Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Quran Essays - Allah, God, Islamic Ethics, Sin, Al-Qalam

Qu'ran Andrew Potievsky The Qur'an is like a bible really. The Islamic people believe it to e the ultimate moral authority. Its basic moral message would be to follow Allah and believe in him no matter what the problem and always have faith in Allah. An example would be the ? we make no difference between one and another of them. And we bow to Allah (in Islam). It is similar to Judaism because it was all monotheists, which meant that they all believed in one god only. An example would be that ?say ye: ?we believe in Allah and the revelation given to us ? It is Similar to Christianity because they believe in being baptized and so d the Islamic people. An example would be this ? (our religion is) the baptism of Allah and who can baptize better than Allah and it is He whom we worship. It would be different from Christianity because Christianity believes in one God only but The Islamic people believe in Allah. An example would be ?For Allah is the lord of Grace abounding?. I thought the Qur'an was in a way surprising because of how the believe in Allah so greatly that it is just amazing of how the have complete faith in Allah. I also found some parts puzzling because I did not understand some things that were expressed in the suras. Overall it showed how Allah is like the center for the Islamic people. Bibliography * History Reports

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Free sample - Complex Congenital Heart Disease. translation missing

Complex Congenital Heart Disease. Complex Congenital Heart DiseaseComplex Congenital Heart Disease Congenital heart disease is a defect   or malformation in the structure of the heart or vessels that supply it with blood. This defect occurs as the fetus develops in the uterus and is therefore present at birth (Pampel, 2004). This defect   interferes with the normal flow of blood through the heart. Complex congenital heart disease requires immediate medical attention since it can be very fatal. Complex congenital heart disease can be attributed to both genetic and environmental factors. A pregnant woman who suffers rheumatic heart disease produces antibodies which act against the Ro and La auto antigens in the fetus (Pampel, 2004).   The part of the Ro antigen targeted by the antibodies from the mother is called p200 protein. The more the number of antibodies produced against this protein, the more the damage to the heart of the fetus. This antibody - antigen reaction causes the inflammation and subsequent calcification of the cardiac system of the fetus hence damaging the he art structure (Calnan, 1991). Researchers also have it that anti-seizure medication taken by a pregnant woman makes the fetus more vulnerable to congenital heart disease. Pregnant women who take lithium to treat depression, as well as those who have phenylketonuria (PKU) and do not strictly take the special diet prescribed to them predispose the fetus to the attack (Calnan, 1991). Women who contract   the Rubella virus and those who get vaccinated against the same stand higher chances of giving birth to children with CHD. Other studies indicate that this condition has autosomal-dominant inheritance meaning that mothers who have the condition stand about fifty percent chances of passing it to the child (Kaplan, 2002). A number of Chromosome abnormalities can also result to CHD. These include: Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and 13, turner’s syndrome, cri du chat syndrome, wolf – Hirsh horn syndrome   and Digeorge syndrome ( deletion 22q11). Genetic syndromes have also been shown to make one more vulnerable to the condition. These are: Marfan syndrome, Smith-lemli-optiz syndrome, Ellis-van Creveld, Holt- Oram syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and Mucopolysaccharidoses (Kaplan, 2002). Errors at any stage in the embryological development of the heart can result in   congenital heart disease.   This development occurs between the third and the ninth week of the gestation period (American Heart [AH], 2010). The heart is formed when a group of cells join to form sheets of tissue, which then join to form a tube whose growth results in the formation of the atria and ventricles (AH, 2010). The resulting tissue undergoes twists and turns while the atria, ventricles and truncus undergo septation.   The antrioventricular canal and conus align the portions of the heart in a manner that allows smooth blood flow. If any error occurs during this process, then heart complications such as the congenital heart disease result (AH, 2010). Incidences of congenital heart disease are on the rise according to recent studies. Data from researchers in the western industrialized world for instance indicate that the incidence of the condition has increased from about three to five per every one thousand live births to about twelve per every one thousand live births. Some researchers though argue that this increase can be attributed to technological advances which have seen the invention of more sensitive detection methods (AH, 2010).    Left to right shunts is the commonest physiology associated with congenital heart disease. This occurs when oxygenated blood   goes back to the lungs to get re-oxygenated. This return causes a redundancy in the circulation. This leads to an increased venous return from the lungs through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium as well as the left ventricle. This causes the left ventricle to experience volume overload (Larsen, 1993). In a nutshell, left to right shunt causes a volume overload on the left ventricle, as well as pulmonary circulation and reduced systematic output. Left to right shunt lesions   cause physiological alterations at the ventricular or great artery level. Congestive heart failure can occur between week two and six as a result of a decrease in pulmonary vascular resistances which is accompanied by an increase in systemic vascular resistances as well as physiological nadir in the hemoglobin (Larsen, 1993). Increased left to right blood shunting ultimately results to   pulmonary vasculature which causes hyperplasia of the vessel walls and subsequent hypertension (Kenneth, 1997). Ventricular septal defect is a defect which also occurs in patients with congenital heart disease. In this case, there is a left to right shunt across the ventricular level. During this shunting, blood from the left ventrical is ejected during systole to the pulmonary circulation. This blood causes a volume   overload   to the left atrium as well as the left ventricle (Kenneth, 1997). Patent ductus arteriosus   is characterized by a left to right shunt during systole and diastole from the aorta to the pulmonary artery. Owing to the presence   of   higher pressure in the aorta as compared to that in the pulmonary artery, the left to right shunt gets continuous.   This causes a volume overload on the left atrium as well as the left ventricle. A large degree of PDA results in pulmonary vascular disease (Larsen, 1993). Truncus arteriosus occurs whereby, the pulmonary arteries are joined to the aorta. Patients who suffer this condition experience higher occurrences of pulmonary hypertension and vascular disease (Larsen, 1993).    Right to left shunt occurs when the deoxygenated blood that goes to the lungs for oxygenation returns back to the body without reoxygenation. One condition associated with this is tetralogy of fallot. This is a condition occurring as a result of the presence of RV outflow obstruction. It results to a right to left shunt across the VSD (Hoffman, 2005). A person suffering from this condition is cyanotic as a result of paucity of pulmonary blood flow. This blood inadequacy results in a smaller left ventricle than the right one owing to a reduction in the pulmonary venous return (Hoffman, 2005). Congenital heart disease is discovered in some cases when the mother undergoes a ultrasound scan during pregnancy. Other cases are not discovered during this scan and therefore they   are discovered through symptoms when the baby is born (Hoffman,2005). In other cases still, the new born doesn’t   show symptoms of the condition until later years. Some people grow to adulthood without showing symptoms of the condition. Signs and symptoms of this disease include: recurrent lung infections, shortness of breath which is also rapid, fatigue especially during exercises, lack of appetite, low rate of weight gain, sweating while eating, weak pulse in babies and cyanosis color on the skin around the mouth, lips as well as the tongue (Niessen, 2008).    