Philosophy †epistemology Essay

Descartes is very successful philosophers in 17th century. Rene Descartes is widely accepted as the father of modern philosophy. He tried to create fundamental philosophy for natural sciences. Descartes mainly focus on his philosophical contributions in the theory of knowledge and his famous work focus on the epistemological project, Meditations on First Philosophy. He wants to explain his thought in Meditations on First Philosophy which is as original in philosophical modus as in content. Meditations on First Philosophy examine Descartes’ arguments and opinion. Although there are 6 meditations in this book, this paper points out the search for a foundation of knowledge (the question of truth) and doubt the â€Å"Cogito† (I think; therefore I am). First of all, in the First Meditation, Descartes demonstrates that several arguments for doubting all of his previously basic beliefs. Everything that he thought is the doubt. He has started to doubt from everything and he wanted to find the question of truth with own ideas. Descartes defines knowledge in terms of doubt and he aims ‘to reach certain’. At the same time, we have to use five senses but Descartes believes the senses sometimes deceive us concerning things. Also Descartes is often convinced when he is dreaming that he is sensing real objects. For instance, he said that â€Å"There is the fact that I am here, seated by the fire, and attired in a dressing gown, having this paper in my hands and other similar matters. And how could I deny that these hands and this body are mine (†¦)† (146). Descartes believes that we can achieve certain truth when we will doubt everything. Descartes uses some question to help prove one of his main arguments and ideas to find truth. For example, how we know certain, what is true, what we see, what we hear? As we can see, according to Descartes, the senses are not enough to decide what is real. He believes the truth is in his mind and he must use his mind. Descartes’ Second Meditation discusses some parts. First part explain that how a â€Å"body† can understand things, such as objects. Descartes examined how the mind should know better that human body. Although we need senses for everything, the mind is more important because all knowledge accumulate in our mind. Second part includes Descartes opinion about thinking. According to Descartes, thinking is very significant point because thinking is the ability to doubt, use imagination and reach certain truth. His famous theory is â€Å"Cogito Ergo Sum† which called ‘I think, therefore I am’. Descartes said that, â€Å"I don’t yet know clearly enough what I am. † (151) It means that, sometimes he has convinced himself that there is absolutely nothing in the world such as no sky, no earth also no mind no body. Descartes believes that if people convinced themselves of something then they existed. To conclude, we can infer that Descartes defend the certain truth is our knowledge and thought. These meditations are considered about modern philosophy. At the same time, Descartes wants to create gripping subject to study science.

Art Conclusive Essay

â€Å"All the best stories are but one story in reality – the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape. † – AC Benson The concept of escape is central to the development of the theme in my work, We escape the mundane reality and boring routine of our daily lives through our dreams and ambitions. We dream to be different. We dream to be truly alive, in such a way that we can look back at our lives on day and think that we have truly reached our full potential and made the most out of each opportunity.However, often it is people’s and sometimes even our own perceptions of ourselves that keep us in â€Å"the box† and that â€Å"clip our wings† and thus prevent us from reaching our goals. We often live up to the stereotypes placed upon us because of our race, gender, financial standing, culture, nationality etc. To achieve our full potential, we must try to fly above these false perceptions and escape from that which prevents us from chasing our dreams – the banality of reality.ESCAPING THE BANALITY OF REALITY THROUGH NON-TRADITIONAL ART MEDIUMS Brian Dettmer, an American artist1, is an expert at transforming what is perceived and giving it new, true meaning. He is best known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and in recent years has established himself as one of the leading contemporary artists working with books today. His work deals with the concept of how information, material and history of our age is being lost, eroded and slipping away from us because it is no longer ‘real’ – it is virtual, digital information.He said, â€Å" In the tangible world we are left with a frozen material but in the intangible world we may be left with nothing. †2 Books, according to society have lost their relevance in their physical form and yet it’s richness and depth is universally respected but the book’s intended func tion has decreased. Dettmer thus alters the physical form and physical function as well as shifting the preconceived functions to allow new and unexpected roles to emerge. Much like my theme, he is taking away the frame that contains the ideas of the book and changing it to allow it’s true form to be revealed.He meticulously excavates or concisely alters the book so as to dissect communicative objects or systems and allows for its content to be recontextualised and new meanings and interpretations to emerge. The book, in essence thus breaks free and escapes from it’s bindings – its reality. From Dettmer, I investigated the idea of using paper as a medium. However, like Dettmer I wanted to portray the concept of â€Å"escape† through my medium. Naturally, â€Å"escape† makes me think of birds flying from a cage – but how to represent the birds and how represent the cage according to my theme?According to my theme it is perceptions that are tr apping us and our dreams and ambitions that are freeing us, and perceptions are all in the mind. I thus decided to make a white head from Plaster of Paris with my own face on, to make my work more personal. The white represents the dry, yeastless factuality that is reality and from the cranium I attached a wire spiral. In the dream world, nothing is realistic and as it seems – much like the way Dettmer represents the content of his books, and thus the birds shouldn’t be realistic. Wanting to make the unrealistic birds from paper, I opted to make origami cranes from bright optimistic colours.The colours represented the hope, joy and how vivid are dreams are, but mostly how full of life. To add further to the idea that the birds are escaping with our memories, i decided to use photographs from my Lomography film photographs to make the cranes at the the top of the spiral and have them unfolding out into one photograph with a drawing of a bird flying into the distance. th e work contributes to the theme of reality being â€Å"ripped apart† and the dreams coming together to reach new heights for the individual – perceptions being shed along the way.THE SYMBOLIC BALANCE BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE â€Å"PRE-FABRICATED† EXPRESSED THROUGH METAPHORICAL VECTORS Sandrine Pelletier3, an artist I was drawn to because she borrows her creative and production processes from folk arts, from arts and crafts, ranging from their most worthy to their most trivial forms, as well as from DIY in order to conceive a body of free-standing works, all of which are underpinned by the notion of subversion and experimentation with the limits of materials. I loved how she made simple arts and crafts into exquisite works of art.I had always wanted to thread a form of tapestry – in the traditional way my grandmother did it, but wanted to incorporate my themes of perceptions, dreams and reality. I thus decided on the image of a ballerina – always perceived to be graceful, gentle, quiet women who were not outspoken or loud, but just polite. I could resonate with this concept on a personal level as when I was little people called me â€Å"Nina pretty ballerina† (from the ABBA song) and I despised it and to break away from the name I did karate. The ballerina is a wonderful symbol of being stereotyped and placed â€Å"in the box†.Pelletier did a piece titled â€Å"Flash Dance†4, I was greatly inspired by that represented two ballerina pumps worn on the tips with a trail of blood on material protruding from the back. This specific artwork made me think of the realities and difficulties of being a ballet dancer and all the physical and emotional strain they must take. This coincided with my theme in the way that it is not always easy to break away from the perceptions placed upon you and sometimes it takes blood, sweat and tears to achieve your goals and to make your dreams come true.As I wanted to create a l ink between what was â€Å"real† and â€Å"living† and the materialistic nature that is the perceptions of people (my threaded material ballerina tapestry), I decided to place the ballerina within an old bird cage. Inspired by Pelletier’s work, â€Å"The Goodbye Horses†5, I decided to hang threads from the bottom of my work. From the cage, I suspended many old keys at the bottom of the cage to represent the concept of escape. I also sketched realistic birds on material which I hung inside and around the cage to represent the freedom of one’s true inner self.My piece is more an introspective one that calls upon the viewer to reflect on him/herself and about who they really are as opposed to the person people see on the outside – the person they are perceived to be. In this way my work is like Pelletier’s in that her works free itself of all its tautology and escapes all systematic interpretation. It deconstructs conscious contexts and endows Pelletier to redefine her own work and to the answer the question of the function of art through logical means and to question the function if perceptions and stereotypes.It also implements an intuitive and automatic writing, in an attempt to capsulate her own perception of the world and it’s relation to the real world, to memory, to emotion, to identity, to the invisible.? PROCESS AND HOW IT STITCHES IDEAS TOGETHER Briann Dettmer starts with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. He cuts into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. He works with knives, tweezers and surgical tools to carve one page at a time, exposing each layer while cutting around ideas and images of interest. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Images and ideas are revealed to expose alternate histories and memories. His work is a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.In this way, his process is much like mine regarding the folding of the origami cranes – I started by folding from existing paper the origami cranes. Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and is a form of sculpting paper without the use of cutting or gluing7 – like Dettmer, I added nothing but only worked with the unearthed potential. The folds must be extremely precise. I then made the Plaster of Paris head using my own face as a mould. The piece was extremely time consuming, but all the planning was complete, so I had a rough guideline to work from.With my thematic piece, I had to develop my concepts a lot more as initially I wanted to suspend my threaded ballerina within a canvas. I however, developed my theme of escape more and thus came up with the old bird cage idea within which I suspended the ballerina alo ng with the material birds as well as hanging the antique keys. This piece was even more time consuming as I didn’t realise how much work had to be put into my tapestry. Both my work required skills I had to learn – the threading of the tapestry and the folding of the origami cranes.It took a lot of patience and practice to correct the techniques and make sure each individual aspect was as near perfect as could be. In the end I have created two art pieces that encouraged more personal growth than anything else, I hope however that the viewer will be able to my themes and be able to resonate with the message of my works. More than that, I hope the viewer will walk away feeling inspired to chase their dreams regardless of perceptions placed upon them and to break away from the weight of reality.I hope they will take flight in heart and soul and feel lighter and happier after seeing my works and to take reach for and take hold of their dreams. â€Å"Anyone can escape int o sleep, we are all geniuses when we dream, the butcher's the poet's equal there. † – Emile M Cioran Bibliography http://www. maskara. ch/index. php? /projects/flash-dance/ http://www. maskara. ch/index. php? /projects/goodbye-horses/ http://briandettmer. com/ http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Origami

