Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Developing of Leadership Skills
Developing of Leadership Skills Strong leadership abilities are necessary to ensure the success of any activity performed by a team. Leadership refers to a process through which one person uses the help and support of others towards achieving a particular goal or task. For one to be a truly effective leader, he/she must posses some leadership skills. Only then can one interact better with his followers and hence foster productivity. In this paper, I shall analyze some of the skills expected of a leader and evaluate how they apply in my leadership style.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Developing of Leadership Skills specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The most important skill that a leader should have is the ability to identify his/ her team. Team identity is of great importance because it enables a leader to know who is on a team and the purpose of the team (Adair, 2010). Understanding a team’s mode of operation enables the leader to make deci sions that are considerate to all members need’s thereby instilling morale and boost team spirit. Motivational skills are among the core attributes that a leader must posses. Motivation is defined as a â€Å"process of stimulating people to action to accomplish desired goals†(Kondalkar 2002, p.245). Bearing in mind the fact that the leader is tasked with marshaling the organization’s resources to accomplish some organizational goal, it can be rightfully stated that part of the role of the leader is to motivate his staff to achieve certain desired goals. As such, an exemplary leader must possess motivational skills to ensure that the employees have a high degree of commitment in their performance. Similarly, communication skills are of great importance to a leader. According to Greene and Burleson (2003) communication is arguably the corner stone on which any successful relationship, be it business or personal, is built. As such, a great leader should be able to effectively communicate the organizational goals, mission, vision and regulations to his/her subordinates. In so doing, the leader has a guarantee that set tasks shall be executed effectively and efficiently. This ensures that the organization works towards success. In addition, Adair (2010) asserts that a great leader should possess conflict resolution skills. In all organizations, there arise contentious issues which elicit different reactions from the organization members at some point in time. How these issues are diffused may spell out the difference between the subsequent success and failure of the organization. Having conflict resolution skills can play a crucial role in ensuring that the crises or contention is managed in a diplomatic manner. On the same note, a great leader should be flexible. By this I mean that a leader should be aware of his/her employee’s emotions and traits and consider them while making decisions. Disregarding these aspects may invariably lead to the failure of a team and subsequently, the organization.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In regard to the above skills, I often fall short when it comes to motivating fellow colleagues. This is mainly due to the fact that I do not interact well with others and I cannot eloquently express myself while under stress. This is most disturbing since communication and motivation are core attributes that can be used to promote team work. Regardless of these shortcomings, I believe that I can improve on these skills, thereby ensuring that I become a better leader in the future. Leadership seminars are seen as one of the way through which people can be empowered. Conflict management, communication and motivational skills can be gained through such seminars thus equipping an individual with ways and means of how to deal with issues arising from workplace interactions. Ad option of a policy of openness to dissimilarity can further act in the good of workplace communication. This paper set out to investigate what effective leadership consists of in business and organizations setting. To this end, the paper has highlighted the skills expected from good leadership and subsequently articulated how the skills of an effective leader impact on the organization. It has been seen that the adoption of an effective leadership skills in an organization will yield to higher productivity which will subsequently result in the attainment of the organizational goals of increased productivity. From the discussions forwarded in this paper, it has been noted that a lack of these leadership skills can lead to lack of focus and generally unmotivated workers hence lowers profitability of the entire organization. References Adair, J. (2010). Develop Your Leadership Skills: Develop Yourself as a Leader; Lead at a Strategic Level; Grow Leaders in Your Organization. USA: Kogan Page Publishers. Greene, O., Burleson, R. (2003). Handbook of communication and social interaction skills. New York: Routledge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Developing of Leadership Skills specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kondalkar, P. (2002). Organization effectiveness and change management. USA: PHI learning Pvt. Ltd.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
How to Use the Modifier Most in English
How to Use the Modifier Most in English The modifier most is commonly used in English in a wide variety of situations. You are probably familiar with the use of most in the superlative form, but there are other uses as well. Below you will find explanations of each of the different ways most is used to modify nouns, as well as in the superlative form and as an adverb. (The) Most is different than more which you can learn about on this page dedicated to the uses of more in English. (The) Most Superlative Form The most is used in the superlative form with adjectives of two or more syllables. The opposite of this form is the least (i.e. I enjoy corn the least of all the vegetables.) Examples: California is the most important state for the US economy.I think she is the most intelligent person I have ever met. One of the Most in the Superlative Form Its also common to use one of before the most in superlative forms to refer to something that is among a group of the most of a quality. The opposite of this form is one of the least (i.e. That is one of the least interesting films this year.) Examples: Peter is one of the most reliable people on this planet.Golden Retrievers are one of the most likable dog breeds. Most Noun Determiner Most is used before a noun as a determiner to speak in general. Remember that the plural form is used when speaking in general about countable items or people (Most people enjoy a vacation in the tropics). When speaking about uncountable objects, use the singular form (Most steel is used in construction). Examples: Most students would like to take a year off ​from studies to travel.Sharon said most food sold in supermarkets contains preservatives. Most of Determiner Noun Use most of the / a / this, etc. noun when referring more specific objects. Remember that the is used to indicate a specific object that both the listener and the speaker understand, whereas a is used to speak about something listeners do not which specific instance is referred to. This, these, that or those can be used as well as possessive adjectives such as my, your, his, etc. Examples: Most of my time is spent in a classroom teaching English.Sharon said that most of these trees were planted in 1878 by the organization. Most Alone Most can be used alone when the noun being modified is understood through context. For example, during a conversation, you may refer to a particular group of people and use most to indicate most of the people we are discussing. Examples: I think most believe the economy will continue to slowly improve.(Speaking to a friend about food items) I bought most at the supermarket downtown. (The) Most as Adverb (The) Most can also be used as an adverb to describe a that someone does or feels something the most compared to others. Examples: I like raspberry jam the most.She was hurt by John the most. Most Verb in Formal English Most can be used to mean very in formal English. This form is not common in everyday conversations, but you may certainly hear it in films such as historical fiction, stories about kings and queens, etc. Examples: I find it most disturbing that you continue to telephone.She felt the afternoon outing was most enjoyable.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Industrial safety management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words
