Advantages for Having a Dog.

Dogs, simply put, are a man’s best friend. These animals are extremely loving and loyal. Both humans and dogs are happier when they are around each other. A lot of dog owners make their dogs part of their family, treating them as one of their children. Numerous benefits come to owners: responsibility, companionship, mental health benefits. The top reason people adopt or bring a dog into their lives is for companionship. When I had a dog, I came home from school to find him waiting by the front door, wagging his tail in the most happy fashion.I did not know if he was so animated because he had done something in the house or he really needed to go outside to relieve himself, but it made me happy knowing he was there. Being with my dog, I never felt alone; in fact, just walking from room to room in my house, I was always followed. In a funny way, my dog was like my very own stalker or sidekick. The loyalty of dogs is amazing; they always want to be by your side, even when you hav e had a bad day or are just feeling down. When you bring a dog into your life, you also take on commitment and the responsible tasks of chores for your dog.My Dad always told me that in addition to playing with him, I had to learn to take responsibility for walking, feeding, and grooming our dog. Teaching me this early in my childhood showed me the importance of caring for and taking care of my belongings, as well as a living creature. Taking my dog to the park is a great ice breaker with women, since seeing that I take care of my dog shows that I can take care of my own life. When I took that step to own a dog, it affected my mental and emotional well-being.I never had that feeling of being alone, with that I was always grateful for having my companion along with me. I researched the health benefits of having a dog as a pet and being alone all the time can lead to depression by having a dog, can help cure the depressed state that you may experience. Also medically the brain release s serotonin and dopamine hormones which give moments of pleasure and calmness. I felt happier in which gave me a better mental wellness, but who wouldn’t want a lower stress level in their lives.If you are not ready to commit to taking care of an animal like a dog because it is too expensive or it is just too big of a commitment, then perhaps this is not the best plan for you. Making the decision to bring a dog into your home is life-changing, and has to be one you are ready for, like buying a new car or finding a new girlfriend. Dogs are calming, accepting animals that offer unconditional love and kindness, as well as many health benefits. So, if bringing a dog into your life is what you want, you will not regret it at all.

Reflection in Philippine Literature

After 7 years I continued my studies, I am excited on the first day of school, because for me this new test in my life, My first subject is â€Å"Philippine Literature in English (Phil. lit. )†, there was a lady entered in our classroom, I think she was also one of the students, but I'm wrong she is our teacher, because the teacher sit in desk and showed that she is our teacher in that subject, Ms. Marites Nillo was her name, â€Å"a simple woman but charming† I said to myself. Philippine literature refers to all literature from the Philippines, written in Spanish, English, Tagalog, and a variety of other Philippine languages. Philippine literature flourished during the Spanish period (nineteenth century) and the first half of the twentieth century. The literature of the Philippines covers a variety of genres, most notably poetry and metrical romances, prose, dramas, religious dramas, and secular dramas. Philippine literature is the key to discover the truth of my self. Often times perceiving what is fact from fiction is really confusing. It is quiet difficult to tell if a certain thing tells the truth or it is just a whole lie, publication of the truth, created in order to deceive. Philippine literature is a spring board of the truth that is handed down from generation to generation by our ancestors which is handed to us with care. The reason is that if the truth is manipulated, the truth will never be the truth any more but just a sort of knowledge. There is a saying that all truths are knowledge but not all knowledge is truth. I have learned that Philippine literature has brought me the realization of valuing the sense of being of a true Filipino, in spite of what have happened in our history that we are once slaves of the foreign invaders. However, the pursuit of happiness enlightens the hearts of the Filipinos into the light of a new nation. The rich cultural heritage of our ancestors has thought me a lot of things about the way of life. For instance the alamat The origin of things and events that usually narrates about the genesis of man, the meaning of life, the constant search of the truth and the profound meaning of life that bathala has brought us. This thing really intrigues me and gives me the atisfaction of seeking more about the meaning of my life through the lives of our ancestors and the connection of their lives to my life. I have learned also from their examples and wise sayings, that has been cultivated though their hardships. These experiences commonly teach about practical thinking and its application to life, that most of the Filipino are using now as a guide to daily living. I also learned how to make Elegy, and the truth is after I submitted Elegy I discarded it, because I don’t want to think that what someone say when I was dead. One good example of a wise saying is: nasa Diyos ang awa nasa tao ang gawa. (God helps those people who help them selves. ) This saying gives me the inspiration that even before the time of our ancestors they already have the perception of the existence of a one true God, who has the power to do signs and wonders in our life. That is why we have learned how to pray and constantly asking God’s help in all adversity of our life in order for us to be a productive citizen of our nation. This fact means that our ancestors have already the sense of religiosity that in life there should be someone that is greater than us, in life there is really the divine hand that is constantly guiding us in everything that we are doing and things that we are trying to achieve. There have been some very well-respected Filipino authors in the history of the Philippines, particularly authors such as Jose Rizal, whose writing during the Spanish colonial era helped to mobilize and reform the thinking of the Filipino people against the Spanish in their conquest of the country and give pride to the Filipino people. It was the controversial writings of Rizal that became a factor in his execution by the Spanish. The Philippines, having been under Spanish rule for nearly three centuries, changed hands to American rule following the Spanish-American War and a lot of the literature that followed gave a pro-Hispanic theme as the country began to adapt to life under American rule, at that time preferring life under Spanish rule. Also I learned about the other National Heroes did in our country, like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno, they are the leading in Propaganda Movement. The study of literature during this period (the 20th and 21st Century writings) gives fascinating insight to the change that was going on in the Philippines and how the Filipino people were dealing with this. In this way the study of Philippine literature is actually also a study of part of the history of both Spain and America and demonstrates how the Filipino people related to these countries. The writings also point to the identity of the Filipino people during this era and their struggle to have an independent identity under the yoke of foreign rulers. I have realized that Philippine literature has influenced me so much that it became my way of thinking and feeling toward the appreciation of the beauty of life. In fact, the truth is that Philippine literature lies within the innermost seat of my heart. And no one could ever take it away from me. It means that I am a Filipino in thought, words and in action is the result of my experiences of Philippine literature in my life. This inspiration has helped me to discover the truth of my innermost self.