Business Case & Moral Case for Diversity-Free-Samples-Myassignment

There is a need to portray a moral case for diversity that has something to do with the different direction for improvement in the Woolworth organizational bottom line. There is a need for improvement in the profitability measures of the Woolworth organization that is nevertheless to be wrong in their bottomline. The diversity in the business case needs to have several ove ing in the rate of shortage of the skills that has a talent for the wars. There are markets that are eventually diverse in the course of the diversion of the markets. There is a need to create a promotional innovation that helps in the creativity of the team. In this report, the organization that has been chosen to be evaluated through the different business care processes is Woolworth. The Woolworths supermarkets is considered as the Australian supermarket that helps in the grocery and the different supermarket chains that helps in the chains owned (Woolworths .au 2017). The organization is a retail one that has its headquarters in the South Wales in Australia and has made some of the brand people like the Brad Banducci that is the Director of the Australian supermarkets, earns revenue upto $42.132 billion (2015), and has the employees until 111000. The Woolworth organization is engaged in mostly selling of the different groceries and sells different stationery items like the DVDs and the magazines (Ashikali and Groeneveld 2015). The current operating stores have different supermarkets like the 968 and have additional convenience in carrying out the same logos in the stores. The store was founded in 1924 in September that lies under the name of the Wallworths bazaar ltd that is internationally known. Later it was internationally known that helps in the name of the internationally renowned Woolworth market. Initially it had no plan for overseas expansion but later it did expand to different parts of the world (Klopf, et al. 2017). There is a need to accelerate on the growth of the trading events that helps in the growth of the brand that is initially instigated. The shareholders are interested in accepting this accelerated brand growth that are involved in trading at a continuous operational pace. The interest of the consumers started a year back that helps in analyzing the sales of the operations (Dennissen, Benschop and van den Brink 2016). The research on the Woolworth is a retail chain on a high street that has a high street retail chain on the different stores that is nationwide and that has almost 30,000 staffs employed. The organization method needs to be maintained that has a mixture of full time and part time employees (Harvey and Allard 2015). It has been maintained that the top of the hierarchy is the head of the branch and then es the different employees. The management system of the Woolworth can somewhat be removed by the staffs as an informal hierarchical system that needs to be in an informal structure. The heads hardly interacted with the different employees and hence they were both unaware of each other, which was of great affects. The affects were in the application of the poor motivational methods. There is always a need for motivation for the staffs at the time of the recession that helps in motivating the different staffs (Kulik 2014). The employers has a large budget that is used for the recruitment of the different staffs that eventually wants to be hanged on for. The employees of the organization have to have something in order to bring out the best of their ability. They are often driven by money (Madera, Dawsonand Neal 2017). The salary is often not enough to keep an employee motivated at work but definitively the quality and the productivity of their work will eventually make them deteriorate it. The ultimate employee motivation has to be how to keep someone motivated in work. The use of the number of theories in the will eventually effects the management that has a great deal of the employee motivation that will be applied in the Woolworth. Motivating staffs is the most important responsibility of an organization and is the most difficult thing to be managed (Martà ­n Alcà ¡zar, Miguel Romero Fernà ¡ndez and Sà ¡nchez Gardey 2013). There were a large number of part time employees in the Woolworth branch in order to make the mon young employees view this and make them improved in their work field. Just like other organizations, there is a need for impressing the management that will be the best of their ability to keep their job safe. The key factor of the opinion is to make a low quality in the services so that a key factor b es the ultimate failure in the Woolworth group of organizations. The staffs when are not motivated it will eventually affect the customers and their feedback will be poor. This will ultimately put a bad reputational mark on the growth of the pany. The emphasis was therefore imposed to change the management on the effected motivations (Olsen and Martins 2016). The moral case in thee Woolworth organization is that they are more aware of their particular reputation in the particular panies that they might will to serve and share as well. The Directorial boards have to be involved with the development of the vision that may be corporated in producing the different statements. These statements will be presented with the form of an image that can be used for the public good for being a caring employer in their caring organization (Olsen and Martins 2016). The best practices that can be used for managing the diversity can diversity that needs to be   incorporated in the different appropriate circumstances with the use of   the different techniques and the methods that will be formed. The leadership in the top mitment is a visionary demonstration of the different municative method that has a diversity strategic plan that is based on the development and the alignment (Pauly 2016). All these things need to be incorporated in the strategic plan of the organizations. There is a need to link the diversity with the performance that helps in understanding the diversity and the inclusive work environment that can yield a more great productivity that will help in the improvement in the performance of the Woolworth. The measurement can be a set of the different qualitative and the quantitative mode of the measurement that has an impact on the different aspects of the overall diversity plan (Soulat and Nasir 2017). Accountability ensures that the leader’s wide diverse plans that will help them to provide a linkage with their performance level of the assessment. The pensation programs have to have a diversity initiative. The planning has to have a succession that is a based on the strategies and the ongoing process that is identified with the talent pool (Trittin and Schoeneborn 2015). The Woolworth hence produces organizational potential leaders of the future. The Woolworth is a supermarket in Australia and is a food retailer that has a huge annual turnover.   The pany trades from different parts of the world and has an employment to thousands of people. There is a need for equal opportunity for the scope of employment (Vidal et al. 2013).   Many awards and recognition have been addressed to the organization. Woolworth has now taken up the approach that needs to be formulated in the pen and paper form in the pany (Pauly 2016).   The organization is also developing on the various factors that needs to bee modified. The result that has been treated in the Woolworth organization is somewhat similar to the policies of the business and the moral case studies. The result will be as same treated with the different organizational interest of the public's that has two different pillars, one is the long term relationship between the pany and the employee that needs to be built (Ashikali and Groeneveld 2015) The results that will be derived wil l eventually help in the developing approaches in the organization. This study is based on the different role and the diversity in the employment management that will help in the improvement of the Woolworths organization. This study will ultimately reveal the diversity management between the employees and their involvement in the impact of their innovation in their organization. A data was collected from the different 844 respondents who said that there are different large organizations that have applied in the SPSS version to analyze the data. The involvement and the diversity of the employee are to show the negative impact on the organizational employment and their innovation. There is a need to trigger the organizational innovational ou e so that it ultimately enhances the Woolworths organizations. The insight reflects that how the productivity can be increased through the innovational productivity by using the human resources properly. In the field of the HRM management research, an outline may be drawn on the different formal organizational practice programs. The research includes the different methodologies that need to be measured by the employee perceptions in the different diversity management activities. There is a need to demonstrate on the impacts of the diversity management that reflects primarily on the employee reactions and their identification with the different unit levels. A below line research has been made that do not directly answer the HR professionals that is mostly based on the HR activities that is required to be adopted. Eventually, it will explain the impacts of the different formal organizational diversity activities that need to be reported by the documented and the senior managers in the records of the organization. The Woolworth organization can easily be linked with this research paper based on the bottom line theory as per the basics of the HR management From this research paper it can be concluded that the role of the cultural and the employee diversity has a plete variation on the innovation of the organization. There is   a need of the human resource theories and their tenets that is primarily based on the resource based view of the Woolworth firm. There is a need for the influence of the racial diversity that is in the managerial ranks. A conceptualization of the different DEM practices needs to be made on the size of the moderating role in the relationship rank of the Woolworth organization. The theoretical and the practical implications for the different perspectives of the strategy is based on the future diversity management. Just like the other organizations the racial diversity is also practiced in Woolworths and that helps the employees to concentrate on their work more appropriately. The increasing globalization requires the interaction on the different diverse backgrounds that is present in an organisation. People now work as a part of the global economy, that has b e more diversified with time. So, here es the need of the various non profitable and profitable organisations to b e diversified in order to sustain in the global market of petition. The ultimate aim of an organization is to maximize their level of profit in the workplace diversity. This article is effectively designed that helps the managers to understand the effectiveness of the diversified workplace. The different benefits of the challenges of a workplace that also has different effective strategies needs to be well pointed. In the Woolworth organisation these diversity of the workplace is well maintained that has newly evaluated the different challenges and the benefits that will be of some use to the customers. The management is a social discipline that needs to be dealt   with the different types of the behavior of a person and that also includes the human insights. In this article the workforce management of the diversity is explained and also how it has positive and negative effects on the organisation. Woolworth is such a multi national super market organisation that needs to manage diversity in order to maintain peace and a good pace of the work environment in the organisation. This journal article is all about what are the benefits and the usefulness of the diversity management. Diversity training is required that is often a trigger in the conflict in the workplace area that has its lawsuits as well by making the employees pelled to make them talk to each other even. There are often the misinterpreted concepts that need to be well perceived that is based on the moral case of the different discriminatory intents in the organization. There is a need for prevention of this similar case and a linkage should be enhanced to make it for better works. From the above report, it can be well concluded that an initial linkage between the moral and the business case has been well evaluated. The chosen organization is the Woolworth, which is an Australian based pany that is primarily one of the top retail super markets. The role of the human resource management as a part of the integral part of the organization has been introduced but in a small portion.   At the end, it can be stated that there is a need for the different types of the diversity that will help in the prosperity of the organization. Ashikali, T. and Groeneveld, S., 2015. Diversity management in public organizations and its effect on employees’ affective mitment: The role of transformational leadership and the inclusiveness of the organizational culture.  Review of Public Personnel Administration,  35(2), pp.146-168. Benschop, Y., Holgersson, C., Van den Brink, M. and Wahl, A., 2015. Future challenges for practices of diversity management in organizations.  Handbook for Diversity in Organizations, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.553-574. Dennissen, M., Benschop, Y. and van den Brink, M., 2016, January. Diversity Networks: Networking for Equality?. In  Academy of Management Proceedings  (Vol. 2016, No. 1, p. 15950). Academy of Management. Harvey, C.P. and Allard, M., 2015.  Understanding and managing diversity: Readings, cases, and exercises. Pearson. Klopf, R.P., Baer, S.G., Bach, E.M. and Six, J., 2017. Restoration and management for plant diversity enhances the rate of belowground ecosystem recovery.  Ecological Applications,  27(2), pp.355-362. Kulik, C.T., 2014. Working below and above the line: The research–practice gap in diversity management.  Human Resource Management Journal,  24(2), pp.129-144. Madera, J.M., Dawson, M. and Neal, J.A., 2017. Managers’ psychological diversity climate and fairness: The utility and importance of diversity management in the hospitality industry.  Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism,  16(3), pp.288-307. Martà ­n Alcà ¡zar, F., Miguel Romero Fernà ¡ndez, P. and Sà ¡nchez Gardey, G., 2013. Workforce diversity in strategic human resource management models: A critical review of the literature and implications for future research.  Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal,  20(1), pp.39-49. Olsen, J.E. and Martins, L.L., 2016. Racioethnicity, munity makeup, and potential employees’ reactions to organizational diversity management approaches.  Journal of Applied Psychology,  101(5), p.657. Pauly, L., 2016. The Challenge to Manage Variety. A Current Evaluation of Diversity Management in Germany. Soulat, A. and Nasir, N., 2017. Examining the Role of Employee Diversity Management and Employee Involvement Variation on Organizational Innovation: A Study from Pakistan.  Singaporean Journal of Business, Economics and Management Studies,  5(9), pp.62-69. Soulat, A. and Nasir, N., 2017. Examining the Role of Employee Diversity Management and Employee Involvement Variation on Organizational Innovation: A Study from Pakistan.  Singaporean Journal of Business, Economics and Management Studies,  5(9), pp.62-69. Trittin, H. and Schoeneborn, D., 2015. Diversity as polyphony: Reconceptualizing diversity Management from a munication-centered perspective.  Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-18. Vidal, T., Crainic, T.G., Gendreau, M. and Prins, C., 2013. A hybrid genetic algorithm with adaptive diversity management for a large class of vehicle routing problems with time-windows. puters & operations research,  40(1), pp.475-489. Woolworths .au. (2017).  {{metaController.metaData.title}}. [online] Available at: https://www.woolworths .au/ [Accessed 19 Aug. 2017]. With a decade's experience in providing essay help,