Industrial safety management - Essay Example Essentially, the Safety Board provides a quality assurance function fundamental to the in progress safety of all modes of transportation. The NTSB's exclusive role in transportation safety is reliant on the ability of the board members and the professional staff to conduct independent investigations of accidents and major incidents and, in so doing, to guarantee public confidence in the safety of our national transportation systems. The NTSB has become most widely identified with its investigations of major commercial aviation accidents. The NTSB has the duty for investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States. additionally, based on the agency's permission under Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and associated international agreements, the NTSB participates to a greater or lesser degree in the investigation of commercial aviation accidents all over the world. Concerns over aviation safety articulated in the White House commission's report were echoed by the report of the congressionally commanded National Civil Aviation Review Commission (commonly recognized as the Mineta Commission, chaired by former California Congressman Norman Mineta), published in December 1997 (National Civil Aviation Review Commission, December 11, 1997). ... Evidently, aviation safety was a matter necessitating renewed U.S. leadership and significant national investment. At the same time, the recently endorsed Aviation Family Assistance Act of 1996 mandated the creation of the Task Force on Assistance to Families of Aviation Disasters, supervised jointly by the U.S. DOT and the NTSB. The TWA as well as ValuJet disasters had also revealed the urgent need to find ways to develop the treatment of victims' families by the government, the airlines, the legal community, as well as the media. Among other things, the White House commission demanded that the task force review the accident investigation process utilized by the NTSB and its possible impact on families. The task force's report, containing 61 separate proposals, amounted to a blueprint for the appropriate treatment of families suffering such grave losses (U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board, 1997). Managing Airline Corporate Stress Like the air we all breathe and through which we fly, stress subsists in us all. With growing indication that stress is the greatest hazard to human productivity in large and small corporations alike, many executives are calling for more research into the causes as well as consequences of stress. The danger is no longer believed to be merely a psychological response to the work environment but is starting to appear in a variety of medical examination results that are focused on shaping such problems as heart disease, stomach ulcers, as well as many forms of cancer. Stress is, on the other hand, still an indefinable concept that few corporate managers have learned to deal with. Stress is spate in the Western world. Above two-thirds of office visits to physicians are for
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Rising levels of Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Rising levels of Obesity - Essay Example These effects are long term. Consequently, the rise in obesity rates has not only detrimental health impacts, but also economic and social effects both at the state and international levels. With the mandate of the government to provide efficient health care, and promote the welfare of the people, every government has a role to play in curbing the increasing rates of obesity across the world. The government is best positioned to implement prevention strategies through regulation of foods and drinks production, education on best dietary and physical activity practices, as well as treatment. This paper focuses on how governments can intervene appropriately to curb the proliferation of obesity in its population citing South African and Mexican governments as examples. The main factors leading to increased levels of obesity include; increased energy intake, increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and changes in family and social perceptions and structures (Astudio, 2013). Increased energy consumption is as a result of the rise in energy dense drinks and foods, large serving sizes, lack of enough time to prepare meals at home leading most meals eaten away with high energy and fats. Besides, computer games and televisions have displaced the old active recreational activities such as riding bikes. Advanced technology and infrastructure have reduced transport-related activities such cycling and walking. Therefore, the government ought to target these aspects to implementing intervention programs to curb obesity. The government can effectively prevent and treat obesity and overweight conditions through well-funded programs, political support, education, inter-sectorial collaboration, evidence-based planning, as well as participatory community initiatives (Astudio, 2013). The government ought to formulate and implement policies
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Theory of Constraints Essay Example for Free
Theory of Constraints Essay Executive summary            Customers nowadays demand better services and products in terms of delivery and production. Therefore to satisfy these customer needs and expectations companies must enact changes in their processes. Competition is so intense that if a company does not improve its processes through change, then competitors will drive you out of business. Customers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders in a company continually demand improved products, services and profitability. All these demands calls for lower cost of production and hence the management is at pains to achieve this.            It is critical that a company initiates a process of on-going improvement, which focuses on internal process changes instead of the company undergoing reactionary changes precipitated by external changes. To achieve this change through a process of on-going improvement, the company should question its processes and this involves starting by asking the right questions to identify critical areas that need improvement. According to the Goldratt Institute some of the pertinent questions than needs to be asked include the following: What to change To what to change How to cause the change These questions must be answered effectively and in a shorter duration of time in order to achieve the process of on-going improvement (Goldratt and Cox: 1994) The purpose of this research is to explore the TOC concept and how it can be used in various functions and day to day operations in organizations. Definition            Theory of constraints is a management philosophy developed in the 1984 and popularized by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt. It involves the focus on resources and the identification of the constraints. The resources are then channeled to the constraints that affect the company’s bottom line. TOC starts by identifying the root causes of a constraint or problem, developing understandable chart and formulating steps that solve the root causes of the problem and constraints (Goldratt et al: 2000) It is basically identifying a goal and formulating ways of achieving that goal on a consistent basis.            