Monday, September 30, 2019

Succubus Revealed Chapter 3

The crisp paper with its laser printing was a lot different from scrawling script on vellum, but I knew an official transfer letter when I saw one. I'd received dozens in the last millennia, in various forms, pointing me on to new assignments and locations. The last one had come to me while I was in London fifteen years ago. From there, I'd moved here to Seattle. And now this one was telling me it was time to move on yet again. To leave Seattle. â€Å"No,† I breathed, far too soft for Seth to hear. â€Å"No.† I knew this letter was legitimate. It wasn't a forgery. It wasn't a joke sent on Hell's stationery. What I was praying for was that this official transfer order had just been sent to me in error. The letter had no information about my next assignment because, per protocol, employees were usually briefed by their archdemons before a transfer. The letter then came afterward, to make the termination of the old job and start of the new one official. I'd seen my archdemon less than twelve hours ago. Surely, surely, if this was real, Jerome could have brought himself to at least mention it. The transfer of a succubus would be a big deal for him. He'd have to juggle both the fallout of losing me and gaining someone else. But, no. Jerome hadn't behaved as though he had a major personnel change coming. He'd said nothing to even hint about it. One would think this would have trumped his bowling league just a little. I realized I was holding my breath and forced myself to start breathing again. A mistake. Whoever had sent this had clearly made a mistake. Lifting my eyes from the paper, I focused on Seth's sleeping form. He was sprawled in his usual way, with his limbs all over the bed. Light and shadow played across his face, and I felt tears spring to my eyes as I studied those beloved features. Leaving Seattle. Leaving Seth. No, no, no. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry because there was nothing to cry about. This was a mistake. It had to be because there was no way the universe could be this cruel to me. I had already gone through too much. I was happy now. Seth and I had fought our battles to be together. We'd finally achieved our dream. That couldn't be taken away from me, not now. Can't it? A nasty voice in my head pointed out the obvious. You sold your soul. You're damned. Why should the universe owe you anything? You don't deserve happiness. You should have this taken away from you. Jerome. I had to talk to Jerome. He would sort this out. I folded the letter four times and stuffed it into my purse. Grabbing my cell phone, I headed for the door and shape-shifted on a robe. I managed to slip out of the room without a sound, but my victory was short-lived. I'd hoped to be able to sneak outside, past Ian in the living room, and call Jerome in privacy. Unfortunately, I never made it that far. Both Ian and Margaret were up and awake, forcing me to stop middial. Margaret stood in the kitchen cooking something on the stove while he sat at the kitchen table. â€Å"Mom,† he was saying, â€Å"it doesn't matter what the water-to-coffee ratio is. You can't make an Americano out of drip. Especially with that Starbucks crap Seth buys.† â€Å"Actually,† I said, slipping the phone regretfully into my robe's pocket, â€Å"I bought that coffee. It's not that bad. It's a Seattle institution, you know.† Ian didn't look as though he'd hit the shower yet, but at least he was dressed. He regarded me critically. â€Å"Starbucks? They might have been okay before they became mainstream, but now they're just another corporate monstrosity that all the sheep flock to.† He swirled his coffee mug around. â€Å"Back in Chicago, I go to this really great hole-in-the-wall cafe that's run by this guy who used to be a bass player in an indie rock band you've probably never heard off. The espresso he serves is so authentic, it's mind-blowing. Of course, most people have no clue because it's not the kind of place mainstream people tend to frequent.† â€Å"So,† I said, suspecting one could make a drinking game out of how many times Ian used â€Å"mainstream† in a conversation, â€Å"I guess that means there's plenty of Starbucks here for me.† Margaret nodded briefly toward Seth's coffeemaker. â€Å"Have a cup with us.† She turned around and continued cooking. The phone was burning in my pocket. I wanted to sprint toward the door and had to force myself to behave normally in front of Seth's family. I poured myself a cup of delicious corporate coffee and tried not to act like they were keeping me from a phone call that could change the rest of my life. Soon, I told myself. I'd have answers soon. Jerome probably wasn't even up. I could delay here briefly for the sake of politeness and then get my answers. â€Å"You're up early,† I said, taking my coffee over to a corner that gave me a good view of both Mortensens. And the door. â€Å"Hardly,† said Margaret. â€Å"It's nearly eight. Ten, where we come from.† â€Å"I suppose so,† I murmured, sipping from my mug. Since signing up for Team North Pole, I hardly ever saw this side of noon anymore. Children didn't usually hit Santa up for Christmas requests so early, not even the ones at the mall I worked at. â€Å"Are you a writer too?† asked Margaret, flipping over something with a flourish. â€Å"Is that why you pull such crazy hours?† â€Å"Er, no. But I do usually work later in the day. I work, um, retail, so I'm on mall hours.† â€Å"The mall,† scoffed Ian. Margaret turned from the stove and glared at her son. â€Å"Don't act like you never go there. Half your wardrobe's from Fox Valley.† Ian actually turned pink. â€Å"That's not true!† â€Å"Didn't you get your coat at Abernathy & Finch?† she prodded. â€Å"It's Abercrombie & Fitch! And, no, of course I didn't.† Margaret's expression spoke legions. She took down two plates from the cupboard and stacked them high with pancakes. She delivered one to Ian and the other to me. I started to hand it back. â€Å"Wait. Is this your breakfast? I can't eat this.† She fixed with me with a steely gaze and then looked me up and down. It gave me a good view of the quilted teddy bears on her sweatshirt. â€Å"Oh? Are you one of those girls who doesn't eat real food? Is your usual breakfast coffee and grapefruit?† She gave a calculated pause. â€Å"Or do you not trust my cooking?† â€Å"What? No!† I hastily put my plate on the table and took a chair across from Ian. â€Å"This looks great.† â€Å"Usually I'm vegan,† said Ian, pouring syrup on the pancakes. â€Å"But I make exceptions for Mom.† I really, really should have let it go but couldn't help saying, â€Å"I didn't think ‘usually' and ‘vegan' go together. You either are or you aren't. If you're making exceptions some of the time, then I don't think you get the title. I mean, sometimes I put cream in my coffee and sometimes I don't. I don't call myself vegan on black days.† He sighed in disgust. â€Å"I'm vegan ironically.† I returned to my pancakes. Margaret was back to cooking again, presumably her own breakfast now, but still continued the conversation. â€Å"How long have you and Seth been seeing each other?† â€Å"Well . . .† I used chewing as an excuse to formulate my thoughts. â€Å"That's kind of hard to answer. We've, um, dated off and on for the last year.† Ian frowned. â€Å"Wasn't Seth engaged for part of the last year?† I was on the verge of saying, â€Å"He was engaged ironically,† when Seth himself emerged from the bedroom. I was grateful for the distraction from explaining our relationship but not pleased to see Seth up. â€Å"Hey!† I said. â€Å"Go back to bed. You need more sleep.† â€Å"Good morning to you too,† he said. He brushed a kiss against his mother's cheek and the joined us at the table. â€Å"I mean it,† I said. â€Å"This is your chance to sleep in.† â€Å"I got all the sleep I need,† he countered, stifling a yawn. â€Å"Besides, I promised to make cupcakes for the twins. Their class is having a holiday party today.† † ‘Holiday,' † muttered Margaret. â€Å"Whatever happened to Christmas?† â€Å"I can help you,† I told Seth. â€Å"Well . . . that is, after I take care of a couple of things.† â€Å"I can make them.† Margaret was already going through the cupboards, seeking ingredients. â€Å"I've been making cupcakes before any of you were born.† Seth and I exchanged glances at that. â€Å"Actually,† he said, â€Å"I can make them on my own. What would help the most, Mom, is if you could go to Kayla's school today. She's got a half day, and Andrea will need babysitting.† He nodded at me. â€Å"You work tonight, right? Come help me with the twins. I know they can use more volunteers. Elf costume optional. And you . . .† He turned to Ian and trailed off, at a loss for how Ian could actually be helpful. Ian straightened up importantly. â€Å"I'll go find an organic bakery and pick up some stuff for the kids who want to eat baked goods that are made with free-range ingredients and don't contain animal products.† â€Å"What, like free-range flour?† I asked incredulously. â€Å"Ian, they're seven,† said Seth. â€Å"What's your point?† asked Ian. â€Å"This is my way of helping out.† Seth sighed. â€Å"Fine. Go for it.† â€Å"Cool,† said Ian. He paused eloquently. â€Å"Can I borrow some money?† Margaret soon insisted that Seth have breakfast before attempting anything else, and I took advantage of his becoming the center of attention. I quickly put on casual clothes and made a polite exit, thanking her for breakfast and telling him that I would meet up with him at the twins' school for cupcake distribution. As soon as I'd cleared the condo, I began dialing the phone again. Unsurprisingly, I got Jerome's voice mail. I left him a message and made no attempt to hide my urgency . . . or irritation. That kind of attitude wasn't going to endear me to him, but I was too pissed off to care. This transfer was a big deal. If there was any chance of its legitimacy, he really should have given me a greater heads-up. Back at my place, my cats Aubrey and Godiva were happy to see me. Actually, I think they were just happy to see anyone who could feed them. They were lying in front of Roman's closed bedroom door when I walked in and immediately jumped up. They pranced over to me, snaking around my ankles and bombarding me with piteous meows until I refilled their food dishes. After that, I was old news. I toyed with the idea of waking up Roman. I really, really wanted to talk out this transfer news with someone, and Seth hadn't been an option this morning. Roman, unfortunately, shared his father's â€Å"fondness† for mornings, and I wasn't entirely sure I'd have the most productive conversation if I woke him against his will. So, instead, I took my time showering and getting ready for the day, hoping that Roman would get up on his own. No such luck. When ten rolled around, I left another voice mail message for Jerome and finally gave up on Roman. A new idea had hit me, and I went to go check it out first, setting the mental condition that if Roman wasn't up when I returned, I'd wake him then. The Cellar was a favorite bar for immortals, especially Jerome and Carter. It was an old dive of a place down in historic Pioneer Square. The bar didn't generally do a lot of business this time of day, but angels and demons were hardly the types to care about propriety. Jerome might not be answering his phone, but there was a very good chance he was out and about for a morning drink. And, as I came down the steps that led into the establishment, I did indeed feel the wash of a greater immortal signature over me. Only, it wasn't Jerome's. It wasn't even demonic. Carter was sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey while the bartender punched in 1970s songs on the jukebox. Carter would've sensed me too, so there was no point in trying to sneak off. I sat on a stool beside him. â€Å"Daughter of Lilith,† he said, waving the bartender back. â€Å"Didn't expect to see you out and about so early.† â€Å"I've had kind of a weird morning,† I told him. â€Å"Coffee, please.† The bartender nodded and poured me a mug from a pot that had probably been sitting there since yesterday. I grimaced, recalling the espresso shops I'd passed on the way here. Of course, Ian would probably love this stuff for its â€Å"authenticity.† â€Å"Do you have any idea where Jerome's at?† I asked, once Carter and I were in relative privacy again. â€Å"Probably in bed.† Carter's gray gaze was focused on the glass as he spoke, carefully studying the play of light off of the amber liquid. â€Å"I don't suppose you'd take me there?† I asked. Carter had teleported me once before in a crisis, but otherwise, I had no clue where my boss hung his boots. Carter gave me a small smile. â€Å"I may be immortal, but there are still some things I fear. Showing up at Jerome's this early in the morning with you in tow is one of them. What's so important? Did you come up with a name for the bowling team?† I held out the memo I'd received. Even before he looked at it closely, Carter's smile fell. I didn't doubt that the paper had some type of Hellish residue that my senses couldn't pick up. When he didn't take the note, I simply set it down in front of him to read. â€Å"A transfer, huh?† His tone was odd, almost like he wasn't surprised. â€Å"Allegedly. But I have to assume there's some kind of mistake. Jerome is supposed to meet with me first, you know? And you saw him last night. There was no indication that anything weird was going. Well. Weirder than usual.† I tapped the paper angrily. â€Å"Someone in HR messed up and sent this on accident.† â€Å"You think so?† asked Carter sadly. â€Å"Well, I certainly don't think Hell's infallible. And I don't see any reason why I would be transferred.† Carter didn't answer, and I studied him carefully. â€Å"Why? Do you know of some reason?† Carter still didn't reply right away and instead downed his drink. â€Å"I know Hell well enough to know they don't need a reason.† A strange feeling settled over me. â€Å"But you do know of one, don't you? You aren't that shocked by this.† â€Å"Hell doesn't really surprise me anymore either.† â€Å"Damn it, Carter!† I exclaimed. â€Å"You're not answering my questions. You're doing that stupid half-truth thing angels do.† â€Å"We can't lie, Georgina. But we can't always tell you everything either. There are rules in the universe that even we can't break. Can I have another?† he called to the bartender. â€Å"A double this time.† The bartender strolled over, arching an eyebrow at Carter's request. â€Å"Kind of early for that, don't you think?† â€Å"It's turning into one of those days,† said Carter. The bartender nodded sagely and liberally refilled the glass before leaving us alone again. â€Å"Carter,† I hissed. â€Å"What do you know? Is this transfer real? Do you know why I got it?† Carter pretended to be intrigued by the light sparkling on his whiskey again. But when he suddenly turned the full force of his gaze on me, I gasped. It was this thing he did sometimes, like he was peering into my soul. Only, there was more to it this time. It was as though for a brief moment, his eyes held all the sadness in the world. â€Å"I don't know if it was a mistake,† he said. â€Å"Maybe it is. Your people certainly get their wires crossed often enough. If it's legitimate . . . if it is, then no, I'm not surprised. I can think of a million reasons, some better than others, for why they would want to move you out of Seattle. None of which I can tell you,† he added sharply, seeing me start to interrogate him. â€Å"Like I said, there are rules to this game, and I have to obey them.† â€Å"It's not a game!† I exclaimed. â€Å"It's my life.† A rueful smile played over the angel's lips. â€Å"Same difference, as far as Hell's concerned.† Within me, I began to feel an echo of that terrible sadness I'd briefly seen in his eyes. â€Å"What do I do?† I asked quietly. That seemed to catch Carter off guard. I demanded answers from him all the time, clues to figuring out the many puzzles that seemed to follow me around. I was pretty sure, however, that this was the first time I'd simply asked for such open-ended life advice. â€Å"Let me guess,† I said, seeing him gape. â€Å"You can't tell me.† His expression softened. â€Å"Not in specifics, no. First, you need to find out if this was an error. If it was, then that'll make everyone's life easier.† â€Å"I need Jerome for that,† I said. â€Å"Maybe Hugh or Mei would know.† â€Å"Maybe,† said Carter, though it didn't sound like he believed it. â€Å"Eventually, Jerome will pick up his phone. Then you'll know.† â€Å"And if it is real?† I asked. â€Å"Then what?† â€Å"Then, you may have to start packing.† â€Å"That's it? That's all I can do?† Even as I said the words, I knew they were true. You couldn't refuse something like this. I'd had dozens of transfers to prove it. â€Å"Yes,† said Carter. â€Å"We both know you don't have a choice there. The question is, how are you going to let this affect your future?† I frowned, starting to get lost in angel logic. â€Å"What do you mean?† He hesitated, as though reconsidering what he was about to say. At last, he rushed forward with it, leaning close to me. â€Å"Here's what I can tell you. If this is real, then there's a reason for it, absolutely. Not some random re-org. And if there's a reason, it's because you've been doing something Hell doesn't want you to do. So, the question becomes, Georgina, are you going to keep doing whatever it is they don't want you to do?†

