic Geography - Essay Example The second map depicts the results of the analysis of the number of immigrants in every state in America, by 2009. An analysis of survey by the census bureau shows that Newark, NY, is among the most populous urban areas in the United States. The state has over twenty million residents and one of the states that have the highest number of foreign people. The high population and immigration in New York result from the diverse economic activities in the state. Newark, NY, has a vast diversity including Canadians, West Europeans, Latin Americans, Russians, Africans and other foreign members. Different counties in New York have high number of foreign-borns. Fulton County has one thousand foreign-borns, for instance (U. S census Bureau 1). The two maps have close relationships since high immigration is a cause of high population in New York. High immigration also emanates from the influence of other pull factors as employment, New York being among the most industrialized states in the

Current event synopsis 2 page Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current event synopsis 2 page - Term Paper Example Ron Lieber highlights the extent to which customers suffer after their card information falls on rogue hands. The primary effect of debit card fraud is the realization of a sour relationship between providers of financial services and their customers. In light of the article, First American Bank, Bank of America, Taxi operators, and debit card service providers such as MasterCard and Visa face strive to retain their customers after cases of fraud emerge. This is because fraud affects customer trust, loyalty, and general satisfaction with the companies caught up in fraudulent transactions. To ascertain their commitment to customer welfare, banks and businesses are quick to implement strategies that assure customers of their financial safety and security. One of most employed strategy is the practice of zero liability policy. This policy ensures that customers are not liable for transactions that they do not approve. Moreover, banks and other financial providers replace affected debit cards shortly after cases of fraud are reported. Amid diverse and dynamic efforts to minimize the impact of fraud on customer satisfaction, the article maintains that frustration and dissatisfaction are still evident among customers. Debit and credit card users become financially insecure once they fall victim to fraudulent card transactions. Over and above that, reimbursement of funds takes time to go through. Affected customers have to wait for an uncertain period before they can regain access to lost funds. The conclusion drawn by the article’s author holds that debit card fraud results in customer frustration. In particular, Ron Lieber notes First American Bank and the Bank of America as the recent institutions to suffer customer frustration following debit card fraud. This comes shortly after Target, a leading retailer, lost customers’ debit and credit card information to hackers on one of the busiest shopping days in America. Ron Lieber’s

Industry Analysis on Coach Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Industry Analysis on Coach - Assignment Example It is now recognized as a leading luxury goods producer in America with the brand image affordable luxury. The company’s current product line consists of Coach Handbags, Accessories, Wearables, Footwear, Jewelry, Sunwear, Travel Bags, Watches and Fragrance (Coach). Market Size Currently Coach Inc. is recognized as a large, profitable and growing American manufacturer of accessories and gifts for men and women. It owns approximately a 30% market share of the accessories and gifts manufacturing industry in the world. Coach Inc. has a significant influence on the accessories and gifts manufacturing industry in America. Net income and gross profit of the company amounted 353 million and 1.09 billion dollars respectively as at the end quarter of 2012 (Wikiinvest). Moreover, Coach Inc. employed approximately 18,000 people on a full and part time basis as of June 30, 2012 (Coach). Market Growth Rate Coach sales marked a sharp drop during January 2013. The company’s sales dropp ed by 2% in markets located in North America. North America is considered the largest market location of Coach Inc. It is listed as one of the largest companies in the S&P 500 stock market index. In January 2013, Coach Inc. was the largest declining company in the S&P 500 list. The company also failed to achieve the sales targets set for the same month (Cheng). Nevertheless, the company management is optimistic about the future sales because the yearly performance in 2012 recorded positive growth. During 2012, the price of the company shares rose by 20.9%; net sales increased by 14.5% to $4.76 billion, direct-to-consumer sales rose by 16.1% to $4.23 billion, comparable sales in Coach’s North American stores increased by 6.6%. Moreover, Coach opened 9 new retail stores and 26 new factory stores and brought the total number of retail and factory stores to 354 and 169, respectively, in North America. Another 10 factory stores were also expanded. Coach China opened 30 stores in n ew locations, bringing the total number of locations to 96. Coach Japan opened 11 new locations, bringing the total number of locations to 180 towards the end of 2012. Thus at this stage, it is impossible to determine whether the Coach Inc. market is declining or growing (Cheng). Score of Competitive Rivalry The company’s products are sold in over 20 countries in the world including North America, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Coach products are directly sold to the customers via company-operated stores in these countries. Direct-to-consumer is the prominent marketing strategy of Coach Inc. The company is also engaged in indirect marketing, i.e., sales to wholesale customers, distributors, licensed firms and web based marketing. For Coach Inc., the world is the market. Thus, the opportunity for obtaining the benefits of economies of scale is a major advantage for Coach Inc. However, it also faces issues relating to trading across borders such as loss in fair value, earnings or cash flows arising from adverse changes in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates. The company’s policy focuses on reinvesting the profits earned abroad in the same country. Furthermore, Coach Inc.’ Annual Report 2012 reveals that the company uses the following distinguished marketing strategies to remain its annual sales revenues: (1) Distinctive Brand: Coach offers distinctive, easily

