Logistics Management Essay Example

Logistics Management Essay Example Logistics Management Essay Logistics Management Essay UK and Parnshop,HK to fulfill the achievements during the entire home grocery delivery logistics operation process. Moreover, heaps of logistics strategies, IT solution would be founded in this report, at last; it will also discuss the key difficulties in maintaining a high level of customer service at optimal cost. . Background of PARKnshop shop Ocado 2. 1 PARKnshop Background Parknshop is the leading supermarket chain and multi formats retail in Hong Kong, who operates more than 230 outlets in Hong Kong and also accounts for over 40% of the packaged food market, which is equivalent of 250,000 containers per year and offer on-line shopping and home delivery service. Their mission is â€Å"To be the family first choice for Food Shopping† [pic]Parknshop Group Industry: |Retailing | |Founded /Headquarter |1973 / Hong Kong | |Area Served: |Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau | 2. 2 Ocado Background Ocado is a British Internet retailer specializing in groceries wholly focused on the home delivery of high-quality food, drink and household goods. The company has centralized warehouse based and picking model in CFC, online delivery without any physical shops. Their mission is â€Å"Great Value, Great Service, Great Choice and Great Way to Shop† [pic] Ocado Group |Industry: |Internet retail | |Founded /Headquarter |2002 / Hatfield,Hertfordshire, United Kingdom | P1 3. Different approaches of Logistics Strategies Operation Management After research, Ocado and Parknshop have some difference approaches for their operation management activities and success supply chain, sustained the continuous development for the entire group. A strategies consists of those plans or patterns of actions that integrate an organization’s primary goals, policies and activities into a coherent whole (Patrik Jonsson Logistics Strategy P. 19) 3. 1 Ocado -Logistics Operation Management and Strategies In Sept,2002, Ocado currently operate a 295,000 sq ft, the Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in Hatfield which is largest and highly automated. In Jan 2003 it centralized all warehousing operation and running all the customer majority of orders are relayed from CFC 1 to spokes for ultimate outward delivery to customer. This is a centralized DC and all of products are receive and delivery from this CFC. 5% of inbound goods are delivered direct from producers to CFC1, whiles 15% are delivered from the waitrose supply chain, at full capacity CFC1 will be able to stock up to 40,000 grocery SKU. Delivery area expanded to over 70% of UK household in 2011. All of the order will be order by CFC which simplified the order processing and lower ope ration cost. This is better control over the products, reduce overall stock holding, reduce inventory cost and the groceries are handled less, preserving quality, processes minimize product touch points and maintain the correct product temperature as well. The CFC also supported by 9 regional delivery spoke around the country which is decentralized warehouse, located closer to customers, this is lower inbound logistics cost and transport cost to customers from the spoke. Hub and spoke system adopted, acquired a new spoke in Bristol which opened in March,2011. which is 9 spokes support Ocado’s internet store with shorter delivery lead time and more responsive and able to offer free delivery service for some dedicated time slots. [pic](Ocado-Centralized Distribution Model ) P. 2 In warehouse, using Distribution Centre-based picking approach and around giant network of forklifts scuttle round, conveyor belts crunch, robots replenish shelves and monorails at packing stations, The people using Pick-to-Light concept and pack groceries into green crates, called totes. Orders information transmitted to radio frequency wrist mounts worn by the pickers as they push blue trolleys along the aisles. The wrist device tells the pickers what and how much to pick. Operators are assigned to specific pick zones and each location equipped with a light and readout display, operators scans the incoming tote. Lights for location requiring pick are illuminated and pick quantity is displayed, operator picks items and presses lighted button to confirm picks. The Finger attached scanners let the pickers scan the products and picked from the totes on the shelves. The pick-to-light system is helps Ocado most efficient, timely and accuracy order picking while minimal training required and compared to other paper based picking solution. It is a visual method, the system is more intuitive than printed orders, and it has around 20-50% pick efficiency over than Pick-to-Paper. The monorail’s job is to collect the orders that have been picked form each floor into containers-the trolley totes are loaded into specific pigeon-hole like slots. Each person’s order will now sit in one container. Staff will scans the items from each container’s totes and which customer it belongs to and packed in color-coded bags depending on whether the goods that have been ordered are frozen, chilled or ambient. This helps the delivery person locate an order and finally turn fork-lifted on to little Mercedes Vans for direct delivery. Ocado using own fleet of bespoke van, each delivery van replaces multiple car journeys every single day, by saving the customers a trip to a super market. It helps groceries to reduce the number of cars on the road each day, developed 5th generation of van, which increases payload by 10% to improve delivery performance and they equipped satellite navigation, a CCTV †SmartDrive† camera to ensure the product reaches the customer in right locations and in proper condition. On time delivery is enhance company reputation and reliability. The automatic material equipment is enhancing the efficiency of pick and pack and transit operation in whole supply chain. Ocado using Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) for the management of home grocery delivery logistics operation. It monitors an inventory levels. Capturing and transmitting sales data through EDI is crucial to ensure the efficiency of VMI operations and opening up the communication channels. P. 3 3. PARKnshop-Logistics Operation Management and Strategies In 1990, ParknShop was operating all distribution activities from a single high-rise facility in Fo Tan, which is 500,000 sq ft, and designed and handle 100,000 cases per day in peaks season and it is mainly operate a slower-moving goods. In 1992, expanded the ambient distribution capacity and rented 200,000 sq ft of space in the new Hong Kong International Distribution Centre(HIDC) facility in Kwai Chung. The space at HIDC contains two sections, one for fruit and vegetable which need temperature and one for general products. It is acting as the decentralized DC and for fast-moving goods, HIDC is nearby in HK international Ocean Terminal therefore enjoys much spin-off benefit and especially a much improve road network and fast for replenishment, located closer to shops and suppliers are more responsive and short delivery lead time , enables JIT operations too. In 1992, they built facility for frozen and fresh pigs cutting facility in Sheng Shui, The location in here benefit for allowed pigs from Mainland China to HK as live and close to border can reduce transport and operation cost for in bound logistics. In 1995, 10,000 sq ft facility in Ap Lei Chau for the distribution of live freshwater and seawater fish which is fish imported in Hong Kong. Parknshop using the store based picking and Pick-to-Paper for online order and home delivery, The worker by manual picking operation for the on-line order received through Electronic Data Interchange(EDI) . Before taking on line order should be select the delivery district and area first, all on line products was picked from 4 Superstore in stead of picked from their DC. Where are located in Jardine Hill, North Point, Yuen Long and Hung Hom. The purpose can achieve flexible and fast lead time for home delivery The warehouse staff to pick up the order per customer on line order list. They are follow the manifest list start of picking operation and using bar code scanning of sales orders. Afterwards, the orders will roll through roll cage into own fleet for home delivery. This is a traditionally Pick –to –Paper method and let worker handle in easily. They adopt cross-docking for local suppliers as a fast track access to the docks and return and meet the just in time strategy, suppliers will not hold any stocks for all cross docking tems which is eliminated