Television, a Waste of Time And Money Essay

Television has become progressively more popular through the old ages since it was foremost invented. In fact it is so popular that about every place in America has one or more telecasting sets. Television started when Edwin Belin. an English adult male. held the patent for the transmittal of exposure by wire every bit good as fibre optics and radio detection and ranging. which demonstrated a mechanical scanning device that was an early ascendant to modern telecasting. With Television sets about everyplace in sight. a job with non merely the young person of America but besides affecting teens and grownups has erupted. As the popularity of Television increased so did the hours watched and hence. the rate of force sky rocketed. If the hours of telecasting exceed three hours a twenty-four hours the rate of force both seen and committed additions dramatically. In 1993. the mean kid was watching 8. 000 slayings and 10. 000 Acts of the Apostless of force before go forthing simple school ( Hepburn 244-249 ) . With all the picks of premium overseas telegram. HBO and many others. it’s non surprising that Television is lifting in monetary value excessively. Television has caused legion Acts of the Apostless of force and the statistics are still lifting. If the hours of telecasting are slimmed to less than an hr a twenty-four hours the violent Acts of the Apostless. will diminish. Many people watch telecasting as a everyday and mundane at about the same clip they will watch their favourite show or shows. Blending telecasting into your day-to-day modus operandi is non merely bad for you but sets aside precedences that are more of import like school work. Television draws in Families every dark About every household in the USA tickers premier clip telecasting ( 5-9 o’clock ) on hebdomad darks and with 99 % of families that own at least one telecasting. there are non many households that don’t watch Television on hebdomad yearss ( â€Å"Television† ) . In fact. surveies show that 66 % of U. S. places have three or more Television sets ( â€Å"Mediascope† ) . It is really dearly-won non to advert if you are in hunt to purchase the newest or biggest telecastings out at that place. Televisions non merely can set a strain on a household financially but with some households that watch up to or more than three hours of Television it can side track a household from its aims. During the 90’s each household averaged approximately 50 hours of telecasting weekly ( â€Å"Teen-agers† ) . Now come ining the new decennary the statistics have grown with the new types of telecasting since the 90’s. Once households start watching Television. it becomes a everyday that is non easy to interrupt. Many households are drawn to competition shows. where the whole household can take part and play along. The Steady Increase of Violence on Television Shows Television shows have become more violent in clip and it targets the young person and manipulates the kids to believe it is acceptable to perpetrate Acts of the Apostless of force. 59 % of force is shown on basic overseas telegram which is what most kids watch ( â€Å"Mediascope† ) . Children are really easy swayed to happening person to look up to. Many childs are into the â€Å"bad guys† and the strongest or most evil Television characters out at that place. When kids idolize characters on telecasting they are more likely to move the manner they do. 67 % of plans depict force in a humourous manner ( â€Å"Mediascope† ) . Showing the Acts of the Apostless of force in a humourous manner makes it look harmless to the kids. Childs who have premium channels on their telecastings are even more prone to perpetrating a violent act. Shows like HBO’s Oz. averaged 76 violent Acts of the Apostless per episode ( Hepburn 244-249 ) . Cartoons frequently depict at that place secret plans in a violent manner. Cartoons are a perfect illustration that shows how the young person of America is targeted at an early age. The major Television webs like Fox. CBS. and ABC play a large function in the rise of force across the state. Television webs like these. feel that force brings in the viewing audiences and the more viewing audiences the more money that the web makes. When Television was merely turning in popularity. the shows so were a batch different. Of class. there was still some force but really limited and no swear words or realistic particular effects. For illustration â€Å"Leave it to Beaver† and â€Å"Dike Van Dyke† which started in the 50’s. was non-violent and still popular plenty to draw in the viewing audiences get downing whole new tendencies. Today on the other manus. realistic effects to do horror scenes seem about existent have corrupted the populace. Shows like â€Å"CSI† and â€Å"Space Troopers† have legion violent Acts of the Apostless that are really in writing particularly to childs. The alteration through the decennaries has been great and more become more violent than of all time. What is to come in the hereafter? Will the force become even more vi olent? Or will at that place be a halt to the up rise in violent Acts of the Apostless all together? Television Effectss In the long tally. telecasting will impact non merely kids but teens and grownups excessively. With all the violent Acts of the Apostless seen on about every Television show the kids become frightened of the universe around them. â€Å"Eventually after watching all these offenses and violent Acts of the Apostless. the kids will be less sensitive to trouble and agony of others† ( Zuckerman ) . As most parents know. kids will make what they see. Many kids. non cognizant of what’s incorrect and right yet. will â€Å"mimic what they hear and see on TV† ( Zuckerman ) . It’s a parents occupation to watch over his or hers child and make certain they are non witnessing an inordinate sum of refuse or telecasting. presuming the parents are stable and non already addicted to Television. Statisticss show that teens ticker more telecasting than anything else that includes listening to music and reading ( â€Å"Mediascope† ) . Teenss are now in the old ages of re bellion against their parents and want to watch more mature shows that they can associate to. â€Å"Most adolescent prefer grownup scheduling that trades with turning up. drugs. sex and alcohol† ( Zuckerman ) . Teens that are stressed out by mundane things like school. classs and parents are more likely to watch Television every free minute they get. Television gives them a opportunity to loosen up and bury about day-to-day jobs and problems. Adults are besides portion of the rebellion in violent Acts of the Apostless committed due to the effects of telecasting. 76 % of typical violent culprits are grownups ( â€Å"Mediascope† ) . As we look around the violent universe we live in. it’s non flooring that all kids turn out as a deranged felon or liquidator particularly when kids look up to grownups for counsel. With the offense rates steadily increasing and telecasting in the hot place for the incrimination possibly a forbiddance of telecastings is in order. TV’s influence on the population Television affects everybody including childs. teens and grownups when they watch inordinate sum of Television each twenty-four hours. Parents should restrict there childs while they are immature so it’s non difficult to draw them away when they’re in their adolescent old ages. Today shots and slayings are more common than 20 old ages ago and no happenstance that the mean hours of telecasting a twenty-four hours have been lifting of all time since. Television makes existent slayings seem like nil to childs because they don’t yet understand the world from their Television universe. If the childs watch inordinate sums of Television when they are truly immature. they will respond to what they saw on Television when they are in a crisis or job in there life. when they grow up. Television is one of the negative effects of engineering and detecting new things. â€Å"Our findings suggest that responsible parents should avoid allowing their kids to watch more than an hr of Television a twenty-four hours. † ( Hepburn 244-249 ) . Hepburn besides stated â€Å"I was surprised to see a five fold addition in aggressive behaviour from less than one hr to three or more hours† ( Hepburn 244-249 ) . The universe with telecasting does non travel manus in manus any more. With force quickly increasing. the offense rates rocketing. it’s lone clip before there’s no more Television or people left. Television. in the terminal These big doses of telecasting are shown by the offense rate of today. Children who watch more than three hours of Television a twenty-four hours are really likely to perpetrate a violent act with in their life. Television will likely be about for a really long clip and it is the parents that are responsible for how much clip their childs ticker. Parents are non to be blamed wholly but there is a good portion that does rely on them to steer their childs the right manner and restrict the hours of Television they watch mundane. Jennifer Zuckerman claims â€Å"parents are responsible on how much Television is allowed and what stairss should be taken† . If you watch your kids and bound there hours of Television a twenty-four hours there is a good opportunity that the child will be less likely to be involved in a violent act. Television is normally a consequence of ennui. a clip to loosen up and non make any physical work. 73. 5 % of people watch Television when they are non making any thing ( â€Å"Television† ) . Television is a major cause of the bulk of violent Acts of the Apostless committed in the last few old ages. The lone manner for a lessening in the nation’s force is to restrict the sum of telecasting we watch and to restrict the kids from big sums of telecasting. If the rise of force still increases at a steady velocity. the lone manner to halt it is to either travel to the manufacturers or convert the people to turn on telecastings and take them from their places. Plants Cited Hepburn. Mary A. â€Å"TV Violence! A Medium’s Effectss Under Scrutiny. † Social Education. Sept. 1997: 244-249. SIRS Researcher CD-ROM. CD-ROM. SIRS Mandarin. Fall 2002. â€Å"Mediascope. National Television Violence Study. † Executive Summary. 1994-1995: N. P. SIRS Researcher CD-ROM. CD-ROM. SIRS Mandarin. Fall 2002. â€Å"Teen-agers Who Watch More Television are Prone to Violence† . The Seattle Times. March 28. 2002: N. P. SIRS Researcher CD-ROM. CD-ROM. SIRS Mandarin. Fall 2002. â€Å"Television Violence: A Review of the Effectss on Children of Different Ages† . Science 1995 ; N. P. Zuckerman. D. â€Å"What is to Blame for Youth Violence? † 21. March. 2003. World Wide Web. surgeongeneral. gov/library/youthviolence

Alcohol impact on family life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alcohol impact on family life - Essay Example This is combined with alterations that are associated with key life events that lead to more dependency and negative turns associated within their lives. The events, both individually and within the family, are known to continue to affect individuals and families negatively through the dependence on alcohol (Dawson et al, 5: 2006). There are two ways in which alcohol begins to affect the family life of others in a negative manner. The first comes from teaching other families about the dependence on alcohol. In a recent survey (Seljamo et al, 984: 2006), it was found that there was a subsequent use of alcohol dependency on children who were consistently associated with dependency on alcohol. Those that had parents who were dependent on alcohol were found to have high rates in using the alcohol consistently. At 15 years of age, 83% of girls and 79% of boys began using alcohol, specifically with association of parents who were dependent on alcohol. The best predictors were a combination of drinking by parents when children were young and heavy drinking from the father of the household (Seljamo et al, 984: 2006). The addiction that was noted among children from the example is also a hindrance to the family because of cycles of abuse on other levels that begin to occur. The alcohol that is used from a state of dependency is one which is considered abusive and which can lead to responses which differ because of cognitive changes as well as emotional responses from the alcohol. This can lead to other forms of abuse in the household, ranging from altering behaviors, mental and physical abuse to others in the home. This impacts those who are directly impacted by the abuse as well as those who are in the environment and which are subjected to the impact which comes from the alcohol use. The result is changing cognitive responses from the household, specifically because of the way in which the abuse begins to rise in the household (Groh et al, 49: 2007). Examining Alcohol Abuse The complexities of alcohol abuse and the known changes which alter in the family lead to more questions about how alcohol abuse may affect behaviors. To further explain this, a survey can be conducted that relates to the use of alcohol, specifically which comes from relations in the family. The survey includes an impact of how alcoholic behaviors are determined through generations and the family. The understanding of abusive behaviors, such as how often one drinks, who one drinks with, situations one is in and relationships with family will be examined. There will then be an understanding of how this may influence others negatively and with the behaviors within families. Conclusion By examining alcohol abuse in the family, there is the ability to understand how the dynamics of individuals change, specifically because of the use of alcohol. While it is known that alcohol dependency leads to abuse in the family, as well as children using alcohol from the use of their parents, there are other areas which can be examined to determine how alcohol affects different individuals. Understanding what triggers one to drink, specifically which may arise from the conditions one is in, to creating an understanding of the events which occur to lead one to drink and to respond to those that are influenced by the alcohol can create an understanding of the patterns of behaviors that influence those who are involved with

Tips to help a teacher support a child with Asperger's syndrome and Outline

Tips to help a teacher support a child with Asperger's syndrome and social interaction difficulties - Outline Example Idea 1: Constant use of body movements such as gestures and facial expressions like eye gazing as a way of interaction between the teacher and the children. This will encounter the problem of marked impairment to boost interaction (Kumar, 2014). Idea 2: in terms of the arrangement, age factor should be a priority. It should involve arranging the students according to their age sets in the class setup. This ensures that any problem of peer relationship in terms of age inappropriateness is avoided (Montgomery, Stoesz & Mccrimmon, 2013). Black, D, Wallace, G, Sokoloff, J, & Kenworthy, L 2009, Brief Report: IQ Split Predicts Social Symptoms and Communication Abilities in High-Functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 39, 11, pp. 1613-1619, Kumar, A 2014, Key factors associated with Asperger’s syndrome and implications for effective teaching to enhance student participation and engagement, International Journal of Human Sciences, 11, 2, pp. 484-501, Montgomery, J, Stoesz, B, & Mccrimmon, A 2013, Emotional Intelligence, Theory of Mind, and Executive Functions as Predictors of Social Outcomes in Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome, Focus On Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 28, 1, pp. 4-13, Scharfstein, L, Beidel, D, Sims, V, & Finnell, L 2011, Social Skills Deficits and Vocal Characteristics of Children with Social Phobia or Aspergers Disorder: A Comparative Study, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 6, pp.