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Phl 458 Week 4 Individual Assignment Famous Thinkers Paper

Twentieth Century Thinkers PHL/458 Twentieth Century Thinkers The Twentieth Century, the year 1901, proved to be a time of change, brilliance, dedication, and new-found technology (2011). From quill pens to ink pens, horse-drawn carriages to gas powered engines, slavery and segregation of Blacks and Whites to the Civil Rights movement, and from handwriting on tablets to storing important information in a computer; the Twentieth Century made a tremendous amount of positive contributions to society.The contributions made in the Twentieth Century are often over-looked and taken for granted. Americans in particular have become somewhat spoiled with that is â€Å"just there. † What is forgotten and should often is; without the integrity and dedication within the creative minds of the Twentieth Century, the United States would be living as if it were still 1901 rather than 2012. Many individuals are responsible for the growth of this time. Two of the most influential, though each ha d a separate aspiration, are Martin Luther King and Bill Gates.Both men contributed a significant amount, and have gone down in history as individuals who changed the way the world worked personally, socially, and politically. Martin Luther King was one of the most influential civil rights activists and speakers of recent time. According to a Newsday article, King’s mission was to lead the world into a more accepting place with not only the Black American population but also other minority groups. The article also referred to King as, â€Å"Honored most for his heroic civil rights activism in the United States† as well as â€Å"a prophet of peace and justice in a world torn by war in Vietnam† (1992).Among his many accomplishments, Martin Luther King was a doctor, writer of five published books, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and at the age of 35 he was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize (1964). The â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech given by Martin Luther King captivated the hearts of individuals supporting the Civil Rights cause. His solutions and ideas were implemented widely and had a huge mpact on rights among the White and Black America. In 1950 King, and the NAACP assisted in the â€Å"Brown v. Board of Education,† in Topeka, Kansas, which led to the acceptance of Black Americans in all White public schools (PBS, 2001). The thousands of marches and protests he led among the United States proved that one man can indeed make a difference. Bill Gates is also a man who made a difference in the Twentieth Century, though his passion in the beginning of his career came strictly from knowledge and intelligence.Gates is described by Who’s Who in the Twentieth Century as a â€Å"US businessman who co-founded Microsoft Corporation, which in the 1980s became the leading co mputer software producer. † In 2008, Microsoft was, according to this same source, accused of illegal activities, which led to Gates departure at Microsoft (Phillips, 2008). After Microsoft fell through for Gates, he advanced on to study philanthropy, which is a corporation or individual (s) donate to the goodwill of humanity. Bill Gates, still possessing ties with the Microsoft cooperation could do this combining his newfound wealth and his intelligence (Time Magazine, 2008).An article from Think Big Magazine quotes from Time, â€Å"For many years, Microsoft has used corporate philanthropy to bring technology to people who can't get it otherwise, donating more than $3 billion in cash and software to try to bridge the digital divide† (2008). Martin Luther King and Bill Gates made different, yet important contributions to society. King â€Å"had a dream,† that combined with intelligence and persistence, helped the United States become more accepting toward minorit y groups. Without his determination, America may not have voted in the first Black president.Bill Gates had a dream as well; however, with his wealth Gates dreams could come true slightly faster than Kings. Gates dream, though it began with computer technology, microchips, and corporate ladder climbing; ended with wealth. Without his innovative approach, technology would not have reached the levels on intensity that it has and continue to do over the years, but the goodwill Gates has done for humanity is very noble. Both men brought a completely different level of critical thinking into the world than the other, which could make comparing and critiquing their work, for some individuals, quite difficult.Martin Luther King and Bill Gates, though from the outside looking in may be individuals who had different agendas, have both made a huge impact on society. The courage Martin Luther King had to stand up for his fellow Black American citizens and is comparable to the strength that Bil l Gates has to rise above his initial failure and change himself to better mankind. Both men have offered the Twentieth Century hope for future generations. For an individual to critique the work of either of these men without having put forth any great effort themselves, some may believe is just ignorance and close-mindedness.In a perfect â€Å"dream† world, Martin Luther King and Bill Gates would have collaborated and combined their efforts to achieve a better world. Together their efforts could have been impossible and even more life changing than their work was as individuals. With the wealth of Bill Gates, Martin Luther King may not have had to fight such a battle for freedom, and with the genuine initial compassion as Martin Luther King, Bill Gates may have realized firsthand that his true passion lies within helping humanity.Unfortunately, the time was not meant for them to work as one; however there is hope that future generations will be able to look past White and B lack, wealth and poverty, and combine forces to contribute similar, selfless traits just as King and Gates were able to do as individuals. References http://ehistory. osu. edu/world/TimeLineDisplay. cfm? Era_id=16 This Is Not Just': A Revolution Of Values on the Jericho Road: [CITY Edition] Newsday [Long Island, N. Y] 20 Jan 1992: 58. â€Å"Martin Luther King – Biography†. Nobelprize. rg. October 31, 2011 http://www. nobelprize. org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio. html http://www. nobelprize. org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio. html http://www. pbs. org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/brown. html â€Å"Gates, Bill†Ã‚  World Encyclopedia. Philip's, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Apollo Group. October 31, 2011 http://www. thinkbigmagazine. com/mindset/223-billgates-big-thinker http://topics. nytimes. com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/bill_gates/index. html

