Food Technology Essay Example for Free

Food Technology Essay Let’s recall 1The key phases of the innovation procedure are structuring, creating and assessing. 2A structure circumstance is a situation, circumstance or setting. It lays the right foundation for an originator. A structure brief is an explanation that presents an undertaking or issue to be explained as it identifies with the plan circumstance. 3It is essential to investigate the structure brief to guarantee that the planner comprehends what is expected of them thus that they can build up a rules for progress. 4It is fundamental to know the rules for progress before embraced a structure procedure with the goal that a planner can allude back to these measures during the structure procedure and guarantee that they are on target and settling on right choices. It is fundamental to realize the imperatives before embraced a structure venture so an architect remains inside the limits of the undertaking, especially as far as cost and timetable. 5Some strategies for exploration and examination that architects use may include: motivation sheets, meets, the Internet, overviews, tests, perceptions, course readings, reference books, magazines and TV programs. 6Primary wellsprings of data are unique reports. A few instances of essential sources are talk with reactions, review reactions, perceptions or unique records. Optional wellsprings of data are gathered from existing reports and may incorporate course books, magazines, TV projects and Internet look. 7Designers now and again produce basic representations of their plans to guarantee that they recollect the entirety of the subtleties that they created during the examination and investigation stages. Their charts may be joined by names that rundown materials, hues, size and different subtleties. 8Designers will for the most part concoct more than one alternative for the plan answer for guarantee that the most inventive and imaginative arrangement conceivable is found, as opposed to simply the first and most clear thought. 9The best structure alternative is chosen by assessing every thought against the first concise, the standards for progress and any limitations. 10Evaluation is a significant piece of the innovation procedure as it encourages the planner to settle on choices about the structure and the improvement of the arrangement. Assessment additionally causes the originator to pass judgment on the achievement of the conclusive outcome. 11Food originators may assess their food item arrangements by playing out a tactile assessment with a board of taste-analyzers. 1. 2 Factors affecting structure Case study: Red Lantern 1The two factors that Mark Jensen of Red Lantern considers significant when passing judgment on the accomplishment of an eatery are restricting the restaurant’s sway on the earth and utilizing natural and morally solid produce. 2Some of the produce picked for the menu at Red Lantern incorporates natural vegetables and herbs, line-got fish, natural and unfenced poultry, unfenced pork. 3According to Mark, a few advantages of utilizing natural and unfenced items incorporate that they are liberated from pesticides and taste better. 4Pesticides utilized in cultivating defile the dirt and the water table and are thusly hurtful to the earth. 5Net angling is an issue for marine environment due to the measure of bycatch. Bycatch is a term given to the huge amounts of marine creatures trapped in nets and executed each year. The bycatch is then disposed of into the sea since they are seen to have no monetary worth. 6Energy use is being diminished at Red Lantern by utilizing reasonable advancements, for example, vitality productive hardware and light globes. Water utilization is diminished by supplanting regular wok stations that depend on a steady progression of water with another kind of wok framework which prevents water from being lost down the channel. 7Waste is overseen at Red Lantern by utilizing exceptionally stamped glass, plastic, cardboard and paper reusing canisters. Vegetable waste is put in manure receptacles. Let’s recollect. 1The components that may impact the turn of events and creation of an answer for a brief include: work, style, human structure, scale, ergonomics, morals, natural issues, enactment, cost, sociocultural affectability, asset accessibility, physical and material properties and security. 2Ergonomics identifies with the human structure. An ergonomic arrangement must be agreeable and safe to use without making strain or injury the client. 3The word supportable methods sustainable or viable. A feasible asset can be kept up at a specific level without making harm the earth. 4Organic nourishments are developed without the utilization of concoction composts or pesticides. 1. 3 Innovation and rising advancements Case study: Molecular gastronomy 1Molecular gastronomy is a term used to portray the use of science and innovation to cooking. 2Some techniques used to change fixings into new nourishments are: drying, melting, gassing and freezing. 3Chefs of sub-atomic gastronomy are fruitful in making new food blends and surfaces by first understanding the science of food and flavor. 4Answers will shift. Let’s recollect 1Some focal points of having an Internet cooler are: monitoring what is put away in it, recording to what extent food has been in the ice chest, having a worked in camcorder to leave video reminders, having the option to sit in front of the TV or tune in to online music while cooking. 2Reasons for placing a PC in a fridge may include: the kitchen is the wellspring of activity in numerous homes and is accordingly an intelligent spot for a PC; the cooler is constantly connected and turned on so it bodes well to incorporate a PC. 3Nanotechnology is another or developing innovation that alludes to substances at the nuclear and atomic level (that is, incredibly, little things). 4Nanotechnology will make the accompanying conceivable: aIncrease the nourishing cases of specific nourishments by strengthening nourishments with shrouded supplements and nutrients. bIncrease the timeframe of realistic usability of food by making an undetectable, consumable, nano-covering that will cover nourishments, forestalling gas and dampness trade. cReduce unfavorably susceptible responses in people by hindering the fixing that causes the sensitivity. dReduce diet related infections by programming shrewd bundling to discharge additional supplements to individuals with lacks. eReduce food waste by permitting the advancement of uncommon ‘smart packaging’ that discharges nano-enemies of microorganisms when it distinguishes food deterioration. 1. 4 Design this! Contextual investigation: Urban Graze Cooking School 1Tarrah Laidman and Joel Owen began Urban Graze cooking school in August 2006. 2Students experience a scope of great food encounters in a fun and loosened up condition during a Urban Graze cooking exercise. Understudies are educated with a hands-on approach and work towards making dishes for the finish of-class bunch dinner, which is eaten together at the feasting table. 3Ingredients are chosen for a class by thinking about what is in season and what is accessible. Nearby produce is utilized where conceivable and Tarrah and Joel attempt to incorporate new food slants in their fixing determination. 4At Urban Graze, each class starts with a concise word related wellbeing and security talk and a direction of the hardware and offices. A portrayal of the class is given with a review of every formula. Showings are given to the entire class just as individual consideration. Toward the culmination of the class, food is shared around the feasting table. 5Tarrah and Joel attempt to consistently utilize privately sourced fixings and gear. They develop their very own portion vegetables and herbs. Contextual investigation: Veronica Cuskelly †formula architect 1Veronica Cuskelly had numerous jobs: home financial analyst, food advisor, formula engineer and cookbook writer. 2The group making a formula may incorporate a customer, formula designer, nutritionist, food beautician and picture taker. 3A group approach alludes to cooperating and sharing thoughts. It requires clear and positive correspondence. It is significant with the goal that the formula engineer has a decent comprehension of the different components of the brief. 4The fundamental components remembered for a brief to make another formula may include: target showcase, explicit produce to be utilized, most extreme or least number of fixings, steps or utensils to be utilized, planning time permitted, cooking times, cost per serve, style in which the formula is to be composed and dietary prerequisites. 5The purpose behind building up clear and positive correspondence between the customer and the formula engineer is to guarantee that all basic data is given and any challenges or issues that may emerge can be settled without any problem. 6At the start of a venture, the kind of pre-work that Veronica embraces may incorporate exploration and data gathering, tasting food tests, taking a gander at other comparable plans, talking with a nutritionist and taking a gander at current dietary rules. 7Recipe advancement is checked and assessed in various manners: submitting ideas to the customer for endorsement; building up the affirmed formula; testing multiple times; taste-testing meetings; change as essential and reviewing the last, affirmed formula. 8The basic parts of a formula that should be tried and recorded are as per the following: fixings, amounts, steps or strategies utilized, temperatures, gear, timings. Let’s recollect 1The three key regions of study in the Technology course are: manufactured situations, items, data and correspondences. 2Ideas for a structure venture originate from genuine circumstances. 3The strides for fathoming a plan venture are: a. Configuration (structure circumstance, plan brief, investigation, research, thoughts) b. Produce c. Assess 4The achievement of a plan venture is chosen by assessing it against the structure brief and the models for progress. 5Ways of get-together data to help explain a brief may include: leading reviews, meeting pertinent individuals, understanding books, magazines or articles on the Internet, directing center gatherings or trials.

Olympics Essay -- essays research papers

The Olympics The Olympics are an immense game that contains various games and comprises of a wide range of nations from around the globe. Back in old Greece is the place the antiquated Olympics started. It was principally a piece of a strict celebration to pay tribute to Zeus the dad of Greek Gods and Goddesses. The Olympics where held at the haven of Zeus at Olympia, which is in Western Peloponnesos. From 776 BC, the games occurred at Olympia like clockwork for just about 12 centuries. In 776 BC the main occasion was the Stadion Race that was a foot race 600 feet in length, Koroibos, a cook from Elis, won it. Extra athletic occasions were step by step included until; by the fifth century BC it was a 5-day program that comprised of three foot races, the pentathlon, boxing, wrestling, pankration, and the hoplitodromos. The Greeks that went to the Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia had a similar strict convictions and communicated in a similar language. There where no females in the Olympics right now so all the competitors where guys who originated from each edge of the Greek world, to the extent Iberia in the West and the Black Sea in the East. Despite the fact that the antiquated games where arranged in Olympia, from 776 BC through 393 AD, it took 1503 years for the Olympics to return. The primary present day Olympic games occurred in Athens Greece in 1896. The man answerable for the resurrection was a Frenchman named Baron Pierre De Coubertin, who introduced the thought in 1894. His unique thought was to introduce the advanced games in 1900 in his old neighborhood Paris. Yet, others were so energetic with the possibility that they persuaded him to move it to 1896 and have Athens have it. There were numerous incredible competitors since the commencement of the Olympics, But where a portion of the competitors deserving of acquiring a prize worth a heavy measure of cash. This inquiry has came about a various measure of times. Be that as it may, the word Athlete is a Greek word that implies â€Å"one who goes after a prize† and is additionally identified with the Greek words athlos meaning â€Å"contest† and athlon meaning â€Å"prize†. As indicated by the Roman creator Plutarch, an Olympic victor who was a resident of Athens could hope to get in the year 600 BC a money prize of 500 drachmai, a strict fortune. Later in Hellenistic periods, annuities for competitors turned out to be progressively formalized and could really be purchased and sold. Be that as it may, were the old Olympics only for men? Alongside the athletic conte... .... Summer Winter 1896-Athens 1924-Chamonix 1900-Paris 1928-St.Moritz 1904-St.Louis 1932-Lake Placid 1908-London 1936-Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1912-Stockholm 1948-St.Moritz 1920-Antwerp 1952-Oslo 1924-Paris 1956-Cortina d’Ampezzo 1928-Amsterdam 1960-Squaw Valley 1932-Los Angeles 1964-Innsbruck 1936-Berlin 1968-Grenoble 1948-London 1972-Sapporo 1952-Helsinki 1976-Innsbruck 1956-Melbourne 1980-Lake Placid 1960-Rome 1984-Sarajevo 1964-Tokyo 1988-Calgary 1968-Mexico City 1992-Albertville 1972-Munich 1994-Lillehammer 1976-Montreal 1998-Nagano 1980-Moscow 2002-Salt Lake City 1984-Los Angeles 1988-Seoul 1992-Barcelona 1996-Atlanta 2000-Sydney 2004-Athens  â â â â â â â â â  â â â â There is likewise sculptures up that are there to celebrate the individuals who had been found cheating or Bribing at the Olympic games. These were set up on the walkway driving from the core of the altis to the vault that prompts the stadion, not coincidentally the way that prompts the passageway of the athletic rivalry.      The Olympics are an extraordinary custom and they will keep going an exceptionally prolonged stretch of time simply like its done previously.

