African American treatment by the police Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

African American treatment by the police - Essay Example Most African Americans, particularly those victimized by crime is a disproportionate manner, have little trust that the police would treat them in a fair manner. On the contrary, the population believes that law enforcement officials should treat all people equally regardless of their race, gender, or religious affiliation. This issue has attracted considerable attention, in different parts of the country based on the growing rates of victimization and exaggeration y the media in the United States (University of Texas, 2013). This paper will depict the issue of victimization of African American by law enforcement officials. It will also discuss how the media influences the perception of the public towards a criminal, and how media depiction of an incident affects individuals involved in a criminal activity. Researchers have revealed that a large number of black young men feel targeted by the police, particularly when driving or walking. In this case, they feel judged by stereotypes, which fuel resentment, hopelessness, and fear. Statistically, when targeting issues such as implementation of a drug policy, pulling individuals over, or implementing a death penalty, various racial disparities prevail. As such, just as most black Americans are influenced by crime in a disproportionate manner, the police equally scrutinize them unfairly (Fiducia Project, 2012). In 2010, for instance, African-Americans, representing 13% of the total population, accounted for about 55% gun homicides victims. These conflicting feelings have resulted to creation of incompatible policies. During the mid-1980s, a time when cocaine epidemic was dominant, tearing apart communities and families, and fueling murders, black lawmakers were on the forefront to facilitate in the establishment of laws that would help control the menace. This issue led

Case Study - Mr. Brown, Heart block Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

- Mr. Brown, Heart block - Case Study Example Brown did not want a pacemaker in his chest. In this context, the ethical principles which are involved along with identifying alternatives and developing a suitable action plan for solving the ethical problem relating to this case has been depicted. Steps To Take When Solving Ethical Dilemmas A 70 years aged patient, Ed Brown was admitted in the hospital suffering from the problem of third-degree heart block along with the syncopal episodes, weakness as well as fatigue for around 21 days. In consultation with a cardiologist, it was observed that Mr. Brown required a stable pacemaker which was conveyed to the patient and thus an approval was obtained thereof. However, while being taken to the holding area, Mr. Brown changed his mind deciphering strong reluctance to undergo the operation. He communicated with the nurse regarding his wish. The information was then conveyed immediately to physician. After attending the patient in the holding area, the physician then suggested Mr. Brown to discuss the entire procedure. The examples referred above depict one of the common phenomena witnessed in medical treatments where patients often change their decisions just prior to the surgery due to anxiety or uneasiness or emotional dilemma. The key players engaged with the case can be identified as the patient, Mr. Brown, the nurse and the physician or surgeon. Apparently, Mr. Brown’s wish was to regain his health while the interests of the nurse and the physician was to render adequate health assistance to the patient and ultimately cure the problems with which he was admitted to the hospital. From an in-depth perspective, the wish of the nurse was to assist the patient in order to serve him with appropriate healthcare without hampering his interests. In this context, a strong influence of emotional strength can be witnessed which in turn motivated Mr. Brown to reject undertaking the medical treatment with the pacemaker surgery just before he was being taken to the h olding area. The emotional interests of the patient in this context can be identified as his willingness to have no other injuries on his body because of surgery. It can also be affirmed that as Mr. Brown was already 70 years old, he might have preferred to die with dignity without taking the support of a machine to live a longer life. This gave rise to the dilemma for the medical practitioners to secure their medical obligations of to preserve the emotional interests of Mr. Brown. Dilemma With regard to the case study, it has been viewed that the main dilemma was that the cardiologist desired to perform the surgery to set pacemaker in Mr. Brown’s respiratory system so as to satisfy his professional obligations to secure patient’s health and preserve life. In the similar context, the nurse also desired to preserve Mr. Brown’s life serving his with adequate medical assistance, but simultaneously ensuring that his emotional interests were not hurt. On the other ha nd, the reluctance deciphered by Mr. Brown a few minutes prior to the surgery before being placed in the holding area can be assumed to be his anxiety of undergoing such a major operation or his emotional interest to face death with dignity. Hence, even though the moral concerns of all these key players can be identified as just and appropriate, the clash between patient’s emotional interests and practitioners’ professional interests gave rise to the conflict. According to the case study, it can be stated that in such circumstances, in case the surgery