Taking a degree on Educational Technology Assignment

Taking a degree on Educational Technology - Assignment Example With a degree in the subject, I would be able to benefit from different opportunities because facilities such as universities, libraries, and schools in my country are constantly searching for members who are qualified in this particular field (Reisner & Dempsey, 2012). How will you prepare for the interview? What will you present to the interviewer in order to get this position? What is your confidence level about getting this job? How will you do to convince the interviewer that you will be able compete with those who also apply for this position? Discuss in depth. In the event that I was informed about a vacancy, I would first research into the company or firm offering the job. I would then come up with a format which would allow me to stand out among other candidates in the forthcoming interview. I would also study my body language, in order to correct any unintentional postures that do not convey confidence. During the interview, I would also ask a few questions of my own in order to signify interest in the job available while also learning more about what my responsibilities would be. To gain the attention of the interviewer, I would seek to demonstrate my understanding of the job’s requirements as well as my knowledge of the company to the interviewer. I would also provide practical examples of how I would undertake different responsibilities in order to meet the organization’s objectives. If there were any duties of the job I was applying for that I did not understand, I would seek to discuss with an interviewer a task that is similar to that I do not well understand which I had performed in the recent past, and stress on my tendency to be able to learn things quickly and on the job. I would seek to demonstrate my understanding of the tasks that the job requires instead of talking about how much I know. As I am well able to multitask, I would seek to demonstrate this to the interviewer

Accounting Ethics Can Make the Difference Reasons why Morals are Key Research Paper

Accounting Ethics Can Make the Difference Reasons why Morals are Key Components - Research Paper Example They don’t trust the financial statements, they don’t trust the audits, they don’t trust the bond rating agencies.† Indeed, contemporary profession of accountancy has been continuously wrestling with how to improve ethics in the profession. In the wake of prominent accounting scandals such as Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, and Arthur Andersen, the accounting profession in general and accounting ethics in the main has received both public’s and regulator’s glare. In 2002 the U.S. Congress responded to this dilemma with enactment of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, when it seemed the regulatory field for adherence to accounting standards and ethics had been prepared, the world witnessed yet another crisis of accounting ethics triggered by unnoticed 50 billion Ponzi scheme invented and managed by Bernard Madoff for almost twenty years. Because the accounting profession is the gatekeeper of the financial affairs of the business community, it must strive t o cultivate and maintain ethical standards and principles that must not be compromised. Ethical sensitivity is paramount in conducting business honorably and fairly. Business communities around the globe hold accountants in high esteem and expect them to be beyond reproach, ethically. The primary existing paradigm related to accounting ethics is based on the premise that individuals make ethical choices because of individual integrity. This may be partially true; however, ethical or unethical accounting practices usually reflect the values, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior patterns of the organizational culture (True & Pelton, 2005). Early ethical and moral theorists have gone to great lengths to understand human behaviors and to define what behaviors constitute good morals. Some people believe that morality is contingent on environmental and situational circumstances. Dawson (2005) asserted that the character traits defining the ethical nature of the business are embedded in the social values of its culture. Dawson (2005) also believed that businesses with a strong rational and bureaucratic culture, such as financial institutions, have difficulty promoting individual ethical behavior beyond the rules in the absence of a compensating culture of social values such as trust and honesty. Businesses that thrive on the quality of human relationships internally and externally have more opportunity for building such a culture to promote ethical behavior. Those businesses with high employee turnover and a higher percentage of part-time/casual workers with low intrinsic valuation of work have difficulty sustaining a work ethic conductive to ethical behavior. Thus, ethical behavior is as much an organizational issue as it is a personal issue. Further, in some instances, ethical behavior is learned behavior that is based on formal educational instruction and personal experiences/modeling. According to position formed by Duska and Duska (2005), "accountants have a number of ethical responsibilities, to themselves, their families, and their profession as well as to the clients and company for which they work" (p. 30). Practically, most of accounting crises occurred in past primarily due to CEOs not adhering to the rules and regulations of the accounting practices as well as the U.S. Security Exchange Commission requirements. According to Healy-Burress (2010), "a professional code of conduct explicitly states the expectations of behavior and character for the members of the profession" (p.57). Therefore, a professional code of ethics that is followed by participants represents a defining feature of a profession, and the major document which formulates the ethical conduct of accounting

Goya's third of May, 1808 and Velazquez's Surrender at Breada Essay

Goya's third of May, 1808 and Velazquez's Surrender at Breada - Essay Example One needs to have a thorough understanding of the historical and cultural backgrounds in which these masterly paintings were composed. The 17th century Dutch witnessed the full ushering of painting, architecture, and sculpture. It was actually the Golden Age in the history of the Dutch. Culturally the country got advanced. The citizenry played a major role in the all round development of the country especially in the cultural advancement of the country. There were many cultural associations in the cities which contributed very much to the development of literary activities like poetry, drama, discussions etc. Calvinism as a form of religion got great impetus in the period. Even though lack of political stability created much chaos in the minds of the people it did not affect the ushering of arts in any way. It was in this background that Velazquez composed his ever memorable work namely Surrender at Breda. Culture of Spain is mostly Iberian culture marked by Roman influence in every realm. Muslim influence is vividly seen in the country during the period. It was against this background that Goya composed his master piece Third of May, 1808. There was an overall development in every field in the country. Culture of the country is manifested in its literature, painting, music etc. They are the main cultural aspects in which these works of art were given shape. Goya's Art are characterized... In this master piece many of his characteristic styles are imprinted. The work is famous for its use of realism, rich colors, lights and shadows etc. These characteristics styles can be found in almost all his works. The subject matter of The Third of May 1808 by Goya is that "it commemorates Spanish resistance to Napoleon's armies during the occupation of 1808. The work has an emotional force which secures its status as a ground breaking, archetypal image of the horrors of war." (Thomas). On the other hand Surrender at Breda by Velazquez is about" an event that took place on June 2 , 1625 when the Dutch governor, Justin de Nassau, delivered the keys of the city, symbolically, to Ambrosio de Spinola, the Spanish commander. This happened in fact three days after the city was taken. In 1639, shortly after the canvas was painted, Spain lost the city forever; it was conquered by Frederick Henry of Orange." (Velzquez). Symbols, colors and iconography are lavishly used in Velazquez's Surrender at Breda to bring effectiveness to the work. The use of these literary devices was very much the part of the culture of that time. In Goya's The Third of May 1808 the literary device symbolism is abundantly used to bring about catharsis on the beholder. Symbolism in the work explains its influence on the art world and the society. The other literary devices like iconography are not so lavishly used in Goya's The Third of May 1808 as in Velazquez's Surrender at Breda. There are many differences rather than similarities between these two works of art namely Goya's third of May, 1808 and Velazquez's Surrender at Breda. The main similarity between these works lies in their mode of painting i.e. both are oil on

Respect in work place Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Respect in work place - Essay Example Several employers are no longer kind to employees, they misbehave with their employees and some even resort to physical violence against them. This is a very serious issue which needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later. Respecting the employees will always motivate them and this would lead to their overall satisfaction and they will work with dedication. It is the right of an employee to be treated with dignity and respect; this is the most basic thing which every employee completely deserves. â€Å"What is respect in the workplace? Respect is kindness given to employees, co-workers, and/or bosses. Respect is also treating people the same, with dignity, and the same way you would want to be treated. Respect makes employees feel valued for what they do. Without respect, workers will feel as though they are as though they are not valued and unimportant. This can affect their self-esteem, self-worth, and cause lower production rates.† It is very important to respect everyone, overall job satisfaction can only be achieved when the employees feel wanted and they will feel wanted only when they are respected and treated really well. It hardly takes much to respect an individual; it comes effortlessly to some people while some others have to work really hard on it. At the end of the day everyone should be happy only then can an organization become successful. How to give Respect (2011). Respect in the Workplace. N.p Web.

Assessments Package Essay Example for Free

Assessments Package Essay The paper is based upon the self assessment online training. Throughout I will explain what changes the exercise has done to the view I had prior and the view I have after. Although in I think that becoming a case manager is a hard job and requires specific personality traits. I will write about the position of a case manager and what roles and duties the job requires. I will discuss the viewpoints on ethical principles, professional responsibilities, how my viewpoints had changed after the online training, and the self-awareness I have gained that could prepare myself for a case management role. View Changes on Ethical Principles The ethical obligations of the privacy for consumers and his or her protection of their health information are to be upheld at all times. The ethical principles within health care organizations are based upon the accountability of professionalism. However, the protection differs from the type of organization for example, state programs require state laws to be accommodated and followed. The programs in which state covers is alcohol and drug abuse programs, Medicare, and other accreditation programs that are applicable to federal laws. Therefore, the ethical principles in my opinion are held high as the guidelines are to be followed by all organizations in order to function properly and to provide the proper care to the clients. Privacy is extremely important as no person would want his or her medical conditions and concerns placed into public hands. View Changes on Professional Responsibilities The workforce training required for upholding privacy and security of health information proved to me that it is seldom to be professional in this type of work field. The awareness or degree of the security and privacy for patient’s health information varies from how to use or share health information, parameters, job position influences, the leadership interpretation, and implementing costs. The professionalism of the HIPPA security and privacy requires the formal education and proper training to ensure that the person entering this type of workforce can have ongoing accountability for the security and privacy to protect health information. The standards for HIPPA’s security and privacy rules address specific training requirements so professionalism responsibility is an absolute after receiving proper training. The requirements for the high-level training are crucial because of the cost and ongoing requirements and responsibilities of the workers. The professional responsibilities of the job demands ongoing training in which the workers are constantly up-to-date with documentations and responsibilities required by each person. The viewpoints of professional responsibilities after completing the online assessment has changed based upon the amount of responsibility the workers must obtain. The responsibility to make sure no health information is leaked through the system (documents, computers, corrupt employees) is extremely important, therefore the information shared among people is to be protected. Although I believe that health care information is not an item in which thieves’ want to possess. Health care information is in my opinion pointless to steal, as people really should not care who has certain medical conditions wrong with them. The workers job to me seems like a security job with the use of a computer in regard to health records, I often picture a security guard standing in front of a medical filling room. Self-Awareness Becoming self-aware of the case management role prepares me to comprehend the responsibilities, duties, and importance of health care information. The case management role is an important role as the information obtained by the case worker is personal should be guarded or protected, and secured. I am aware of the responsibility the case managers has daily and what his or her job title requires. However, I do not have plans or goals to become a case manager or to have that type of role in a job. I like helping people, whereas, I do not like to sit still and stare at a computers or paper work as a career. In the end, I have obtained information in which case manager’s jobs require extreme security, privacy, and professionalism. The case management role is only for certain people who can handle that type of job. Becoming a case manager is not a random choice a person picks for a career. For me, it is nice to obtain information in regard to the role of a case manager and realized how important case manager’s jobs are and what his or her daily duties require.