A day in Admissions COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

A day in Admissions COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog 9am: [large] coffee in hand, I was ready to conquer the applications I left sitting on my desk the night before then the day got started 9:30am: followed up on some emails.   counted days left before majority of the admission decisions are released in March panic. 10am: Fellowship Committee Meeting reevaluating how funds are dispersed for 1st and 2nd year students. 11am: crunched some application numbers approximately 90% of applications submitted are complete.   If you havent sent in your missing documents you know who you are please send them in. 12pm: MIA/MPA information Session today   Thank you for joining us! 2pm 5pm: I blocked a couple of hours today to read files but with the multiple interruptions throughout the day from conversations about Disneyland and peanut MMs (an office favorite) to calming over anxious callers to mandatory computer software updates I was only able to live vicariously through a few applicants as they talked about their commitment to public service and their exploration of the world and of themselves Unfortunately, by the end of the day the stack did not get much shorter not a very productive reading day. 5pm:   take a break to recap the day on the Admissions Blog, which I have dreadfully neglected for weeks. 6pm:   somehow more files have found their way into my office.   Guess I will have some interesting reading this weekend (while my babies nap).

Elie Wiesels Night Essay - 1159 Words

Elie Wiesels Night As humans, we require basic necessities, such as food, water, and shelter to survive. But we also need a reason to live. The reason could be the thought of a person, achieving some goal, or a connection with a higher being. Humans need something that drives them to stay alive. This becomes more evident when people are placed in horrific situations. In Elie Wiesels memoir Night, he reminisces about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust. There the men witness horrific scenes of violence and death. As time goes on they begin to lose hope in the very things that keep them alive: their faith in God, each other, and above all, themselves.†¦show more content†¦And Elie thinks to himself, Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank him for? (33). People are easily manipulated when they witness horrors that go against or disprove what they believe in. And when th ey realize this, it deeply lowers their morale and will to live. Humans are very social by nature, the idea of family, and friends are things that separate us from other animals. Ask anyone what important to them, and most will reply family, and friends. This is also true during the holocaust; many of the survivors lived only because of the thought of their loved ones. When he arrives at Auschwitz, Elie meets Stein, a relative from Antwerp. Stein tells them that the only thing that keeps [him] alive is to know that Reizel and the little ones are still alive. Were it not for them, I would give upÂ… (45). Because of our social nature, humans become connected to one another on a much deeper level. When a person loses those that they care about the most, they also lose the will to live. For some people this happens very quickly, depression sets in and a person will become immune to their surroundings, no longer caring what happens. Elie survives through the holocaust because his father is with him. Because of hisShow MoreRelatedElie Wiesels Night51 6 Words   |  3 PagesElie Wiesels Night Elie Wiesel’s Night is about what the Holocaust did, not just to the Jews, but, by extension, to humanity. The disturbing disregard for human beings, or the human body itself, still to this day, exacerbates fear in the hearts of men and women. The animalistic acts by the Nazis has scarred mankind eternally with abhorrence and discrimination. It seems impossible that the examination of one’s health, by a doctor, can result in the death of a human being if he appearsRead More Elie Wiesel’s Night 936 Words   |  4 Pages There exist only two types of people in a time of war and crisis, those who survive and those who die. Elie Wiesel’s novel, Night shows how Elie, himself, faces difficult problems and struggles to survive World War II. Wilfred Owen’s poem, â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est†, tells a story about a young soldier thinking of himself before others during World War I. The poem â€Å"Mary Hamilton† shows how a mother killed her child so she would not get into trouble. Sir John Harrington writes about a sadRead MoreAn Analysis of Elie Wiesels Night822 Words   |  3 PagesElie Wiesel: Night The five letters that Elie Wiesel utilizes as the title for his book summarize, within one word, all the feelings, the uncertainty, the anger, the fear, etc. associated with the events contained in this novel. The book is a work of art, and Wiesel is a great storyteller, leaving his audience with a deeper knowledge of both historical events and the defiance and courage of the human spirit. Perhaps the most memorable scene in the story is that in which the author and his fatherRead More Elie Wiesels Night Essay448 Words   |  2 PagesElie Wiesels Night In Elie Wiesel’s Night, he recounts his horrifying experiences as a Jewish boy under Nazi control. His words are strong and his message clear. Wiesel uses themes such as hunger and death to vividly display his days during World War II. Wiesel’s main purpose is to describe to the reader the horrifying scenes and feelings he suffered through as a repressed Jew. His tone and diction are powerful for this subject and envelope the reader. Young readers today find the actionsRead More Elie Wiesels Night Essays1095 Words   |  5 PagesNight In Night, by Elie Wiesel, there is an underlying theme of anger. Anger not directed where it seems most appropriate- at the Nazis- but rather a deeper, inbred anger directed towards God. Having once been a role model of everything a â€Å"good Jew† should be, Wiesel slowly transforms into a faithless human being. He cannot comprehend why the God who is supposed to love and care for His people would refuse to protect them from the Germans. This anger grows as Wiesel does and is a constantRead MoreA Comparison Of Night By Elie Wiesels Inhumanity In Night880 Words   |  4 Pagescountless thousands mourn† is very relevant in the Holocaust texts Night by Elie Wiesel and The Last Days directed by James Moll because it really sums up the Holocaust. Both these texts give insight to what happened inside the camps and how the survivors were changed forever. These texts both show that in times of extreme inhumanity, one can lose his faith, which leads to a loss of innocence. Wiesel struggled a lot with his faith in Night. Before the Holocaust he had full faith in God. But his faithRead MoreEssay about Elie Wiesels Night881 Words   |  4 PagesThe tragedies of the holocaust forever altered history. One of the most detailed accounts of the horrific events from the Nazi regime comes from Elie Wiesel’s Night. He describes his traumatic experiences in German concentration camps, mainly Buchenwald, and engages his readers from a victim’s point of view. He bravely shares the grotesque visions that are permanently ingrained in his mind. His autobiography gives readers vivid, unforgettable, and shocking images of the past. It is beneficial thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Elie Wiesels Night933 Words   |  4 PagesThe author of Night, a novel documenting the horrible and gruesome events of the holocaust, Elie Wiesel expresses his experiences and observations in which he and his fellow Jews were dehumanized while living in concentration camps (a hell on e arth). All Jews, as a race were brutalized by the Nazis during this time; reducing them to no less than objects, positions which meant nothing to them, belongings that were a nuisance. Nazis would gather every Jew that they could find and bring them to theseRead MoreElie Wiesels Night Essay766 Words   |  4 PagesIn the memoir, Night, author Elie Wiesel portrays the dehumanization of individuals and its lasting result in a loss of faith in God. Throughout the Holocaust, Jews were doggedly treated with disrespect and inhumanity. As more cruelty was bestowed upon them, the lower their flame of hope and faith became as they began turning on each other and focused on self preservation over family and friends. The flame within them never completely died, but rather stayed kindling throughout the journey untilRead MoreWhen Night Falls in Elie Wiesels Book, Night687 Words   |  3 PagesWhen Night Falls Elie Wiesel’s book Night presents certain aspects of Jewish history, culture and practice through the story of Wiesel’s experience with his father in the concentration camps. Wiesel witnessed many horribly tragic things throughout his days in the concentration camps. It is these experiences that cause him to struggle with his faith. He grew up as a devote Jew who enjoyed studying and devoting himself to his religion. Throughout the book we see him struggle with his concept

Heaneys Childhood Memories in Poems Mid-Term Break and...