the storage level of inventory and cost effective in warehouse. As a result, it managed to reduce the inventory from local suppliers from 4 weeks to less than 2 days in the whole supply chain. In 1995,Parknshop standardized the size of pallets used for deliveries by suppliers and 14 different size became one improving delivery times enormously. which is eli minated the need for manual unloading at the docks and fast track for transportation. P4 Parknshop was fully computerized, employed a proprietary system from Reteck and automated operation in 2007. Their orders can be sent electronically to suppliers and invoices can be received by Electronically Data Exchange (EDI)Besides, using Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) to process of planning implement and controlling the operation of the supply chain. It was enable the stock record for every store to be captured on the computer and for replenishment orders to be automated, it helps reduce the inventory level , keep safety stock and its opening up the communication channels and develop mutually beneficial partnerships along the supply chain . . Information Technology for Logistics Operations On line home grocery delivery makes Information Technology become important and complex, co-operates and communicates with suppliers and customer. Successful adopt IT system to lead entire organization smoothly in order to time saving, enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, shorten production, material lead time and able streamlining communications channels and improving customer service m anagement . (Pope J Transport Economics Pg. 147) 4. 1 Ocado IT System Advantage Ocado current IT systems are predominantly bespoke and developed in-house by Ocado’s IT team, much of the machinery employed in the CFC is also bespoke. Proprietary intellectual property is integral to the functionality of all aspects of its operations. The CFC is capable of managing and sorting over 20,500 grocery lines and organizing 100,000 deliveries per week. Where IT ensure deliveries arrive at the right address, right time with right contents. Proprietary IP allow for 95% of product availability on the website range for next delivery and 99% availability for next week delivery. It offers the widest range of delivery slots of any online retailer. Tight and reliable delivery windows allow customers to save time compared to visiting a store. On time delivery and minimal products substitution builds consumer loyalty and increases willingness to shop online. Satellite navigation, each bespoke van fitted with a CCTV , SmartDrive camera system to enable complex route delivery into right location and in proper condition and achieve the customer satisfaction. P. 5 User friendly interface, the website, launched IPad, Andriod apps and IPhone apps are more convenience and allow flexibility for customer easier to navigate at any time at any where. At last, Pick-to-Light system, Radio frequency wrist mounts and finger-attached scanners is one of the most efficient and timely order picking method are help to reduce human error and enhance the efficiency and accuracy in warehouse operation. 4. 2 PARKnshop IT System Advantage To explore the opportunities to improve their supply chains, Parknshop deployed Retek software, an Oracle-bases suite of applications that provides solutions in the areas of merchandising, warehouse data, distribution management, demand forecasting, sales auditing , customer order management and various order functions important for the smooth running of retail business . They adopted Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) for all Parknshop stores. It monitors an inventory levels. Capturing and transmitting sales data through EDI is crucial to ensure the efficiency of VMI operations and opening up the communication channels. Just in time (JIT) inventory systems have reduced inventory cost and warehouse expenses, while also improving order fulfillment time. Bar –code is scanned by the cashier at point of sale, the information is transmitted via the store server to a centralized computer , when the number of units on the shelf falls below a pre-set level, a purchase order is automatically sent to the supplier which in turn are delivered to the particular store to re-stock the shelves, this is succeeded keep the inventory stock, increase profitability, benefit the logistics operation and satisfaction for customer need. . Key Difficulties Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level and meet the customer satisfaction, In terms of home grocery deliveries, customer most concerns the best quality and optimal cost of product and on time delivery. A: Routing schedule planning Both Ocado and Parknshop are serious of facing the develop the daily routing schedule , the home groceri es order in various and different basis in daily therefore design a more flexible and efficiency routing schedule to utilize the truck load and transportation cost to maintain the profit, it is a big challenge. P. 6 Besides, more deliveries per route planning may increase the cost , less deliveries or caused by traffic congestion, which means higher risk for miss the on time delivery promise. Different time window (am or pm), peak season demand change also put the routing schedule more complicated and difficult to manage. B: Inventory stock forecasting Ocado on liner grocery product is cover UK by CFC only and their inventory forecast is under country base , it is impossible 100% product available on shell . Parknshop inventory control under forecast individual shop basic which is support on line and retail shop but the on line inventory figure and real time retail shop inventory figure may have different of the time gap. It will occurs out of stock in the retail store but available in on-line service. However, over forecasting will increase the inventory cost and under forecast will be out of stock , it is serious impact the customer satisfaction and suppliers or organization are difficult to planning the inventory stock forecasting in the supply chain. C: High Cost of Land In HK, the geography is small , the rents are high, warehouse costs and warehouse labor are proportionately high, this cost profile mean that HK distributors need to be efficient at stock and warehouse management. Besides, most of the shops are located in building which were not designed to handle goods efficiently, very few have a loading dock and in basements or above ground rather than street level. Land costs have made distribution activities difficult to operate. Different rents in different area at Parknshop store which is occurs different range of the product price, customer may suffer high product price for this situation. D: Limited Data Enablement Ocado’s IT system is limited data enablement the device only had a limited degree of wireless data enablement, required a device could function for up to 16 hours a day on the road and able to withstand a range on weather conditions, Drives would constantly plugging and unplugging the device from the delivery truck while carrying groceries and extremely durable and tough device. he solution was using cost more to activate the device, in additional, failure was coming at a high price, devices not functioning on the road meant missed deliveries, potentially defrosted food and failed to customer satisfaction. The severe difficulties pressure on the home grocery deliveries industry which is impact a higher logistic operation cost and may not reach the customer satisfaction. P. 7 6 Conclusion Hong Kong a small geographic compare with UK and many supermarket around, HK buying behavior is enjoy buying grocery product more frequently in small order at supermarket instead of on line and also as its a part of their entertainment. However, UK people would through on line to bulk buying their grocery product for weekly purpose. No matter how, home grocery delivery is reducing time spent on grocery shopping allows consumers greater flexibility and releases precious time for other activities. P. 8 Reference Partik Jonsson , 2008 â€Å"Logistics Supply Chain Management† McGraw-Hill Education Berkshire Pope. Jeff. 2005-â€Å"Transport Economics† Vineyard Pushing Pty Ltd Australia Christopjer Martin, 2005 â€Å"Logistics and Supply Chain Management† 3rd Edition Pearson Education Limited. Great Britain Journal Artiles: Joh Mash (2001) â€Å"Chain of Demand-A. W. Watson grows sales while cutting stockpiles† Sphere 18-Retail P. 30,31,32 Christine Corns , 2011, Materials â€Å"Logistics Management† Lecture Notes â€Å"Parknshop company overview† Available at : http://www1. parknshop. com/wedshop