TOC is divided into two: Five focusing steps Special thinking processes How it works Special thinking processes            The pertinent questions asked what to change, to what to change, how to cause change provides a framework and thinking process, which is an integral part of TOC process as a whole.            Solutions to problems are formulated through the adoption of strategies developed on logic of cause-and-affect. The whole concept of cause-and-effect analyzes a problem from the signs to coming up with an action plan (Scheinkopf: 1999) TOC is applied in organizations to solve problems. It is aptly described using the following questions. What to change            Core conflict is a problem that is unavoidable, unresolved problem that hinders the organization from achieving its desired goals. This conflict can be identified through observed signs and cause-and-effect methods. Due to the nature of the core conflict; causing undesired and damaging effects, organizations are forced to formulate policies that will remedy these undesired and damaging effects caused by the core conflict. The first process is the identification of the core conflict using the three-cloud process. The core conflict to be identified is determined whether it is one that is causing all the undesirable effects. The second process of TOC in answering the ‘what to change’ question is the developing of the current reality tree which justifies the core conflict identified in process 1 above. Current reality tree explaining the cause and effects patterns and also recognizes the factors that aid the existence of undesirable effects. To what to change            In answering this question, solution to the core conflict is developed. Questioning all the logical assumptions underlying the existence of the core conflicts does this. It is paramount that the solution developed should ‘treat’ completely all the causes and a whole range of other aspects of the undesirable effects. The solution developed is basically a strategy that will include improvements. These improvements ensure that the core conflict does not recur again.            The solution developed take into consideration the anticipated undesirable effects and therefore deters their occurrence. The third step of the TOC process under ‘to what to change’ question is the identification of the assumptions behind the core conflict and trying to eliminate them. This is done by the critical evaluation and questioning of these assumptions. The fourth step is the construction of a future reality tree that is able to formulate and develop a solution (strategy) to the core conflict and the undesirable effects.            The undesirable effects should be desirable effects after the adoption of the strategy which should be in line with the overall strategic objectives of the system. The solution must also prevent any further occurrence of undesirable effects and suggest the improvements in terms of policies, procedures or benchmarks. It is also necessary that the strategy support the current TOC applications used to ensure the effectiveness of the new strategy in solving the core conflict (Schragenheim: 1999) How to cause change            Since the whole concept of TOC is about on-going improvements which as seen earlier, is basically change, then the organization should develop ways of implementing the changes bearing in mind the various organization cultures.  The idea of planning for the changes is to avoid resistance because without the full cooperation of stakeholders in an organization, even the best of the strategies is doomed to fail. ‘How to cause change’ question leads to the fifth and sixth steps of a TOC process.            The fifth step involves the development of a tactical objectives map. This is usually a road map that identifies the various steps that the organization undergoes from the current state to the future state. In the future state, the strategy formulated to cope with the core conflict and undesirable effects, is fully actualized and therefore the organization is on course to achieve its goals. The process of developing the tactical objectives map should clearly explain the functions of each sub system within a certain specified duration. A prerequisite tree is used to achieve the objective (Schragenheim: 1999) The sixth and final step of the TOC process is the formulation of ways in which all the proposed actions will work together in order to reach the future state. The proposed actions relationship will be explained using transition trees.            The Five Focusing steps of TOC            In any extensive system in an organization, there are factors that negate the attainment of the set goals. These factors are usually problematic and prevent the system from achieving the set goals. These factors are what are called constraints.            TOC establishes that in any system, there exist constrains that affect the attainment of the objectives in a system.            Effective, earlier identification and solving of these constraints leads to better formulation of solutions which will improve the system in terms of future strategic improvements.            TOC works on the premise that in an organization or system, there are strong and weak points. It further explains that focusing on the strong points of system or organization is an act in futility because the whole system will still be negated by the one weak point.            Therefore it is important that organizations concentrate in strengthening or eliminating that weak point in order to improve the whole system.            The five focusing steps of TOC explain the achievement of on-going improvement through the analysis of the constraints in a continuous process. The five steps are; Constraints identification Decide how to exploit the constraint in the best way Subordinate everything else to above decisions Elevate the system constraints Avoiding inertia being a constraint and if constrain is broken in step 4 go back to step 1 Constraint identification A problem cannot be fixed if it has not been identified. The same case applies to a constraint. The organization needs to identify the constraints that hinder the achievement of the set goals. The undesired effects are then assessed to establish whether they are from one constraint. All the above identification and analysis of the constraint helps the organization to formulate strategies that are used to mitigate the undesirable effects consulting from the constraint. Exploitation of the constraint Constraints are the cause of lack of the achievement of the system goals. Therefore it is necessary that an organization uses the identified constraints and turning them to desirable effects which then aids in the achievement of the system or organizational goals. The organization should ensure that it makes most of the opportunities resulting from the identified constraint. Subordinating everything else to decisions above  Any policies or requirements of a non-constraint that are outside the control of the constraint should be subordinated thus avoid limiting the constraint.            The system should also not expect the constraint to produce more than its capability because it might lead to more branches of constraints like increased lead times, inventory pile up and clash of decisions that may confuse the whole system.            