Saturday, September 28, 2019

REDUCING TYPICAL PROPOSAL WEAKNESSES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

REDUCING TYPICAL PROPOSAL WEAKNESSES - Essay Example Finances is an issue business owners find hard to part with but in order to get the bets proposal, realistic cost estimates must be set and adhered to. Lastly is to have an in depth understanding of the purpose of the proposal and how it can be beneficial to the business. This understanding will allow the owner to be on the fore front of the proposal from start to end. In solicited proposal, it is the customer who has requested for it while in unsolicited, the company send the customer the proposal without them having asked. Solicited proposals are paid much more attention to and the information is relevant to the customer unlike in unsolicited proposal where there are high chances of it not being read as well as the information not being useful to the customer. Amendments make clarification on issues of debate for both parties hence solving their differences and creating a relationship in the long

Friday, September 27, 2019

Political Science - President Clinton and President Obama Term Paper

Political Science - President Clinton and President Obama - Term Paper Example Obama, on the other hand, inherited one of the worst recessions in American history and has struggled to ensure adequate economic progress. Through an examination of key issues in the first two years of President Clinton and President Obama’s terms in office -- including economic, health care, foreign policy, and their appeal to youth culture – this essay considers the extent that the two presidencies can be equated. When considering economics in the first two years of their presidencies, there are a number of similarities that President Obama and President Clinton experienced. When both Presidents took office the nation was considered to be in a recession period. For President Obama, the recession was recognized as perhaps the most severe since the Great Depression and became a central issue in the campaign process. As a result, the stimulus package that was passed early in the Obama Presidency has functioned as a core issue of his presidency, with a fierce debate among Republicans and Democrats continuing to unfold as to the actual efficacy of the program. Even as President Obama has admitted that the financial situation in the country has not fully recovered, his budget indicates that he will continue to pursue his ambitious domestic agenda. In explaining his domestic agenda Obama contests that, â€Å"Just as it would be a terrible mistake to borrow against our children’s future to pay our way today, it would be equally wrong to neglect their future by failing to invest in areas that will determine our economic success in this new century.† (Calmers 2010) Obama’s indicates that the country’s deficit will increase this year to its highest post-World War II level, and then gradually decrease over the decade. Obama argues that his budget will save over $1 trillion by ending the previous administration’s tax cuts and by enacting a three-year spending freeze.  Ã‚  

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Crisis Intervention Lesson Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7250 words

Crisis Intervention Lesson Plan - Essay Example 1). The primary goal of crisis intervention is to "help subjects in crisis defuse their emotions, lowering the potential for violence in an incident and buying time for better decision making and tactical preparations" (Regini, 2004, p. 1). Crisis negotiations is not a solution to ones problems rather it is a means to calm the subject enough to find other short term means of coping with their perceived stressors short term to end the current crisis situation with minimal force. Before discussing specific instances where crisis intervention is utilized, a brief understanding of the key skills involved in crisis intervention will be outlined as follows: empathy, active listening, being nonjudgmental, and setting of boundaries, the ability to restate the subject's often emotional ideas and thoughts, and problem solving skills. One of the basic tenets of crisis intervention understands and recognizing the range of motions involved in crisis situations. To one degree or another each of us has experienced fear, rejection anger, frustration and depression. This basic human understanding coupled with the skill set listed previously and a police officers tactical knowledge will enable him to effectively deal with a crisis situation. Em Empathy is not a static behavior nor is it merely showing sympathy or pity for the subject's actions or situation. Empathy involves both listening and understanding the subject's current situation. It does not mean that there is necessarily agreement or disagreement merely understanding. The goal of empathy is to develop a means of communicating which enables the subject to develop trust. According to Regini (2004) without some level of trust between the police officer and the subject there can be no peaceful resolution of the situation. To achieve this trust, it becomes obvious the empathy involves the use of active listening skills in order to facilitate the bond between the police officer and the subject. As the term implies, active listening is more than listening to the subject and nodding in approval. Active listening requires demonstrated behaviors by the officer. Without communication no trust can develop; therefore, active listening involves engaging the subject into communication and maintaining that communication. Allowing the subject to vent eases the emotions the situation and begins to allow him to focus on dealing with the short term problem, not escalating the current situation. One of the primary techniques of active listening is reflection - restating what the subject has said and the emotions that are interlaced with it. According to Regini (2004) the FBI has found eight strategies of active listening all of which involve reflection that have proven to be very effective in diffusing a highly charged, volatile situation. These include: Emotion Labeling Paraphrasing Reflecting/Mirroring Effective Pauses Minimal Encouragers 'I' Messages Summarization Open-ended questions/statements (p. 3). One of the most critical aspects of developing trust through empathy is the ability

How social or economic issues in this country influence the roles Essay

How social or economic issues in this country influence the roles women and men play in the family today - Essay Example and aided by the feminist movement, the number of women in the workforce has escalated since the 1970’s, a social phenomenon that has redefined the roles of both parents. Increasingly, mothers are contributing more to the family finances while fathers are spending more of their time caring for the kids. Though some decry this inevitable and necessary circumstance because they fear the disintegration of the traditional family unit is detrimental for children, the evidence shows that the opposite is true. For the vast majority of mothers, going to work every day while leaving their children with surrogate moms is clearly not a matter of choice as some have suggested. Of the women who work in two-parent homes, more than 80 percent have spouses who receive $30,000 per year or less. A mother’s choice in many cases is to either allow their children to live in abject poverty or to go to work. Though among the minority, some working mothers have chosen to continue their career pursuits following childbirth but in either case, the workplace is seldom conducive to the family concerns of mothers, or fathers for that matter. Seldom do employers allow a mother to take a year or two off to care for small children without sacrificing position or employment status and are generally upset when mom is often called away to attend matters concerning a child. The choices are hard for mothers. The unsympathetic attitudes towards working mothers among some factions of the public and most employers are not constructive nor aligned with reality (â€Å"Working Mothers†, 1999). Today, more than a quarter of all American kids reside in homes containing one parent, usually the mother, who must work to support the family. Some believe that the label ‘good mother’ implies one that dutifully fills her societal role by remaining home with the children. This belief is based solely on preconceived and outdated stereotypes and not on prevalent scientific data which indicates that

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Indiana State Museum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Indiana State Museum - Essay Example The facility has an effective design that takes into consideration the unique security requirement of the artifacts. The museum receives an average of two and a half million visitors a year. This is a great number requiring effective planning and management to minimize harm. Some of the preservatives used on the artifacts are harmful especially if brought into contact with a human. Additionally, most of these preservatives would pollute the environment if exposed to the atmosphere. The facility, therefore, encloses most of their artifacts in glass enclosures reinforced by ultraviolet lights whose trespass triggers an alarm. This, therefore, acts a security both to the environment and for the expensive artifacts. Environmental conservation is the greatest concern to the twenty-first century pre modern society. Established economies produce a lot of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere resulting in the extension of the ozone layer. This promises a number of life-threatening consequences . Already climatic changes are rife in a number of regions in and around the United States of America. The indigenous trees have some of the best mechanisms for consuming the excess carbon monoxide from the environment. The government, therefore, needs to invest in its tree cover. The Indiana state museum takes a personal initiative to preserve the environment the best way it can. Its property is effectively planned to minimize pollution through conservation of water points and the indigenous trees (Price 101).