Tips and Tricks for Getting Your Students Attention

Tips and Tricks for Getting Your Students Attention One of the biggest challenges teachers face is getting (and keeping) their students attention. Learning to do so takes time and practice, but effective teaching requires it. Here are 20 attention signals to help get your students attention. Plus: simple strategies to get them to hang on to your every word. 20 Attention Signals Here are 20 call and response teacher attention signals to use in your elementary classroom. Teacher says, One, Two - Students response, Eyes on you.Teacher says, Eyes - Students response, Open.Teacher Says, Ears - Students response, Listening.Teacher says, If you can hear me clap once, if you hear me clap twice.Teacher says, Hear Ye Hear ye - Students response, All eyes on the queen.Teacher says, Give me five - Students respond by raising their hand.Teacher says, Peanut butter - Students say Jelly.Teacher says, Tomato - Students say Tomahto.Teacher says, Ready to Rock? - Students response, Ready to Roll.Teacher says, Hey - Students respond with Ho.Teacher says, Macaroni - Students respond with Cheese.Teacher says, Marco - Students respond, Polo.Teacher says, One fish, Two Fish - Students response, Red Fish, Blue Fish.Teacher says, Silent Guitar - Students respond by playing air guitar.Teacher says, Silent Wiggles - Students respond by dancing around.Teacher says, Hocus, Pocus - Students response is Everybody focus.Teacher says, Chocolate - Students response, Cake. Teacher says, All set - Students say, You bet.Teacher says, Hands on top - Students say, That means stop!Teacher says, Chica Chica - Students say, Boom Boom. Tips for Getting Students Attention Practice, practice, practice! Go over your attention signal until your blue in the face.Praise students for getting (and doing) the signal correctly.Make it fun! Change it up and say (or do) the signal fast, or slow, soft or loud. Non-Verbal Ways to Keep Students Quiet Tips for Keeping Students Attention Once you figure out which attention signal works best for you and your students, your next job is to keep their attention. Here are a few tips to help you do just that. Create interactive hands-on lessons - Students are more apt to stay engaged when they are actively involved in the lesson. Try a cooperative learning lesson or use classroom learning centers to keep students engaged.Get students up and moving - Help students refocus their energy by getting them up and moving. Play a learning game sitting on their desks, have them stand up while working, or take a break every thirty minutes where students get up and do a series of quick exercises.Change the scenery - The monotony of the everyday routine in the same room, learning the same way can be dull and boring for students. Once a week, change it up by teaching outside, in the hallway, or any other room other than your classroom. This is a surefire way to get and keep your students attention. More Tips and Ideas Wear bright clothesUse humor in your lessonsVideotape your lesson and play it to your classroomHave students take notesPlay background musicGive students a checklist of what they need to knowTurn the lights off while teaching a lessonHave students use a computer or iPadHave students take photos during a lesson that pertain to the lesson

Prpperties of an element Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Prpperties of an element - Essay Example On the Word file, the links (hyperlinks) to your references must be hot! 4) Neatly typed narrative description (500 words minimum, i.e., about one page minimum) of the uses, importance, biological significance (if any) historical information, and any additional interesting information for the element. This should be written in paragraph format with proper grammar and spelling. Outlines or lists will not be given credit. Information must be properly cited (see #5). Plagiarism will result in a zero grade for this project with no chance to earn the lost points through other means. Your in-text citation to a printed source should hyperlink to the reference in your bibliography. Your in-text citation to an online source should also hyperlink to the reference in your bibliography. However, the hyperlinks from each of your references should be to the specific webpage(s) where you obtained the

Religious Critiques about Gay Marriage Annotated Bibliography

Religious Critiques about Gay Marriage - Annotated Bibliography Example As such, the two articles offer good arguments on religious critiques on gay marriages. The first article for example analyses the Catholic’s viewpoint on the issue. The article develops systematic arguments that attempt to validate Catholic’s objection to gay marriages. The author outline a number of factors and reasons as proposed by the doctrines of the Catholic Church. The same is the case with the second article in which the author furthers the argument on religious objection to same sex marriages. The author provides reliable evidence, which include in text citations to validate his claims. He eventually makes a reliable conclusion by marrying his facts to his thoughts as he showed in the article’s thesis statement. Professor Daniel Maguire ventures into the discussion by defending same-sex marriages. He provides a history of same-sex unions explaining that both the society and the church had once accepted such unions. He further borrows immense citations from the Acts of the Apostles to justify his belief about same-sex unions. The professor attempts to discuss numerous reasons that various people have given in their objections to same-sex unions. After exhausting such reasons, he concludes by referring to the Bible, Christian’s holy book to validate his arguments. The professor maintains that homosexuality is not a sin but discriminating against homosexuals is a sin. He, therefore, calls on Christians to abhor from discriminating homosexuals and instead accept them. However, the article appears sensational with the author striving to justify his feelings and opinions about the topical issues. He does not seek any third party indulgence in order to develop a holistic view of the issue. The author analyses the sacred nature of marriages, an argument used in Australia by a number of lobbyists in the country to justify a government legislation