The constraint subordination leads to the identification of the opportunities that be utilized in the achievement of system and organizational goals. Elevate the system constraint            Excess and unutilized opportunities can only be realized after the isolation and analysis of the constraint through management.            Isolation of the constraint may also indicate that extra opportunities in terms of e.g. capacity may be needed. Hence the acquisition or transfer of workload to other resources may be initiated (McMullen: 1998)            It is important that before an acquisition of excess resource capacity is undertaken; all possible options that lead to goal achievement are explored and thus save on the creation of unnecessary extra capacity which can itself become a constraint hence creating branches of constraints. If in previous steps constraints are broken go back to step 1 During the exploitation subordination or elevation of the constraint, it might be eliminated. The elimination of constraint does not mean that there will be no further constraint. Other constraints will be appear and therefore the need to revisit the whole process by going back to step 1            An example of how solving one constraint lends to another is when the constraint is lack of capacity. Acquiring more capacity thereby lending more rooms for production may eliminate lack of capacity. However, this may lead to overproduction so that the new constraint is the lack of market (McMullen: 1998)            Therefore TOC involves the analysis of systems and processes in a continuous manner hence the term on-going improvement. Application of Theory of Constraints Theory of constraints principles has been applied in a wide variety of fields ranging from business, government to non-government organizations.            Utilization of TOC processes creates huge savings in costs and increase in profitability. Basically it can lead to faster realization of system goals, which is the desire of any organization.            Some of the areas that TOC concept can be applied include the following Manufacturing operations Logistic and supply chain Finance and accounting Project management Marketing and sales Synchronous Flow manufacturing (SFM) In a manufacturing process, the factory’s resources in terms of capacity is hampered by its constraints operation, the capacity constraining resource (CCR)            The constraint leads to inefficiencies, which may include loss of time due to e.g. idle time. The loss of this time is irrecoverable.            In a manufacturing process, the theory of constraints measures the performance based on the amount of finished goods produced, levels of inventories and operating expenses. The number of units of finished goods produced should be more while the inventory levels and operating expenses amount should be lower (Levinson: 2002).             In a synchronous flow manufacturing, the production information is between CCR and production starts. The CCR ensures production in form of production starts. A deficit at the CCR leads to lose of time, which cannot be recovered.            The Drum-Buffer-Rope production control is achieved in a SFM in the following way: The constraint operation controls the factory’s production speed by hindering the overall rate of production. This is same as â€Å"beating the drum†of the speed of production. The constraint is then connected with the production outputs by a rope in order to achieve the level of production speed dictated by the CCR. It is also necessary that a buffer of inventory is maintained at the or just before the constraint to avoid stoppages in pre constraint production stages. The whole process thus results in a Drum-Buffer-Rope production (Levinson: 2002). Logistics            TOC application in logistics involves the analysis of drum-buffer-rope scheduling, buffer management and VAT. Drum-Buffer-Rope            It is used to plan the flow of materials in a TOC process. As explained earlier in the SFM, the drum is the constraint and is responsible for determining the speed of the whole process. Buffer is the resource that sustains the end product. Buffer stock avoids breaks in the process therefore ensuring the optimization of the end product. The rope is a plan for introducing inputs to the production floor. It is basically a control that ensures that no more than the required resources are released into the production floor. The rope also ensures that the constraint is subordinated by the non-capacity constraints (Dettmer: 1998) Buffer Management            It helps in the management of the production schedule in the production floor. The buffers can be at the constraint, assembly or shipping. Buffer management ensures that there is no idle capacity, which can lead to the non-achievement of the end product or customer deadline. VAT Analysis            VAT analysis establishes the general flow of the production process from the beginning to the end i.e. the flow of inputs up to the end product. VAT analysis assumes that the whole production process in terms of products, raw materials and processes are intertwined. VAT analysis, therefore, establishes that the interactions result into three production structures; the V logical, A logical and T logical structures. Logical structures are the expected patterns and processes hat a product must undergo to its completion (Dettmer: 1998)            The V logical structure starts the production process with one or a few inputs, which then result into many products as it flows through the logical structures. The end result of this production process is many end products. The A logical structure starts with many inputs which then converge as the production process progress and consequently result into a single or few finished products.            The T logical structure results into same end products produced from the same process and sub processes. The raw materials pass through a number of same processes, which then provide inputs to the several sub processes that result into similar end products. In VAT analysis, the system control points, which can be gating operations, divergent points, constraints and delivery points are identified and managed once the production flow is determined. These control points are then analyzed to establish whether buffers can be used to maximize the production and avoid stoppages (Dettmer: 1998)            The control points to be adopted in the management of the production process depend on the shape of the logical structure. A V structure utilizes the constraint, gating operation and divergent points. Buffers are used to ensure uninterrupted flow to the constraint with gating operation controlling the resource availability. Divergent point uses the delivery schedule thus avoiding wrong material allocation.            A T structure uses constraint and gating operation with the output of the gating being pegged on the constraint. The constraint is managed using the five steps focusing process. In the A logical structure, the constraints, gating operation, divergent and convergent points are analyzed. Finance and Accounting            In a Finance department of a company, there are two types of accounting statements that are made; the Financial accounting (for shareholders, government and other external stakeholders) and Management accounting (for management). Under the management accounting, the following accounting techniques are used: Absorption costing – focuses on cost Variable costing – contribution Throughput accounting is arrived at if the concepts of absorption and variable costing are applied to management accounting. Throughput accounting is basically cash based non allocation method which is slightly different from full absorption costing in the sense that throughput accounting expenses manufacturing overhead costs in the period the product is produced while full absorption costing allocates the costs to products until sold (Youngman 2008). The measures of throughput, inventory and operating expense can be used together with the analysis of constraints to maximize profitability in a business. Decisions made are based on the knowledge of constraints within the system and where it will occur in the future. These constrains can be external or internal. Internal constraints calls for the calculation of the through put generated per unit item of the constraint while external constraints treats any through put above total variable costs or positive contribution to the system (Youngman 2008). In throughput accounting, a change of one critical aspect calls for the complete evaluation of the whole system. It is basically the effects of decision but not the product that is considered.  