The diagnosis of congenital heart disease can be done before or after birth. Antenatal diagnosis is done through a fetal echocardiography which is a type of ultrasound scanner designed to create a picture of the sides of the heart chambers. This test is done   in the course of regular antenatal examinations which come during the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy (Niessen, 2008).   Post natal diagnosis is compulsory if the baby presents with some of the signs of the disease such as blue color around the lips, feeding problems, slow rate of growth, etc. methods used   during this diagnosis include: Electrocardiogram, a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity (Niessen, 2008). This method involves placing electrodes on the skin above the heart which are then connected to a computer. Electrical signals coming from the heart are then analyzed by the computer (Shanley, 2007). Chest x-ray can also be used to detect the disease. This x-ray basically examines if there is excess amount of blood in the lungs or if the heart size is normal. Excess blood in the lungs and a larger heart are signs of the disease (Shanley, 2007). Pulse oximetry is also a detection method that measures the amount of blood present in the child’s blood. A special sensor is placed in the child’s fingertip, ear or toe which sends out light waves. Absorption of the light waves is checked via a computer since the absorption behavior can indicate the oxygen levels in the blood (Shanley, 2007). Cardiac catheterization as a detection method seeks to find out blood pumping behavior. A catheter is inserted in one of the major blood vessels in the groin. Its then pushed to the heart though the assistance of x-rays or MRI scanners. Blood   pressure readings at different parts of the heart are then recorded by a small pressure monitor attached to the end of catheter (Larsen, 1993) . Treatment of this condition involves administering medicines which can make the heart beat regular incase its not.   The medicines basically mitigate the symptoms before an operation to fix the problem is administered. These medicines include a prostaglandin inhibitor administered to   a premature baby to assist in closing a patent ductus arteriosus (Niessen, 2008).   Heart catheterization   discussed under diagnosis can also be used to fix the problem. Surgery if necessary is advisable when the baby is strong enough to withstand it. Open heart surgery is carried out if the problem cannot be fixed using a catheter. This surgery aims at closing holes with the help of stitches or patches, repairing or replacing damaged heart valves, and   repairing complex defects (Niessen, 2008). If the problem is too severe to repair, a transplant is recommended. The heart to be used is normally obtained through a donation by   the family of a diseased child (AH, 2010). Nursing care for young ones with congenital heart disease involves basics such as feeding, giving medicines, watching and recording trouble signs, and encouraging them to get involved in their health care program (AH, 2010). Involving the child in the health care program would help them understand why they have a scar, why they need to take medicine, as well as the positive impact play can have to the general wellness of their heart. The child is also helped to understand the need to take certain nutrients such as boiled fish, Mediterranean diet and others which strengthen the heart (AH, 2010). There are several support groups throughout the world for children with heart diseases. Mended little hearts for instance is a support group that helps families with such children (AH, 2010). The Mary bridge child life department offers pre-operative tours for children as well as families scheduled for treatments such as heart catheterization, and cardiothoracic surgery. We also have care pages which are free, private, as well as personalized WebPages pages which patients can visit to obtain any form of advice and care required (AH, 2010). These pages are available at multicare facilities so patients can always keep in touch for any care needed. A patient can post a question as far as care is concerned which is replied with messages of support (AH, 2010). The following is a list of such websites which one can visit for information regarding children’s heart care,   diagnosis, treatment as well as support resources: American Heart Association, Children’s Heart Institut e, Children’s   Hospital Health System of Wisconsin, Children’s mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Congenital Heart Defect Online Hand   book, Congenital Heart Defects (Texas Heart Institute), Congenital Heart Defects ( Texas Heart Institute)- in Spanish, Congenital Heart Information Network, Heart Centre Online, and Heart Institute for Children (AH, 2010). Children with congenital Heart disease have a poorer quality life   than those who are healthy. Children with more severe complications have a   very bad physical and physiological quality of life. For instance, such children are advised against getting involved in certain type of exercises hence they are not free to interact with their peers in every thing. Such   children also end up with very poor psychological life as a result of limited social interactions with their peers (AH, 2010). In conclusion, this paper has discussed the etiology of congenital heart disease. Genetic factors causing the disease have included: rheumatic heart disease in the mother, Chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and 13, turner’s syndrome, cri du chat syndrome, wolf – Hirsh horn syndrome   and Digeorge syndrome ( deletion 22q11). Genetic syndromes have also been shown to make one more vulnerable to the condition. These have included : Marfan syndrome, Smith-lemli-optiz syndrome, Ellis-van Creveld, Holt- Oram syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and Mucopolysaccharidoses. Environmental factors leading to the disease have included: in take of substances such as lithium by the mother as well as Rubella virus. Embryology of the disease has also been discussed with errors in heart formation being linked to the disease. Incidences of the disease have been seen to rise with recent research indicating   about twelve incidences per every one thousand live births. The pathophysiology of the disease has been discussed with effects of both left to right and right to left shunts being analyzed. The effects have included but not limited to : pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary vasculature which causes hyperplasia of the vessel walls, hypertension and   Congestive heart failure. Diagnosis methods have included both prenatal and post natal. Postnatal methods have included Electrocardiogram, Pulse oximetry, Chest x-ray, and Cardiac catheterization. Both medicinal and surgical procedures for treating the disease have been discussed. Support groups for patients with the disease have included: American Heart Association, Children’s Heart Institute, Children’s   Hospital Health System of Wisconsin, Children’s mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Congenital Heart Defect Online Hand   book, Congenital Heart Defects (Texas Heart Institute), Congenital Heart Defects ( Texas Heart Institute)- in Spanish, Congenital Heart Information Netw ork, Heart Centre Online, and Heart Institute for Children.   References Pampel, F. (2004). Progress against Heart Disease. London: Praeger . Calnan, M. (1991). Preventing Coronary Heart Disease: Prospects, Policies and Politics. New York: Routledge   Kaplan, H. (2002). The incidence of congenital heart disease. London: Oxford University Press Larsen, W. (1993). â€Å"Development of the Heart†. Human Embryology. London: Churchill Livingstone. Kenneth, J.(1997). Smith’s recognizable patterns of human malformation. 5th ed.   London: Routledge.   Hoffman, J. (2005). Essential Cardiology : Principles and Practice. Totowa: Humana Press Niessen, K. (2008). â€Å" Notch Signaling in Cardiac Development† Circulation Research. London: Oxford University Press Complex Congenital Heart Disease 12 Shanley, T. (2007). Pediatric critical care medicine: basic science and clinical evidence. London: Praeger .