Transformational Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Transformational Leadership - Assignment Example Therefore, as a form of a referent power, the personal charisma of transformational leaders makes it easier for them to attract and win the support of their subordinates (Posakoff & Schriesheim, 1985). Yes. In the company where I used to work, my supervisor is a good example of a leader that uses transformational leadership style. Rather than imposing strict rules and guidelines, my supervisor is more focused on motivating us to become self-efficient workers. By trusting our work capabilities and putting up high expectations on our work performances, my previous supervisor indirectly trains us to become leaders in our own little way. His leadership technique also inspires us to work together as a team in order to achieve the organizational goal. Among the other types of leaders, authentic leaders resemble close to an effective transformational leaders. In general, authentic leaders are individuals who show strong confidence, hope, optimism, and resiliency which are needed to allow them to develop greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behavior among their subordinates (Luthans & Avolio, 2003, pp. 241-258). Similar to transformational leaders, authentic leaders are able to recognize the value of each individual based on their personality type and special talents (Avolio & Gardner, 2005). Since authentic leaders allow each employee to go through the process of self-reflection and self-awareness, the team members are free to express themselves and inspire other people within the workplace (Avolio & Gardner, 2005; Covey,

Current event synopsis 2 page Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current event synopsis 2 page - Term Paper Example Ron Lieber highlights the extent to which customers suffer after their card information falls on rogue hands. The primary effect of debit card fraud is the realization of a sour relationship between providers of financial services and their customers. In light of the article, First American Bank, Bank of America, Taxi operators, and debit card service providers such as MasterCard and Visa face strive to retain their customers after cases of fraud emerge. This is because fraud affects customer trust, loyalty, and general satisfaction with the companies caught up in fraudulent transactions. To ascertain their commitment to customer welfare, banks and businesses are quick to implement strategies that assure customers of their financial safety and security. One of most employed strategy is the practice of zero liability policy. This policy ensures that customers are not liable for transactions that they do not approve. Moreover, banks and other financial providers replace affected debit cards shortly after cases of fraud are reported. Amid diverse and dynamic efforts to minimize the impact of fraud on customer satisfaction, the article maintains that frustration and dissatisfaction are still evident among customers. Debit and credit card users become financially insecure once they fall victim to fraudulent card transactions. Over and above that, reimbursement of funds takes time to go through. Affected customers have to wait for an uncertain period before they can regain access to lost funds. The conclusion drawn by the article’s author holds that debit card fraud results in customer frustration. In particular, Ron Lieber notes First American Bank and the Bank of America as the recent institutions to suffer customer frustration following debit card fraud. This comes shortly after Target, a leading retailer, lost customers’ debit and credit card information to hackers on one of the busiest shopping days in America. Ron Lieber’s

Transformational Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Transformational Leadership - Assignment Example Therefore, as a form of a referent power, the personal charisma of transformational leaders makes it easier for them to attract and win the support of their subordinates (Posakoff & Schriesheim, 1985). Yes. In the company where I used to work, my supervisor is a good example of a leader that uses transformational leadership style. Rather than imposing strict rules and guidelines, my supervisor is more focused on motivating us to become self-efficient workers. By trusting our work capabilities and putting up high expectations on our work performances, my previous supervisor indirectly trains us to become leaders in our own little way. His leadership technique also inspires us to work together as a team in order to achieve the organizational goal. Among the other types of leaders, authentic leaders resemble close to an effective transformational leaders. In general, authentic leaders are individuals who show strong confidence, hope, optimism, and resiliency which are needed to allow them to develop greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behavior among their subordinates (Luthans & Avolio, 2003, pp. 241-258). Similar to transformational leaders, authentic leaders are able to recognize the value of each individual based on their personality type and special talents (Avolio & Gardner, 2005). Since authentic leaders allow each employee to go through the process of self-reflection and self-awareness, the team members are free to express themselves and inspire other people within the workplace (Avolio & Gardner, 2005; Covey,