Despite of all the benefits of throughput accounting over marginal and absorption costing, it has been found that it is not perfect. It does not allocate fixed costs. This thus has lead to the development of Constraints Accounting concept. Constraints accounting, introduces the effects of constraints to profit and loss statement thus subordinating management accounting to the set goals of the firm. Constraints are broken as operating providing ways of achieving goal congruence in both short term and long term results (Caspari and Caspari: 2004) Project Management All types of projects in different fields have two common problems; that they are uncertain and competing resources, deadlines and project details. These problems therefore make project management an uphill task. TOC tries to address the problems associated with projects by answering the three pertinent questions of: What to change To what to change How to cause the change In answering the â€Å"What to change†question, the organization must identify and effectively solve the cause of all the problems associated with project management. (Jacob and Mc Cleland: 2001) Multiple projects may pose serious problems resulting from wrong decisions on project start times. Wrong start times may affect the resource committed to existing projects thus delaying their finish times. Single projects problems may originate form wrong assumptions made during the planning and scheduling stages (Schragenheim: 1999) Answering the â€Å"to what to change†question should adequately tackle the root causes of problems associated with project management. This is done through planning, effective scheduling, introduction of work that creates extra capacity, project control and work actions that facilitate good project performance (Newbold: 1998) Project planning involves all stakeholders and basically identifies constraints thereby avoiding reworks halfway through the projects. Important tasks, paths and resource needs are established Project scheduling considers the critical chain by evaluating task, resources and iteration dependencies. Introduction of work should not exceed the existing capacity so as to avoid creating further constraints. Buffer management helps in the control of the project by identifying areas that need buffer stock thus ensuring uninterrupted flow of work. TOC project management adopts delay runner work ethics, which enables the workers to immediately start working on the assigned tasks, and provide notification of completed works (Jacob and Mc Cleland: 2001) The last question of the project management is the â€Å"How to cause the change†. Change should be implemented at a pace that allows for the identification of necessary changes while at the same time ensuring project progress. Conclusion            It is evident from the discussions above that TOC is an important concept, which revolutionizes business processes hence leading to the attainment of the set goals of organizations. The adoption of TOC concept in the various organizational functions in many industries underscores its importance. References Goldratt, E. M., and Cox J., (1994). The Goal: A process of continuous improvement, 2nd Revised Edition. The North River Press. Goldratt, E. M., Schragenheim, E., and Ptak, C., (2000) Necessary but not sufficient. The North River Press. Caspari, J. A., and Caspari, P., (2004) Management Dynamics: merging constraints accounting to drive improvement. John Wiley Sons Inc. Dettmer, H. W., (1998) Breaking the constraints to world class performance. ASQ Quality Press. Scheinkopf, L., (1999) Thinking for a change: putting the TOC thinking processes to use. St Lucie Press/APICS series on constraint management. Schragenheim, E., (1999) Management dilemmas: The Theory of Constraints approach to problem identification and solutions. St. Lucie Press. Newbold, R. C., (1998) Project management in the fast lane: applying the theory of constraints. St. Lucie Press, 284 pp. McMullen, T. B. C., (1998) Introduction to the Theory of Constraints (TOC) management system. St. Lucie Press. Jacob, D., B and Mc Cleland, W., T (2001). The Theory of Constraints: Project Management. The Goldratt Institute. Retrieved on 6/3/2008 from http://www.goldratt.com/tocpmwhitepaper.pdf Youngman, K. J (2008). A guide to implementing TOC. Retrieved on 6/3/2008 from  http://www.dbrmfg.co.nz/Bottom%20Line%20Accounting%20for%20Change.htm Levinson, A. W. (2002). The theory of constraints and synchronous flow manufacturing. Levinson Productivity Systems P.C. retrieved on 6/3/2008 from http://www.ct-yankee.com/lean/toc_sfm.html
Thursday, November 14, 2019
scarlet letter :: essays research papers
The author of this novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne, is mostly known for his unique and descriptive writing style. In The Scarlet Letter, he describes his disapproval of the leading character’s morals clearly. For example, before Hester Prynne emerges from the cold and dark prison, she is scorned by a group of women who believe in a harsher punishment for Hester. Meaning, instead of being made to stand on the scaffold bearing the scarlet letter on her bosom, they suggest that she â€Å"she should be put to death or have it branded into her skin, precisely on her forehead.†Since early times, Puritans have had the reputation for strong discipline, their religious beliefs, and harsh punishment for those defying their beliefs. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel that portrays the Puritans as cold and unfeeling.      The Puritan’s feelings were so lacking of compassion that â€Å" they were stern enough to look upon her death†¦without a murmur†¦but had none of the heartlessness of another social state.†This quote depicts that when the public is faced with a death of a sinner, they would absolutely have no reaction what so ever. These worries and concerns are focused on a passage in chapter one in which Hester is being nagged by a harsh group of women. The one woman, perhaps the ugliest of them all, goes too far in advocating the death of Hester due to jealousy      Nathaniel’s tone reveals how he feels towards the Puritan society. He begins early in the novel by describing the Puritans as â€Å"being of the most intolerant brood,†stating the lack of understanding they had toward one another. Finding out about Hester and her beautiful baby Pearl, the town at once without any word from Hester filled their hearts with hatred towards the two. â€Å"Meager, indeed, and cold was the sympathy†that the Puritans offered against Hester in her vulnerable moments aloft the scaffold. Again, Hawthorne’s choice of words indicates his harsh tone towards Puritanism.           Nathaniel Hawthorne shows again that the Puritan society as cold and unfeeling in his descriptions of Roger Chillingworth and his reaction to relationships. In his search for revenge, Chillingworth responds to his adultery prone wife by sacrificing his life in order to figure out her secret lover. He used be a scholar but now is disguised as a doctor who put forth his best years, â€Å"to feed the hungry dream of knowledge,†but now he is out for something else, revenge on the one man who made love to his wife.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Marketing Glitz