The Payback Period as a Tool in Capital Budgeting Decisions Essay

The Payback Period as a Tool in Capital Budgeting Decisions - Essay Example In order to aid managers in making decisions with regards to capital budgeting, tools and techniques have been devised. One of these methods is called the payback method. The payback method is one of the most popular tools in conducting capital budgeting decision. The payback period tells the company the length of time required to recoup the original investment through investment cash flows. This is essentially the time when the company breaks even-the initial capital outlay is equal to the cash flows. For example, if a company invests $100,000 for the introduction of a new product line, then, the payback period reveals when the company will be generating cash flow of $100,000. Considering that the business organization invests in a project which generates the same level of cash flow annually, the payback period is computed as the follows: However, if the investment generates unequal annual cash flows, then the individual annual cash flows are subtracted from the initial investment until a difference of zero is reached. The year when cash flow equals investment is the payback period. Other things being equal, the investment with a low payback period is chosen as it implies less risk for the company. ... As the investment is recouped in a shorter period of time, it also indicates that the investment is less likely to fail. In the payback method, the profitability of the investment is often tied on how fast the investment generates cash inflow for the business organization. If the business organization is eyeing two or more projects to invest into, using the payback as sole decision criterion will make the company choose the project which has the lowest payback. However, if there is only one project to be evaluated, the firm often sets a specific span of time when the initial investment should be recouped. Generally, managers favor projects which have a payback period of less than three years. If the payback period is one year, the project is considered essential. In order to assess really understand how the payback period can be used in decision making, we will use it to evaluate two projects-one which has a fixed annual cash flow and one which generates unequal stream of cash flow. Suppose, XYZ Company is choosing between replacing its old machine used for production or embarking on a new product line. Each of the projects is estimated to require an initial investment of $100,000. Since the company is constrained with only $100,000 budget, the company must pursue only the more profitable option. The primary decision criterion used to evaluate investment decisions is the payback method. The estimated net cash flows are as follows: Year Replace Old Machine Introduce Product Line 1 $25,000 $10,000 2 $25,000 $20,000 3 $25,000 $70,000 4 $25,000 $50,000 5 $25,000 $50,000 A. Constant Annual Cash Flow The replacement of the old machine with the new one is forecasted to yield

CITI business case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CITI business - Case Study Example Increased competition for capital continues to force banks to innovate (Citibank, 2008). In order to differentiate its e-business products from those of its competitors, Citibank took several measures(Citibank, 2008). First, the bank developed a strategy for its corporate banking division where its target corporate clients included multinational corporations (MNCs), financial institutions, government agencies, local enterprises and SMEs. The bank understood that each of these corporate client categories had unique needs. The bank realized to need to go the extra mile to package its products to meet the unique needs of every customer (Citibank, 2008). Citibank also differentiated itself and its products from those of its competitors through an improved, comprehensive customer service. The customer service includes telephone hotlines, relationship managers who take their time to comprehend the individual customer’s needs and product advisors whose role is to advise customers on the product or products that most suits its needs. Finally, the bank continues to invest heavily in technology in order to promote both the front- and back-end electronic banking systems. Besides, the bank seeks to make itself more accessible to its customers through what is calls its unified platform. The platform uses a teamwork approach that allows the bank to work with every function in the organization of the client (Citibank, 2008). Grow its global reach: As at the time of developing this strategy in 2008, Citibank had operations in 100 countries of the world and employed over 268,000 people. This global presence, the bank believes, puts it in a strong position to meet the global needs of its customers. This being the case, the bank should continue its global expansion drive. Strengthen its brand: The bank believes that it has built a strong brand

About Prometheus Bound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

About Prometheus Bound - Essay Example When asked Prometheus denied Zeus the information he held regarding who it would be that threatened the throne of Zeus, so as punishment he was bound by shackles to a great rock. In Prometheus Bound (n.d.), Prometheus must come to terms with his own limitations in power, but demonstrates that Zeus has limits as well. Prometheus was a god, but felt he had little influence in the matters of the Gods. Prometheus, known as the teacher of all arts, suffered at least partially because of his aid to humankind. Prometheus was fond of humans and, wishing them to flourish, took fire from the gods and gave it to the people. The fact that Prometheus cared deeply about the human race was in strong contrast to how Zeus felt, and was a main point of disagreement between the two. Prometheus described Zeus’s feelings toward humankind when he stated, â€Å"It was his wish to wipe out man [sic] and rear another race† (Aeschylus 6}. For this reason, Prometheus defied the divinity and super ior knowledge of Zeus. If Prometheus were given absolute power, he would be ensured that tyranny would fall and justice reign supreme over the gods and the human race.

Consumer behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Consumer behaviour - Assignment Example True to John’s case, he had a need for replacing the television he had lost due to burglary. He got an insurance compensation, and this; therefore, put him at the point of need to find another television set. Mr John explains that he could not imagine staying any longer in that state of boredom without getting a TV set, and this prompted him to think of how to capture one. Need recognition entails identifying the need, which he or she has to satisfy. This marks the beginning of the buying process. Notably, the identification of the need is the foundation of the buying process, since the customer has to satisfy an existing need. In this case, the desire to watch movies or TV programs was the process of the need recognition that led to the identification of T.V as the only thing that would satisfy the need to watch movies and programs and reduce boredom. Notably, need recognition is the most significant stage of the buying process because without a need there is no purchase. The second step involves the search for relevant information on the product identified that can satisfy the need. In this case, the customer looks around to identify the best product that would satisfy the need (Singh, 2007). Notably, the customer seeks for the best product in the market that would solve their problem. In this case, the search for relevant information would involve a search for information on TV sets from distinct manufacturers in the market. Most customers search for information through friends, relatives, adverts, the internet and catalogs and other booklets (Armstrong, 2009). In his response on whether he searched for various products before settling on Sony T.V, he acknowledged that he browsed the internet in search of different models and brands. He gave the reason for this as the fact that he did not want to buy the same model he had lost to burglary since its spare parts were not readily available at the local electronic shops.

Karl Marx's Estranged Labor vs. Adam Smith's Division of Labor Research Paper

Karl Marx's Estranged Labor vs. Adam Smith's Division of Labor - Research Paper Example While Marx sought to minimalize the effects of capitalism, Smith sought to emphasize the brilliance of the free market economy. Naturally, these two individuals’ ideologies clash, but there is value in both perspectives, as one shall soon see. Karl Marx’s ideas about estranged labor, Smith’s ideas about the division of labor, and a comparison of the two ideologies will be herein attempted. II. Karl Marx’s Estranged Labor Karl Marx identifies estranged labor as labor alien to man. Marx explains the condition of estranged labor as the result of man participating in an alien to his nature. It my interpretation that man is alienated from his labor because he is not the reaper of what he sows. Because he is never the recipient of his efforts, the laborer lacks identity with what he creates. For Marx then labor is alien to the worker and does not belong to his essential being. Marx identifies two explanations of why man’s lack of identity with labor leads him to be estranged from labor. The explanation that the laborer does not develop freely his physical and mental energy, but instead mortifies his mind, may extol the virtue of communism. In other words, labor fails to nurture man’s physical and mental capacities, and instead, drains them. Because the worker is denied any nurturing in his work, no intimacy between the worker and his work develops. Although, it’s very hard to see how working in a sweat shop in Communist China, for example, is creating intimacy with one’s work to the point that one is able to develop one’s energy freely. Thus, this quote â€Å"lack† of an intimate relation with what he creates, man is summarily estranged from his labor. Furthermore, labor estranges man from himself. Marx argues that the labor the worker produces does not belong to him, but to someone else. Given this condition, the laborer belongs to someone else and is therefore enslaved. As a result of being ensla ved the worker is reduced to a â€Å"subsisting animal,† a condition alien to him. As an end result man is estranged from himself and is, in his words, mortified. Marx points to these situations as the reason man is essentially estranged from his labor. The incongruence between the world of things the worker creates and the world the worker lives in is the estrangement. As the worker gives up his or her contribution to the work, he or she begins to lose importance to the work and the work becomes more superior to the worker. As this happens, the owner of the company or organization accumulates more wealth and power and is able to overcome competition and have more power over the worker. ? I find this to be true based on my personal experience when I worked for a logistics company as a shipping lead. The harder I worked, the more powerful the department became, hence the more powerful the company became—and the less important I became to the company and its superiors. T he department improved a lot under my leadership whereby it generated more revenue. The result was that the company became more important than the person—as stated by Marx in the above paragraphs. ? The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces, the more his production increases in power and range. The worker becomes an ever-cheaper commodity the more commodities he creates. According to Marx in Calhoun and Gerteis (2007), â€Å"On the basis of political economy itself, in its own words, we have shown that the worker sinks to the level of a commodity and becomes indeed the most wretched of