Heaneys Childhood Memories in Poems Mid-Term Break and Follower Seamus Heaney is an established Irish poet who was born on April 13th 1939. He was the oldest of nine children and was brought up on a remote farm in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He has a lot of typically Irish memories which he includes in his poems. The three main memories that he brings up in the two poems Mid-Term Break and Follower are the death of his brother Christopher, farm life and breaking the family tradition. At 18, Heaney left his small village to pursue his English career, unaware of just how talented a poet he was. It wasnt until he attended Queens College to study a degree in English and got involved with†¦show more content†¦Heaney is able to do this by not showing any emotion at all from himself, but from other peoples reactions to the circumstances. Heaney actually wrote this poem 13 years after the incident, so it is clear this has deeply affected him emotionally. There are many people in Mid-Term Break. Each of these people is significant. Heaney is the most important, because the poem is describing his memory. However, because Heaney is writing as an observational poet, without the other characters emotions, the poem would be bland and without feeling. In the first stanza, you find out that it is written in the first person narrative and the persona is most likely to be Heaney himself. It begins in the college sick bay, where Heaney has been waiting all morning, not knowing why. At this point, Heaney could be feeling bored, isolated and lonely. It would give him time to analyse the situation, and think why he had been sent there. The poem suggests he was there for a long time by using phrases like: I sat all morning.... and Counting bells knelling classes to a close. The first phrase used obviously referred to how long he had been there, but the second was a little harder to fathom. If he was counting bells knelling classes, this would mean several classes have already started. Due to the large time gap between eachShow MoreRelated Comparing Seamus Heaney Poems Follower, Mid-term Break, and Digging3940 Words   |  16 Pagesthis essay I will be comparing three Seamus Heaney poems we looked at in class these are called, â€Å"Follower†, â€Å"Mid-term Break† and, â€Å"Digging†. There are differences as well as similarities, the similarities include: they are all poems about and set in Seamus’ childhood memories In addition, all the poems more or less use some of the same poetic devices and techniques like: onomatopoeia and some of the same characters appear in all three poems such as like: Seamus (himself obviously) and his fatherRead More Common Themes in Poetry Essay4006 Words   |  17 Pagesanalysing numerous poems, I have chosen two examples of the famous Irish Poet, Seamus Heaneys work: Follower and Mid-Term Break. Both poems relate to the poets past, and are certainly associated with a specific loss of a loved one - one a literal loss, and the other a subconscious loss. Mid-Term Break, which I found to be a very touching and poignant poem, describes the loss of the poets younger brother, Christopher when Heaney was a child, hence the poem is of a childhood tragedy as Read MoreEssay about The poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively simple1774 Words   |  8 PagesThe poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively simple. Examine this comment in the light of his choices of subject, diction, and structure. You should refer to at least two poems in your responses. The deceptive simplicity of the poet can be helped to be understood through P A M Dirac, who suggests that poetry tries to tell people in a way that is understood by no one, something everybody already knew. If you can comprehend this, it is easier to see how the poetry of Heaney can be called deceptivelyRead MoreSeamus Heaney – ‘at a Potato Digging’3379 Words   |  14 PagesSeamus Heaney – ‘At a Potato Digging’ †¢ Context †¢ †¢ The poem deals with two different potato harvests. One is the harvest from the present day that goes successfully and which delivers a rich crop. The second potato harvest looks back to the famine of 1845 when the crop failed and many people starved. Whilst the famine is no longer a threat, its ongoing fear remains and this can be seen in the use of religious language throughout the poem. For example, the bowed heads of the potato pickers suggestRead MoreThe Way Wordsworth and Heaney Present Nature and Rural Life in Their Poetry4285 Words   |  18 Pagesand revel in their love of nature. Years later, after moving twice more, and getting married, Wordsworth moved to Rydal Mount, where he spent the remainder of his life, until 1850 when he died, aged 80. Almost all of Wordsworths poems share a common factor, which is nature. However, in his work, Wordsworth does not simply just describe nature or the natural environment; instead, he relates it to himself and explores his emotions towards it. Within his poetry, Wordsworth Read MoreEssay on Seamus Heaneys Background and Poetry3041 Words   |  13 PagesSeamus Heaneys Background and Poetry Seamus Heaney had a Roman Catholic upbringing in a rural area of Northern Ireland. How does his poetry reflect his background? Heaneys poetry is able to reflect his background by his use of language and the technique he expresses his experiences. I will cover his background into three sections: his childhood, the community and his reflections. I will start by looking at his feelings and experiences in the poem Death of a Naturalist. The poet

Organizational change at Shlar of Newton Free Essays

Shlar of Newton is an organization catering to patients’ dietary needs. The company’s mission is to seek new ways everyday to improve the lives of patients. The decision to implement steam table serving system just started out as a simple initiative to improve the quality of life of patients. We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational change at Shlar of Newton or any similar topic only for you Order Now Initially, the top management did not realize the magnitude of change required to implement this system. However, when they gradually began to understand the various interconnected variables involved, a decision to make a significant organizational change to facilitate the new system was finalized. It was agreed that organizational change would be effected in accordance with the company’s mission and values (Free Management Library 2008). The company also decided in advance that organizational change would not come at the cost of weakening or compromising established and successful operational methods that have been its cornerstone for years, unless a significant reason is put forth. This included current practices in the kitchen floor, dining room or managerial functions. The cost factor involved in organizational change was analyzed and sufficient funds were allocated in the yearly budget to pursue the necessary actions. However, no expansion in manpower was initially foreseen by management as the new equipment did not need expert assistance. Introduction of Steam Table To begin with, new steam table equipment, utensils and other allied accessories had to be purchased. There were a lot of choices in brands as well as features to consider when it came to choosing the right hardware. The senior staff members in the kitchen were consulted in this regard to understand their requirements. Steam tables could be powered by gas, hot water bath, as well as electricity. Each one had its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Steam tables functioning on water bath were comparatively inexpensive, but not very efficient for our requirements. The gas-powered steam table was quite efficient, but it lacked in features. The electric steam table was finally chosen for its efficiency as well as features; certain models of electric steam tables also had a cold-storage compartment, which could be useful to store fruits and refreshments (Steam Table world 2008). After conducting an exhaustive research on the numerous brands available in the market, â€Å"Eagle Group† brand was selected based on its reasonable pricing, durable hardware, favorable customer service reputation and free installation offer. The steam table is an expensive piece of machinery which needs professional maintenance from time to time. Hence, an annual maintenance contract was signed with the same company to facilitate periodic maintenance, repair and refurbishing. The new equipments installed in the facility also were insured to cover for accidents and unforeseen events. The steam table system required a more robust power supply to meet the added power requirements. Hence, this required hiring electricians to upgrade the power supply in the premises. A training program was also designed to make kitchen staff comfortable using and cleaning the new steam table equipment; its features as well as emergency measures to handle a hardware malfunction were also clearly demonstrated. As steam tables as well as steam table pans needed regular cleaning, a staff member was needed to accomplish this task. The same staff member who was responsible for cleaning the trays in the previous tray passing system received appropriate training and took over the new responsibility. Soon after installing the steam tables, there was a noticeable raise in temperature due to the heat generated by the new equipment. So, the management decided to rectify the situation immediately before it started making patients uncomfortable. Hence, additional air-conditioning equipment was installed to lower the temperature to comfortable levels. These problems were solved smoothly because the management understood that organizational change was a long process that needed to be approached with extreme caution and sensitivity. It anticipated unforeseen expenses and was well-prepared, as it viewed the expenses an investment towards its stable future. Merits of Steam Tables The primary advantage of implementation of the steam table system is the availability of fresher food, which is tastier and more nutritious to the patients. The steam table also acts as a quality-check mechanism, wherein food items that are not preferred are not requested by patients and they stay on the counter. Hence, food items that are not favored by patients can be avoided or improved in future, thereby eliminating food wastage. In the conventional passing tray system, the food items that are not preferred by patients would have been served anyway and eventually wasted. This system also helps understand patients overall food preferences better and more effectively cater to their needs. Moreover, reducing food wastage would eventually benefit the patients as cutting down on our expenses would translate to cheaper food bills on the long run. The steam table system affords patients the freedom of choice to consume the food they want. This has been shown to psychologically as well as physiologically improve the patients’ condition (Hay 1932). Shlar of Newton also firmly believes that right food, in combination with medical treatment, plays a critical food in treating a person’s illness. Although talking a small stroll to the steam table counter to take food may sound insignificant to the average person, it can serve as a mild form of exercise that is critical for most patients. In the field of health care, it is important to understand that even the minutest of factors can add up and lend a patient a better lifestyle. Hence, the most marginal benefits could be treated as significant when it comes to health care, since the quality of life of a human being is at stake (Sullivan Atlas 1998). Organizational Resources Our management team is spearheaded by the Nutrition Care Manager and Director of Dining, working in coordination with a dining service agency named Morrion Service Dining. The Nutrition Care Manager, Tina Miller works out the menu by rigorously analyzing our patients’ nutritional needs. She constantly experiments with different combination of food items to ensure that the menus do not stay stale, while also meeting nutritional needs of patients. Hence, the responsibility of managing the fine balance between taste and nutrition is handled by her. Tina Miller gives a lot importance to ensure that the quality of food served meets the higher standards of hygiene and health, since we understand the importance of food in healing patients and improving their quality of life. Nutrition Care Manager also briefs the serving staff about specific food allergies of various patients, thereby eliminating any food-allergy related incidents. The Director of Dining, Timothy Smith takes care of maintaining the dining hall that serves the patients food. He keeps operations in dinning hall running smoothly by handling infrastructural demands of the facility by making sure that the water, electricity and staff charges are paid on time. He also coordinates with staff to ensure that the dining environment comprising of basic amenities and furniture is well kempt. He also interacts with patients to get their perspective on things, and duly works on their complaints and suggestions. The Director of Dining also conveys the patient’s grievances to the dining service agency and constantly works with them to bring about changes. Timothy Smith also functions as a company representative while dealing with public relation initiatives and external agents such as Health Inspectors. Teamwork at Shlar of Newton Morrion Service Dining is very customer-friendly and takes frequent inputs from our managerial team. The company has been working seamlessly well with them for quite sometime and are satisfied with the quality of their food as well service. The Director of Dinning and Nutrition Care Manager often pay surprise visits to asses their kitchen conditions, and until now they have fared quite well on our satisfaction scale. The company also frequently interacts with the nursing staff to get their inputs on patients’ specific requirements. It employs only legitimate chefs and other kitchen staff, while paying a lot of attention to kitchen hygiene. The kitchen staffs also have been well-trained to cater to patients’ unique demands and also exhibit the highest standards of professionalism expected in this sector (Kongstved 2007). Besides all these resources, we have also accumulated a powerful knowledge base over time, by learning from patient feedback and behavior. Post-implementation Phase Although a lot of positive changes were envisioned out of the stream table system, a monitoring mechanism had to be designed to measure the impact of the new system and justify its implementation. The company already had a system for regularly measuring its performance, so as to constantly improve service and ensure business sustainability. It was designed in-house as quality measuring system based on several aspects such as patients’ satisfaction, nutritional value, and nurses’ feedback. Patients, nurses and doctors were also encouraged to fill out questionnaires to measure improvement in quality of service to improve on the current system Quality-check Mechanism Patients as well as the nursing staff reported that they were more satisfied with quality of food, after the enforcing organizational change. Some doctors also reported subtle improvements in few patients’ psyche, although there is no empirical evidence to support this claim. It was also observed the overall quality of food factor went up from 3. 77 in 2007 to 4. 1 in 2008. This improvement was quite steep compared to last year’s marginal improvement from 3. 58 to 3. 77. Although a multitude of elements had contributed to our success, this year’s surge in performance can most certainly be attributed to the steam table system. These figures explicitly convey that the organizational change has impacted the company positively. Hence, the efforts and expenses incurred have been worthwhile in improving the company’s brand image as well as quality of service. How to cite Organizational change at Shlar of Newton, Papers