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Clients Specific Areas of Strength and Growth Essay

The Clients Specific Areas of Strength and Growth - Essay Example Emotion = Joe is good at his projects and at organizing his team but personally, he feels sometimes off balance when he has to cooperate with business and marketing and feels devalued due to the emphasis is given to marketing and innovation by his company. Will = Joe takes on new challenges under high – stress conditions, he is proactive and he takes initiatives. Context = Joe wants to move upward in the business but this does not create a purpose for him. As Flaherty (2005) wrote: â€Å"Our capacity to design a purpose and then bring our own life into alignment with it is what I mean by context.† In the case of Joe, his ambitions do not form a purpose and his worries about the time spent with his family show that he is not going beyond his and his family’s survival and comfort. Soul = Joe has shown understanding of the issues concerning to this team and compassion to their needs, a fact that it is proved by the effectiveness of his team. He shows also compassion to his family since he wants to devote time to it and especially to his children. The creation of a coaching plan that will enhance personal development is a critical step in motivating a positive performance. The coaching plan will improve the areas of growth and it will have the following stages: State the Final Goal The goals will be: improving cooperation with business people within one month, develop business knowledge by attending a specific course of one year duration, to coordinate effectively work and personal life within three months, attend negotiation, time management and conflict management courses during the present year. The final goal will be to move upward in the organization. State the Progress Goals to Milestones The milestones over the next year will be set in quarters. In the first quarter, he will start his business course and he will set up more meetings with business people so he will be in the position to understand better their goals and priorities. In the second quarter, he will attend the time management courses so as he can bring in balance his personal and professional life and in the third quarter, he should have finished the business course.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Contract Administration and Management -Contracting Officers Essay

Contract Administration and Management -Contracting Officers - Essay Example A PCOs value comes from identifying the best contractor for the job in consideration and ensuring that their compensation matches the work that they will provide. The second is the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), whose responsibilities include the administrative aspects of the contract, such as, monitoring the performance of contractors, inspecting and, subsequently, accepting supplies and services from contractors, and ensuring the payment of contractors occurs accordingly. The value of the ACO comes from the contract implementation in that s/he has to ensure that it occurs according to the predetermined terms and conditions (Stanberry, 2012). The third is the Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR), also known as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representatives, whose responsibilities include assisting the contracting officer in ensuring that the performance of contractors reflects the terms and conditions of the contract. The value of the COR (or COTR) comes from providing guidance, as well as, technical advice with regard to the contract specifications, especially when dealing with service contractors. The fourth is the Termination Contracting Officer (TCO) whose responsibilities include ensuring that the termination of a government contract benefits the government or minimizes losses regardless of whether it is because of the contractor’s default or for government convenience. The value of a TCO comes from ensuring that the losses to the government from the termination are minimal (Stanberry,

Saturday, September 21, 2019

State and Local Government of Texas Essay Example for Free

State and Local Government of Texas Essay Introduction We are proud to introduce the next governor of the great State of Texas, Ms. Jane â€Å"Bitzi† Johnson Miller. She is a staunch Conservative Republican whose proud Texan traditions are deep rooted here in the Lone Star State. A native Texan who grew up in West Texas, she comes from a great line of proud Texans including former Governor Joe â€Å"Big Daddy† Johnson. Ms. Miller attended Harvard and earned a Master’s in Business Administration. In this difficult and uncertain time of economic recession, she has been an innovator and business leader. She knows the kinds of policies Texans need in order to free themselves from this recession and emerge with Texas as a global economic leader. In addition to being an accomplished business woman, she knows the value of being a single mother, and has always emphasized the importance of family, raising her two children to become role model in their communities and proud Texas citizens. Everyone knows you â€Å"don’t mess with Texas† and so they will learn not to mess with Bitzi, for she will fight for Texas families and businesses, creating economic growth while retaining the traditional values our great State needs. As you all know our country is facing many problems including lack of healthcare, proper transportation infrastructure, education expenses, unemployment, minority issues, including their education and immigration. It is with these issues that Ms. Jane â€Å"Bitzi† Johnson Miller would like to base her platform. Cultural and Regional Support Because Texas is geographically large and diverse, it is made up of numerous distinct regions, each of which is characterized by diverse levels of wealth, types of economic activity, density of settlement, racial and ethnic  mix, and political culture. East Texas and West Texas have a different feel from each other. And both of these are different from South Texas. Urban Texas, which is where a majority of the states population resides, is remarkably different richer and with greater economic and cultural diversity from the rural areas of the state. For that matter, the cities are different from each other. Austin and Dallas are almost two different worlds, but even neighbors Fort Worth and Dallas are quite distinct. Meanwhile, the rural border area is certainly different from the agricultural rural areas of East Texas. South Texas is the one place she is going to face problems because of more liberal voters, however her agenda addresses minority problems, as well as her appeal to the single mother gives her common ground with some of the more middle of the road democrats. At the same time her agenda reflects her desire to work for minorities. Houston has a lot of minority voters. Because she is a Republican and comes from a business and conservative family heritage Western and Eastern Texas where much of the population is wealthy and white will relate to her and therefore vote for her. Texas has a historic and varied political culture. The traditionalistic culture believes in a hand off approach to government. Maintain the status quo and no distribution of wealth. She will relate to this group because of her traditional conservative values which encourage limited government participation and virtually no beaurocracy. The moralistic culture looks at society as a whole with government involvement in social and economic issues. She will do well with this group because as a single mother she understands the need of the state’s citizens who struggle to raise children and make ends meet under a one parent household. Many of these single parent families require assistance from their government on economic, educational and healthcare issues. Then there is the individualistic culture who is self-sufficient and suspicious of government. She will relate to this group because of her ability to rise above the difficulty of being a single mother and become an affluent and influential economic power creating a multi-million dollar business all on her own. Demographic Support Political culture is complex even in a place like Texas where there is a broad consensus about core values and ideals. Despite numerous constitutions  and national flags, the changing fortunes of political parties, and the almost complete transformation of the economy, the states political culture displays a remarkable continuity. The dominant political cultures particular combination of economic liberalism (faith in the free market economy), social conservatism (favoring traditional values and moralism), and populism (promoting the rights and worthiness of ordinary people) has proven quite resilient over many decades and even centuries. These ideological tendencies are expressed in a dominant political culture that tends to favor low taxes, low government services, and pro-business policies, while at the same time reserving a significant respect (at least in the abstract) for popular control of government. But will our political culture and ideological tendencies continue to experience the stability they have enjoyed in the past? Despite the resilience of our political culture, it may currently be entering a period of more fundamental change. The low-taxes, low-services ideology may be losing its hold on society. A couple of recent developments may be eroding the foundation of this orientation, including rapid growth of the population of working class immigrants and their first-generation offspring, as well as generally heightened concern over adequate funding of public grade schools throughout the state. Over the past two decades, the immigrant population in Texas has swelled. By 2004 the Lone Star State became the fourth so-called majority-minority state in which the populations of all minority groups added together account for more than half the total population. Recent immigrants and their children tend to be socially conservative, but they also tend to have pressing needs for government services. While annual rates of growth of the immigrant and minority populations in Texas may have peaked in the early 2000s, these rates still remain high. And as the state becomes home to ever greater numbers of immigrants and minorities, it could experience a dramatic shift in its dominant low-taxes, low services ideology. Regional variety in Texas is a commonly recognized source of difference in culture and society in the state. The income disparity also reflects the strong economic regionalism in Texas, which in turn reflects both the racial/ethnic distribution across the state as well as the distinct geographic character of the states regions. The Texas Politics feature Where Jobs Are And Good Wages shows that the south Texas border and El Paso areas, which have the highest concentration  of Latinos, also have the lowest per capita incomes in the state. The highest per capita incomes are found in the state’s largest and rapidly growing metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. Over the past few decades Texas cities have experienced phenomenal population growth. These fast growing metropolitan areas are more likely to vote for her due to her success in business and her familial roots. Her high family values are also something that appeals to this more traditionally conservative area. The Texas border and El Paso areas, are the least likely to vote for her due to their high concentration of minorities and democrats. There may be some appeal due to the fact she is a single mother, however this may not be enough to bring out the voters on her behalf. Historically white upper middle class groups were the largest voting group. This includes the religious right, the business sector and older adults. With the economic downturn affecting the nation, the voting groups have expanded to young adults, minorities and lower economic households. It has been made evident since 2008 that all citizens are now going to the polls, reflecting an increase in voter participation. Candidate Bitzi’s campaign platform includes the needs of all Texas, however the diverse and distinct regions of the state will require a focus on regional needs. The border towns will require a focus on immigration issues as well as deficiency of education for many of the minority children. The larger metropolitan areas with their increasingly growing population will require a focus on helping existing business grow, employment for many of these new arrivals and improving infrastructure in order to accommodate the growth. Campaign Themes In this campaign, we are identifying three important problems that are facing Texas. Those are minority issues, importance of proper education and access to healthcare. Minority issues to include their health insurance, education and employment are very crucial to her agenda. Especially when we have lots of people who are unable to carry insurance. It is important to implement a similar program to that of Harris County’s Gold Protection Plan in order to provide health services to the poor. Also minority children are facing language problems in the schools. Insufficient numbers of ESOL teachers, learning materials and classrooms. Employment is very important for their  financial stability. Her suggestion is to incentivize businesses in order to encourage the employment of these minority groups. In Texas education is unequally distributed throughout the school districts. It is very important to make sure each child is considered equal in our school system. Women, the poor, and minorities historically have demonstrated low levels of political participation and therefore representation in government has been low in relation to their numbers in the population. Although these groups have made great progress in being heard and putting their own in office over the past three decades, they still face significant obstacles caused by the relative lack of economic resources, lower education levels, and for immigrants, language barriers. Many women face the additional challenge of fulfilling traditional responsibilities as primary caregivers to their children, while trying to manage and maintain a household. Win or Lose? A candidates theme and platform are equally as important as their strength of character. Politics for centuries has been riddled with backstabbing, treachery and character assassination. Candidate Bitzi is proud to say that her campaign is based on issues important to the everyday Texan, may they be working class, blue collar or white collar. Rumors run rampant during campaigns, however she feels that a strong candidate can win an election based on the issues and not by spreading rumors. It is the job of the media to determine what is news and what is â€Å"fit to print†. If a hurtful rumor about her opposing candidate is brought to her, she definitely will not consider fueling the fire. It is the duty of the people of Texas to vote for the best candidate to meet their needs. The media can do their part. Candidate Bitzi’s main agenda is to find out her opponents political weaknesses not to personally destroy them. Candidate Bitzi is elected Governor of Texas. She is viewed by conservatives to maintain her traditional conservative values reaching as far back as her grandfather, a former governor of Texas. She is also a successful business leader with strong economic ideals that will strengthen Texas and its growing working population. As a single mother and independent business woman she is an attractive candidate to the middle of the road democrat. She is a woman and sensitive to the needs of the state’s minorities. References Texas Election Results 2010 The New York Times elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/texas‎ 2010 Texas Governors Race Maps | The Texas Tribune www.texastribune.org/texaselection/2010-texas-governors-rac Texas Politics Voting, Campaigns and Elections texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/6_1_0.html‎ Texas Governor Race: Can Bill White Beat Rick Perry? TIME www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1972070,00.html‎ PolitiFact Texas | Rick Perry says Bill White refuses to debate www.politifact.com/texas//2010//rick-perry/rick-perry-says-bill-white