Evolution and History of Cooking Essay Example for Free

Evolution and History of Cooking Essay The value of history is that it helps us to understand the present and the future. In food service, knowledge of our professional heritage helps us to see why we do things as we do, how our cooking techniques have developed and refined and how we can continue to develop and innovate in the years ahead. THE EGYPTIANS: †¢ First recorded instance of inn-keeping †¢ Generally managed by mother and father operations †¢ Most food was from their own gardens and flocks †¢ Meals consisted of mainly dates, figs, apricots, fish, chicken, duck, onions and red cabbage. †¢ Cooking media was largely olive oil. †¢ Poorer inns served predominantly ‘pulses’ that is soups made from a base of lentils. THE GREEKS: †¢ Ancient Greeks were the next who left written and pictorial records of eating, drinking and sleeping away from home †¢ Culinary world owes much of its knowledge to the Greeks †¢ Almost all of the foods purchased and prepared today, as well as many types of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic were used during middle and Late Greek times. †¢ The oldest cookbook preserved today is that of â€Å"Apicius† written sometime between400 BC and 100 AD depending upon the historical source. †¢ This book contains not only detailed instructions for preparing the cuisine of that day, but also rigid specifications for purchasing foodstuffs †¢ The art and cookery then spread to the Roman chefs of that day who were both negatively as well as positively motivated to learn the art of cooking food. †¢ The Greeks are also credited for developing the first comprehensive set of kitchen utensils and equipment †¢ Tools like frying pans, sauce pans, colanders, Bain Marie and butcher’s knives are being used even today. THE ROMANS: †¢ During this time, a group of scholars were sent to Greece to study literature and arts, including culinary arts †¢ Many of the finest Greek chefs were lured away and were treated as professionals worthy of the highest respect and esteem. †¢ The best of Greek culinary achievements were brought to Rome and were integrated into the Roman culture. THE FRENCH: †¢ The marriage of Catherine de Medici to King Henry has brought a whole battalion of Florentine cooks to France. †¢ In the 17th and 18th Century, the Royalty and high ranking people started taking great interest in foods and the cooks in gratitude started naming the dishes after them. †¢ By the end of the 19th century, French culinary art reached its peak, the highest point of perfection. †¢ Chefs like Escoffier and Prosper Salles etc published books on cookery, which had fat reaching importance and are known throughout the world today. †¢ France’s contribution to the international culinary repertoire is well known and has bestowed her own names on the majority of dishes creating technical terminology of international usage. †¢ Every ingredient speaks its own language. The most important role is to use only the best and perfect ingredients and proper blend of colour and taste of ingredients. †¢ Garnishes and accompaniments play a key role in French cuisine and dishes are identified by them. CHINESE COOKING: †¢ Chinese culture is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. †¢ In china, friendship and food are inseparably linked, a gathering without food is considered incomplete and improper. †¢ One thousand years ago, before BC, they were already experimenting with fancy cooking, recording their recipes on silk and bamboo. †¢ Considered the best in the Eastern world, they have been gastronomically courageous, setting no limits to their experiments. †¢ They put everything edible to use, finding wonderful ways to utilize strange plants and roots like lily buds, bamboo shoots, jasmine etc. †¢ Strong sense of artistry is expressed in Chinese cooking. †¢ Chinese cooking needs the shortest time, uses intense heat sealing the juices and preserving colour and texture. †¢ Regional cuisines of China include: Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Fukien and Xhanhung. INDIAN COOKING: †¢ Indian cuisine can be said to have evolved along lines parallel to Indian history †¢ Bhima, the Pandava prince and Nala, a King in Hindu Mythology have been acclaimed to be the best chefs. †¢ Strong impact made on Indian cuisine was during the reign of Moghals in the 16th Century, who were fond of good living, eating and cooking. †¢ The regional dishes are influenced in different parts of India by religion, caste and old traditions and customs. †¢ The preparations of various dishes are handed over from one generation to the next †¢ Indian cuisine can be broadly classified into North Indian and South Indian Cuisines.