The Life and Times of Holden Caufield Essay Example For Students

The Life and Times of Holden Caufield Essay Holden Caulfield is the controversial character in The Catcher in theRye. He goes through many changes throughout the novel as he matures froma child to an adult. In this book, he is portrayed as a confused teenager tryingto find his place in the crazy world, while criticizing his foes andcontradicting himself. The way he presents himself throughout the novelallows readers to relate to him better. His experiences and his thoughts vary,but still revolve around one main center of gravity which the author, J.D. Holden has many distinct characteristics that set him apart from hispeers. There is one problem that he cannot escape, and that is lying. Holdenlies to everyone including two nuns that he meets in a diner. Another thing ishis language. This is representative of the typical adolescence of his timeand place and indicative of his personal fears and frustrations. (Magill,Magills1803). He is sixteen years old and a junior at Pencey Prep Schoolin Agerstown, Pennsylvania. His age ties in to his openness. Holden oftenexpresses his feelings because he is at the age where he does not really careabout others. He is not afraid to tell people what he thinks or how he feelsabout them. Holden criticizes people for the little things that they do. Hestereotypes them just by the things that he notices about them. We will write a custom essay on The Life and Times of Holden Caufield specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Throughout the story, Holden seems to have a goal set for himself. This quest involves the preserving of innocence. He believes that if a childcan be saved from the cruel world and things in it, they will be spared. Another thing in this journey is that he is looking for an ideal, but un-humanlove that will meet all demands. This means that he will have a love foreveryone that is unconditional and that he will recieve love from everyoneelse. Finally, the most important task, is the search for an identity. He isconstantly trying to find his true self amongst all the evils of the world. Lateron, Holden realizes he can achieve none of this (Unger 555). The family is really not emphasized much in the context of this book. Holden does not ever look to his family for help with his struggles or forguidance along the way. Although he does mention his two brothers D.B. and Allie, the only member he connects with is his younger sister, Phoebe. They seem to share a common bond that links them to each other. Hisparents never really offer him the shelter that he is looking for. He isconstantly searching for someone or something to turn to when he needs help,but considers none of his family members (Magill, Critical2935). Holdensparents are considered wealthy and provide him with expensive, top of theline luggage. Their only flaw mentioned is that they are too busy and do notThere is much irony scattered throughout Holdens story. Oneexample is how, from the very beginning of the novel, he tells of key thingsthat he detests, like when people repeat things constantly over and over. Hedoes not realize that right after he says this, he contradicts himself and doesthe things he says he hates. It is also ironic how Holden despises hisroommate, Stradlater. He is always complaining about what a phony that heis and how he is a secret slob. Yet, at some points, H olden comments that hewould not mind being like him. His cruelty toward others and his frustrationover his own mistakes just mix together (Lieder 2). .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .postImageUrl , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:hover , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:visited , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:active { border:0!important; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:active , .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf32cace56c17d4585f629185dcd96cdd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Art vs Government EssaySymbolism is another theme that runs throughout the novel. Holdenhas a dream that one day he can be the ultimate protector of all children. Hewants to save these children from being exposed to the evil world we live in. His dream is counterbalanced by a feeling of falling that he always gets. These two things seem to meet in his idea of a perfect world and everythingalways stays the same (Unger 557). Time is also used as a type ofsymbolism. The setting of the novel is in the cold, and in the middle ofwinter. Time to celebrate Christmas, the ending of one year and awaiting ofanother in a time of expiration. Holdens story is one of death to hisadolesce nt self and a rebirth to a new refreshed and mature Holden (Unger 556). This book can also be seen as a growing process. At the beginning, heis immature and then as he approaches adulthood, he starts to get nervous andworried of what lies ahead (Magill, Critical2935). The world is also usedin expressing symbolism. It is often used to represent the madness andcruelty that ruins people. Holden refers to it when he is talking of theimminent fall from innocence (Magill, Magills1803-1804). Holden experiences many changes as the maturing process goes on. He realizes that he can not be the catcher in the rye. The children are goingto be transformed and effected by the world in some way, no matter how hardhe tries to prevent it. He is also reborn to a knowledge of the world aroundhim. This refocuses the way he thinks. He, himself is transformed. Herealizes his own phoniness and deception toward others. This is a major step. The main thing that happens is that he obtains a love for everything. Throughthis he finds his true identity and learns the concept of compassion. Throughthese changes he becomes peaceful. A survivor who finally achieves peaceof mind. (Hipple 106). Holden also realizes that even though he misseseveryone, he only really respected all children and the two nuns. Holden Caulfield was confused, he criticized a lot of people, but healso made some people think better of themselves through lying. In thisbook, The Catcher in the Rye, he penetrates his own phoniness, in a sort ofretrospect, and realizes his faults. This represents a mature knowledge thatlies at the novels center of gravity. (Unger 555). After coming to theseconclusions, it puts an end to all the struggles that Holden went through to getBibliography:BibliographyCharacters of The Catcher in the Rye. http://www.classicnote.com/classicnotes/titles/catcherrye/charlist.html. September 12, 2000. Harte, Barbara and Riley, Carolyn, ed. J.D. Salinger. Contemporary Authors:A Bibliographical Guide to Current Authors and their Works. Volumes5-8. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1969. Hipple, Ted, ed. J.D. Salinger. Writers for Young Adults. Volume 3. New York:Charles Scribners Sons, 1997. Holden Caulfield. http://catcherintherye.terrashore.com/cast.html. September 12, 2000. Lieder, Tim. So where do the ducks go in winter? http://www.geocites.com /SoHo/gallery/7466/catcher-rye.html. September 12, 2000. Magill, Frank N.,ed. J.D. Salinger. Critical Survey of Long Fiction: English Language Series, Revised Edition. Volume 6. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1991. .J.D. Salinger. Magills Survey of American Literature. Volume 5. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1991. Unger, Leonard, ed. J.D. Salinger American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. Volume 3. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1974.

Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC

Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC Introduction First developed by Robert Kaplan and David Norton at Harvard University, the Balanced Scorecard BSC approach has become a major method for corporations to improve their performance, with studies indicating that more than 66% of the companies that implemented the approach realized a significant increase in profitability (Kaplan Norton, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, a number of local governments, military and national civil organizations have been using a BSC approach to improve their performances. In the UAE, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is one of the best examples of corporations that are applying the BSC to set its goals and achieve the desired objectives. The company has rolled out several programs to apply BSC in line with its goals and objectives with an aim of promoting human capital development by focu sing on the young UAE nationals with their careers for the better future. The company started adopting the concept of BSC in 2009 on a number of levels, with about 35 scorecards implemented in all business units. According to analysts, the company has attained some impressive milestones with BSC. For instance, customer satisfaction, enhancing efficiency in operations and promoting Emiratization is some of the significant outcomes of the approach. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes of using BSC need be studied every year to determine the progress. There is a need for additional studies show how the company has achieved the desired goals using the BSC. The results of the study are applicable not only in academics, but also in management and policy making in order to provide analysts, policy makers and corporate leaders utilize the information to enhance the quality of their professional decisions. Aims and objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a c omprehensive analysis of BSC application and use at ENOC. The research uses a qualitative approach to describe the level of outcomes of BSC at the company since the approach was adopted in 2009. The research aims to interview some professionals and executive individuals at the company in order to determine the level of BSC as well as the outcomes of the approach.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Key Research questions What strategies has ENOC employed in applying and using BSC? What are the corporate expectations of using the BSC At what levels are BSC approach applied at ENOC? What are the outcomes of using ENOC in terms of corporate performance? Review of literature Although it is a recent approach, balanced scorecard has become popular with most organizational leaders in the modern context. By definition, the BSC is a methodological tool composed of a set of b oth financial and non-financial measures regarding to the success factors of a given company or organization (Kaplan Norton, 2011). It reflects that need for strong and effective organizational activities used to create value. Since its development, BSC has widely been studied from a practical perspective where case studies are used to examine its effectiveness as well as differences in corporate performance between the organizations that adopt and those that fail to adopt the concepts of BSC (Akkermans von Oorschot, 2002). In addition, it has been studied by examining the differences in performance or outcomes between the departments that adopt and those that fail to adopt the concepts. From these studies, a number of observations have been made, most of which provide a clear indication that BSC is an important tool in measuring and enhancing performance in organizations. According to Ashurst and Doherty (2013), it has been shown that BSC ensures that strategic initiatives that f ollow best practices are cascaded throughout the entire organization, which helps in increasing creativity and other ideas that are not expected prior to the adoption of the concept. The author further indicates that BSC helps organizational leaders to overcome three foundational problems that cause challenges in the work of management- performance measurement, strategic implementation and rise of intangible assets. According to Kaplan and Norton (2010), the traditional methods of measuring financial performance fail to reflect critical aspects of the modern business environment and fails to encourage thinking on a long-term basis. Thus, BSC is set to deal with this problem. Secondly, it has been shown that intangible assets have the capacity to create more than 75% of the value that organizations achieve per given time (Kaplan Norton, 2010). With the traditional methods, it was not possible to measure and use these assets.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Balanced Scorecard in ENOC specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, the concept of BSC is effective in providing the metrics required to measure and use these assets effectively (Abushaia Zainuddin, 2012). Moreover, BSC deals with the problem of successfully implementing strategies by working with vision, people and management of resources and barriers to development. In this context, BSC helps in measuring the strategy and the process of executing the strategy. It describes the strategy in s consistent manner throughout the company (Kaplan, Norton HorvÐ ±th, 2006). According to Inamdar, Kaplan and Bower (2012), BSC articulates how an organization creates value for its owners or shareholders by displaying the key priorities as well as relationships between the outcomes and the factors that enable performance. In other words, it displays the relationships between cause and effects in an organization in order to measure pe rformance and create value for the shareholders (Frost, 2012). Methodology Study design A qualitative study was developed to examine the effects of balanced scorecard BSC at ENOC. In this case, ENOC was used as a case study in order to examine how organizations adopt the concept of BSC and the benefits that come along with the idea. The idea was to interview leading corporate managers and leaders at the company in order to draw information from their experiences with the company and the concept of BSC used therein. Study sample The study focused on interviewing two managers at ENOC. The managers were chosen because they have been involved in the implementation and maintenance of the BSC concept since it was adopted in 2009. Secondly, six employees were interviewed to determine their perceptions and experience with the idea of BSC at their workplace. The idea is to determine the outcomes of the BSC concept at the workplaces. The inclusion criterion was to interview individuals who ha d been at the company for at least 5 years since 2009.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Data collection Interviews were used to collect information from the target corporate leaders and employees. Each interview took a maximum period of 15 minutes. Structured interview questions were used, with the interviewers playing the role of directing the mood of the discussion. Results Saeed Khoory, the CEO of ENOC, said that the company used the BSC to help it uphold the highest values across all the aspects of the organization. In addition, the CEO said that using BSC was aimed at promoting excellence across all the entities by focusing on continuous improvement and adopting BSC as one of the best international tools for management. He further notes that the tool is a gold standard against which benchmarking of the company’s growth goals id done. Salah Galadari, the director of business planning and performance management at the company, reported that adopting the BSC concept was aimed at streamlining the company’s strategic growth. The six employees reported tha t they were satisfied with the new methodology because it encouraged them to work for the good of the organization as well as personal development as an employee. It provides them with an opportunity to be part of the organization process. Conclusion From the interview, it was found that ENOC uses several initiatives to implement BSC. The idea of Emiratisation program is developed and implemented through five levels that are supported by BSC- Mahaweb, Tadreeb, Ajyaa, Imtiaz and Tatweer. They focus on developing behavioral, managerial, professional and leadership skills for the national workforce. The results indicate that BSC has huge benefits for the organization because it aids in aligning people, processes and resources towards enhancing production and performance. BSC has helped the company integrate employees, processes and customers in the vital focus on development and growth. Therefore, the company has attained some impressive milestones with BSC. For instance, customer sati sfaction, enhancing efficiency in operations and promoting Emiratization is some of the significant outcomes of the approach. The company uses balanced scorecard to articulate how it creates value for the government and the public by displaying some key priorities as well as relationships between the outcomes and the factors that enable performance. References Abushaia, J. A., Zainuddin, I. (2012). Performance measurement system design, competitive capability, and performance consequences – A conceptual like. International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 3(11), 184-193. Akkermans, H., von Oorschot, K. (2002). Developing a Balanced Scorecard with System Dynamics. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 12(2), 349-352. Ashurst, C., Doherty, N. F. (2013). Towards the formulation of â€Å"a best practice† framework for benefits realization in IT projects. Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation, 6(3), 1-10 Frost, B. (2012). Measuring performan ce: Seven good reasons to use a scorecard. Performance perspective series, 3(2), 214-251. Inamdar, N., Kaplan, R. S., Bower, M. (2012). Applying the balanced scorecard in healthcare provider organizations. Journal of healthcare management/American College of Healthcare Executives, 47(3), 179-95. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P. (2010). The balanced scorecard: translating strategy into action. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P. (2011). Transforming the balanced scorecard from performance measurement to strategic management. Accounting horizons, 15(1), 87-104. Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P., HorvÐ ±th, P. (2006). The balanced scorecard. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Why Brainstorming Doesnt Work

Why Brainstorming Doesnt Work Brainstorming doesnt work. It leads to ideas that conform to each other, and not to novel new ways of thinking.  The idea of brainstorming in a group seems to make sense, but the end result, the final product, is less than it could have been if group brainstorming could have been avoided. Sounds sacrilegious to say that, doesnt it? Why Do We Brainstorm? You have a blank screen in front of you. Youre pretty  desperate for an idea. Youre not sure about where to  find something to write about. Your project or product is in need of something and youre not sure where to go. It seems that you cant come up with the idea on your own, so you turn to the group and brainstorm. Brainstorming originates from Alex F. Osborn who, in the 1940s, wrote a book sharing the creative secrets he used at his advertising agency, Batten, Barton, Durstine Osborn. He called his book Your Creative Power and it became a runaway success. His idea of   getting a group together and storming the problem with your brain caught on and pretty soon the idea of brainstorming was the standard way for business, education, government, and the military to solve problems. The concept behind Osborns idea is that brainstorming was a method that would free participants from inhibition, self-criticism, and criticism by others so that a specific problem might receive the maximum ideas possible. For years, no one questioned the validity of the concept.  Brainstorming seems like the best way to apply the idea that we are stronger as a group than we are if we are alone. It seems logical to bring in your whole team, start throwing around ideas, and building on them. The best will rise to the top and youll get ideas that one person alone could not have come up with. We assumed that the group, and not the individual, can achieve more success with each persons creativity springboarding off of anothers. We were wrong. Brainstorming is where the ideas are born before reality sets in.In A Brainstorming Group, We Think Alike Strong personalities rule the show. Leadership unconsciously steers ideas towards preferred conclusions, or asks questions that beg a specific kind of answer. Team members fear negative evaluation from those higher up and their input is limited and the ideas they share are only the ones they deem reasonable. Why does group brainstorming so consistently fail despite the protestations of those who swear by it? How could they miss seeing whats happening? 1. We see what we expect to see. The end of a brainstorming session will leave us with exactly what we intended it to: lots of ideas to choose from.  From all appearances, it looks like a success. Clearly, the group can come up with more ideas in total than an individual person can. (Taylor, Berry, Block; Administrative Science Quarterly 1958, PDF) But mere quantity doesnt answer the question: does group participation help or hurt creative thinking? You dont know about all the ideas that were stifled in the process. In fact, if youve ever heard a team member say, weeks or months down the road of a project when something needs changing, I thought of that but didnt want to say anything you can bet your brainstorming session didnt work. A full whiteboard doesnt mean your brainstorming session gave you the best possible results. It might have only given you lots of output. 2. Personalities that dont mix. Any time you get a group of people together, you quickly see who is dominant, who is vocal, who is quiet, who is meek, who is extroverted, who is introverted, who is passive, and who is aggressive. To expect this group to provide creative ideas unfettered and freely is a foolish assumption. Personalities are always at work (and sometimes at war) in a group. Our ideas are a personal thing. We all naturally have a tendency to both want to get along with others, and to not appear foolish in front of others. Asking certain personality types to be willing to temporarily throw these driving forces to the wind is asking too much. Consider the introvert, whose creative energy is derived by not being around other people. Putting him or her in a group with extroverts and expecting a great performance is asking too much. The introverts best ideas often come when people are not around to distract and wear on them. A passive person might prefer to not have conflict, while an aggressive person requires it as fuel for their engine. Who do you think will speak up and who will quietly acquiesce to the popular idea? 3. The rise of the lowest common denominator. Brainstorming curtails creativity unconsciously. We all want to get along. Few people actually like conflict (though some do). A kind of equilibrium is reached, to the detriment of the group. Brainstorming also makes us lazy. When in a group focused on being creative, the idea is that you will feed off of each other, and springboard even further with the help of ideas that you would not have come up with.  The reality is that brainstorming allows for social loafing, a term used in a 2010 Applied Cognitive Psychology study by Nicholas W. Kohn and Steven M. Smith. According to Kohn and Smith, group brainstorming means that the participants compare themselves to the others, leading to social loafing and social matching. Social loafing occurs when individuals give less effort in a group because responsibility is diffused. Social matching is a tendency to conform to peers. According to Latanà ©s (1981) social impact theory, larger groups lead to greater conformity and greater downward performance matching. The larger the group, the more they conform to each other and actually match their input and performance to the lowest common denominator. In other words, group brainstorming participants are less productive than they would be on their own. 4. Idea plagiarism and fixation is rampant. Kohn and Smith continued their exploration of groups and the creation of ideas, explaining that we are unconsciously influenced by the ideas around us. Using Dunckers candle problem as an example, they showed how the ideas of others infect our own ideas in such a way that we cannot even discern when flaws that were present in the original idea are carried over into our own ideas. We create a solution built on the flaws of another. If we are left to come up with ideas without the input of others, our ideas tend to truly be unique and not merely derivative. The moment we are surrounded by the ideas of others, we absorb them as our own. Sometimes the idea of another unconsciously becomes our idea. This ties into fixation, or how, in a group, we become fixated on a solution and though we might generate many ideas, they are all fixated on a relatively narrow set. In other words: you might end up with lots of quantity after a brainstorming session, but did you ever have that feeling that not a single idea even came close? That they were all off in the same way? You had a group of people who absorbed each others ideas, flaws and all, and the solution became a too-narrow one despite the number of ideas that surrounded it. Brainstorming works best on your own. A group weakens the results.Solving The Group Brainstorming Problem Re-injecting anonymity to the procedure will directly reduce several of the barriers that make group brainstorming fail. It removes the fear of being judged by fellow team members and by leaders for possible silly ideas or suggestions. It allows voices to be heard that would otherwise be drowned out by others in a verbal-dominant meeting. These methods dont, however, address the social loafing aspect and the problem that comes with wanting our ideas to fit together and conform to levels perceived as appropriate or acceptable. Brainstorming, One Person At A Time The idea of brainstorming, a no-holds creative attack at a problem, isnt wrong. We cant rely purely on passive luck and gestalt to solve all of our problems. There are times we have to run hard at a problem from any and all directions to find a chip in its armor. Its when we mix this brainstorming with a group that those group dynamics are put into play and the creative power of individuals is actually lessened. Thats where singular brainstorming comes into play.  You can brainstorm on your own, as one person, without a group. The same rules apply regarding the removal of inhibition and self-criticism.  When brainstorming on my own, I use a few basic techniques as I attack a problem: 1. Get The Obvious Out Of The Way There will always be one or two ideas that immediately pop into your head. Just write them down. Get the obvious solutions out of the way so you can move on from them. I find that I free up thinking space once I write down all of the obvious solutions and ideas. Its one way I get past the self-criticism and inhibition problem that brainstorming is meant to avoid.  I tell myself that, if all else fails, I can always come back and revisit those initial sensible solutions.