Living Together Before Marriage. A Good Idea Research Paper

Living Together Before Marriage. A Good Idea - Research Paper Example The paper explains why staying together before marriage is a good compatibility test. It   goes a bit further to explain it’s importance of testing the commitment level of couples before marriage. Short explanations are also stated in regards clarify beliefs of couples who during ttheir younger years their parents went through horrific divorce and left a negative dent pertaining to marriage. the paper will also explain the importance of staying together before marriage as a means of helping couples whose former relationships have been horrible and try and baby step them to overcome this past experience by staying together first. As the discussion highlights staying together before marriage is beneficial to love birds because it will help them   know if they are compatible. Compatibility saves couples from messy and brutal divorce that they have to go through if their marriage is not working. Staying together acts as a litmus test to deduce if the two lovers can stay together. Their commitment will be evident if they manage to solve   problems within a period of time, if not then its best for them to call it quits since this will save them litigation money, embarrassment and despair   that divorcing couples usually go through. Bill Maier, PH.D states â€Å" Living together is a good way to find out if couples are compatible-a sort of test drive that will determine your chances of marital success.†

Why Japan attack Pearl Harbor Essay Example for Free

Why Japan attack Pearl Harbor Essay Japan was at war with China. Despite being a military superpower, their war with China was using up their resources. During that time, most of their resources especially oil were coming from the US. The US did not approve of Japanese aggression in China and they declared an embargo on Japan. This means they would stop supplying Japan with raw materials. So where would Japan get their resources to continue the war now? The Japanese High Command carefully discussed this and came up with the conclusion that the Dutch East Indies would be the best place to gain resources. But they knew that an attack on the Dutch East Indies would probably bring the US into the war. So they had to find a way to prevent the US from fighting with them until they conquered the Dutch East Indies. Thats when they planned Pearl Harbor. The goal of Pearl Harbor was to disable the American fleet for a few months to give them enough time to conquer the Dutch East Indies and to absorb its resources to finance their war in China and the US once the US navy was rebuilt. The Japanese were tired of negotiations with the United States. They wanted to continue their expansion within Asia but the United States had placed an extremely restrictive embargo on Japan in the hopes of curbing Japans aggression. Negotiations to solve their differences hadnt been going well. Rather than giving in to U.S. demands, the Japanese decided to launch a surprise attack against the United States in an attempt to destroy the United States naval power even before an official announcement of war was given. The Japanese practiced and prepared carefully for their attack on Pearl Harbor. They knew their plan was extremely risky. The probability of success depended heavily on complete surprise. On November 26, 1941, the Japanese attack force, led by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, left Etorofu Island in the Kurils (located northeast of Japan) and began its 3,000-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. Sneaking six aircraft carriers, nine destroyers, two battleships, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and three submarines across the Pacific Ocean was not an easy task. Worried that they might be spotted by another ship, the Japanese attack force continually zig-zagged and avoided major shipping lines. After a week and a half at sea, the attack force made it safely to its destination, about 230 miles north of  the Hawaiian island of Oahu. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. At 6:00 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers began launching their planes amid rough sea. In total, 183 Japanese aircraft took to the air as part of the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. At 7:15 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers, plagued by even rougher seas, launched 167 additional planes to participate in the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The first wave of Japanese planes reached the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor (located on the south side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu) at 7:55 a.m. on December 7, 1941. Just before the first bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the air attack, called out, Tora! Tora! Tora! (Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!), a coded message which told the entire Japanese navy that they had caught the Americans totally by surprise.

Determination of Vitamin C Content in Foods

Determination of Vitamin C Content in Foods Zheng Xiao Introduction Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is an essential component of our diets. It is a good antioxidant, a key component that helps to prevent damage to proteins and deoxyribonucleic acids. In the food industry, vitamin C is added to increase the nutritional content of food products and also for preservative purposes. As the human body is unable to synthesise vitamin C, it would have to be consumed as part of our diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables for instance are common sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a labile compound and is easily degraded by enzymes and atmospheric oxygen. Its oxidation can be accelerated by excessive heat, light, and heavy metal cations (Pisoschi, Danet, Kalinowski, 2008). During the manufacturing process, some vitamin C would be lost. Thus, in fruit juice products, vitamin C level is commonly used as a gauge for quality. This prompts manufacturers to fortify their products with high levels of vitamin C to ensure that sufficient vitamin C is present in the product throughout the storage process. Due to the wide use of ascorbic acid in both food products and in the pharmaceutical industry, many analytical methods exist for the determination of ascorbic acid, including titrimetric, spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods, each with their advantages and disadvantages. An example of a titrant used is 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP), which will oxidise the ascorbic acid that is present in the sample. While titrimetric methods are simple to use, they are also known to overestimate the amount of ascorbic acid present due to the presence of oxidisable species other than ascorbic acid (Hernà ¡ndez, Lobo, Gonzà ¡lez, 2006). In addition, many interferences often occur with coloured samples (Arya, Mahajan, Jain, 2000). An example would be the masking of colour change at the end point of titration by highly coloured extracts from fruits and vegetables (Eitenmiller, Landen, Ye, 2007). Spectrophotometric methods work by determining the absorbance of vitamin C which is compared against standard concentrations. However, such methods are susceptible to possible interference due to absorbance exhibited by other components that is present in the sample matrix. Lastly, chromatographic methods are commonly used because of their simplicity, short analysis time and sensitivity (de Quirà ³s, Fernà ¡ndez-Arias, Là ³pez-Hernà ¡ndez, 2009). The sample is separated into its components based on their relative affinity with the mobile and stationary phase. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for instance is a very efficient method that is used in ascorbic acid analysis of fruits, vegetables and beverages. Ascorbic acid is relatively hydrophilic due to the presence of several hydroxyl groups. Thus, it has a higher affinity to the polar mobile phase than the non-polar stationary phase, allowing it to be separated from the other components in a sample. The retention time gives a qualitative analysis of the sample while the area under the peak allows for the quantitative determination of ascorbic acid content present. However, a major disadvantage of this method is its high cost compared to other conventional methods. The objective of this experiment is to determine the ascorbic acid content in commercial guava juice by RP-HPLC. Materials and Methods The product analysed was commercial guava juice. The experimental procedure was as stated in the laboratory manual, with the slight amendments as follows. The filtrate (2mL) from the centrifuged sample was diluted (1 part sample: 4 part acetic acid) with 2% acetic acid. Five sets of standard ascorbic acid solutions were prepared (40ppm, 80ppm, 120ppm, 160ppm and 200ppm for each set) using a stock solution (1000ppm ascorbic acid) and 2% acetic acid for dilution. The standard solutions were filtered using the 0.45 micron cellulose acetate syringe filter, beginning with the lowest concentration. The column used was a Phenomenex Ultrasphere 5u C18 column (1504.6mm) and the wavelength used was 254nm. Results and Discussion A calibration graph was plotted (Figure 1) using average peak area (Table A1 in appendix) for standard solutions versus their respective concentrations. For each standard solution, four duplicates were prepared. This was done to increase the accuracy of the calibration curve. The r2 value obtained (0.9984) was close to the ideal value 1, indicating a good linear correlation between the area under peak of interest and ascorbic acid concentration. This allows good estimates of ascorbic acid content to be made given the area under peak of interest for each sample. Table 1. Ascorbic acid concentration in samples prepared by Groups 10 to 18 Sample calculation for Group 11: Ascorbic acid concentration in diluted sample = = 116ppm Ascorbic acid concentration in original sample = 116ppm 5 = 581ppm = 58.1 mg / 100mL of juice Average ascorbic acid concentration in original sample = =58.0 mg / 100mL of juice The average retention time of the samples prepared by different groups was 2.557min (Table A3 in Appendix), which is highly similar to that of the ascorbic acid standard solutions was 2.559min (Table A2 in Appendix). This verifies that ascorbic acid was the component analysed. The average ascorbic acid concentration in the guava juice product determined experimentally was 58.0mg/100mL of juice. This was approximately 3.9 times higher than the amount indicated on the packaging (15mg/100mL). As mentioned earlier, As the expiration date is approached, ascorbic acid would be lost to different extents depending on the storage conditions (Kabasakalis, Siopidou, Moshatou, 2000). Manufacturers are known to add ascorbic acid to their products to improve their nutritional value and also to account for the ascorbic acid lost during the manufacturing and storage process (Ottaway, 2008). Since the experiment was conducted before the expiration date of the product (March 14, 2014), a higher ascorbic acid content would be expected. The original ascorbic acid concentration for group 14 was excluded from the calculation as it was almost double of other results and thus likely to be an outlier. A possible reason might be an error in dilution during the preparation of the sample. The other results were found to be precise with a low standard deviation (1.4) and a low coefficient of variation (2.5%). Conclusion The ascorbic acid content of commercial guava juice determined using RP-HPLC was 58.0mg/100mL of juice. References Arya, S. P., Mahajan, M., Jain, P. (2000). Non-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of Vitamin C. Analytica Chimica Acta, 417(1), 1-14. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)00909-0 de Quirà ³s, A. R.-B., Fernà ¡ndez-Arias, M., Là ³pez-Hernà ¡ndez, J. (2009). A screening method for the determination of ascorbic acid in fruit juices and soft drinks. Food Chemistry, 116(2), 509-512. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.03.013 Eitenmiller, R. R., Landen, W. O., Ye, L. (2007). Vitamin Analysis for the Health and Food Sciences, Second Edition: Taylor Francis. Hernà ¡ndez, Y., Lobo, M. G., Gonzà ¡lez, M. (2006). Determination of vitamin C in tropical fruits: A comparative evaluation of methods. Food Chemistry, 96(4), 654-664. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.04.012 Kabasakalis, V., Siopidou, D., Moshatou, E. (2000). Ascorbic acid content of commercial fruit juices and its rate of loss upon storage. Food Chemistry, 70(3), 325-328. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(00)00093-5 Ottaway, P. B. (2008). Food Fortification and Supplementation: Technological, Safety and Regulatory Aspects: Elsevier Science. Pisoschi, A. M., Danet, A. F., Kalinowski, S. (2008). Ascorbic Acid Determination in Commercial Fruit Juice Samples by Cyclic Voltammetry. Journal of Automated Methods and Management in Chemistry, 2008. doi: 10.1155/2008/937651 Appendix Table A1. Area under peak of interest for standard solutions Average area under peak for 40ppm = = 2197282 Table A2. Retention Times for standard solutions Table A3. Retention Times for samples prepared by Groups 10 to 18