Debate of Nature vs Nurture

Debate of Nature vs Nurture The historical debate regarding nature and nurture has been going on for years and is still unresolved. Many theorists believe what we have inherited and our genes, makes us the way we are and affects how we develop. Other theorists believe it is the way we are brought up and our experiences, that make us the way we are and how we develop. [1] Nature is the coding of genes in each cell in us humans determine the different traits that we have, more dominantly on the physical attributes like eye color, hair color, ear size, height, and other traits. However, it is still not known whether the more abstract attributes like personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, likes and dislikes are gene-coded in our DNA, too. [2] The nurture theory holds that genetic influence over abstract traits may exist; however, the environmental factors are the real origins of our behavior. This includes the use of conditioning in order to induce a new behavior to a child, or alter an unlikely behavior being shown by the child. According to John Watson, one of the strongest psychologists who propose environmental learning as a dominating side in the nature vs nurture debate, once said that he can be able to train a baby randomly chosen in a group of 12 infants, to become any type of specialist Watson wants. He stated that he could train him to be such regardless of the childs potentialities, talents and race. [2] In the case of personality traits, non-shared environmental effects are often found to outweigh shared environmental effects. That is, environmental effects that are typically thought to be life-shaping (such as family life) may have less of an impact than non-shared effects, which are harder to identify. One possible source of nonshared effects is the environment of prenatal development. Random variations in the genetic program of development may be a substantial source of nonshared environment. These results suggest that nurture may not be the predominant factor in environment. Environment and our situations, do in fact impact our lives, but not the way in which we would typically react to these environmental factors. We are preset with personality traits that are the basis for how we would react to situations. An example would be how extraverted prisoners become less happy than introverted prisoners and would react to their incarceration more negatively due to their preset extrave rted personality [3] Throughout the stages of our life nature and nurture play a large part and help dictate where we will end up in the future for example if you were brought up in a place with a really bad drug problems its likely that you will also develop a drug addiction, also if you were brought up in an area with a lot of gang problems its likely that you will become involved in gang related issues. Neglect and abuse can also affect your development as it could leave you with psychological issues that if left unresolved could cause problems in your adult life, for example if at a young age you see your father beating your mother you might begin to think that this is what is suppose to happen unless told otherwise, leading to you in the future having psychological problems. At childhood the brain is like a sponge and will absorbs any information it is told by the senses. Childrens temperament such as their characteristics and ways of responding to emotional events, novel stimuli, and their own impulses seem to be in part affected by their individual genetic makeup. Similarly, being slow or quick to learn from instruction and everyday experiences has some genetic basis. Inherited characteristics and tendencies are not always evident at birth. Many physical features emerge gradually through the process of maturation, the genetically guided changes that occur over the course of development. Environmental support, such as food, reasonably safe and toxin-free surroundings, and responsive care from others, is necessary for maturation to take place; nature never works alone.[4] Birth and Infancy How a mother handles her pregnancy is critical to a babys development, if a pregnant mother drinks large quantities of alcohol   it can affect her unborn baby extremely, children born with foetal alcohol syndrome tend to be born smaller, tend to have smaller heads and may have heart problems and learning difficulties. Also it is important that during the pregnancy the mother stays healthy as possible as if the mother develops any infections such as rubella it can cause impaired hearing and eyesight or heart damage, things like a mothers diet could also affect their unborn child as you are affected by what your mother eats for example if a mothers diet is high in fat and sugar the child will be have a risk of heart disease and malnutrition, if a mother eats a low amount of healthy food during their pregnancy it can lead to poor health for the child. During infancy Relationships are particularly important as infants learn primarily through their relationship with others. Eye contact, smiles and imitation set the stage for more sustained communication and meaningful exchanges and engagement with parents and other caregivers, and a growing world of relationships. [5]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography http://www.studymode.com/essays/M1-Discuss-The-Nature-Nurture-Debate-1503784.html https://explorable.com/nature-vs-nurture-debate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_versus_nurture#Personality_traits http://www.education.com/reference/article/nature-nurture/ http://www.beststart.org/OnTrack_English/2-factors.html