Individual Assignment – Glitzz Case Study 1. What factors influence the pricing decisions for a product such as Glitzz? Analyze the factors and comment on the range of prices that can be set for Glitzz. The factors that influence the pricing decisions for Glitzz are the pricing objectives, costs, and demand. The pricing objectives will be needed to direct the role of the price in the market. Higher prices will need to be set if the objective is to have higher profit margin instead of higher market share. However, if the objective is to survive in the industry, the prices need to be low to get more sales to meet its operating cost.For the case of Glitzz, the pricing objective is between having higher market share and to survive in the industry. Costs play an important role in the pricing decision as it set the minimum price for the product in order for the company to operate and cover their cost to prevent losses. There are five cost concepts, namely the fixed cost, variable co st, unit variable cost and marginal cost and total cost. Fixed cost is the sum of expense of the firm that is stable and do not change with the quantity of a product that is produced and sold. The fixed cost for Glitzz would be the machineries, rent of factory building, and insurance.The variable cost is the sum of expenses of that firm that vary directly with the quantity of the product that is produced and sold. The variable cost for Glitzz would be direct labour and raw material used to produce the bottle of jewelry cleaner. Total cost is the total expense incurred by the firm in the process of producing and marketing the product. Unit variable cost is the variable cost expressed on per unit basis and the marginal cost is the change in the total cost that results from producing and marketing one additional unit of product.Demand is also one of the important factors for pricing decision as it helps to relate the quantity sold with the price. Demand is dependent on the key factors, consumer taste, consumer income and the price and availability of similar products. They look into the consumers willingness and their ability to pay for the product. As stated in the case study, very few consumers are willing to pay a price which is higher than $20. Hence, the consumers willingness to pay and affordability for the product needs to be lesser than $20. In the case of Glitzz, the type of competitive market is monopolistic competition.There are similar products in the market but Glitzz will be competing with the non price factor which is their special formula for the cleaner with natural ingredient that is gentle on skin. This is to stand out from their competitors like the Brilliant Restorer and Connoisseurs by charging at a slightly different price as compared to its competitors. Therefore, the price has to be set at an affordable range around $12 to $20 in order to manage long run profit and develop a quality product to penetrate the competitive market.This price s hould not be lower than the cost and its competitors due to its unique non price factor that their competitors did not offer. 2. What price would you recommend for Glitzz? Why? I would recommend Glizz to set their price at $17. 90. Most of its competitors like the Brilliant Restorer and Connoisseurs are setting their prices ranging from $6. 97 to $16. 90. As Glitzz is a newly packaged product that is entering the monopolistic competitive market, it has to be competition oriented.With the pricing objective to gain market share, they are not able to gain market share by having price war. Hence, the price has to be set in a way that it does not deviate much from its competitors. Furthermore, the price is also priced odd-even as theory shown that the demand increases when the price drop. Thus, pricing at $17. 90, it seems to indicate that the price has dropped from $18. This can help as way to increase their demand by having customers to kick start their first purchase of Glitzz product in order for Glitzz to pave its place in the market.However, the price is set slightly above the competitors as a form of prestige pricing to attract quality customers as Glitzz is offering a product of quality with the natural ingredient used for its jewelry cleaning solution that is gentle on skin, non-corrosive and nonabrasive. A product that brings positive benefits to the customers should not set its price at a very low rate as it will devalue the product and lost credibility for the benefits that the product has promised. In addition, the price should not be over $ 20 as research has been conducted to show that very few customers are willing to pay above $20 for the product. . What Strategy would you propose for Glitzz? What costs and expenses would be involved? Given your recommended price in (2), what would be the breakeven point? I would recommend Glitzz to use Flexible-price policy together with demand and competition oriented approaches like prestige, odd-even and above- market pricing. Both the demand and competition oriented approaches focus on consumer demand, revenue implication and the markets performance and this helps Glitzz to stay competitive and in operation.Moreover, with flexible pricing policy, Glitzz is able to use price discrimination by setting different prices for different type of customers. The price can be set at a discount for business to business customers like Lee Hwa. Glitzzs product will be frequently used by jelwelry shops like Lee Hwa as Lee Hwas products are the jewelries. The jewelries have to be kept clean and shiny to attract consumers attention and desire to purchase their jewelries. Hence, Gltizzs product will come in handy to facilitate the jewelry shops sales as it aids in the cleaning and polishing of the jewelries.Hence, being the main stream of customers for Glitzz with their high usage and quantity purchased, Glitzz can lower their price and gives discounts to these jewelry shops. On the other hand, the price w ill be higher for the mass market as compared to the jewelry shops due to the lower usage and quantity purchased. The consumers in the mass market will purchased the jewelry cleaning product less frequently as they do not have the need to maintain their jewelry at its best condition everyday and the product is commonly used especially during special occasion like New year or parties.Hence, Glizz is able to set at higher price for the mass market at departmental stores like Robinsons. In addition, setting a higher price could also allow Glitzz to earn a smaller amount of profit when there are seasonal discounts for their product in the departmental stores. The cost and expense involved were the consultation cost ($5000), cost of the content and packaging (20000 x $5= $ 100 000) and budget for advertising ($ 1-2 million).The budget for advertising will somewhat made up the majority of the cost as these activities are important for the long-term future of the products by developing bra nd awareness and preference. The activities will include advertising cost on mass media, promotions and marketing cost that are incurred. Assuming that budget for advertising is $1million, Fixed Cost= $5000+$1000000=$1005000 Unit Variable cost = $5 Recommended Unit Price in Question 2 = $17. 90 Break-even point (BEP) = Fixed Cost/ (Unit Price- Unit variable cost) = 77906. 9767 = 77907 Quantity (round up to nearest whole number)
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Marketing plan for McBride