The Importance Of Work Environment Construction Essay

The Importance Of Work Environment Construction Essay 3.1 Introduction This chapter reveals the importance of work environment and gives an over view on different types of office designs and its applications. Unit also provides an insight in to the evolution of the modern offices. Workplace and Its Importance A workplace is the physical work environment and it is very important to a person. The physical work environment is ranked one of the top three factors employees take into account when deciding to accept, decline or leave a job according to research carried out by the American Society of Interiors (ASID, 1999). Employee comfort, flexibility, access to equipments and privacy all depends on the physical work environment. Thus an unsatisfactory physical environment can lead to occupant dissatisfaction. The prime factors the employees value in a work environment (ASID, 2001); Comfort of the work environment, which includes the climate, ergonomics, lighting, noise, privacy, cleanliness and the overall atmosphere. Communication, which is the effective means of communicating internally and externally with co-workers and customers. Easy access to people, equipments and things needed in a workplace. Functionally Efficient making the employees perform their task in an easy and efficient manner and with the effective utilization of space. Workplace Productivity According to Clements-Croome (2000) workplace productivity depends on the following variables; Personal characteristics- the job itself Characteristics of indoor climate- lighting, acoustic, temperature, air quality and workplace layout Social factors- coworkers and the relationships with them Organizational characteristics- structure of the organization and the management Office productivity is a composite of the physical environment and the behavioural environment (Barry P. Haynes, 2007). Physical environment of productivity falls into two main categories: office layout and office comfort. The components distraction, interaction and informal interaction points relate more to the behavioural environment of productivity. Fig 3.3 Validated Theoretical Framework of Office Productivity (Barry P. Haynes, 2007) Factor Name Attributes 1 Comfort Ventilation, heating, natural lighting, artificial lighting, dà ©cor, cleanliness, overall comfort, physical security. 2 Office layout Informal meeting areas, formal meeting areas, quiet areas, quiet areas, privacy, personal storage, general storage, work area-desk and circulation space. 3 Interaction Social interaction, work interaction, creative physical environment, overall atmosphere, position relative to colleagues, position relative to equipment, overall office layout and refreshments. 4 Distraction Interruptions, crowding, noise Table 3.3 Components of Office Productivity (Barry P.Haynes, 2007) The primary goal in building design is designing spaces that are conducive to the tasks being performed in these spaces and to operate building systems in an efficient manner. The indoor air quality (IAQ) deteriorates and energy is wasted when the building systems that regulate and control indoor environmental conditions do not function properly. Conflict in performance requirements between several attributes, such as ventilation, lighting, or temperature can result from poor building performance. The cumulative effect of less than satisfactory performance culminates in environmental stresses perceived by the occupants. Building integrity depends on satisfaction of various factors (Preiser, 1989); Functional/ Spatial Quality Thermal Quality Air Quality Acoustic Quality Visual Quality The researchers have, for the most part, ignored the effects of building indoor environment on productivity and job satisfaction considering the great importance of the workplace, and the stresses related to it. The field studies were usually carried out by industrial organizations to determine the effects of extreme temperature and humidity conditions on workers. Most of the occupants in recent case studies have been highly dissatisfied with an environmental attribute even though some of the technical measurements indicate that current standards are being met. This shows the need to reassess the measurements and standards as they apply to more specific and newly emerging functional requirements. 3.4 Evolution of Modern Office Office is where people come to engage in activities for enterprise persevere and prosper. Office buildings in mid 1800s where rooms rented to a single company or to several firms for clerical and executive business. With a single purpose office building the workplace evolved with advances in construction technology, improvements in office equipment, and developments in organization theory. As the workforce grew, they were accommodated in larger general-purpose office spaces. Bullpens were the placement of enclosed offices on the perimeter created sizable interior spaces where hundreds of clerical workstations were placed in these expansive interior spaces. Fig 3.4 Open bullpen office space in 1926 (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS browsed on 09-07-09) It consisted of a rigid arrangement of desks in rows. With no visual or acoustic privacy, noisy, poorly lit environment they provided individual workers uncomfortable places to work. Ergonomics was not considered. A new office design called the Burolandschaft was developed in the late 1950s in Germany, which provide flexible office. Spacious layouts and high-quality furnishings were used. Space was divided into individual work areas tailoring to the occupants needs. Robert Propst, in 1960, developed an unconventional approach to furnishing offices by replacing traditional office furniture as desks and credenzas with furniture components and panels that could be assembled into a wide range of work settings. Storage units, work surfaces and other elements were hung on freestanding panels, which could be arranged as needed to form a complete office work setting. This was the beginning of systems furniture (GSA). Changes occurring in the organization, communication techniques as well as functional conceptions of office space are presented in table. Conventional Contemporary Pattern of Work Routine Individual tasks Isolated 9-5 Creative Group, project work Interactive Extended Occupancy Own desk/office Low utilization Low density Shared as needed High utilization High density Settings Status based Single setting Task based Multiple/varied Settings Table 3.4 Changes in functional concepts of office space (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS) 3.5 Types of Office Layouts in Modern Buildings 3.5.1 Closed Plan/Cellular Office In closed plan, full height walls or partitions divide the space into offices and support space by floor-to-ceiling partitions (walls) with doors. It usually has a desk and chair. The people (one or two) working in a cellular office use the same office everyday and leave their working material there. Private offices are situated along the window wall. Administrative support is housed in workstations along corridors or in shared rooms. 3.5.2 Open Plan Office (More Working in Less Space) Open plan office has a large open space and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms such as private offices. An open plan office saves spaces as compared to cellular offices. Cost, efficiency and communication are the major advantage of open plan. Fig 3.5.2 An open plan office in Abu Dhabi, UAE Open plan provides greater opportunity to maximize the utilization of space than closed plan and minimizes the circulation space required because workstations can be modified slightly to fit available space. The use of systems furniture in open plan can also improve space utilization because a job function can normally be accommodated in less space in a systems furniture workstation than in a closed-plan office. Most of the modern buildings in UAE are implementing open plan offices. This design saves money, promotes teamwork and improves flexibility for future renovations. But many employees view this design as a series of compromises in terms of space, prestige and privacy. As employees consider changing from closed plan to open plan cubicles, they often have concerns about their abilities to work productively in what they anticipate to be noisier, more distracting workplace. The most overwhelming complaint about open plan office design is the lack of acoustic privacy. New Environments for Working The behavioural component of productivity, interaction signifies the importance of work interaction with the functional spaces such as hive, den, club and cell and link analysis which relates to the position relative to the equipment. 3.6.1 Francis Duffy Theory Francis Duffy, chairman of international architectural practice DEGW and one of the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of office design theorized that office design is closely related to increasing productivity at work through work-based layouts. Francis Duffy bases his theory on two organizational needs privacy and teamwork. This explains the dynamics of change in office design and throws light on the ways in which office layouts are likely to differ and to change. Privacy and teamwork are interrelated with many aspects of office design because they affect workers expectations about the layout and work settings. Duffy identified organizational types as hive, cell, den and club in a way to capture the distinct work patterns and distinctive design features of each. The implications of modern working practices for the specification and performance of building form and environment systems were studied in 1997 by DEGW in collaboration with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) (Laing et al, 1998). This led to the development of a model for design logic in new office comprising of four alternative office layout topologies according to the activities they support. These were designated as; Hive Hive office is characterized by individual routine process work with low levels of interaction and low autonomy. The user sits at the workstations for continuous periods of time. Examples are call centre, customer support offices, BPOs etc. Den Den office is associated with group work, interactive but not highly autonomous. This office is for group working in a simple setting, typically arranged in the open-plan or group room example, workstations in Advertising agency, Sales offices etc Cell Cell offices are for individual concentrated work with little interaction. Individuals occupy the whole office in an intermittent irregular pattern with extended working days, working elsewhere some of the time. This space is highly autonomous for example, CEOs cabins, lawyers Office etc. Club Club offices are for knowledge workers and are highly autonomous and  Ã‚   interactive. Occupancy is intermittent and over an extended working day. For example, conference rooms, meeting area, break-out areas and cafeteria where there are one off meetings, not ongoing interaction between the same people. ` Fig.3.6.1a Arrangement space based on functionality (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS) Cell Hive Den Club Fig:3.6.1b Typical arrangement in modern offices according to functionality (Source: http://ergo.in/paw_funatwork.html browsed on 08-08-2009 original source: unknown) 3.6.2 Spaces for Performance For the performance of workers three types of spaces are identified (BCO, 2008); Spaces to concentrate This is to provide space for workers for performing tasks, which require high levels of privacy and attention. These can be separate rooms, designated areas or rooms separated from noise and distraction of the office. These spaces are equipped with furniture and adjustable settings. Spaces to collaborate A collaborate space is a dedicated area for the teams to work and communicate freely. It should be well equipped with white boards, pen, paper, AV equipment etc. Movable furniture and flexible work settings should be there for personalized use. To suit the task and time of day, the lighting should be adjustable. Spaces to contemplate Contemplate space provide a space for the people to recover from stress and noise of the office environment. It should provide calm and noise free environment. Plants and adjustable lighting can make the contemplate space more relaxing. 3.6.3 Integrated Workspace The result of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to developing and providing workspace, bringing together the organizations strategic real property plan with strategic business goals is Integrated Workplace. It provides the people in a workplace the physical space and tools needed for their success. Integrated workplace provides a flexible, efficient and cost-effective office environment that enhances productivity and retains quality work force. 3.7 Functional arrangement of office space 3.7.1 Link Analysis Link analysis is a technique used to represent relationships between elements in a design. It assesses the links or connections between areas, such as the frequency of peoples movements between two spaces. Applying this technique to the existing office environment will contribute to a conclusion of who needs who for the new office floor layouts. Avoiding any unnecessary movement around the office shall free up any possible hint of congestion. This technique will indicate where links are and most useful, but will not give the frequency. Therefore, an observational study of the current office structure will be concluded to see the frequency of events within the linking system. (Brooks, 1998) Link Analysis before reorganisation Link Analysis after reorganisation layout Fig 3.7.1 Link Analysis (Adopted from Brooks, 1998) Avoiding unnecessary journeys around a workplace can ease areas of congestion and reduce annoyance levels for workers seated near walkways. 3.8 Conclusion The selection of the work place is truly based on the work culture, work style and nature of the job. Workplace selection should be primarily based on the job demands. Each Job has its own requirements and if the facilitator is not able to meet the job demands that will lead to a decline in the productivity of the office workers. Chapter-4 Factors Affecting Workplace Satisfaction and Productivity 4.1 Introduction Before analysing the satisfaction level of the occupants we need to understand the factors related to workplace. This chapter provides and insight to the factors affecting the workplace, sick building syndromes (SBS) and indoor environment quality (IEQ) parameters. 4.2 Common Complaints in a Workplace Key aspects affecting workplace satisfaction and productivity (Hilary Davies, 2005, RICS ): Workplace layout: Most of the modern offices are open-plan to increase flexibility and allow changes in organization size and structure. Open-plan was intended to allow more communication among the co-workers. But according to study conducted by Pekala (2001) the work-success ratio for those who worked in open-plan was 74% less than those in enclosed offices. Thus the occupants were not satisfied with their work environment affecting their productivity. Distractions: In most of the modern offices, noise is more because of workstation density and use of more office equipments. Workplace grids create more distraction. Workers in open plan are 65% more distracted than in private offices (Olson 2000). Increased errors and stress is generated as a result of working in a noisy environment. Thus noise impacts productivity (Leaman and Bordass 1999) and 70% of the occupants agreed that productivity can be increased by decreasing the office noise (Carsia 2002) . Comfort, Health and Well-being: Air quality and ergonomics are the major areas which affect the occupants health and work environment. Repetitive strain injuries affect the health of the occupants leading to back pain and rehabilitation. Studies conducted by Kruk (1989) showed that an ergonomically designed chair can increase the occupant satisfaction in an office by 15%. Indoor air pollution also affects the occupant productivity which inturn can cause sick building syndrome (SBS). Indoor Environment: Indoor environmental factors such as insufficient day-light, lighting, smelly air, acoustics causes occupant dissatisfaction and discomfort. Occupant satisfaction and productivity is inter-related. 79% of the employees surveyed in a Steelcase survey (2003) believed that the physical environment had an impact on occupant satisfaction. Frequently reported unfavorable conditions in UK offices were: high/low temperatures, stale air, noise problems, low quality lighting and insufficient day-light (Clements-Croome and Kaluarachchi , 2000). Personal Control: This is one of the major problems affecting occupant satisfaction. Most of the occupants can be satisfied with individual control over their environment and when they are allowed to participate in the design decisions. Efficiency and morale increases when occupants are allowed to reconfigure their workplaces (Stern, 1991). The difference between a tolerable and intolerable workspace is the ability to fine-tune locally. The ability to control climate, reducing glare by able to move the desk, able to open the window, quiet space, storage space all boost employee satisfaction and productivity according to the survey by Knoll. Employee Stress: Stress affecting the occupants can be various. This can be work-related stress due to increased workload or inadequate resources or less time, stress from home and life aspirations. High stress office environment can result from unsupportive, monitoring supervisors and low levels of job control (Kaplan and Arnoff, 1996). An open plan office with less privacy, increased noise and disturbances can also lead to low levels of psychological privacy. Thus dissatisfaction with the physical environment lead to decreased job performance. 4.3 Spatial Comfort Productivity As the offices shrink in size, dimensions of the office furniture become more important to the worker. Occupant in a building evaluates spatial comfort in terms of the amount of space they have, storage and ergonomic comfort of furniture. Key aspects of office furniture, such as work surface dimension, file storage; partition height and choice of accessories also affect spatial comfort. Smaller offices and workstations at higher densities cause users to be more aware of the amount of work surface they have. All these have a direct impact on the functional comfort and performance of work in an office. Although modern office furniture is physically comfort, corporate tendency to standardize office and workstation layouts (one size fits all) and to density layouts at the cost of spaces to meet and work together makes a certain percentage of users functionally uncomfortable. Factors such as proximity to co-workers, varying partition height to enable contact with some colleagues and protect from contact with circulation areas and other workgroups, proximity to spaces to meet and work together and convenient access to shared storage and equipment all have a direct effect on how well people work. Spatial comfort affects productivity of the occupants in a building as workspace size, configuration, storage and shared work areas directly affect the performance of individual and team tasks. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe a situation where the occupants in a building experience acute health or comfort problems during the time spent time in a particular building. The complaints can be widespread in a building or confined to a particular room or zone. The condition is temporary and most of the occupants find relief once they are out of the building. But some buildings can have long-term problems. According to the World Health Organization (1984 Committee Report) 30% of the new and re-modeled buildings may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Frequently reported symptoms or complaints of SBS are (Thad Godish, 1995); Sensory irritation in eyes, nose and throat Neurotoxic or general health problems such as headache, sluggishness, mental fatigue, dizziness, reduced memory Skin Irritations Nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions as running nose, asthma-like symptoms Odor and taste sensations 4.4.1 Causes of Sick Building Syndrome According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation, the primary contributor to SBS is inadequate ventilation. Air contamination from sources within the building such as copying machines was reported to be major cause of contamination. Other indoor sources like adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, pesticides, and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde, which can affect the health of the occupants, and at high concentrations be carcinogens. Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources which can enter the building through poorly located air intake vents, windows, and other openings and biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, pollen, and viruses can also cause sick building symptoms. 4.5 Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) The IEQ in a building can affect the health, comfort and well-being of the occupant and intern the productivity of work. Indoor Environment Quality is used to describe air quality and the attributes of enclosed spaces. The key components of IEQ are; Indoor air quality Thermal comfort Acoustic environment quality Luminous and visual environment quality 4.5.1 Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality is a major concern as it can have a major impact on occupant health, .90% of the people spent their time indoor and most of their in an office environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studies show that there can be more indoor pollutant levels than found outside which can increase the risk of illness. Indoor air pollution is ranked the most important environmental health problem. An improved indoor air quality can result in higher productivity. The factors that affect indoor air quality are; pollutants or odors; building ventilation systems; moisture and humidity occupant perceptions and susceptibilities Fig 4.5.1 Under floor air distribution system (Source:http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/underfloorair/typicaloffice.htm browsed on 10-07-09) 4.5.2 Thermal Comfort Thermal comfort is defined as the subjective satisfaction with the thermal environment (Bligh and Johnson, 1975). Thermal comfort is the psychological state of mind and affects the overall morale of a person. Productivity decreases in a workplace as employee complaints may increase and in some cases people may refuse to work in a particular environment. Air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and air movement are factors of thermal environment which may also contribute to the symptoms of sick building syndrome.(HSE Guidance) 4.5.3 Acoustic environment quality An important attribute of commercial office building design is acoustics. One of the most prevalent annoyance sources in offices is noise which can lead to stress for occupants to maintain a high level satisfaction and moral health among occupants a good acoustic environment is very essential. The major sources of dissatisfaction include: Speech interruptions, such as people talking over the phone, in adjacent areas and corridors Equipment noise Excessive background noise from HVAC and lighting systems Lack of conversational privacy Lack of personal control over noise levels Space being acoustically too lively or too dead Fig 4.5.3 An open plan office with no acoustic privacy (Source:http://www.rockwool.com/acoustics/acoustical+comfort/acoustic+in+special+buildings/offices browsed 10-07-09) The levels of background noise and speech privacy and separation between particular types of spaces have important implication for the work environment and productivity of building occupants. Distractions due to the sound of speech have been found to be significantly problematic especially in open plan offices. This is because speech is more distracting than unintelligible speech or sounds with no information content. Conversely, office spaces with low background noise can have poor levels of speech privacy, which can also hinder communication. (Peter Newton, Keith Hampson, 2009) 4.5.4 Luminous and visual environment quality The luminous and visual environment quality is the totality of the characteristics of a building, which affects the occupants visual perceptions. The occupants abilities to perform tasks will be affected by the luminous and visual environment if they are visually intensive. Occupant perceptions can be affected by the following (Peter Newton, Keith Hampson, 2009): Luminance levels (ambient and task) for different task and their uniformity Glare levels and reflections in computer screens Levels of personal control through task lighting, shading or dimmers Access to daylight and views Lighting characteristics, such as color temperature and ballast flicker Visual appeal and color scheme of interior design Fig 4.5.4 An Office with abundant daylight for the entire office to gather (Source: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/12/1201_idea_factory/source/8.htm 12-07-09) Dissatisfaction with the visual environment can be due to limited access to daylight, inappropriate light levels, glare levels and lack of control over the environment. Appropriate task lighting and integration of day lighting and electric lighting systems for ambient lighting wherever feasible can be introduced for improving the luminous and visual environment and maximizing occupant comfort,. 4.6 Office Ergonomics Ergonomics incorporates the scientific and engineering disciplines that are concerned with the humans at work. An ergonomically designed workspace enhances peoples well-being, make work easy to do and allow people to perform efficiently (Kroemer, 2001). The elements of ergonomic assessment include general physical activity, lifting and handling, work postures and movements, accident risk, job content, job restrictiveness, worker communication and personal contacts, decision making, repetitiveness of the work, the need for attentiveness, lighting and vision, thermal environment and noise. Ergonomic parameters which are required in the design of a workstation are (Craig A. Langston, 2003); seat height with feet flat on the floor height to top of thigh when seated (for desk height) eye height above seat level (for use of computer) height from seat to underside of elbow (for arm rest height) near reach when seated and far reach when seated, affecting spread of equipment and functions on a desk and adjacent surfaces Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is the common type of injury due to poorly designed workstation. The RSI develops slowly and affects many parts of the body. An ergonomically designed workstation can reduce the possibility of RSI. Fig 3.8 An Ergonomically designed Workstation (Adopted from David A. Madsen, 1990) 4.7 Conclusion Every workstation has pros and cones while comparing openness, flexibility, privacy etc. While analysing the workplace satisfaction level the selection of type of workstation is an important factor. Furniture, accessories, flooring, ceiling, HVAC System, lighting, sound insulation, color schemes, interior design themes and corporate identity are the other ]factors affecting the satisfaction level of the occupants. Low Quality building design or interior design and poor maintenance will lead to sick building syndromes (SBS). Next chapter elaborates the method of research conducted to identify the facts.

