America’s Commercial Airline Industry

1989 has been a year in which both aviation experts and spokesmen. For the flying public have expressed intensified concern over what they perceive to be a substantial deterioration in the safety of America†s passenger airline operations. In the first nine months of 1989 alone, there have been ten fatal air crashes involving large transport-category planes owned by U. S. based carriers (Ott p. 28). This compares disfavorably to the first nine of months of 1988, when but two such accidents took place, and in fact, it is the highest number of death-causing accidents for the American commercial aviation industry during the 1980s (Fotos p. ). This spate of airborne tragedies has prompted interested parties to ask a series of disturbing questions. Is it now safe to fly on American owned airlines, and, related to this, is it now riskier to board these planes than it was before industry deregulation took place in 1978? What, if any, specific factors have contributed to the perceived decline in the industry†s safety standards? Finally, what, if anything, can be done to enhance the airworthiness of U. S. passenger planes and to improve the safety performance of the crews who man them? In this paper, all three of these questions will be addressed, and, without advancing too far ahead, we discover that there simply are no definitive answers to any of them. As serious accidents among America†s air carriers have mounted in 1989, a â€Å"conventional wisdom† has supplied a plausible account of the historical roots of the present safety problem. In 1978, the Federal government de-regulated the U. S. airline industry. Faced with an increasingly competitive environment, individual carriers tried to hold down fares by making cost-related cuts in policies and procedures related to safety. Many have argued that, â€Å"increased competition may lead airlines to skimp on investments in safety,†(Bornstein and Zimmerman p. 913) by, for example, allowing aging planes to take to the skies following routine inspections rather than replacing them with new craft. But there is an overarching problem with this explanation: 1989†³s accidents apart, empirical data suggest that it is currently safer to fly on a plane operated by a major U. S. air carrier than it was ten years ago! In 1978, the odds of a large airliner†s becoming involved in fatal crash were one for every million aircraft departures; ten years later, that proportion has dropped to around one in every 2. 25 million departures (McConnel p. 207). On the whole, it is, in fact, comparatively safe to fly, and even with 1989 crash incidents added to the aggregated figures, flying is no more dangerous today than it was prior to deregulation. The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and an array of independent air safety experts have all probed this year†s major airline accidents. Despite all of post hoc study, they have been unable to discern a common link among them, (Ott p. 28) with one major exception. The qualification at hand refers to dramatic increase in the volume of air traffic since de-regulation. According to NTSB member John Lauber, † ‘ if there is a trend in accidents, it is a trend set by the increasing volume of air transport operations rather than any fundamental deterioration in the margins of safety (Ott p. 28). At first glance, this argument is comforting: more flights in the air simply result in more accidents commensurate with higher traffic volumes, so that the impact of de-regulation has had only the broadest and most indirect influences upon the industry†s safety record. But to ascribe the recent rash of safety problems to the â€Å"neutral† effect of higher traffic volume in the wake of de-regulation and leave it at that overlooks several critical points. For example, to remain competitive, many airlines schedule flights in clusters for the convenience of their passengers. This, in turn, as Rudolf Kapustin (an independent industry- watcher) states, tends to increase risks among flight occurring at â€Å"peak times (Ott p. 28). † Far more worrisome, when accidents for smaller, commuter or regional airlines are factored in, we find that 16 percent of all airlines had safety records considerably worse than the norm, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all airborne accidents between 1977 and 1984 (Ott p. 30). These figures strongly indicate that policies and practices by the airlines themselves may have acted as variables that have had a role in recent accidents. There are two major factors that appear to have had a part in this year†s major carrier crashes, both of which can be related to cost cutting challenges upon the airlines unleashed by de-regulation. The first of these concerns the planes themselves. There is evidence to suggest that some U. S. airlines are operating a higher percentage of â€Å"high time† or â€Å"geriatric† aircraft than was previously the case. About 2,300 of the 8,000 odd commercial jets flown by major airline crews have passed twenty years of continuous service. Plainly, aging fleets have some immediate linkage to two recent air fatalities. In April, 1988 Aloha Airlines 737 experienced a structural collapse; a huge section of the upper fuselage peeled off; one flight attendant was killed and sixty-one passengers were injured. â€Å"The aircraft in question,† investigators found, had logged some 90,000 take-off/landing duty cycle, † the second highest number recorded by any jetliner operating in the free world. Eight months later, with the Aloha case still under study, a United Airlines 747 bound for Honolulu literally disintegrated in the air over the Pacific Ocean, resulting in nine deaths. This craft was another â€Å"veteran† plane, one that had a maintenance record suggesting increasing safety problems. Clearly, there is an economic motive behind airline operation of â€Å"geriatric† planes. A Boeing 737, for example, cost around $25 million at present, so that, † it is in the economic interest of an airline to prolong the life of its current fleet if it can do so at reasonable cost and without compromising safety. In the opinion of some critics, given the competitive pressures of a de-regulated market environment, some airlines are paying too much attention to this economic imperative, and, conversely, too little care to the maintenance of adequate safety standards. Most jet transport accidents are not the result of equipment failure; a full two-thirds can be attributed to human error. At present, all U. S. air carriers, major airlines and regionals alike, are facing a reduced pool of qualified pilots and flight personnel to staff their crews. De-regulation has meant a higher level of demand for a finite number of qualified crew members, and, at the same time, the number of potential crew members leaving the nation†s armed forces (the traditional mainstay of new hires for the airlines) has dropped sharply in recent years. As has been noted in a recent issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology: † the major airlines are reported to be drastically reducing the amount of flying time they require from applicants, â€Å"and while † there is no shortage of applicants (there is) a shortage of highly qualified ones (Pilot Turnover†¦ p. 91). Inexperienced pilots tend to make more mistakes than their veteran counterparts, so that the labor demand growth that has taken place with deregulation coupled with a reduced number of former armed forces pilots available may well be a factor undermining airline safety. Having stated that it is, in general, safe to board U. S. operated planes, yet another qualification must be made at this juncture. Smaller carriers, flying short routes and known as â€Å"commuter† airlines have much worse safety records than the major airlines. According to McConnell: In the past decade, commuter airlines have had 81 fatal accidents, Killing 384 people. In 1987 alone 35 accidents caused 58 deaths. And in the first two months of 1988, crashes killed 22. The Commuters† fatal accidents rate per 100,000 departures has averaged Seven times that of the major airlines (McConnel p. 206). These smaller carriers, like their major airlines counternumbers, are subject to FAA monitoring and regulation, and the results of FAA inquiries into the safety of the commuter lines has led the Agency to suspend or revoke commuter airline operating certificates on 58 occasions since 1981 for safety violations. The heart of the problem with the commuter airlines resides in the shrinking pool of qualified pilots available to them (Ott p. 28). Generally offering lower pay than the majors, the commuter lines have experienced a drain of talent as many of their most experienced pilots have left to take positions with the majors. In 1985, major U. S. carriers hired some 7,600n new pilots; the majority of them previously worked for commuter airlines (McConnel p. 209). At the same time, willingness of the majors to accept less qualified pilots from sources apart from the regionals has decreased the quality of regional hires yet another notch (Pilot Turnover†¦ p. 91). The trend toward less experienced crews in this segment of the industry is undeniable. † The pilots hired by U. S. regionals who had less than 2,000 hr. flight time rose 22. 3% of those hired in 1985 to 36. 2% in the first six months of 1989 (Ott p. 29). In addition to a declining level of experience in the cockpits of commuter aircraft, these pilots face demands that often exceed those placed upon pilots working for the majors. On some small carriers, pilots face several trips a day between under-equipped airfields, and in addition must plan routes, study weather, handle baggage and even fuel the plane. Fatigue can become a factor (McConnel p. 207). To fill spots, regionals have tried to lure flight instructors from flying schools into their ranks (Pilots Turnover†¦ p. 91). Unfortunately, by engaging in this practice, the regionals reduce the capacity of the nation†s flight schools to enlarge the pool of personnel available to all carriers. If a shortage of qualified crew members is identified as a factor that has some causal relation to a perceived decline in American air carrier safety, this effect is most acute at the level of the commuter/regional firms. The evidence regarding the effect of de-regulation upon safety for American airlines is mixed, inconclusive, but nevertheless broad enough. Common sense tells us that older planes and less experienced crews will have a negative impact upon safety, and, in the case of commuter lines, the latter has probably contributed to a performance record significantly below that of the major carriers. Given that a case can be made that identifiable variables are now eroding flight safety, the question naturally becomes: What can be done to remedy or, at least, ameliorate this situation? The FAA formed an Airworthiness Assurance Task Force shortly after the Aloha incident, and, in February, 1989, this body issued its recommendations. These proposals generally dealt with the tandem problems of aging fleets and inexperienced crews. Regarding the former, The Task Force noted that in several recent accidents, parts that had either been inspected and passed review or parts that were thought to have an â€Å"infinite† working life, broke down. The Airworthiness Assurance Task Force recommended to the FAA an $800 million program to upgrade older aircraft. The key provision would mandate the replacement of various parts and assemblies at specified time intervals, even if inspection detected no flaws. In other words, the industry would move to a plan of preventive replacement, rather than preventive maintenance. The plan would require repairs in about one of every five jetliners currently in service (Hoffer p115). The FAA itself has followed up on this recommendation: this year the agency mandated replacement of rivets on older 727s, and in the near future, the order will be extended to veteran 737s and 747s as well. The cost of all this promises to be high, amounting to an average of around $600,000 per plane. Still, conducted on a phased basis, it does not spell financial ruin for the majors, and given FAA powers, they have no choice but to comply. The FAA has also made recommendations regarding improvement of crew performance. It has, for example, suggested that airlines should â€Å"avoid pairing two pilots who may be qualified but inexperienced, either as pilot or in the particular aircraft type they would be flying (Ott p. 29). † The Agency has also urged that only experienced pilots be given control over aircraft during times of severe weather conditions. Both of these proposals have been accepted by the industry. Far more controversial, the FAA has also endorsed the idea of setting autonomous safety departments within each airline that would have absolute power to ground flights or personnel on the basis of safety. These departments would actively monitor pilot performance through retrospective examination of data contained in tapes on flight recorders (Fotos p. 31). Although the airlines see such a move as having safety-enhancing outcomes, the notion that control over scheduled flights will be ceded by line management to a safety procedures, has met with some resistance. At bottom, implementing the FAA†s suggestions will carry a step price tag in both financial and management labor terms, and taken together, may contribute to a second round of shakeouts, as weaker carriers will not be able to bear these costs and continue to be competitive.

