Free Essays on Workplace Privacy

The question of workplace privacy is a tricky one; in order to come up with a workable solution, one must balance the separate, and often conflicting, needs and expectations of employers and employees. In this essay, three types of workplace privacy issues will be discussed: e-mail and other office communications, employee drug testing, and the use of background checks. E-mail has rapidly become a staple of the modern office. Currently, two-thirds of employees in medium and large companies in the United States now have Internet access, compared with fifteen percent only two years ago. The availability of e-mail allows for messages to be widely and rapidly distributed, improving efficiency and reducing cost. In addition to being one of the components of the new workplace, e-mail is also the center of a hot privacy debate. Part of this is because, unlike regular mail, which is difficult to monitor, e-mail can be scanned with ease, allowing employers to engage in monitoring at an unprecedented rate, and raising the specter of a workplace free of privacy. As this relatively new technology gains ever increasing prevalence, certain questions arise, mainly, "How do we balance employee expectations of/right to privacy, with the rights of employers to observe employees to ensure quality, prevent leaks of proprietary information, and limit exposure to litigat ion?" Employers have a strong interest in monitoring the communications of their employees. Employees engaging in illegal acts, distributing proprietary information or sending sexually explicit or harassing e-mails are a serious threat and liability to the employer. However, employees should be given some measure of privacy. Privacy, along with being a human right, facilitates the free creation and distribution of ideas. If there were no private space within a company, it would most certainly have a chilling effect on the possibilities for free speech and creative thought. Employee mo... Free Essays on Workplace Privacy Free Essays on Workplace Privacy The question of workplace privacy is a tricky one; in order to come up with a workable solution, one must balance the separate, and often conflicting, needs and expectations of employers and employees. In this essay, three types of workplace privacy issues will be discussed: e-mail and other office communications, employee drug testing, and the use of background checks. E-mail has rapidly become a staple of the modern office. Currently, two-thirds of employees in medium and large companies in the United States now have Internet access, compared with fifteen percent only two years ago. The availability of e-mail allows for messages to be widely and rapidly distributed, improving efficiency and reducing cost. In addition to being one of the components of the new workplace, e-mail is also the center of a hot privacy debate. Part of this is because, unlike regular mail, which is difficult to monitor, e-mail can be scanned with ease, allowing employers to engage in monitoring at an unprecedented rate, and raising the specter of a workplace free of privacy. As this relatively new technology gains ever increasing prevalence, certain questions arise, mainly, "How do we balance employee expectations of/right to privacy, with the rights of employers to observe employees to ensure quality, prevent leaks of proprietary information, and limit exposure to litigat ion?" Employers have a strong interest in monitoring the communications of their employees. Employees engaging in illegal acts, distributing proprietary information or sending sexually explicit or harassing e-mails are a serious threat and liability to the employer. However, employees should be given some measure of privacy. Privacy, along with being a human right, facilitates the free creation and distribution of ideas. If there were no private space within a company, it would most certainly have a chilling effect on the possibilities for free speech and creative thought. Employee mo...