Condoms Essay -- Sex Protection Condoms Descriptive Process Essays

Condoms The word condom is probably derived from Latin "condus" meaning receptacle. Another explanation is that the gut condom was invented by the English army doctor Colonel Quondam in around 1645 and that the word is a corruption of his name. We do not know who invented condoms, but we do know that they were in use. There is evidence of this in the writings of Marquis de Sade, Casanova and James Boswell. The latter, a Scottish lawyer and writer, protected himself against sexually transmitted diseases by using a linen condom. During a visit to an Amsterdam brothel in 1764, he drank with a prostitute, but the encounter went no further as he'd left his "armour" behind. When visiting a brothel in Marseilles, Casanova tried so-called "English raincoats", and spoke of reaching great heights. The oldest illustration of a condom was found in Egypt and dates back more than 3,000 years. It is difficult to judge from the drawing what the ancient Egyptian wearing the condom had in mind. He may have worn it for sexual or ritual reasons-or both. Some claim that, in later times, the Romans made condoms from the muscle tissue of warriors they defeated in battle. The oldest condoms were discovered in the foundations of Dudley Castle near Birmingham, England. They were made of fish and animal intestine and dated back to 1640. They were probably used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections during the war between the forces of Oliver Cromwell and soldiers loyal to King Charles I. Ancient Times Throughout the age's people have tried to find ways of preventing conception and venereal diseases. Obvious methods, such as withdrawal, the rhythm method, douches, and sponges were used, as were various predecessors of today's condom. In ancient Egypt, a linen sheath was used as protection against troublesome insects and tropical diseases. The Chinese tried to prevent infection by wrapping oiled silk paper around the penis, and the Japanese had leather and tortoiseshell sheaths. The Romans used tampons that had been dipped in herbs and condoms made of goats' bladders. Middle Ages The history of condoms in Europe begins in the sixteenth century, when the venereal disease syphilis reached epidemic proportions. In 1564, the Italian doctor Gabriel Falloppio wrote in the book 'Morbo Gallico', that a linen bag drenched in a solution of salt or herbs formed a ... ...ave a variety of condoms, which will please even the most discriminating tastes. You may even like the taste of flavored latex more than the real thing! Some alternatives to the dental dam Dental dams offer a unique kind of problem. Many people do not like to use dental dams because they like to feel the tongue to clitoris or tongue to anus stimulation. Along with dental dams, you can employ some other stimulation to complete the experience. Wear a latex glove covered in lubricant to further tease your partner's anus or vagina. If dental dams are becoming a problem because you are tired of holding something on your partner, you can use plastic wrap and wrap it around the vagina and/or anus. While cellophane is not as good protection as latex (and should never be used instead of condoms), using it will keep the hands free to use elsewhere. Use lubricant inside and outside the condom. (Many condoms are pre-lubricated.) Lubrication helps prevent rips and tears, and it increases sensitivity. Use only water-based lubricants, such as K-YÂ ® jelly or LUVE, with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly, cold cream, butter, or mineral and vegetable oils damage latex.

Tanglewood Case Two

Tanglewood Case 2 Strategic Staffing (HR 594) Summer Session B [email  protected] com TANGLEWOOD CASE TWO ATT: Daryl Perrone After analyzing the data and performing an environmental scan it is clear that the demographics of Spokane, Washington will present you will problems filling vacancies based on the Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. Spokane is the second largest city in Washington and according to my research 84% of these people are white. The next largest minority group, Hispanic, is only at 5% and the third largest group is mixed races which is just 3. 8%.As you can see Tacoma, Washington is not very diverse and finding the enough competent employees from minority groups may be difficult given the fact that there are not that many to begin with. According to the Census Bureau, Tacoma’s percentages of non-white employment in both the fields of retail salespersons and first line supervisors for retail are low in comparison with the available workforce. This tel ls me that it is not just Tanglewood that is failing to hire minorities; the whole city of Tacoma needs to do a better job of increasing their minority incumbency percentages.Incumbency is a term used to describe that a position is being held and is often used by the human resource department to determine where and how demographic shifts are needed. Although your minority incumbency percent is well above the required 80% for department managers finding more minorities for positions with higher volumes of vacancy is going to be a huge problem. Your store associate minority incumbency percent is only at 65. 8% and in order to meet the requirements you need to do a better job of recruiting minorities to fill these positions. The percent of minority incumbency for shift leaders is also too low.As far as female incumbency percentages are concerned, the department manager position needs to be improved more than anything. It is quite clear that Tanglewood needs to hire more females for man agerial positions and more minorities for entry level positions. According to my gap analysis, next year you are going to be extremely short of store associates and filling these positions according to the EEO will be a difficult task. Tell your managers that they need to get busy and prepare to hire 3,995 people for store associate level positions. You will also need to hire quite a few department managers; a total of 156.As far as shift leaders are concerned, only 90 people are needed for this position. There will be staff overloads for both assistant store managers and store managers. This means that perhaps some people will need to be let go and when doing so I recommend that you keep in mind the low incumbency percentage for females in the manager positions. Also remember that more minorities are needed for both store associates and shift leaders. In order to balance out your employment structure more, I have come up with a simple statement of action for hiring for Washington n ext year.The most important thing seems to be solving your problem of maintaining store associates. This year, 41% of your store associates left your company and in order to decrease this percentage you need to make sure that the employees are being taken care of properly. Some methods to retain more employees are by giving them more opportunities for advancement within the company, increasing their benefits package, proving higher wages, etc. Too many people at the entry level are giving up and this improving your ability to retain employees will prove to be beneficial to the company.Another major plan of action is to fill in more of the entry level positions with minorities. Your incumbency percentage for this category is really low and if you don’t fix this problem you are going to be facing a load of issues with the EEO. Unlike your problem with promoting women to management positions, your problem with providing low entry jobs for minorities is one that will require rest ructuring and time. Although there are not a lot of minorities in the area to fill these positions it is your company’s duty to do a better job of recruiting minorities.This means that you will need to change your recruitment practices and perhaps extend beyond Tacoma to find talent. Realistically I don’t see Tanglewood meeting the demands for minority incumbency for the store associate position in a single year. Hiring internally gives the current employees more hope and will improve the problem you are facing with keeping your employees loyal to the company. Although focusing primarily on internal promotions decreases the chance of finding a stellar employee, it will solve a lot of the current problems your company is facing. I recommend that you promote current females and minorities internally.This will keep more low entry level employees motivated to stay and also improve your problems with incumbency percentages as well. Wood himself mentioned in a recent intervi ew with Business Monthly that, â€Å"Tanglewood really needs to slow down and take a hard look at our corporate culture†. He goes on by saying, â€Å"Right now, we need to consolidate and make sure we’re as close to the company’s original mission as we can be†. Taking this quote into consideration it is clear that the recent expansion increases have destroyed the relationship between the low level employees and Tanglewood.This does not merely apply to the Washington stores, but to rather the entire store as a whole. People are running in and out of this company and the only way to stop the large percentage of people quitting is by doing a better job of taking care of their needs. On a personal and professional level employees, especially at the low entry level, need to be Tanglewood’s top priority. Table 1. 1 Markov Analysis Information Transition probability matrix| Current year| | (1)| (2)| (3)| (4)| (5)| Exit| Previous year| (1) Store associate| 0. 53| 0. 06| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 41| | (2) Shift leader| 0. 00| 0. 50| 0. 16| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 4| | (3) Department manager| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 58| 0. 12| 0. 00| 0. 30| | (4) Assistant store manager| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 06| 0. 46| 0. 08| 0. 40| | (5) Store manager| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 00| 0. 66| 0. 34| | | Forecast of availabilities| Next year (projected)| | (1)| (2)| (3)| (4)| (5)| Exit| | | Current Workforce| | | | | | | Previous year| (1) Store associate| 8,500| 4505| 510| 0| 0| 0| 3485| | (2) Shift leader| 1,200| 0| 600| 192| 0| 0| 408| | (3) Department manager| 850| 0| 0| 493| 102| 0| 255| | (4) Assistant store manager| 150| 0| 0| 9| 69| 12| 60| | (5) Store manager| 50| 0| 0| 0| 0| 33| 17| | | | | | | | |Gap analysis| Next year (projected)| | | | (1)| (2)| (3)| (4)| (5)| | Year end total(column sum)| 4505| 1110| 694| 171| 55| | External hires needed (current workforce-total)| 3995| 90| 156| 0| 0| WORKS CITED 1. Table 1. 1 , Markov Analysis Information by Tanglewood Casebook to Accompany Staffing Organizations, 7e 2. Table 1. 2 Determining Availability by Tanglewood Casebook to Accompany Staffing Organizations, 7e 3. Table 1. 3 Comparing Incumbency to Availability and Annual Placement Goals, by Tanglewood Casebook to Accompany Staffing Organizations, 7e 4. †Spokane Population and Demographics. † Area Connect. MDNH Inc.