McBride is a financial service provider that will handle mortgage application processes for its clients. Its target market are mortgage applicants from a five-state area including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Its short-term objectives are to break even within the first six months of operations and to become profitable within the first year. It has an available online interface upon launching which will allow clients to place orders, submit necessary documents, and make payments over the internet. The overall marketing strategy is to use the most appropriate media given strict financial constraints to gain maximum exposure for McBride to potential clients.Target Market AnalysisPrimarily, there are several groups identified as potential customers in the market where the product will be made available. These groups include professionals and retirees purchasing either a primary or secondary residence, and families and/or individuals purchasing recreational pro perties. The SIVA can be used to create a criteria of what types of marketing vehicles should be used for this McBride’s target market (Guiltinan, 1996). In any of the groups mentioned above, what stands out as a common characteristic is clients’ the lack of available time to go through the mortgage application process on their own.Many clients are also confused with the many procedures that they have to go through and so would rather opt not to be troubled by such procedures and just pay someone else to do it for them. This underscores the most outstanding expectation that clients will be looking for in the service: convenience. Therefore, the marketing strategy must directly and strongly convey that this expectation will be met and exceeded. Next, the habits of potential clients when it comes to collecting information should be considered. The potential clients for the service are diverse and they can be found everywhere from major city areas, to more remote places o f work such as universities, factories, and farms.Conventional mass media such as television, radio, and newspapers have the ability to cover such vast areas. Although diverse, one common denominator of a big chunk of the target market is that they are professionals, and many such individuals travel a lot from state to state on business matters. Hence, places such as airports, convention centers, and other areas where there is a sizeable level of commerce are good venues to launch focused ad campaigns. Lastly, clients who are seriously considering taking up a mortgage would usually canvass through local realtors for available property.This makes such realtors exceptionally important contacts to make linkages with. In making decisions as to what marketing strategies to use, what must factor in are the financial requirements of the company as well as the expected spending power of potential clients. An inference that can be drawn from the potential market is that they would not be ext remely affluent because if they were, they would be better off buying property on cash basis. Therefore a minimal budget should be considered in selecting strategies to make the company goal of breaking even more achievable.Lastly, the target market’s access to the service should be considered in order to limit strategies only to potential clients who have access to the product. However, since the product is available online aside from having strategically situated offices in target states, there is little to no value to trying to find limiting agents based on market access as there probably are none.Marketing Vehicles and Advertisement ContentBased on the target market analysis, four vehicles are selected to drive the marketing strategy for McBride. These are local television, radio, and newspapers, information handouts in airports and tourist attractions, and linkages with local realtors. Local T.V., radio, and newspapers were selected as opposed to more popular national ch annels since they are more cost effective given the target which is geographically limited (Kaiman, 2004). In such media, all of the target groups would be represented and the focus on convenience will be greatly stressed as the advertisements’ theme (Kaiman, 2004).For airports and tourist destinations where there will be available handouts to capture potential markets composed of businessmen and traveling retirees, the content of the handouts would be specialized depending on the expected market. For businessmen, the content would be focused to how much more they can achieve when they do not have to busy themselves with the details of mortgage applications. For retirees, the focus would be the relief brought by hassle-free applications in getting the retirement house they’ve always wanted.The most challenging in terms of acquisition would be the realtor linkages since McBride would have to compete with other companies who are also courting such institutions. However, these linkages are also very significant because realtor clients represent the filtered market that the business is targeting and this filtered market are those that are most likely to avail of the product (Reimonds & Yenks, 2000). Hence, measures to obtain support from such institution should be sought with ample effort and spending.ConclusionThe marketing strategies available to McBride can effectively gather the exposure it needs in order to obtain sufficient market share. The minimal budget allotted for marketing is sufficient to sustain the devised strategies. It is expected that McBride will be able to reach its short term goals with the use of suggested marketing strategies.ReferencesGuiltinan, J. (1996). Marketing Management: Strategies and Programs. McGraw Hill/IrwinReimonds, A. & Yenks, L. (2000). Modern Marketing for Contemporary Businesses. N.Y.: DoubledayKaiman, H. (2004). Current Issues in Marketing Management. London: Gray & Tiller.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Alzheizmers Disease essays
Alzheizmers Disease essays Alzheimer's Disease is a scarcely understood, but exceedingly devastating disease. We need to learn more about it in order to eradicate it. I knew someone with the disease and he really couldn't go outside alone or do much without his wife by his side. He had to stay home most of the time thinking about vain imaginings and remembering the same life occurrences over and over again. His memory gradually was lost and he began to lose control of basic functions, including the ability to feed himself and communicate with others. He finally died after many years of painful suffering. The Andrew Pollack article examines this, and a hopeful solution to the problem. The article focuses on a clinical trial that produced evidence that gene therapy may slow the mental deterioration that defines Alzheimer's disease. The study included eight patients with early-stage Alzheimer's, the first of its kind to use gene therapy for the treatment of the disease. Six successfully received the gene transfer, all of whom showed a slower rate of cognitive decline in the 22 months following treatment than they had in the 14 months before. Dr. Mark H. Tuszynski of the University of California, assisted I the writing of the article. Dr. Tuszynski and his assistants stated in the paper that they thought it might be better to use the gene to induce cells in the brain to produce their own growth factor just where it was needed. They also point out that the long-term goal of this research is the same as that of any other genetic research, which is the possibility that science could o ne day alter our genetic make-up. While gene therapy is far from certain, there are those who believe in its potential. Genetic research is currently playing a major role in the study of other diseases, including diagnostic and predictive test for SAD. However, many industry pioneers have withdrawn from gene therapy, due to its inconsistent results. Still, some venture c...