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategic Plan Part I Organizational Structure Essay

Strategic Plan Part I Organizational Structure - Essay Example orate strategy for as long as 20 years into the horizon like what Panasonic did when its founder Konosuke Matsushita was still alive; other firms normally plan a decade ahead. This paper deals with Kaiser Permanente which is the largest health care organization in the United States today. It has 8.6 million health plan members and employs a total of 14,600 doctors and 167,000 employees. This impressive business organization was the response to the Great Depression by industrialist Henry Kaiser and Dr. Sidney R. Garfield. It was founded in 1938 because the United States is the only industrialized nation in the Western world not to have a national health plan or the so-called socialized medicine. The Kaiser Permanente operates on four core principles which are group medical practice, prepaid medical services, the focus of medical services is on prevention and the rendition of the whole set of medical services under one roof. These principles are the forerunners of what we today know as health-maintenance organizations (HMOs) by which a group of health-care providers are contracted to deliver specified pre-paid medical services to a defined group of enrollees or what is known today as health plan members (Boyer, 2001, p. 1). Today, there are close to 700 health maintenance organizations nationwide. Most of them are for-profit organizations although many of them originally started as charitable or tax free organizations designed to provide medical care access on a broad democratic basis to all people who needed them. Because of lack in the US of any socialized or subsidized national health plan, the HMO gained widespread acceptance as logical alternative to fee-for-services arrangements that existed before but which some poor people can no longer afford due to high or escalating costs. The idea of HMO gained further traction because of its emphasis on health maintenance (preventive care) and managed care that seeks to minimize health costs. The two end results of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A New Zealand Automotive Workshop Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