Nicu Nursing Care Plan

A  Neonatal Intensive Care Unit  (NICU) is an  intensive care unit  specializing in the care of ill or  premature  newborn  infants. Neonates who need to go to the unit are often admitted within the first 24 hours after birth. Newborns may be sent to the NICU if: †¢ they're born  prematurely †¢ difficulties occur during their delivery †¢ they show signs of a problem in the first few days of life (sepsis/infection, congenital defects, cardiac / respiratory abnormalities, low birth weight) NICU EQUIPMENT: †¢ BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR  may be a smaller version of the blood pressure cuff used  on older children and adults.Or  an  ARTERIAL CATHETER  (tiny tube inserted in an artery) may be used to monitor blood pressure. †¢ CARDIORESPIRATORY MONITOR  keeps track of the baby’s heartbeat and breathing †¢ CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine  delivers air or oxygen through tubes in the nostrils. It uses low, contin uous pressure to keep the lungs inflated. †¢ ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE (ETT)   used with a respirator or ventilator to send air directly to the lungs. †¢ FEEDING TUBE (ALSO CALLED A GAVAGE TUBE) †¢ INCUBATOR used when newborn is relatively stable but still premature or requiring intravenous fluids or other special attention.The incubator keeps the newborn warm with moistened air in a clean environment, and helps to protect the baby from noise, drafts, infection, and excess handling †¢ INTRAVENOUS LINE (IV) †¢ PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETER (PICC) OR A PERCUTANEOUS CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER (PCVC)  may be inserted in a central (large) vein. This catheter is used to give the fluids, nutrition, and medication. †¢ PHOTOTHERAPY LIGHTS, OR â€Å"BILI LIGHTS,† are used when neonates have jaundice †¢ PULSE OXIMETER  measures the level of oxygen in the baby’s blood.It’s attached to the skin with a sensor taped to the baby’s h and or foot. It works by shining a light through the baby’s hand or foot RADIANT WARMERS used for very unstable or extremely premature newborns †¢ RESPIRATOR OR VENTILATOR   used to help the baby breathe. These machines are attached to an ETT. †¢ TEMPERATURE PROBE †¢ UMBILICAL ARTERIAL CATHETER (UAC) OR UMBILICAL VENOUS CATHETER (UVC)- catheter is placed in the artery or vein at the stump of the umbilical cord. It’s used to give the medications, fluids, and nutrition. It’s also used to draw blood for lab tests. WEIGHING SCALE COMMON NICU TESTS: †¢ help determine the neonate’s problems and how they should be treated †¢ monitor newborn’s progress. If the neonate needs a major test, the doctor will ask the parents or legal guardian to sign a consent form before the test is done. BLOOD TESTS-provide crucial information on the potential and present problems of the neonate †¢ Bilirubin levels, blood sugar, blood chemistry, electrolytes, CBC, blood C/S, blood gas COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CAT OR CT SCAN)-produce a more precise image of tissue than an X-ray or ultrasound examination.ECHOCARDIOGRAM- detects structural problems (heart defects) and problems with how the heart works. HEARING TEST-A tiny earphone will be placed in her ear to deliver sound. Small sensors, which are taped to the baby's head, will relay information to a machine that measures the electrical activity in her brain in response to sound. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)-The MRI gives a more detailed view than a CT scan NEWBORN SCREENING TEST- tests babies for serious hereditary disorders.RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY (ROP) EXAMINATION-This test usually is done for newborns born at or before 28 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 1/3 pounds). The test is generally performed about 4 to 6 weeks after birth, or when your newborn reaches 31 to 33 weeks gestational age (weeks since the mother's last menstrual period). ULTRASO UND-routine test to diagnose bleeding in the brain. URINE TESTS- determine how well the kidneys are functioning, and whether neonate has an infection.WEIGHING-routine exam, especially for premature and low birth weight newborns X-RAYS- provide pictures of neonate’s lungs and other internal organs. NURSING CARE PLAN: 1. Hyperthermia NDx:  Hyperthermia related to inflammatory process/ hypermetabolic state as evidenced by an increase in body temperature, warm skin and tachycardia 2. Fluid Volume Deficit NDx:  Fluid volume deficit related to failure of regulatory mechanism |Bucayu, Michael | |Cabulay, Lei-Ann Jessica | |Rodriguez, Kristel Angela | |Talosig, Janica Marie | Nicu Nursing Care Plan A  Neonatal Intensive Care Unit  (NICU) is an  intensive care unit  specializing in the care of ill or  premature  newborn  infants. Neonates who need to go to the unit are often admitted within the first 24 hours after birth. Newborns may be sent to the NICU if: †¢ they're born  prematurely †¢ difficulties occur during their delivery †¢ they show signs of a problem in the first few days of life (sepsis/infection, congenital defects, cardiac / respiratory abnormalities, low birth weight) NICU EQUIPMENT: †¢ BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR  may be a smaller version of the blood pressure cuff used  on older children and adults.Or  an  ARTERIAL CATHETER  (tiny tube inserted in an artery) may be used to monitor blood pressure. †¢ CARDIORESPIRATORY MONITOR  keeps track of the baby’s heartbeat and breathing †¢ CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine  delivers air or oxygen through tubes in the nostrils. It uses low, contin uous pressure to keep the lungs inflated. †¢ ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE (ETT)   used with a respirator or ventilator to send air directly to the lungs. †¢ FEEDING TUBE (ALSO CALLED A GAVAGE TUBE) †¢ INCUBATOR used when newborn is relatively stable but still premature or requiring intravenous fluids or other special attention.The incubator keeps the newborn warm with moistened air in a clean environment, and helps to protect the baby from noise, drafts, infection, and excess handling †¢ INTRAVENOUS LINE (IV) †¢ PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETER (PICC) OR A PERCUTANEOUS CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER (PCVC)  may be inserted in a central (large) vein. This catheter is used to give the fluids, nutrition, and medication. †¢ PHOTOTHERAPY LIGHTS, OR â€Å"BILI LIGHTS,† are used when neonates have jaundice †¢ PULSE OXIMETER  measures the level of oxygen in the baby’s blood.It’s attached to the skin with a sensor taped to the baby’s h and or foot. It works by shining a light through the baby’s hand or foot RADIANT WARMERS used for very unstable or extremely premature newborns †¢ RESPIRATOR OR VENTILATOR   used to help the baby breathe. These machines are attached to an ETT. †¢ TEMPERATURE PROBE †¢ UMBILICAL ARTERIAL CATHETER (UAC) OR UMBILICAL VENOUS CATHETER (UVC)- catheter is placed in the artery or vein at the stump of the umbilical cord. It’s used to give the medications, fluids, and nutrition. It’s also used to draw blood for lab tests. WEIGHING SCALE COMMON NICU TESTS: †¢ help determine the neonate’s problems and how they should be treated †¢ monitor newborn’s progress. If the neonate needs a major test, the doctor will ask the parents or legal guardian to sign a consent form before the test is done. BLOOD TESTS-provide crucial information on the potential and present problems of the neonate †¢ Bilirubin levels, blood sugar, blood chemistry, electrolytes, CBC, blood C/S, blood gas COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CAT OR CT SCAN)-produce a more precise image of tissue than an X-ray or ultrasound examination.ECHOCARDIOGRAM- detects structural problems (heart defects) and problems with how the heart works. HEARING TEST-A tiny earphone will be placed in her ear to deliver sound. Small sensors, which are taped to the baby's head, will relay information to a machine that measures the electrical activity in her brain in response to sound. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)-The MRI gives a more detailed view than a CT scan NEWBORN SCREENING TEST- tests babies for serious hereditary disorders.RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY (ROP) EXAMINATION-This test usually is done for newborns born at or before 28 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 1/3 pounds). The test is generally performed about 4 to 6 weeks after birth, or when your newborn reaches 31 to 33 weeks gestational age (weeks since the mother's last menstrual period). ULTRASO UND-routine test to diagnose bleeding in the brain. URINE TESTS- determine how well the kidneys are functioning, and whether neonate has an infection.WEIGHING-routine exam, especially for premature and low birth weight newborns X-RAYS- provide pictures of neonate’s lungs and other internal organs. NURSING CARE PLAN: 1. Hyperthermia NDx:  Hyperthermia related to inflammatory process/ hypermetabolic state as evidenced by an increase in body temperature, warm skin and tachycardia 2. Fluid Volume Deficit NDx:  Fluid volume deficit related to failure of regulatory mechanism |Bucayu, Michael | |Cabulay, Lei-Ann Jessica | |Rodriguez, Kristel Angela | |Talosig, Janica Marie |

Past Participles in English Grammar

Past Participles in English Grammar In English grammar, the past participle refers to an action that was started and completed entirely in the past. It is the third principal part of a verb, created by adding -ed, -d, or -t to the base form of a regular verb. The past participle is generally used with an  auxiliary  (or helping) verb- has, have, or  had- to express the  perfect aspect, a  verb  construction that describes events occurring in the past that are linked to a later time, usually the present. In addition to the perfect aspect (or perfect tense), the past participle  can be used in a  passive voice  or as an  adjective. Past Participles of Regular Verbs To understand past participles, you first need to know how to make a verb  past tense, says  Study.com. To do so, simply add ed, d, or t, as in these examples that show the verb on the left and the simple past tense on the right: Help helpedWeep weptWork worked Turning these verbs into past participles is also simple: Make the verb past tense and precede it with an  auxiliary verb, as in these examples that list the simple past on the left and the past participle on the right: Helped have helpedVisited have visitedWorked have worked Though they may seem similar, there is a  difference between regular past tense and past participle. The regular past has only one part while the past participle always has two or more parts, and as noted, generally requires an auxiliary verb, says  Write.com. An example of a sentence with a regular verb (using one of the above sentences) would be: I helped my friend. You simply helped your friend at some time in the past, but you might continue to help her at some point in the future. The same sentence with a past participle verb would be: I have helped my friend. You began helping your friend in the past and completed the action of helping her in the past. Past Participle of Irregular Verbs The past participle forms of  irregular verbs  have various endings, including  -d  (said),  -t  (slept), and  -n  (broken). Irregular verbs are trickier to form in the simple past than regular verbs, says Study.com, which gives these examples: Run   ranSing sangGo went To form the past participle of these irregular verbs, again precede them with an auxiliary verb: Ran has run, have runSing has sung, have sungWent has gone, have gone Common Irregular Past Participles Viewing some of the most common irregular verbs, together with the simple past as well as their past participle forms, can be helpful in understanding how they are formed. Verb Simple Past Past Participle fly flew have flown rise rose had risen shrink shrank had shrunk feel felt had felt bite bit has bitten catch caught have caught draw drew have drawn drive drove have driven eat ate have eaten fall fell have fallen Additionally, the verb  wear  is a classic example of an irregular verb that can be complicated to use as a past participle. You might  wear  underwear today if you are expressing action in the present. You  wore underwear yesterday if you are expressing the simple past. To use the same irregular verb as a past participle, however, you might say,  I  have  worn my Superman underwear. This implies that you donned your Superman underwear in the past but you are no longer doing so. Meanings and Forms of Past Participles The past participle can indicate past, present, and future meanings, according to Essentials of English: A Practical Handbook Covering All the Rules of English Grammar and Writing Style, which notes that the past participle has both perfect and progressive forms, as in: Thus deceived, he will be outraged. [Both actions are in the future.]Baffled by your attitude, I cannot help you. [Both actions are in the present.]Baffled by your attitude, I could not help you. [Both actions in the past.] In the first sentence above, the participle acts like an  appositive  adjective, renaming the subject  thief. The two actions occur completely in the future: The thief will be outraged and he  (will be) deceived. Note how the past participle includes an implied form of a to be verb:  will be. In the second sentence,  baffled  is still a past participle but the action will have been started and completed entirely in the present. The past participle includes an implied auxiliary verb- having been- so the full sentence would read: Having been baffled  by your attitude, I cannot help you. The action of being baffled starts and is completed entirely in the present, as is the (non)action of not helping.   In the same way, the third sentence starts with a past participle describing an action that started and was completed entirely in the past. The past participle also serves as an appositive adjective, describing the pronoun (and subject of the sentence).  The full sentence would read: Having been baffled  by your attitude, I could not help you. The  subjunctive  mood in the second half of the sentence describes an action- could not help- that happened (or in this case did not happen) entirely in the past. Sources Hopper, Vincent F. Essentials of English: A Practical Handbook Covering All the Rules of English Grammar and Writing Style. Barrons Educational Series, Cedric Gale, Ronald C. Foote, et al., Sixth edition, Barrons Educational Series, April 1, 2010.