Discover Trompe lOeil Art in Painting and Architecture

Discover Trompe l'Oeil Art in Painting and Architecture French for fool the eye,  trompe loeil art creates the illusion of reality. Through skillful use of color, shading, and perspective, painted objects appear three-dimensional.  Faux finishes like marbling and wood graining add to the trompe loeil effect. Applied to furniture, paintings, walls, ceilings, decorative items, set designs, or building facades, trompe l’oeil art inspires a gasp of surprise and wonder. Although tromper means to deceive, viewers are often willing participants, delighting in the visual trickery. Trompe l'Oeil Art Shading and perspectiveFaux finishes3-D effects Pronounced tromp loi, trompe-l’oeil may be spelled with or without a hyphen. In French, the  Ã…“  ligature is used:  trompe l’œil. Realistic artworks were not described as trompe-loeil until the late 1800s, but the desire to capture reality dates back to ancient times. Early Frescoes Fresco from the House of Meleagro, Pompeii,1st Century.   Photo  ©DEA / G. NIMATALLAH/ Getty   In ancient Greece and Rome, artisans applied pigments to wet plaster to create life-like details. Flat surfaces appeared three dimensional when painters added false columns, corbels, and other architectural ornaments. The Greek artist Zeuxis (5th century B.C.) is said to have painted grapes so convincing, even birds were deceived. Frescoes (plaster wall paintings) found in Pompeii and other archaeological sites contain trompe loeil elements. For many centuries, artists continued to use the wet plaster method to transform interior spaces. In villas, palaces, churches, and cathedrals, trompe loeil images gave the illusion of vast space and distant vistas. Through the magic of perspective and skillful use of light and shadow, domes became sky and windowless spaces opened to imaginary vistas. Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475 -1564) used wet plaster when he filled the vast ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with cascading angels, Biblical figures, and an enormous bearded God surrounded by trompe loeil columns and beams. Secret Formulas Dresden Triptych, Oil on Oak, 1437, by Jan van Eyck. Dresden State Art Collections, Gemldegalerie Alte Meisterm.   DEA / E. LESSING / Getty Images By painting with wet plaster, artists could give walls and ceilings rich color and a sense of depth. However, plaster dries quickly. Even the greatest fresco painters could not achieve subtle blending or precise details. For smaller paintings, European artists commonly used egg-based tempera applied to wood panels. This medium was easier to work with, but it also dried quickly. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, artists searched for new, more flexible paint formulas. The Northern European painter Jan Van Eyck (c.1395-c.1441) popularized the idea of adding boiled oil to pigments. Thin, nearly transparent glazes applied over wood panels gave objects a life-like gleam. Measuring less than thirteen inches long, Van Eycks Dresen Triptych is a tour de force with ultra real  images of Romanesque columns and arches. Viewers can imagine they are looking through a window into a Biblical scene. Faux carvings and tapestries enhance the illusion. Other Renaissance painters invented their own recipes, combining the traditional egg-based tempera formula with a variety of ingredients, from powdered bone to lead and walnut oil. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) used his own experimental oil and tempera formula when he painted his famous mural, The Last Supper. Tragically, da Vinci’s methods were flawed and the breathtakingly realistic details began to flake within a few years. Dutch Deceivers Tromp-loeil Still-Life, 1664, by Samuel Dirksz, vanHoogstraten. Dordrechts Museum Collection.   Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images During the 17th century, Flemish still life painters became known for optical illusions. Three-dimensional objects seemed to project from the frame. Open cabinets and archways suggested deep recesses. Stamps, letters, and news bulletins were depicted so convincingly, passersby might be tempted to pluck them from the painting. Sometimes images of brushes and palettes were included to call attention to the deception. There’s an air of delight in the artistic trickery, and it’s possible that the Dutch masters competed in their efforts to conjure reality. Many developed new oil-and wax-based formulas, each claiming that their own offered superior properties. Artists like Gerard Houckgeest (1600-1661), Gerrit Dou (1613-1675), Samuel Dirksz  Hoogstraten  (1627-1678), and Evert Collier (c.1640-1710) could not have painted their magical deceptions if not for the versatility of the new mediums. Eventually, advanced technologies and mass-production made the painting formulas of the Dutch masters obsolete. Popular tastes moved toward expressionist and abstract styles. Nevertheless, a fascination for trompe loeil realism persisted through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. American artists De Scott Evans (1847-1898),  William Harnett (1848–1892), John Peto (1854–1907), and John Haberle (1856-1933) painted meticulous still lifes in the tradition of the Dutch illusionists. French-born painter and scholar Jacques Maroger (1884-1962) analyzed the properties of early paint mediums. His classic text,The Secret Formulas and Techniques of the Masters, included recipes he claimed to have rediscovered. His theories reawakened interest in classical styles, stirred controversy, and inspired writers. Modern Magic Artist Tjalf Sparnaay with one of his megarealistic paintings. cc Tjalf Sparnaay   Merogers return to classical techniques was one of many realistic styles that emerged during the second half of the 20th century. Realism gave modern-day artists a way to explore and reinterpret the world with scientific precision and ironic detachment. Photorealists painstakingly reproduced photographic images. Hyperrealists toyed with realistic elements, exaggerating details, distorting scale, or juxtaposing figures and objects in unexpected ways.  Dutch painter Tjalf Sparnaay (shown above) calls himself a â€Å"megarealist† because he paints â€Å"mega-sized† versions of commercial products. My intention is to give these objects a soul and a renewed presence,† Sparnaay explains on his website. 3-D Street Art Mural for Fontainebleau Hotel, Richard Haas, Designer, Created 1985-86, Demolished 2002. Corbis Documentary / Getty Images Trompe l’oeil by contemporary artists  can be whimsical, satirical, disturbing, or surreal. Incorporated into paintings, murals, advertising posters, and sculpture, the deceptive images often defy the laws of physics and toy with our perception of the world. Artist Richard Haas made deft use of trompe l’oeil magic when he designed a six-story mural for the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. False finishes transformed a blank wall into a triumphal arch made of mortared stone blocks (shown above). The enormous fluted column, the twin caryatids, and the bass relief flamingos were tricks of light, shadow, and perspective.The sky and waterfall were also optical illusions, teasing passersby into believing they might stroll through the arch to the beach. The Fontainebleau mural entertained Miami visitors from 1986 until 2002, when the wall was demolished to make way for real, rather than trompe l’oeil, views of the waterside resort. Commercial wall art like the Fontainebleau mural is often transitory. Weather takes a toll, tastes change, and new construction replaces the old. Nevertheless, 3-D street art plays an important role in reshaping our urban landscapes. Time-bending murals by French artist Pierre Delavie conjure historic vistas. German artist Edgar Mueller turns street pavement into heart-thumping views of cliffs and caves. American artist John Pugh opens walls with eye-deceiving images of impossible scenes. In cities around the world, trompe loeil mural artists force us to ask: What is real? What is artifice? What is important? Sources Deceptions and Illusions: Five Centuries of Trompe LOeil Painting, by Sybille Ebert-Schifferer with essays by Sybille Ebert-Schifferer ... [et al.]; Catalog of an exhibition held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Oct. 13, 2002-Mar. 2, 2003.Historical Painting Techniques, Materials, and Studio Practice, by The J. Paul Getty Trust, 1995 [PDF, accessed April 22, 2017] ; https://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/pdf_publications/pdf/historical_paintings.pdfMusee du Trompe lOeil, museedutrompeloeil.com/en/trompe-loeil/The Secret Formulas and Techniques of the Masters by Jacques Maroger (trans.  Eleanor Beckham), New York: Studio Publications, 1948.