A New Zealand Automotive Workshop - Assignment Example This paper will discuss the eight core areas and will give examples of the areas in terms of how they operate in reality. Introduction There is a wide variety of approaches to having an automotive shop in New Zealand. There are independently owned shops, franchise owned shops, and franchise shops that are independently owned and shops tied into automotive dealerships. There are also those who perform automotive repair on the side out of a person’s home. There are many options for those looking to enter into the automotive repair industry and looking for an automotive shop in which to get their repairs completed. Some examples of franchise automotive repair shops in New Zealand are Midas and Sears Automotive. While independently owned shops include Bell Automotive and Automotive Solutions. Franchise shops are those that can be found in multiple locations and often in multiple countries. They tend to have the same policies from location to location and operate in the same manner . Independently owned businesses tend to only have one or maybe two locations and are usually unique to the town or city in which they are located. The policies vary greatly from shop to shop and the services and procedures followed by each shop will differ. It is important for the consumer to find out the policies of each shop they are considering prior to selecting a shop to perform their repairs. Examples of policies that automotive workshops will develop that could vary from shop to shop are the time limit that a consumer has to bring their vehicle back if they are not satisfied with the repair work, the procedures for dropping off or picking up a vehicle and the refund policy. Automotive business owners will want to have these policies clear in both writing and practice and consumers should ensure that they are aware of the policies prior to determining who will perform their repairs. There are also specific options available in terms of the type of automotive repair business. A person can choose to open a shop specializing in a specific type of car, such as only working on Volkswagens, or foreign cars. Someone can also choose to only perform specific work such as brakes, repairing body damage or transmissions. There are also those that specialize in aftermarket products such as accessories for four wheel drives, tires or paint. Again, consumers must determine where they would prefer to get their repairs done based on their personal needs and beliefs about auto repair. Whatever a person may choose in terms of operating their automotive business, there are eight core areas that must be considered and well planned prior to taking on the start of an automotive repair shop and continuing on throughout the life of the business. These areas are banking/finance, accounting, insurance, advertisement, out sourcing, supplying, buildings and council regulations. Core Areas Bank and Finance Anyone operating a business of any kind must have a plan for their financing. An automotive workshop requires tools and specialized equipment so having the business finances in order is especially important. Equipment for the automotive repair business can be quite costly, so banking and financing is an important area to have in order. There are many options for financing including credit unions,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Hyatt Hotel Financial Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hyatt Hotel Financial Analysis - Essay Example Hyatt has six diverse brands, which are specifically designed in order to deliver the best experience reflecting high standards of life, luxury, comfort, values, attitudes and aspirations of the clients who are the main stakeholders. The Hyatt hotel is run by a group of talented and highly skilled professionals whose visions and aspirations is to make Hyatt Hotels the leading brand in hotel and hospitality section. The executive chairman is Thomas J. Pritzker; Mark Hoplamazian is the president and also the CEO and Director. Harmit Singh is the chief finance officer. We also have among others Charles Floyd, who is the chief operating officer of North America and Robert Webb who is the chief Human resources Officer. Hyatt hotel has been able to use the latest technology together with high class food and beverage preferences in order to effectively and efficiently meet the growing customer demand. There has been advancement in the establishment of free Wi-Fi, room entertainment, ultra-m odern Jacuzzis and other devices which enhance self service. The major challenge facing the Hyatt Hotel is the general economic downturn which has affected almost all hospitality sectors in the world. The administration is busy launching rigorous initiatives which will rely heavily on information technology in order to improve their marketing objectives and more so the profitability goals. Another challenge s the financial and staffing constraints, the executive management of the hotel have employed strategies which will make use of technology in order to ensure stronger business growth. The major competitors of Hyatt hotel are basically based in North America, Europe and Asia. The luxury hotel industry has actually suffered major competition especially in the major global economic downturn. This has lead to the hotel reducing the prices of its products and services hence reduction in the company’s profit margin. Consequently it has become increasingly difficult to carry out expansion activities of the hotel Analysis of Financials The key items in the balance sheet of Hyatt which is worth the analysis are the inventory, long term investments, long term debt, stockholder equity, cash and intangible assets Inventory- the inventory of the company is seen to be decreasing from the year 2009 to 2011. Decrease in the inventory could be due to increase in the demand of the company’s stock or the management decisions to get as limit of stock. The value of stock for Hyatt hit a record low of $8.77 in 2011 against $18 and $1.337 for 2010 and 2009 respectively (Fridson, 2009). Long term investments for the company increased substantially from $6.085 in 2009 to $6.47 in 2011. The increase in the amount of long term investments is due to the company’s ambitious programs to expand its operations worldwide. The building of spas, luxury hotels and casinos has made the company to improve its long-term investments. The long-term debt has significantly been increased in order to meet the growing demands for financing the long-term investments. The long-term debt as at 2011 was $1.2219 against $714000000 and $8.48 for the years 2010 and 2011 respectively. Long-term investments are very expensive ventures to be undertaken, meaning that the

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Transformational Process Model

