Continuous I In Managing Health And Safety, Along With Quality And Environmental Considerations

Introduction Organizations today, in addition to ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty, must also demonstrate to its broader stakeholders a corporate strategy which underscores social, environmental and health and safety concerns. It should demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement in the management of the health and safety, and working environment of their employees; and should take into account the environmental impact of the business operations and its impact upon the communities and society. A business’s operation in term of what it produces should also be responsible, hence legislation concerning ‘health and safety at work, environmental protection and prohibiting the use of substances hazardous’ have been put in place. Government and other regulatory bodies for instance, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), have also been set up to ensure enforcement of these regulations. Stakeholder expectations with regards to the organisations corporate responsibility in respect to the above legal requirements has grown in recent years and also incorporates factors such as, corporate image, the reputation of the organisation and competitive advantage. Numerous management standards including ‘ISO 9001 (1994), ISO 14001 (1996) and OHSAS 18001’ are put in place to deal with these requirements. Each of the standards outlines the requirements for management systems to enable organisations to control or eliminate its health a nd safety and environmental risks and to continually improve its performance and the quality of its product, services and operations. The move towards an integration strategy for an organization’s management systems has largely arisen because of Stakeholders’ expectations of continuous improvement, increasingly stringent legislation and greater market demands (Griffiths, 2000). This essay discusses how an organization can improve its performance in terms of health and safety, and environmental and social impact by adopting a total quality management strategy. It will further discuss how the total quality management system should integrate the aforementioned quality standards to implement a integrated management system. Importance of Integrating Health/Safety, Environment and Social Concerns in Business Operations The benefits of an effective corporate strategy in improving health and safety measures, and environmental and social impact include an improved financial performance and turnover for an organization. Secondly, it can improve an organization’s relations with its external stakeholders including investors and community, which can subsequently create better opportunities for it to access capital (Scheme, 2012). Thirdly, such a strategy is good for employee relations and can enable a favorable corporate culture (Scheme, 2012). Continuous improvement can also enhance risk management capabilities or an organization. Lastly, it could foster stronger relations with legal regulators (Scheme, 2012). One of the reasons that make a corporate strategy with health, safety, social and environmental concerns at its core important for a business’s performance is the growing prevalence of social media (Truist, 2012). Such a corporate strategy can help a company create a positive image (Truist, 2012). Moreover, such a strategy can enable an organization to engage with its audience/customers in ways beyond its products or services (Truist, 2012). Another benefit of such a corporate strategy is that it fosters a positive relationship of an organization with governments (Truist, 2012). Companies who continually improve their operation and thus have a positive social perception are better positioned to cope up with government regulators (Truist, 2012). On the other hand, an organization can be faced with a bad public image which can have significant impact on its financial and business performance in case it fails to address these management issues. It has become very important for organizations to implement and accredit with quality, health and safety systems and environmental due to the increasing pressure from their internal and various external stakeholders. These include governments and regulatory bodies, local communities, customers, workers, and suppliers and business partners. However, organisations require considerable amount of resources to implement and maintain of such systems or to make changes to existing ones. This may have a direct affect on the bottom line of the business corporations. Accreditation with quality standards and acquiring certifications can incur hefty costs. If in-house expertise is not available many companies may need the services of external consultants to assist them in adhering to such quality standards. These costs, for many small or medium sized businesses can therefore be prohibitive. Irrespective of this, organisations have to face the demands of their various stakeholders to ensure a p ositive engagement with them. These issues greatly affect what firms decide and what they do. Continual improvement to the complete customer satisfaction implies that business corporations should aim at a point where they meet the requirements of quality in terms of environment and safety standards in addition to product and service quality. It can be critiqued here that adhering to high quality standards has better pay off in long term and thus quality does not incur additional costs. Philip Crosby supports this view in his work titled as Quality is Free (1979). The book turned a light on for many of its readers. The book contended that contrary to the common perception, quality does not add any costs to a product. Indeed adding quality