Implementing Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Implementing Strategies - Essay Example Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term, which helps it to achieve one or more objectives through interrelated activities which are undertaken over a specific period of time. These activities form part of the strategy cycle which provides the plan of action for the organisation. This strategy cycle is illustrated in Figure 1.0 below.The first of the stage involves the strategy identification, which plays an important role as the resulting activities of the organisation will be based on decision made at this stage. In order to identify the best strategy to follow, the organisation has to have an understanding of their stakeholders' expectations Stakeholders can include customers, as they are ultimately the service users or consumers. By understanding their expectation, the process of identifying options becomes simplified. For example, if stakeholders expect superior quality or service, then the resulting strategic options could include a focus on cre ating a unique specialisation, novel approaches or even the introduction of equipment and/or technology to enhance this aspect. The second stage of formulating the strategy involves determining the appropriate courses of action to take to enable the organisation to achieve its objectives (Alan 2001, Doyle et al 2002). This can include increasing recruitment, job redundancies, relocation, expansion and other visible aspects of the plan. This is then appraised in Stage 3, a process which includes critical and feasibility assessments. The strategy is then implemented in Stage 4, and this stage is the practical part of the strategy where management actively put a strategy into place (Alan 2001, Doyle et al 2002). However, the implementation of a strategy is likely to be influenced by the dynamics of the organisation in terms of its culture and identity, as strategy implementation can sometimes be part of a change management process. Corporate culture can be defined as the set of beliefs, experiences and attitudes within an organisation (Alan 2001, Doyle et al 2002), and this is often entwined with corporate identity which tends to reflect and represent the culture. Corporate culture and identity have a significant influence on employees, as they dictate simple aspects such as the number of hours worked a day or a week, commuting options, interaction, dress code, benefits, training, office space and professional development (Morris 2005). For example, IBM will have a different corporate culture and identity to say a medical organisation. One can already make out the differences in work hours, as medical organisations tend to have variable working patterns, which in turn influence the amount of office space allocated to an individual, which can also influence the level of communication and interaction with other colleagues. This means that the strategy formulation and implementation processes cannot exclude corporate culture and identity, as these will ultimately determine the parameters of success for the organisation. THE INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE CULTURE AND IDENTITY ON STRATEGY FORMULATION Strategy formulation includes undertaking feasibility, techno-economic, strategy decision/network, input, financial, cost-benefit and pre-investment analyses (Toyohiro 1998, Matson 2001). Feasibility analysis This is where a proposed strategy is examined for its influences and effects on its consumers and/or other competitors (Toyohiro 1998, Alan 2001, Matson 2001, Doyle et al 2002). For instance, if a strategy is formulated that has the effect of increasing the level of competition in the industry, then there has to be some thought how this strategy will affect working hours and motivation of employees. It could be that the proposed strategy will result in a commission based system of work, which will conflict with employees especially if other aspects such as office space are not configured.

Different instructional models widely used around the globe Essay

Different instructional models widely used around the globe - Essay Example After that we analyzed a lesson plan. We critically studied the strategy upon its merits and demerits. Lastly, We reviewed the assigned article and tried to filter out the need of academic or aptitude tests and their unwanted burden on our teachers, parents and most of all our students. There are different educational philosophies having different focal ideas. Perennialism, Essentialism and Progressivism are being followed education programs all over the world. Let’s explore the ideas in a little more detail. Firstly, Perennialists focus on the introduction of the western civilization and its approach towards facts that do not change. Humans rationalize things and thus need intellectual growth. In all the study programs today, it is on the highest priority to nourish humans with information as well as aesthetic taste e.g. arts, music, books, natural constants and so forth. Robert Maynard way back in 1963 developed a program that later further developed by Mortimer Adler. Secon dly, Essentialists believe that there is a set of moral and ethical knowledge that should be common for any student. Therefore, conservative approach of essentialism advocates for moral, ethical and cultural values that an institution should teach. In addition to more orthodox learning of reading, writing and computing, teachers should teach about respect, discipline or emotional expression and control etc. Thirdly, Progressivism believes that focus should be on the subject, in this case a child, and not on the content or a teacher. All students are born with the same capabilities but with different interests. Hence the deliverance should be more experimental oriented rather instructional. A single problem may be rationalized differently depending on the surroundings, physical arrangement and cultural setup. A scientifically designed program is adopted so that students acquire first hand knowledge. According to John Dewey, a staunch advocate of progressive education system, citizens should experience liberty in the school rather submissive and totally dictatorial environment. In the early 19th century, in United States schools were only accessible to wealthy citizens only. Social activists realized that to establish a healthy and a progressive society, education should be available to all. As a result of untiring efforts, by the end of the 19th century, elementary level education was available to all American citizens. In some states it was even compulsory. In the 20th century, Americans showed grate improvement and number of students graduating from high schools surged up to 85 percent. In the 20th century, Americans experienced global issues with a unique political setup like World War II, Vietnam War, Cold War era left deep impact on American education system. Beside that, a number of historically important internal events like the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement left their effects on the education system too. Today, being the World’s most powerful country United States has completely new set of responsibility. Composition of its multi-ethnic population has introduced new subjects in its education system to adhere different social setup intact in future. Similarly teachers’ training programs have been introduced to avoid any unrest in the society. Like other social and cultural units, the event of 9/11 has impacted the education system also. Steps have been taken to eliminate any racial profiling in the schools. However, there are other issues also to deal with. For instance, drugs, street or domestic violence and its psychological effects, sex abuse, alcohol abuse and smoking issues. American educatio