Analysis of the Global Steel Industry

Analysis of the Global Steel Industry Steel Industry is a booming industry in the whole world. The increasing demand for it was mainly generated by the development projects that have been going on along the world, especially the infrastructural works and real estate projects that has been on the boom around the developing countries. The Asian countries have their respective dominance in the production of the steel all over the world. India being one among the fastest growing economies of the world has been considered as one of the potential global steel hub internationally. Over the years, particularly after the adoption of the liberalization policies all over the world, the World steel industry is growing very fast. Steel Industry was till recently dominated by the United Sates of America but this scenario is changing with a rapid pace with the Indian steel companies on an acquisition spree. In the last one year, the world has seen two big MA deals to take place:- The Mittal Steel, listed in Holland, has acquired the worlds largest steel company called Arcelor Steel to become the worlds largest producer of Steel named Arcelor-Mittal. Tata Steel of India or TISCO (as listed in BSE) has acquired the worlds fifth largest steel company, Corus, with the highest ever stock price. It has been observed that Steel Industry has grown tremendously in the last one and a half decade with a strong financial condition. The increasing need of steel by the developing countries for its infrastructural projects has pushed the companies in this industry near their operative capacity. The most significant growth that can be seen in the Steel Industry has been observed during the period 1960 to 1974 when the consumption of steel around the whole world doubled. Between these years, the rate at which the Steel Industry grew has been recorded to be 5.5 %. This roaring market saw a phase of deceleration from the year 1975 which continued till 1982. After this period, the continuous fall slowed down and again started its upward movement from the early 1990s. Steel Industry is becoming more and more competitive with every passing day. During the period 1960s to late 1980s, the steel market used to be dominated by OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countri es. But with the fast emergence of developing countries like China, India and South Korea in this sector has led to slipping market share of OECD countries. The balance of trade line is also tilting towards these countries. The main demand creators for Steel Industry are Automobile industry, Construction Industry, Infrastructure Industry, Oil and Gas Industry, and Container Industry. New innovations are also taking place in Steel Industry for cost minimization and at the same time production maximization. Some of the cutting edge technologies that are being implemented in this industry are thin-slab casting, making of steel through the use of electric furnace, vacuum degassing, etc. The Steel Industry has enough potential to grow at a much accelerated pace in the coming future due to the continuity of the developmental projects around the world. This industry is at present working near its productive capacity which needs to be increased with increasing demand. STEEL GLOBAL SCENARIO The biggest boom in history of steel industry is that of the 1950s and 1960s, when the steel industry was driven by the post-War boom in the developed world. Where as the current boom is being led by growth in the developing world, particularly China, India and Brazil. Indeed, the China factor is huge and gives the impression that the boom has a broader basis than it actually has. In 2005, China produced 349 million tonnes of crude steel, accounting for almost one-third of the global steel output. Even this was not enough to feed the countrys appetite for growth. It was the biggest importer of steel and the sixth biggest exporter of steel in the world; in 2005, its net imports amounted to 12 million tonnes and its consumption of steel also amounted to a little less than one-third of the world consumption. China is clearly the engine that has driven steel consumption in the Asian region. Its consumption, as a percentage of the total consumption in Asia, increased from 41 per cent in 1 999 to 57 per cent in 2005. Steel prices, primarily buoyed by the Chinese boom, hit their peak between 2002 and 2004. This ensured high profits from investments in steel. Despite the moves towards consolidation, steel capacities are still fragmented. The gap between Arcelor-Mittal and Nippon Steel, the second biggest producer, highlights this. Nippon produced 32 million tonnes of steel in 2005 less than one-third that of the industry leader. More significantly, although the Tata-Corus combine will be placed at number five in the global steel pecking order, its capacity would still not be very far ahead of most companies in the top 15. This implies that under the threat of further consolidation the Tatas may well come under pressure to acquire more capacities from rivals or expose themselves to attack from aggressive bidders. The point about consolidation is that it is only happening at the top. The top 10 companies produce about 25 per cent of the global steel output. The rest of the steel about 75 per cent of the global capacity is still widely dispersed over 62 countries around the world, in plants with much smaller capacities. Industry sources say that consolidation needs to happen at the bottom end of the steel market. The smaller producers, rather than the bigger ones, affect the market more, said a senior official in the Ministry of Steel and Mines. The pressure building up at the bottom can result in the bigger producers losing control of the market suddenly and quickly. In the year 2004, the global steel production has made a record level by crossing the 1000 million tones. Among the top producers in the steel production, China ranked 1 in the world. Production of steel in the 25 European Union countries was at 16.3 mmt in January 2005. Production in Italy increased by 11.5 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2004. Italy produced 2.5 mmt of crude steel in January 2005. Austria produced 646,000 metric tones. In Russia it increased by 4.0 per cent to reach at 5.5 mmt in January. In case of the North America region particularly in Mexico it was 1.5 mmt of crude steel in January 2005, up by 8.0 per cent compared to the same month in 2004. Production in the United States was 8.3 mmt. Brazil had produced 2.6 mmt of crude steel in January 2005. In South America region it was 3.7 mmt for January 2005 INDIAN STEEL INDUSTRY Post liberalisation Steel industry reforms particularly in 1991 and 1992 have led to strong and sustainable growth in Indias steel industry. Since its independence, India has experienced steady growth in the steel industry, successive governments that have supported the industry and pushed for its robust development. Further illustrating this plan is the fact that a number of steel plants were established in India, with technological assistance and investments by foreign countries. In 1991, a substantial number of economic reforms were introduced by the Indian government. These reforms boosted the development process of a number of industries the steel industry in India in particular which has subsequently developed quite rapidly. The 1991 reforms allowed for no licenses to be required for capacity creation, except for some locations. Also, once Indias steel industry was moved from the listing of the industries that were reserved exclusively for the public sector, huge foreign investments were made in this industry. Yet another reform for Indias steel industry came in 1992, when every type of control over the pricing and distribution system was removed, making the modern Indian Steel Industry extremely efficient, as well as competitive. Additionally, a number of other government measures have stimulated the growth of the steel industry, coming in the form of an unrestricted external trade, low import duties, and an easy tax structure. India continually posts phenomenal growth records in steel production. In 1992, India produced 14.33 million tones of finished carbon steels and 1.59 million tones of pig iron. Furthermore, the steel production capacity of the country has increased rapidly since 1991. In 2008, India produced nearly 46.575 million tones of finished steels and 4.393 million tones of pig iron. Both primary and secondary producers contributed their share to this phenomenal development, while these increases have pushed up the demand for finished steel at a very stable rate. In 1992, the total consumption of finished steel was 14.84 million tones. In 2008, the total amount of domestic steel consumption was 43.925 million tones. With the increased demand in the national market, a huge part of the international market is also served by this industry. Today, India is in seventh position among all the crude steel producing countries. THE Indian steel industry, in line with global trends, is at a crossroads, witnessing a resurgent phase of modernisation, expansion and consolidation, mainly through mergers and acquisitions. A sector that was moribund just about five years ago because of a worldwide slump in steel prices, the industry has turned the corner and has in fact been vibrant over the past two years. Domestic steel companies, both public and private, are surging ahead on the strength of an unprecedented buoyancy in the economy and the resultant boom in real estate and various infrastructure sectors such as roads and highways, ports and airports. The official figures speak for themselves. Powered by an increased demand for steel from neighbouring China, which has been clocking a 15 per cent sectoral growth annually on account of construction projects in preparation for the Olympics, the steel industry in India has grown by about 10 per cent in the past two years, compared with the global growth rate of about 6 per cent a year. The countrys production of crude steel in 2005-06 stood at 42.1 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 7.1 per cent over the previous fiscal. On the other hand, the consumption of steel during the year was pegged at 41.43 million tonnes, a massive growth of 13.88 per cent when compared with the 2004-05 figures. Likewise, the production of sponge iron also increased sharply by 25 per cent, from about 10.3 million tonnes in 2004-05 to 12.9 million tonnes in 2005-06. Currently, India is the largest sponge iron producer in the world and ranks seventh among steel-producing countries. The growth in domestic steel consumption is, by and large, in keeping with the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) forecast of a 10 per cent increase in steel use in 2006. While the IISI has projected the global demand for steel to grow by 4.9 per cent in the medium term up to 2010, it has pegged its forecast for the 2010-15 period at 4.2 per cent annually for the entire world. The IISI says India will lead the consumption growth story with an annual demand of 7.7 per cent, followed by China with 6.2 per cent. More heartening is the indication that the exciting phase in the domestic steel industry is expected to continue for the next five to seven years at the least, in terms of both consumption and production. Already, the growth in steel consumption, as projected by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the National Steel Policy (NSP) formulated in 2005, stands exceeded by a huge margin. The NSP had conservatively estimated the countrys steel production to grow by 7.3 per cent, with an annual consumption growth of 6.9 per cent. Considering that the past two years have already witnessed a demand growth of over 10 per cent, the government expects the healthy trend to continue during the Eleventh Plan period (2007-12), provided an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 9 per cent is achieved during the period as projected by the Planning Commission. Clearly, for primary steel producers, India is the place to be in as it has the greatest growth potential. There are two other major factors. One, India is bestowed with the largest reserves of high-quality iron ore in the world. Secondly, the annual per capita consumption of steel in the country is still one of the lowest in the world, at 35 kilograms against the global benchmark of 250-400 kg. In effect, the growth story in India is here to stay for quite a few decades in view of the sheer disparity in consumption l evels. The three ore-rich States Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh threw open their doors, steel-makers of all hues jumped into the fray to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with more than one State government. In all, more than 116 MoUs have already been inked, pledging a total investment of a whopping Rs.3, 57,344 crores in the coming years. If all the pledges materialise, the countrys installed steel production capacity will surge to anywhere between 150 million and 180 million tonnes by 2014-15, compared with the conservative NSP target of 110 million tonnes by 2019-20. Orissa signed 43 MoUs to hike its production capacity to 58.04 million tonnes. Not to be left behind, Chhattisgarh entered into 42 MoUs to augment its steel capacity to 19.32 million tonnes, while Jharkhand signed 31 MoUs to increase its capacity to 68.67 million tonnes. The extensive availability of rich iron ore the basic raw material for steel-making in the three States has attracted big global names too who, at the outset, made it clear that they would require captive iron ore mines to feed their greenfield steel projects. Initially, it was the home-grown Tata Steel that signed a MoU with the Orissa government, in November 2004 for setting up a six-million-tonne plant at an estimated cost of Rs.15, 400 crores after the government made a commitment that its ore requirement of 250 million tonnes for a period of 25 years would be met. Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO), the South Korean major and the third largest global steel producer, approached the Orissa government, the terms turned out to be far sweeter. Under the MoU signed in June 2005, POSCO plans to set up a 12-million-tonne plant at Paradeep, with an investment of Rs.51, 000 crores. The initial proposal was for a 10-million-tonne plant, but there is a catch here. The government has committed itself not only to providing 600 million tonnes of ore on a captive basis for a period of 30 years but also allowing POSCO to export the quality domestic ore for use in its steel plants in Korea. It has demanded the raw material from mines in Sundergarh a nd Keonjhar districts. Lakshmi N. Mittal, the non-resident Indian (NRI) tycoon and the worlds biggest steel-maker following the merger of Mittal Steels with the Luxembourg-based Arcelor in June last year, did still better. He put Jharkhand and Orissa in competition by proposing a steel venture in either State, depending upon the terms and incentives and the swiftness in approvals. Jharkhand lost out owing to litigation over its Chiria ore mines and for other reasons to Orissa, which signed an MoU with Mittal-Arcelor in December last year for a 12-million-tonne steel plant at Keonjhar. The state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) also undertook a major exercise to retain its position as the leading integrated steel producer in the country. The steel behemoth announced its `Corporate Plan-2012, envisaging an outlay of Rs.37, 000 crores to upgrade its plants and modernise its operations. Under the plan, expansion programmes are under way in various SAIL units to enhance the total production capacity to 22.9 million tonnes of hot metal from the present 12.5 million tonnes by 2011-12. Late last year, following the merger of IISCO with SAIL, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the modernisation and expansion of ISP (IISCO steel plant) with an investment of Rs.9, 592 crores. Mergers of a few more state-owned units with SAIL are on the cards with a view to consolidating public sector share in the steel market. The other public sector steel enterprise, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. (RINL), is already in the process of implementing an ambitious expansion programme for increasing its liquid steel capacity from the current three million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes at an estimated cost of Rs.8, 692 crores. Launched on May 20, 2006, the project is scheduled for completion by 2008-09. Needless to say, the demand for iron ore has surged in view of the long-term supply commitments being given by the State governments at a time when the international market prices for the raw material are at a high. The government set up a committee under the Planning Commission, headed by Anwarul Hoda, to recommend changes in the National Mineral Policy. The existing policy permits free exports of iron ore with a ferrous content of less than 64 per cent. For exports of high-grade ore with higher ferrous content, a license is required and is currently canalised through the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC). The Hoda Committee recommended free exports of iron ore with a ferrous content of less than 65 per cent but advocated discontinuation of the existing regime of canalisation and export licensing for the high-grade ore. Instead, the panel suggested free exports of quality ore lumps with ferrous content of more than 65 per cent on payment of an export duty. TATA STEEL Tata Steel, formerly known as TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited), is the worlds fifth largest and Indias largest steel company, with an annual crude steel capacity of 28 million tonnes. Ranked 315th on Fortune Global 500, it is based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. It is part of Tata Group of companies. Tata Steel is also Indias second-largest and second-most profitable company in private sector with consolidated revenues of Rs 1, 32,110 crores and net profit of over Rs 12,350 crores during the year ended March 31, 2008. Its main plant is located in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, with its recent acquisitions; the company has become a multinational with operations in various countries. In 2000, the company was recognised as the worlds lowest-cost producer of steel. The company was also recognized as the worlds best steel producer by World Steel Dynamics in 2005. The company is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, and employs about 82,700 people (as o f 2008). On 2nd April, 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Corus Group plc, Steel Company headquartered at UK for an Enterprise Value of USD 14.7 billion. Post the acquisition of Corus, Tata Steel Group is now the worlds 6th largest steel company with current steel deliveries of 32 million tonnes. Set up as Asias first integrated steel plant and Indias largest integrated private sector steel company, a century ago, it is now the worlds second most geographically diversified steel producer, with operations in 24 countries and commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Jamshedpur operations in India is increasing its capacity from 5 mtpa to 10 mtpa by end 2010 and the Company has also signed MoUs to set up four greenfield steel projects in the states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh in India and one in Vietnam. Few years back, Tata Steel embarked on a journey to pursue Growth and Globalisation through organic and inorganic strategy to increase its capacity in excess of 50 mtpa by 2015. The Company identified several strategic levers including building a stronger base in India, acquisitions in both growing and developed markets, strategic investments in raw material assets and focus on branding. TATA STEEL VISION MISSION STATEMENT Vision We aspire to be the global steel industry benchmark for Value Creation and Corporate Citizenship We make the difference through: Our people, by fostering team work, nurturing talent, enhancing leadership capability and acting with pace, pride and passion. Our offer, by becoming the supplier of choice, delivering premium products and services, and creating value with our customers. Our innovative approach, by developing leading edge solutions in technology, processes and products. Our conduct, by providing a safe working place, respecting the environment, caring for our communities and demonstrating high ethical standards. Mission statement Achieve sustainable, profitable growth in steel and related businesses. Create differential value for our customers through innovative offerings. Continuous improvement of business processes and technologies. Foster partnership with key stake holders. Enhance employees competencies to create a high performing and innovative organization. Be a responsible corporate citizen and enhance the quality of life of employees and key community. TATA STEEL FUTURE STRATEGIES Currently, the global steel industry is going through unprecedented times. The steel demand is strong with over 6% growth year on year over the last seven years unseen in the last several decades, primarily driven by robust growth in China, India, South East Asia, Middle East, Russia and Brazil. The iron ore and coking coal prices are at a record high both due to insufficient capacity creation for these and the heavy consolidation of minerals companies. Oil prices and ocean freight rates are at an all time high. The combined effect of all these have driven steel prices to a level higher than ever before though there is increasing pressure on margins of steel companies due to very high input costs. The new scenario both external, due to high raw material and freight costs and internal, called for a new Vision, strategies and action plans. The Company has co-created a shared Vision with its employees of becoming a global benchmark in Value Creation and Corporate Citizenship. Company has set goals for 2012 in terms of Returns on Invested Capital, Safety, Carbon dioxide emissions and of becoming the employer of choice in the industry. The integration with Corus is proceeding smoothly and is yielding better than the predicted results. Continuous improvement projects are being given focus in all companies sites and businesses. Greenfield projects in India are progressing, though somewhat slower than planned. Companys effort to enhance their raw material security has yielded positive results in Ivory Coast for iron ore, in Mozambique for coal and in Oman for limestone. There is greater emphasis on safety. They have well laid out plans to reduce CO2 emissions to benchmark levels. The Tata Steel Group will pursue strategic growth through capacity expansions and securing access to raw materials. The Group is expanding its capacity in India through the expansion of its operations in Jamshedpur to 10 million tonnes per annum and through the construction of a 6 million tonnes per annum greenfield site in Orissa. Other Greenfield opportunities in India and across Asia are being assessed. The Group is also looking at further integration upstream in raw materials with an ambition to achieve 100% self-sufficiency in India and around 50% self-sufficiency in Europe over time. Agreements for the exploration of iron ore in the Ivory Coast, coal in Mozambique and limestone in Oman have already been signed and opportunities are under review in India to support the Indian Greenfield projects; and in Africa and South America, primarily to support its European steelmaking assets Climate change is probably the biggest challenge ever to confront the steel industry. In response to this challenge, the Tata Steel Group will be part of the solution and is committed to minimising the environmental impact of its operations and its products. It has a goal to reduce its CO2 footprint by at least 20% by 2020 compared to 1990. To meet this objective, the Group will, for example, continue to improve its current processes, invest in breakthrough technologies and develop new products and services that reduce the environmental impact over the product lifecycle. To improve its processes, priority is given to energy conservation schemes; in technology break-through such as Ultra Low Carbon Steel making and in other innovative projects where the Group has proprietary technology. TATA STEEL SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS Tata Steels Indian operations are self-sufficient in the case of its major raw material iron ore through its captive mines. Very advanced Research and Development wing which is carrying out researches and experiments in the areas of raw materials, blast furnace productivity, steel making, product development, process improvement etc. Several thrust area projects were taken up Tata had a strong retail and distribution network in India and SE Asia. Tata was a major supplier to the Indian auto industry and the demand for value added steel products was growing in this market. The Company is on its way to reach a crude steel capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum by FY 2011. The first phase of reaching the crude steel capacity of 6.8 million tonnes per annum, Brown field projects, is nearing completion The Company has in place adequate internal control systems and procedures commensurate with the size and nature of its business. The effectiveness of the internal controls is continuously monitored by the Corporate Audit Division of the Company. Corporate Audits main objective is to provide to the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, an independent, objective and reasonable assurance of the adequacy and effectiveness of the organisations risk management, control and governance processes. Corporate Audit also assesses opportunities for improvement in business processes, systems controls and may provide recommendations, designed to add-value to the organisation. It also follows up on the implementation of corrective actions and improvements in business processes after review by the Audit Committee and Senior Management Tata Steel has been on a path of accelerated growth with foray into several geographies and markets through aggressive mergers and acquisitions. Tata Steel now is in the process of implementing a structured approach in risk management called Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). The key objectives of the Company through ERM are : To enshrine the process of ERM as a usual Business Process and integrate into all decision making and planning processes. To ensure that all levels of Management identify and monitor risks through a properly defined framework. To provide periodic information and updates to the Board and the Shareholders on the significant risks and the ways of mitigating the same. Tata Steel addresses the risk of cyclicality of the Steel industry by marinating rich product mix and higher value added products whose volatility is lower. Moreover, the industry itself has been undergoing some structural changes with Consolidations. These changes are expected to bring in greater stability to prices. Tata Steel with its modernisation plans has ensured that it deploys the best technologies to ensure quality, cost-efficiency and environment-friendly processes. Through acquisition of Corus and with new Greenfield ventures, Tata Steel has ensured that it has diversified the concentration risk in single technology of Iron Steel making WEAKNESS Endemic Deficiencies These are inherent in the quality and availability of some of the essential raw materials available in India, eg, high ash content of indigenous coking coal adversely affecting the productive efficiency of iron-making and is generally imported. Advantages of high Fe content of indigenous ore are often neutralized by high basicity index. Besides, certain key ingredients of steel making, eg, nickel, Ferro-molybdenum are also unavailable indigenously. India is deficient in raw materials required by the steel industry. Iron ore deposits are finite and there are problems in mining sufficient amounts of it. Indias hard coal deposits are of low quality and the prices of coking and non-coking coal are ever increasing Raw materials for steel production are rapidly depleting and are non renewable, company has to come up with sustainable methods in steel production. Steel production in India is also hampered by power shortages. Insufficient freight capacity and transport infrastructure impediments too hamper the growth of Indian steel industry. Low Labour Productivity In India the advantages of cheap labour get offset by low labour productivity; eg, at comparable capacities labour productivity of SAIL and TISCO are 75 t/manyear and 100 t/manyear, for POSCO, Korea and NIPPON, Japan the values are 1345 t/man year and 980 t/manyear. High Cost of Basic Inputs and Services High administered price of essential inputs like electricity puts Indian steel industry at a disadvantage; about 45% of the input costs can be attributed to the administered costs of coal, fuel and electricity, eg, cost of electricity is 3 cents in the USA as compared to 10 cents in India; and freight cost from Jamshedpur to Mumbai is $50/tonne compared to only $34 from Rotterdam to Mumbai. OPPORTUNITIES The biggest opportunity before Indian steel sector is that there is enormous scope for increasing consumption of steel in almost all sectors in India. Unexplored Rural Market The Indian rural sector remains fairly unexposed to their multi-faceted use of steel. The rural market was identified as a potential area of significant steel consumption way back in the year 1976 itself. However, forceful steps were not taken to penetrate this segment. Enhancing applications in rural areas assumes a much greater significance now for increasing per capital consumption of steel. The usage of steel in cost effective manner is possible in the area of housing, fencing, structures and other possible applications where steel can substitute other materials which not only could bring about advantages to users but is also desirable for conservation of forest resources. Excellent potential exist for enhancing steel consumption in other sectors such as automobiles, packaging, engineering industries, irrigation and water supply in India. New steel products developed to improve performance simplify manufacturing/installation and reliability is needed to enhance steel consumption in these sectors It is estimated that world steel consumption will double in next 25 years. Quality improvement of Indian steel combined with its low cost advantages will definitely help in substantial gain in export market. The Tata Steel Group is leveraging the Groups collective Research and Development experience in the Groups various geographies to further enhance the Groups performance and also the integration process. Corus acquisition bring in a tremendous technological advantage by access to best practices in global steel industry Global MA brought in following synergies Greater productivity leading to increased output and market size. Greater economies of scale leading to cost reduction through combined buying Cross fertilisation of Research and Development capabilities and operational best practices, leading to greater innovation and operational efficiencies. Booming infrastructure has opened up high demand for steel worldwide THREATS In the developed world, industries have been facing rising environmental costs due to the increased concerns on Global Warming. It is, therefore, a challenge and responsibility for the Steel industry to be the trustee in conservation of nature for future generations It is recognised that the steel and aluminium industries are significant contributors to man-made greenhouse gas emissions as the manufacture of steel produces carbon dioxide (CO2), and th