Human Resource Management in a Business Context Essay - 1

Human Resource Management in a Business Context - Essay Example This essay focuses on the discussion of the racial discrimination in police, that is one of the problems affected human relations and work productivity. The most insidious prejudices are negative attitudes directed toward groups of people. They take the form of assumptions or generalizations about all or most members of a particular group. This kind of in-group versus out-group hostility that disrupts work unit interactions and subverts organization effectiveness. The behaviors, customs, and values of out-group people are labeled strange or weird. Verbal misunderstandings are frequently the beginning of problems between culturally different police officers. Most police officers fear things and people who are different and they often verbally strike out or physically lash out in an aggressive manner to protect themselves. Aggressive discourse occurs as dominant-group members verbalize negative feelings toward minority-group members, and vice versa. The researcher states that effective communication and diversity training initiatives are the main methods, which help to eliminate racial envy and ethnic differences in police. The absence of positive conversations about particular minorities can usually be correlated to the absence or underrepresentation of these individuals in the workplaces in question. In conclusion, the researcher mentiones that racial discrimination is unlawful and illegal, so police administration should take corrective actions to avoid further dissemination and victimization of racial minorities.

Metabolism and Stress Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Metabolism and Stress - Assignment Example Adrenalin acts on fat cells thereby converting them to glucose for energy. Cortisol also increases amount of glucose in blood. Both these functions are at peak during stress conditions. Therefore, prolonged stressed conditions lead to excess release of energy and glucose. If the stress is not physical then this energy is not used, which eventually gets converted to fat and is deposited within the body. Excess fat also causes obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions, which in turn impact the mental status of the individual. These symptoms precede depression, anxiety disorder and eating disorders (Tafet, 2001). Metabolic dysfunction caused due to stress leads to higher glucose levels in the body, and the normal body may not be able to metabolize high levels of glucose through the available insulin in the body. This eventually leads to insulin resistance, causing diabetes. High levels of adrenalin and cortisol are also associated with thyroid dysfunction which is responsible for the metabolic functions of various other organs and glands. Combating these issues requires mobilization of the constantly produced glucose and energy in case of chronic stress. This requires physical activity in the form of exercise, meditation or other regulative physical activity which help in expending the excess glucose and fat produced as a result of increased adrenal activity in stressed conditions (Haskell et al,