Upholding Peace in the International Community Essay Example for Free

Upholding Peace in the International Community Essay For many years, the United Nations have been the main international organization which is responsible for most of the conflicts and issues which had been present in the international community. From the year 1945, the United Nations is the foremost organization which is capable of uniting all nations in concerns with regards to attaining peace and security for all nations. In the international community, many nations have experienced conflicts and problems due to many different types of matters such as wars, terrorism, and etc. Thus, there is a need to have a mediating actor for the issue to be resolved. In the past, many nations had been representing as a mediator/s in order to resolve issues however, the World Wars had been an evidently one situation in which the world needed one institution that would be able to apply the best interest of every nation. The United Nations is the only entity that is run by the whole global community in order to handle all types of threats that may diminish peace and security among nations (United Nations, 2008). The duties of the United Nations to uphold the international law and maintain neutrality through protecting every nation is also an obligation which the organization is striving to attain. Therefore, the United Nations is responsible in the mediation of nations in terms of conflicts and misunderstandings which is usual occurrence in the international community due to reasons of territory, terrorism, religion, politics, human right violations and the likes. Thus, the United Nations is upholding the international law through keeping the traditional ways of prevailing peace. In accordance to the abilities and responsibilities of the United Nations. , for many decades the organization had been active in peace keeping. Many nations have and are participating in this kind of activity for they believe in the ability of military forces to resolve variety of conflicts. The peacekeeping missions of the United Nations had been present in different parts of the world such as Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the likes. During conflicts such as civil wars, wars and terrorism the United Nations are often the first international organization to be brought in the war zone. Some of their duties are to provide the medical needs of the people most especially those that are weak due to sicknesses and the hostile activities done with in the parameters of war. In refugee camps, the United Nations peace keeping teams together with other international organizations such as the Red Cross are present in maintaining sanitations in the location to lessen the possibilities of having an epidemic in the place. In addition to these, the United Nations peace keeping (United Nations Peacekeeping, 2009) is also responsible in rebuilding the devastated placed which had been tremendously hit by the war. There are times in which the United Nations peace keeping teams are assigned to different tasks such as rebuilding nations through construct buildings and facilities, feed children and people who are devastated by the war, fight the groups that sustain atrocities towards civilians and the likes. Hence, the United Nations peacekeeping is immersed in the task of helping nations and its people in times of need. It is not only with mediating and creating policies must be the organization present its active participation with maintain the peacefulness of the international community but also in creating vivid actions that will create a difference most especially for the people who are facing such difficult times. Reflecting on the events which had happened for the past decades, it is evident that the United Nation has been the most active in promoting peace and security. Reflecting on the wars which had been participated by the United Nations, it is evident that the troops being brought to most of the war zones creates a difference through bringing peace in the state. In the movie Hotel Rwanda, the civil war conflict has arisen during the 1990’s. The government did not have control with the people or the government offices, the militants were the ones that have the power amongst all the control which must be given to the government leaders. Thus, the whole Rwanda was already uncontrollable. Thus, there was a need for an international intervention which could only be done by the United Nations and countries that are related to the country of Rwanda. Due to the huge impact of the civil war many people were devastated and needed to move outside of their homes which then make them refugees of the war. In such situations, the United Nations is also responsible in creating a list and saving these people in being displaced. These refugees are given temporary homes providing camps which could provide all their needs such as medication, food and security from the grave dangers of the wars and the militants. Until this very day, the United Nations is still the foremost institution that holds the power in promoting peace and security through the help of the international law. Although there is a great need for the international law to be updated, and revised (United Nations, 2009). in order to fit the modern times, it is still the United Nations that has the capability to hold and attract the whole global community to maintain peace and security. Through similar goals of attaining peace and security for the whole world, every nation will attain its desire to have harmony with all nations. In the end, the United Nations will still be the main organization to uphold the peace and security in the world. Through the active participation of different members states and the perseverance to follow all the policies and the written laws, declarations, and agendas, the harmonious relationship will all nations will be attained. If only every state is able to know the importance of having one goal and unity amongst states, then the world will not need any type of mitigating factors to stop all the hostilities. However, in the current state of the world it is seemingly impossible to attain this kind of situation. It is only through cooperation that peace is attained. Thus, all nations must amass and address the problem through the United Nations and its means. References United Nations. (2009). â€Å"Reform at the United Nations. † Retrieved April 10, 2009 from http://www. un. org/reform/. United Nations. (2008). â€Å"UN Action to Counterterrorism. † Retrieved April 10, 2009 from http://www. un. org/terrorism/. United Nations. (2009). â€Å"United Nations Peacekeeping. † Retrieved April 10, 2009 from http://www. un. org/Depts/dpko/dpko/.