is a break-even proposition at its least and highly profitable at its best since quality always pays off in the long run (Crosby 1979). During the 1970s and 1980s when Crosby proposed this contention, corporate strategies were mainly focused on tasks such as achieving efficiency in manufacturing or improving sales. Corporate managers generally had low priority for quality related issues and similarly lacked experience in such matters. This entire period was generally marred by negligence of quality. However, quality in its various forms has become an integral part of the modern day organ izations and an important corporate agenda due to the highly competitive business environment and increased social awareness. Customers nowadays are judging brands more and more based on ‘how’ these have been sources and produced (De Oliveira Matias and Coleho, 2002). This has implications for a wide array of factors that affect the overall quality of various business processes. These include the quality of the goods/services and business functions, and the overall these operations in terms of environment, workers health and safety and ethical standards. The growing influence of these factors is a shift away from just economic sustainability towards economic, social and environmental sustainability. There is generally more awareness regarding how business entities treat the environment and workers. In a step further, a large segment of the consumers are taking these factors as benchmarks for judging the quality of goods/service produced by corporations (Schema, 2012). With the growing popularity of such wider interpretations of quality standards, companies are required to integrate quality re lated management systems (and related certifications) in their corporate strategy. Management Systems Adherence to Quality Management Systems (QMS) such as ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 can be considered as a starting point for improving quality. This can then be extended to systems related to the environment, social responsibility and occupational health and safety through systems such as ISO 14001 and/or EMAS, SA 8000, and OHSAS 18001 respectively. Adherence to these standards can be accompanied by the development of the model of quality through a shift from simple quality control system towards a Total Quality Management (TQM) approach (Matias and Coelho 2002). TQM,† is an integrative philosophy of management for continuously improving the quality of products and processes† (Ahire, 1997). This philosophy is aimed towards continuous improvement in all processes.Total Quality ManagementTQM system was put forth by Dr. W. Edwards Deming (Deming 1986). He proposed that by adopting appropriate practices of management, businesses can improve quality while reducing costs (due to th e reducing in waste, rework, staff attrition and litigation). According to him, in order to increase quality and reduce costs simultaneously, businesses would have to practice continual improvement and consider manufacturing as a system rather than bits and pieces (Reilly 1994). Deming proposed 14 points as a framework for transformation of organizations from the present style of Western management to a total quality culture. These points can form principles for continuous development in various business aspects including health and safety, and social and environmental responsibility. The points do not constitute much as an action plan but more of a philosophical code for management. These fourteen points are: â€Å"Create constancy of purpose. Adopt the new philosophy. Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag. Improve constantly Institute training on the job. Institute leadership Drive out fear Break down barriers between departments Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force asking for zero defects Eliminate work standards, Substitute leadership Eliminate management by objective. Substitute leadership. Remove barriers that rob the worker of his right to pride of workmanship. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement. Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation†. (Deming 1986) Organizations can implement such a management system to ensure continuous improvement in managing health and safety, along with quality and environmental considerations.Quality Management SystemFor realizing this management philosophy, the implementation of a formal Quality Management System (QMS) is a desirable objective. To address these specific corporate goals, organizations seek accreditation to specific standards. The ISO 9000 is one such standard which comprises of â€Å"a set of essential elements that enable the design and implementation of quality management systems† (ISO 9001. Generally, the application of these standards will raise the abilities of a company; for instance; improving performance of operations, reputational value, cutting costs, and supplier and sub-contractor selection. Along with the fundamental requirement of quality, many organizations now strive to achieve and demonstrate to their stakeholders a sound environmental performance, by curtailing t he impact from their activities, products and services on the natural environment. These environmental issues are considered in the ISO 14000 Standards (Standards for the Environmental Management Systems). These standards, (quality and environment) emphasize on the importance of similar managerial aspects such as top management commitment, leadership and continuous improvement in performance. Moreover, the OHSAS 18001 standard aims to assist organizations in management and control of their health and safety risks and in the overall improvement of the OH&S performance. Organizations with quality and environmental management systems, which are