buy custom “Hostage Nation” essay

buy custom â€Å"Hostage Nation† essay Hostage Nation is a story of interaction between Columbian politics and economy. It focuses also on Columbias relationship with the United States and the release of the three contractors held captive in Columbia in February, 13, 2003 for over five years after their plane (Cessna plane) crashed. The U.S.A had tried to send more troops in rescue mission but they failed largely because of the effects of the local sympathizers of the FARC group. The story is narrated by two Columbian journalists who were better positioned to narrate the story. They had also recorded the kidnapping of the presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Her husbands efforts to aid to rescue her were however frustrated by his fear that her step could culminate in her death. In 2006 the author restructured the hostage story into a new narrative, the wealthiest and the lethal insurgent army in the world. Botero became the focal point when he became the first journalist to interview them and even to report that the hostages were alive after five months. They narrate the story as it unfolds. They provide accounts of events as they happen step by step and they even include the fight on drugs. (Plan Colombia)The U.S. policy had started during the reign of Clinton, extended during the reign of Bush but diminished drastically during the reign of Barrack Obama. The story, Hostage Nation, revolves around the three Americans who were held hostage(Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves),who worked with California Microwave systems, which worked under Northrop Grumman, a company that was hired to carry out plan Colombia. The plane that had carried the there had been downed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the government of Colombia).After shooting it with several bullets the engine failed. The government of the U.S. avoided negotiations and remained adamant in rescuing the hostages because they feared they could have been murdered. The plan Colombia was attempting to wipe out the Guerrilla fighters and the drug trade. The drug trade was rampant in 1970s where marijuana and cocaine were being traded. Under the President Reagan, the U.S.A had started to fight against the menace. During the same period, kidnapping, carried out by the Columbian revolutionary Armed Forces had started to take shape. Initially they had kidnapped an oil exploration worker and an agricultural worker and held them demanded for money. They requested 38 dollars for 7 men. The increased sale of cocaine in Colombia drastically falls during the period of the 2rd World War. The FARC group was increasing at a very high rate to the extent of threatening the government. The group became hostile with time during the period of the late 1990s.In 1999, they killed 136 people. They also killed Diego Turbay, who was the Head of Congressional peace Commission in 2000.Alvaro Ulimbe,whose father had been killed by the FARC, came into power on 26th, May,2002 with a mission of combating the group. The period saw the FBI investigation group under the leadership of Noesner investigating the matter of kidnapping involving the American citizens. The three hostages and the kidnapped presidential aspirant however are rescued in 2008.Although in May, 2003, President Uribe had attempted a military rescue the FARC group had already heard the sound of the helicopters. They annihilated all the prisoners and fled away from the area. The U.S military however did not hesitate to go on with the routine search for the three American hostages. After the U.S. airplane crashed, they were redundant to carry out investigation. Later investigation was done through the use of DOD and they realized that the plane crashed because they were operating it beyound its handbook limitation. Towards the end of March, 2003, there were no traces of the Americans. Joyjoy, who was known as the military leader of the FARC, was responsible for the series of successful actions that the group had performed. However, the group denied. Three hostages at the residing area of FARC had already been separated into different cells and no communication was allowed . The surveillance mission of the U.S.A troops was halted for one month after the plane crash of 13th, February, 2003. The CMS Company of the U.S.A that was initially undertaking the surveillance soon changed its name to CIAO on 24th, February, 2003 and started its mission on 25th, March, 2003.On the same day another U.S.A plane crashed. After investigations were done at the crash site, bullets were found on the bodies showing that the FARC group could have been responsible for the crash. The switch from CMS to CIAO was a great obstacle towards the compensation that had to be paid to the relatives of the victims. Northrop Grumman who was the former manager of the CMS Company denied the responsibility of the second crash since the contract with his workers had ended when the company changed its name. The involvement of the U.S.A in a drug fight was meant to protect the countrys government from accountability could. The story becomes complicated because the rescue is intertwined with the Byzantine account of the prevailing Colombian politics. The rescue of the three hostages is made possible through the help of the former FBI hostage negotiator, Gary Noesner and a journalist, Botero. During his university education, Botero Jorqe Enrique had been arrested because of political dissidence. He had already gained a public image after he revealed that Cali Cartel had funded the presidential aspirant at that time, Ernesto Samper. Botero had been granted permission to interview FARC revolutionary and also to talk to his former friend Cano. He was also given a rare access to the military videotapes and the military prisoners who were kept there in a pathhetic situation. Botaro had a chance of interviewing the prisoners while he was there. Although the government had tried to put obstacles to him limiting him not to put the images to the public, he had already shown the pathetic images to the public portraying the suffering the prisoners were undergoing. The work of Botaro met a lot of opposition especially by the group that thought he was supporting the FARC group. His life was even threatened at one time. Botero was granted the access to the 3 American hostages .The Americans thought that he was manipulating them. The results of the interview and the research he had conducted were handed over to the U.S.A government and that proved that the hostages indeed were still alive. The FARC group used the hostages as a pawn to further their interests and declared that any attempt to rescue them would directly culminate in their execution. High ranked officials of the group among whom was Trinidad were captured in Ecuador, later taken to Colombia and then to the U.S.A being charged with drug trafficking. The release of Trinidad among FARC members were demanded in exchange for the release of the three American citizens who were held hostage. The United States government acknowledged the condition and accepted to release them in return for the three lost Americans. Some of Europes citizens were held hostage in the groups camp. Ingrid Betancourts had requested for permission to be visited by her husband and sister but the group refuted the request since she had earlier tried to escape from the prison together with another lady, Clara Rojus. Bentakurtz husband had tried many times to use democracy to free his wife but the attempt had failed. While at the captivity, Clara Rogers managed to give birth to a baby boy. The baby was taken by the guerillas that had no conducive environment to take care of it. Uribe had approval a nd had done a lot in fighting against the guerillas. He also requested the U.S.A government to assist him in his effort. U.S.A increased its support to Colombia by giving donations. The government of U.SA donated 3.3 Billion dollars to help in the fight against cocaine. Later the U.S.A government claimed that the money had been misused. The trial of the guerilla leader was one full of fear and anxiety as the U.S did not know what was in store for them. They feared losing the three citizens who were held hostage in the FARC camp. As the trial of the group leader continued, Pierdad Cordoba and Botero teamed up together to try and negotiate the release of the hostages. They travelled through in U.S and Colombia during this mission. Later after a myriad of attempts by Cordoba and Botero, their mission bore fruits as the captives were finally released. The end of the story presents the win of The U.S contractors. The hostages are rescued and Botero asserts that as far as the military industrial make lives complex, drug wars must be pursued. Buy custom â€Å"Hostage Nation† essay

As I Shoped Essay Research Paper Kurt

As I Shoped Essay, Research Paper Kurt Baldwin English 101 As I Shopped With the growl of hungriness in my tummy, I decided to travel to the food market shop to shop for nutrient. I arrived at a busy scene of people seeking urgently to acquire their nutrient, and acquire out every bit shortly as possible. What caught my attending foremost was the acute noise of a small sandy haired boy running out of the shop every bit rapidly as his chubby small legs could take him. Shouting at the top of his lungs, he cried and passed me by. His tired looking female parent was running after him and naming his name, # 8220 ; Tommy, Tommy! # 8221 ; She was hardly maintaining up with him with her weaponries full of food markets. Thinking to myself that this is traveling to be an interesting escapade, I grabbed my cart and started to shop. Choosing first to look for some meat, I headed toward the meatman # 8217 ; s subdivision. Passing by a finely appareled adult male in suit and tie, I noticed he was taking between Velveeta cheese or the Fry # 8217 ; s trade name. With a satisfied expression across his face, he placed the glistening box of Velveeta back on the shelf, and tossed the Fry # 8217 ; s trade name into his cart. He so picked up his gait and walked down the aisle. I continued on to the meat section and found a nice stamp piece of ruddy steak that was instead thin. Looking across the counter, I spied the meatman cutting some porc. His combination of strong weaponries and his crisp knife easy cut through a half foot strip of bloody meat. As the ruddy juices oozed out the sides, I felt nauseating and decided to travel along. As I turned to travel to the bakeshop subdivision to pick out some staff of life when a instead big adult female dressed in a cheap faded bluish frock ran into me. Excusing herself, she rapidly grabbed a peculiarly fatty looking piece of meat and tossed it into her cart. Once in the bakeshop subdivision, I selected a 12 grain loaf of staff of life. The olfactory property of freshly cooked cinnamon buttockss caught my nose, doing me salivate. A portly adult female across from me ravenously looking for a piece of pie dropped a lemon meringue pie on the floor. Ignoring her blooper, she placed the crushed pie under a better looking pie. Looking about and seeing that I noticed her misbehavior, she gave me a guilty expression and turned around with her caput a small lower and left the scene every bit rapidly as possible. I picked up my list of food markets, look intoing them off one by one and decided that I had a good supply of nutrient. I headed toward the cheque out lines and found one that was shorter than the remainder, and stood in it. The gentleman in the aisle next to me caught my attending. He was being smacked across the face by his big, crimson married woman. She raged at him for gazing at a half dressed adult female on the screen of a magazine. The adult male apologized pitiably until her storming fury came to an terminal. Detecting she had made a scene, she went on with lading her food markets on the conveyer belt and proceeded to pay her measure. I did similarly, and pushed my cart toward the issue. I opened my bole and placed my food markets in. Climbing into my auto, I noticed my window had a crinkled bluish piece of paper on it. Tearing it from the window, I read, # 8220 ; Chinese nutrient! Lunch for two merely $ 8.00! # 8221 ; Looking around, I spied a immature adolescent with a dirty, white servers coat on. He placed the faux pass of paper on vehicles with such velocity that you might inquire if that is what he does all twenty-four hours long. I started up my engine, put it in cogwheel, and headed pl ace. about a book called as a shoped, summery