Jacob Marley Essay

A Christmas Carol’ is a Victorian tale that is loved by millions worldwide. It was written by Charles Dickens in 1843 and combines the harsh reality of poverty in Victorian times with the joy of Christmas and ghosts. The reason why we celebrate at Christmas is due to Charles Dickens himself, with food, parties and the festive spirit. The story also has a moral to it. It focuses around one man Ebenezer Scrooge and his greed for money, his hate for Christmas and a journey through past, present and future. Throughout the novel Charles Dickens uses a number of techniques to get across the message of poverty and differences in class and he aims to stimulate the reader’s social conscience and draw attention to the plight of the poor in Victorian London. One of the main techniques that Dickens uses is to set the story around Christmas. Christmas is a time of happiness and celebration and Dickens emphasizes the merriness of this festive time by describing it as a ‘joyous occasion’. Dickens goes into great detail when describing the feast that is had at Christmas using phrases like its ‘tenderness and flavor’ and ‘there never was such a goose’. But the main reason for the story to be set at Christmas is that Scrooge is the exact opposite of a festive person. He refers to Christmas as ‘a time for paying bills without money’ and whenever and wherever it’s mentioned the famous mutter of ‘Bah Humbug’ is stubbornly given as a reply. In the story Charles Dickens’ nephew plays a major part in trying to persuade his uncle Scrooge that Christmas time is a ‘kind, forgivable, charitable, and pleasant time’. The word ‘charitable’ though, has no meaning whatsoever to Scrooge as when he is approached by two charity collectors and asked whether he would donate some money, his immediate reply was to say ‘are there no prisons, are there no workhouses? ‘ and that judgment shows his utter lack of Christmas spirit, but I bet he wish he never said that as that line comes back to ‘haunt him’. ‘Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as a flint , from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire ; secret and self contained, and solitary as an oyster’. Another of Dickens techniques used is his detailed character exaggeration of Scrooge. The way in which Scrooge is described and the words used are so ‘Dickens like’, as sentence after sentence of in depth words and phrases are used. In his school days, he was very serious and was more interested in his education than Christmas. Later in his life he had a fianci e and he used to enjoy the festivities. Money then took over his life and he has rejected everyone ever since and because of this, even though he is financially richer, his life is much poorer. Scrooge’s house isn’t his; it is the late Marley’s. He just hasn’t changed the name. As described in the book; ‘he keeps the house quite neat’. He checks each room, and from his description he keeps the house in pristine condition. In a sense his house reflects his personality. The way Dickens conveys the message, the house is quite dull. Scrooge is an accountant and manages his own business. Accountancy can sometimes be seen as quite dull and boring; again the occupation could reflect the person within. He treats his employees in a mean way. He gives them small wages and when it is bitterly cold, he won’t let them have coal for the fire. The firm is a cold dark place at any time of the year. The whole business is cold and described using words of that nature. Scrooge really believes that his business is very successful and he is undoubtedly wealthy because of its success. Surely though he has neglected the social side of life and must not be very rich emotionally. One way to describe this portrayal is by use of the weather to reflect the character’s mood. At the beginning, cold words are used to Describe Scrooge, such as ‘froze’ and ‘foul weather’, giving the impression to the reader of his coldness as a character. At the end of the novella, in contrast, he is described with warm words, for example, ‘golden sunlight’ and ‘smoked’. This gives the impression to the reader that Scrooge has under gone and complete transformation from being a cold, stubborn character into a warm, caring, compassionate person. Everything he now does is in direct opposition to his actions at the beginning of the story. Another technique Dickens uses is his account of the ghosts and the metaphors he uses when describing them. The first supernatural being to visit Scrooge is the ghost of Jacob Marley – Scrooge’s deceased working partner. The appearance of this spirit is directly similar to what Marley wore in his first life when he was a slave to money – exactly like Scrooge. These same working clothes show how he is still chained down by the burden of money and that his afterlife has been made rather painful by being a slave to work. Marley’s ghost is warning Scrooge that if he doesn’t change his character, he will too be burdened in his afterlife. The spirit also foretells the appearance of three more ghosts. The chains ‘clasped about his middle’ and all the different items that are wrought to the chain all symbolize money and greed of the spirit. The cash-boxes and the keys all represent the hiding away of money and keeping the wealth to themselves and not sharing the abundance of money. The imagery of heavy objects such as the ‘padlocks’ and ‘steel purses’ show how laden the ghost is with the weight of the money. The ‘ledgers’ and ‘deeds’ show the detailed accounts of money and proper ownership and this is a symbol that everything has to be accounted for, no money can pass by the scrutiny of the accountant which is so true to Scrooge’s life. Apart from being immensely weighted down by his possessions of greed which held back his life, Marley was transparent. This was so obvious that Scrooge could see the two buttons on the back of his coat. This transparency conveys the sense that this person was never a normal human; he was a chilling figure who lacked some human qualities that most usual persons have. This is a ghost which freezes the presence around him with his ‘death cold eyes’ and his ‘chilling influence’, he is cold, like his life. He has no real substance and the only apparent clear images Scrooge can see of this spirit are the symbols of hoarding, selfishness and greed.

Intel’s Site Selection Decision in Latin America Essay

In a growing technological society, the demand for Intel Corporation’s products is rising at a rapid pace. Intel must open a new plant at a rate of one every nine months to supply this demand. In order to diversify assets and decrease risk, Intel must invest in a new area. This area must consist of a stable and transparent government, an export-based economy, a well-educated population, a non-union mentality and lower operating costs than the United States. Intel aims to invest in Latin America because the area currently does not have any plants and accommodates all of the necessary criteria. After selecting a continent, Intel was more concerned about availability of technical personnel and engineers to staff the plant; labor unions and labor relations; transportation infrastructure and costs; the availability and reliability of the electrical power supply; and the government’s corporate taxation rates and incentives. Therefore, the four countries in Latin America that were most appropriate are Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Costa Rica seemed like a valid alternative. The advantages to invest in Costa Rica include a reputation for stability and democratic government, a collaborative government willing to adapt and change laws in a transparent manner, relatively lower wages, rare and non-combative unions, strict strike laws, excellent transportation methods, and tax exemptions. Disadvantages are that the investment could overwhelm the small economy (pop. 3.5 million); finding enough people with the right training would be difficult; there are not enough daily flights from San Jose’s airport; and relatively high electricity costs. Brazil seemed even more valid than Costa Rica. The benefits of investing in Brazil include a huge local market (not important due to 100% exports from plant); large populations to hire staff from; collaborative state governments; reliability (numerous high technology firms already located in Brazil); capable airports; adequate infrastructure; and available and reasonably priced electrical power. Drawbacks include security; higher overall labor costs; government indifferent about concerns; non-favorable government policies; and a high rate of taxation. Chile really impressed the Intel team upon initial inspection. Investing in Chile is beneficial due to the modern infrastructure and technical training programs. However, shortcomings include travel distance for expatriate executives; salaries for technically trained personnel are relatively high; engineer salaries were similar to those in the United States; absurd capital controls; site proposal far away from airport (Santiago); and no significant government incentives. Mexico has been a great area of foreign direct investment by many high technology firms. Intel hoped it could join the Mexican Silicon Valley. The advantages to investing in Mexico are reliability (prominent Guadalajara area); sufficient travel flights and capacity; low labor costs; large supply of skilled engineers and technicians; lowest electrical power costs; and free land for plant’s site and subsidized training for an extended period. Weaknesses of this site include lack of governmental incentives at the federal level; a high rate of unionization; and exceptions would be made creating an unpredictable environment. Given the advantages and disadvantages of each country, Intel should invest in Costa Rica. Costa Rica should be selected due to its export-oriented infrastructure, reliable power and advanced telecommunications, as well as its talented and educated workforce, highly educated population and supportive business environment. If a president of a country is willing to personally take a group of Intel managers on a helicopter tour of Costa Rica, then this demonstrates the government’s willingness to collaborate with further details and issues that may arise. Intel was not too big an investor for Costa Rica. The country desired a new competitive market to cater to and Intel provided a solid stepping stone in to a newly developed Costa Rican high technology industry. The vital factor was that for every disadvantage listed by the Intel team, the Costa Rican government had a non-preferential and transparent alternative to each one. The deciding factors for the other countries were: Brazil had insecure and unreliable taxation laws that had actually driven some states to the point of bankruptcy; Although Intel was a direct foreign investor, Chile’s capital control methods would prove unstable and questionable if they forced hidden costs on to similar portfolio capital investors; Mexico’s made a crucial mistake of granting exceptions for Intel – entailing an uncertain future if there was a change in government.

Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Review - Essay Example Its ability to manufacture and replicate things at a very cheap cost has numerous benefits that include the field of medical science, food production and even computer engineering. Ralph Merkle even envisaged that when nanotechnology reached its potential, we would come to the point that everybody is already materially wealthy that we will no longer ask what we can afford but on what is intrinsically valuable that we need. Ralph C. Merkle envisioned that with nanotechnology, we would be able to cure ailments which are not yet possible today due to the absence of technology and high cost. Mr. Merkle said that with nanotechnology, we would be able to cure diseases at molecular and surgical level with tools developed by nanotechnology . This implies that the serious medical condition of the planet’s ailing people which cannot be effectively treated due to the lack of resources will already become possible thus reducing the level of human suffering (Gehl, 2000). Nanotechnology can also lower the manufacturing cost of food which is very prohibitive in many countries today causing many people to go hungry. As of today, there are many people who are starving and this has become a source of conflict. Also, food is also used as a political tool which had the serious consequence of starving the people who are caught in the middle of a conflict. With nanotechnology, food production will become less expensive and those people who are starving due the inability to produce food will now be able to produce it at a much lower cost. When this happens, food will no longer be used as a political tool and people will no longer starve. This will have a positive ripple effect of reducing conflict caused by shortage of food. Ralph C. Merkle also sees that in few decades from now, nanotechnology will enable computers to become incredibly powerful that â€Å"we will have more power in the volume of a sugar cube than exists in the entire

Commodity Chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Commodity Chains - Essay Example In this regard, the paper will discuss Diamonds from Angola produced by DeBeers De Beer operates in over 25 nations and mining occurs in Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Botswana and Canada among others. In Botswana mining is done via the mining firm Debswana while in Namibia it occurs through Namdeb, which is a 50-50 joint venture with the Namibian government. Due to its massive market share, the firm has dominated diamond sale, mining, trading, and industrial manufacturing sectors. It is headquartered in Luxembourg and was founded in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes. In 2012, the company got revenue of $6.1 billion. It has over 20,000 employees. The key people in De Beer Group of Companies are Mark Cutifani as the Chairman and Philippe Mellier as the chief executive officer (De Beers Group, 2014). According to McConnell and Brue (421), De Beer used monopoloid practices all through the 20th century. However, there are numerous amounts of hours that are spent on examining the piles of rough diamonds, dividing them as well as subdividing them into over 7,000 categories. In the diamond industry, from to cutting to polishing is an art that requires several years of apprenticeship and skill. Subsequently, the stones are re-sorted into a further 5,000 categories. From the dealers, to cutters, to polishers, and to jewellery sellers, the price of a diamond usually increases by about 10-fold by the time it leaves the De Beers vaults in Charterhouse Street and arriving in the shop shelves. The diamond industry relies upon a standard supply at a stable price, and that is what De Beers provides.  In this perspective, De Beer has been involved in various controversies including price fixing and acquiring diamonds from war torn nations, such as, Angola. Angola is the seventh largest nation in Africa with a population of 21.47 million according to the 2013 World Bank statistics. The country measures about 1,246,620 km2. In relation to the socio-economic conditions of the nation,

Drug and Alcohol addiction in Teens Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Drug and Alcohol addiction in Teens - Essay Example Moreover, currently, 46 percent of the students in high schools are steady and continuous users of these substances. Furthermore, more than 90 percent of the American population, who meets the medical criteria for addiction, started using drugs and alcohol well before the age of 18 years. Therefore, the point here is that drug and alcohol use within the teenagers of the US is amongst one of the biggest health concerns for the administration of United States (Park, 2011). One of the prime reasons behind drug and alcohol use within teens is peer pressure. It is basic psychological need for children to be accepted into the social groups of their surroundings and fit-in with their friends. Furthermore, teenagers which come from troubled families, divorced parents, lower income class families and other sorts of troubled backgrounds fail to get the right amount of attention that they desire from their parents, which puts them at greater risk of going to extraordinary lengths for getting attention from their friends. Furthermore, amongst other reasons, curiosity, history of health issues, being bored, and others are some of the reasons behind teens trying drugs and alcohol (Kleiman, et al., 2011, p. 382). Over the past few years, the society and the media has been sending mixed messages to children regarding drug use. Some parents and even educational institutions have adopted this attitude that, â€Å"they are kids and they will eventually try it at least once, what’s the big deal?† The most fundamental problem with this attitude is that during the teenage and adolescent years, the cognitive parts of the brain, which are responsible for judgment, decision-making, and impulse control, are not fully developed by then. Therefore, if the teenager starts using drugs during these early years of life, the brain might not get the opportunity to understand, completely, and grasp the consequences of

Foreign Terrorist Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Foreign Terrorist Organizations - Essay Example In 1989, Indian Army broke out the war against the freedom fighters of Kashmir and made propaganda against those fighters and called them as militants and terrorists. However, they were not the terrorists but they were put into these militant activities by the Indian Army. After 9/11, when America officially started its war against terrorism, it banned all those freedom fighters across the world and denoted them as FTO. Lashkar–e–Tayyiba was also banned and its main leaders got arrested. Later on, there was a reunion took place and the organization redeveloped with a new name of Jamat-ud-Dawah. The organization is quite famous in the territory of Kashmir as it had worked tremendously well in the times of 2005 earthquake in which around 73,000 people lost and their lives (DAWN.COM, 2010). A year ago, Supreme Court of Pakistan also released the leaders of Jamat-ud-Dawah from the allegations of terrorism and militancy activities as no allegation against those leaders was proved. On a concluding note, America should reconsider each of the FTO and assess whether that group’s activities are based on independence based movements or they are purely formulated to spread terror across the

Analyse the impact of effective training on a company. Support your Essay

Analyse the impact of effective training on a company. Support your answer with examples - Essay Example In this essay, the highlight is on the impact of effective training that an organization experiences. Impacts Training helps to sharpen the decision-making skills of the employees. Training expounds what the organization of them, the steps to take in achieving tasks, and adhering to legal terms. It is observable that after training, they can make decisions that are more accurate. In a certain research, employees underwent training and surprisingly enough, their supervisors were observing more accuracy in performance (Starkel 2007, 17-18). For instance, it is important for jurors to have the ability to make very accurate and sane decisions owing to the complexity of their roles, so by constantly training them, they deliver more efficient and realistic verdicts. On another note, training reduces the behavioural risks of employees. Training equips them with knowledge on safety, skills, values, problem-solving, and hazard awareness. Regular effective training lowers injury rates as it pr ovides a safer working environment by equipping employees with skills in handling machinery and equipment. In addition to handling equipment, training enforces the strict implementation of procedures and rules (Kinder & Cooper 2008, p. 161-173). These aspects translate to the uninterrupted flow of events and save the employer and employee costs that would cater for treatment or replacement of machinery. For instance, farm workers require training on handling chemicals and farm equipment. Lack of keenness would otherwise result in injuries, fatalities, and damage to equipment. The daily routines of work at times contribute to psychosocial disorders such as depression and stress. The training to combat such includes stress management skills, counselling services, coping strategies and embracing healthy lifestyles (Kinder & Cooper 2008, p. 161-173). Organizations that train their employees to avoid and manage these risks maintain a healthy work force of motivated and competent workers translating to less interruption, maximum worker capacity, and less emergency leave requests. A good example is the organizational-level interventions in America and Europe where most employers include health promotion, relaxation, and education on coping strategies in their organizations’ work strategies. The training ensures that employees have a good understanding of the company’s working for the therefore cultivate job satisfaction in them. It keeps their esteem high thus, morale and loyalty to the job increases. These contribute to high performance and in addition to this; they are less likely to wander off in search of better opportunities if their current jobs please them (Barcus 2007, p.8-9). By having a workforce that is stable (constant) and highly motivated, the result is better yields and development of the organization. For instance, in an Information technology firm and with the knowledge of how fast technology evolves, one expects the employees to have f requent training and exposure to new aspects. If this is not the case, the employees might find it hard to deal with, or remain outdated in the changing trends. Such employees, given a better opportunity will desert the organization immediately. Training brings the general workforce of an organization together. During training, there is promotion of interaction in terms of participation, discussion, and sharing of

The Organizations Restructuring Programs and HRD Practices Research Paper

The Organizations Restructuring Programs and HRD Practices - Research Paper Example This study basically draws on the HRD policy based convergence/divergence parameters of the organization for the continuous analysis for proper articulation of the HRD strategy at a broader level through its theoretical underpinnings are based on the need to focus attention on the evolving environment of competition. HRD policies and initiatives have received greater attention in the current period due to highly articulate employee skills training and development strategies at the individual firm level. Thus the theoretical and empirical analysis of this paper is based on the available literature on the subject at a global level along with an analysis based on the business organizations’ own HRD practices. In other words, an HRD policy and initiative based analysis is a near approximation of an otherwise intractable continuum which lacks definable contours and a logical conceptual framework of reference. While theoretical constructs underlying this approach have been presented as a uniform analysis there is very little attention being focused on the qualitative paradigm shift caused by the a priori and a posteriori catalytic changes. Thus the qualitative shift in this study is essentially based on these outcomes and the latest calibrations and/or benchmarks enunciated by researchers to establish a conceptual framework for analysis. This paper just focuses on the latest HRD related practices and theoretical evolutionary process with reference to the global level. HRD function as against HRM is much facilitated when the scale of operations expands beyond a certain minimum level.