Total Quality Management Within The UK Service Industry Management Essay

Total Quality Management Within The UK Service Industry Management Essay Total Quality Management is an approach that has been used over the years to improve quality and customer satisfaction. The implementation of TQM involves each member of an organisation from the top management to the entire workforce. The approach was first implemented in the manufacturing industry but it was later embraced in the service industry. The UK service industry which contributes greatly to the countrys economy is among the different industries that have been using TQM to improve its performance. Sectors such as banking, transport and communication, hotel and tourism are among some of the sectors that have implemented the approach in every transaction, process and service delivered to customers. However a critical analysis of the approach used within the UK service industry portrays the inadequacy of most companies to effectively implement the approach to gain maximally from its benefits. The concept of quality in project management has been in existence for a long time though its meaning has been evolving over time. In the early part of the 20th century, quality management was viewed as the inspection of products to ascertain that they met certain standards (Reid Sanders, 2005). Later in the 1960s quality was viewed to involve the entire organisation. All functions started being held responsible for the quality of the products and services. In the 1970s competition quality came to be with companies focusing on improving quality in order for them to be competitive. Companies that were not able to meet the quality standards set did not survive the competition. The concept of total quality management was later developed and it has led companies to build on quality of their products and processes. The efforts of the members within these organisations help improve the processes, culture, products and services in order to attain the quality standards expected. The concept was first developed in the manufacturing industry but it has spread to other industries such as the services sector (Pandian, 2007). In this sector total quality management focuses more on customer services and improving their satisfaction as they are considered to be very important in the sector. Companies that are considered to be in the service industry include hospitality and tourism companies, banking, insurance and financial companies, as well as telecommunication companies among others. Satisfying the customer is the main aim of these companies. The major challenge that these companies face while trying to attain this objective is the inability to establish smooth relations between them and the customers in order to retain them for future business. The total quality management approach helps these businesses to connect with their customers at every stage of the business process and in every transaction undertaken (Pandian, 2007). This paper undertakes a study of the total quality management approach that is used in the UK services sector and provides a critical analysis of the appropriateness of the approach in comparison to the academic models. The UK Services Industry The UK services sector is comprised of trades both wholesale and retail, restaurants and hotels, the financial services, transport and communication, real estate, government services, computing and IT among other business activities and services. The industry currently dominates the UK economy and remains a vital component of the economy. In the year 2000, the industry accounted for over 70% of the gross domestic product with the private part of the industry accounting for 50% (Skipper, 2000). The industry draws a lot of attention both locally and internationally in a bid to strengthen it and develop it further. During the year 2010, the industry experienced high growth and helped to improve the recovery process of the UK economy. According to BBC News (2010) the growth of the industry helped reduce job losses and grow the economy by 0.3%. The improved performance of the industry gave most companies confidence to increase their output in order to offset some of the challenges that the industry was facing such as the high fuel prices and VAT charges. The UK government has been putting pressure on most of the industries to improve on quality to enhance performance. Some of the industries have taken this up very seriously such as the service and manufacturing industries. In the service industry the health services, financial, hotel and tourism are among some of the sectors that have embraced the TQM approach. The concepts of quality, high standards and professionalism to improve customer satisfaction have been emphasised in these sectors to enhance competition. In the early 1980s the management of the UK financial services sector focussed mainly on administrative practises and personnel control rather than focussing on the customers (Hopwood Chapman, 2008 ). However with the deregulation of the banks the sector became similar to other industries such as manufacturing. The front office and back office services were formed and these led to the management now focussing on consultant services and pure administrative functions. Various techniques and approaches of management started being introduced and implemented such as the TQM, business process reengineering and activity based costing. Increased competition and lower interest rates started to define the banks as they engaged in marketing financial products to remain profitable (Hopwood Chapman, 2008 ). Interest in non financial performance measures engaged the banks in activities and processes that increased customer satisfaction, product quality, employee morale and job satisfaction, efficiency and productivity in order to improve market share. The management has now been focussing on the front line personnel who deal directly with the customers and influenced the service quality and delivery. They rely on the customer satisfaction and loyalty to maintain their market share and profitability. The banking industry which is the largest sector in the service industry in the UK benefits a lot from the TQM approach (Domingo, 2006). However the main issue that hinders the implementation of the approach is the lack of training in customer service. Most of the people in this sector are financial people who have little or no training on how to deal with customers. The TQM approach puts the customers at the centre and focuses on improving quality in order to satisfy them. A lot of planning and management is undertaken to ensure that the service quality is continually improved. All the people in the organisation need to be involved in the TQM approach for it to succeed and quality to be improved. Bankers and other employees in the financial sectors tend to concentrate more on the money issues and neglect the customers and quality (Frick, 1997). For this reason, the organisations in the financial sectors are not able to learn and apply the valuable lessons in customer service and people management to produce world class quality services. Presently the financial sector is ranked in terms of the financial resources and other quantitative measures such as asset base, number of transactions, depositors, loans released and other performance measures (Domingo, 2006). A lot of managerial focus is put on asset management, financial ratio analysis, cash flow and spread management among others. Most of the institutions use these measures to create satisfied customers. They ensure that their objectives, measurements and systems achieve this in order to improve the satisfaction levels of their customers. Empowerment of the workers in the service industry is one of the decisions that affect the implementation of the TQM approach. Workers need to be empowered for them to make decisions that regard quality of products and services and the satisfaction of customers. Employees also need to be involved and good communication channels set up for the approach to work. In this way each and every person in the organisation is involved in the total quality management programme and they improve in the way that they undertake their jobs in order to meet the objectives set. In most of the service industries in the UK, quality tends to be measured in terms of quantitative measures rather than qualitative. Companies simply use the approach that is used by the manufacturing companies which involve quantitative measures to determine the quality standards and the levels of customer satisfaction. However in the service industry, though it is difficult to quantify the customer satisfaction levels through their smiles and reviews, companies still continue to rely on quantitative measures. They focus on how quickly the customer got the service rather than focussing on whether the service that was delivered was good and in accordance to standards set. In order to gauge their quality standards and customer satisfaction, companies in the service industry focus on the customer complaints to provide a way of reviewing themselves (Hollins Shinkins, 2006). In the UK however studies have shown that most of the customers tend to accept the poor services offered and do not complain. They however move on to look for better services elsewhere. As part of the TQM approach noting and handling complaints is considered as a starting point of dealing with poor quality standards. Management should instead be more engaged in moving on to seeking the issues that lead to the complaints and handling them before the complaints are heard from the customers (Hollins Shinkins, 2006). This will help improve the image of the organisation since the UK dissatisfied customers who do not complain tend to tell others of their dissatisfaction with the services offered. The TQM approach used by the service providers should also focus on performing beyond the customers expectations. They should go a little further and attempt to satisfy the customers in more ways. The use of mystery shoppers has been used in the UK service sectors by companies like London Underground who used mystery shoppers to determine their quality performance (Hollins Shinkins, 2006). The shoppers were given booklets which had questions which required qualitative and quantitative answers. The quantitative questions