The Russian Revolution Essay Example for Free

The Russian Revolution Essay The Russian Revolution was not merely a culmination of event from 1905-19-17, but was the result of political, economic and social conditions from centuries of corrupt tsarist rule.The Russian Revolution of 1917 involved the collapse of an empire under Tsar Nicholas II and the rise of Marxian socialism under Lenin and his Bolsheviks. It sparked the beginning of a new era in Russia that had effects on countries around the world.The Russian Revolution of 1917 was one of the most significant events in the 20th century. It completely changed the government and outlook on life in the very large country of Russia. The events of the revolution were a direct result of the conflict in World War I. Many problems had led to the debilitating situation in the early 20th century for explain like social, economic and political conditions led to the Russian Revolution. For the social conditions Russia needed to educate the population. Many peasants were hungry and starving caused many to die of starvation. Many peasants were unskilled and forced into labor. Also A large majority of the population was illiterate meaning didnt know how to read and write, so many were jobless and uneducated. Factory owners wanted workers who knew how to read and write and factories were looking for more skilled workers. According to Document 3 unskilled workers had dedication but were forced into factories with dangerous conditions. Also according to Document 2 the Communist government wanted to take away illiteracy which affected city workers . But then as early as 1919 a campaign was started to remove illiteracy . In 1921 school were built in factories and were offered to construct basic reading, writing and arithmetic lessons.The education of the people led to the growing popularity of several anti-Czarist groups. Another condition that affected the situation was Political Russia’s Army was extremely weak, made mainly of peasants, and the cost of war was weighing down on the citizens of Russia. In reality, Czars Nicholas II had no ability to be a ruler, and proved himself to be politically incapable of governing a country. Starvation and poor living conditions lined the streets of homeless families. Many people were unemployed, and  those who were faced terrible conditions when they were working.Czar Nicholas II was a firm believer that his power to rule was granted by Divine Right, Nicholas assumed that the Russian people were devoted to him with unquestioning loyalty. This belief rendered Nicholas unwilling to allow the progressive reforms that might have made the suffering of the Russian people die down.Dissatisfaction with Tsar Nicholas II culminated in the huge national disturbance, that followed the Bloody Sunday massacre of January 1905, in which hundreds of unarmed protesters were shot by the Tsars troops. Workers responded to the massacre with a crippling general strike. This led to the growing population of several anti-czarist groups There.were also social democrats, such as the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Both groups aimed to overthrow the Czar and create a socialist state, they had the support of students and workers, but the main differences were in the organization of the parties. The Bolsheviks, believed in a small, secret, disciplined party of professional revolutionists who would seize power when the time was right. They planned revolutionary cells of three or four people who would organize strikes and demonstrations in factories. Among these people was Vladimir Ulyanov, better as Lenin. He was a devoted Bolshevik who was exile to in Siberia after being arrested for his action in a Marxist group Marxism is a political ideology often known as Marxism-Leninism. It marked the beginning of the spread of communism in the 20th century. The Mensheviks, believed the party should be a mass organization which all workers could join. This mass party would grow until it eventually took power. Among these the Mensheviks was Lev Bronstein, better known as Trotsky. Trotsky was a kulak, a rich peasant..Later on, he became the Menshevik chairman. One more condition that affected the situation was economic At the same time, peasant life and culture was changing constantly. Change was facilitated by the physical movement of growing numbers of peasant villagers who migrated to and from industrial and urban environments, but also by the introduction of city culture into the village through material goods. Workers also had good reasons for dissatisfaction overcrowded housing with often disgraceful sanitary conditions, long hours at work 10-hour workday six days a week was the average and many were working 11–12 hours a day by 1916, constant risk of injury and death from very poor safety and sanitary conditions, harsh  discipline (not only rules and fines, but foremen’s fists), and poor wages. At the same time, urban industrial life was full of benefits, though these could be just as dangerous, from the point of view of social and political stability, as the hardships. Acquiring new skills gave many workers a sense of self-respect and confidence, heightening expectations and desires. Living in cities, workers encountered material goods such as they had never seen while in the village. Most important, living in cities, they were exposed to new ideas about the social and political order. The soviet state from the early 1920s through the 1930s had many problems that led to the revolution. Stalin missed much of the activity leading up to the Russian Revolution in 1917 because he was exiled to Siberia from 1913 to 1917. Upon his release in March of 1917, Stalin resumed his role as a Bolshevik leader. By the time he was reunited with Lenin, who also returned to Russia a few weeks after Stalin, Czar Nicholas II had already step down from is thrown as part of the February Russian Revolution. With the czar removed, the Provisional Government was in charge. Lenin and Stalin, however, wanted to break the Provisional Government and install a Communist one, con trolled by the Bolsheviks. Feeling that the country was ready for another revolution, Lenin and the Bolsheviks began a nearly bloodless coup on October 25, 1917. In just two days, the Bolsheviks had taken over Petrograd, the capital of Russia, and then became the leaders of the country. By 1927, Stalin had effectively eliminated all of his political rivals (and exiled Trotsky) to emerge as the head of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Lenin wanted a worldwide communist revolution stalin only wants to increase the power to the soviet union. Stalins willingness to use brutality to achieve political aims was well established by the time he took power; nevertheless, the Soviet Union was unprepared for the extreme violence and oppression that Stalin unleashed in 1928. This was the first year of Stalins Five Year Plan, a radical attempt to bring the Soviet Union into the industrial age. Stalin’s Five Year Plans started a farming revolution. The government took control of farms and combined them to make government owned farms called collective farms. According to Document 5 it shows how Stalins first Five Year Plan worked how the government took control over everything like electricity coal ,oil, pig iron, steel. Alson in Document 6 too it shows how the USSRs collectivization affected  agricultural production in soviet union. As in conclusion Social , Economic and Political conditions affected the Situation and it led to the Russian Revolution. Some of those conditions had a positive affects and also a negative affect.

Essay on Spirituality in Song of Solomon -- Song Solomon essays

Inclusive Spirituality in Song of Solomon    When slaves were brought to America they were taken from all they had known and forced to live in a land of dark irony that, while promising life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, provided them with only misery. In a situation such as the one in which the slaves found themselves, many people would rely on their religion to help them survive. But would slaves be able to find spiritual comfort within the parameters of a religion that had been passed on to them from the slaveholders? In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, African-Americans struggle to find a spirituality that is responsive to their needs and that encompasses their experiences in a way that the religion of the dominant culture does not. Song of Solomon deals with the African-American struggle to find a spirituality not defined by a religion of the dominant culture. From the beginning of the novel, Morrison alludes to Christianity with the names she chooses-Hagar, First Corinthians, Magdalene, and Ruth for example. However, the two main allusions Morrison draws on are the name "Pilate" and the name of the biblical book Song of Solomon. In the narrative in which Pilate is named, Pilate's father, who can't read, lets the Bible fall open and points to a set of lines that look agreeable to him. It just so happens that the word spelled out by those lines is "Pilate," the name of the Roman who turns Jesus over to be crucified. The midwife attending at Pilate's birth asks the father if he really wants to name the child after the person who killed Jesus, and the father replies, "I asked Jesus to save me my wife," and he continues, "I asked him all night long" (19). Yet his wife wasn't saved, and Pilate's father feels... ...sition of meanings shows both majority and minority readers that African-American spiritual experience, while touched by majority experience, does not have to be formed by it. Song of Solomon deals with the struggle of African-Americans to find a spiritual avenue that is responsive to their needs and reflective of their experience. The text helps people to examine differing ideas, learn about different experiences, and become sensitive to various needs. If we are able to learn something from Song of Solomon, really learn something, perhaps life, liberty and happiness will finally find us. Works Cited Bloom, Harold, ed. Modern Critical Views: Toni Morrison. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 1990. Middleton, David. Toni Morrison's Fiction: Contemporary Criticism. New York: Garland, 1997. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: Plume, 1987.