Assessment of Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center Term Paper

Assessment of Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center - Term Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Centre embraces their unwavering commitment to prevent, treat and eliminate childhood disease. Some of the entities that make up their organization are hospital, research and foundation. Each of these is vital in their effort to give hope, care and cure to patients today and tomorrow.   It is a three-year-old bravely drug and substance abuse or a research team discovering an important cure for a disease.   It is also the generous support by their community and loyal customers in providing funds and supporting their growing care, advanced clinical care, innovative research and continuing with education and patient care space needs.According to the essay findings to lay a strong foundation, ATC   should embrace their unwavering commitment to prevent, treat and eliminate drug and substance abuse. Some of the entities that make up their organization are hospital, research and foundation. Each of these is vital in their effort to give hope, care and cure to patients today and tomorrow.   It is a three-year-old bravely fighting cancer, or a research team discovering an important cure for a disease.   It is also the generous support by their community and loyal customers in providing funds and supporting their growing care, advanced clinical care, innovative research and continuing with education and patient care space needs.

Forensic science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Forensic science - Essay Example 165) This is essential because it ensures the integrity of forensic science before proceeding to the court. Even though, the clinical laboratories have been working based on the national regulatory scheme since 1968, forensic science does not a similar scheme (Neufeld 2005 p. 107). Consequently, this has reduced the level of protection for the evidence and measures to investigate, and address the discovered abuses (Moore 2007, p. 127). Quality assurance is an important concept that should be considered during crime investigation because most criminal trials depend on expert testimony. Consequently, mistakes in the expert testimony pose several challenges. The use forensic science when investigating different criminal incidences is not reliable because it offers invalid results. Additionally, the process is biased because it lacks enough internal control for the evidence (Birkhead & Hosken 2009, p. 575) Semen quality assurance refers to the test conducted in the crime laboratories usi ng the victims’ semen to determine whether the victims were involved in crime or not. Currently, there are different methods used in the measurement of semen quality assurance. The most applicable methods include serology and DNA typing (Higgins 2009, p. 45). These methods can be applied in a criminal case to determine whether the suspect is responsible. ... Furthermore, the girl’s bed sheets with scattered hair were also collected. After the victim described the perpetrator, the police came up with a sketch that resembled the suspect. The victim identified the suspect as the rapist once they got to his hideout (Neufeld 2005, p. 107). Serology can determine the victim’s semen through the quality assurance approach. This can support the prosecutor when securing a conviction. The lab serologist will take the girl’s body fluid found in the semen and test whether they match with the accused blood type. Scientific standards discourage serologists from drawing inferences about the semen’s source when they are not sure though this method is commonly used when investigating crimes (Ishmael 2005, p. 13). Based on the case, crime laboratories can use DNA typing method to match whether the semen recovered from the girl’s underpants match the DNA profile of the suspect. This criminal investigation process is not re liable because DNA experts states that only 20% of the total violent crimes benefit from the evidence resulting from DNA testing. This is because most of the forensic discipline applying the DNA method lacks the needed scientific dimensions that support the performance standards (Jeyendran 2003, p. 127). It is essential to consider the application of good forensic science in DNA typing method. This is because forensic scientists discovered lab misconduct in arresting, indicting and convicting an innocent person. Criminal cases that include forensic science investigations should take meaningful precautions to guard against meaningless science and unreliable results (Bjorndahl, Mortimer & David 2009, p. 17). The forensic scientist should ensure that before they walk into the

Fantasy Theme Analysis of Commercial Essay Example for Free

Fantasy Theme Analysis of Commercial Essay â€Å"It’s Not About the Shoes† The Jordan Brand attempts to communicate to its audience that to become legendary they need to understand that it is not about the shoes, but what it is you do in them. They do this by showing a number of star athletes performing when they were in college and high school to the narrator’s (Michael Jordan) words. This paper hypothesizes how it is the Jordan Brand attempts to bring their audience to the shared rhetorical vision of becoming legendary, through fantasy themes in their ad â€Å"It’s Not About the Shoes†. The Fantasy Theme Criticism To understand this paper’s argument on how it is the Jordan Brand attempts to use fantasy themes in their ad, we must first understand what exactly the Fantasy Theme Criticism is. It was created by Ernest G. Bormann, and was designed to provide insights into the shared worldview of a group of rhetors. It is derived from the Symbolic Convergence Theory, and can be applied to different types of rhetoric including the kind(s) used on small groups, social movements, political campaigns, and organizational communication. The criticism relies on two assumptions. One, that rhetoric creates reality, and two, that convergence occurs. With regards to rhetoric creating reality we are to assume that the symbolic forms that are created from the rhetoric are not imitations but organs of reality. This is because it is through their agency that anything becomes real. We assume to that convergence occurs because symbols not only create reality for individuals but that individual’s meanings can combine to create a shared reality for participants. The shared reality then provides a basis for the community of participants to discuss their common experiences and to achieve a mutual understanding. The consequence of this is that the individuals develop the same attitudes and emotions to the personae of the drama. Within this criticism the audience is seen as the most critical part because the sharing of the message is seen as being so significant. The basic unit of this analysis is looking at the different fantasy themes within the rhetoric being analyzed. Fantasy themes tell a story that  accounts for the groups experience and that is the reality of the participants. The three fantasy themes that are necessary to create a drama are setting, characters, and actions. These fantasy themes then come together to form a fantasy type, and rhetorical vision. A fantasy type is a stock rhetorical vision that appears repeatedly in the rhetoric of a group. The actual rhetorical vision is the unified putting together of the various shared fantasies, or a swirling together of fantasy themes to provide a credible interpretation of reality. In the event there is a rhetorical vision, it is suggested that a rhetorical community forms that consists of participants in the vision, or members who have shared the fantasy themes. It is within this community that the ability to understand and act on the motives for action that the rhetorical vision attempts to communicate reside. Analysis Within this ad, there is a number of fantasy themes that the Jordan Brand incorporated that potentially could lead their audience to the desired rhetorical vision they wished to communicate. This part of the paper will seek to analyze this ad by first looking at our ads relationship with the audience, and then breaking the fantasy themes down into the three different kinds that make up this analysis and how they could come together to form a fantasy type and rhetorical vision. In order for the ad to make sense it must share a First there is the setting theme(s). Setting themes depict where it is the action is taking place. In this ad, there are a variety of different athletic venues depicted in which the physical setting takes place for athletes to become legendary. For example, there is a basketball court (P3, P8, P15, P20, P21), a boxing ring (P12-13), a baseball field (P5-6), and football field (P11, P17-18). All of these different physical places are where athletes go to train and perform to become legendary. We here the narrator state various inspirational lines pertaining to ones performance such as, â€Å"It’s about work before glory† (L10-11) and that it is about â€Å"Taking everything you have been given, and making something better† (L8-9). This suggests to the audience that practice and hard work in whatever sport you choose to compete in, are required if you wish to become legendary. The next major setting theme of the ad is within the audience is itself. In the very first scene (P1) all we see initially is the shoes with an unidentified person sitting in them. The screen then scrolls up to reveal a man who it is sitting in a chair deep in thought. This is possibly meant to be symbolic that each and every person in the audience is that athlete in those shoes. Then in the final scene we see a black screen with the words Become Legendary. These two slides form the setting that each member of the audience is supposed to face, the moment in their mind at which they either decide in favor of, or against attempting to become legendary. In addition to this the ad references â€Å"you† the audience a total of 8 times. This supports that the ad is trying to communicate to its audience wherever it is, and since this ad is attempting to call to action its audience the setting is within the audiences minds themselves when they are making their decision. Next there is the characters theme(s). Character themes are any person or object shown engaging in human like action. As previously stated, the ad references â€Å"you† a total of 8 times and makes clear that the audience is the most important character in this ad. Through the imagery and words, the audience is supposed to either imagine themselves as the athletes depicted, or as themselves in similar settings on the athletic field. This inclusive strategy of using the language and themes of the ad to relate to the audience helps to build convergence The athletes who are shown in the ad are also important characters. It is not explicitly stated in the ad who these athletes are, but by watching the ad and viewing the final scene in which the words Become Legendary (P22) appear, the audience can infer that whoever these athletes are, they are legends in their respective games. They are depicted throughout the ad performing various acts of athletic ability, and through the narrator’s words the audience is supposed to imagine themselves performing similar acts as these athletes. Finally, there is the actions theme(s). Action themes deal with the action of the drama. Within this ad there are numerous action themes. By looking at the visuals of the ad we see athletes running up and down a basketball court (P3, P20), hitting baseballs (P5-6), shooting a basketball (P8), catching touchdowns (P11, P18), and hitting a punching bag (P13). Accompanying these visuals we here the narrator’s words and are able to understand the qualities these athletes possess, and how their actions (which become transparent through the ads visual and audio display) have lead them to become legendary. For example, we here the narrator say for the baseball scene (P4-6) that â€Å"It’s about having the courage to fail† (L4-5). The audience is supposed to understand that having courage/acting courageous is important to have if one wishes to become legendary. Another example is in slides P12-15 in which we go from the visual of a young boxer working out, to the image of basketball player in celebration and here the words â€Å"It’s about work, before glory† (L10-11). This scene depicts that the action of working hard leads to the act of celebration in victory. This scene also lends itself to the idea that the act of working hard is important to becoming legendary. These themes form a fantasy type which is that it is not about the shoes. We here this exact line stated in P1L1 that â€Å"It is not about the shoes†. Throughout the ad we then see various video clips and pictures that show us, as well as hear our narrator tell us, what it is about. We then hear in L14 that once again â€Å"It’s not about the shoes† and then in L15-16 that â€Å"It’s about what you do in them, it’s about being who you were born to be†. This fantasy type provides the resolution to the original conflict brought about in the first scene. The fantasy themes discussed above all come together to hopefully lead the audience to the rhetorical vision to become legendary, which is what the rhetor hoped to communicate. Through the fantasy themes the audience is able to see how it is that they can become legendary