required the mystery shoppers to give scores on standards such as cleanliness while the qualitative questions required the mystery shoppers to provide their own judgement. In order for the shoppers to provide some consistency in their answers to the qualitative questions, they were provided with some training on standards to that they could make sound judgements. In the UK transport sector, the government introduced contracts which allowed the local authorities and private bus operators to form partnerships that would help improve quality (House of Commons, 2006). This arrangement allows the bus operators to engage in high quality services, improve staff training and other facilities in order to improve customer satisfaction. Efforts have also been made by the operators to improve passenger information including how the buses are run to enhance service quality. The UK domestic and international tourism markets which are worth over  £17 billion every year have been attracting visitors from all over the world (Kandampully, Mok, Sparks, 2001). The service providers have been using the TQM approach to attract and retain most of these visitors for them to compete and increase their market share globally. They have been continuously improving their services and processes as per the TQM approach while also remaining efficient and effective. One of the principles that are commonly used by these companies is the establishment of plans and targets to improve the quality of the services they offer. Innovation and service delivery is also emphasised and encouraged. The standards that the customers demand are used as objectives in the plans set as a way of improving customer satisfaction. In the sport and leisure services, a quality management initiative was established in 1996 that brought together the private and public sector professionals (Kandampully, Mok, Sparks, 2001). The initiative was formed to enhance quality improvement, share knowledge and the best practises that can be used in these services. Managers were encouraged to involve the views of the customers in their operations. To improve service performance, self evaluations and assessments were introduced as part of the initiative to allow the companies to compare themselves with the industry standards. Customer relations, facility operations, staffing, service development and reviews were improved and encouraged as part of the management issues that can help improve customer satisfaction and service quality. Total Quality Management Total Quality Management has been defined by the International Standard ISO 9000 as the management approach that is focussed on quality through the participation of all the members of an organisation (Ramasamy, 2005). The approach aims for long term success and customer satisfaction as well as additional benefits to all members of an organisation and the society at large. The approach seeks to continually improve the quality standards and process by making sure that each and every member of the organisation understands and practises their role in a way that leads to the attainment of the goals set under the approach. The benefits of this approach are numerous and include higher profits, increased customer and employee satisfaction, more business and increased amounts of goodwill from the society towards the organisations (Ramasamy, 2005). The managerial and leadership styles are also made stronger and persistent among the top level management. Training of all employees helps in developing their skills and abilities and increases their morale. The organisations also become more efficient and effective with their material and human resources as they attain their objectives. Several concepts are used in this quality management approach. The major concept involves the focus on the customer (Naidu, Babu, Rajendra, 2006). Every task, decision and process is carried out with the customer in mind. According to the approach a company needs to continually check on the attitudes of the customers. It is also part of the approach for the management and employees to do everything right at the first time in order to reduce the complaints and levels of defective work. Continuous improvement is also emphasised to allow the company to get better. Under this approach management is advised to continually improve each and every part of the organisation rather than improving all sectors by 100% at once. The workforce should also be involved in the approach through transforming the culture of the organisation to embrace quality (Chapman Hall, 1994). This will help change the attitude of everyone in the organisation and enhance excellence rather than mediocrity. Training and frequently communicating with the workforce is also encouraged in this quality management approach. Enlarging the skills of the employees allows them to handle different tasks and also do them better (Pereira, 1994). Performance measurement is emphasised in the TQM approach as it helps the company to make decisions based on the results and maintain standards as well as keeping the processes at a certain standard. Top management need to be involved in the entire process for the approach to be successful. Employees can also be given the power to make some of the decisions that are needed on the spot to improve quality and customer satisfactions. Teamwork between the management and the employees can help reduce some of the issues, conflicts and provide a balanced working environment, improve employee morale as well as reduce the roles and responsibilities between the management and the employees (Ramasamy, 2005). Analysis The total quality management approach that is used in the UK service industry has helped improve the standards of quality and customer satisfaction within the various sectors. Some of the sectors have gained profits and larger market shares with the implementation of the approach in their processes and service delivery. However most of the sectors need to implement the approach further in all of their activities while involving the employees for the successful implementation and improvement of the benefits to be attained. Companies in the service industry need to undertake proper training of their workforce and improve communication channels in order to involve each and every member of the organisation in the delivery of services and improved quality standards. The top management need to frequently interact with the customers to listen to their views and opinions which should be integrated within the company. These views should help improve the decision making process and the objectives and goals to be achieved. The welfare of the employees also needs to be looked into for the approach to work. The needs of the employees need be taken care of and their issues addressed for them to be in a position to improve their attitudes towards quality and offer their best services to the customers and to the company. Empowering the employees can also boost their morale and confidence in undertaking their roles and responsibilities. Some of the decision making should be left on the employees to improve efficiency and make the employees feel like they are part of the organisation and improve their responsibilities. The companies in the service industry should shift from quantitative performance measurement techniques and instead use qualitative measures to determine their overall performance levels. The use of customer complaints should be avoided as it is a reactive measure. The companies should focus on proactive measures to determine their performance levels and improve their services and quality standards. With these techniques the service sector in the UK will perform much better than it is doing currently and continue dominating the economy. Conclusion The service industry in the UK has been dominating the economy of the country and providing a huge GDP. The government has been emphasising on the need for the industry to improve the quality of the services in order to allow the industry to compete effectively in the international market. Some of the sectors have adopted the TQM approach in their activities and process to help them improve their quality levels as well as improve customer satisfactions. The TQM approach has brought in different benefits for the companies in the sector. However a careful analysis of the approach used in these companies highlights the hindrances that have affected the implementation of the approach. The management of these companies need to embrace this approach fully in the service industry in order to gain maximally from the benefits of TQM. Bibliography BBC News. (2010, March 3). Service Sector Growth Hits Three-Year High. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from BBC News: Chapman, Hall. (1994). Total Quality Management: the key to business improvement. London: Springer. Domingo, R. T. (2006, March 4). TQM in Banking. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from RTD Online: Edraw Max. (n.d). TQM Diagram Software. Retrieved January 08, 2011, from Edraw Max: Frick, R. A. (1997). The Application of Total Quality Management on Service Quality in Banking. The Journal of Bank Cost Management Accounting , 10. Hollins, B., Shinkins, S. (2006). Managing Service Operations: Design and Implementation. London: SAGE Publications. Hopwood, A. G., Chapman, C. S. (2008 ). Handbook of Management Accounting Research. Oxford: Elsevier. House of Commons. (2006). Bus Service Accross the UK. London: The Stationery Office. Kandampully, J., Mok, C., Sparks, B. A. (2001). Service Quality Management in Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure. London: Routledge. Naidu, N., Babu, K. M., Rajendra, G. (2006). Total Quality Management. New Delhi: New Age International. Pandian, T. K. (2007, June 26). Importance of TQM for Services Sector. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from The Hindu Business Line: Pereira, J. (1994, October). Total Quality Continous Improvement. Management Services , 38. Ramasamy, S. (2005). Total Quality Management. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill. Reid, R. D., Sanders, R. N. (2005). Total Quality Management. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Skipper, H. (2000, December). The UK Service Sector. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from Office for National Statistics:

Santiago as Code Hero in Hemingways The Old Man and The Sea Essay

Santiago as Code Hero in Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea "The Old Man and the Sea" is a heroic tale of man's strength pitted against forces he cannot control. It is a story about an old Cuban fisherman and his three-day battle with a giant Marlin. Through the use of three prominent themes; friendship, bravery, and Christianity; the "Old Man and the Sea" strives to teach important life lessons to the reader while also epitomizing Santiago, the old fisherman, as a Hemingway code hero. The relationship between Santiago and the boy is introduced early in the story. They are unlikely companions; one is old and the other young, yet they share an insuperable amount of respect and loyalty for each other. Santiago does not treat Manolin as a young boy but rather as an equal. Age is not a factor in their relationship. Manolin does not even act as a young boy; he is mature and sensitive to Santiago's feelings. He even offers to disobey his parents and accompany Santiago on his fishing trips. Santiago is viewed as an outcast in his village because he has not caught any fish for more than eighty-four days and is therefore "unlucky". Nonetheless Manolin is loyal to Santiago and even when his parents forbid him he wants to help his friend. Their conversations are comfortable, like that of two friends who have known each other for a long time. When they speak it is usually about baseball or fishing, the two things they have most in common. Their favorite team is the Yankees and Santiago never loses faith in them even when the star player, Joe DiMaggio is injured with a heel spur. In this way Santiago not only teaches Manolin about fishing but also about important characteristics such as faith. In the story Santiago's bravery is uns... ...e does allow Christianity to be a more dominant theme than the other but instead makes it more symbolic than intentional. He does not smother the relationship between the old man and the young boy but instead separates them for a large part of the story. Finally, he does not make Santiago's bravery a central them by highlighting his weaknesses. In the end the old mans perseverance and faith pay off. He finally gains the respect of the village and succeeds in teaching Manolin the lessons of faith and bravery. In Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea", one will find many examples in which the main character, Santiago, surpasses many hardships while being courageous, brave, and being a friend. Each of these: courage, bravery, and friendship, are qualities in a Hemingway code hero. Hemingway, Ernest. "The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999.