Compare and contrast Confucius and Zhuangzi Essay

Compare and contrast Confucius and Zhuangzi - Essay Example The Confucian school of thought in the 5th century B.C. laid the groundwork for the codification and compression of the various strands of Chinese thought into a coherent and accessible whole. Confucius also paved the way for the proper codification of the culture prevalent during his time. The Ethics taught by Confucius is considered by many as a kind of virtue ethics, where the behavior of people are procured by witnessing living examples instead of just following rules that teach behavior. Confucius was born in 521 B.C. into an aristocratic family of a lower order of impoverished knights. He lived during the second half of the Zhou dynasty (1027-256 B.C.) a period of constant civil strife, when feudalism had broken down, and there was a breakdown of government machinery and moral standards had become lax. Confucius was determined to remedy the situation and believed that the only way of doing it, was to go back to the days of antiquity and follow the principles and precepts set out by the wise men of the time. Armed with this determination and backed by the knowledge of the wise of yore, Confucius set up a school. Confucius’ philosophy was centered on humanism and he stressed upon the free will of individuals. Zhuangzhi, also known as Chuang Tzu, is another great Chinese thinker whose writing has a more philosophical tone, albeit it also stresses on what Confucius taught. Both thinkers laid great emphasis on the idea of Dao and De. Dao is the monistic theory that is responsible for the spontaneity that is found in all phenomena, while De or the â€Å"Inner Power† is the manifestation of these phenomena. It is the inherent power in an individual that can be built by practice and lead to a better life. As humans engage in cultivating their inner selves, it creates a ripple effect, and soon the results of the enlightened human are felt by the social and political system. Thomas Berry says

Medea (video) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Medea (video) - Essay Example She defies the prevalent male chauvinism by murdering Glauce and the society abhors her. Additionally, although the book clearly indicates that Medea loved her children, the video portrays her as a jealous irrational woman whose appearance scares away even her own children. This is a conscious move by the director to expose the perceived animosity of Medea. It portrays her as a brutally proud woman who is reluctant to let her opponents succeed. Although the book portrays Medea as a typical traditional woman fighting against social ills, the video portrays her as a cunning and cold schemer. It gives her the ability to see through the deceitful values and false pieties of her enemies. The video portrays Medea as loving and caring. This is evident through the actions that she did to Jason when they first met. However, one keeps on wondering whether Medea had ever experienced love before she met Jason. Although the book portrays Medea as an abnormal person, the video portrays her as a normal human being with feelings. Her heart turns into vengeance upon discovering that Jason was planning to marry another

Mock trial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mock trial - Essay Example Bianca and the defense team can consider a peremptory challenge (Tarr 130). The removal of the jury would weed out the biased jurors who would determine the case in favor of the plaintiff. The case of Davis v. HappyLand company evokes emotional that may attach some of the juror members to the loss of Andrea’s loss. The jurors would then determine the case with bias based on the common bond they have established with Andrea. The defendants should use the persuasion capability of the three attorneys to convince the court to consider the challenge. However, the attorneys are not required by the law to give any particular reason for the challenge. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen? We are here today to find out if that the death of Joey that occurred on August 2011 was caused by the negligence of her supervisors or HappyLand Company. The role of Joey’s caregiver will be put into perspective. We will provide evidence will proof why the plaintiff should not get damages. The findings of the pharmacology will also disapprove that the alleged cause of death though GHB product does not cause death unless ingested in large quantities. Therefore, the quantity of GHB contain in one Princess Bead cannot produce GHB that can be metabolized to a dangerous level. The company has met its burden of responsibility by providing sufficient warnings regarding the danger of ingesting beads. Joey does not fall into the age bracket that is targeted for the market of HappyLand Company. The defense team will provide witnesses and further evidence of proof beyond any reasonable doubt why the court should not pursue plaintiff consideration for damages. At the conclusion of this negligence trial, it is my sincere hope that in the interests of the justice you will find that the defendant is not responsible for the cause the loss of Joey. Thank you very much. We are here to determine a case where the plaintiff Andrea

Ethics and Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics and Diversity - Essay Example Prior to that, all of the Equal Pay Act (1970), the Sex Discrimination Act (1975), the Race Relations Act (1976) and the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000), sought to ensure against both direct and indirect discrimination in the provision of goods and services and within the workplace. From the legal standpoint, therefore, diversity is obligatory. Legislature and regulations aside, the question is whether or not firms have an ethical duty to embrace workforce diversity and to ensure that they have a diverse workforce. While some scholars have argued that workforce diversity cannot be defined as an ethical obligation insofar as it could lead to the hiring of less qualified candidates simply because of their race, religion, or ethnicity, among others (Darr, 2002), other scholars maintain that it is an ethical obligation (Ludlum and Mascaloinov, 2004). Pending the presentation of a brief understanding of the implications of diversity and a review of the argument against it as an ethical obligation, the present research will argue in favour of workforce diversity as an ethical responsibility towards which all firms must aspire. The concept of diversity is an all-inclusive one and, refers to the collectivity of human differences and similarities along a given dimension (Cox, 1993). As pertains to a workforce, Caudron and Hayes (1997) maintain that both dimensions and measures of diversity include socioeconomic and psychographic characteristics, race, cultural and ethnic heritage, religion and belief systems, gender and sexual preferences and, age. Other significant dimensions and measures of diversity, although lesser appreciated and researched in relation to intra-organisational relations and dynamics, are political affiliations and socioeconomic and functional backgrounds (Gordon, 1995; Caudron and Hayes, 1997; Stockdale and Crosby, 2003; Gardenswartz , 2003; Barak, 2005). Arguing the above definition to be unjustifiably expansive, some researchers have called for a more precise focus on a particular set of diversity dimensions and measures. These are race, culture, gender, religion, and ethnicity. Indeed, by expanding the parameters of diversity to include age and sexual preferences, attention has been deflected from the more seminal of the diversity categories, chief amongst which are race and ethnicity (Cox, Lobel and McLeod, 1991; Polzer, Milton and Swann, 2002; Arrendondo, 2004; Squires, 2005; Ocon, 2006). It is in relation to the more seminal of these differences that scholars have argued the ethics of their implementation. 3 Suspect Ethics As earlier noted some scholars have disputed the ethics of workforce diversity and contend that its identification as an objective contradicts a firm's ethical obligation to hire employees on the basis of merit, qualifications and potential. The aforementioned criteria for candidate selection is nothing short of an ethical obligation which firms owe their stakeholders, job candidates, society and the economy at large (Mujtaba, 2006). As per the stated argument, firms owe their stakeholders, not to mention the economies within which they operate, a duty to perform in accordance with best practices guidelines. It further owes job candidates an ethical duty to acknowledge the more meritorious and qualified among them. When diversity becomes the objective, candidates are not selected according to merit and,

Social Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Network - Essay Example As the discussion declares smartphones have also changed the way that people access information. In addition, sharing of information has become easier with the advent of social media and the smartphone with individuals sharing images immediately after taking photos on their phones while others share news items and other information across the social media despite their location. According to the report findings despite the positive contribution of smartphones and the social media, smartphones have often been accused of interfering with traditional conversation with face-to-face conversations increasingly losing meaning. It has become common for individuals to constantly remain on their phones and engage with the virtual world instead of communicating with others physically when they were having a meal.   Despite the apparent erosion of traditional communication, it is evident that smartphones and social networks have had a significant impact on the lives of human beings by making communication easy and making information easily accessible. On the other hand, smartphones appear to be affecting traditional conversations with conversations increasingly occurring virtually and less through face-to-face.  This essay, Social Network, presents  advancements in information technology which have brought forward a digital age in which the internet has contributed to an era of smartphones and the social media.  Smartphones have eased the process of communication by providing various platforms.

Manufacturing Planning and Scheduling Techniques Assignment

Manufacturing Planning and Scheduling Techniques - Assignment Example Authentic BMW Light alloy wheels are the consequence of a complicated innovation and style practice – concentrated around the private BMW versions along with the numerous problems. The outcome is a sizable collection of light alloy wheels that satisfy the finest quality criteria and are flawlessly incorporated into the all-around depiction of the BMW they were meant for. Â  Forging is a basic process included in the production process of light alloy wheels. A paired thermo-mechanical form of the analysis of plastic-type deformation and ambiance substitute is personalized in the binding component configuration. With the intention to take into consideration the strain-rate impact on element traits in conjunction with the flow and pressure dependence on high temperature, the inflexible visco-plasticity is commonly employed in the display. An assortment of process scenarios was applied to the display such as punch pace, side perimeter, along with the deepness of the die cavity. Evaluation of a more straightforward and compact style is conducted and matched against the appearance in regards to forging load to verify the genuineness of the structure customized. Following that, various methods with the full-scale item for a 6061 aluminum-alloy wheel are simulated. Material flow, pressure distributions exerted on the die fortification, heat distributions a nd then forging weight are summarized similarly to basic data for process structure and selection of an appropriate press equipment. Â  With this particular method of High-Pressure Die Casting, the alloy in the liquid form is injected at extremely swift speed and significant stress into a steel cast. This equipment consists of two upright platens upon which enhancers are placed which cause the die to be maintained as halves. One platen is installed, whereas, the other may move very well, guaranteeing that the die is going to be exposed and closed.

Social Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Network - Essay Example As the discussion declares smartphones have also changed the way that people access information. In addition, sharing of information has become easier with the advent of social media and the smartphone with individuals sharing images immediately after taking photos on their phones while others share news items and other information across the social media despite their location. According to the report findings despite the positive contribution of smartphones and the social media, smartphones have often been accused of interfering with traditional conversation with face-to-face conversations increasingly losing meaning. It has become common for individuals to constantly remain on their phones and engage with the virtual world instead of communicating with others physically when they were having a meal.   Despite the apparent erosion of traditional communication, it is evident that smartphones and social networks have had a significant impact on the lives of human beings by making communication easy and making information easily accessible. On the other hand, smartphones appear to be affecting traditional conversations with conversations increasingly occurring virtually and less through face-to-face.  This essay, Social Network, presents  advancements in information technology which have brought forward a digital age in which the internet has contributed to an era of smartphones and the social media.  Smartphones have eased the process of communication by providing various platforms.

Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Essay Example for Free

Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Essay  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact. When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you are out having fun. This paperwork contains CJA 464 Week 4 Learning Team Assignment Budget and Policy Paper Law General Law Select a policy issue from the following list:  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact. When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you ar For downloading more tutorials visit https://bitly.com/12BpF7H When you enter college, one of the first things that you should do is get a part time job. There are going to be a lot of hours that are available during the day, as this can help you increase your income. A job will pay its dividends and will reduce your worries when you are out having fun. Law General Law Select a policy issue from the following list:  · DUI task forces  · Plea bargaining  · Offender reentry/integration  · Victim assistance  · Immigration  · War on drugs  · War on terrorism Prepare a 1,400-1,750-word paper in which you summarize the goals in the criminal justice system that your selected policy attempts to achieve. Additionally, analyze the effective and ineffective initiatives associated with your selected policy, as well as any historical significance that may have impact.