Occupational Therapy In Mental Health Health And Social Care Essay

Occupational Therapy In Mental Health Health And Social Care Essay Occupations are collections of activities and tasks of routines which are valued by individuals and cultures. Occupations include everything such as self-care, relishing life, and contributing to the social and economic aspects of societies (CAOT, 2002). It engages people in mutual work and it also promotes personal growth and development which offers possibilities to maintain healthy environment where people can interact with each other. (Creek Laugher, 2008).Occupational therapy is rehabilitation profession which involves the individuals with disabilities to attain maximum potential in performing function of daily living, employment, through the use of purposeful activities. (Stein Cutler, 2002). According to (Awan, 2009) Pakistan has poor condition in terms of occupation its safety and health legislature. People are more susceptible because they work informally, with no access to basic occupational health .Which creates barrier for a person to involve in any activities and participates in society which ultimately leads to loss of roles and responsibilities. Therefore occupational therapy is essential to accomplish basic tasks of daily living in order to enhance quality of life. More over Occupational therapy minimizes dependence on expensive health care and it also promotes societal acceptance of individuals. This reason led me to think about the occupational therapy in mental health context for Pakistani people. Where people are renowned for their occupation, because society value those who earns and make diverse contribution in society. Any mental disorder creates barrier for a person in occupation and compromises their quality of life. Therefore occupational therapy is es sential for a people because it engages people in various tasks of daily living and enhances self-worth of individuals so that they can live peacefully in societies. It was our first Mental Health clinical rotation at Karwane-e-hayat. The things which had convinced me in this rehabilitation center is occupational therapy. I noticed that my client was greatly involved with occupational Therapists. Every day new innovative activities were planned which influence the health and wellbeing of patient effectively, as patient involved in these activities very well. Furthermore when my client receives occupational therapy interventions he improves significantly more in terms of interpersonal relationships, which is the sign of disease improvement. The effectiveness of occupation therapy has convinced us a lot. Therefore we decided to plan more activities for the patient so that they can participate easily and interact more with other patients. To achieve this purpose we began with the assessment of patients interest and abilities. By identifying this we can plan activities according to their interest and implement them at clinical setting. Finally we evaluated our effectiveness of intervention which was positive and patients were happy and they request our group to plan more activities for them next time. To improve health and wellbeing of patient occupational therapist believed that person needs to participate in the activity of daily living. To describe this relationship of health and wellbeing a person environment occupational model has been proposed. This model deals with the interdependent relationship between three factors which are person, aspects of occupation and environment and their effects on performance of a person and health. The personal factors which have an effect on occupational performance are sex, age, gender, self-efficacy (feeling of I can do it).Environmental factor includes social, physical, cultural, institutional characteristics these factor interact with the personal factor which then have either positive or negative impact on persons occupational performance. The third factor which has an influence on occupational Performance, health and well-being is occupation, which includes tasks and activities that person performs on daily basis. These factors are constantly interacting with each other and they influence health and well-being of persons health (Law, Steinwender, Leclair, 1998). Relating this scenario, to our clinical setting, the self-efficacy of a patient motivated him a lot, and to increase the self-efficacy, environmental factor which includes social support system example friends and families considered being a strongest support system. The Patient who involve in the activity they insist their friends to be a part of the activity. Besides patients family support them very well to enhance their wellbeing, it was seen in clinical area that after taking discharge family members bring the patient in occupation therapy room to participate in the activity for 2-3 hours. The third component is occupation that includes tasks which sometimes produce negative symptoms on wellbeing for example work load, expectation of a job. During Mental status examination a client verbalized that he got ill because of major loss in business. Due to which client suffered from major depression and he got admitted in this rehabilitation center. Thus 3 factors are very important fo r the person to participate in the activity and improve their health prognosis. Occupational therapy has a positive impact in mental health settings. It treats individuals who are mentally ill, impaired cognition or emotionally disturbed. To treat these problems, therapists provide physical training and exercise training. It also provides independent living skills such as self-care for mentally ill and person who have cognitive impairment. Moreover it provides education for stress management to a client with disorder. It also promotes sense of independency, enhances self-esteem and self- worth. Occupational therapist collaborate with other health care professional to provide intervention for a group by leading activity in a group to prevent depression, increase socialization, It provide parenting skills to those parent who are disable or who have children with disabilities, They also educate regarding normal growth and improvement and how to deal with a patient with problematic behaviors. Therapist also arranges programs, to resolve conflict and for anger management to enhance motivation in a community so that people can develop interest for their work roles (AJOT, 2001). Occupational therapists are devoted to plan different activities for the patient to increase their well-being, but as a nurse we are also in a business to promote patients health, alleviate suffering and prevent them from disabilities. For this purpose we also planned activities for the patient in the rehabilitation center, which was exercising, sandwich making, cap making, collage work, word game and many more. Patient responded very well towards our planned activities they were greatly involved with other patient which increase their socialization, enhance their self-esteem, reduce their depression and decreases their feeling of loneliness which was verbalized by the patient. Moreover as a individuals it is our first and foremost responsibility to encourage people to adapt occupational therapy as an intervention because occupational therapy prevent the relapses. First of all people should know the positive outcome of occupational therapy which can be done through education and awareness, awareness through television and radio about disease related to mental health so that people should came to know about proper intervention related to disease process, Modifying exercise facilities to make them accessible to people so that they can easily practice, provide education skill development training in the context of everyday occupation, and also self-management training to manage health. However training of staff is very necessary to promote occupational therapy in mental health, government and private sector should established a programmed to trained therapist (AJOT, n.d). By concluding this, Occupational therapy plays essential role to promote wellbeing and to reduce the suffering, positive aspect of mental health can be promoted through occupational therapy, which enhance societal acceptance of patients and reduce the health expense by promoting wellbeing through activities and counseling. It is the responsibility of a nurse to promote OT in collaboration with other health care professionals to reduce the disabilities in the societies. Furthermore certain law and legislature should be imposed by government in the country to promote OT in the hospital which lacks this facility. All in all occupational therapy has a positive impact on patients wellbeing however if this intervention being neglected by the therapist or a nurse so it can produce negative impact on patients mental health. Awan, T. (2009, September 11). OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN PAKISTAN | Asia Monitor Resource Centre. Home | Asia Monitor Resource Centre. Retrieved from http://www.amrc.org.hk/alu_article/occupational_health_and_safety/occupational_health_and_safety_in_pakistan. CAOT Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists -Position Statement- Universal design. (2002). CAOT-ACE. Retrieved from http://www.caot.ca/default.asp Creek, J., Lougher, L. (2008). In Occupational therapy and mental health. London: Churchill Livingstone. Law, M., Cooper, B,. Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P. Letts, L. 1996. The Person-Environment-Occupation Model: A transactive approach to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 63(1):9-23 Law, M., Steinwender, S., Leclair , L. (1998). Occupation, health and well-being. Canadian journal of occupational therapy, 65(2),Pp, 81-91. Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and the Prevention of Disease and Disability Statement. (2001). The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, PP, 656-660. Stein, F., Cutler, S. K. (2002). Psychosocial Occupational Therapy: A holistic approach (2nd ed.). Albany,New York, USA: Delmar.