The Transformational Process Model The Transformational Process Model A contrast of the transformational process model as it applies to the manufacturing (car manufacturing) and service (advertising) industries. Slack et al provide a model which assists in understanding the transformational process. Their model looks at the transformation of inputs into outputs of goods and services and the range of activities and operations that an organisation undertakes as part of this process. Slack et al’s transformational process model is robust enough to apply to both manufacturing and service industries and it is perhaps in contrasting these two areas that one is best able to understand the usefulness of their model. In simple terms, Slack et al’s the transformational process model deals with the process involved in transforming an input resource into an output good or service (Slack et al, 2001, p.9). A generic transformational process model can be set out as follows (Slack et al, 2001, p.10): The above generic input-transformation-output model applies to the operations of most organisations. However, as with any generic model, it fails to sufficiently differentiate between subtleties. As such, when considering differences between different types of operations (ie manufacturing and services) and then considering further differences within those different types (ie different types of manufacturing operations), it is necessary to expand on the generic input-transformation-output model set out above. In terms of the generic transformational process model set out above, it is important to note that inputs to the process will either be â€Å"transformed† or â€Å"transforming† resources. Slack et al define â€Å"transformed† resources as being â€Å"the resources that are treated, transformed or converted† (for example, materials, information and customers) and â€Å"transforming† resources as being â€Å"the resources that act upon the transformed resources† (for example facilities and staff) (Slack et al, 2001, pp.10-11). Slack et al note that in most cases, one of the transformed resources takes precedence over the other two. So for instance they note that while a bank devotes some of its time to processing materials and customers, its main focus is on processing information (Slack et al, 2001, p.11). However, it should be noted that in a modern, inter-dependant economy, it is unlikely that any organisation is able to operate without touching on each of the transformed resources and as such, the issue becomes one of the extent to which the other transformed resources are touched upon rather than whether or not an organisation’s operations touch on them at all. With respect to transforming resources, Slack et al refer to two types which form the â€Å"building blocks of all operations†. These are â€Å"facilities†, â€Å"the buildings, equipment, plant and process technology of the operation† and â€Å"staff†, â€Å"those who operate, maintain, plan and manage the operation† (Slack et al, 2001, p.11). Slack et al note that the transformation process is closely connected to the nature of the input resources which are being transformed. The three predominant types of operation processors are material processors, information processors and customer processors. Material processors predominantly transform the physical properties of the input resources, but may also change their location, their possession or store the materials. Information processors transform the informational properties of the input resources, the possession of the information, store the information or change the location of the information. Customer processing operations may change the physical properties of the input resource, store the resource, change the location, change their physiological state or their psychological state (Slack et al, 2001, pp.12-13). However, it is important to note that each macro organisational process also consists of numerous micro organisational processes (eg marketing and sales, set and props manufacture, engineering, production units and finance and costing) each of which contribute to what Slack et al (2001, p.19) refer to as the â€Å"end to end business process†. The flow of information, materials and/or customers throughout this end to end business process is often extremely complex. In terms of operations management, understanding that the transformational process model applies both at the macro level and at a micro level allows an organisation’s management to ensure that managers at all levels within the organisation understand that to a certain extent they are all involved in ensuring that their operation involves a transformational process and that it is only where the transformational processes of all these micro operations operate smoothly that the macro transformational process can be successful. It should also be noted that in many cases, organisations seek assistance from external organisations with respect to those micro processes. Thus for instance, an advertising agency provides a service which a large car manufacturing company may process internally. Or for instance Nike, which is thought of as a shoe manufacturer, is in fact a marketing processor specialising in shoes (the manufacturing of the shoes is, while done to Nike’s specifications, performed by external contractors with Nike concentrating on developing and maintaining their brand image). Slack et al (2001, pp. 18-19) refer to three core functions as transformation process operations. These are â€Å"product/services development function†, â€Å"operations function† and â€Å"marketing function†. The product/services development function involves â€Å"designers design software -> producing effective new products and services -> appropriate designs as promised and to budget†. The operations function involves â€Å"transformed/transforming resources -> producing service value for customers -> products and services†. The marketing function involves â€Å"sales people marketers market information -> producing sales and market plans -> orders marketing plans as promised and to budget†. As noted above, different types of operations (ie manufacturing and services) will involve different types of inputs, a different transformational process and result in different types of outputs. In order to compare how these differences are covered by Slack et als transformational process model, it is perhaps best to compare and contrast two specific examples. In this case, it is intended to compare and contrast differences between the transformational process of a car manufacturing operation (manufacturing) and an advertising agency (service). In terms of the basic input-transformation-output process, a car manufacturing and advertising agency’s operations can be described as follows: Operation Input resources Transformation process Outputs Car manufacturing Steel/plastic/other materials Car manufacturing equipment Machine operating staff Car manufacturing plant Design and procurement Fabrication Assembly Testing Distribution Cars Advertising agency Creative staff Admin staff Computer systems Information Customers Offices Client solicitation and pitching Creative production Delivery Account management Advertisements Increased sales One of the fundamental differences between the transformational process of a car manufacturing operation and an advertising agency is balance between facilities and staff resources. The car manufacturing operation will have much of its investment in physical facilities with the focus of operations managers in such an organisation being on ensuring that those facilities are operating smoothly. The transformational process for a car manufacturing plant is a technical/mechanical process which should run exactly the same every time. While there is creativity involved in the initial design stage of the vehicles and parts, the fabrication stage should involve no creativity and will essentially follow a set process which is repeated hundreds, if not thousands, of times each week with the purpose being to lower costs by automating the same repeated tasks. While staff in a car manufacturing operation remain important, their importance is secondary to the operation of the facilities themselves (ie should there be a problem with the operation of the facilities, the staff are not in a position to continue assembling the cars on their own – ie their effectiveness is directly linked to the effectiveness of the facilities themselves). Conversely, the importance of facilities to an advertising agency is entirely secondary to the importance of the staff that it employs. Preparing an advertising campaign is a largely creative process which varies from client to client and which does not therefore lend itself to automation. Due to the creative nature of an advertising agency’s work, should the facilities of an advertising agency for some reason become temporarily unavailable, it should be able to continue its operations using the same staff. Naturally, the importance of the less important transforming resource should not be underestimated and it is not the case that either of these two operations can continue without both transforming resources. Rather, it is that one of these transforming resources is more fundamentally important than the other. For instance, while an advertising agency’s staff should be able to continue with their transformational work even where the facilities they have been using are temporarily unavailable, it is highly likely that their transformational work will be less effective especially where the unavailability of facilities involves not only office space, but more importantly, informational resources such as computer systems, market research information, etc. Likewise, while a car manufacturing operation can replace staff that for instance, go on strike, the efficiency and effectiveness of newly employed staff will be lower than those who have experience working with the machinery and the organisation’s operational process. The point is that the balance for a car manufacturing and an advertising agency are different between facilities and staff and so too are therefore each organisation’s operations management concerns (Slack et al, 2001, p.12). With respect to the transformational process, a car manufacturing operation is predominantly a materials processor while an advertising agency is predominantly an information processor. A car manufacturing operation transforms the physical properties of the input resources involving the input of steel, plastic, and other materials the nature or which are then physically transformed into cars. An advertising agency on the other hand deals with information as its input resource (for instance, market research, demographic data, previous advertising campaign effectiveness, customer aims, etc) and transforms these into advertising campaigns the goal of which is to increase its customers’ sales. The operational outputs also differ substantially as between a car manufacturing operation and an advertising agency. Perhaps the most profound difference is that the outputs of a car manufacturing operation are an actual tangible product while for the advertising agency it is an intangible service. The difference between these two types of outputs affects such considerations such as storability, transportability, simultaneity, customer contact and quality (Slack et al, 2001, pp.13-14). Clearly a car has a degree of tangibility that an advertising campaign does not. This means that a car is able to be stored and transported. Likewise, the car manufacturing process involves production well before the customer ever sees it while with an advertising campaign, the psychological aspects occur simultaneously with its execution. As most customers will purchase a new car from a manufacturer’s own branded car yard, there is some contact between customer and manufacturer (more so than with other types of manufacturers such as for example household appliances where the manufactured good is sold via a third party retailer with no relationship with the manufacturer). The integrated supply chain for car manufacturers also affects the quality in that whereas with other manufactured products, the relationship between manufacturer and customer is more distant, the integrated supply chain for car manufacturers means that the customer is more likely to judge the quality of the operation from the quality of the product (although still not to the same extent that they would for a pure service such as a hair cut). Slack et al (2001, p.15-16) note that all operations fall somewhere within the spectrum between pure goods producers and pure service producers, with most operations producing a mixture of both products and services. They propose that each producer has a predominant type of output and that any peripheral output for that producer is referred to as a â€Å"facilitating† output. That is, for a goods producer, any services produced shall be â€Å"facilitating services† (eg technical advice) while for a services producer which produces peripheral goods (eg report and documents) these represent â€Å"facilitating goods†. This is perhaps a dated view of such operations which Slack et al acknowledge when noting that the distinction between services and products is becoming increasingly difficult to define. Perhaps a more accurate distinction is between the types of processors (ie materials, information and customer) rather than simply between goods and services. In reality, many service operations (especially information processors) do produce a tangible output which can be stored (for instance a travel agency will produce a booking which is reflected in a physical itinerary, a law firm will produce legal documents, a bank will produce bank statements, etc). It is generally customer processors (such as theme parks, theatres, public transport, airlines and hotels) which do not produce a tangible output which can be stored. In many ways, with the advent of the information revolution, the outputs of information operations have come to more closely resemble to outputs of traditional manufacturing operations more than traditional service operations. In general, a distinction needs to be made between services which produce a tangible output and those services which are consumed at the same time as they are produced. While both these operations fall within the overall heading of â€Å"services†, their natures are entirely different. The main difference between an information processor service and both material processors and customer processors are that an information processor’s output is not unique. That is, an information processor’s output is generally able to be copied at no additional cost. This can be contrasted to a material processor’s output such as a car or a customer processor’s output such as a haircut. Neither a car nor a haircut can be reproduced without additional inputs being used and the transformational process starting again at substantial cost. An informational output on the other hand, such as a legal document or a song can be reproduced an unlimited number of times at minim al cost and without the need for the original transformational process to be repeated (although large scale copying may require an additional transformational process eg producing CDs and DVDs). With respect to a car manufacturing operation and an advertising agency, both produce an output which is (arguably in the case of the advertising agency) tangible (ie cars and an advertising campaign respectively) although one is clearly much more tangible than the other. However, both the manufactured car and the advertising campaign loose relevance as time progresses and as such, the intention for both operations is to transfer the finalised output from the organisation responsible for processing the input onto the customer. The longer this transfer from processing operation to ultimate customer takes, the less relevant within the marketplace their outputs become (this statement will clearly not apply in certain cases for instance prestige cars which may increase in value the longer they are stored). The fundamental differences between a car manufacturing operation and an advertising agency have important implications on an organisation’s operations management. Both the advertising agency and car manufacturing consist of transforming resources facilities and staff. The difference is in the input of transformed resources as the car manufacturing is predominantly a material process and the advertising agency an information processor. The transformation process in operations is closely connected with the nature of its transformed input resources. Outputs from the transformation process are goods and services with the main difference being that an advertising agency provides a service while a car manufacturer produces a good. The difference in tangibility of the outputs also has an affect on storability, transportability, simultaneity, customer contact and quality. BIBLIOGRAPHY Slack, N., Chambers, S. Johnston, R. (2001), Operations Management, 3rd ed., Prentice Hall, Harlow, England