Spirituality and John Coltrane Essay -- Essays Papers

Spirituality and John Coltrane After being fired from Miles Davis's band in 1957 for his chronic use of heroin, John Coltrane was hurt tremendously. He decided it was time he quit using heroin. He took a month off from music while he went "cold turkey." During this month in the early spring of 1957, Coltrane had a momentous religious experience (Nisenson, 40). Coltrane asked God to give him "the means and privilege to make others happy through music" (Coltrane, 1995, 2). As time went on, Coltrane felt that he was leading a life that was "contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path" that he had made to God (Coltrane, 1995, 2). Starting with A Love Supreme (recorded in December, 1964), Coltrane stuck to his pledge. In doing so, Coltrane would seek for the "truth" in sounds, Einstein, the Kabbalah and Sufism. Coltrane's version of God was not limited to denominational name, and this broad palette of spirituality helped guide him through his life and his music until his death on July 16 , 1967. A Little Background John William Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He was the grandson of a Reverend, Walter Blair. Blair was the pastor of St. Stephen's African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. John's father, John Robert Coltrane, loved to play the violin and the ukulele (Nisenson, 4). John Coltrane received some of his musical training from the Zion Church his grandfather was the pastor of. First, the young Coltrane played clarinet, and eventually moved to saxophone, which was the instrument he was associated with from that time on. During his earliest days of playing music, the church had an impact on him. But in 1943, he moved to Philade... ...ystery of Humanity: Tranquility and Survival. New York: University Press of America, 1986. Coltrane, John. Live in Japan. Impulse, GRD-4-102, 1991. Coltrane, John. A Love Supreme. Impulse, GRD-155, 1995. Coltrane, John. The Major Works of John Coltrane. Impulse, GRD-2-113, 1992. Coltrane, John. Meditations. Impulse, IMPD-199, 1996. Davis, Miles with Quincy Troupe. Miles: The Autobiography. New York: Touchstone, 1990. Einstein, Albert. Relativity: The Special and General Theory. Trans. Robert W. Lawson. New York: Crown, 1931. Halevi, Z'ev ben Shimon. Kabbalah: Tradition of Hidden Knowledge. London: Thames and Hudson, 1979. Nisenson, Eric. Ascension: John Coltrane and His Quest. New York: St. Martin's, 1993. Thomas, J. C. Chasin' the Trane: The music and mystique of John Coltrane. London: Elm Tree, 1976.

As Good As It Gets?: An Examination Of The Mechanism And Mode Of Treatm

As Good As It Gets?: An Examination Of The Mechanism And Mode Of Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder, often referred to as simply OCD, is a mental illness in which an individual experiences endless cycles of repeated thoughts and rituals, known as obsessions and compulsions, which she feels she cannot control (1). Although many people possess habits and routines that help them organize their every day schedules, people with OCD form patterns of behavior that are extremely time-consuming and interfere with their daily lives. Once believed to be a rare and incurable disease which people kept hidden for fear of embarrassment (2), OCD is now recognized as being far more common than previously believed, affecting both men and women, and people of all races and socio-economic backgrounds equally (3). In fact, recent studies have shown that about 2.5% of the population have this disorder at some point in their lives (2), with between 3 to 5 million Americans affected with the disorder each year (3). Though OCD is a chronic illness that can take over a person's life if left untreated (1), a strict regiment involving proper medication and effective treatment can vastly improve the OCD sufferer's condition. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is composed of two major constituents evident in its very name - obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurring thoughts or impulses that seem to invade one's mind despite attempts to ignore or suppress them (4). Though these thoughts range from the tedious and seemingly innocuous sort, to the shameful and morbid kind, all are generally viewed as senseless and are accompanied by anxiety to some degree (4). Some common examples of obsessions include: fe... ...tion remains an option. Regardless of whether an OCD patient is treated in or out of a hospital, treatment is vital in improving his condition, for if left untreated, the disorder will continue indefinitely (3). With the wide range of treatment options available to OCD sufferers and the extensive studies being conducted in lieu of the disorder, the promise of a future with less worries and anxiety appears to be well within reach. WWW Sources 1) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder , on the National Institute of Mental Health website http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/ocdfacts.cfm 2) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: What Is It and How To Treat It http://familydoctor.org/133.xml 3) Most Frequently Asked Questions About OCD http://www.ocdhelp.org/faq.html 4) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder , on the Encyclopaedia Britannica website http://www.britannica.com/

Clothing and Body Language in Literary Works and Art Essay -- Poe Baud

Clothing and Body Language in Literary Works and Art   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout life, clothing and body language are often utilized as sources of emotional expression. These emotions can also be portrayed in literaray works and artisitic displays, such as those of Poe, Baudelaire, Manet, and Warhol. In Poe's â€Å"Man of the Crowd,† there are several descriptions of different types of people based on their appearances, but one particular man is focused on by the narrator due to his unique appearance. Baudelaire's â€Å"The Painter of Modern Life† emphasizes the emotional expressions of beauty and fashion expressed in art. Manet is an artist who paints scenes to his liking. All of his works were done in his studio and set up the way that he wanted them. He holds a particular focus on men and women and the relationship between them. The positions and clothing that the men and women are set up in hold strong emotional implications about their feelings towards one another and the emotions involved in the social setting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The opening of â€Å"The Man of the Crowd,† describes the emotions involved in untold secrets and the deepest of crimes; there are internal conflicts, struggles, anxieties, and agonous results due to the horror of the unsolvable crimes. The possibility of these crimes is introduced through the man of the crowd through his unseemingly unidentifiable expression The narrator describes his thoughts of this man as: There arose confusedly and paradoxically within my mind, the ideas of vast mental power, of caution, of penuriousness, of avarice, of coolness, of malice, of blood-thirtstiness, of triumph, of merriment, of excessive terror, of intense - of supreme despair. I felt singularly aroused, startled, fascinated. â€Å"How wild a history,† I said to myself, â€Å"is written within that bosom!† Although the narrator had never spoken to this man of the crowd, he was compelled to follow him based on his expression that had never been viewed by the narrator. He continued to follow the man of the crowd, noticing his patterns of following people by the mass and his shambled cloting and he concluded that he â€Å"[was] the type and genious of deep crime. He refuses to be alone.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prior to viewing the man of the crowd, the narrator observed several different types of people, all of which were able to be â€Å"read† through their outward appearances... ...p is not meant to be applied naturally and should be used as a method of exhibition of their beauty. Although Baudelaire does not describe the actions of women in the section of makeup, he clearly praises women who wear makeup because of their holy nature and uncriticalness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Monet is able to express several emotions through his paintings, particularly through the arrangement and the depiction of the subjects in his work. In In The Conservatory, Manet focuses on the relationship between the man and the woman. The woman is properly dressed with buttons vertically lined up through her dress, thus constricting her presense. She has a fixed gaze and is not looking at the man. Although she is sitting comfortably, the woman has a rigid appearance. The man is leaning over towards her and is dressed like a dandy. The expressions on their faces and the way the man is leaning over the woman and looking at her appears as though he is pleading for forgiveness or attention. The rims of her eyes are red adding the possibility of her crying and an emphasis is placed upon their hands, which both contain wedding rings, suggesting that they are a married couple with problems.