An Analysis Of Media Coverage Of Ebonics: Incorporating Black English I

Introduction The debate on Ebonics has virtually left the media spotlight. The proposal by the Oakland School District in early 1997 to use Ebonics to help African-American children learn Standard English met with much opposition. Few people supported the Oakland resolution which, backed by the Linguistic Society of America, acknowledged Ebonics as a language variety complete with its own syntax, structure, and rules of grammar. The media triggered a dialogue among Americans about the appropriateness of Ebonics in the classroom. "Are you for or against Ebonics?" was a common question many Americans pondered at work, at restaurant lunch counters, and in classrooms across the country. The issue divided Americans, not so much along racial lines, but along lines of understanding. Many people were unclear about the history of Ebonics, the premise and contentions of the Oakland School District's proposal, and the implications of educators beginning to appreciate Ebonics as a distinct language variety. Thus, part of this paper will explore further the educational implications of using Ebonics to improve the literacy of black students. This will be preceded by an analysis of how the New York Times and Los Angeles Times covered the Ebonics issue, and how each (to some extent) helped to legitimize and sustain negative attitudes toward Ebonics. The Meaning of Ebonics The term "Ebonics"was first coined in January, 1973 by Dr. Robert Williams, a professor of Psychology at Washington University. The term, which is a compound of "ebonies" and "phonics"(black sounds) refers to the language of West African, Cameroonian, and U.S. slave descendants of Niger-Congo origins. Some linguists disagree about whether Ebonics, or Black English ... ...tions in English: What Role for Education?"(Opinion/Position Paper, 1991). ED 347796. McWhorter, John. "Wasting Energy on An Illusion." The Black Scholar 27 (1997): 2-5. Oneil, W. "If Ebonics Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?" Rethinking Schools 12.1 (1997): 10-11. "Original Oakland Resolution on Ebonics"( http://linguistlist.org/topics/Ebonics/Ebonics=res1.html). Secret, Carrie. Interview. Rethinking Schools. Fall 1997: 18-19, 34. Smith, E. "What Is Black English? What Is Ebonics?" Rethinking Schools 12.1 (1997): 14-15. Taylor, Hanni. "Ambivalence Toward Black English: Some Tentative Solutions." The Writing Instructor Spring (1991): 121-135. Williams, Patricia. "The Hidden Meanings of Black English." The Black Scholar 27 (1997) 7-8. Winters, Clyde A. "Non-Standard English and Reading"(Opinion/Position Paper, 1993). ED 358438.