Misunderstanding Men And Women Essay -- essays research papers

Misunderstanding Men and Women Since the beginning of biological time, males and females have had noticeable and unnoticeable differences. These differences have caused conflicts, which have endured time and are still a part of our modern everyday lives. However, the discord has become more defined than what is characterized as a woman and a man. In order to attempt accordance between the sexes, it is essential that we educated ourselves in the true meanings of men, women, masculinity, femininity and the power aspects involved. Before going into detail on the many differences between being a man and a woman, one must carefully examine the proper definitions of masculinity and femininity. These terms are common â€Å"falsely understood† words that no one has taken the time to define yet everyone uses on a daily basis. All human beings are classified by their biological and psychological sex. A biological man is a person born with the male genitalia, as a biological woman is a person born with the female genitalia. A biological male person along with a biological female person are needed to reach the goal of biological sexuality: procreation. On the other hand, a psychologically male person is a person that believes he or she is a male and vice versa for a psychologically female person. Psychological sexuality is about the personality traits that distinguish many men and women. For example, women are often more intuitive than men. Men often are better at spatial relationships than women. These two are needed for the psychological sexuality goal: making a love relationship. Femininity can be defined by such feminine traits as being soft, nurturing, intuitive, accepting and empathetic. Being stoic, analytical and public are traits generally associated with masculinity. Hence, from the previous definitions we can say that a â€Å"man† is a psychologically masculine person. He can be either biologically feminine or masculine. A â€Å"woman† is a psychologically feminine person. She can be either biologically masculine or feminine. A greatly noticeable difference between men and women is the power aspects of masculinity and femininity. Men seem most comfortable in situations where the power structure and its laws are clear to them. Competition is another trait of the masculine personality. He competes in order to gain control since, according to him, the strongest and mos... ... difference between what a man wants from a woman and vice versa. The man makes it possible for the woman to express her femininity by taking responsibility for her. He makes the major decisions, after consulting with the woman, provides basic necessities – food, clothing, shelter and creates rules for the family. The woman makes it possible for the man to express his masculinity by giving him the authority to carry out his responsibility for her. This model also has its downside. It is generally viewed as a dominant male – submissive female model where the woman is being taken advantage of and the man is a controlling person. In short, this model is confused with abusive relationships. Unfortunately, educating a whole population on the correct definitions of men and women is an arduous if not impossible task. Hence, there will always exist problems and conflicts between the sexes due to misinterpretation and misunderstanding between each other. It is imperative to all to comprehend that men and women are not only physically different, but psychologically different as well. And, the encapsulation of all these differences unavoidably leads to distinct power aspects and struggles.