Total Quality Management Techniques

Total Quality Management Techniques Total quality management (TQM) principles and techniques are now a days well accepted part of almost every managers tool kit (Dow et al., 1999). According to Powell (1995), most large firms have adopted TQM in some form, and official quality awards are a badge of honour whether a company is operating in Japan, the USA, Europe, or Australia. Implementing TQM is a major organizational change that requires a transformation in the organizations culture, processes, strategic priorities, and beliefs, among others. Quality: Different people have different definitions of quality but they all have the same central theme. According to (Text book), Quality is consistent conformance to customers expectations. Some refer to quality as fitness for use and other calls it as conformance of requirement. According to American Society for Quality, Quality is the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. However, quality doesnt have a single perspective and is different for the customers of any product and service and for the producers of that good or service. In the Operations view, targeting quality is to undertake operations to produce outcomes which are in line with the specifications defined through processes that are designed and controlled to maintain consistency in the specified production and above all, that the Customers Expectations are met through the produced good or service. In customers view, quality has no single definition for all customers. It depends on how they perceive it. Hence, quality is referred to as customers perception and expectation about different values of a single product or service. Following are the different dimensions of any product or service: Performance Main characteristics of a product/service Special Features Extra characteristics Conformance How well a product/service corresponds to the customers expectation Reliability Consistency of performance Durability Useful life of a product/service Perceived Quality Indirect evaluation of quality (e.g. reputation) After Sales Service Handling of complaints and requests for information THE DIMENSIONS OF QUALITY (Stevenson, 1999) The Quality Costs The cost of quality is a balance of the cost of assurance of quality against the costs associated with shortcomings resulting in the lack of quality. An attempt to minimize the total quality costs is mere balancing of the four components of quality cost: prevention: incurred to prevent quality problems, appraisal: associated with controlling quality to check whether problems have occurred or not, internal failures: associated with errors dealt with inside of operations and external failures: associated with errors or problems going out of the operation to a customer.(Text Book) The variations within the individual quality cost categories are secondary in importance compared to their combined effect on the overall total quality cost. The quality cost concept is an effective tool that can be used to express the value of the quality aspects of the operation in terms of money so that monitoring and analysis of investments and savings in that area can be readily evaluated using the language of business: money. (George P. Laszlo) Prevention is the important influence more than inspection, according to a rule of thumb, for every dollar spent in prevention; a company can save $10 in failure and appraisal costs. (Chase, Aquilano and Jacobs, 1998) Consequences of Poor Quality Quality has been recognised as the key ingredient for success in business and has been focused upon intensely so as to match the pace of the contemporary market growth and the subsequent competition in it. Production of good or service with the required quality is possible only through properly managed production process, whose vital part is to ensure the satisfactory quality assurance. However, in case this vital part fails to contribute its role effectively, processes produce outcomes with poor quality. Poor quality products may disappoint the buyer and result in the customer migration. Buying a product and finding it below expectations will make buyer not to buy the same product again. In fact, the chances that the buyer will buy any other product from the company are also low. Poor quality affects the overall costs associated with that product. The failure cost increases as poor quality product is repaired, replaced or made new. The cost associated with the reimbursements and waste materials increases the overall variable production costs and hence profit margins and contribution. As a consequence of the cost increase, companies alter the price levels. ( Begg Ward) However, spending enough prevention cost at first place, the economic turbulence in the market can be avoided. More than all, poor quality damages the image and reputation of the company among the customer base. The famous example of Mercedes, launching A-class car without noticing its faulty design, showed the sensitivity of the relation between reputation of a company with the quality of its products. ( Topfer,1997) As the repairs or rectification of any faulty product demands for more efforts, the overall productivity of the firm is also affected by the poor quality outcomes. Also, the Consumer and Product Safety Act of 1972 makes firms liable for damages caused by the products or services, which do not fulfil the standards set and enforced by the act. (Heizer and Render, 2000) What is TQM? The concept of TQM (Total Quality Management) is generally understood, and often also described, as some form of management philosophy based in a number of core values, such as customer focus, continuous improvement, process orientation, everybodys commitment, fast response, result orientation and learn from others. (Ulrika Hellsten and Bengt Klefsjo, emerald). All these core values collectively are nothing but quality improvement. Hence, TQM is best thought of as a philosophy of how to approach the organization of quality improvement. (Text Book) TQM philosophy stresses the Total of TQM. Putting quality or improvement at the heart of everything and including all activities within an operation, TQM aims at participation of all the members in organization targeting long-run success through customer satisfaction, and benefits to all members of the organization and to society. TQM and the Quality Gurus Although the quality gurus seem to be recommending different solutions to bringing about improvement, they are all talking the same language but they use different dialects.(Text book). Each Guru stressed a different set of issues, which catalysed the transition from TQM concept to operations improvement. It is believed that Japanese were the first to introduce the concept and implemented it on a wide scale and subsequently popularized the term Total Quality Management. Few of the popular contributors and their philosophies about TQM are briefly described. A. Feigenbaum stressed on the integration of quality development, quality maintenance and quality improvement efforts of the various groups in an organization so as to enable production and service at the most economical levels which allow for full customer satisfaction.( Text book) W.E.Demings basic philosophy is that quality and productivity increase as process variability (the unpredictability of the process) decreases. In his 14 points for quality improvement, he emphasizes the need for statistical control methods, participation, education, openness and purposeful improvement.(Text book) J.M. Juran was concerned about management responsibility for quality and he focussed on user based approach in defining the specifications of the products. TQM as an extension of previous practice. Quality is explained with a different perspective in contemporary organizations in comparison to traditional organizations. The new perspective suggests that from narrow, manufacturing-based discipline, quality has transited to a corporate emphasis and is applicable to each business function and every employee with broader implications for management. The evolution of quality management has reached a point where quality is being viewed as a basis for competition. Total quality management can be viewed as a natural extension of earlier approaches to quality Management. Earlier quality was achieved by inspection and screening out defects before they were noticed by customers. The quality control (QC) concept introduced the concept of treating the quality problems. Quality assurance (QA) widened the responsibility for quality to include functions other than direct operations and made use of statistical quality techniques. TQM added few more factors or themes into it. The first and the key element of TQM is that organizations should see the product or its value and quality from customers point of view in a process of setting its specifications, designing and actual production. In these days, rapidly changing trends, technologies and preferences are collectively making the process of realizing customers expectations a critical, time taking and expensive process for contemporary organizations. Another powerful aspect of TQM is the concept of Internal and External customers which suggests the inclusion of all the parts of organization. Delivering the goods and services with a level of quality within the organization considering everyone as customer ensures the delivery of the final product to the external customer to be of required level of expectations and quality. Several companies are adopting the internal customer concept in their operations. Hewlett-Packard, the information systems company, was one of the first to make a success of the internal-customer concept in its operations. (Text Book) The concept of never ending improvement makes TQM an even better tool for improvement. The reputation and business of any company runs on quality of its product. However, with increasing pace of advancement and research, one level of quality doesnt reflect the same value to customers in very short time. So, implementing continuous improvement concept keeps the organization in the competition. Quality programs like zero-defects, which aims at performing right at the first time, and six sigma, which is intended to keep the error rate of about 3 defectives per million units, are also used to describe the continuous improvement efforts. (Stevenson, 1996 Blackboard) TQM Cost Model Quality Systems and Procedures Very often people are prevented from making improvements by the organizations systems and procedures. Indeed, there is a belief that direct operators can correct, at the most, only 15 per cent of quality problems; the other 85 per cent are managements responsibility because they are due to the system or the lack of one. (Text Book) This calls for a properly defined Quality management system which should cover all facets of the organizations operations. ISO 9000 series is a set of worldwide standards that draws the common requirements for quality management systems for all organization and provides a framework for quality assurance. The registration process involves a third party evaluation and regular audits to ensure the system doesnt deteriorate. (Text Book). ISO 9000 registration is an effective element for organizations to have an edge over those which doesnt hold the registration. Customers, these days, are very well aware of these standards and gain confidence, in terms of assured quality, in any company if it is ISO 9000 recommended. Surely, organizations and customers, both are benefitted. However, on the other hand, those contemporary organizations which still havent achieved the ISO 9000 have to somehow, undertake the time and cost consuming implementation of these set of quality measures to sustain in the highly competitive era. Implementation of TQM While implementing TQM, organizations should not forget that firms will have different needs and thus TQM must be specially customised to the circumstances of the organization. (Slack, Chambers and Johnston; 2001). Also, TQM involves all aspects of the firm and unless its significance is fully understood by everybody, its implementation will fail. (N.N., 2000b Blackboard). The successful implementation of TQM should focus on following factors. Factor 1: Top management commitment: The degree of visibility and support that management takes in implementing a total quality environment is critical to the success of TQM implementation (Deming, 1982; Juran and Gryna 1980). Management should plan to reduce traditionally structured operational levels and unnecessary positions. For example, spot checking can be implemented instead of hiring a supervisor for this job. Simplifying the organization will lead to the establishment of an infrastructure of integrated business functions participating as a team and supporting the strategic vision of the company. (Jaideep Motwani) Factor 2: Quality measurement and benchmarking: Most authors endorse a zero defect and a do it right the first time attitude towards the quality program. Measurement techniques should include monitoring supplier quality levels, utilizing SPC (Statistical Process Control) to reduce process variability, and calculating the cost of quality (Ahire et al., 1996; Powell, 1995; Hardie, 1998). Factor 3: Process management: This factor emphasizes adding value to processes, increasing quality levels, and raising productivity per employee. The concept of Continuous improvement discussed earlier, has to be implemented for assurance. The other tactics can be reducing the operator material handling duties, achieving a compact process flow or implementation of quality circles. Factor 4: Product design: The study of quality performance commence from the product design stage, when everything is in flux. A range of possibilities exist at this stage about the material to be used, specifications, vendors etc. Hence, at this critical point, customers expectations should be clear. Factor 5: Employee training: Employees should be trained and oriented to the overall gaols of the company, the commitments to successfully utilizing the TQM methodology and to be an effective team member. There are techniques for staff to learn as well, of course, but the purpose of the techniques is solely to work towards the basic objective the elimination of errors. (Text Book) Factor 7: Customer involvement and satisfaction: When considering customers, internal and external customers are addressed. Internal customers should undertake timely and dependable deliveries, continuously improve and self-implement solutions. An external customer service program should include providing customers with timely information and quick responsiveness to complaints, and maintaining a corporate goal to reduce the quantity of questions or complaints while recognizing all successful efforts by employees in providing outstanding service (Kasul and Motwani, 1995b). Reasons of TQM failure: Organizations often do not understand the depth of implementing TQM. The weak commitment results in ineffective value setting in the organization. A blind pursuit of TQM, which doesnt integrate quality into strategy, will draw an organisations attention away from the real important issues like customer focus and never ending improvement and thus TQM, considered a short-term investment, will certainly fail. (Reid and Sanders, 2002 and Stevenson, 1999). At the same time, expecting a radical change or a quick fix by mere implementing it results in the failures. Managers take issues for granted after implementing TQM; creating an absence of good decision making skills which leads to the TQM failures. Another reason is the ambiguity in the roles for making change, undertaking quality measures and eliminating errors in an organisation after implementing TQM. Top management may believe that identification and eliminations of errors has to be processed at operations level, however, operation workers may not take extra responsibility and can develop a perception that improvement measures are burdening them which can lead to lack in belief and commitment and eventual failure. Lack Employees Commitment As discussed earlier, training is an important part of the TQM implementation process. Training the employees doesnt only points to the operations training but also the attitude training as well. Absence or lack of employee training can be a reason of failure. TQM demands for the complete awareness and participation at every level of the organization.(Text Book) Unless, employees develop a commitment level at which they perceive organizational goals as their own, they cannot work to their full potential. However, spending adequate amount on conducting trainings can be a key for the desired outcome. Lack of organizations communication system and function is also a cause for the failure of TQM in an organization. The varied information regarding TQM as a result of lack of co-ordination between different departments may not satisfy the questions of workforce and hence create a loss of ideas which may have developed with proper information in the flow. Absence of proper review technique to check the effectiveness of the quality system is a major cause for failure. Organizations fail to find the cause for defects in products or procedures on implementation of TQM. It may be due to the wrong techniques being used to review or ineffective business process adopted.