Process Essay - How to Get a Girl :: Process Essays

Every man’s dream is to have the perfect companion. However, in order to have one, you must first be able to get one. Most believe such a task can be extremely difficult, yet if done properly, it can be accomplished swiftly and efficiently. In fact, there are only a few basic procedures to getting a girl. The first step of this process is rather quite simple; get her attention. Initiating conversation is half the battle. As well, it is very effective to make frequent eye contact. Let her catch you staring once in a while and smile at every chance you get. Your goal is to be fairly subtle, while still making it obvious that you want her. Once you have succeeded in being noticed, you are ready for the next step. Be funny, be confident, but be yourself. The absolute worse thing you can do when trying to get a girl is to change your personality. Self-assurance is indispensable and by altering your character, you are telling her that you lack confidence. Having a sense of humor is also very important. It is absolutely crucial to make her smile, even if it occasionally requires making a fool of yourself. If you can’t make her laugh, you don’t stand a chance. Now that she’s interested, entice her by making her feel special. Without being too overwhelming, attempt to spend as much time as possible with her. Devote yourself to making her feel different than the rest by going out of your way to please her. Little things count most. For example, cancel a pre-planned weekend with the boys and take her out for dinner and a movie instead. Randomly buy her flowers and she will melt. Let her hear things she wants to hear. Compliment her hair or her outfit, but don’t go overboard. Too much of a good thing gets taken for granted. It’s also essential that you be interested, or pretend to be interested, in things she likes. If she plays sports watch her game, even in the pouring rain. Once she feels a little closer to you, it’s time for the final step. Probably the most difficult yet most important step to getting a girl is to keep her guessing. Although it sounds foolish, you must back off, tremendously. Play games with her head. Make her jealous by flirting with other girls, especially with her friends.

Why Athens Lost the Peloponessian War

â€Å"They were beaten at all points and altogether; all that they suffered was great; they were destroyed as the saying is with total destruction, their fleet, their army; everything was destroyed and few out of many returned home. † (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, 481) The Sicilian military campaign of Athens proved to be one of the most disastrous military campaigns in ancient times.The loss of thousands of soldiers and sailors, hundreds of vessels and vast amounts of money from the treasury reduced tremendously the Athenian ability to wage war; however, even in spite of such a loss, Athens was still able to prolong the war for nine more years until the Spartans defeated Athens in 404 B. C. The downfall of Athens came as a result of Spartan military operations, which destroyed the Athenian navy and cut off Athens from the supply of grain from Ionia. The decisive battle at Aegospotami in 405 B. C put an end to the Athenian empire and Athenian military power.There were many r easons for the demise of Athens, ranging from bad leadership and preparation for war to a lack of overall strategic concept for conducting the war against Sparta and its allies. All of these reasons contributed to the downfall of Athens in the Peloponnesian War; however, this paper will focus only on the failure of Athens to execute Pericles’s strategy. Athens lost the Peloponnesian War because of a failure to follow the strategy of Pericles, which ultimately led to reckless expeditions, ill-advised war decisions and loss of allies.Pericles was an Athenian politician and general during the time when tensions between Sparta and Athens were rapidly escalating. The two city-states were constantly feuding over interests and were unable to compromise on several issues such as the siege of Potidaea, Megarian decree, and allowing Aegina become independent. This unwillingness of both sides in turn, pushed the rival poleis into a war against each other, which marked the start of the f irst Peloponnesian War.Before the hostilities began, Pericles laid out a strategy before the council, which if Athens were to follow would lead to a favorable outcome over the Lacedaemonians. The principles of Pericles’ strategy centered on naval warfare, attrition and limited foreign engagements during the time of war. Pericles being a wise strategist and a general knew the strengths and weaknesses of Athens and their opponents Lacedaemonians. Athens could not match the Spartan superiority in the hoplite warfare; however, Athens was capable of destroying Sparta by conducting raids from the sea on Spartan territory.The Athenian maritime fleet became one of the most powerful fleets in the ancient world after the defeat of Persia. The Athenian navy consisted of hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors who over the years gained experience and became second to none in their craft. Their familiarity with the sea allowed Athens to sail anywhere and raise fortification against any enemy in their own land. Such an advantage over the seas prevented Athenian opponents from committing too many resources and soldiers against Athens because of the fear that Athens might strike while they were on an expedition.Furthermore, the domination of the seas allowed Athens to become wealthy from trading with her allies and colonies. The money made abroad combined with the tributes from allies allowed Athens to acquire means for prolonged wars. On the other hand, Sparta in the eyes of Pericles could not afford this luxury and had to fight shorter wars. â€Å"Spartans personally engaged in the cultivation of their land, had no private or public funds, the Peloponnesians are also without experience in long wars across the sea. (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, 82) Pericles saw that Sparta can only gain land and money by battle, while Athens had plenty of islands where they received their resources from, which in turn did not require Athens to engage in many battles. In addition , Lacedaemonians were also limited by the type of alliance they were in, where each member had an equal vote. The group had to reach a consensus before they could act, while Athens made decisions and her allies followed. Pericles foresaw that the Peloponnesian League members in their war decisions would press for their own well-being instead of the common good.Therefore, when Athens would attack one of the allies of Sparta, Spartans would be put in a position where they had to choose to either to protect their allies and abandon the attack on Athens, or to continue the attack without support. That was the strategy of Pericles to defeat Lacedaemonians and their allies. By remaining in the city and conducting naval warfare, Athens would eventually reach a favorable outcome against the Spartans. Additionally, for as long as they abstained from new conquest during the war and kept their allies with them they had a good chance in winning the war.Following the death of Pericles in 429 B. C. the Athenian strategy for the war began to change. â€Å"Private ambitions and interests in matters apparently quite foreign to the war, lead them into projects unjust both to themselves and to their allies, projects whose successes would only conduce to the honor and advantage of private persons, and whose failure entailed certain disaster on the country in the war. † (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, 126) Personal ambitions and interests were in many cases put before the common good.This change in the strategy was exhibited in many situations and the most prominent was the Sicilian campaign. It was not in Athens’ strategic interest to invade Sicily because the city was still struggling with enemies within their homeland. But, common good and the strategic interest of a polis were overshadowed by eloquent speeches of individuals who promised wealth and expansion of the Athenian Empire as the results of the expeditions. However, these expeditions proved to be more det rimental than beneficial to the city of Athens.The Sicilian campaign is the prime example of unnecessary expedition, which stemmed more from personal ambitions than overall interest of the city. Athens became involved in Sicily because of her alliance with Egesta, which was at war with Selinuntines. The Egestaeans called upon Athens to assist them in war not only because they signed an alliance and belonged to the same Ionian ethnic groups but also because of supposed danger that Syracusans the allies of Selinuntines posed to Athens. Egestaeans persuaded Athenians that if they would not act Syracusans would take over Sicily and than would join the Peloponnesians in attacking Athens.The envoys from Athens were dispatched to survey the situation in Sicily and when they returned Athens decided to join the Egestaeans in the war against Selinuntines and Syracusans. Few Athenians questioned the decision of the council, however, among them was Nicias the general who was leading the expedit ion to Sicily. Nicias argued that the expedition to Sicily would bring Athens more enemies and more problems. Athens needed to focus on the war with the Lacedaemonians and securing the empire they established and not to undertake new conquests. However, his arguments fell on deaf ears and Athens began to prepare for the expedition.Over five thousands hoplites and one hundred triremes were dispatched from Athens to Sicily in 415 B. C. The goal of the expedition was simple, to capture Syracuse, however, Syracuse stood its ground and the Athenian generals requested more soldiers and ships from Athens. Even with the reinforcements, Athens was unable to gain advantage over the Syracusans. The results of the expedition were disastrous and not what the Athenians had expected. Syracuse and their allies, with the help of Spartans were able to stop and later annihilate the Athenians in Sicily.The Athenian failure in Sicily reverberated across the Greek world, which led to more problems for th e Athenians. With the news of the defeat, not only did the enemies of Athens become more emboldened to take actions against Athens but also the Athenian colonies began to revolt which caused Athens both economic and political problems. Athens’ source of strength came from her allies and colonies. They did not only provide Athens with money in a form of tribunes but also supplied her with resources such as wood, silver or food.The Athenian alliance system was set up in such a way that it required everyone to contribute money, ships or men. These contributions were then put to use in the war by Athens. The contributions kept on coming in for as long as Athens could control her allies, however when Athens began to engage in battles and started losing them, the allies revolted. The allies and colonies began to revolt because Athens could no longer proceed with forces against them. Additionally, the treatment by Athens created resentment among the allies and colonies. The allies n o longer saw themselves as equals but as servants to Athens.When Lacedaemonians came through, their city’s majority changed sides because they believed that would receive freedom from by siding with Sparta. The revolutions of allies in many cases were also due to the bad treatment by Athens. After engaging in campaigns, which did not bring back the desired result, Athens pressed her allies for more tribunes and contributions. The poleis which did not want to pay more eventually revolted, than Athens was forced to put down the revolutions with force, which alienated the allies even more. The revolts and losses of allies had a profound impact on Athenian war efforts.Not only did they require Athens to diverge manpower and resources away from the war but also Athens was cut of from tribunes, which they badly needed after the failure in Sicily. â€Å"If you consent not to combine schemes of fresh conquest with the conduct of the war, and will abstain willfully involving yourselv es in other dangers, indeed, I am more afraid of our own blunders than of the enemy’s devices. † (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War, 85) The leaders of Athens and majority of the Athenian populace did not take the advice of Pericles to heart.Witnessing the destruction of the countryside from inside the Long Walls, many Athenians became enraged with Pericles’s strategy. People like Cleon and Alcibiades who promulgated more offensive and daring plans in the war, became leaders. With their promises of wealth, glory and fame, they were able to persuade Athenians to engage in unneeded expeditions. However, these expeditions only drew the attention away of what was actually needed to end the war. Athens lost the Peloponnesian War because of her failure to follow Pericles’s strategy.Pericles’s strategy stressed the importance of navy and staying within one’s walls which if was adhered to by the Athenians; it would ultimately lead Athens towards a favora ble outcome. However, personal ambitions and interest preceded the common good, which resulted in failed expeditions and policies. These disastrous expeditions in the end were compounded with revolts and losses of allies, which ultimately led to the Athenian downfall. Athens was no longer able to provide manpower and resources to continue the war and ultimately was taken over by Lacedaemonia.