The Influence of Sigmund Freud on Society Essay -- Essays Papers Sigmu

The Influence of Sigmund Freud on Society The late nineteenth century marked a number of radical developments on science, art, and philosophy. Although the lives of humans used to be constantly at the mercy of nature, during this time, humans began harnessing its power and eventually started controlling it. A sudden urge to look beyond the surface of things became widespread. Sigmund Freud looked beyond the effects of behavior and explored the unconscious. He significantly changed the way the world viewed behavior by explaining certain levels of consciousness, the components of the unconscious mind, and different developmental phases. Sigmund, son of Amalia and Jacob Freud, was born on May 6, 1856 in Freiburg, a rural town which was then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A confused child, he experienced extreme love, desire, and hate which ultimately inspired him to study human development. School consumed virtually all of Freud's time until he graduated from the University of Vienna in 1881, with a degree in medicine (Stevenson). Freud began experimenting with hypnosis and asking his patients to freely speak while being hypnotized. In this he discovered the existence of an unconscious. Freud referred to this as "free association" and soon began using it with patients who were not hypnotized but merely in a relaxed state. While his patients spoke he found their unconscious minds were releasing memories, sometimes painful ones, that had been trapped within their minds since childhood. He called this uncovering of memories psychoanalysis (Myers 420). In his experimentation with the unconscious mind, Freud discovered three levels of consciousness. The first is consciousness. This i... ...sible to find clear solutions to problems without blaming people. These and other discoveries of Freud's changed the world in many ways. It was then possible to understand the origin of behavior and how to change it. Psychoanalysis opened doors to the unconscious mind and gave reasons for certain behavior. The work of Sigmund Freud was only a small portion of the gradual control over nature that humans began possessing at the turn of the century, yet in the world of psychology this was quite a large step. Works Cited - Myers, David G. Psychology. Holland: Worth Publishers, 1998. "Sigmund Freud" <http://oldsci.eiu.edu/psychology/Spensor/Freud.html> (31 March 1998). - Stevenson, David B. "Sigmund Freud: The Father of Psychoanalysis." http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/...dow/HTatBrown/freud/Biography.html> (31 March 1998).

Is the Chesapeake Bay at risk? Essay

The earth has witnessed a continued increase in its average surface and aerial temperatures, a phenomenon observed since the periods of industrial revolution struck the globe. Scientists and other experts on climate issues have even projected a further increase in this warming effect (Global warming) coupled with very catastrophic events that only a few people can bear to imagine. This effect has been mainly attributed to the emissions of greenhouse gases mostly generated by various industrial activities carried out by man. (K. Emanuel pp. 686-688) Physicists and chemists for instance, have even predicted this warming phenomenon to continue even beyond the year 2100 irrespective of whether or not the greenhouse gas discharges are stopped or not, owing to the large heat capacity of oceanic waters and also due to the fact that carbon dioxide has a substantially long lifetime in the atmosphere as depicted from its isotopes. Global warming is reported to have brought along with it fear and also panic all over the human race. Despite this modern generation’s acquaintance with lots of sophisticated technology, the increasingly warming earth still poises a deadly challenge which can no longer be ignored. Unpredictable climatic patterns, drastic rise in sea levels, expansion of deserts, retreating glaciers, permafrost, shrinking forests, disappearance and reemergence of certain species amongst many others are some of the adversities man will have to contend with now and in the near future. Chesapeake Bay is just but one of the many other features that have shown evidence of the possible global warming defects. This bay is not only a national treasure to both hunters and anglers, but it also performs a significant task for outdoor enthusiasts. Global warming effects on Chesapeake Bay Experts have expressed fears of loosing this paradise as a resultant consequence of global warming. According to extensive research carried out in this precious treasure of Chesapeake Bay, fish and even wildlife are the most affected by the dramatic events related to global warming. This is not unusual since changes attributed to global warming and their impacts on natural systems are witnessed globally. It will be a great loss to the government since major investments amounting billions of dollars have been channeled towards restoring its watershed in the recent past. (M. S. Kearney pp. 12-22) Is Chesapeake Bay at risk? The drastic climatic change has resulted into warming of Chesapeake air and even water and this will in turn alter the favorable composition of this habitat to the known species. Dead zones will then be expected to drastically increase as a result with dangerous algal blooms replacing the current inhabitants. This will see the area become prone to marine diseases and even enhance the spread of some deadly invasive species like nutria. (T. Edward pp. 1). The waterfowls and even the fishes are also at a risk poised by the sea levels that are rapidly rising. Coastal marshes amongst many other important habitats will be flooded putting this significant resource more at risk. Heat waves, droughts and storms are some catastrophic events resulting from extreme weather conditions that will significantly pollute the Chesapeake Bay; drastically reduce the quality of its waters and eventually making it a health hazard to the people (T. Edward pp. 1). The social life of the people who frequent this bay will thus be affected by these unfortunate results of global warming. The migration patterns observed annually by waterfowls are also expected to change significantly because of the changing climate recorded by scientists across the North America. ( R. W. Howarth pp. 163-186)These alterations in climate will further affect breeding grounds for this bird species and thus only few birds will be seen migrating to Chesapeake Bay annually. Available solutions and Conclusion Since human beings and other living creatures have terribly suffered the dire consequences from global warming, it is only necessary that permanent solutions are put into place to prevent possible extinction of these races. (Webster pp. 1844-1846. ) History has it that, human problems usually find their solution within the race itself. It is indeed our powerful decisions today that influence our tomorrow. The kind of energy resources we exploit, the type of infrastructure we erect and where we built them, what kind of impacts they are likely to cause on our environment or even climate in the future, we make the decisions and so we have the solution! In this particular case, the government or other relevant authority should put in place laws that govern pollution and particularly emission if greenhouse gases. Research has it that a reduction rate of 2% per year of these emissions will significantly improve chances of wildlife survival. These emissions are the major source responsible for global warming and thus it is essential that this initiative is extended to individuals and not solely performed by the government. The noble intent of wildlife managers on wildlife conservation and preservation for the future should be further busted by allocating adequate funds specifically dedicated to the completion of this task. The citizens also have a mandatory role to play in protecting the wildlife and the fish of Chesapeake Bay by recognizing the importance of shielding forests and wetlands, and even all other natural habitats against all ‘odds’ including the speedy urban development. Cited Work R. W. Howarth, et al. â€Å"The influence of climate on average nitrogen export from large watersheds in the Northeastern United States. † Biogeochemistry, 79,(2006) M. S. Kearney â€Å"The Potential for Significant Impacts on Chesapeake Bay,† Scientific Symposium Presentation Abstract, (Washington, D. C. : Climate Institute, 2006). K. Emanuel, â€Å"Increasing Destructiveness of Tropical Cyclones Over the Past 30 Years,† Nature. 436. (2005) Webster, et al. , â€Å"Changes in Tropical Cyclone Number, Duration, and Intensity in a Warming Environment,† Science 309 (2005) T. Edward Nickens, â€Å"National Wildlife ® magazine† (August / September 2002) T. Edward Nickens, â€Å"National Wildlife ® magazine† (December / January 2000)