The Marketing Mix Essay -- Papers

The Marketing Mix Description of the Marketing Mix: Marketing is the way in which a business promotes its products or service. Marketing is not solely selling the product; it is concerned with identifying customers and satisfying their needs/wants at a profit. Businesses have to sell what they produce/serve. To do this, marketing decisions must be made, which involve: PRODUCT - what products will be sold. PRICE - what price those products will be sold at. PLACE - where the best place to sell the product/service will be. PROMOTION - how the customers will get to know about the product. The above are known as the Marketing Mix. Market Research: Researching involves investigating a subject in order to find out about it. Market research takes two formsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ QUANTITATIVE - finding out numerical information. Or information that is definite and precise - based on facts rather than opinions or choices. QUALITATIVE - finding out opinions and reasons for choices. This information can be collected using PRIMARY (field research) and/or SECONDARY informationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 1. Desk Research (secondary). This involves the use of secondary data (information that is already available - on databases or business directories, etc.). This information can come from within the business, or from outside: From outside the businessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This information comes from sources outside the business. It can mean researching other products in the market, or sometimes even finding out about another company. In our case, it means e-mailing companies and researching the products that they have on the market, via the Intern... ... Our intentions are to carry out our market research in the form of a survey. Most probably, we will use a stratified random sample, in which we would ask, perhaps, a limited representation of people in each year. A way to ensure that the sample is random would have to be created. Perhaps, asking the first people from each year (and segment) we see. This would be relatively random. Alternatively, we could select a systematic stratified random sample, in which every 20th person on the registers would be selected. In our survey, it is important that we address the problem of knowing which specific products to sell, and so in it we shall have questions that would answer "what are we going to sell?" The questionnaire we have designed is included in this business plan, along with an analysis of the questions used in it.

acts of non-conformity: admonished or admired? Essay -- essays researc

Acts of non-conformity should either be admonished or admired, I feel, depending on circumstance and the effect that act has on people. Each and every act is unique and different and may either have a negative or positive effect on people. It is the result of the act of non-conformity where we can truly decide whether it should be admired or admonished. Acts of non-conformity which have a positive effect on people, or show that a person is comfortable being an individual, should be admired as they take great courage to perform them. If an act of non-conformity also displays a person’s individuality and self pride I feel this should be greatly admired because it is often hard for many people in today’s society to be different and individual, because great emphasis is placed on conformity i...

Success of Mcdonalds

As a husband and Father of two children, I’d like to say I’m an expert on McDonalds, especially the modern day McDonalds which is a lot different than when I was a kid. Today, McDonald’s is practically everywhere in the world and is a part of their cultures. The explanation of McDonald’s success can be derived from many things, but the ones that stand out are first their branding. They have been around for over sixty-five years and that certainly helps with branding. As of today, McDonald’s success in the public’s eye is that they have quality food at a low price that is given to the customer quickly with great service and clean facilities. The planning, organization, leadership and controlling by McDonald’s are about as cutting edge as you can get when it comes to fast food restaurants. I’m going to talk about these four points and they will tell you why McDonald’s is the number one fast food chain in the world. The McDonald’s chain is composed of company owned restaurants as well as franchised restaurants which make up over sixty-five percent of the operating McDonald’s outlets. Now because of this many of the restaurants are controlled and run separate from one another. McDonald’s is not just around to gain profits, but to survive not only the American recession, but also the global market. They strive to be the best employer for people in each community around the world, deliver operational quality to their customers in each and every restaurant and achieve profitable growth by continuing to expand their brand and using their strengths to continue to be innovative and take advantage of modern technology. So yes, McDonald’s knows what they are doing, but that wasn’t always the case. Back when they first opened, they were only open for lunch and dinner. So approximately from 7:00 a. m. to 7:00 p. m. and they did well, but today most McDonald’s restaurants are open twenty-four hours a day. Many fast food chains have copied this idea in order to keep up with McDonalds. From a planning standpoint, McDonald’s is always coming up with innovative ideas to continue to their branding. When you watch a couple hours of television in the evening, no matter what channel, you are going to see a McDonald’s commercial. They are typically very fresh and memorable and that’s without a doubt on purpose. The planning that goes into McDonald’s marketing is to always be two steps ahead of their competition. You also probably can’t help but see at least one billboard from McDonald’s on the way to work. Again, this to McDonald’s in your head for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Another big part of McDonald’s planning is to stay modern. Our American culture has gotten increasingly obese over the decades and McDonald’s takes a lot of heat for this. This is why they came up with their healthy menu a few years back so people had the choice to eat healthy. I believe another big part of McDonald’s planning is to tap into markets that they haven’t reached before. Sure McDonald’s has been serving coffee for years, but who doesn’t like a good cup of Starbuck’s coffee? I know I love my Starbuck’s in the morning and this is where McDonald’s decided to tap into the gourmet coffee drinker market recently by coming up with the McCafe. They now serve frappuccinos, gourmet coffee and iced coffees. This was brilliant in my opinion because now when you go to McDonald’s in the morning for your Egg McMuffin, you can now get a Starbucks quality gourmet coffee. McDonald’s has done very well with this addition to their menu and this is why McDonald’s has been and will continue to be the number one fast food chain in the world. As far as organizing, McDonald’s has franchises all over the world now and they continue to grow at a blistering pace. Their goal is to make sure that globally, each restaurant caters to specific cultures. What is on the menu in my southern California McDonald’s is different that say a McDonald’s in Europe. Having been stationed in Germany, I can definitely attest to this. So organizationally, McDonald’s continues their success by globally rganizing and implementing innovations to each of their franchises all over the world. Even the McCafe, as new as it is, is launching in McDonald’s franchises across the globe. Leadership is vital the McDonald’s success. Without strong leadership, who knows what would have happened to the McDonald’s brand. In 2001, the Hu man Resource Design Center for McDonald’s Corporation initiated the development of a special leadership development program for a select number of high potential managers identified as candidates for possible promotion into a key role in its system, that of regional manager. The program was entitled â€Å"McDonald’s Leadership Development Experience†. This program, now twelve years young, is breeding leadership within its own walls. Having read about the program, it’s very extensive and well thought out and this is just one of the reasons why McDonald’s continues to have strong leadership. Now as far as McDonald’s controlling is concerned, they do have very strict controls and guidelines in place to ensure that all of their restaurants are uniform. This is really one of the qualities that separate themselves from the competition. The strict controls in place for each McDonald’s franchise don’t just apply to the ones here in the United States, but all over the world. Things like uniform restaurant hours, quality control standards and strict hiring criteria for employees are just a few of the things that McDonald’s has in place to ensure that all of their restaurants in the world have a high standard of excellence. McDonald’s has been successful for quite some time now and the four points I just wrote about are some of the reasons for their success. McDonald’s will continue to be innovative and hold a high standard of excellence. I be in twenty year there will be new and exciting products from McDonald’s as they continue to be the number one fast food chain in the world. McDonald's 24/7; By focusing on the hours between traditional mealtimes, the fast-food giant is sizzling, by Michael Arndt. Business Week. New York: Feb 05, 2007. , Iss. 4020; pg. 64, retrieved at 07/22/2010 from: http://www. businessweek. com/magazine/content/07_06/b4020001. htm Helm, B. (2010). Ethnic Marketing: McDonalds' Is Lovin' It. Bloomberg Business Week, retrieved May 15, 2011 at http://www. usinessweek. com/magazine/content/10_29/b4187022876832. htm A Golden Recipe for McDonald’s Europe, by Kerry Capell(2010). A Golden Recipee for McDonalds' Europe. Business Week (on line), New York, July 18, 2008, retrieved at 07/200/2010 from: http://www. businessweek. com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb20080717_293203. htm Patton, L. (2011). Ronald McDonald Sidelined as Chain Toutes Lattes. Bloomberg Business Week, retrieved May 15, 20 11, at: http://www. businessweek. com/news/2011-03-02/ronald-mcdonald-sidelined-as-chain-touts-lattes. html