certified, or aspire to ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 standard’s certification should in addition incorporate a system of management of health and safety such as OHSAS 18001. A strong commitment to these standards can advance to a complete corporate strategy by amalgamating all these three standards into an integrated management system (IMS ).Integrated Management Systems (IMS)An IMS is â€Å"the organisational structure, resources and procedures used to plan, monitor and control project quality, safety and environment† (Griffith 1999). Other definitions are comprehensively detailed in Wilkinson and Dale (2000). The case for integration of the three standards described for quality, occupational health and safety and the environment is now widely discussed in literature and IMS is increasingly seen as part of the organisation’s management portfolio. There are several requirements and points that are common to the three management systems, such as: â€Å"system requirements, leadership (management responsibility), management of resources, management of processes, system implementation and monitoring and measuring† (Griffith, 1999) These three sets of standards con be combined under a common underlying principle of continuous improvements based on Deming’s (1982) TQM cycle of Plan-Do-Check-Act. Furthermore, these three sets of standards can share the same managerial resources such as (1) system documentation, (2) business process records, (3) corporate policies, (4) project planning, (5) managerial responsibility, (6) strategy implementation, (7) management controls, (8) communication standards and systems, (9) audits, (10) conformity, among others. With regards to leadership, these standards require process leadership from the top management in order to allocate maximum responsibility to the top management. Regarding prevention, these standards demand the identification of preventative actions for the mitigation of potential `non-conformities’. Concerning continuous improvements, these standards underscore the improvement of management system in a continuous manner. The structure of OHSAS 18001 has been developed to advance compatibility with the quality management (ISO 9000) and environmental management (ISO 14000) systems. This compatibility eases the integration of the three systems in the organization.Benefits of IntegrationAn organization may attain a number of tangible and non-quantifiable benefits from the implementation of an integrated management system. In term of operational management, IMS ensures that the daily operations are being performed effectively without the need for high level management intervention and input, thereby freeing up of management time to concentrate upon tactical issues and focusing on strategic management. Decision making processes are improved as the IMS provides up-to-date information from a single source. It achieves improvement in resource utilisation through reduction in the duplication of processes and procedures and the time spent in the review of documentation; this accomplishes a tangible cost benefit, as opposed to the duplication of effort required for three totally different systems. An integrated system also provides for a higher level of management control than is the case for the management of separate systems. An integrated system overseen by a single person, who has an overview of all the operations of the company and can provide input into the development of the overall goals and objecti ves of the organization, thereby making it easier to implement changes, rather than the restricted, functional approach in fulfilling individual system’s objectives. The implementation of an integrated system can also lead to enhanced communications in the organization. By delivering effective IMS training programs, confusion can be avoided that may result in contradictory messages being conveyed through the separate system training programs. Hence employees at all level across different departments can exchange ideas and expertise in the same manner and utilise the same approach. As a tangible benefit, organisations can realise a positive cost benefits through efficient operational processes and procedures and improved resources utilisation. By keeping the overheads down through these improvements, organisations can maintain market share and achieve competitive advantage. With regards to reputation and corporate image, organisation may also undergo enhancement social perception, as having an IMS demonstrates environmental and social responsibility. In addition to the positive cost benefits illustrated above, another direct cost benefit that can be achieved by integration is in the internal and external audit requirements. Separate management systems require each individual system to have separate internal and external audits. However, since the procedures are amalgamated in the integrated system, this considerably reduces this requirement. Further, by focussing on issues pertaining workers’ occupational health and safety, for example, through the i ntensification of worker job satisfaction can lead to an increase in productivity which can imply greater efficiency and financial revenue for the organization. Adequate management of occupational health and safety would, thus, also bring a positive influence in shareholder interest and, consequently, in the organization’s suppliers, providing more opportunities for business. Moreover, benefits are also to accrue at the level of product compliance and conformity, bringing satisfaction to customers and a reduction of scrapped material with the implied environmental benefits. One can thus conclude that all the elements interested in the organization would be satisfied.Difficulties in Integration of SystemsThe