Impact of BIM on Construction

Impact of BIM on Construction Building Information Modelling is certainly beginning to change the way the building looks and the way they function. This implementation of BIM has taken the construction industry into a new-era where all processes has fasten up, the benefits are not just time and cost savings but also reduction of risks and uncertain in construction process. From the through literature review of many researchers works published in various journals suggestions are being made as how this BIM approach is being carried out in construction industry, at the same time a critical literature review is also being conducted on the cost estimation within BIM technologies and whether this can benefit or harm the future role of the quantity surveyor. A questionnaire was designed to identify how the use of BIM will affect the future role quantity surveyor. The questionnaires were distributed to construction professionals within UK. From the analysis of the results obtained and comparing them with the literature review it is very clear that the construction industry is lagging in implementing e-procurement approach when compared to other industries and having realizing the potential benefits the BIM is being offering in various fields of construction industry the construction professionals are very much confident that BIM approach can enhance the procurement process and were also looking forward to implement this type of approach into their projects which makes room for bringing the whole project under a single platform Contents 1.0 Introduction The following research will investigate and analysis how the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. According to the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA (2012), almost a third of construction consultants are now using BIM .Thenbs (2011) provided information that in May 2011 UK Government Chief Construction Adviser Paul Morrell called for BIM adoption on UK government construction projects of  £5million and over. Thenbs (2012) provide information that Building Information Modelling covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, quantities and properties of building components. BIM data can be used to illustrate the entire building life cycle. quantities and properties of materials can be extracted easily and the scope of works can be easily defined. Furthermore systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale to each other and relative to the entire project. 1.2 Problem identification and purpose of study The main role of Quantity Surveyors is to estimate the building cost the modern quantity surveyor provides a service that covers all aspects of procurement, contractual and project cost management. The role of the quantity surveyor plays a very important role in all phases of any type of Construction Company  estimators have developed their computing skills in using estimating systems but mostly relying in adopting spread sheets and database ages(EstimatingTendering book) I believe there is still a market for large databases and standardized items (connections, assembly options) that can assist in the bill production phase. Repository (2012) stated that over the years the need for more cost effective, better quality and environmentally friendlier construction has grown, these factors are the main Influences on the development of technology in the construction industry. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the technologies that have been creating a buzz in the construction industry over the last few years. Ukconstructionessays (2012) provided information that Building Information Modelling, or better known as BIM is not; strictly speaking a new technology as it has been developing and used by other industry sectors since 1950s i.e. the automotive and aero plane industries. As technology evolves, we are forced to evolve with it or run the risk of being left behind. The traditional way of utilising the services of a quantity surveyor has largely been at the stage of costing a design, and the production of procurement and construction documentation (Asworth and Hogg, 2002). With the development of technology like BIM, the responsibilities of professionals are starting to shift. BIM includes a series of cost management functions that could change the processes of cost management of construction projects. This forces the quantity surveyor to focus more on different parts of the cost management process, than what would have previously. Not only will BIM influence the cost management functions and responsibilities of the quantity surveyor, but also the technology and types of software that are currently used in quantity surveying offices. 1.5 structure of the dissertation The whole dissertation is primarily divided up into 6 chapters Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Literature review Chapter 3: Research Methodology Chapter 4: Analysis Discussions Chapter 5: Conclusion Recommendations Chapter 6: References 1.6 Aims Objectives Aim: The objective of this dissertation is to identify if the use of BIM in the construction industry is going to affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. Objectives: To understand what is BIM To Research into whether BIM will help aid the Quantity Surveyor To Research into whether BIM will affect the role of the Quantity surveyor To summarise, analyse and evaluate the data collected in order analyse how the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor. Critically analyse the data collected from these questionnaires by comparing theoretical conclusions with the empirical research findings to draw conclusions. To prepare a questionnaire to collect data from practitioners within the construction industry in the UK in regards to whether the use of BIM will affect the future role of quantity surveyor. Clear objectives are important to determine whether this study is achieving what it set out to do. It is also important to write program objectives as specifically as possible to provide program clarity and strong links to evaluation. It is much easier to evaluate a program when clear objectives have been developed my peer (2012). 1.7 Restraints Limitations The main restraint is the access and use of BIM software as a full time student I do not have access to BIM software within the construction industry or at the university. Archicad or Autodesk will need to be used to understand fully what BIM is and how it works; a student version can be downloaded online. The research will involve the use of academic materials such as textbooks, journals, published and unpublished documents and internet sites. The data analysis will be carried out by sending out questionnaires to a range of construction professionals working within a Birmingham consultancy, and the results presented in bar charts and analysed after. Another restraint is how many people answer and return the questionnaire, the more people that answer the questionnaire will be beneficial within the analysis as a greater number of people will give much more accurate results. Many of the potential individuals who will carry out the questionnaire may have busy schedules so research must be taken into ensuring that questions are suitable and are able to draw suitable responses from at the end. It will be hard to measure how many construction companies currently use BIM and whether It is having an effect on the role of quantity surveyors working within the construction industry as there isnt enough time to gather research from every construction around the UK .Throughout the study an open mind will be maintained whilst undertaking the research and analysis of the data collected. 1.8 Research Beneficiaries / Dissemination This research will be useful into identifying whether the use of BIM will affect the future role of the quantity surveyor or aid the future role of the quantity surveyor. And to also identify what specific ways the quantity surveyor may benefit from using BIM and in what specific ways the quantity surveyor may be affected by the use of BIM in the future. Other categories to benefit from this research include the researcher, students and academics. By undertaking this research companies and people working within the construction industry can have a better understanding on the use of BIM approach and how it can be implemented within the cost estimation stage of a project and also into different phases of a project and the views of other professionals working within the UK construction industry on this application can be found and thus can implement that application effectively for the success of the project. 2.0 Literature review 2.1 Introduction: In this chapter 2 of literature review, a critical literature has been conducted about how the use of BIM can aid the role of quantity surveyor and how BIM may be a threat to the future role of the quantity surveyor. 2.2 Building Information modelling Constructionbusinessowner (2012) provided information that BIM allows early collaboration and integration of the design information in a 3-D environment programs are widely used in the early stages to eliminate potential issues that would be costly to rectify in the field. All parties involved benefit. Designers can identify and correct design issues before they result in rework and schedule delays. Contractors have more reliable information and can better plan for equipment use and construction sequencing. Owners can walk the project in a 3-D environment during the design. And facility managers can pinpoint ergonomic issues and plan maintenance activities more efficiently by sharing the model with their vendors and contractors. BIM will only benefit users if it leads to improved design, faster delivery, reduced price or improved value. A combination of these factors will dictate how successful BIM implementation will be in the coming years. When all members of the construction team work on the same model, from early design through to completion, changes are automatically coordinated across the project and information generated is therefore of high quality. The construction industry is widely acknowledged as unique and conservative. Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems have the potential to revolutionize current practices and to automate the measurement of quantities from construction drawings. However, there are fears that such developments could threaten the future role of the quantity surveyor. 2.3 Advantages of BIM The application of BIM has the result of many advantages, such as: Greater speed The multi-dimensionality of BIM allows various deliverables and documentation to be prepared simultaneously to the design of the building. Furthermore, the use of object-oriented design and the re-use of information accelerate the creation of drawings (Ashcraft, 2007). Changes made to a certain aspect of the model or the design will be automatically updated through the rest of the project, which allows for major time savings. Lower costs Sabol (2012) provided information that BIM offers the capability to generate take-offs, counts and measurements directly from a model. This provides a process where information stays consistent throughout the project and changes can be readily accommodated. Building information modelling supports the full project lifecycle and offers the capability to integrate costing efforts throughout all project phases. According to chuck Eastman (2011) at any stage of the design, BIM technology can extract an accurate bill of quantities and spaces that can be used for cost estimation. Cost estimating is currently a time consuming process, requiring an entire team of estimators. Acebytes (2012) provided information that there are multiple factors hindering the transition to model-based estimating; however, the risks are justified by the benefits of estimating with BIM. Building Information Modelling has the capability to automate a quantity take-off, which will reduce the time and costs required to estimate a project. By using a building information model instead of drawings; the take offs, counts, and measurements can be generated directly from the underlying model and the information can be linked to generate bills of materials, size and area estimations along with other related estimating information. According to Hardin (2009) another strategy for leveraging BIM during a project is to use the BIM file for updating estimates very quickly, last minute design changes can be altered and updated much more quickly than typical take off methodologies can catch up with . Disadvantages of BIM Precisedraftunginc (2012) provided information that BIM requires more effort at the front end of a project to establish the initial framework. But the payoff is that you are able to extract a much higher quality and greater quantity of information from that model. BIM allows changes to happen easily, so clients may continue to make changes too late in the process, and that can impact construction and design costs. BIM results in much larger file sizes than traditional CAD systems, and requires higher performing computer hardware to operate it effectively. BIM requires more thoughtful design. We now have to do what all good designers have done in the past: Think in 3d and visualize the final product! 3.0 Research Methodology A Quantitative research methodology will be used. According to Shamil Naoum, (2006 p.g39) quantitative research is based on a hypothesis or a theory composed of a variable measured and analysed with statistical procedures. Quantitative research enables the author to measure and analyse data. Benefitof (2012) provided information that the relationship between an independent and dependent variable is studied in detail. The use of standard means in quantitative research means that any research may be replicated, analysed and also compared with other similar studies. Quantitative research allows for greater accuracy and objectivity of results gained .Quantitative research usually filters out all external factors and if well designed, it provides unbiased and real results. Quantitative research is a great method to finalise results and disprove or prove a hypothesis. It is useful for testing results gotten from doing various qualitative experiments, thereby leading to the final answer. Qu antitative Research will provide the advantage of finding a premeditated set of result from a range of professionals in the construction industry. The main strengths of quantitative data collection: Numeric estimates Opportunity for relatively uncomplicated data analysis Data which are verifiable Data which are comparable between different communities within different locations Data which do not require analytical judgement beyond consideration of how information will be presented in the dissemination process. The Weaknesses of quantitative data collection: Gaps in information issues which are not included in the questionnaire, or secondary data checklist, will not be included in the analysis A labour intensive data collection process Limited participation by affected persons in the content of the questions or direction of the information collection process. (Reliefweb 2012) A Questionnaire will be produced to obtain data. Statpac (2012) provided information that Questionnaires are very cost effective when compared to face-to-face interviews. Questionnaires are easy to analyse, they are familiar to most people. They are less are less intrusive than telephone or face-to-face surveys. The results from the questionnaires will then be produced into bar charts and analysed. The questionaries will be sent by letter to a construction consultancy in Birmingham Rider Levett Bucknall in which I gained work experience with in 2011. Questionnaires will also be sent out to a number of Contractors within the west midlands area this will aid within the analysis as the research will be gained by both contractor and consultants and a deeper and more accurate conclusion will be gained at the end of the study. The nature of the data required will be based on personal opinion from a range of construction professionals working within a construction consultancy and a construction contractor. 4.0 Results 4.1 Introduction This chapter is mainly intended to cover the results in detail from the questionnaire sent to the various construction professionals within the UK in a statistical format by making use of Excel and MS Word. The questionnaire data has been broke down critically by representing in graphs and tables. 4.2 Results Explanation The questionnaire has been distributed to 79 construction professionals through email. Out of these 79 questionnaires 37 complete responses have been obtained and 13 responses were incomplete responses. Sample Size originally distributed = 79 Response received (complete response) = 37 No: of incomplete Responses = 5.0 Discussion of Results 6.0 Conclusion and Recommendations The aim of this research report was to study the influence of BIM on the quantity surveying profession. One of the most apparent and vital consequences that will result from implementing BIM into the quantity surveying profession is the effect that it will have on the traditional roles and responsibilities of the quantity surveyor and the structure of quantity surveying firms. BIMs capabilities of automating the production of bills of quantities, which is one of the quantity surveyors fundamental tasks, will have both positive and negative effects on the quantity surveying industry. The automatic production of bills of quantities will enable quantity surveyors to get involved in the early design stages of a construction project and make designers aware of cost implications and manage costs from early on. This will enable designers to design to a cost instead of quantity surveyors costing to a design, which will satisfy the employers need for cost effective construction. In the past m easurement was usually undertaken by senior quantity surveyors, but over the years it has diminished into a task delegated to more junior personnel while professional quantity surveyors take up more strategic roles (Ashworth and Hogg, 2007). Although work is required initially to develop the skills and processes needed to integrate BIM and QS processes, the resulting benefits undoubtedly justify the investment. Recent years have witnessed the realization of many of the ideas of BIM visionaries, and the next five years will see increasing numbers of successful implementations, changes in the building industry, and new trial uses and extensions of what can be achieved with BIM, beyond its use today. This period will see the transition of BIM to accepted mainstream practice; and the transition will impact all building professionals and participants. But the greatest impact will be on the individual practitioner, who will need to learn to work, design, engineer, build, or manage with BIM. Estimators have to access the risks of the project and with BIM you can be more sure of the correct-ability of the drawn material and the demonetised possibility of errors under the build. The question is only how soon they will be liable to correct their ways of working with the same percent advised. It will only take one company to burst the bobble all of the sudden all eyes will be turned to the contractor who went 5-8% under all the other tenders. The companies left behind still stuck to the 2D system will never know what hit them and will very soon have to turn the key. In practice this is time-consuming both for contractors and sub-contractors, and the amount of paperwork had increased immensely. Nevertheless, contractors always need a bill of quantities, whether produced by the clients quantity surveyor, by an in-house commission or by sharing the services of an independent quantity surveyor. There will be a higher demand to the contractors to be able to build accordantly to drawings as a model can be pulled out and digitally measured. They will have to be more accurate in their tenders as the possibility of extra works cause of quality on the drawings will be higher. http://www.7star.dk/b-link/Dissertation_QuantityExtractingInBIM.pdf References [ONLINE] Available at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/qualitative_and_quantitative_research_techniques.pdf. [Accessed 11 November 2012]. How to Benefit From Using BIM | Construction Business Owner Magazine. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/topics/software/how-benefit-using-bim. [Accessed 13 November 2012]. Cost estimating. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.dcstrategies.net/files/2_sabol_cost_estimating.pdf. [Accessed 13 November 2012]. Tiwari, S., Odelson, J., Watt, A., Khanzode, A.(2009). Model Based Estimating to Inform Target Value Design. AECbytes. [ONLINE] Available at :http://www.aecbytes.com/buildingthefuture/2009/ModelBasedEstimating.html.[Accessed 13 November 2012] Setting objectives. 2012. Setting objectives. [ONLINE] Available at: http://mypeer.org.au/planning/setting-objectives/. [Accessed 14 November 2012]. Advantages of Written Questionnaires. 2012. Advantages of Written Questionnaires. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.statpac.com/surveys/advantages.htm. [Accessed 04 November 2012]. BIM in construction Building Information Modelling (BIM) article from NBS. 2012. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bimInConstruction.asp. [Accessed 04 November 2012]. BIM, What is Building Information Modeling?. 2012. BIM, What is Building Information Modeling?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.precisedraftinginc.com/bim.html. [Accessed 21 December 2012]. Benefits of Quantitative Research | Benefits Of. 2012. Benefits Of Quantitative Research | Benefits Of. [ONLINE] Available at: http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-quantitative-research/. [Accessed 04 November 2012] Definition of Quantity Surveyors . 2012. Definition of Quantity Surveyors . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.surveyors.com/quantity-surveyors/definition-of-quantity-surveyors-/. [Accessed 19 December 2012]. Building information modelling. 2012. Building information modelling. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ukconstructionessays.com/essays/construction/building-information-modelling.php. [Accessed 19 December 2012]. NBS: BIM Roundtable Discussion. 2012. NBS: BIM Roundtable Discussion. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.thenbs.com/roundtable/. [Accessed 07 November 2012]. 2012. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/16349/Gee_Influence%282010%29.pdf?sequence=1. [Accessed 20 December 2012]. Bibliography Ashcraft, H. 2007. Building Information Modelling A Framework for Collaboration, Construction Lawyer, vol. 28, Number 3, accessed: February 2010, Ashworth, A., and Hogg, K. (2002). Williss Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, 11th Edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford London Chuck Eastman, 2011. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modelling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. 2 Edition. Wiley.p.g 22 Shamil Naoum, 2006. Dissertation Research and Writing for Construction Students, Second Edition. 2 Edition. Butterworth-Heinemann.p.g 36 Brad Hardin, 2009. BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows. 1 Edition. Sybex.p.g 152