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Definition :: essays research papers

Science/Religion Definition of religion and defense Definition of Religion: Religion is norms,values, or a way of life to an individual or community. A spiritual guide that governs the way a person lives from day to day by giving that person hope, belief, and reason to exist in this world. Religion can be whatever that person makes of it. Religion can be a persons assets, family, or other individuals or possessions, it can be many things besides worship to a "God" or "Deity". It can be whatever a person deems holy or sacred. Defense: "Religion is norms, values, or a way of life to an individual or community". This can be defended by taking a look at they way most religious people live. Many people live accordingly to there religions rules and regulations. This includes Buddhists, Muslims, Mennonites, and Amish just to point out a few. Not only in dress and in possessions but people who respect their religions live by their religion's rules. "A spiritual guide that governs the way a person lives from day to day by giving that person hope, belief, and a reason to exist in this world." Religion can give an individual codes to live. It can give a person hope, belief, and a reason to exist by making the individual feel loved or cared about by their religion or their religious deities. It can also give them hope and belief by feeling included within a group of individuals that share their same views. By giving them a reason to exist religions give an individual something to look forward to after death and purpose for being on earth. "Religion can be whatever a person makes of it. Religion can be a persons assets, family, or other individuals and possessions, it can be many things besides worship to a "God" or "Deity"." Religion can mean different things for different people. It can be a rich mans money, poor mans shelter, a mad mans weapons. Many people or cultures worships numerous "gods" for different occasions. Some people worship the earth or animals while many other individuals worship other "people" or