Introduction to Operation Management Essay

If you would like to choose an organization that is NOT from the above list, please consult your professor. For SLP 1, identify the following by writing a paper (with paragraphs, including an introductory, body, and concluding section): 1) The organization’s name and main line of business, 2) A specific type of operations process that takes place there (either service or product), 3) Describe the nature of the operations given your newfound understanding of operations management and productivity. 4) You may identify the strategy or global strategy of that organization. Feel free to consult background readings, browse our library to find more articles, and check the relevant websites to support your argument. Introduction An organization efficiency and effectiveness are necessary to surface in this new era of business where maintaining a competitive edge is the difference between succeeding and faltering. In this paper I will describe and analyze the operation management by describing and analyzing the different operations management perspectives and its productivity. Body The organization I have chosen to study and analyze is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., their line of business is retail. Since Wal-Mart is one of the top supermarket chains in the country exporting to 27 countries and sells a large number of products, the company runs on multiple levels and since some products have different regulations than other obviously the operation management has tuned to the specific needs of the product. Not only has the operation management pertained not only for goods but also for services. Since 2009, The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and Wal-Mart have worked together to create a system that measure and report the sustainability of products by developing tools to enhance the capacity to comprehend and state the environmental, social, and economic effects of products. This process of researching product sustainability is used to expand knowledge of top grossing products and find out how to improve the quality of the products. By improving the quality they can manufacture better products at a lower cost and sell it the same of higher price increasing profits. On the other hand, by testing product sustainability new eco-friendly products can be produce and lower the environmental impact while still satisfying consumer demand. The second step is researching the consumer, what they think about the product and how the product is used. This enables manufacturing companies to meet the consumer needs. After all the researcher is done, new found data is combined with new tools to produce better product quality and transparency creating a stronger trust between Wal-Mart and its customer. The nature of this operation is based on the idea of lowering costs while maintaining profits. By researching the products they learn the ins and outs of how it is made, the costs of production, and the sustainability of the product. This allows them to look into cheaper methods and materials while still maintain same safety, health and environmental standards. Furthermore when they research the consumer, they find out what the consumer really needs and provide more to fill that need. Whatever profits are saved they can invest into better tools, production equipment, or anything used to further advance the company. The global strategy (as well as general strategy) is to invest in lower prices. By expanding the types of products sold and bringing back assortments the customer base is expanded, since now the convenience of finding everything you need in one place is available. When this convenience is combined with lower prices, it makes Wal-Mart a retail juggernaut that will be nearly impossible to top. Conclusion In conclusion, operations management is a key tool in controlling all aspects of a business. By managing operations you can cut costs, accidents, or even increase profits. An example would be Wal-Mart’s product sustainability management. By investing in this process they have advanced their company in many aspects, giving them an advantage in their business. References Plenert, Gerhard J. (2002). International Operations Management. Retrieved January 17, 2013 at: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/tourou/search.action?p00=International +Operations+Management&fromSearch=fromSearch&search=Search Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2012) 2012 Annual Report. Retrieved on January 17, 2013 at: http://www.walmartstores.com/sites/annual-report/2012/CEOletter.aspx Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2012) Global Responsibility. Sustainability Index. Retrieved on January 17, 2013 at: http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/environment-sustainability/sustainability-index