The Elasticity of Business Ethics

Running head: The Elasticity of Business Ethics The Elasticity of Business Ethics Abstract Given the competitiveness in the world market, many are tempted to go outside of the rules and regulations of society in order to get ahead. Although many would like to think that qualities such as honesty and credibility are first and foremost in the minds of people, temptations have lured some to act irresponsibly to get more of the almighty dollar. Recent scandals have proven that good ethical and moral values are becoming more the exception rather than the rule. This paper will address the following ethical and moral questions: What is ethics and morality in business. How far have we come as a country in relation to business ethics? Why society is becoming more aware of corporate behavior? What measures are taken by businesses to become a better corporate citizen? Business practices came under fire when America's seventh largest firm, Enron, collapsed due to unethical accounting strategies. I feel this created a domino effect and was the beginning of our current crisis. Now there are companies folding one after the other, large organizations in the US collapsed or filed for bankruptcy cover and one case even implicated the famous home economist, Martha Stewart for insider trading. The various deceitful activities of some larger companies resulted in widespread public mistrust of business practices and principles. This paper will concentrate on some of the ethical and moral issues that must be addressed when trying to understand the state business ethics. 1. What is ethics and morality and how do they relate? 2. What happened in business ethics before the 1960s to the present time? . What are factors that could change ones views of a business’ ethical behavior? 4. What are interactions between business and society that alter societal expectations? What is ethics and morality and how they relate? When considering the difference between ethics and morals, consider what a criminal defense lawyer does for a client. Though the lawyer’s perso nal moral code likely finds murder immoral and reprehensible, ethics demand the accused be defended to the best of his ability even when the lawyer knows the party is guilty and that a freed defendant would potentially lead to more crime. Legal ethics must override personal morals for the greater good of upholding our justice system in which the accused are given a fair trial and the prosecution must prove the accused guilt. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with morality. Ethics is concerned with distinguishing between the good and evil in the world, between right and wrong human actions, and between virtuous and nonvirtuous characteristics of people. Ethics means thinking critically about your actions and about their motives and their consequences (Dictionary. com, 2009). Do I want to be an honest, honorable, spiritual, respectful, or loving person? You might hold an ethical position that it's wrong to lie. A time may arise where it may be necessary to bend the truth or sometimes tell a â€Å"white lie†. For example, if you have plans to deploy to Iraq on a sensitive mission and you want to keep your trip a secret for obvious reasons. If someone asks you about those plans, you may need to lie to protect the integrity of the mission. When it comes to making ethical decisions, I take into account my very personal feeling that there is a principle greater than myself. With that said, morality is the subset of ethics dealing in the philosophical study of interpersonal relations and their ethical implications. It has to do with the critical analysis of our roles in society, our â€Å"duties† and â€Å"rights†. Morals are not personal decisions, except in whether you agree with them or not. Morals are rules that a group has decided are best for that group. (Borade, G, 2009). Americans have several versions of what is moral and immoral, Catholics have lists of sins, Christians have the Ten Commandments, Buddhists has a set and so forth. You may strongly agree with them, or trongly oppose them, but they still exist, and people will judge your conduct against them whether you agreed with them or not. Building on these definitions, we can begin to develop a concept of business ethics. Business ethics can be defined as written and unwritten codes of principles and values that govern decisions and actions within a company (Simpson, C, 2004). Business ethics boils down to knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing to do what is right. The phrase ‘business ethics' can be used to describe the actions of individuals within an organization, as well as the organization as a whole (Lovetoknow. om, 2009). What happened in business ethics before the 1960s to the present time? Now that we have defined terms, we can now discuss the progression of business ethics in the United States over the years. The study of ethics in North America has evolved through five distinct stages: (1) Before 1960, (2) the 1960s, (3) the 1970s, (4) the 1980’s and 1990s to present (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics Prior to 1960 Prior to 1960, the United States questioned the concept of capitalism. The 1920s brought about the ‘living wage’ through the progressive movement. In the 1930s came the New Deal, which blamed business for the country’s economic woes and businesses where asked to work more closely with government to raise family income. By the 1950s, the New Deal evolved into the Fair Deal by President Truman which addressed civil rights and environmental responsibility as ethical issues that businesses had to address. Until 1960, ethical related issues were addressed in religious institutions of all faiths. Religious leaders raised questions about fair wages, labor practices, and the morality of capitalism. Religion applied its moral concepts to business as well as government, politics, the family, personal life, and all other aspects of life (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics in the 1960s During the 1960s, the antibusiness attitude emerged as critics attacked the vested interests that controlled the economic and political side of society, the so called military-industrial complex. The 1960 saw the crumbling of the inner cities and the growth of environmental problems such as toxic and nuclear pollution and waste disposal. A rise in consumerism by individuals, groups, and organizations began to protect their rights as consumers. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a â€Å"Special Message on Protecting the Consumer Interest† where he outlined the four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, and the right to be heard. These four rights later came to be known as the Consumers’ Bill of Rights. After Kennedy came Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society, which extended national capitalism and let the business community know that the government would be responsible for providing the citizens with a degree of economic stability, equality, and social justice. Any business practice that could destabilize the economy or discriminate any class of citizen began to be viewed as unethical and unlawful (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics in the 1970s In the 1970, business ethics developed as a field of study. Business professors began to teach and write about corporate social responsibility. Companies became more concerned with their public images and realized that they had to address ethical issues more directly. The Nixon Administration’s Watergate scandal brought attention to the importance of an ethical government. The Foreign Corrupt Act was passed during the Carter administration, making it illegal to for U. S. businesses to bribe government officials of other countries. Numerous ethical issues emerged during the late 1970s such as bribery, deceptive advertising, product safety, and the environment issues. Business ethics became a common expression and researchers sought to identify ethical issues and describe how businesspeople might act in a situation (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics in the 1980s In the 1980s, business ethics is acknowledged as a field of study. Five hundred courses in business ethics were offered at colleges across the country. Leading companies such as General Electric, Chase Manhattan, General Motors, Atlantic Richfield, Caterpillar, and S. C. Johnson and Son, Inc viewed business ethics as a major concern. The Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct (DII) was developed to guide corporate support for ethical conduct. The DII established a method for discussing best practices and tactics to link organizational practices and policy to successful ethical compliance. In the 1980s, the Reagan-Bush eras brought about the policy of self-regulation rather than regulation by government. Tariffs and trade barriers were lifted and businesses merged. Corporations that were once nationally bases began operating internationally. The rules of business were changing at an alarming rate due to fewer government regulation imposed during the Reagan-Bush era (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics in the 1990s In the 1990s, President Clinton continued to support self-regulation and free trade. However, it also took unprecedented government action to deal with health issues. These issues included restricting cigarette advertising, banning vending machine sales and banning the use cigarette logos during sporting events. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organization (FSGO) was established by Congress and set the tone for organizational ethnical compliance programs in the 1990s. FSGO broke new ground by rewarding and penalizing companies for their ethical compliance programs. Even though the FSGO has made enormous strides it will not be enough to prevent serious penalties. Companies must develop cooperate values, enforce its own code of ethics, and strive to prevent ethical misconduct (Ferrell, 2008). Business Ethics in the 21st century Although business ethics in the 1990s appeared to be an institutionalized concept, evidence emerged in the 2000s that business executives and managers had not fully embraced the public desire for high ethical standards. One such executive, Dennis Kozlowski, former CEO of Tyco, was indicted on thirty-eight counts of embezzling $170 million of Tyco funds and netting $430 million from improper sales of stock. Author Anderson, a â€Å"Big Five† accounting firm, was convicted of obstruction-of-justice conviction for shredding documents related to its role as Enron’s auditor. The reputation of the firm was destroyed and lost all their clients and eventually went out of business. Author Anderson was also questioned for their involvement in audits involving Halliburton, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Dynegy, Qwest, and Sunbeam for their questionable accounting practices. These examples of misconduct increased public demand for improved standards in business. In 2002, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which made securities fraud a criminal offense and strengthened penalties for corporate fraud. It created an accounting oversight board for greater transparency in financial reports to investors and other interested parties. Top executives are required to sign off on their firms’ financial reports. Company executives must now disclose stock sales immediately and prohibits companies from giving loans to top managers. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the FSGO have institutionalized the need for top manager to discover and address ethical and legal risk. Business leaders should view that ethical misconduct as the greatest danger to their companies. Ethical disasters can be damaging to company’s reputation and will significantly have an effect on their bottom line (Ferrell, 2008). What are factors that could change ones views of a business’ ethical behavior? In today’s uncertain business environment, traumatized by countless corporate scandals has brought a lot of attention to the social and ethical practices of business. The highly televised, Enron scandal was exposed when the company filed for bankruptcy. The degree of fraud impacting investors, employees, and others became known to the public. Business criticism is more prevalent than ever because people are more affluent, educated, and better inform because of the access to information. Twenty-four hour news coverage, investigative news programs, the internet, the revolution of rising entitlement mentality, the rights movement, and a philosophy of victimization. Businesses now, more than ever, must realize that there is a more informed society and businesses are being watched (Buchholtz, 2009). What interactions between business and society alter societal expectations? Business is increasingly held to greater standards of social performance, reflecting an imbalance between its traditional conduct and the expectations of society. A corporation commitment to its social responsibilities will go a long way to shape societal approval. There are four levels commitment in social responsibilities. First and foremost, economically, businesses strive to make a profit, maximize stakeholder wealth and value, create jobs for the community, and create goods and services to the economy. Legally abide by all laws and government regulations. Ethically, follow standards of ethical of acceptable behavior as judged by stakeholders or any one other interested party. Finally, philanthropic responsibilities refer to activities not required of business but promote human welfare or goodwill. In my opinion, this level of commitment has the greatest impact on society’s view of a company (Ferrell, 2008). The uses of these levels of responsibilities are attempts by businesses to meet societal expectations and become a better corporate citizen. In conclusion, understanding the meaning of ethics and morality and how they relate is important when trying to understand why people act or react in a given situation. Knowing how business ethics has evolved over the years and how far we still must go to create a happy median between business and society.. As technology becomes more available, society is more aware of corporate social responsibility. With this information, consumers are better able to make informed discussions on which companies to do businesses with. Finally, economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic interactions between business and society will alter societal expectations of a business good or bad. References Buchholtz, C. (2009). Business and Society: Ethics and Stakeholder Management. (7th Edittion ed. , pp. 3-7). International: South-Western. Ferrell, F. F. (2008). Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. (7th Edition ed. , pp. 11-14). Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Simpson, C. (2004, October). Should I or Shouldn’t I? An Ethical Conundrum. Retrieved September 23, 2009, from http://ebscohost. com: http://search. ebscohost. com/login. aspx? direct=true&db=lfh&AN=14597954&site=ehost-live Dictionary. com. (2009). Retrieved September 3, 2009, from Dictionary. com: http://dictionary. reference. com LoveToKnow. com. (2009). Retrieved September 3, 2009, from LoveToKnow. com: http://business. lovetoknow. com/wiki/A_Definition_for_Business_Ethics Borade, G. (2009, March 24). Difference between Ethics and Morality. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from buzzle. com: http://www. buzzle. com/articles/difference- ethics-and-morality. html