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac was very real villain, and no this villain does not have a giant evil lair or an army of henchmen. What he does have is a psychopathic and insane mind filled with twisted ideas as well as a bit of genius. This villain is the Zodiac Killer one of Americas most infamous serial killers. The Zodiac was active between the sass's and sass's, in this time he took 37 victims in total but the the police only counted seven as definite victims.The Zodiac is like a typical cliche horror movie villain but before the Lech, this mysterious criminal was clever and quick. For years he taunted the police and media, what set him apart from the average day to day serial master mind were his letters. He sent a total of eighteen letters throughout his career If you can call It that, to newspapers mostly though some to private citizens. HIS letters and cryptic messages would always begin with ‘Dear Editor this Is the Zodiac speaking. ‘ He would demand for the letters to be published threatening to go on murderous rampages If they weren't.Way back in 1966 before anyone had ever heard of the Zodiac an 18 year old student named Cheerier Joy Bates was found brutally murdered near the Riverside City College's library complex. After disabling her car the believed to be Zodiac approached her asking if she needed a ride home home. The police determined the Zodiac must have had a personal connection with her as she was comfortable having a conversation and accepted the ride. Zodiac recorded this event in a letter titled ‘the confession' and sent it to the Riverside Police and the colleges newspaper.This was the first of many letters and confessions to come. In 1969 the Zodiac story had exploded into news, however the police only began to consider Zodiac as the culprit in 1970 after a meeting between two investigators. After this event there came more murders the police never really being able to pin point a culprit though Zodiac was always a suspicion they never h ad enough evidence to prove it was him guilty. The death of three young couples had left the police dumbfounded. After the murder of another young couple the police received a phone call from a telephone box.A voice spoke with no accent and was clear and even as if reading Off script, the voice reported a double murder as well as telling the police the location he added a confession of murdering the year before. This continued from 1966 till the early ox's. With no absolute evidence and forensic technology not being advanced enough the police could never pinpoint the killer so his Identity remains a mystery. Although there were a number of suspects and many people believe they know the Identity of the zodiac. Cliche, this mysterious criminal was clever and quick.For years he taunted the police is letters. He sent a total of eighteen letters throughout his career if you can call it that, to newspapers mostly though some to private citizens. His letters and cryptic messages would alwa ys begin with ‘Dear Editor this is the Zodiac speaking. ‘ He would demand for the letters to be published threatening to go on murderous rampages if even as if reading off a script, the voice reported a double murder as well as telling his identity remains a mystery. Although there were a number of suspects and many people believe they know the identity of the zodiac.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Botswana †From Ancient Times to Current Democracy

Botswana – From Ancient Times to Current Democracy The Republic of Botswana in southern Africa was once a British protectorate but now is an independent country with a stable democracy. It is also an economic success story, rising from its status as one of the poorest countries of the world to the middle-income level, with sound financial institutions and plans to reinvest its natural resource income. Botswana  is a landlocked country dominated by the Kalahari Desert and flatlands, rich in diamonds and other minerals. Early History and People Botswana has been inhabited by humans since the dawn of modern humans about 100,000 years ago. The San and Khoi peoples were the original inhabitants of this area and South Africa. They lived as hunter-gatherers and spoke Khoisan languages, noted for their click consonants. Migrations of People into Botswana The Great Zimbabwe empire extended into eastern Botswana a thousand years ago, and more groups migrated into the Transvaal. The areas major ethnic group is the Batswana who were herders and farmers living in tribal groups. There were larger migrations into Botswana of these people from South Africa during the Zulu wars of the early 1800s. The group traded ivory and skins with the Europeans in exchange for guns and were Christianized by missionaries. British Establish the Bechuanaland Protectorate Dutch Boer settlers entered Botswana from the Transvaal, sparking hostilities with the Batswana. The leaders of the Batswana sought assistance from the British. As a result, the Bechuanaland Protectorate was established on March 31, 1885, including modern Botswana and parts of present-day South Africa. Pressure to Join the Union of South Africa The inhabitants of the protectorate did not want to be included in the proposed Union of South Africa when it was formed in 1910. They were successful in staving it off, but South Africa continued to pressure the UK to incorporate Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland into South Africa. Separate advisory councils of Africans and Europeans were established in the protectorate and the tribal rule and powers were further developed and regularized. Meanwhile, South Africa elected a nationalist government and established apartheid. A European-African advisory council was formed in 1951, and a consultative legislative council was established by a  constitution in 1961. In that year, South Africa withdrew from the British Commonwealth. Botswana Independence and Democratic Stability Independence was secured peacefully by Botswana in June  1964. They established a constitution in 1965 and held general elections to finalize independence in 1966. The first president was Seretse Khama, who was the grandson of King Khama III of the Bamangwato people and a prominent figure in the movement for independence. He was trained in law in Britain and married to a white British woman. He served three terms and died in office in 1980. His vice president, Ketumile Masire, likewise was reelected several times, followed by Festus Mogae and then Khamas son, Ian Khama. Botswana continues to have a stable democracy. Challenges for the Future Botswana is home to the worlds largest diamond mine and its leaders are wary of over-dependence on a single industry. Their economic growth has raised them into the middle-income bracket, although there is still high unemployment and socioeconomic stratification. A significant challenge is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a prevalence estimated at over 20 percent in adults, the third highest in the world.​Source: US Department of State Background Notes