International Financial Reporting Standards Essay

According to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (2010, para. 3) â€Å"International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are Standards, Interpretations and the Framework adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)†. IFRS was established in 2001 and the conversion of the International Accounting Standards (IAS). The IAS had been functional since 1973 until it was converted to IFRS. More standards and components were added to the new IFRS to enhance professionalism in accounting and to accommodate the changing accounting environment. Many countries have accepted the use of IFRS since they are more comprehensive and cover a wide variety of accounting systems. The changes in technologies cause the adjustments in the accounting standards to ensure no loopholes exist in the accounting profession (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 2010). Transition Issues Most of the standards used in the IFRS were adopted from International Accounting Standards (IAS). IAS has been operational between 1973 up to 2001. They were developed by the International accounting standards Committee (IASC). The task of setting international accounting standards was shifted to IASB in 2001. IASB continues to make accounting standards called the IFRS. IFRS is composed of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – standards issued after 2001, International Accounting Standards (IAS) – standards issued before 2001, Interpretations originated from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) – issued after 2001, and Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC) – issued before 2001 and Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statement (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 2010, para. 10). IFRS vs. , U. S.  GAAP The Generally Accepted accounting Practices (U. S. GAAP) were developed to overlook accounting practices in the economy of the U. S. The U. S. GAAP differs slightly from the IFRS and there has been debate to exchange the U. S. GAAP for the IFRS. The IFRS has been acceptable in the global market and has provided opportunities to the U. S. accounting profession since the U. S. GAAP has been limited within the U. S. More than 100 countries in the world are using the IFRS in their accounting systems and there is concern about the adopting of the IFRS in the US. According to Epstein (2008) the implications for the adoption of the IFRS in US will be Training on the differences between IFRS and GAAP, Financial scrutiny of international joint ventures, Merger & acquisition (M&A) international accounting reviews, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance on corporate governance matters, Analysis of international credit policies for multinationals, and Litigation risk due to inappropriate use of IFRS (para. 3). The global investors will have advantages after the adoption of the IFRS in the US accounting systems. This will provide a better environment for cross-border investment as well as integrating capital markets. Global organizations in the US will save the costs of accounting by the use of a single financial reporting standard. The existing system requires compliance with the domestic accounting standards as well as accounting standards of other countries. This is creating more costs to international firms since they must install all accounting systems and employ personnel from diversified accounting backgrounds. The use of the GAAP has limited the growth and expansion of many companies in the U.  S. Multinational companies and their investors will benefit a lot from the adoption of the IFRS (Malriat, 2009). Accounting for revenues under IFRS IFRS adopted some standards used by the IAS but some additional standards were included. This was done to ensure more accountability in the accounting systems and to ensure revenues are safeguarded within the entity. The assumptions of IFRS are; first, accrual basis, this means that transactions are accounted for when they occur but not when cash is received or paid. Secondly, the going concern; the entity is assumed to continue operating in the foreseeable future. Thirdly, stable measuring unit; nominal monetary units are used in accounting to ensure stability of the purchasing power. The qualitative properties of the financial statements are: â€Å"Understandability, Reliability, Comparability, Relevance and True and Fair View/Fair Presentation† (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 2010, para. 14). The elements of financial statements are assets, liabilities and equity. IFRS uses discretion in developing conclusion about the accounting systems of an organization. Approximations and evaluations are not accurate and discretion is required when drawing conclusions about the financial status of an organization. Strict enforcement of accounting standards will provide a better system that will monitor the businesses in the international markets (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu 2010). Conclusion IFRS developed from IAS to include the changing professional requirements and technologies in accounting. The US GAAP has been criticized for its limitation to the US economy and many accountants require the adoption of the IFRS in the accounting systems. The shift from the use of IFRS to the US GAAP will have several implications on the US financial accountants as well as other users of the accounting standards. Even though there are few differences between IFRS and the US GAAP, there are many limitations accompanied with the use of the US GAAP. Adopting the IFRS will open up the market and reduce accounting costs to multilateral firms in the US. Amendments in the IFRS continue to be made to update the standards according to the changes in technology and the global legal systems.