Friday, September 20, 2019

Micheal Dell Transformational Leadership

Micheal Dell Transformational Leadership Milestones Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell computer corporation that is the worlds largest direct computer company. He is also the youngest person ever to head a Fortune 500 firm.   Michael Dell founded DELL in 1984, and currently serves as the chairman of the Board of Directors and chief executive officer. In 1998, Mr. Dell formed MSD Capital, and he currently serves on the boards of several organizations including the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, the executive committee of the International Business Council and is a member of the U.S. Business Council, the U.S. Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the Technology CEO Council and the governing board of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, India. His Skills 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Visionary Micheal Dell saw great opportunity to provide computing technology in a more efficient way. That was the core idea of what became Dell Computer Corporation. He started the business with a simple question How can we make the process of buying a computer better? 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal Locus of control and Ability to Learn One of the first things I learned, though, was that there was a relationship between screwing up and learning: the more mistakes I made, the faster I learned. Micheal Dell 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Change-Oriented Behavior Micheal Dell did care for neither only people nor only task, he cared for both. He did not build the business solely on cost or price but also on a sustainable advantage. He cared most for sustaining loyalty among customers and employees, which, as he thought, could only be derived from having the highest level of service and very high-performing products engaging the entire company – from manufacturing to engineering to sales and to support staff – in the process of understanding customer requirements which then became a permanent focus of management energy, training, and employee education. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Downward Consultation Micheal Dell practiced downward consultation; he always gathered opinions about What is the right plan? where believed that its the one that helps identify what DELL needs to do to ensure success. Its the one that rallies DELL employees around a few common goals – and motivates them to achieve those goals. Its one that involves your customers goals and DELLs suppliers goals and brings them all together in a unified focus. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Develop and train People             Micheal Dell knew that employees at every level can help DELL implement its company strategy and achieve goals beyond their immediate area of responsibility, but only if DELL is genuinely devoted to their long-term growth and development.   6.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Action Oriented Leader Micheal Dell believed that planning is nothing without execution. He thought respected planning but yet believed that outputs is what generates profits. What Made Micheal Dell a Successful Leader He knew his goal clearly and steadly focused on it. When he was in college, Michael Dell stated that he wanted to beat IBM. In the following years, he started his own business and constantly achieved his goal no matter what difficulties he faced .Today, Dell Company revenues are about $ 7.8 billion a year. He has passed IBM in annual sales, and is approaching industry leader Compaq. INNOVATOR he was fond of doing something new and took risks. He worked hard to make them work. He also cherished difference and thought difference can breed innovation. He hired a diverse work force in his teams with different views on problems. He has full responsibility either for business or for family and keeps good BALANCES between work and life. He worked hard to create great value for customers, employees and shareholders. He spent his spare time with his wife and kids and wanted to be a great dad and a great husband. Every day he drives his kids to school .he always makes pancakes for his kids. Michael Dell has a powerful vision for the future and develops unique businesss philosophy. He wants his company to have a supreme speed to market; a solid dedication to customer service; a severe assurance of producing high-quality, low-priced, custom-made machines. essential change of his leadership composition In the hyper market competition, Dell realized that he didn’t have all the right skills to change his company into a multi-product, multi-geography. And since he couldn’t manage alone, he should bring in the talent he needed. So, Dell made a decision that he will share his power with his long time partner Kevin Rollins. He developed a new leadership model one company, two CEO’s. Although this co-CEO involved a lot of leadership risks, fortunately, they have done well although they had lots of differences. Micheal Dell Leadership Style His leadership style belongs to transformational leadership because he has a strong ability and desire to break up laws and to change situation completely, and he also has ability to create something new and benefit himself and others. Leadership is about coping with changes. More change always demands more leadership. And since the computer industry field is surrounded with volatile competition, leaders couldnt cope with complexity and change very well, they would go bankruptcy. Fortunately, through his transformational leadership, the company can keep up with the changes of the market, and make more and more progress. He started with nothing , but built a empire and created a fantastic wealth for millions of people. He led his team to create a lot of pioneering activities in the computer industry. He created a low cost, mail order model to sell computers, and helped more and more people realize the power of computing and the internet; he has a good self conscious of his disadvantages, and he knows what he doesnt know. He has a strong moral responsibility for business and family, and keeps a good balance between life and work. He created a new image of young entrepreneur. Lessons Learned A successful leader must have clear goal and powerful vision for the future. He must use his entrepreneur personality to motivate people, communicate with them and influence his followers. He should be able to transform his personal goal and vision into all followers practice. A successful leader must be an innovator. He must be a flexible open mided person who respects difference and encourage his followers to have different ideas and different solutions.   He should have ability to handle change and extract opportunities from it. A successful leader must be courageous; he should have courage to take risks of doing new things and should be eager to pioneer in his field. A successful leader must have strong self conscious. He must admit and identify what he doesnt know and face it. He should learn from mistakes and acquire talents he needs. A successful leader must have high ethical responsibility for both business and private life. He should keep good balance among them. The vision makes Dell computer successful and unique in the world. What is more, Micheal Dell knows how to use the vision to communicate and motivate his employees and get people excited about what he is doing. Dell says   A lot of businesses get off track because they don’t communicate an excitement References http://successfulbusinessleadership.ibc01.com/index.php/learn-from-the-best/michael-dell/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-Entrepreneurs/646/summary.php http://wyx.cueb.edu.cn/download/disance/unit3/Michael%20Dell.htm

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Military Policy :: essays research papers

POLSCI 111  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gerard Chretien Introduction to American Government  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  May 15, 2001 MILITARY DEFENSE POLICY Dear Mr. President,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As a proud American and veteran of our great armed forces, I strongly advocate that you initiate a new policy regarding the maintenance and strategic welfare of our nations forces. The current conditions of our military are not in sync with the needs of the 21st century challenges and objectives. There is numerous issues that need to be addressed such as: new weapon development, increase in pay, consolidation of various programs, review of oversea deployment policy and so forth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Currently you are aware that your predecessor (malignant Bill Clinton) and his administration have not developed any policy to upgrade our forces during his presidential tenure. Having served in the military, I can say from personal experience, that our forces need a desperate infusion of new weapons and strategic programs that would do away with inefficient and obsolete ones. Our men and women, who wear their proud uniform, represent one of America’s most treasured assets, thus their needs must be held to a high standard.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Clinton era, for that matter, since the end of the Reagan era, defense spending has been systematically reduced across the board (omitting the Gulf War). This type of reduction leaves our armed forces inadequately supplied with resources to combat issues that affect the U.S. domestically and abroad. The current status must be overhauled and restructured.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You may feel that as a result of the Cold-War ending and the majority of America feeling the need to expand our military is not necessary, I urge you not to ride the same track of thought. Having rogue states still capable in constructing weapons of mass destruction (e.g. Iraq) and host of other states that despise our way of life, it’s imperative, now more than ever, that we stay militarily capable and ready to defend America’s interest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now there is many who believe that the United States should down grade military production because of several factors. First, the United States is the remaining super-power in the world, a threat from an antagonistic country like North Korea or Iraq seems ridiculous and very remote. Secondly we have the world’s most productive economy, allowing us to build and purchase anything that fits our interest. Last and most importantly we have and sustain the most dangerous armed forces known to man. Such factors leads us to believe that military spending is futile in age of peace time and further more, America’s most dangerous rival (Soviet Union) is no longer a threat, but a cooperative diplomatic engaging state.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Descriptive Essay -The Dump -- Descriptive Essay, Descriptive Writing

The Dump       My mom and I were cleaning up our attic this weekend, and in the process I found all sorts of old junk that I had forgotten about. Of course, I wanted to keep everything I saw; otherwise, I would not have stashed it there in the first place. But after standing over me and prying my hands off of every item that I encountered, my mom finally convinced me to haul all of my broken treasures to the Dump. I wince at the thought of having to brave the ever-present gloom that reigns there. The Dump is a strange and repulsive place, where people tend to bury the human spirit along with their refuse. From the main road, the Dump looked like a prison. The perimeter was surrounded by an eight-foot chain-link with barbed-wire stretched tightly around the top of it. As I followed the slow procession of vehicles through the front gate, I noticed a man peeking through the blinds of a dirty office building. The building's tan exterior was peeling away, probably as a result of prolonged exposure to the toxic environment. Up on a hill overshadowing ...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Papa John’s International, Inc. Essays -- Strategic Case Analysis

Introduction Papa John’s International, Inc., is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky it is the world’s largest pizza chain and considered paramount in the pizza industry. Papa John’s domestic pizzas are made exclusively from a proprietary blend of wheat flour, cheese made from 100% real mozzarella, fresh-packed pizza sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes (not from concentrate) and a proprietary mix of savory spices, and a choice of high-quality meat (100% beef, pork and chicken with no fillers) and vegetable toppings. However, international ingredients vary to meet customs and tastes. (http://ir.papajohns.com/) The company operates approximately 3,400 domestic and international pizza restaurants. They have five segments of their business: domestic restaurants, domestic commissaries, domestic franchises, international operations, and variable interest entities. (Barney & Hesterly, 2010) They have company-owned restaurants in mature and developed markets, but have recently experienced a measurable decrease in their domestic franchising sales because these franchisees are not strategically located in the more heavily concentrated markets like their company owned restaurants. To further develop the Papa John franchisees, they are working on various economic systems to provide royalty and local marketing relief for struggling franchisees, by providing financing to assist existing and/or new businesses, and educating lenders and banking institutions on the Papa John’s business models and goals. Papa John’s has currently started repurchasing about 1 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $22.52 per share, the company’s board of directors recently extended a repurchase plan through the end of 2010. Papa John’s... ... end-user customers, so as to capture additional market presence. Dominos has recently changed their pizza ingredient and their pricing structure they could become a major threat to Papa John’s customer base because they have always prided themselves on using high-quality ingredients. Dominos is now making attempting to grab up some Papa John’s domestic market share. Works Cited Form 10-K Annual Report Filed Feb 24, 2009, http://ir.papajohns.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1104659-09-11825 (Retrieved 2/11/10) Thursday, February 11, 2010, 2:43pm EST | Modified: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 3:04pm, Papa John’s cooks up heart-shaped pizza promo http://louisville.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2010/02/08/daily41.html?ana=yfcpc (Retrieved 2/11/10) http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/22/news/companies/papa_johns_pizza_schnatter.fortune/index.htm (retrieved 2/12/10)