Discussion Questions for Operational Management

Discussion Questions for OM 5016 Class 2 Ch 1 &2. Operations Management Introduction and Strategy 1. What is Operations Management? What are major OM decisions? 2. What are the key differences between goods and services? 3. What a role does productivity play? How to measure productivity and what challenges do we have in measuring and improving productivity? 4. What is mission and strategy? How important is it for an organization to develop a mission and strategy? 5. What is OM strategy? How can operations management help a company achieve competitive advantages? 6.What is SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis? Under what circumstances do you think should we conduct SWOT analysis? Class 3 Southwest Airlines 1. Why has Southwest Airlines been so successful? 2. What recommendations would you make about the issues raised on pages 13 – 15 of the case? 3. What are the implications for Southwest of the actual or threatened bankruptcies of other major U. S. airlin e? Class 4 Ch 05. Product and Service Design 1. Why do companies need to continuously develop new products? How to generate new ideas? 2. What factors should be considered in product development?Describe the typical phases of product development and evaluate their relative importance. 3. What is the role of quality function deployment (QFD)? How is Quality of House working in product development? 4. Describe the main techniques used in designing products. Give some real world examples. What strategic advantages do techniques provide? 5. Describe the documents used to define and produce a product? How are they important and necessary? 6. Describe four organizational approaches to product development. What pros and cons do they have? 7. What are the key differences between product design and service design? 8.What an impact does environmental friendly design have on product development? How do you address conflicts between ethical design and company profitability? Class 6 Discussion q uestions for IDEO If you have interest, watch the video on Youtube: the Deep Dive Q1. How would you characterize IDEO’s design process, organization, culture and management? Q2. Should IDEO accept the Visor project as is (on a dramatically reduced schedule)? Should they try to persuade Handspring’s management to change its aggressive launch schedule? Or should they simply decline the project? Please consider both the IDEO and Handspring perspectives.Class 7 Process and Layout Strategy 1. What process strategies does an organization usually use? What key factors does a company consider in choosing its process strategy? What are the competitive advantages a firm (producing goods or service) has by using different process strategy? 2. What is mass customization? What major factors contribute to the success of mass customization? 3. How to analyze and design a process by using different tools? 4. What process strategies should be used for service? What are the key differen ces between a service process and a product process? How to improve the service process? . What layout strategies can a company use? What are the main characteristics and concerns of these strategies? 6. What are the relationships between process and layout? Class 8 Mass Gen Hospital Q1. What are primary challenges in improving operating processes in a health care environment such as that of MGH? Why choose CABG for care path? Q2. What implementation approach would you recommend for Bohmer and Torchiana? Be specific as to where you would start, what resources you would bring to bear, what performance you would expect, and what timeline you would hope to follow.What would you recommend MGH to do for its longer-term process improvement? Q3. How should MGH balance the tension between process standardization and process customization? What are the hazards of standardizing the process too rigorously? What are the dangers of allowing too much freedom to customize? Class 9 Capacity Plannin g and Location 1. What is capacity decision about? Why is it important? 2. Distinguish between design capacity and effective capacity, between utilization and efficiency. 3. What factors should be considered in determining the capacity? 4. What approaches are used and when to use them to expand the capacity? . Describe approaches used to determine the capacity. (You do not need to know how to calculate, but have to know the idea and assumptions of the approaches) 6. What are the goals, criteria and factors does a company consider in choosing a location? What are the trends of location decision? 7. Describe techniques used for location decision and identify the situations and assumptions under which these techniques should be applied. Class 10 Questions for Alden 1. Looking back, do you agree with the logic that led API in 1962 to consolidate its European production into a single facility? 2.What is your evaluation of the Uniplant’s performance during the 1980s? 3. What recomm endations would you make to Mr. Genet, API-Europe’s Executive VP, as regards the operations strategy his organization should follow in the future? Specifically, which option should it take, where should it be located, and how should it be managed? Class 12 Questions for Supply Chain Management (SCM) 1. What is a supply chain? What are the differences between SCM and OM? Describe the various stages in the supply chain and the different flows involved. 2. What is the goal and main decisions of supply chain? 3.What is your evaluation between single supplier and multiple suppliers? 4. What is push/pull view of a supply chain? What product characteristics influence the choice of push/pull SC 5. What is bullwhip effect? Why does it happen and how to reduce this effect? 6. What is an integrated supply chain? What are the key challenges and how to make it a success? Class 13 Discussion questions for Crocs 1. What are Croc’s core competencies? 2. How do they exploit these compe tencies in the future? Consider the following alternatives: a. Further vertical integration into materials. b. Growth by acquisition. c.Growth by product extension 3. To what degree do the alternatives in question 2 fit the company’s core competencies, and to what degree do they defocus the company away from its core competencies? Class 14 Inventory Management 1. What is inventory? What types of inventory are there? What are the major causes of inventory? 2. What is the purpose of ABC classification system and how is it working? 3. What types of costs associated with an inventory system? What are the objectives and key decisions of inventory management? 4. What are the assumptions and objective of EOQ model? Are these assumptions reasonable? . What are the major differences between EOQ and production order quantity (POQ) model? Why is the production inventory quantity larger than the economic order quantity, given other things equal? 6. What is â€Å"safety stock†? Wha t does safety stock provide safety against? How to calculate safety stock based on the required service level? 7. How to determine inventory size when there is uncertainty with demand/lead time? 8. What are the main challenges in inventory management, in your opinion? Class 15 Sport Obermeyer 1. What challenges does Sport Obermeyer have in production planning with uncertain demand? . What are your recommendations for production planning prior to and after observing the Las Vegas show? 3. What operational changes would you recommend to Wally to reduce markdown and stockout costs? 4. What are your views on sourcing from Hong Kong versus China? Class 16 Aggregate planning and ERP 1. What is aggregate planning and what aggregate means? 2. What are the strategic objectives of aggregate planning? Which one of these is most often addressed by the quantitative techniques of aggregate planning? 3. What strategies are used in developing a plan?What options are available for each strategy and what are the pros and cons of each option? 4. How does aggregate planning in service differ from aggregate planning in manufacturing? What is yield management and where are they implemented? 5. What is the relationship between the aggregate planning and the master production schedule (MPS)? What is the relationship between MPS and material requirements planning (MRP)? How to develop a MRP? 6. How does MRP, as an approach to inventory management, differ from the approach taken in the chapter Inventory Management, dealing with economic order quantities? 7.What is ERP and what benefits and disadvantages of ERP have? Class 17 Cisco Systems 1. At the end of the case, Pete Solvik has a number of questions. Please think about these questions, and be prepared to give your answers: What factors had contributed to the success of the ERP implementation? What obstacles did Cisco overcome for the ERP project? How? Where had the EPR team been â€Å"smart†? Where had the ERP team been just plain lucky? Do you think that the ERP project a complete success? Do you think that the Cisco team could do such a project again if they had to? Why? Why not? 2. How important is the ERP to the overall architecture?Do you see the ERP component as something that will be undertaken by some, most or all companies as they build their Information Age IT architectures? Class 18 Just-in-Time (JIT) 1. What is JIT, the Toyota Production System (TPS) and lean operations? What are the underlying philosophies? 2. Does JIT mean zero inventory? How to use EOQ and POQ models in inventory management to determine the lot size in a JIT system? 3. What are the differences between JIT and customization? 4. What are the characteristics of JIT partnerships with respect to suppliers? 5. How can layout help a company achieve JIT? How are JIT and quality related? . What is level scheduling? Discuss how the Japanese word for card has been applied in the study of JIT. 7. JIT attempts to remove delays that do not add value. How does JIT cope with weather and its impact on crop harvest and transportation times? 8. Does lean techniques work for service industry, such as a restaurant? If so, how? Class 19 Toyota Motor Manufacturing 1. What are the possible causes of the seat problem? What is the real problem facing Doug Friesen? 2. What are the key elements of TPS? Where, if at all, does the current routine for handling defective seats differ from the principles of TPS? . As Doug Friesen, what would you do to address the seat problem? Where would you focus your attention and solution efforts? Class 20 Quality and TQM 1. What is quality? What factors are used to determine quality for goods and services? 2. What are costs of quality? How can improving quality reduce costs? 3. What is Total Quality Management (TQM)? What concepts are used to implement an effective TQM program? Explain them. How are they related to Deming’s 14 points? 4. What are seven tools of TQM? What are their purpo ses and when to use them? 5. How does fear in the workplace inhibit learning? . Philip Crosby said that quality is free. What does it mean and why? 7. What roles do operations managers play in addressing the major aspects of service quality? 8. Good quality products last a long time, which in turn may reduce the sales of the product and thus the profit. How do you explain this? Class 21 Ritz-Carlton 1. What is the essence of the Ritz-Carlton experience? What is the Ritz-Carlton selling? 2. How does Ritz-Carlton create â€Å"Ladies and Gentlemen† in only 7 days? 3. Should McBride lengthen the 7 Day Countdown? Any other alternatives?