Knowledge management and intellectual capital Essay

Knowledge is something that comes from information processed by using data. It includes experience, values, insights, and contextual information and helps in evaluation and incorporation of new experiences and creation of new knowledge. People use their knowledge in making decisions as well as many other actions. In the last few years, many organizations realize they own a vast amount of knowledge and that this knowledge needs to be managed in order to be useful. â€Å"Knowledge management (KM) system† is a phrase that is used to describe the creation of knowledge repositories, improvement of knowledge access and sharing as well as communication through collaboration, enhancing the knowledge environment and managing knowledge as an asset for an organization. Intellectual capital is considered as a key influencer of innovation and competitive advantage in today’s knowledge based economy. Knowledge management helps in obtaining, growing and sustaining intellectual capital in organisations. This paper focuses on how knowledge management and intellectual capital helps the organization to achieve their goals and as well as the relation between these two concepts. Key words: knowledge management, intellectual capital, organizational goals, benefits Introduction: Knowledge is something that comes from information processed by using data. It includes experience, values, insights, and contextual information and helps in evaluation and incorporation of new experiences and creation of new knowledge. Knowledge originates from, and is applied by knowledge workers who are involved in a particular job or task. People use their knowledge in making decisions as well as many other actions. In the last few years, many organizations realize they own a vast amount of knowledge and that this knowledge needs to be managed in order to be useful. Knowledge management is not one single discipline. Rather, it an integration of numerous endeavours and fields of study. Knowledge management is a discipline that seeks to improve the performance of individuals and organizations by maintaining and leveraging the present and future value of knowledge assets. Knowledge management systems encompass both human and automated activities and their associated artifacts. So, what is Knowledge? Knowledge is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, expert insight and institution that provides an environment and framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. From this perspective, knowledge management is not so much a new practice as it is an integrating practice. It offers a framework for balancing the numerous of technologies and approaches that provide value, tying them together into a seamless whole. It helps analysts and designers better address the interests of stakeholders across interrelated knowledge flows and, by doing so, better enables individuals, systems and organizations to exhibit truly intelligent behaviour in multiple contexts. The reasons why companies invest in KM are that it either gives them a temporal effectiveness or efficiency advantage over their competitors, or they do it to try to negate the competitive advantage of others. For the purpose of this research, KM is defined to include the five fundamental processes of: (1) Knowledge acquisition (KA) (2) Knowledge creation (KC) (3) Knowledge documentation (KD) (4) Knowledge transfer (KT) and (5) Knowledge application (KAP) These five KM processes are not necessarily sequential but rather iterative and overlap. The effective management of knowledge necessitates a thorough understanding of the relationships not only among the KM processes themselves but also between the KM processes and the intellectual assets of an organization. Intellectual capital (IC): Intellectual capital can include the skills and knowledge that a company has developed about how to make its goods and services. It also includes insight about information pertaining to the company’s history; customers; vendors; processes; stakeholders; and all other information that might have value for a competitor that, perhaps, is not common knowledge. Intellectual capital is therefore, not only organizational knowledge, it is also industry knowledge. It is the combination of both cognitive knowledge and intuitive/experience-related knowledge. Intellectual capital is known for creating innovation and competitive advantage in this knowledge based era. But knowledge management plays a dominant role in obtaining, growing and sustaining intellectual capital in organizations which implies that the successful implementation and usage of KM ensures the acquisition and growth of Intellectual capital. Organizations should deploy and manage their IC resources in order to maximize value creation. The IC term was first introduced by Galbraith (1969) as a form of Knowledge, intellect, and brainpower activity that uses knowledge to create value. Since then, different views of IC have been emerged. For instance, view IC as a knowledge that can be converted into value. IC as the aggregation of all knowledge and competencies of employees that enable an organization to achieve competitive advantages. In addition, IC is defined to include all non-tangible assets and resources in an organization, including its processes, innovation capacity, and patents as well as the tacit knowledge of its members and their network of collaborators and contact. In spite of its multidimensionality, this research conceptualizes IC as consisting of three basic interrelated dimensions: Human capital (HC) Organizational (or structural) capital (OC), Relational (or customer) capital (OR) Human Capital encompasses attitudes, skills, and competences of the members of an organization. Organizational Capital includes elements such as organizational culture, routines and practices, and intellectual property. Relational Capital, however, includes relationships with customers, partners, and other stakeholders. The investments in Human Capital, Organizational Capital, and Relational Capital are expected to increase the value of an organization. The management of intellectual capital involves: Identifying key IC which drive the strategic performance of an organisation. Visualizing the value creation pathways and transformations of key IC Measuring performance and in particular the dynamic transformations. Cultivating the key IC using KM processes The internal and external reporting of performance Knowledge management and Intellectual capital: IC and KM serve different purposes and include the whole range of intellectual activities from knowledge creation to knowledge leverage. IC and KM as a set of managerial activities aiming at identifying and valuing the knowledge assets of an organization as well as leveraging these assets through the creation and sharing of new knowledge. KM and IC are believed to be closely coupled. When KM activities are used to develop and maintain IC, it becomes a resource of sustainable competitive advantage. On the other hand, when IC is properly utilized and exploited, it increases the absorptive capacity of the organization, which, in turn, facilitates its KM processes. Knowledge can add value to organizations through intangible assets such as Intellectual capital. Conceivably, the socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization (SECI) model is a more fitting theoretical foundation for understanding the KM-IC relationship. The SECI model outlines different interactive spaces (Ba), in which tacit knowledge can be made Explicit. The IC components (e.g. HC, OC and RC) represent the input for the knowledge creation process in the SECI model, and its main output takes the form of commercially exploitable intangibles. The four processes of the SECI model involve not only knowledge creation and utilization but also the other KM components including knowledge transfer, knowledge documentation, and knowledge acquisition. Knowledge transfer (sharing) is the common factor of the four processes of the SECI model. Socialization facilitates the conversion of new tacit knowledge through shared experience, which allows the less communicated knowledge to be communicated. Therefore, the socialization processes involve knowledge transfer. In addition, externalization is the process of articulating tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge, which can be shared by others. In the combination and internalization processes, knowledge is exchanged and reconfigured through documents, meetings, or communication networks. Effective execution of the SECI processes can generate different types of IC. Socialization involves the accumulation of HC, OC, and RC by sharing and transferring experiences through joint activities. Also, the conversion of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge through externalization creates and accumulates OC. Combination creates knowledge structures in the form of systemic, institutionalized knowledge (i.e. OC) that can be directly disseminated and distributed. Internalization, on the other hand, accumulates HC and RC through learning by doing. Review of Literature: Francis Bacon has emphasized on importance of knowledge management in organizations with his famous phrase â€Å"knowledge is power† (Muller-Merbach, H. 2005). The strategy that considers knowledge along with other resources such as land, work and capital as an asset is knowledge management (Nonaka and Takouchi, 1995). Dell (1996) believes that knowledge management is a systematic approach for finding, understanding and applying of knowledge in order to create knowledge. According to Simon (1999) knowledge management is intelligent planning of processes, tools, structures and etc with the purpose of increasing, restructuring, sharing or improving of knowledge application that is apparent in each of three elements of mental capital, i.e. structural, human and social. Some of the clear-sighted believe that knowledge management is not a technology (Clair Guy, 2002; Lang, 2001; DiMatta, 1997; Koenig,2002; McInerey, 2002). This process helps organizations to be able to use their assets, work faster and more wisely and obtain more capital (Shawarswalder, 1999). An increased attention is focused on KM and IC management in the organisation. In the last decade there has been a shift in management focus from traditional accountancy practices where financial capital is paramount, to growing realisation that intangible assets are of greater significance in our knowledge-based economy (Egbu et al 2000, 2001). Knowledge can be a valuable resource for competitive advantage and harnessing its value is one of the pre-eminent challenges of management. Identifying and exploiting knowledge assets, or intellectual capital (IC), has been vastly documented. There are different types of knowledge in an organisation from the tacit knowledge of individuals, which is unarticulated and intuitive, to explicit knowledge that is codified and easily transmitted (Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995). Further distinctions have been made by academics and practitioners involved in the IC debate. Three components of IC have been identified comprising human, structural and customer capital (Edvinsson, 2000; Bontis, 1998; Bontis et al., 2000). However, it is asserted that the human capital in an organisation is the most important intangible asset, especially in terms of innovation (Edvinsson, 2000; Stewart, 1997; Brooking, 1996). Marr et al. (2003) argue that KM is a fundamental activity for growing and sustaining IC in organizations. Bontis (1999) posits that managing organizational knowledge encompasses two related issues: organizational learning flows and intellectual capital stocks. Organizational learning, as a part of KM (Rastogi, 2000), reflects the management’s effort to managing knowledge and ensures that IC is continually developed, accumulated, and exploited. A thorough review of the relevant literature and discussions with targeted researchers in the field would suggest that the development of successful knowledge management programmes involve due cognisance of many factors. Compilation of data: Knowledge Management consists of managerial activities that focus on the development and control of knowledge in an organization to fulfil organizational objectives. The knowledge sharing takes place in the organizations in two ways, explicit and tacit. The knowledge management seem to in two tracks as dynamic process or static object. Depends on how individuals understand what knowledge is and their aims both intellectual capital and knowledge management actors thus emphasize either the static or the dynamic properties of knowledge. Measuring the knowledge management is growing area of interest in the knowledge management field. The metrics are being developed and applied by the some organizations, but limitation of current measures is that they do not necessarily address the knowledge level and the types of value added knowledge that individuals obtain. The intellectual capital is most valuable asset it brings intellectual capital firmly on to the management agenda. The sum of everything everybody in organization knows that gives a competitive edge in the market place. The individual intellect effect more attribute of an organization. The intellectual capital characterizing as Intellectual material that has been formalized, captured and leveraged to produce the static properties of knowledge are inventions, ideas, computer programs, patents, etc., as Intellectual Capital also include human resources, Human Capital, but emphasize that it is clearly to the advantage of the knowledge firm to transform the innovations produced by its human resource into intellectual assets, to which the firm can assert rights of ownership. The measures for intellectual capital in use: 1. Value extraction 2. Customer capital 3. Structural capital 4. Value creation 5. Human capital Components of intellectual capital: Human capital indicators Structural capital indicators The knowledge management community needs to be responsive to the needs management in the organization by trying to adequately measure the intellectual capital and assess the worthiness of the knowledge management initiatives. Developing metrics and studies for measuring intellectual capital will help to consolidate the knowledge management field and give the discipline further credibility. Applying of knowledge is very important to the supply chain design and operation. Intellectual capital and knowledge management principle helps to enterprise supply chains. Knowledge management is formalizes approaches to understanding and benefiting knowledge assets at the firm level. The drivers which maximizes the enterprise supply chains Operational efficiency Opportunities to better service customer and stakeholders need A spring board for innovation A foundation concept in the field of intangible assets that is important for practice in that there are two dimension of knowledge, explicit and tacit. Next we develop these ideas further by interleaving intangible and traditional firm assets. Later we indentify the special characteristics priorities for the four generic supply chain models The intellectual capital approach: Intellectual capital comprises all the nonmonetary and nonphysical resources that are fully or partially controlled by the organization and contribute to the value creation. Three categories of intellectual assets are organizational, relationship and human. Strategies to manage knowledge: 1. Operational excellence 2. Design excellence Conclusion: Hence we would like to conclude that this paper has considered the importance of knowledge management and intellectual capital to organisations. Knowledge management practices differ from organisation to organisation. Organisations are at different stages in the knowledge management trajectory. Organisations ‘learn’ at different rates and apply different techniques (formal and informal) in managing knowledge. In the study on which this paper is based, there is a general consensus that the management of knowledge assets is vital for business. Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital should be integrated to maximize organizational effectiveness. However, the relationship between KM and IC is complex and so is its management. In order to effectively manage such a relationship, it is imperative to understand where and how the accumulated IC is reflected in managing KM activities in organizations. The management of knowledge and intellectual capital provides opportunities for project creativity and innovation. However, the effective implementation of knowledge management in organisations depends on many factors, which includes people, culture, structure, leadership, people and the environment. In most organisations, there is a lack of appropriate formal measuring constructs for the measurement of the benefits of knowledge assets to organisational performance. Managers operating in the knowledge economy are required to be â€Å"knowledge leaders,† who must be aware of the relationship between knowledge and those who possess it in order to successfully fulfil their leadership responsibilities. Based on the findings of this research, managers in the organizations are expected to develop strategies, adopt structures, and construct systems that effectively coordinate and integrate the efforts aiming at managing knowledge, human resource, and customer relationship in order to enhance knowledge flows, accumulate IC, and create and sustain business values. References: Intellectual capital and knowledge management: A new era of management thinking?- Jodee Allanson Reconfiguring knowledge management – combining intellectual capital, intangible assets and knowledge creation – Tomi Hussi Intellectual capital and Knowledge management effectiveness Bernard Marr, Oliver Gupta, Stephen Pike, Goran Roos. Developing knowledge management metrics for measuring intellectual capital – Jay Liebowitz Influence of KM and Intellectual capital on organisational innovations – Charles Egbu, Katherine Botte rill and Mike Bates