Customer Service Profile–Marriott Hotels

Motivate employees, train them, care about them, and make winners of them. At Marriott, we know that if we treat our employees correctly, they’ll treat the customers right, and if the customers are treated right, they’ll come back. Bill Marriot Jr. If a customer leaves a hotel or resort satisfied with the property and the service, there is a much better chance that they will return. That is an obvious reality in the industry, and in the forefront of the customer service policy of the Marriott chain of hotels.Customer response for rapid resolution to customer complaints is used by each and every Marriott Hotel and Resort. Customer Surveys are an integral part of the plan. Getting this feedback makes it possible to correct errors and enhance the customers’ overall experience as a guest. Customers are used to getting a questionnaire or a survey â€Å"after the fact† to record and advise the company of a problem and whether or not it was solved to the customer ’s satisfaction.Marriott’s goal is to provide such a survey to the customer during the stay, so that any lingering problem can be immediately resolved. If there is something wrong with the room, it should be addressed during the stay, so that no one leaves dissatisfied. The real time feedback not only resolves complaints, but has been a stream of customer suggestions which would improve the experience. These suggestions are seriously considered and many have been implemented, such as providing a billing summary available to the guests by internet or television prior to check out.Marriott Hotels and Resorts also have a Rewards program that has been frequently judged as the best in the business. Customers get points for each stay, and can apply the points either to frequent flyer miles or future vacations. This program was instituted in 1997, but there has been some form of a frequent guest program at Marriott since 1983. Many other hotels have similar â€Å"loyaltyâ₠¬  programs, and it has come to be an expectation of a lot of guests.There are many ways to earn points and over 3000 properties all over the globe where they can be earned. The points can be redeemed for a variety of things, such as cruises, hotel stays, frequent flyer miles, and even wide screen TV’s. There is even a way to donate accumulated points to charitable organizations. The above two described programs comprise Marriott’s customer service milieu. While the combination of the two prongs is very successful, there is always room for improvement or enhancement.For a great many guests, especially the frequent travelers for business or pleasure, accumulating the points towards an eventual goal is a real selling point and would certainly have the desired effect of return visits. However, for the occasional traveler, saving up enough points to have any benefit is probably not realistic. In these uncertain times, vacations and even business travel might come on to th e â€Å"chopping block†. But, even in the best of times, only a small part of the population travels quite frequently.For all these circumstances, the Reward programs is of no benefit. Again, this is not unusual for businesses to give out coupons, punch cards, or reward points that will never be used. Who doesn’t have frequent flyer miles, $10 off coupons for stores that will never again be visited, or credits towards a cruise or dinner that has expired and not used? The guest could then feel that only other people reap the â€Å"rewards†. One alternative would be to allow a guest to â€Å"opt† out of the Rewards program and instead to offer an immediate â€Å"reward. An example would be for a 2 night stay, the guest could choose from several food items to be delivered to the room, such as a late night dessert. Or, for a 3 night stay, the guest would receive a free spa visit if available on the premises. An alternate â€Å"reward† would be a coupo n for free gasoline, or something commonly available. The idea would be that for some customers who knew that the point system would not be a benefit to them, could still know that Marriott was customer oriented and that if they were to be traveling again, they would remember ot only the personal service, but that they were rewarded for just being a customer. A Review of the Marriott Rewards Program. (2010).Retrieved November 2010, from About. com: Business Travel: http://businesstravel. about. com/od/rewardsprograms/gr/marriott_reward. htm Executive Blueprint. (n. d. ). Retrieved 2010, from Case Study: Increasing Sales by Service: http://www. executiveblueprints. com/_cases/service_marriott. pdf Marriott Reward Program. (n. d. ). Retrieved 2010, from Marriott : http://www. marriott. com/rewards/rewards-program. mi

Training and Developing Employees

Training and Developing Employees Multiple Choice: 1. Once employees have been recruited and selected, the next step would be: a. discipline and counseling. b. orientation and training. c. hiring and firing. d. socialization. 3. The ongoing process of instilling in all employees the prevailing attitudes, standards, values, and patterns of behavior that are expected by the organization and its departments is: a. values projection. b. orientation. c. socialization. d. diversity training. 5. There is the real possibility that courts will find that an employee's handbook contents represent a/an: a. alsified document. b. contract with the employee. c. incomplete document. d. vague document. 7. Training of a long-term nature that has the development of current or future management employees as its aim is usually referred to as: a. management evaluation. b. management development. c. management games. d. management case studies. 8. In order for firms to stay competitive when training and de velopment objectives change, they have to adapt by performing the following changes, except: a. improving product quality. b. boosting productivity. c. hanging technology. d. increasing employee turnover. 15. The first step in a training program is to conduct: a. training evaluation. b. training needs analysis. c. on-the-job training. d. job instruction training. 17. A technique for appraising the performance of current employees to determine whether training could reduce performance problems like excess scrap or low output is: a. task analysis. b. performance analysis. c. training analysis. d. motivation analysis. 22. The bottom line that should result from determining training needs is: a. xcellent job performance. b. performance analysis. c. task analysis. d. measurable training objectives. 25. A structured process by which individuals become skilled workers through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training is referred to as: a. job instruction training. b. a pprenticeship training. c. vestibule training. d. computerized training. 32. A training technique in which trainees learn on the actual or simulated equipment they will use on the job, but in which the trainees are actually trained off the job, is: a. n-the-job training. b. off-the-job training. c. simulated training. d. actual training. 37. With a workforce that is becoming increasingly assorted, many more firms find they must implement: a. teamwork training programs. b. diversity training programs. c. value training programs. d. experimentation training programs. 39. The following are aims of the management development process, except: a. assessing the company's needs. b. appraising the manager's performance. c. developing the managers themselves. d. enhancing the industry's performance. 1. A management training technique that involves moving a trainee from department to department in order to broaden his/her experience and identify strong and weak points is called: a. global rota tion. b. action learning. c. job enrichment. d. job rotation. 43. In this management training technique, the trainee works directly with the person that he/she is to replace. What is this technique called? a. Replacement approach b. Coaching/understudy approach c. Succession planning d. Direct replacement approach 46.An off-the-job management development technique that involves presenting a trainee with a written description of an organizational problem is called a(n): a. action learning program. b. case study method. c. management game. d. coaching/understudy approach. 47. The following are features in the case study method, except: a. faculty providing the correct answer so students understand the case. b. the use of actual organizational problems. c. participants stating their views and inquiring into others' views. d. a minimal involvement by the faculty member. 3. A prospective division manager with a gap in experience with financial controls might sign up for a two-course sequ ence in: a. production control. b. managerial accounting. c. operational processes. d. managerial control. 55. A training program in which trainees are first shown good management techniques (in a film), are then asked to play roles in a simulated situation and are given feedback and praise by their supervisor is called: a. behavior modeling. b. role-playing. c. good example training. d. case study method. 58.Some employers have in-house development centers for managers and employees that would include the following, except: a. classroom learning. b. in-basket exercises. c. job analysis programs. d. role-playing. 61. An organizational development method that involves surveying employees' attitudes and providing feedback to departmental managers so that problems can be solved by the managers and employees is called: a. questionnaire analysis. b. diary logs. c. survey feedback. d. sensitivity training. Essay: 1New employee orientation has been shown to have measurable and positive eff ects on employee retention and satisfaction.In spite of this, many organizations do not have a formalized orientation process, and each employee gets a different orientation to the organization. Explain why you believe organizations do this. Outline how you would, as a new HR manager, convince management to implement new employee orientations. 2. The book listed a number of management development techniques. Which one do you believe is the most effective? Defend this choice and contrast it with at least three other techniques. Answers 1. b 3. c 5. b 7. b 8. d 15. b 17. b 22. d 25. b 32. c 37. b 39. d 41. d 43. b 46. b 47. a 53. b 58. c 61. c