Dominican Republic: From a Colony to the Caribbean’s Largest Tourist Destination

After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821 under the rule of a former colonial judge who maintained the system of slavery and limited rights for the mostly mulatto and black population. The ruler, Jose Nunez de Caceres, intended that the Dominican Republic be part of the nation of Gran Colombia, but he was quickly removed by the Haitian government and â€Å"Dominican† slave revolts. Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly internal strife, and also a brief return to Spanish rule, over the next 72 years. The United States occupation of 1916–1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year period under Horacio Vasquez Lajara, were followed by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina until 1961. The civil war of 1965, the country's last, was ended by a U. S. -led intervention, and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquin Balaguer, 1966–1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy,[4] and has been led by Leonel Fernandez for most of the time after 1996. The Dominican Republic has the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. [10][11] Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. [4] The country's economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system. [12] Nevertheless, unemployment,[4] government corruption, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems. The country also has â€Å"marked income inequality†. [4] International migration affects the Dominican Republic greatly, as it receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues; the total population of Haitian origin is estimated at 800,000. [13] A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it numbers 1. 3 million. [14] They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families, accounting for one-tenth of the Dominican GDP. [4][15] The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean's largest tourist destination; the country's year-round golf courses are among the top attractions. [12] In this mountainous land is located the Caribbean's highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbean's largest lake and lowest elevation. [16] Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has an average temperature of 26  °C (78. 8  °F) and great biological diversity. [12] Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue as the national dance and song and baseball the favorite sport. [5]

Chinese Civil War essays

Chinese Civil War essays China was at hardship during the time period of 1911-1949. In 1911 there was the start of the Communist Revolution, and then the Chinese with the Americans help had to fight off Japan which continued into World War II. Finally after the Japanese had surrendered the Civil War began in China. The Civil War was one of the most violent acts in Chinese history, it lasted for four long brutal years between 1945-1949. The outcome and impacts of the Civil War would change China forever. My main focus is on the impacts the Civil War had on foreign countries, who was involved, why it happened, and what was the outcome of the Civil War. After World War II and the surrender of Japan, another long and brutal war ravaged over China. The Civil War, which took place from the 1945-1949, was a devastating war between the Nationalists, who were led by Chiang Kai-Shek and the Communists who had many great leaders. For example, Mao Zedong who helped establish the Communist capitol o f Shih-Chia -Chuang which was a huge railroad center and ChenYi and Liu Bocheng who helped cut the Nationalists by destroying the protected outposts along the Lung-Hai and the Ping-Han lines which led to many other isolated cities. The roots of the conflict between the Communists and the Nationalists go back all the way to the 1920s. Their basic differences were over the formal agreement to cooperate in the war against Japan. In the end the Communists were victorious by gaining the peoples enthusiastic supports. Chang resigned and fled to Taiwan which was the only territory the Red Army did not occupy. The Civil War involved the Nationalists and the Communists in a dispute over land and who would rule China. The Civil War also involved the United States of America and its many acts to intervene with peace talks. The first of many peace talks was in 1945 when the United States sent George C. Marshall to China to mediate the hostilities be...