Compare How Atonement and Spies Explore the Journey from Innocence to Experience Essay

Compare how Atonement and Spies explore the journey from innocence to experience. Both Atonement and Spies are bildungsroman where the protagonists are reminiscing about events in their childhoods which impose on them in their adult lives. In Atonement, Briony is narrating throughout the text; however the reader only finds this out at the end and in Spies Stephen is narrating with his older and younger self through duel narration with slippage between the two. Both text were published within a year of each other, Atonement in 2001 and Spies in 2002; however they both focus on the same time in history, during (and after) the Second World War. Spies focuses on one point in time around 1940; whereas Atonement ranges before, throughout and after the war with the view points from different characters throughout unlike Spies where the reader sees only from young or old Stephen. Both protagonists are naive and easily influenced in the beginning of the novels and their misinterpretations draw the narrative to a conclusive disaster. In Spies, Stephen misinterprets the Mrs Hayward’s diary’s x’s and exclamation marks for some form of German â€Å"code† and believes that she is a spy- â€Å"she actually is a German spy†- Similarly in Atonement, where Briony misinterprets what she witnessed in the library which leads her to the conclusion that Robbie raped Lola, which she sticks to with conviction â€Å"it was Robbie†. The misinterpretations made by the protagonists reflect the lack of knowledge about the adult world and emphasise their innocence in the beginning of the novels. In Atonement the peak of Briony’s innocence is at the beginning with the â€Å"Trials of Arabella† and sulking when she gives up the main part of â€Å"Arabella† by killing nettles which foreshadows the impending doom of her actions. I believe at this point Briony triggers a transition to adult knowledge with the letter and therefor conclusively decides the narrative with her intrusion of Robbie and Cecilia’s privacy; however in the film adaptation others have interpreted this differently. Peter Bradshaw believes that it is the â€Å"mysterious scene by the fountain that is to trigger Briony’s terrible misguided sense that she has a personal insight and a grievance; it appears to give her an access point into shocking adult phenomena†. However key the scene is in the narrative as a whole, I do not believe it to be a pivotal role in Briony’s contribution to the downfall that is witnessed later in the novel due to the confusion she feels when confronted with the situation. In Spies Stephen and Keith play childish games such as â€Å"monkey hunting†; however this is contradicted increasingly throughout the novel with the seriousness of their accusations made in regards to Keith’s mother. John Mullan believes that the â€Å"The boys show ominous signs of adulthood behaviour when supposedly children: the boys never seem to call each other by their first names except when taking some horrendous sounding oaths†. The protagonists both believe a fictitious story conjured from their own imaginations and thus relieves them of their innocence leaving them open to the repercussions of their actions. Briony convinces herself that she saw Robbie and swears that she did whilst we find out later in the novel that she was unsure. In the first interview with the police she states â€Å"I know it was him†, not clarifying that she â€Å"saw†, him leading the reader to believe that she does so because of her misunderstandings over the fountain and letter earlier in the novel. In spies Stephen and Keith are certain that Mrs Hayward is a spy after they witness her first â€Å"disappearance† which they both rationalise after they have seen it. This act of misunderstanding is less harmful than that of Briony’s action however; they are invading the privacy of someone else which does add to the compromising of their innocence. Both stories conjured by the protagonists are not clarified throughout the narrative; the author leaves hints for the reader about the events themselves, and this lack of knowledge is a hallmark of postmodernism and the unreliable narrator present within each text. The inevitability of the protagonist’s actions is that both are shown to be guilty in their adulthood. The reader learns that Briony becomes a nurse and gives up a chance to go to Oxford and the class privileges that result from it. The reader learns that â€Å"the purpose of becoming a nurse was to work for her independence† as well as learning what Robbie is going through in the army. We later learn that the narrative has been written by Briony and some parts have been fictionalised such as the meeting with Robbie and Cecilia so she can try and put right what she could not do in life. Like Atonement Stephen in Spies feel guilty about the death of Uncle Peter and revisits The Close in which he grew up to atone. This is where the narrative takes place, â€Å"you can’t go back everyone knows that† implying that â€Å"everyone† knows that it was his fault. This is an interesting comment made by Stephen because surely Stephen and the reader know that it is Keith’s father who is to blame ultimately for the discovery and death of Uncle Peter after Stephen and his confrontation over the picnic basket. Both protagonists, we learn have been putting the idea of properly confronting and trying to amend (as best they can) their actions off until the latest time possible. The reader learns that Briony falsities the ending and meeting of Cecilia and Robbie in the final chapters where she is close to forgetting all of her memories through dementia. Like Briony Stephen has waited till very late on in his life to re-visit the close. We learn that he has lived a full but somehow sorrowful life until he returns and faces the actions that he made when he was a child â€Å"I can sort out whether I belong here or there† Both novels explore the motif of love and sexuality in spies the reader is given details about one of two sexually attracted women in his life: Barbara Berrill, and his future wife. The reader only learns that his wife is German and no more information throughout the novel other than the fact that Stephen had a family with her and that she died. The reader is witness to the presumably only sexual act between Barbara Berrill and Stephen where they exchange two kisses â€Å"she leans closer still, and rests her lips against mine† it is presumed that this is Stephens first kiss with a girl due to his initial reactions â€Å"Nice?†¦ I was too busy thinking about the germs† a typical young boy’s reaction to the opposite sex. This scene can be said to be one of the most normal childlike behaviour in the entire text, through the experimental aspect that has been associated with growing up. The motif of sexuality and relationships is greatly explored in atonement compared with that of Spies. Early on in the narrative Robbie and Cecilia â€Å"make love† this act creates and spurs on a relationship throughout the rest of the narrative with longing for a similar experience; however like spies this act never occurs again whereas unlike spies neither Cecilia or Robbie indulge in any sexual contact after their initial â€Å"library scene† because of both their untimely deaths emphasising the importance of that moment in the readers eyes. This singular act of â€Å"love† somewhat adds to the innocence and sympathy felt towards both characters. Unlike the other two protagonists in Spies and Atonement (Stephen and Robbie) McEwan never mentions Briony to have any sexual contact throughout the novel unlike Robbie’s And Cecilia’s characters the absence of Briony’s sexuality evokes no sympathy. I believe that McEwan includes this as part of her atonement, because of the deprivation of sexuality that Briony causes. Both novels show clear points in the narrative where the protagonist’s develop their experiences in the world of adult life through their actions; however it can be said that the protagonists have never been allowed to fully pass into the full realms of adult knowledge because throughout their lives they cling to an event that happened in their child hood without being able to come to terms with it until the end of their lives.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Iso Standards and Tqm