Hire a Writer Better Get a Pro than a Sour Face

Hire a Writer Better Get a Pro than a Sour Face Hire a Writer: Better Get a Pro than a Sour Face Should you hire a writer or write that paper yourself? You are a hardworking student and strive to complete all assignments on your own and that is a praiseworthy initiative, but sometimes it is smart to seek a little help.   Sometimes it is better to hire a writer to craft a great model paper you can use to pattern your own paper from and here are a few reasons why you should opt for it. 1. You Waste Your Time Creating a Paper from Scratch If you have doubts, a model paper will save you time by clarifying the writing assignment, and prevent you from writing the wrong paper. Your model paper will give you a good idea of proper organization, so you will be learning valuable tips on how to craft academic writing properly. We all learn by example, right? 2.  You Spend Hours on Fruitless Research If you do not know the topic or a type of the paper you need to produce, any time spent researching is likely to be wasted because how can you find something when you are not sure what it is you are looking for? Once you have a model paper, the rest will be so easy you will know what to research and spend a fraction of the time at the library on the Internet looking for material for your paper. This is the smart way to work, instead of the hard way. 3.  You Are on Edge Being nervous and stressed because of a deadline does not help you write a better paper, it only adds to your anxiety and raises the chances of a failure or other negative outcome. One thing that can help soothe your frayed nerves and write a better paper is using a model paper. When you hire a writer to create a model essay, they are not writing your paper, they are writing a sample using the specifications you give. You then use the it as an example of style and format for your own paper. Make the best use of your time and be responsible for the outcome of your choices. Don’t spend time being nervous. Don’t decrease your odds of success. Take charge of the situation and order a model paper to achieve the best outcome. 4.  You Rush Causing Amateur Errors Usually, your grammar, spelling and formatting are impeccable. But if you have two projects and one paper to write, in addition to other responsibilities, you will be tempted to rush. This will inevitably lead to low quality work. Hire a writer to edit and proofread in order to avoid this. There are many legitimate reasons to hire a writer online to construct a model paper or edit and proofread your paper. Use your time wisely and you may find you have more time and less stress in your busy life.