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Do Tax Cuts Stimulate the Economy essays

Do Tax Cuts Stimulate the Economy essays Cutting taxes by federal, state, and local governments will always stimulate the economy in any economic environment. It seems that the debate on the pros and cons of cutting taxes is more prominent during a recession or downturn in the economy, as is the case now, but tax cuts should always be a top priority for everyone from politicians to voters. The most recent presidential proposal is the Bush Stimulus Package, based on his vision for economic recovery, low taxes, low spending on social services, high military spending. Under his view, reducing tax rates for businesses and rich individuals stimulates investment (Keen 2003, p. A5). Taxes are only one of many factors that affect the economy. National security, the possibility of war, and the insecurity of investors are a few other factors, but since the tragedy of 9-11, the economy has been in a downturn and continues to tumble. It needs something to turn it around and tax cuts are one of the solutions needed, but combining tax cuts with other solutions will help stimulate the economy much faster. The theory of tax cuts stimulating the economy is referred to by most people as supply-side economics as well as several other names such as trickle-down economics or Reaganomics. During the Ronald Reagan presidency, it became known as Reaganomics, but many people today use the terms interchangeably. The central concept of supply-side economics is that cuts in the tax rates spur economic growth by providing entrepreneurs an incentive to invest the extra tax dollars saved by tax cuts, causing many of them to earn more money and pay more taxes on their earnings, even at a lower tax rate, which creates new jobs. These new jobs result in a larger employment base and, therefore more taxpayers. There are more taxpayers because of the newly created jobs, therefore a larger tax base, which means higher tax revenues for the government (Limbaugh 1993, p.117). Debates over t...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Recognizing Contract Risk and Opportunities Case Study

Recognizing Contract Risk and Opportunities - Case Study Example 1. C-S has demanded immediate transfer of all unfinished code; asserted rescission of contract. 2. C-S claims SPAN'S deliverables low on quality and behind schedule. 3. Requirements have grown disproportionately since originally determined 4. Difficulty to accommodate the requirements within earlier budget and timelines. 5. C-S's approval and review times were affected due to change in project management structure Several guidance are listed below to be review and perform by both parties to ensure that the simulation had provided assurance. They bear the primary responsibility to identify the strategies involved, thus reducing the risks associated with the legal benefits from the opportunities found din the simulation. 1. Conduct risk assessment of the system done in the contract. 2. Map identified risks to the applicable system. 3. Select a technology based on technical guidance. 4. Validate that the implemented system has achieved the required level. 5. Periodically reassess the system to determine the refreshed requirements. Like any contract creation and management simulation required considerations, it is very important that the benefits listed below, are to be taken into account. It is also important to match the required level of assurance against the cost and burden of business policy and technical requirements of the chosen solutions 1. Increased speed of any transaction 2. Increased partner's participation and costumer's satisfaction 3. Improved record keeping system efficiency and data analysis opportunities. 4. Increased employee productivity and improved quality of final product. 5. Greater information benefits to the public. 6. Improved security 7....Every thing that is to be written in it must come, and agreed from both ends. Based on the data gathered, the following needs to be studied to be included in the contract: User and system requirements have grown since originally determined in the system study stage, making them difficult to accommodate within the originally agreed upon cost and timeliness. Ordinary requirements changes had been agreed to in the contract, the actual change request have been anything but ordinary. Also C-S's approval and review times have been affected lately due to change in its project management structure. Several guidance are listed below to be review and perform by both parties to ensure that the simulation had provided assurance. They bear the primary responsibility to identify the strategies involved, thus reducing the risks associated with the legal benefits from the opportunities found din the simulation. Like any contract creation and management simulation required considerations, it is very important that the benefits listed below, are to be taken into account. It is also important to match the required level of assurance against the cost and burden of business policy and technical requirements of the chosen solutions The project is a complex multi-faceted project that involves sales, contract administration, finance, and service organizations.

Friday, November 1, 2019

How does the economy of Iceland work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How does the economy of Iceland work - Essay Example As opposed to a purely capitalistic economy, the mixed economy in Iceland ensures regulated private ownership and safeguarded welfare of the citizens, a feature that limits exploitation of the public and concentration of resources in the hands of few individuals at the expense of other citizens. The country’s economy also operates through investments into creation of employment opportunities. Reported data on the country’s economy for instance indicates low unemployment rates, an indication that job creation is a prioritized economic policy (CIA, p. 1). One of the core bases of the Iceland’s economic sustainability is its fishing industry. According to CIA statistics, the industry is responsible for about 12 percent of the country’s economy and is a source of employment to at least seven percent of the country’s population. The fishing industry also sustains Iceland’s economy through the vast export of the fishery products. Contributing about 40 percent of the country’s export identifies fishing as a major source of foreign exchange to the country. The export aspect from fishing industry also indicates the country’s involvements and derived benefits of international trade. International trade is therefore another base for Iceland’s economic functionality and sustainability and includes other exports other resources such as metal ores. The economy is also characterized by significant foreign investments. With cheap energy sources such as geothermal power, the country has been able to attract investors from across the world. Investments in the economy have also undergone diversification towards exploration and exploitation of different available resources in the country. Further, the country has been able to attract foreign revenues through foreign investments by its domestic industries such as its financial institution. The