FOCUS ON TQM, EQM AND ISO INTRODUCTION Environment may be broadly understood to mean our surroundings. It can be divided into non-living and living components. The Environment provides resources which support life on the earth and which also help in the growth of a relationship of interchange between living organisms and the environment in which they live. ISO †¢ What? ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. On the one hand, many of its member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots uniquely in the private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of industry associations. The organization's logos in its two official languages, English and French, include the word ISO. The organization adopted ISO based on the Greek word isos ( ), meaning equal. This, in itself, reflects the aim of the organization: to equalize and standardize across cultures. HISTORY: ISO is the world largest standards developing organization. Founded on 23rd February, 1947, it has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Between 1947 and the present day, ISO has published more than 18  000 International Standards, ranging from standards for activities such as agriculture and construction, through mechanical engineering, to medical devices, to the newest information technology developments. IS O was born from the union of two organizations – the ISA (International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations). Established in New York in 1926, and the UNSCC (United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee), established in 1944 †¢ WHO CAN JOIN ISO? Membership of ISO  is open to national standards institutes most representative of standardization in their country (one member in each country). ISO has three membership categories: ? Member Bodies: They are national bodies that are considered to be the most representative standards body in each country. These are the only members of ISO that have voting rights. ? Subscriber members: They are countries with small economies. They pay reduced membership fees, but can follow the development of standards. Participating members are called â€Å"P† members as opposed to observing members which are called â€Å"O† members. ? Correspondent members: They are countries that do not have their own standards organization. These members are informed about ISO's work, but do not participate in standards promulgation. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 159 countries, out of the 203 total countries in the world, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. Some of the ISO members are : INDIA, US, HONDURAS, LESOTHO, MACAU, NAMIBIA. †¢ How ISO standards are developed ? ISO standards are developed according to the following principles. ? Consensus ? Industry wide ? Voluntary †¢ Why standards matter Standards make an enormous and positive contribution to most aspects of our lives. Standards ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as ? Quality ? Environmental friendliness ? Safety ? Reliability ? Efficiency ? Interchangeability When products and services meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted and be unaware of the role of standards. However, when standards are absent, we soon notice. We soon care when products turn out to be of poor quality, do not fit, are incompatible with equipment that we already have, are unreliable or dangerous. When products, systems, machinery and devices work well and safely, it is often because they meet standards. And  the organization responsible  for many thousands of the standards which benefit the world is  ISO. When standards are absent, we soon notice. What standards do? ISO standards ? make the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services  more efficient, safer and cleaner ? facilitate trade  between countries and make it  fairer ? provide governments with a technical base for  health, safety and environmental legislation, and conformity assessment ? share  technological advances and good management practice ? disseminateà ‚  innovation ? safeguard consumers, and users in general, of products and services ? make life simpler by providing  solutions  to common problems †¢ Who standards benefit ISO standards provide technological, economic and societal benefits. ? For  businesses, the widespread adoption of International Standards means that suppliers can develop and offer products and services meeting specifications that have wide international acceptance in their sectors. Therefore, businesses using International Standards can compete on many more markets around the world. ? For  innovators  of new technologies, International Standards on aspects like terminology, compatibility and safety speed up the dissemination of innovations and their development into manufacturable and marketable products. For  customers, the worldwide compatibility of technology which is achieved when products and services are based on International Standards gives them a  broad choice  of offers. They also benefit from the  effects of competition  among suppliers. For  consumers, conformity of products and services to International Standards provides assurance about their quality , safety and reliability. ? For  trade officials, International Standards create  Ã¢â‚¬Å"a level playing field†Ã‚  for all competitors on those markets. The existence of divergent national or regional standards can create technical barriers to trade. International Standards are the technical means by which political trade agreements can be put into practice. ? For  developing countries, International Standards that represent an international consensus on the state of the art are an important source of  technological know-how. By defining the characteristics that products and services will be expected to meet on export markets, International Standards give developing countries a basis for making the right decisions  when investing their scarce resources and thus avoid squandering them. For  everyone, International Standards contribute to the  quality of life  in general by ensuring that the transport, machinery and tools we use are safe. ? For  the planet  we inhabit, International Standards on air, water and soil quality, on emissions of gases and radiation and environmental aspects of products can contribute to efforts to  preserve the environment. †¢ Examples of the benefits standards provide ? solves the   repair and maintenance  problems caused by a lack of standardization that were once a major headache for manufacturers ? Standards establishing an international consensus n  terminology  make technology transfer easier and safer. ? Consensus on grades of various materials gives a  common reference  for suppliers and clients in business dealings. ? Agreement on a sufficient number of variations of a product to meet most current applications allows  economies of scale  with  cost benefits  for both producers and consumers. An example is the standardization of paper sizes. ? Standardization of  performance or safety requirements  of diverse equipment makes sure that users' needs are met while allowing individual manufacturers the freedom to design their own solution on how to meet those needs. Standardized  computer protocols  allow products from different vendors to â€Å"talk† to each other. †¢ Advantages of ISO: ? Implementing ISO has follow ing advantages: ? Create a more efficient, effective operation ? Increase customer satisfaction and retention ? Reduce audits ? Enhance marketing ? Improve employee motivation, awareness, and morale ? Promote international trade ? Increases profit ? Reduce waste and increases productivity The need for International Standards is very important as more organizations operate in the global economy by selling or buying products and services from sources outside their domestic market. Disadvantages of ISO ? Does not guarantee better quality ISO certification definitely does not automatically lead to better quality product. While it does encourage operations to think in terms of systems, it does not require them to be good. ? Focus on certification ? Frequent audits Full system audits every three years with annual surveillance audits. †¢ ISO 9000 ISO 9000 is a family of standards for quality management systems. ISO 9000 is maintained by ISO and is administered by accreditation and cer tification bodies. The rules are updated, as the requirements motivate changes over time. Some of the requirements in ISO 9001:2008 include a set of procedures that cover all key processes in the business; monitoring processes to ensure they are effective; keeping adequate records; checking output for defects, with appropriate and corrective action; regularly reviewing individual processes and the quality system itself for effectiveness; and facilitating continual improvement ISO 9001:2000 – What does it mean in the supply chain? ISO 9001:2000 is an international standard that gives requirements for an organization’s Quality Management System (â€Å"QMS†). The objective of ISO 9001:2000 is to provide a set of requirements that will provide confidence that the supplier can consistently provide goods and services that: ? Meet needs and expectations and ? Comply with applicable regulations How can you have confidence that your supplier meets ISO 9001:2000? There are various ways in which your supplier can claim that its QMS meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2000. These include: ? ‘Supplier’s declaration of conformity’: supplier’s internal audit system, or on second party or third party audits; Second party assessment: check if its QMS meets ISO 9001:2000 requirements and your own requirements – sometimes used in contractual â€Å"business-to-business† transactions; ? Third party assessment: (Often referred to as certification or registration) CASE STUDY KERALA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS),is a 450-bed multispecialty Hospital which has been awarded the I SO 9001:2000 certificate for a high-end cardiac cauterization laboratory, hi-tech operation theatres, a 24-hour emergency department, CT scan, facility for open heart surgery, blood bank, neurology and neuro-surgery departments. Quality and accreditation are prominent strategies adopted by KIMS to ensure world-class treatment at third-world prices. KIMS has acquired ISO 9001: 2000 certificate from BSI Group. †¢ ISO 12000: Plastics/rubber — Polymer dispersions and rubber (natural and synthetic) – Definitions and review of test methods †¢ ISO 14000 The ISO 14000 family addresses â€Å"Environmental management†. This means what the organization does to: ? minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and to ? Achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance. The  ISO  14000  is a standard for  environmental management  systems that is applicable to any business. The aim of the standard is to reduce the environmental footprint of a business and to decrease the pollution and waste a business produces. The major objective of the ISO 14000 series of norms is â€Å"to promote more effective and efficient environmental management in organizations†. It offers source of guidance for introducing and adopting environmental management systems based on the best universal practices. The  ISO  14000  is a standard for  environmental management  systems that is applicable to any business, regardless of size, location or income. The aim of the standard is to reduce the environmental footprint of a business and to decrease the pollution and waste a business produces. The major objective of the ISO 14000 series of norms is â€Å"to promote more effective and efficient environmental management in organizations and  to provide useful and usable tools like cost effective, system-based, flexible tools that help organizations in gatherong environment related information. It offers source of guidance for introducing and adopting environmental management systems based on the best universal practices, in the same way that the ISO 9000 series on quality management systems represents a tool for technology transfer of the best available quality management practices The two major standards under ISO 14000 ? ISO 14001:2004 ? SO 14004:2004 Business benefits of ISO 14000 ? reduced cost of waste management ? savings in consumption of energy and materials ? lower distribution costs ? improved corporate image among regulators, customers and the public Framework for continual improvement of environmental performance. ? In the global economy CASE STUDY Copley Square Hotel A prominent hotel created an aggressive environmental program that provides a foundation for ISO 14001 registration. Energy Use Reduction: ? Energy efficient lighting was installed in public areas ? Install compact fluorescent bulbs in guest room table lamps , hanging lamps and back areas ? Remind employees to turn off all energy using devices that are not being used. Water Use Reduction: ? Installing toilets with 1. 