Heating Properties of Firewood by Tree Species

Heating Properties of Firewood by Tree Species Firewood performance can differ from species to species. The type of tree you use for burning can vary widely in heat content, burning characteristics, and overall quality. I have created a table that presents several important burning characteristics for many species used in North America. The chart ranks each tree species by its density which is a good indicator of overall heating effectiveness. Wood Characteristics Influencing Quality Heating and Ignition Density of Wood - density is the amount of space a volume or mass of firewood occupies. The denser the wood, the less space its given mass takes up and the greater a particular volume of firewood weighs.  For an example,  hickory is about twice as dense as aspen, so a cubic foot of hickory weighs approximately 50 pounds while a cubic foot of aspen weighs only about 25 pounds.   Green Vs. Dry Wood - Firewood should be dried (seasoned) to 10% to 20% moisture content for best burning performance. Much of the energy generated from burning green firewood actually goes toward evaporating the water held in the wood. Green firewood only gives off about 40% of the energy of dry firewood. To get the most heat production out of your firewood, you should season it by first cutting into short log bolts. Split these bolts and stack in a dry,  well-ventilated  area for at least six months before burning. Available Heat by Wood Species  - Available heat is a measure of the heat given off when wood is burnt and measured in million British Thermal Units. Hardwood trees give  off more energy in BTUs than a comparable volume of softwood because it is denser. It should be noted that  the volatile oils in some softwoods can increase the heat output of some species but only for a short time. Ease of Splitting - Wood with a straight grain is easier to split than wood with a tighter more complex grain. Knots, branches, and other defects can also increase the difficulty of splitting firewood. Remember that dry wood is generally easier to split than green wood. Ease of Igniting Firewood - Ignition ability is an important factor wood factor. Low-density wood is easier to light than denser wood. Woods with higher levels of volatile chemicals in their structure, such as conifers, will ignite  and burn more readily than those with less volatile chemicals. These woods should be used to start fires where dry  high-density woods will provide the heat. Definitions of Chart Terms Density - woods dry weight per unit volume. Denser or heavier wood contains more heat per volume. Note that hickory ranks at the top of the list.Green Weight - the weight in pounds of a cord of freshly cut wood before drying.mmBTUs - million British Thermal Units. The woods actual available heat measured in BTUs.Coaling - wood that forms long-lasting coals are good to use in wood stoves because they allow a fire to be carried over a longer period effectively. Wood Heating Values Chart Common Name Density-lbs/cu.ft. Pounds/cd. (green) Million BTUs/cd. Coaling Hickory 50 4,327 27.7 good Osage-orange 50 5,120 32.9 excellent Black locust 44 4,616 27.9 excellent White oak 44 5,573 29.1 excellent Red oak 41 4,888 24.6 excellent White ash 40 3,952 24.2 good Sugar maple 42 4,685 25.5 excellent Elm 35 4,456 20.0 excellent Beech 41 NA 27.5 excellent Yellow birch 42 4,312 20.8 good Black walnut 35 4,584 22.2 good Sycamore 34 5,096 19.5 good Silver maple 32 3,904 19.0 excellent Hemlock 27 NA 19.3 poor Cherry 33 3,696 20.4 excellent Cottonwood 27 4,640 15.8 good Willow 35 4,320 17.6 poor Aspen 25 NA 18.2 good Basswood 25 4,404 13.8 poor White pine 23 NA 15.9 poor Ponderosa Pine 3,600 16.2 fair Eastern Red Cedar 31 2,950 18.2 poor

Participant Observation (Business Research Method) Essay

Participant Observation (Business Research Method) - Essay Example 2006, p. 342). Participant observer is basically carrying out a naturalistic approach to conducting research and it seems to be a commitment that attempts to adopt the perspectives of studies shared in the day to day experiences. Participant observation has been described as an ongoing and intensive observing, listening and speaking with some explanations (Ely, 1991, p. 42). Many researchers use participant observation as an umbrella term for all qualitative data gathering and data handling. Participant observation includes going out or staying out in search for qualitative data gathering, and thus the observer may learn a new language in order to express the experiences about the lives of people that the researcher comes to know. With this type of research approach, the researcher is prompted to be immersing himself in a specific culture and also learning how he can get rid of the same immersion so that he will be able to intellectualize what he has seen and heard. He will express them in writing, speaking to others and will try to convince others (Bernard, p. 2006, p. 344). Participant observation is therefore more likely to be a fieldwork, but all fieldworks are in contrary not participant observation. ... sanctioned and socially approved answers for a survey research to provide socially desirable responses to describe oneself in terms judged as desirable and to present one-self favorably (Craighead and Nemeroff, 2002, p. 1557). Social desirability affects the accuracy of data to be gathered. It is mainly influenced by the way questions are prepared or asked. Many of survey research questions are more likely to create chances of social desirability so that respondents answer questions in a pre-made answer formats. Engel and Schutt (2005, p. 234) stressed that social desirability effects are more likely to occur when discussing issues that are of controversial in nature or when researcher expresses a view that is not popular or not widely accepted. When survey researcher or interviewer asks the participants with certain ready-made questions, especially when the questions have highly desirable answers, respondents feel conflicts between a desire to conform to the definition of good respo ndent behaviour and a desire to respond and appear to the interviewer to be in a socially desirable category. In surveys with pre-made multiple choice questions, social desirability is more likely to occur among the respondents. Operational Definition An operational definition, in the context of data collection and research, is an obvious, brief, complete and careful description of a measure. Social scientist uses operational definition as a measure to explain various conceptual terms (Sprague, Stuart and Bodary, 2008, p. 205). As different types of data were gathered, operational definition is very fundamental. The operational definition is a significant one in a situation at which the decision is to be taken about something regarding whether it is correct or not, or something having the

Nursing Theorist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing Theorist - Essay Example The Neuman Systems Model, as it is sometimes called, â€Å"is a unique, open systems-based perspective that provides a unifying focus for approaching a wide range of international health concerns. Being universal in nature, it is open to creative interpretation and is widely used throughout the world† (Betty, 2009). Placed in the nursing process, Neuman’s system promotes holistic understanding of the patient. Because it is very broad-based and general, as the above quotation suggests, the Neuman system is applicable to a wide variety of situations. The generality of the theory also makes it more feasible in different situations. â€Å"The client in the Neuman’s system model is viewed as an open system in which repeated cycles of input, process, out put and feed back constitute a dynamic organizational pattern. The client may be an individual, a group, a family, a community or an aggregate† (Betty, 2009). Another strength is that the theory is modern, rather than having to be translated across dozens of years, or even centuries. Neuman’s model is actually, while it appears somewhat complicated, about two major components: stress, and the body’s reaction to it. If one can picture the theory in these terms, it becomes somewhat less complicated. One weakness of the theory is that it is so general that compromises in application could also result; another is that t he theory does not appear to have a lot of empirical support in peer-reviewed journals as anything other than a side-note, and the main source of information that comes up on an internet search does not include scholarly articles, but blogs and Neuman’s own website. Purpose: A lot of the problems with esoteric theory have centered around taking a theory and applying it to reality in a realistic and effective manner. Therefore, it is important to know whether or not real-world nurses can see