The Nestle Internal Documents Management Essay

The Nestle Internal Documents Management Essay The research process followed in this study is outlined in Figure 1, it began with a review of the literature related to BPM and BPIs with a particular focus on researches that tackled Innovation and particularly Packaging Innovation in Food Industry. The literature review revealed a significant gap with regard to both the integration aspect of BPM and BPIs and the application of this integrated framework in the specific field of Packaging Innovation which led to formulate the RQ. In order to identify and describe the impact of the proposed framework on the Packaging Innovation Process a Case Study methodology has been adopted as a research strategy. This is because it is considered suitable to address the research question: How and why an integrated framework of Business Process Management and Business Process Improvement could improve the Performance of Packaging Innovation Process of a multinational company? This is also in accordance with Yin (2009, Loc 453) who confirms that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how and Why questions are more explanatory and likely to lead to the use of case studies..as the preferred research method. Furthermore, the focus on the contemporary events of Packaging Innovation Process in its real-life context and not requiring the control of behavioural events were additional reasons for choosing the case study method (Yin, 1981; Yin 2009, Loc 310). All the 3 conditions highlighted by Yin (2009, Loc 310) are met in order to adopt the case study as the most appropriate method. Once again Yin (2009, Loc 310) argues clearly à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ case studies are the preferred method when how or why questions are being posed, the investigator has little control over events and focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within a real-life context. Case study design An embedded single case study design has been selected in this research. According to Yin (2009, Loc 740) there are four major types of case study designs. Placed in a 2ÃÆ'-2 matrix these relevant designs are: single case versus multiple case designs, then holistic with a single unit of analysis against embedded covering a multiple units of analysis. The aim for selecting an embedded single case design is to investigate a representative or typical case in order to capture the circumstances and conditions of an everyday or commonplace situation (Yin, 2009, Loc 1205). Embedded designs (multiple units of analysis) often add significant opportunities for extensive analysis, enhancing the insights into the single case (Yin, 2009, Loc 1215). Accordingly, this embedded single case is about packaging innovation process improvement in the context Business Process Management and Improvement and specifically the integration of both BPM and BPI disciplines. This involves as well several units of analysis which consist in baseline events and validation through an innovation project. In the baseline events one main illustrative project has been reviewed in order to understand the critical reasons that make a packaging innovation project fail. Then in order to assess the impact of a poorly designed packaging on the operation, twelve factories across Europe and Asia have been visited through a waste Audit methodology (Muda Hunt).The twelve factories have been chosen as subunits for this investigation because they were widely spread geographically across Europe and Asia and were using different packaging materials and technologies for various product categories. With this case study design, the emphasis is global touching the packaging innovation process and not on individual factories or on a specific packaging material or a product category. Yin (2009) stresses that a major drawback in an embedded single case is focusing only on the subunit level for example the individual factories and failing to return to the larger unit of analysis in this case the packaging innovation process improvement. On the other hand, a single case study has limitations in particular to its rigor of research and in relation to the scientific generalization of the findings and conclusions (Yin, 2009, Loc 554). Nevertheless, single case studies permit a precise analysis of cotemporary evidence in context and are generalisable to theoretical propositions (Yin 2009, Loc 573). Finally the systematic adoption of embedded case study as a research methodology using three unit of analysis gives more rigor as well, Furthermore, the validation of the proposed framework though a real packaging innovation project (Embedded unit of analysis # 3) enhances the quality output of the research and confirms its managerial implications. Data collection The data were primarily collected at Nestlà © Head Office, RD centres and affiliate markets and factories. Worldwide leader in Food and Wellbeing industries, Nestlà © uses a wide range of more than 177000 packaging materials and more than 66000 different packaging specifications in 450 production sites across the globe. Moreover, Nestlà © is also interested in improving its Packaging Innovation Process and attracted by exploring the new integrated framework which combines both BPM and BPI. Therefore the access to Nestlà © internal data and employees has been made relatively easy. Using Nestlà © posed no research bias since it gives total independence and full autonomy to conduct the whole research in order to avoid any influence neither on the research process nor on the outcome. Thus, Nestlà ©s internal documents review and semi-structured interviews with a group of concerned employees have been used in this research to collect data. To complement the second-hand data, waste audits in twelve factories have been carried out combined with a visit and interviews of tree key suppliers. The use of multiple sources of evidence, combined with key informants who have reviewed draft case study reports, helped to establish construct validity (Yin, 2009, Loc 734, 1057). All data were stored in a process Map using the BPM software Nimbus Control in accordance with Yins (2009, Loc 734, 1057) recommendations for establishing reliability. Internal documents and interviews Nestle internal documents were the first source of data collection for this investigation. These include corporate documents (General Instructions, Policies, RD and business reports, best practices library) produced by process owners, functional departments or experts. The process owners have mapped processes and issued instructions on how to implement and execute their processes. Having access to Nestlà ©s internal documents and employees helped to rely on a vast amount of relevant data. For the baseline review of a major Packaging Innovation project, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were carried out with 37 stakeholders and 3 key suppliers involved in the development process. An interview lasts between 2 to 4 hours, with a flexible schedule, according to availability of the individuals invited. The semi-structured questions were defined following a clear Process flow and Project Phases: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Project Inception / Initiation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Project Brief Objectives à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Project Organisation Planning Development à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Project Execution, Management, Reporting and Steering Committee à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Packaging Design / Specification Quality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Supplier Selection, Technical Qualification Approval Performance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Business Impact, Supply and Cost. Interviewees received a clear description with scope and objectives of the review as well as relevant questions before the interview. Participants were invited to comment on any phase with regard to their own experiences and learnings together with any recommendations they might have for improvement, as well as present copies of any relevant documentation that can support the review. The principle aim of the review and Gemba walk was to capture the learnings from all employees involved and who were encouraged to freely give any comments they might have related to the following questions: What happened? Why did it happen? How, and at what stage of the design / development phase of the project, could we have avoided these failures? How should we change our development / deployment approach as a result of these learnings? What went well? What did not go so well? What could have been improved? What could have been done differently? What Key Recommendations could you offer to improve the process in the future? All comments and feedbacks were grouped into a series of transcribed Notes following Miles and Huberman (1994) recommendation. The transcription is grouped by Function and Location with a summary of the inputs that were mapped in the BPM tool: Nimbus Control. This allowed an easier analysis and quicker understanding of the whole picture and piece together the complex interfaces between all entities involved in the Packaging Development Project called 24K. Field observations To collect first-hand data field observations were made using waste audits (Muda Hunt) approach in 12 factories across Europe and Asia. The concept of MUDA hunt is meant to provide awareness to obvious waste as well as none Value Added activities at the shop floor. The application of the Lean Six Sigma tools such as DMAIC methodology will help afterwards to reduce or eliminate the identified waste. Field observations in scope: Packaging areas of main production lines; Material flows in packaging areas; Packaging materials waste; Labour utilization, packaging material usage on the lines; Space utilization on the floors, storage inventory. Field observations Out of scope: Processing of raw materials; Production lines (mixing, moulding, ) The relevant filling and packing lines were selected for Muda Hunt if they are strategic to the Business and depending on their capacity utilisation, their Efficiency and Performance as well as their material waste level. All Mudas were mapped in a prioritisation matrix (see example below) depending on their impact High or Low and their effort to implement Easy or Hard. The proposals are then listed in tables as first priority in green colour and second priority in orange colour for actions planning. Limitations of Lean programs The origin of Lean goes back to the Toyota Production System which has been created more than 40 years ago. For R. Suri (Suri, 2010) a new ground cannot be forged by focusing only on refining and implementing 40-year-old approach. Based on studies with more than 200 companies during the last 15 years, he listed few limitations related to Lean. For Suri, Lean is designed originally for production system with relatively high-volumes. Organisations that are offering high variety or customised products could not see how to implement Lean principles. According to Atkinson (Atkinson, 2010), [] LEAN must grow with the culture and not be imposed upon it. The author highlighted that too much attention is focused on the technical aspect of Lean, rather than the ambition to build a real self-sustaining Lean culture. Atkinson has listed seven misconceptions regarding Lean; first, Lean is frequently considered as a toolbox of techniques and methods that are pushed down to the organisation, rather than pulled and tailored to it. Second, Lean is not a cost reduction exercise to remove unnecessary cost out. Third, Lean concepts often are not applicable to processes and functions beyond operations. Forth, Lean often doesnt impact the design and the innovation processes. Fifth, Lean is to frequently be sold, surrounded by all the exotic terminology, as Japanese approach for improvement. Sixth, Lean does not necessitate a culture of continuous improvement and finally Lean is less concerned by the culture change. In his research of the top reasons for the failure of the major Lean initiatives, Lucey focused on the other dimensions as leadership, employees engagement and communication. Atkinson on the other hand highlighted the importance of the organisational culture that decides the success of Lean or any other improvement initiative and demonstrated that applying lean principles and tools is certainly not enough to achieve business excellence. For Treat, organisations practicing BPM may apply common Business Process Improvements (BPI) initiatives for certain improvement; nevertheless the usage of these BPI tools does not mean that the organisation is devoted to the effective application of BPM. In the same context, Hammer underlined in his process audit framework the crucial importance of applying two defined groups of characteristics that are necessary for business processes to continuously improve and sustain. These characteristics as described in the first section of this research are ba sed beside process management, on people Leadership, culture, knowledge skills and behaviours. Hence its evidently crucial to compare BPM and BPI approaches not only according to the MEM but as well from the Management perspective looking at how these approaches tackled the issues of Leadership, Culture Change, Process Management, and Continuous Improvement. Leadership Management: This factor is related to the role of top leaders and their behaviour in driving the organization towards Performance and Continuous Improvement. This central role has been accepted by experts and researchers as one of the major success factors for reaching Business Performance. Management in general is more concerned about controlling, problem fixing and making short term results and Leadership is more about the ability of giving directions, developing a vision and setting strategies to achieve this vision (Kotter, 1993, Kotter, 1996). In few words, leaders foster change and transformation in the organisation. Engaging leaders and top Mangers is the key first step for a successful implementation of Process Business Excellence. Culture Change: The ultimate Culture Change objective is to drive performance across the whole organisation in order to exceed customer expectations and therefore to win in the market place. A robust culture would promote effective performance only when it contains values and norms that helps to engage people, manage the change and the shifting to a competitive environment (Atkinson, 2010; Kotter, 1993). Literature supports Kotter and states that this kind of culture will impact positively on the productivity and performance of the organisation. As an illustration, there is a clear parallel between people engagement and the sustainability of lean initiatives (Lucey et al., 2005). The research literature shows that engaged workforce can have a huge impact on growth, profitability and competitiveness (Lucey et al., 2005) therefore a measure and monitoring of this engagement is crucial for sustaining any continuous improvement process. Process Management: Businesses are driven by a multitude of various processes, but concentrating on the core and essential ones either in operation or beyond will improve the organisation Performance. Core Processes have to be continually reviewed, measured and improved and employees should focus on defining the perfect process, eliminating any unnecessary phases, challenging the lead times or the base costs. A Performing organisation is where processes are mapped, measured and improved for all core business activities. The development of a new business process is also one of the key activities affecting Business Performance and competitive abilities. The association between cause and effects, inputs and outputs of a process must be the guiding principles to applying BPI methodologies. Efforts and resources spent other than on managing processes and changing the culture to achieve strategic objectives is waste (Atkinson, 