5 gallon capacity, replacing ones with 3. gallon capacity will save $3,276 and 430,000 gallons annually. ? Showerheads of greater efficiency will save $6,546 and 859,000 gallons annually. ? Guest have been offered the option of reusing their towels and linens when staying more than one night. Comments Some of the reasons the program has been successful are: ? Everyone in the hotel participates in the program and can contribute from within their job responsibilities. ? Small savings are as important as big ones. CASE STUDY NOKIA ISO 14001 standard is used to control and manage the environmental aspects of Nokia’s production sites and large offices. Nokia has a corporate level ISO 14001 certificate in place for all manufacturing sites. †¢ What's the difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001? ISO 9001 contains a set of requirements for implementing a  Quality  Management System and ISO 14001 for an  Environmental Management System ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 have become thoroughly integrated with the world economy. ISO 9001:2000 (the transition to ISO 9001:2008 is now taking place) is now firmly established as the globally accepted standard for providing assurance about the quality of goods and services in supplier-customer relations. ISO 14001:2004 confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. In the global economy ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 have become thoroughly integrated with the world economy. ISO 9001:2000 is now firmly established as the globally accepted standard for providing assurance about the quality of goods and services in supplier-customer relations. ISO 14001:2004 confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. ISO 16000-1:2004 is intended to aid the planning of indoor pollution monitoring. Before a sampling strategy is devised for indoor air monitoring, it is necessary to clarify for what purposes, when, where, how often and over what periods of time monitoring is to be performed. The answers to these questions depend, in particular, on a number of special characteristics of the indoor environments, on the objective of the measurement and, finally, on the environment to be measured. ISO 16000-1:2004 deals with the significance of these factors and offers suggestions on how to develop a suitable sampling strategy. ISO 16000-1:2004 is applicable to indoor environments such as dwellings having living rooms, bedrooms, do-it-yourself rooms, recreation rooms and cellars, kitchens and bathrooms; workrooms or work places in buildings which are not subject to health and safety inspections in regard to air pollutants (for example, offices, sales premises); public buildings (for example hospitals, schools, kindergartens, sports halls, libraries, restaurants and bars, theatres, cinemas and other function rooms), and also cabins of vehicles. †¢ Latest ISO(15270:2008) On Plastic Recycling Plastics – Guidelines for the recovery and recycling of plastics waste. The standard has been developed to assist all plastics industry stakeholders in the development of: ? A sustainable global infrastructure for plastics recovery and recycling Establishes the different options for the recovery of plastics waste arising from pre-consumer and post-consumer sources. The standard assists in the selection of methodologies and processes for the management of post-use plastics that may be approached using various strategies. ? A sustainable market for recovered plastics materials and their derived manufactured products. Plastics material for recovery may be obtained from various sources and the major markets for plastics are packaging, building and construction products, electrical and electronic products, automotive/transportation, and household/consumer items. ISO promotes role of International Standards in tackling climate change at COP15 ISO International Standards can help fight climate change by providing a basis for ensuring trust, integrity and effective management in the quantification, measurement and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation efforts, and practical tools for the development of energy efficiency and alternative energy sources. These messages were underlined by ISO at COP15, the 15th conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held on 7-18 December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. ISO Guide 64:2008 Guide for addressing environmental issues in product standards It proposes a step-by-step approach, based on the principle of life-cycle analysis, in order to promote a reduction of potential adverse environmental impacts caused by products. The Guide is intended for use by all those involved in the drafting of product standards, encouraging them to: Identify and understand basic environmental aspects and impacts related to the product under consideration, ? Determine when it is possible and when it is not possible to deal with an environmental issue through a product standard. TQM †¢ What? †¢ an approach for continuously improving the quality of goods and services through the participation of all levels of organization, especially for the benefit of the customers â € ¢ COMPONENTS OF THE MODEL ? Quality Policy and Communication If an organization is to start implementing TQM, a sound quality policy is a fundamental requirement. The TQM foundation consists of strategic quality management, executive leadership and a continuous focus on consumer. This must be clearly stated, documented and communicated, as a quality policy to each and every employee of the organization in an easily understood language. The next step is to clearly define the key objectives and quality goals that must be achieved if the company has to realize its vision. ? Team Work and Participation From time to time, Indian industry has realized the importance of both Team Work and Participative Management. To institutionalize both the concept s of team work ad participation, Cross functional Management Teams, Quality Circles and Suggestion Systems have to be formed. This has indeed been done in organizations like THERMAX, ALFA LEVEL, NLC, BHEL, SAIL, MADRAS CEMENTS, MODI XEROX, and SONA STEERING SYSTEMS ? Problem solving Tools and Techniques One very common approach of problem solving is use of Deming Cycle, which is reproduced below: As shown in the cycle, the Planning Stage will primarily involve defining a Quality mission, getting the organization relevant data, and going in for experiments in quality. And when we do something (Stage Two), the effects or results are checked in stage three. Recognizing people and rewarding them and changing processes form the essential steps of stage four ? Standardization Standardization is a management tool for encouraging and securing optimum utilization o resources and maximum efficiency of operations through formal establishment of the most suitable, pre-determined, solutions and answers to recurring problems and needs. Technical specifications in design, procurement, production and control are company standards. Similarly, administrative specifications in supervision and management, which may deal with products, processes, methods, materials, parts, etc. , are also company standards. ? Design and implementation of Quality System Standardization can be attained through ISO-9000 certification. ISO -9000 is not product standard, but it is Quality Systems Standard. It is a practical standard for a Quality system. There are four Quality System Standards as shown in the table ? Quality costs and measurements Contrary to popular belief high quality is not high cost. If things are done right the first time, tremendous savings in cost can be obtained. Around 10 – 25 % of the sales revenue is being spent by manufacturing companies due to poor quality. Hence, calculating the cost of quality is a must. ? Quality audit and review It is conducted by people who have no direct responsibility for performance and is always an independent examination to compare given aspects of quality performance with standards or specifications. Hence, an internal quality system should be developed for addressing customer requirements and complaints as well as internal quality problems. Process Control If processes are controlled properly, deficiencies are not with product and process control gives feedback for initiating necessary action. ? Customer supplier integration Effective integration between customer and supplier identifies mutual needs and fulfilling expectations becomes easier. ? Education and training Today, Indian companies that have implemented TQM sp ends thousands of rupees in preparing employees and educating them on various aspects of quality improvement. †¢ Principles of TQM ? CUSTOMER FOCUSED ONLY customers determine the level of quality , what ever you do to foster quality   improvement , training employees , integrating quality into processes management , ONLY customers determine whether your effort were   worthwhile ? EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT Removing fear from work place by providing the proper environment ? PROCESS CENTERED Fundamental part of TQM is to focus on Process thinking. ? INTEGRATED SYSTEM All employee must know business mission and vision, must monitor the process . an integrated business system may be modeled by     ISO 9000. ? STRATEGIC APPROACH Strategic plan must integrate quality as core component. CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT Using analytical and creative thinking in finding ways to become more effective. ? FACT BASED DECISION MAKING Decision making must be ONLY on data, not personal thinking or situational. ? COMMUNICATION Communication strategy, method and timeliness must be well defined. †¢ Chain Reaction of TQM ? Improve Quality ? Improve Produ ctivity ? Decrease costs ? Decrease prices ? Increase market ? Stay in Business ? Provide More jobs ? Return on investment †¢ Deming’s Fourteen Points ? Constancy of purpose ? Drive out fear ? Eliminate Exhortations ? Encourage education Institute training on the job ? Improve every process ? End â€Å"lowest tender† contracts ? The New philosophy ? Institute Leadership ? Cease dependence on inspection ? Break down barriers ? Eliminate arbitrary numerical targets ? Permit pride of workmanship ? Top management’s commitment †¢ IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF TQM : ? Customer-driven quality ? Top management leadership ? and commitment ? Continuous improvement ? Fast response ? Actions based on facts ? Employee participation ? A TQM culture. †¢ BENEFITS   OF   TQM : ? Increased pride of workmanship among individual   workers ? Increased   readiness Improved   sustainability ? Greater   mission   survivability ? Better   justification   for    budgets ? Streamlined   maintenance   and   production processes Many companies have difficulties in implementing TQM. Surveys by consulting firms have found that only 20 – 36 % of companies that have undertaken TQM have achieved either significant or even tangible improvements in quality, productivity, competitiveness or financial return. As a result many people are skeptical about TQM. However, when you look at successful companies you find a much higher percentage of successful TQM implementation. Why ISO 9000 Should Be a Company's Guidepost, And Not TQM The ISO-9000 quality standard and total quality management (TQM) is both necessary for any organization to become world class. But ISO is far superior because it offers a set of guidelines for quality management and can stand alone, while TQM can not. The reasons are: ? While ISO-9000 is a clearly defined system, TQM is a philosophy ? ISO-9000 is preventive. TQM is remedial. ? TQM is aimed at identifying the causes of quality problems and eliminating them TQM is not quality management but process management —   the process of improvement. ISO-9000 is total quality management ? While ISO-9000 requires documentation and record keeping, there is no such requirement in TQM ? One of the greatest features of ISO-9000 is that it is self-policing EQM Various countries, 8 including India, have set up standards with specify the limit pf emission of various pollutants that are permitted in specific media i. e. air or water. They may take the firm of emission standards, or relate to the content of products in food, or phosphates in detergents. †¢ Environmental Quality Management includes : Management of Air Quality The air quality standards are prescribed by CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD. They provide quantitative limits within which the pollutants may be present in the environment. There are three types of standards ? Emission standards : they are the maximm tolerable level of a pollutant that are permissible to escape the chimney of an industry or the thermal power plant ? Immission standards : it specifies the ambient a ir quality i. e. the amount of various pollutants that are tolerable in space surrounding the source of generation Vehicular emission standards : they have been prescribed recently, it specifies the maximum tolerable limit of the various pollutants that are allowed to escape the exhaust of an automobile ? Management of water quality Water quality management involves multidisciplinary approach in which the required water quality is related to municipal, industrial and agricultural requirements. Water quality standards are based on two standards ? Stream standards: It is based on the beneficial uses of water which fixes the threshold value of specific pollutants permissible in the water required for various uses. As specified by Central Pollution Control Board in 1979. It states that drinking water should have a minimum of 6 mg/1 dissolved oxygen and a maximum of 2mg/1 of Biological oxygen demand. ? Effluent standards: They are based on the maximum concentration of a pollutant of maximum pollution load discharged into receiving water. In India under the Water Pollution Control Act enacted in 1974, effluent standards, based on the maximum concentration of a pollutant (mg/1) have been prescribed. ? Management of land It is essential to improve man quality to grow more and to meet the increasing demands for food and other essential agricultural items. Large scale use of fertilizers is not advisable. Chemical fertilizers can improve soil and land quality but they are costly. Various ways to improve land quality are ? Organic farming : organic fertilizers in the form of biomass not only provide nutrients to soil but also enrich humus content. Biomass is used as fuel in the form of dung cakes agricultural residues etc. ? Mixed cropping : under this leguminous and non-leguminous crops are grown together in the same area in a mixed pattern. It always the crop to derive nutrients from the soil. Use of helophytes : excessive irrigation leads to salinisation of soils rendering it useless for agriculture. Thus, special plants known as halophytes are grown, which are tolerant to salinity. These plants improve the soil condition. ? Ariel seeding : packets containing seeds along with little fertilizers are sprayed from aircrafts and they are left togrow undisturbed. This mproves the performance of degraded land ? Land use planning : for maint aining the land quality excessive irrigation should be avoided, proper avenues for drainage and mixed cropping should be practiced. The positive roles played in globalization by ISO’s standards for quality and environmental management systems include the following: ? a unifying base for global businesses and supply chains – such as the automotive and oil and gas sectors ? a technical support for regulation – as, for example, in the medical devices sector) ? a tool for major new economic players to increase their participation in global supply chains, in export trade and in business process outsourcing; ? a tool for regional integration –   as shown by their adoption by new or potential members of the European Union in the rise of services in the global economy – nearly 32  % of ISO 9001:2000 certificates and 29  % of ISO 14001:2004 certificates in 2007 went to organizations in the service sectors, and ? in the transfer of good practice to developing countries and transition economies Presented by : †¢ Aditya jhunjhunwala (09) †¢ Rashmi tigga (10) †¢ Sukanya gupta (11) †¢ Spriha agarwal (24) †¢ Rimika mittal (25) †¢ Shrutee parasramka (27) †¢ Niharika khaitan (31) †¢ Priyanka gupta (34) †¢ Srimoyee dasgupta (45) †¢ Bhumika kotecha (48) †¢ Neha malpani (59)