“Mugged” By: Jim Crocket : Reader Response Essay

In the essay â€Å"Mugged† by Jim Crockett he talks about his relationship with his coffee mug. This essay is about building relationships and how almost everyone has something they cling to. In the beginning he makes it sound like he was mugged by some people and lost all his money, but that wasn’t the case, he lost something more valuable to him, his coffee mug. Jim thinks he has an addiction to coffee itself, but in reality its with the coffee mug. People never see him without his coffee mug, and Jim always knows where its at, wether its on the table, or in his hand. I believe that even though Jim Crockett is attached to his coffee mug, everyone has some sort of attachment to something. I believe Jim Crockett has a somewhat unhealthy attachment to his coffee mug. By reading his essay the reader can infer several things. He seems to be somewhat desperate to control the details of his life. It would seem that Jim Crockett does not currently have any type of meaningful relationship with a significant other or his piers. The way he speaks of his mug â€Å"its shape, curvaceous, tapered, slim-waisted, and a bit heavier on top†seems to suggest that the coffee mug serves as a surrogate for female companionship. Jim Crockett’s denial of his attachment to his coffee mug and his justification of his actions as addiction to caffeine seem to be a defense mechanism. While a seemingly superficial object to most people the coffee represents a constant presence in Jim Crockett’s life. The reader can also assume that Jim Crockett is also environmentally conscious. He speaks of â€Å"organically, shade-grown coffee† and the â€Å"paper cup and insulating sleeve, both little bits of tree stay in the store.† Jim Crockett shows a very divided personality. While somewhat concerned what his peers seem to think of his supposed coffee addiction he is almost oblivious to stopping traffic to pick up his coffee mug that he left on his bumper. It would also seem that Jim Crockett is somewhat apposed to a big business and corporations based on his jobs as a spanish instructor, some writer, farmer, and carpenter all decidedly, independent professions as well as his mentioning of the â€Å"earth/human pillaging multinational cartel.† While Jim Crockett seems to have a rather unhealthy fixation to his coffee mug we all have attachments to some inanimate object. I can relate to his attachment because as a child I received a blanket, it still gives me a sense of security and well being. It would seem that there is a fine line between

Surgical Site Infections

Surgical Site Infections Elizabeth Griffor HCA 375 Continuous Quality Monitoring & Accreditation Instructor: Annajane Schnapp October 27, 2012 I chose to do my paper on the hospital-acquired condition of surgical site infections. In this paper I will discuss what a surgical site infection is, why it is considered preventable, the legal implications related to the patient, the role disclosure plays, accreditation expectations, and analyze the cost of continuous quality monitoring as it relates to quality.Surgical site infections account for 40 % of all hospital-acquired infections ( HAIs) and are unnecessary and largely preventable. Use of antibiotics is fundamental in preventing surgical site infection and includes three core elements: 1. appropriate selection, 2. timing of the first dose, 3. and discontinuation postoperatively. It used to be the standard practice to â€Å"shave and prep† a patient prior to surgery, but a study done in 1992 revealed that surgical site infectio ns were 50% lower in surgery patients whose hair was removed with clippers rather than a razor.One of the most common complaints from surgery patients is being cold in the holding area, operating room, and the post anesthesia care unit ( PACU) . This is uncomfortable and can increase risk of complications; such as surgical site infections. Glucose control is also important as a method for decreasing surgical site infections ( Frances, 2005). Guidelines for preventing surgical site infection are at the preoperative stage, intraoperative stage, and postoperative stage. They are as follows: 1. Preoperative stage: Patient preparation- Identify and treat all infections before surgery; postpone surgery if possible until infection is resolved. * Do not remove hair by the incision site unless it interferes with the operation; use electric clippers immediately before surgery if hair must be removed. * Have patients bathe or shower with an antiseptic the day of the surgery or the night before . * Thoroughly wash and clean at and around the incision site to remove gross contamination. * Keep hospital stays as short as possible to limit the patient’s exposure to nosocomial infections.Antimicrobial prophylaxis- * Work with the physician, pharmacist, and administer a prophylactic antibiotic only if it is indicated; antibiotic chosen should be effective against common pathogens that cause surgical site infections. * I. V. administration of the antibiotic should be timed so it is concentrated when the incision is made. * Do not use Vancomycin for antimicrobial prophylaxis routinely. Surgical team preparation- * Keep fingernails short, no artificial nails; bacteria and fungi can colonize on your hands if you wear artificial nails. Surgical team members who have signs or symptoms of an infectious illness need to promptly report this to their manager and occupational health service personnel. * Surgical team members that have draining skin lesions should be relieved from d uty until infection has been ruled out, they have had therapy, or the infection is gone. * It is also suggested that no hand or arm jewelry be worn, as well as nail polish. 2. Intraoperative stage: Ventilation- * Maintain ventilation in the operating room and maintain a minimum of 15 air changes per hour. Keep the operating door closed as much as possible. * Limit the number of staff entering the operating room. Surfaces and equipment- * Clean surfaces or equipment with hospital disinfectant if they are soiled with blood or body fluids before the next operation. * Do not perform special cleaning or closing of operating room after contaminated or dirty operations. * Sterilize all surgical equipment according to guidelines. * Assemble sterile equipment and solutions just before using them. Surgical attire- * Before entering the operating room, a surgical mask and hood that covers he hair on the face or head must be worn. * Sterile surgical gloves must be worn, putting them on after a sterile gown. * Shoe covers are not necessary for preventing surgical site infections. Vascular access- * Adhere to the rules of asepsis when placing intravascular devices and administering I. V. drugs. 3. Postoperative stage: Incision care- * Use a sterile dressing for 24-48 hours on an incision after surgery. * Wash your hands before and after any contact with the surgical site, even when changing the dressing. Use a sterile technique when changing dressings. * Teach the patient and family about incision care, signs or symptoms of surgical site infection, and when to report any symptoms (Adams, 2001). Following these guidelines can effectively reduce or prevent surgical site infections. Although nothing is 100% full proof, surgical site infections can be reduced and prevented in most situations. If an infection is not present at the time of admission and becomes evident after 48 hours of hospitalization; it is considered to be hospital acquired.Following the above mentioned guidel ines indicates quality health care practices. By using these techniques, surgical site infections will be prevented and reduced resulting in quality care; benefiting both the patient and the hospital. A legal implication related to a patient developing a surgical site infection, results in more cost to the hospital, less profit, and leaves them open to possible lawsuits. Hospital acquired infections affect 1. 7 million hospitalizations, cost $ 8. 1 billion to treat, and lead to 2. 3 million total days of hospitalization.Infections are the fourth most expense in hospitals, costing $ 252,600 per hospital on average, and each afflicted patient requires $ 24,500 more in care on average as a result. Examples of lawsuits filed due to hospital infections are as follows: July 2008, couple awarded $ 2. 58 million after the patient contracted a deadly type of staph infection ( MRSA), resulting in the loss of a kidney, and an amputated leg and foot. November 2008, jury awarded $ 13. 5 million to a woman’s family after she died of an infection aused by flesh-eating bacteria; contracted during cancer treatment. And November 2008, a woman reached a confidential settlement of $ 16 million when a hospital failed to detect a flesh-eating bacteria, before and after she gave birth, resulting in the loss of three limbs and several organs ( Gaffey, 2010). According to the AMA’s code of ethics, it is a requirement that a physician should at all times deal honestly and openly with patients concerning medical errors. Several doctors cite the risk of litigation as grounds for caution when discussing medical errors.Practicing defensive medicine such as ordering more tests or consults has become the norm to avoid malpractice suits. 94% of physicians say they would inform a patient if a mistake was made that caused an injury. Concern regarding legal liability which might result from telling the truth should not affect a physician’s honesty with a patient according to the AMA’s Code of Medical Ethics, however some skeptics maintain that it is easier to brag about virtue, than actually follow it ( Rice,2002).For the most part physicians agree that honesty is the best policy. Many doctors in a survey confessed to errors such as; prescribing the wrong medications, wrong dosage, misinterpreting x-rays, misinterpreting lab reports, etc†¦ One physician stated that being upfront about his mistakes, talking to the family, and apologizing probably avoided a lawsuit. Most doctors agree that it is better to be upfront about a mistake for several reasons, they are: 1. That it always comes out eventually, 2. Dishonesty causes more damage and loses the public’s trust, 3.Honesty decreases the chance of being sued, as well as it is the right thing to do, and 4. They want their patients or family to hear it from them first ( Rice, 2002). Communicating with the patient or family, educating them on the procedure and signs or symptoms to look for can prevent surgical site infections. Being open and honest with the patient and their family when an error occurs can possibly help to avoid a lawsuit. Honesty is always the best policy when providing quality health care.In October 2008, CMS announced that it would no longer pay for hospital-acquired conditions. It is their view that if a hospital has a good standard of practice and multidisciplinary care guidelines that these events should not happen and can easily be prevented. This is not to penalize health care, but to improve the safety of patient care and improve the quality of care by establishing standards of care and protocols. The Joint Commission has also implemented similar reporting and nonpayment initiatives to improve safety and improve the quality of care ( Lisa, 2009).The Joint Commissions new national patient safety goal to prevent surgical site infections includes a requirement to look for surgical site infections for up to 30 days after a procedure. The Center for Disease Control ( CDC) estimates that between 12% and 84% of surgical site infections are found after patients are discharged from the hospital. Joint Commission surveyors will be looking to see if the following protocols are being followed: * Hospital educates health care workers involved in surgical procedures about healthcare –associated infections, surgical site infections, and the importance of prevention. Before all surgical procedures, the hospital educates patients/family about surgical site infection prevention. * Hospital implements policies and practices aimed at reducing surgical site infections. * Hospital conducts periodic risk assessments for surgical site infections. * Measurement strategies follow evidence-based guidelines and surgical site infections are measured for the first 30 days after surgery. * Hospital supplies surgical site infection rate data and prevention outcome to leaders, practitioners, nursing staff, and other clinicians. Antimicrobial ag ents for prophylaxis used for a particular procedure or disease are administered according to standards and guidelines. * Administer I. V. antimicrobial prophylaxis within one hour before incision. * Discontinue the prophylactic antimicrobial agent within 24 hours after surgery. * When hair removal is necessary, use clippers or depilatories ( Hospital Infection Control, 2008). Localized improvement occurs when a team is developed to look at a specific problem; such as the rate of surgical site infections. Organizational learning occurs when this process is ocumented and results in the development of policies that are implemented; such as a protocol for preventing surgical site infections. Process reengineering occurs when a major investment blends internal and external resources to make changes; such as being accredited by the Joint Commission and following their guidelines for prevention of surgical site infections. Evidence-based medicine involves the selection of the best clinica l practices; implementing surgical site infection control guidelines or protocol to reduce cost and increase profit (Sollecito & Johnson, 2013).The most effective strategies for improving health care quality are: clinician-directed audit and feedback, clinical decision support systems, specialty outreach programmes, continuing professional education based on interactive small-group case discussions, and patient-mediated clinician reminders. Pay-for-performance strategies directed to clinician groups and organizational process redesign are modestly effective ( Scott, 2009). In my opinion using the organizational learning strategy would generate the best outcome and cost the least to implement.Having a team put together to gather data on surgical site infections and implementing a protocol or guidelines to follow to prevent these events would result in less cost and increased profit. In conclusion, surgical site infections are for the most part preventable. Following protocols or guid elines can greatly reduce surgical site infections. Educating staff, patients, and their families, can have a big impact on preventing surgical site infections and implementing these strategies reduces cost and increases profit. References: Adams, A. 2001). Preventing surgical site infection ( SSI): Guidelines at a glance. Nursing Management, 32 (8), 46-46. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/231438710? accountid= 32521. Frances, A. G. ( 2005). Best-practice protocol is: Preventing surgical site infection. Nursing Management, 36 (11), 20-26. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/ 231393974? accountid=32521. Gaffey, A. D. RN, MSN, CPHRM, FASHRM. ( 2010). Legal Implications of Healthcare- Acquired Infections. Retrieved from http://www. ahe. rg/ahe/conference/2010/content /092910/a. Lisa, M. S. ( 2009). Compliance with CMS â€Å" never events† billing requirements. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 11 (5), 33-36. Retrieved from http://search. proqu est. com/ docview/227916352? accountid=32521. Rice, B. (2002). Medical errors: Is honesty ever optional? Medical Economics, 79 ( 19), 63-72. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/227734141? accountid=32521. Scott, I. (2009). What are the most effective strategies for improving quality and safety of healthcare?Internal Medicine Journal, 39 (6), 389-400. Doi:http://dx. doi. org/ 10. 1111/j. 1445-5994. 2008. 01798. x. Sollecito, W. A. & Johnson, J. K. (2013). Continuous quality improvement in health Care (4th ed). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 9780763781545. The joint commission update for infection control: SSI goal: Look for infections a month after procedure. (2008). Hospital Infection Control, Retrieved from http://search. Proquest. com/docview/758852362? accountid=32521.