existing systems of organizations may seem to be sufficient and work well and integrating new approaches in business operations and corporate strategy can threaten the structure and reliability of the current arrangements that may have the support of all within the organis ation. The IMS can become over centralised and over-complex and lack the flexibility to consider local needs and constraints, thus leading to employers and employees becoming unconvinced by what they see as a worsening of this scenario under integration. Organisational vulnerability to against change can cause unforeseen consequences during the integration implementation. Furthermore, whilst IS0 9000, the quality management standard and ISO 14001 the environment standard are internationally recognised and certifiable, OHSAS 18001 the occupational health and safety management systems – specification, though certifiable, is not internationally recognised. Health and safety and environmental management are often underpinned by law whereas quality management system requirements are in the main, established by stakeholder requirements (IOSH, 2012) Conclusions Nowadays, it has become important for business organizations to engage with its stakeholders as part of its corporate strategy. Understanding their concerns and aspirations is considered to be an important prerequisite of a successful and sustainable corporate strategy. With an increased understanding of the stakeholders concerns and aspirations, businesses will be better positioned to capitalize on upcoming opportunities which may include better-motivated employees and good relationship with external stakeholders. In today’s business world, various stakeholders have become active in their demand for a business to become socially and environmentally viable in additional to its economical viability. In general, an organization can improve its business operations in terms of health and safety, and environmental and social impact by adopting a total quality management corporate strategy. Particularly, an organization can adhere to specific standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18001 to pursue a total quality management approach in the area of health and safety, environment and social responsibility. Adherence to such practices and standards can be amalgamated through an integrated management system that collectively dealswith quality, environmental, and health and safety management. The need for an IMS has also arisen as a result of the decision to implement an environmental management system (EMS) and/or an occupational health and safety management system (OH&SMS) in addition to a quality management system (QMS). IMS as a concept does not, emerge merely from the possibility for a company to exploit existing synergies between different management systems that it can adopt (saving money, time and human resources). On the contrary, it is something intrinsic to the cornerstones of quality, environment and health and safety, namely continual improvement and total customer satisfaction (Salomone, 2008). References Ahire, S. L. (1997), Management Science– Total Quality Management interfaces: An integrative framework. Interfaces 27 (6) 91-105. Beckmergan, L.A., Berg, H.P., Karapetrovic, S.V., & Willborn, W.O., (2003). Integration of management systems: focus on safety in the nuclear industry. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol. 20, Iss: 2 pp 220-228. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 Crosby, P (1979). Quality is Free. New York: McGraw-Hill. Cua, K. O., K. E. McKone, and R. G. Schroeder. (2001), Relationships between implementation of TQM, JIT, and TPM and manufacturing performance. Journal of Operations Management, 19 (6) 675-694. De Oliveira Matias, J.C., and Coleho, D.A. (2002), the integration of the standards systems of quality management, environmental management and occupational health and safety management. International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 40, No. 15, 3857-3866. Deming, W.E. (1982), Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Centre for Advanced Engineering Study, MA Deming, W. E (1986). Out of the Crisis. MIT Press. Environmental Protection Act 1990 Griffiths A., (2000), Integrated management systems: a single management system solution for project controlEngineering Construction and Architectural Management 7 3, 23-240. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 IOSH, (2012), Joined-up working. An introduction to integrated management systems. www.iosh.co.uk. ISO 9001, http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso_9000.htm Karapetrovic, S., (2003), Musings on integrated managements systems; Measuring business excellence, Vol. 7, No.1, pp. 4-13 OHSAS 18001, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Specification. Salomone R., (2008), Integrated management systems: experiences in Italian organizations; Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 16, Iss. 16, Nov. 2008, pp. 1786–1806 Reilly, N. B. (1994). Quality: What Makes it HappenVan Nostrand Reinhold. p. 31. Schema, (2012) The Importance of CSR. Schema Sustainability Partner. Available from http://schemaadvisory.com/the-importance-of-csr/ (cited on 30th April, 2013) Truist (2013) Why Corporate Social Responsibility is so Important in 2013. Available from http://truist.com/why-corporate-social-responsibility-is-so-important-in-2013/ (cited on 30th April, 2013). Walton, M. (1986). The Deming Management Method. Penguin Group. pp. 94 Wilkinson & Dale, (1999), Integrated management systems: an examination of the concept and theory; The TQM Magazine, Vol.11, No. 2, pp. 95-104. Winder, C., (2000), Integrating OHS, Environmental and Quality Management Standards; Quality Assurance, No. 8, pp. 105-135.