2010). Therefore getting the processes right first is a prerequisite for achieving Performance objectives. Finally processes have to be visualised and communicated in a way that each employee can see and understands the process. Visual systems should allow everyone to have the capability to answer the question, if everything is flowing the way it should be and if we are on time to customer demand? BPM helps to create a current state map of an existing flow, then develop and implement a future state based on BPI principles. Continuous Improvement (CI): As mentioned in the introduction, organisations make efforts to implement Business Process Improvement programs to improve operational performance and achieve Business Excellence. Some of them try to move from episodic process improvements to building and sustaining their ability to improve processes continually. BPI methods help these organisations to understand and implement the concept of Continuous Improvement. But according to Brad Power (Power, 2011), if an organisation tries to institutionalize continuous process improvement based on just one approach, it will run into trouble because no single method has all the elements for sustaining continuous process improvement. Therefore Power emphasises the fact that if organisations want to keep their processes up to date continually, they need to be able to use many approaches to embedding improvement in their management systems. TQM started applying first the principle of Demings cycle Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) to continuously improve the quality, achieve customer satisfaction and reduce costs. While Six Sigma supporters claim that if you train enough people (belts..) and you measure performance, you achieve the cultural transformation toward continuous improvement. According to Hammer, advises organisations to continually assess their processes against his model of process maturity (Hammer, 2007). He advised to put in place the governance and the infrastructure to track end-to-end process performance and finally install the right culture of process centricity and continuous improvement. On the other hand Lean approach aims to cascade strategic objectives into implications for process improvements to have people aligned behind the same direction. To ensure continuous improvement attitude Lean philosophy trust executives to act as coaches, helping people at the front-line to understand the importance of waste elimination and problem-solving. Power underline that the few companies who succeed in sustaining their process improvement have actually selected and used the best from each of BPM and BPI approaches to embed continuous improvement in their organisation. This fact supports further the need of streamlining BPM and BPI approaches and extract the essence of each methodology hence the relevance of this research. Combining BPM and BPI approaches Mandatory elements of a method (MEM) Before digging further into the integration of BPI and BPM approaches, its relevant to describe the MEM elements used by Zellner to evaluate the methodological degree of BPI approaches. In order to have continuity and the same benchmark system the MEM five mandatory elements (Zellner, 2011) has been used as well in this research. First element is the Procedure model that consists of defining the order of activities to be completed when deploying the approach. Second element refers to the Technique which supports an activity to generate specific results. Third element is the Results as such which the output produced by an activity. The element number four is defining the Roles of who is carrying out and responsible of an activity. Finally the fifth element is the so-called Information Model which involves the above-mentioned components and their interactions. According to Zellner a good systematic approach should embody all MEM at the best. By explaining how the MEM can support the act of improving a business process, Zellner underlines the need of a structure model that can define clearly hat to do step by step, which activity has to be performed and by who and which result is expected in an improvement project. The only thing that without referring explicitly to BPM, Zellner was describing the fundamental elements of BPM: Defining and mapping step by step the process, affecting to each activity a role and responsibility or more precisely a RACI matrix (who is Responsible and Accountable and who has to be consulted or informed). Then the inputs, outputs and instruction are defined. Finally the process map will be the Information Model described by Zellner to describe the relationship with all elements and represent the results. The following table summarises the main factors identi ¬Ã‚ ed from literature search based mainly on the findings of Zellner regarding BPI approaches taken and adapted in table # 1 and then completing these findings by integrating Lean, Six Sigma and BPM. The aim of this comparative study is to have a systematic and holistic approach to develop the mentioned integrated model with relevant constructs that will answer therefore research question RQ2. Lean and Six Sigma vs. BPM Lean and Six Sigma principles are now being applied to business processes. From one side Lean philosophy and Six Sigma techniques address performance improvement by reducing wastes and process variability while BPM provides the platform to implement this performance and to sustain it on an on-going basis across the whole organisation. With ERP system, most companies find it very difficult to implement Lean programs. This is because ERP systems have been focused around transactions and not processes (Nayak, 2007). Automated business processes are a complex set of system transactions requiring human and machine interfaces that make the changes difficult and time consuming. In this context BPM is an enabler for driving business process improvement in Lean and Six Sigma (Nayak, 2007). BPM tools provide the capability for monitoring, documenting, improving processes therefore are imperative for fulfilling the objectives of Lean principles. The following table benchmarks the key characteristics between BPM, Lean and Six Sigma. BPI BPM in Innovation Before concluding this literature review section and preparing the next chapter of the cross-case study on Innovation process, it is essential to review the literature regarding how BPI and BPM tackled specifically the innovation issue. Literature shows actually that BPI initiatives were focused mainly on operations where link to product, customers or consumers is obvious. The interest of operation management lay in production, material handling and wastes, cost efficiencies, planning, etc. and all activities related to things and logic but less with people, behaviours and interfaces. BPI beyond the operations is therefore quite novel and organisations have great opportunity for improving as well non-operational processes such as RD, HR, Finance or other Support and Management processes. With BPI and BPM, organisations have great opportunity for improving processes beyond operations. Much of waste in processes beyond operations is viewed as minor in nature and therefore ignored. Despite the impressive results that BPI techniques can achieve at operational level, many organisations failed to grasp its potential benefit for their processes beyond operations such as in RD, Management or Support processes. The difference between manufacturing and other areas beyond operations is that the employees introduce intrinsically variability into their activities. Therefore the challenges become quite different from those occurred in manufacturing environment. Conventional approaches to reduce waste: In order to eliminate or reduce wastes from processes beyond operations, companies can take the four typical actions, the first action is to reduce processing failures and activities that dont add any value to the customer; then to eliminate superfluous and inconsistent controls. The third action is to speed up the processes by decreasing lead times and complexity and final action is to ensure a constant effort on detecting perfections that customers really want. Innovation process is one of the core processes which are key facture for insuring sustainable growth and Profit. This process will be considered in this research in next Chapter of a cross-case Study. From the literature review and the research conducted by IBM Institute for Business Value in 2006 looked at number of companies that used BPI approaches as Lean-Six Sigma to improve performance and succeed broad-based innovations. Researchers from IBM identified four distinguishing elements of approaches that set some organisation apart from those keeping a traditional operational improvement mind-set. These characteristics are first having an innovation vision based on accurate customer and market insights, then a committed Leadership to permanent innovation; third having an alignment across the whole company and finally setting up organizational capabilities that made innovation a routine way of working. Gartner stated in 2010 regarding Innovation Process that a [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] successful innovation needs a disciplined management to transform novel ideas into business value and Innovation management requires a clear strategy, a business focus and a defined process model. According to Gartner, generation of revenue will increase and operational effectiveness will also improve if Companies succeed to manage properly their innovation programs. Design for Six Sigma (DFSS): Through DMAIC methodology organizations were able to make great improvements in reducing number of defects and therefore quality costs. However the quality level of Five Sigma (233 defects per million opportunities) is hard to exceed. The only way to improve further and achieve the ultimate level of Six Sigma is to redesign completely the process, product or service using Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology (Antony 2002). According to Antony DFSS is a powerful approach to designing products, services and processes in a cost effective way to meet customer expectations. The aim of DFSS is not to substitute the NPDI (New Product Development and Introduction) process but to make it more robust, cost effective and capable to achieve high performance in meeting customer expectations (Antony 2002). Antony listed several benefits that could be gained by adopting DFSS: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduced time to market for new products development or renovations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduced products life cycle costs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Better understanding of Customers needs and expectations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduced number of design changes and hence prototypes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Enhanced quality and reliability à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improved ability to manage risks in designing products services or processesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Methodology and tools of DFSS The methodological process of DFSS starts with Customers needs as an input and ends with high quality products, services or robust processes as an output. One popular DFSS methodology is the DMADV. It remains the number of characters and stages, and the general feeling the same as in the DMAIC acronym. The five phases of DMADV are defined as follows: Define the project goals and customer requirements (internal and external), Measure and determine customer needs and specifications, Analyze the process options to meet customer needs. Design the process to achieve customer needs. Verify the design performance and ability to meet customer needs. Another methodology of DFSS named IDOV is a known design approach especially in the manufacturing sector. The abbreviation is defined as IDOV: Identify customer needs and specifications (CTQs), Design to translate the customer CTQs into functional requirements and alternative solutions. A selection process selects the list of solutions to the best solution, Optimize uses advanced statistical tools to predict and model the performance or calculate and optimize the design or performance and Validate to confirm means and ensure that the design which is developed reaches the customer CTQs. Lean product development LPD or Lean Design as the name indicates, draws on ideas from Lean Production as described above in chapter Background of Business Process Improvement which condensed Lean thinking into five principles: specify value, identify the value stream, make the value flow, create pull in the process and pursue perfection. Although lean production can be described at various levels, Shah et al. (2008) argue that the dominant view rests on a set of practices and tools used in eliminating waste. They also present the four main features of lean production as being quality management, pull production, preventive maintenance and human resource management. In the early stages of lean thinking, the focus was on the area of production. An exception, although not using the LPD label, is Kennard (1991), who uses six characteristics to summarise the Japanese approach to product development processes: information-intense, continual learning, constant customer contact, phases overlap, adaptability and spe ed/accuracy in execution. Another early describer of Japanese product development efforts is Funk (1993), who emphasised multifunctional problem-solving, close relationship with customers and suppliers, incremental improvement and learning. Karlsson and Ahlstrom (1996) specified later on the applicability of the Lean principles in product development by defining LPD as follows: Lean product development comprises numerous interrelated techniques, including supplier involvement, cross-functional teams, concurrent engineering, integration of various functional aspects of each project, the use of a heavyweight team structure, and strategic management of each development project. Another aspect associated with LPD is that the leaner way of working will eventually speed up the development process. However, as advocated by Crawford (1992) accelerated product development is associated with risks such as trivial innovations driving out break-through innovations and mistakes happening when skipping steps that did provide necessary information. Finally, Yang and Cai (2009) point out that LPD does not directly support the issues of quality, reliability and robustness in the product design. Combining BPM, DFSS and LPD The main potential seen in merging BPM, DFSS and LPD is to achieve improvements in quality by reducing unwanted variation (as advocated in DFSS), while at the same time being able to increase flow and speed in the development processes (as focused in BPM and LPD) (Chang and Su, 2007; Jugulum and Samuel, 2008). As summarised by Yang and Cai (2009, p. 97) DFSS improves product value and product quality, whereas LPD improves product development lead time, efficiency, flexibility and product development cost. BPM will provide the right platform to map, enhance and manage the whole process. One challenge pointed out by Jugulum and Samuel (2008) is the differences in implementation of Six Sigma initiatives and lean. The latter being broad in focus (looking at end-to-end processes and launching improvement events therein) while Six Sigma works with in-depth projects focusing on a small improvement area within a process. To some extent the integrated approaches proposed appear to be rather standard DFSS approaches with the addition of LPD tools. In contrast, authors like Karlsson and Ahlstrom (1996), Haque and James-Moore (2004) and Morgan and Liker (2006) emphasise the importance of viewing LPD as a system rather than as a set of tools, which impacts working methods throughout the organisation, such as seeking supplier involvement and cross-functional integration. BPM, LPD and DFSS have different focuses, such as improvement, innov