Xox Supply Chain

Answer the following questions in relation to Xbox case: Lee, Hau; Hoyt David W. and Holloway, Chuck, â€Å"Evolution of the Xbox Supply Chain† * Who are the various stakeholders for Xbox that formed the Microsoft ecosystem while developing the supply chain business strategy for Xbox? * What were the challenges faced by Xbox when it first launched Xbox? * How did this compare to the launch of Xbox 360? * Did they consider any changes in the supply chain? Essay: Xbox StakeholdersMicrosoft’s Xbox project was started by a group of gamers in 1999 so that they can also develop a gaming console which threatened the performance of the home PC market. The Xbox project consisted of both internal and external stakeholders who had either a direct or indirect â€Å"stake† in the project. These stakeholders include the Microsoft employees (i. e. , Xbox project team, Microsoft executives), shareholders, suppliers (e. g. , Intel, Nvidia), contract manufacturers (i. e. , Flextro nics, Wistron Corp, Celestica), game developers, designers (i. , Astro Studios), distributors, broadband providers, retailers and customers. The stakeholders of the Xbox project can be visualized in terms of their position in Microsoft’s extended supply chain, shown in Figure 1. 0 below. Figure 1. 0 Microsoft’s Xbox supply chain Challenges with Original Xbox Microsoft encountered many challenges when launching the original Xbox in 2001. To better understand the challenges in the original Xbox, we can adopt the SOSTAC (Situation analysis, Objective Setting, Strategy, Tactics, Actions and Control) approach.Situation Analysis. Microsoft did not have a presence in the gaming console market and was up against strong competitors which already had established markets such as Sony (Playstation) and Nintendo (GameCube). This competitive landscape put them in a position wherein they needed to develop a product that offered features that were comparable to existing products in th e marketplace which was perfectly priced to establish themselves in the market. Moreover, Microsoft recognized that it was critical to launch in time for the 2001 holiday eason to allow them to have a presence in the marketplace before they became up against the â€Å"next-generation product†. Thus, Microsoft’s early challenges came at a price of high production ramp up costs, where they needed to produce 100,000 consoles in a week in order to launch the new Xbox in time for the Christmas. Objective. The short-term objectives of developing the original Xbox was primarily aimed at entering the gaming console market, learning from the experience and paving way for the next generation of products. Strategy. Microsoft adapted a push supply chain strategy using an extended supply chain.They developed their products based on existing game consoles with added features, most of which were built to compete against Sony PS2. In addition to a having features similar to other gami ng consoles available in the market, the Xbox had other features such as allowing Xbox to play DVDs, and a built-in modem which in 2002 was used to launch Xbox live. Tactics. Microsoft lacked the competency in building hardware –neither did it have exposure to designing and manufacturing hardware that can be used as a game console nor did it have any experience with the game console market.Hence, Microsoft decided to form strategic partnerships with preferred contract manufacturers who can deliver the products for them because they did not have the time to deal with unproven vendors and risky designs. Actions. Microsoft also took into account the location of manufacturing facilities in their selection of contract manufacturers to allow to take into account the logistics of to shipping products quickly to the US and European markets and decided to find plants in Mexico and Hungary.Logistics is the time-related positioning or resource, or the strategic management of the total s upply chain. The supply chain is a sequence of events intended to satisfy a customer: It can include procurement, manufacture, distribution, and waste disposal, together with associated transport, storage and information technology(Chaffey, 2002). Microsoft’s Xbox had over one thousand (1000) components and forty-five (45) of which were critical components that was only available from a single supplier. The Xbox also required several parts with high technical performance requirements (e. . , processing speed, graphics resolution, memory requirement and internet access). The high dependence on Microsoft’s suppliers made it necessary to integrate the information exchange with its key suppliers. Thus, Microsoft decided to require co-investments from its suppliers and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to improve the coordination among the various groups. This suggests that Microsoft recognized the need for using technology to improve the flow of information and adap ted some form of technology to manage the relationship with various intermediaries.Control. While the case did not provide enough data to see how Microsoft measured the outcome, it can be inferred from the changes they made to the launch Xbox 360 that they did some reviews internally so that they can make the necessary changes. Unfortunately, Microsoft had very little time to learn to how to manage the supply networks — â€Å"[t]he coordination of all supply activities of an organization from its suppliers and partners to its customers†(Chaffey, 2002, p. 335).While they adopted a push approach to supply chain management, which is typically suggests that the production processes are aimed at cost and efficiency, Microsoft was up against significant challenges that made it difficult to be cost effective. In the end, Microsoft’s investment in the Xbox is higher than the expected sale price of the product — i. e. , the costs for producing the Xbox hardware we re estimated to be at $450, when retail price for the Xbox was only at $299. 00. Profitability was therefore dependent on driving the costs down for the Xbox console and sales from selling games.Differences between Original Xbox and Xbox 360 and Supply Chain Changes Situation. When Microsoft launched Xbox 360, gaming had already become a big part of the home entertainment and broadband access was substantially higher. Microsoft also had a better understanding of what games were needed in each country because they had already established a presence in the market. Objective. Microsoft’s decisions on developing the Xbox 360 was no longer based on their desire to get into selling hardware and simply offering a gaming console, but more on their goal of increasing software sales.So, Microsoft developed the new system in such a way that can be a central part of home entertainment thereby incorporating other features such as internet access. Strategy. In launching Xbox 360, Microsoft planned a global launch, which no other company had done before, so that Xbox 360 can be made available in all major markets before Sony would have a chance to launch PS3. Implementing a global strategy posed two large risks for Microsoft. To mitigate this risk, Microsoft also implemented some risk management techniques. Risk management is intended to identify potential risks in a range of situations and then take actions to minimize risk† (Chaffey, 2002, p. 599). It involves several stages which include the identification of risks, possible solutions, implementing the solutions that target high-impact risks and monitoring them for the future. First, was related to the fact that the Xbox required complementary products for it to be enjoyed and their biggest concern was whether there would be sufficient game titles available at the same time. Thus, Microsoft lined up game developers who could develop new games.For this task, Microsoft had a better appreciation of game types ne eded in each country based on the original Xbox experience, nonetheless ensuring that the games were ready had various timing issues. The unavailability of games in a particular country would mean a decrease of sales of consoles and would have a significant impact on the profitability of Microsoft. Second, Microsoft faced the risk of success where the supply of gaming consoles would not be sufficient to keep up with demand. Foreseeable, this can manifest itself in different ways but both negatively impacting their ability to acquire new customers.This suggests that Microsoft recognized the implication of complementary products to allow them to take advantage of the network effects. For Microsoft, the worse case scenario is for Microsoft to miss customer expectations and put them at risk for losing their customers. Another scenario is if their demand calculations were off and end up with an over/under supply of gaming consoles in one area. Tactics. As soon as the original Xbox was la unched, Microsoft started working on the next generation of Xbox and required the new model to have high definition capability, high storage capacity and access to the internet.Unlike the earlier launch of the Xbox, where Microsoft delivered a superior product whose features that came at the expense of cost, Microsoft included cost considerations as part of their new strategy. This time, Microsoft also wanted to take advantage of the timing, pricing and exploiting the relationships with complementary product. Actions. Microsoft made three changes in its supply chain management to drive down costs: (1) change the location of its manufacturing facilities; (2) increase the number of EMS suppliers; and (3) chip contracting.First, when launching the original Xbox, Microsoft decided to select manufacturing facilities that were geographically near the customers in order to quickly deliver the products to facilitate fast product introduction. However, in launching Xbox 360, Microsoft decide d to take advantage of a less expensive option by switching the facility location from Mexico and Hungary to China. While this meant an increased risk in fulfilling orders in time for a global launch, the firm was able to leverage lower labor rates from a place where the infrastructure was already available for electronic manufacturing.Second, by permitting multiple EMS suppliers, Microsoft was able to ensure that they had enough manufacturers who would be able to fulfill the orders. This also provided the ability to negotiate as compared with being dependent on a single supplier at Xbox launch. This helped Microsoft manage the supplier vender lock-in that they had originally and arrest the possible increase in switching costs such as search costs, specialized suppliers, contractual commitment (Shapiro & Varian, 1998).Third, Microsoft decided that it was best to take ownership of the design of the chip (which was previously owned and designed by Nvidia and Intel) and source its parts from the supply chain. This disintermediation strategy in their supply chain made it possible for Microsoft to be in a better position to control costs over the product’s lifetime. Moreover, this strategy is consistent with what is usually referred to as an outside-in outsourcing activity so that they can build up skills internally and manage this area.Microsoft was also able to compress the design cycle by engaging in concurrent design development activities which included a closer link between and manufacturing, continuous testing and iterative redesign. This was a change from Microsoft’s original Xbox strategy which had significant system and supplier