Why I Self-Publish My Literary Fiction

Why I Self-Publish My Literary Fiction Why I Self-Publish My Literary Fiction Self-published books are still largely associated with genre novels, while authors tend to  turn to traditional publishers for literary fiction. We were curious to hear from someone who has been challenging labels and going against industry wisdom to carve her own niche in the publishing world. Indie author Jane Davis  used to be bullied into changing her work just to fit into an easily marketable category. She decided to take matters into her own hands and self-publish her daring, award-winning fiction.  Eimear McBride used the platform provided by her various competition wins to urge publishers to back challenging fiction. McBride had spent 9 years submitting the manuscript for A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing before it was taken up by Galley Press, a small publisher which puts story before profit. For many writers, 9 years would be too long. How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book in 2019? Read post You’re not the only one!I read about this experience everywhere. Cornelia Funke, who writes a hugely popular fantasy series, had demands from her American publisher who told her ‘We want you to change the first chapter and to turn the ending into an epilogue’. Her answer was, ‘This is a published book. That is the book.’It’s not a question of not wanting to be challenged - far from it. But, with self-publishing, I can choose to collaborate with professionals who understand my visions and values, and who will work to help me make the book the very best it can be. As Joni Rodgers said to me, â€Å"If I go down in flames, I’d rather go down for something I believe in, something I’m proud and happy to have in my body of work.† With self-publishing, I can collaborate with professionals who understand my visions and values. Self-publishing is the mechanism that freed me to be more ambitious in terms of where I wanted to take my fiction. Instead of being dictated to, I am free to write about the issues I’m passionate about and fascinated by - the big subjects. Remove the pressure of trying of to mold something to fit the current market – which agents admit is risk-averse and overly-commercialised – and it grows wings. For authors of literary fiction, creative control isn’t just a plus. Increasingly it’s becoming a must.Jane Davis is the author of six novels. Her latest novel,   An Unknown Woman, won Self-Published Book of the Year, awarded by Writing Magazine and The David St John Charitable Trust. You can find it on Amazon here.Do you think the self-publishing is the better alternative for literary fiction? Have you had similar experiences with publishers? Share your thoughts and experiences - or any question for Jane - in the comments below!

Film report of Ten to chi to _ (Heaven and Earth). (VT 06718, 104 Movie Review

Film report of Ten to chi to _ (Heaven and Earth). (VT 06718, 104 mins) - Movie Review Example Kagetora, though not a pacifist, is powerfully drawn to that idea. He is shown in the film as someone with a compassionate heart and someone who cared for his people deeply. He doesn’t want his subjects to suffer and is thus thinks thoroughly before going to war. But circumstances, especially the claim to leadership of a unified Japan, greatly inspire him. It is probably for such reasons of pride than for conquest of material wealth that he engages in war with Takeda. Hence the movie offers enough detail and perspective for the discerning audience to study and learn. In the case of the portrayal of Kagetora, we learn that not all feudal lords are greedy for expanding their territory. He is not much interested in increasing his political power. In this sense, Kagetora is atypical, for he is philosophical and compassionate and is reluctant to go to war. He engages with Takeda only because he thinks the ‘ends justifying the means’. Hence the film is an informative re cord of the variety of provincial leadership styles witnessed in feudal Japan. This is useful for a student of history, for textbooks often paint a generic picture of political leadership. Ten To Chi To, on the other hand, presents feudal leadership in a nuanced and complex manner, informed as it is by the historical, philosophical and social undercurrents shaping major events in medieval Japan. Takeda is the aggressive feudal warlord who is quick to use force and intimidation to achieve his goals. He is someone who doesn’t care about cruelty to people. He represents a broader conflict that has been a theme in Japanese history for more than millennia. For example, on the on hand we have the fundamental conflict between the tradition and honor of the influential Samurai community. On the other hand is the Buddhist philosophical doctrine which disapproves of violence and killing. Hence a Samurai is a conflicted personality. But Takeda is ruthless when it comes to war and doesnà ¢â‚¬â„¢t heed to Buddhist philosophy at all. To this extent, one can say that the film is an exposition on the problems confronting religious philosophy in Japan’s feudal past. It is a reflection of religion’s inability to control aggressive human impulses that Japan was one of the main participants during World War II – a bitter and tragic episode that ended with the dropping of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A facet of the Samurai tradition is its upholding of honor about all else. For members of this warrior caste, valor and fulfillment of duty are of utmost importance. They would rather die than be dishonored and disgraced. One of their important duties is to protect and obey their feudal masters during their military expeditions. The honor of the Samurai depends on the upholding of duties. In the film we see numerous illustrations of courage and sacrifice on part of the Samurai as they attempt to keep their honor. It is ironic that the two opposin g camps in warfare (both composed of Samurais) are united by this common virtue. In this respect, it is fair to claim that irrespective of who wins and loses the war, it is the Samurai and his set of values that come out victorious. Though the director Haruki Kadokawa does not focus much on this aspect of feudal Japan’s culture, it is available to the careful viewer of the film. Thus, alongside insights into politics and social structures of late medieval Japan, the audience