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
How to Write a Good Descriptive Essay, with Topics
How to Write a Good Descriptive Essay, with Topics How to Write a Perfect Descriptive Essay (Step by Step) Topics How to start How to write thesis How to write body paragraphs How to conclude There are various types of essays that students get to write during their school life, and one of them is the descriptive essay. In a descriptive essay, writers are given the opportunity of sharing their impressions and moods. It is, therefore, necessary to involve all the sensory details, that is, sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. The main aim of a descriptive essay is to try and paint a clear picture to the audience. When given such a task, the writers often express their thoughts and try to make sure that readers can have the idea or experience the same feeling as they did. Therefore, writers need to make use of vivid language and be as detailed as possible with the intention of making the picture clear and avoid any room for ambiguity. The purpose or reason for writing a descriptive is simply to describe a person, an object, or a place using the simplest of words but with the intention of having a huge impact. The goal is to take the audience on a journey and by using a unique power as well as appeal. Writers must seek to evoke the audience’s senses because it is the only way that an impression will be made. Topic Choice As already stated, perfect descriptive essays are written with the intention of discussing a person, place, or object. However, before you begin the writing process, it is important first to select a suitable topic. Descriptive essay topics are many, but writers are always cautioned on their selection strategy. It is, therefore, necessary to exercise caution when selecting a topic so as to avoid topics that will make it hard for the writer to articulate their ideas smoothly. Below are some tips on a descriptive essay topic selection: Choose topics that you are familiar with. These make the writing process easier as well as research easy. Select a topic whose content coincides with the article requirements. For example, it would be unwise to select a topic on something such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while you have been asked to write a 5-paragraph essay. The example above contains a lot of information and will hence be troublesome to fit it into only three body paragraphs. Start with several topics and evaluate them by listing their pros and cons. Here, you should select the topic that seems to give you enough details for the essay. Examples of descriptive essay topics include: Best vacation site. Your first kiss. Your worst nightmare. Hurricane Katrina. High school reunion. A walk on the beach. First breakup. Favorite pizza joint. Favorite movie. Best teacher. The most embarrassing experience. The best childhood memory. Your role model. Trip to Egypt. Your career. Favorite hobby. First day in college. First speech as college president. Your worst fear. First airplane ride. Descriptive Essay Structure Outline Fundamentally, an outline contains the essay’s main point or thesis statement, and the supporting arguments. It is always necessary to start an essay with an outline, mainly because of the following reasons: Saves the writer time. It is easier to organize ideas and points. Helps to make the research efficient and goal-oriented. The writer can divide the different sections based on word count. If, for example, you have been asked to write a descriptive essay about the City of New York, the following would be the outline: New York City Introduction Include general information about the city, for example, the location, population, etc. Include the city’s diversity in culture. Main Body Transportation (Highways, Bus and Railroad Service, Subway, Airport, etc.). People (diversity in their cultures). Neighborhoods. History. Public Safety. Economy. Environment. Conclusion Restates the thesis statement. Synthesize the main points of the essay. How to start a descriptive essay A descriptive essay introduction should be interesting and have a hook that will help to capture the attention of the audience. You can start with a quote whose main aim should be to make sure that the readers are motivated to continue reading the article. Here are some tips on writing an introduction for a descriptive essay: Start with a hook. You should not pass the opportunity of grabbing your readership’s attention. Start strong and make it impossible for the audience to drop your essay. Provide some background information. Readers must be introduced to the topic at hand. The writer should, therefore, include a brief piece that introduces the audience to the topic at hand. Narrow down your scope and avoid ambiguity. Include a thesis statement. Provides readers with your main argument. Tips on Thesis Writing A thesis statement bears the main argument of an article. Teachers often insist on having it as a part of the introduction, simply because it makes the writers stance or perception of a topic clear to the readers. Here are some tips on writing a thesis statement: Make the thesis statement interesting. Question common knowledge or make it argumentative. Avoid using clichà © statements or phrases, for example, â€Å"The focus of the article is†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Base your thesis on reliable research. How to Write a Body Paragraphs The body of any essay often has supporting arguments that build on the author’s thesis statement. Here wise topic selection and thorough research come in handy, and writers need to be good in both. Below are some tips on how to write good descriptive essay bodies: Use topic sentences for the supporting arguments. Cite accurately. Use transition words. These provide readers with the opportunity of following an assignment systematically. The common number of body paragraphs is three unless otherwise stated and each is often five to six sentences long. Tips on Conclusion Writing A descriptive essay conclusion provides you with the opportunity of leaving a lasting impression on the readers. It is, therefore vital to have a good quality end for an essay. When writing a conclusion for a descriptive essay, the writer must, first of all, factor in the components or variables that need to be included in their essay. Consider the following tips when writing a conclusion: Restate the purpose of the essay. Summarize the main supporting argument within the essay. Conclude with a general statement or something that encourages a discussion beyond your essay. Sources for Essay Choice There are numerous online essay sources that writers can choose essays from. However, writers are always advised to select essays that they are familiar with and that will provide them with enough content. It is indeed easy to get essays online and while some might appear easy at first, finding content could be harder later. Familiar essay choices should hence be the only viable options for writers. The writing process should be enjoyable, and writers should not be led to believe that it is not. Finalizing Essay An essay’s title is indeed important and in an instance decides whether a person will read an essay or not. Descriptive essays should have interesting titles which should help to grow the readership of your essay. Proofreading is not optional and should always be done once the paper is complete. Grammatical, omission and punctuation errors are common mistakes, but they should be amended before the essay is submitted. Proofreading an essay helps to identify and correct such mistakes before finally submitting the paper. Essay revision is a necessary step in descriptive essay writing. Errors such as inconsistencies in some of the arguments, wrong citations, duplications of points, etc. are not easily identifiable. These make revising a necessity and help to ensure that an essay is of high quality.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
The Five Pillars of Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
The Five Pillars of - Essay Example ncerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith, Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day, Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy, Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan, Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca†. (bbc.co.uk, 2009) The first pillar, Shahadah requires that Muslims recite â€Å"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger†(bbc.co.uk, 2009). This is an important requirement, a breach of which might amount to blasphemy and even apostasy. This rule ensures that an individual member of the faith completely and unconditionally submits himself to Allah and his messenger Prophet Muhammad. The Salat, the second pillar of Islam is a way to discipline the mind and body by offering prayers five times a day. The ideal times to perform these prayers are dawn, midday, late afternoon, after sunset and before midnight. This habit is inculcated into children as young as seven years of age, so that they will continue it in their adult lives. Since Islam was founded in the Middle-East, which is close to the equator, the Salat helped organize a day into different parts. There is evidence to suggest that the Salat has been practiced by Muslims since the time of Prophet Mohammad in 7th Century A.D. (Fareed, 2008, p.60) The third pillar, called the Zakat serves a social and economic function in that it ensures that the meek and the poor get their basic needs fulfilled. Zakat serves a function, which in modern nation-states would be termed a social welfare mechanism. What is remarkable about this observance is that it offers a practical solution to the problem of poverty among Islamic communities. The fourth pillar is the Sawm, which stands for fasting. The most devout expression of this pillar of Islam is during the month of Ramadan. During this month, Muslims do not take food or drink of any kind during day time. They also abstain from smoking and sexual intercourse. While all Muslims aspire
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