level lock-in effects for Microsoft because Nvidia and Intel owned and designed the chips. While the dual sourcing strategy minimized the risks of lock-in at the supplier level, they were still locked-in at the system level where Microsoft had to contend with any enhancements or changes in the design of the chips .Microsoft also used HDTV technologies that was available in the market, while Sony (being a hardware company) decided to bet on Blu-Ray to allow it to establish it as the new DVD standard for high-definition. In hindsight, Microsoft’s decision provided them a one-year head start in third generation consoles because Sony’s Blu-Ray decision caused a significant delay in Sony’s PS3 launch. By betting on Blu-Ray, Sony was betting on standards change to increase their competitive advantage. Control.As discussed previously, the case did not provide enough data to see how Microsoft measured control. Japanese Automakers’ Supply Chain Structures The disintermediation strategy that Microsoft took gives some insight to classic â€Å"make or buy† arguments that companies make in determining where to source their supplies. In contrast to Microsoft’s decision to do things themselves, â€Å"Japanese automakers apparently assume that quality, delivery, in ventories, and related costs can be better governed by the purchasing department in a buy situation, than by making it yourself. † (Deming, 1982, p. 7). However, for them to control the quality they require invariably have demanding expectations from their suppliers. The expectations include: (1) exceptional quality requirements; (2) reliable just-in-time deliver; (3) exact quantities – no over- or under-runs; and (4) continuously improving productivity resulting in long-term cost reductions (Deming, 1982, p. 48). In return for the high investments on the part of their suppliers, they have production contracts that are usually long-term (as long as six years), and may include requirements for product design and testing.For the Japanese automakers, they have â€Å"arms around relationship† where they embrace the lock-in effects with their suppliers instead of â€Å"arms-length transactions† which rely on the spot-market. The Japanese auto manufacturers are more likely to engage in vertical disintegration and outsourcing of processes to a network of suppliers. For example, in the case of Honda, they engage in strategic alliances with first tier suppliers whom they are said to have a strong â€Å"close relationship through shared history† (Choi & Hong, 2002, p. 78). They are said to have approximately 400 â€Å"core† suppliers and a number of indirect suppliers which all contribute to the production of 400,000 units of Accord models each year (Choi & Hong, 2002). Another example is Acura, where the structure of their network is very complex with 76 entities in the supply network (i. e. , 1 first-tier, 20, second-tier, 28 third-tier, 17 fourth-tier, 9 fifth-tier, and 1 six-tier) to produce their Acura CL/TL center console alone (Choi & Hong, 2002).Another example is Toyota, a company that is recognized worldwide for adopting lean management principles in its supply chain. Toyota has various stakeholders that con tribute to the success of the supply chain namely: Domestic Suppliers; Overseas suppliers; Parts Centers; Toyota Plants; Distributors; Kyohans; Dealers; Repair Shops; Parts Jobbers; Customers. SOSTAC Analysis of Toyota To better appreciate how supply chain strategies differ, we can also adopt the SOSTAC model to explain Toyota’s strategy. Situation Analysis. Toyota is an established car manufacturer that has been in existence since 1937.Toyota offers a full range of models – from mini-vehicles to trucks. Toyota believes that their long-term success is based on loyal customers. Toyota manages using the Toyota Way, which is underpinned by two pillars, continuous improvement and respect for people. Toyota believes that the Toyota Way should be used in interactions because they believe that their success is not created by individual efforts but rather as a team. Objective. Toyota’s supply chain objective is to establish strong links to its customers, dealers and cha nnels. Strategy.Toyota created an efficient network so that it can deliver excellent service to its customers. Their close interrelationship between various parts of the chain suggests that they engage in a pull strategy and their supply chain can be viewed in terms of Figure 2. 0 below. Figure 2. 0 Toyota’s supply chain Tactics. Toyota developed its own Toyota Production System where they introduced various manufacturing techniques such as Just-In-Time, Kaizen (continuous improvement). Toyota makes strategic alliance with its partners and puts an emphasis on long-term relationships.Toyota’s manufacturing processes is also developed so that each plant serves a local market and at least another market across the world. While this tactic can be seen as a logistical decision, it is also driven by various risk considerations. It is driven by a financial consideration so that it can hedge exchange-rate risks and shift production when exchange rates increase (Chopra & So dhi, 2004, p. 345). It is also driven by capacity considerations so that idle capacity is mitigated by ensuring that more than one market are supported by the plants to deal with demand fluctuations(Chopra & Sodhi, 2004).Action. Toyota ensures that both the upstream and downstream supply chains are highly efficient networks. For its upstream supply chain, Toyota not only engages in activities that ensure that information flows across its suppliers, but also engages in various activities geared toward promoting a shared network identity among its suppliers. More specifically, Toyota created network-level processes to ensure that they share a social community, network norms and knowledge (Dyer & Nobeoka, 2000, p. 352).To implement this, Toyota has established various supplier associations (kyohokai) since 1943 so that they can have â€Å"(1) information exchange between member companies and Toyota, (2) mutual development and training among member companies, and (3) socializin g events†(Dyer & Nobeoka, 2000). † For its downstream supply chain, Toyota is dependent on its dealers to distribute new and used vehicles, as well as servicing for its profitability. Toyota manages its dealers with three principles: (1) Independence of dealers as outside investors; (2) Winning jointly; (3) Encouraging competition among channels.This approach encourages their dealers to make independent decisions and be proactive in making improvements. Toyota help the dealers make decisions toward investing in areas necessary to improve so that they can be both successful. Toyota embraced lean manufacturing techniques to keep costs down. Not only do they apply these principles in their manufacturing of cars, but they also apply this in other areas of their supply chain. For example, they use kyohans to allow their dealers to maintain a low level of parts supply.The use of an intermediary to have a central control of parts allows the network some flexibility so that parts do not sit idly at dealers at the same time allow Toyota to move the parts to dealers that need them. Kyohans can order supplies of stocks once a day, and supplies them to the dealers 3-4 times a day. In case the stock is unavailable, kyohans can put in an emergency stock request which can be fulfilled by a domestic distributor within half a day to a day or an international distributor in under 5 days. Toyota also promotes continuous improvement through a concept they refer to as kaizen.This process allows them to improve their operations through innovation, organizational learning and standardization of processes. For example, a mandatory bi-annual inspections of cars for registration at the service facilities usually takes 2-3 hours. The length of time it took was largely dependent on skills and experiences of the service technician in charge of the inspection. After applying kaizen principles, Toyota was able to streamline and standardize the inspection process so that insp ections would only take 45 minutes. Control.Toyota conducts performance measurements at predetermined timeframes. For instance they do annual reviews wherein they apply some ranking and rating mechanism to evaluate their dealers. The dealers are measured in terms of sales volume of new and used cars, after-service sales service, customer satisfaction, number of showrooms, number of service centers, number of staff, and profitability. Discussion There are various approaches to managing the supply chain of a firm. The decision to adopt one over another is highly depended on the long-term strategic goals of the corporation.From the Microsoft’s Xbox case, we can see that sometimes firm make costly decisions in the process of launching a product to gain foothold in the market place. It is then ultimately up to the firm to learn form the process and as an organization learn from the experience and make the necessary changes. Microsoft adopted two distinct approaches in managing the ir supply chain based on their short- and long-term objectives. In the launching Xbox, they were highly dependent on the expertise of their suppliers so that they can launch the Xbox in time for the 2001 holiday sales.This enabled the firm to learn from their experience so that they can come up with a new strategy to launch the next generation gaming console. Microsoft’s disintermediation strategy appears to minimize lock-in effects with suppliers so that they can take advantage of spot-markets and ultimately lower their costs. Interestingly, in the case of Toyota, they took a very different approach from Microsoft even when their objective was also to minimize production costs. Instead of relying on spot-markets, they embraced lock-in and invested in long-term relationships with its suppliers.This approach allowed them to make continuous improvements across multiple suppliers by sharing knowledge and information among the upstream and downstream processes. The increased info rmation flows across the network was made possible by the use of various e-supply and e-demand applications. From the Toyota case, it can also be seen that a highly integrated supply chain that shares information, expertise across the firm can take advantage of minimized costs and profitability.It can also be gleaned from this case the importance of trust and respect because the members of the supply chain has access to critical information that can be detrimental to the other partners if opportunistic behavior arises. Chaffey, D. (2002). E-business and E-commerce Management: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Choi, T. Y. , & Hong, Y. (2002). Unveiling the structure of supply networks: case studies in Honda Acura, and Daimler Chrysler. Journal of Operations Management, 20, 469-493. Chopra, S. , & Sodhi, M. S. (2004).Managing Risk To Avoid Supply-Chain Breakdown. MIT Sloan Management Review(Fall 2004), 53-61. Deming, W. E. (1982). Out of the crisis: Quality Productivity and Competitive Position. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dyer, J. H. , & Nobeoka, K. (2000). Creating and Manageing a High-Performance Knowledge-Sharing Network: The Toyota Case. Strategic Management Journal, 21, 345-367. Shapiro, C. , & Varian, H. (1998). Network and positive feedback – How to exploit Network effects. In H. B. S. Press (Ed. ), Information rules – A strategic guide to the network economy. (pp. 1-56).