BMW Operations Management Essay

1. Executive Summary This report will describe a named organisation in terms of a general introduction and background of that organisation. For the organisation described, there will be a detailed account and critique of quality management and capacity management issues within the business. This will then be backed up with relevant academic theory and models; in addition to this there will be a description of their relevance in the business environment, citing examples of their use. The report will then finish with a conclusion and possible recommendations for the chosen organisation in regards to their operational management style and how it could be improved. 2. Introduction 2.1 Background BMW is primarily a German automobile company. It also has operations in aircraft engine production; electronic systems and hardware production; finance; and service. It had revenues of more than $27 billion and net profits of nearly $700 million in 1990, with about 65,000 employees. Bayerische Maschinen Werke GmbH as it is otherwise known was the surviving entity of a merger in 1955 between BMW and Allegemeina Flugzeug Werke (AFW). BMW has a history dating all the way back to the early 1920s when it was founded as a machine shop on the outskirts of Nuremberg. The AFW part of the company was founded in 1910 and was one of the major contributors of military aircraft during the First World War. The automobile industry can be very volatile and mistakes in decision making can prove to e extremely costly. BMW has proved over time that through careful management the number of errors a firm makes can be greatly reduced. BMW’s operations management is also of a high standard; it designed a production system where new parts can be produced in small amounts and only result in a moderate cost. 2.2 Methodology Research will have to be done in developing the report before any reflection can be made on its contents. There are a number of sources available to get the relevant information from; a many number of books are accessible that go into great detail on each subject within operations management. These will provide a range of academic theory and models which can then be applied into business terms. The internet also provides a vast amount of information that can be used as a reference in the writing of the report, it not only refers to academic theory but also other authors reflections on certain topics which can then be used to draw ideas and apply them to the report. 2.3 Structure of the Report This report will describe a named organisation in terms of a general introduction and background of that organisation. For the organisation described, there will be a detailed account and critique of quality management and capacity management issues within the business. This will then be backed up with relevant academic theory and models; in addition to this there will be a description of their relevance in the business environment, citing examples of their use. The report will then finish with a conclusion and possible recommendations for the chosen organisation in regards to their operational management style and how it could be improved. 3. Findings The operations management task is defined as the day-to-day production of goods that continually requires decisions to be made and the implementation of changes. Operations Management is different to that of other management topics such as strategy, marketing or finance. Whereas these fields are based on theory such as economic, social, and mathematical factors; Operations Management is much more difficult to pin down to a specific aspect. It takes into account a vast array of academic and practical applications that when communally put together produce a basis from which decisions can be made. Operation managers that work inside an organisation work on the foundation of balancing the quality of the service that they provide against the resources they currently have available to them. They are required to be highly skilled in managing their current capacity output so that it can cope with the ever changing levels of demand placed upon their organisation. There are many ways that managers cope with the levels of demand; a manufacturing manager such as BMW would attempt to influence the demand through an assortment of different marketing techniques. In any organisation there will be a relationship between their capacity management, quality management, and their resource productivity. There are a number of issues that arise when trying to manage the organisations supply and demand. Managers must keep to their productivity targets without adversely affecting the quality of the product that they produce; striking a balance can prove difficult especially in the automobile industry where mistakes can prove to be very costly. 3.1 Capacity Management Capacity management is finding the balance between the demand from customers and the capability of the organisation in satisfying that demand. There is a great need for managers to forecast what they think the demand might be in the future so they can sufficiently change their capacity to cope with the change. Where the capacity of the organisation is limited the focus will be on influencing the demand to be in line with the available capacity, this is referred to as level strategy. The opposite of this is chase strategy; this is where the supply can be changed to meet the fluctuating level of demand. Managers can direct their operational control by altering the capacity of the organisation, hold items in inventory in case of a sudden increase in demand, oblige customers to wait for their product, or attempt to influence the demand themselves. In the automobile industry it is possible for an organisation to produce cars in advance of demand and hold it in inventory. Operations managers must at all times be wary of their current capacity, to what degree it can be changed, the costs involved in changing that capacity, and the speed in which the change can happen. This is most important in organisations where profitability is linked to that of capacity and the prices charged for their product or service. BMW is already a leader in the niche car segment of the automobile industry. To retain that status BMW built a $660 million Research & development centre and plans to invest more than $1 billion each year in finding new ways to exploit their position as a market leader. BMW are aware of the fact that they are not one of the biggest companies in the industry and can’t mimic the bigger companies who have far greater capacity and financial power. BMW try to innovate new ways to stay ahead of their competitors. They designed a new manufacturing plant where the cars would move down the assembly line on an independently powered gantry. The new technology would produce sound waves so that collisions can be avoided, thus reducing the need for more workers and also reducing the risk of unwanted accidents in the plant. The output achieved by any capacity management system depends on a number of factors that relate the resources currently available to the actual output of the organisation. It is sometimes inevitable in the niche car segment that an organisation will run out of capacity to cope with the ever changing levels of demand. If this problem occurs then the management can carry out two possible courses of action: o Allow the quality of the product to decline o Attempt to influence the demand so it doesn’t affect the organisation in the long term. In the scenario where the capacity of the organisation is in excess of the demand, this can lead to lower efficiency and a lower quality service to the customer. 3.2 Quality Management BMW believe that quality is of key importance in every stage of the manufacturing process, from product conception to customer feedback. They base their working principles around consistency and complete coverage of all requirements throughout the development and production process. Quality control within BMW is achieved through a system of quality audits at every stage of the manufacturing process; the productions of parts, components and in the assembly plant are all thoroughly maintained. These same quality control principles also apply to their suppliers of materials and components, with all of BMW suppliers agreeing to work to specific specifications of quality. Once cars arrive in the distribution centre, they take on a quality check and have a full pre-delivery inspection before being delivered to the customer. Quality driven organisations are more likely to integrate human resource management into their strategy as employee participation can be seen as key to bolster quality. The BMW management structure allows for teams, comprising of employees from all levels, to react quickly if a fault is found and work together immediately on a problem if one should occur. BMW also benefits from excellent personnel management that allows them to motivate their employees and create a friendly working environment. It provides its workers with a highly competitive pay package and supplies special contracts that allow certain workers to work four-day weeks. Every member of staff is fully responsible for the quality of their work and this well help lead to job enrichment for every member of the workforce. The company has never lost its focus or attempted to spread itself across the entire automobile industry. This is an example of quality management because if the management had been slack, BMW would have lost its focus and attempted to make products for everything and everyone. Manufacturing firms, such as BMW, are always searching for new and innovative ways to cope with global competition in the ever changing business environment. One such process that has been implemented at BMW is that of a focused factory. The complexity that comes with an automobile manufacturer can provide a barrier to managing these facilities, thus the creation of a focused factory solves this problem. The focused factory is a â€Å"plant established to focus the entire manufacturing system on a limited, concise, manageable set of products, technologies, volumes, and markets precisely defined by the company’s strategy, its technology, and its economics.†( APICS Dictionary 1992). Manufacturing companies implement this technique to improve the organisations productivity, quality, and responsiveness. BMW can focus their equipment, employees, and technology one specific tasks rather than using the same technique for all of their different projects. Implementing focused factories make it easier to manage production systems, reduce inventories, and reduce manufacturing space and investment requirements. As BMW have a strong quality emphasis with more attention being given to the performance of the organisation, the use of appraisals is crucial to the requirements that lead to producing a quality product. They place customers at the centre of attention as it is in any organisation that takes quality so seriously. The appraisal process necessitates the employees to evaluate each of their peers so that it encourages them to produce quality work and so to satisfy their customer-supplier relationship. 4. Conclusion Successful automobile manufacturers in the future will need to maximise efficiency, eliminate waste, adapt to change and implement strategies that stay in line with their customer requirements. BMW will need to keep modernising their internal operations to keep up with the constant changing in the automobile industry. Streamlining their plants will facilitate the balance between supply and demand while keeping the quality of their product high. Decisions within BMW are now made throughout the organisation, from the factory floor up to the chief executives. This has increased the communication between all levels of the organisation making it more flat and thus increasing the quality of the automobiles. Jobs have become more diversified with the need for new knowledge and skills becoming more crucial, as the global competition increases, more needs are placed on the company to provide products that meet consumer desires. The main link between the customer and organisation has always been the shop floor assistant. Performance feedback, audit results, and customer opinion surveys are the ways in which organisations know if they are doing there job to satisfactory standard. BMW make sure that the assembly workers are aware of the consumers’ requirements by providing suitable training and sound environment so that those requirements can be met. Organisations that cut down on investment in employee development will suffer a decrease in employee performance due to the close relationship between the two, and this will ultimately filter down to the consumers. Operations management in relation to automobile manufacture is crucial in defining priorities and identifying possible problems. One possible problem that might be confronted in the near future is that of overcapacity in terms of passenger cars. It is seen that other cars such as sport-utility vehicles don’t suffer from overcapacity as they are usually custom made to the consumers’ preferences. Passenger cars are normally batch produced on a production line in their thousands and organisations have a wealth of stock kept in their inventory. Automakers usually add capacity in the 100,000s so the market is never satisfied precisely; there is either a demand lag or a saturation of the market. Costs remain vitally important in making strategic product-line decisions. Regardless of the preferred quality or productivity quota, BMW must stay concerned with the continuous improvement of the business by improving quality, productivity, customer service, and delivery. 5. References Quality management: How four European companies succeeded? Nguyen, Andrea, Kleiner, Brian H. Business Credit. New York: Nov/Dec 1994.Vol.96, Iss. 10; pg. 32, 3 pgs Chrysler and minivans: Are we there yet? Vido, Adrian. CMA. Hamilton: Nov 1993.Vol.67, Iss. 9; pg. 11, 6 pgs The ‘coping’ capacity management strategy in services industry Armistead, Colin G, Clark, Graham. International Journal of Service Industry Management. Bradford: 1994.Vol.5, Iss. 2; pg. 5, 18 pgs Continuous improvement through the focused factory Elmore, Robert C, Natarajan, R, Rezaee, Zahihollah. CMA. Hamilton: Feb 1995.Vol.69, Iss. 1; pg. 21, 4 pgs The two worlds of operations management research and practice: Can they meet, should they meet? Nigel Slack, Michael Lewis, Hilary Bates. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Bradford: 2004.Vol.24, Iss. 3/4; pg. 372 Tools and Techniques – A Current Responsibility Miller, John A.. CMA. Hamilton: Feb 1992.Vol.66, Iss. 1; pg. 34, 1 pgs http://www.bmweducation.co.uk (Accessed 16th March 2005) http://www.bmw.co.uk (Accessed 16th March 2005) APICS Dictionary, 7th Edition, APICS, Falls Church, Virginia, 1992. Sam Bench 03169230