Confidence in Students Essay

Statistics reveal that 95% of children and adults experience lack of confidence, self-belief, or low self-esteem at some point in their lives. Confidence is a feeling most adolescents have always struggled with and it is impossible to overestimate the lack of it amongst students. It ties in with stress, peer pressure, and other insecurities most teenagers face on a daily basis. Self-confidence can be altered by various life situations such as one’s school environment, home life, and individual motivation. What most educators fail to realize is that strengthening the confidence of their students is just as important as educating them. Educating students means more than giving academic knowledge. Giving positive and constructive feedback helps reduce weaknesses and enhance strengths. Telling a student how well he’s done on any task, whether it being an exam or regular classwork, helps him feel more accomplished. Students thrive on praise and will push themselves even hard er once they feel their work is being recognized. Even though giving praise is helpful, one should know self-confidence isn’t built from being spoiled with praise. Students will also know if the praise given is genuine. If they feel the praise is meaningless, they will not feel as motivated to push themselves harder. One should remain honest with each student to encourage him to address problems, instead of avoiding or denying their existence. Teachers should always make corrections without damaging a student’s confidence. A simple smile or letting students know you’re happy to see them also helps them to feel worthwhile and appreciated. Another key idea is goals set for each student. Teachers sometime tend to set goals too high or too low for certain students. Recognize that every child is different and has different learning capabilities. Always set realistic goals so the students will feel a sense of accomplishment when the goal is completed. Never make tasks too easy or too challenging. When students reach a point where they can overcome doubt to achieve objectives will help boost their confidence. Including them in your expectations for them and discussing their individual progress is always good to do. This will help students to see what approach or direction they need to take in order to complete the given task to their best ability. Rewarding students for meeting challenges lets them know they’re doing what they should. Most students don’t give themselves enough credit due to their personal insecurities. Encouraging students to set high standards for themselves will test their limits. When a teacher reassures a student that they are capable of achieving greatness, they will feel like somebody truly believes in them and it will motivate them greatly. With all this being said about the school environment, a student’s home life plays a major role with self-confidence as well. Parental relationships help in determining the self-esteem level one may have. Adolescents who view their parents’ communication as supportive and open are most probably to have higher self-esteem than those who perceived their parents’ communication patterns as controlling and unsupportive. Parents shouldn’t put any extra pressure on their children than they’re already facing. Being overwhelmed in numerous tasks and activities is never a good impact on one’s self confidence. It makes one panic and having a parent constantly yelling for one to complete it and do it well lowers self-confidence. A teenager wants to feel that their parents believe in them and their work capabilities. Despite how much a student’s home and school environment may affect their confidence, it all begins with individual motivation. For a student to be confident in their work and themselves, one has to be completely focused. A focused student shows determination and promise which helps the self-confidence level. Focusing on school and being very studious will make a student’s grades increase, boosting their confidence. Telling oneself positive motivational remarks helps also. Believing in oneself is the last step but indeed the most important. Confidence may be hard for teenagers to obtain in today’s society, but it isn’t impossible. The insecurities, peer pressure, and nearly unbearable stress student’s face shouldn’t be seen as a discouragement but instead as motivation to work harder. With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.

Basic Network Technology, Structure, and Protocols Essay - 2

Basic Network Technology, Structure, and Protocols - Essay Example These tutorials are meant to shed light on the networking topics covered by students in college. They can also be used for references purposes by engineers and computer scientists. The projects done by students are meant for visual demonstrations on what the tutorials cover. For instance, the client-server flash interactive animation covers protocols and computer networks in general. It is a project done in 2005 by Roman Margolis and Slav Podolsky. Animations are usually developed to show, visually, what might not be clear when just put into words alone. The 2005 animation project shows how communication happens over the internet. This normally happens via the client server architecture; as the tutorial explains. A client communicates with a server and the server responds with the information requested for by the client and sends that information. Servers are numerous and are situated at various locations around the globe. Servers can be within the same room as a client computer whil e others can be remote. The protocols described in the tutorial are: IP between client-server, address resolution DNS and ICMP. The internet communications flash animation is very interactive. This is very useful as it provides detailed information and explanations as well as graphical representations of the topic it describes. This tutorial is not only useful to computer science students but also lovers of technology and the curious computer user who may want to know how some things work on the internet. It explains how to go about surfing the internet for certain information. The computer is personified for humor purposes and it definitely does not fall short in that regard. The interactivity that the two above tutorials provide is the sole reason I choose to go through them and learn a thing or two. They are easy to understand – I believe anybody can understand them. As for the business purposes that the tutorials can be used for, animated

Causes of people purchasing fast food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causes of people purchasing fast food - Essay Example However, if a person eats this food regularly and has a diet mostly made up ofthis junk food, then it can cause health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. According to Readers Digest magazine (2012), health studies show that â€Å"over 60 percent of Canadian adults and 31.5 percent of Canadians aged 2 to 17 are overweight or obese.†(Readers Digest, 2012), It cannot be disputed that fast food plays a key role in these shocking statistics. The main causes for people choosing to eat fast food over cooking healthy meals are availability, convenience, low prices, and advertising. Because fast food is now available in many locations around the clock, it is now a part of many Canadians’ everyday meal plans because a wide variety of fast food restaurants are available to the public throughout the day and night. In Canada, there are over 62,600 fast food service outlets, and many of them are accessible 24 hours a day (Statistics Canada, 2009). Because of th e numerous food outlets that are available, many consumers now eat whenever they feel the urge to and not necessarily when the body requires food. In addition, fast food is not only available in restaurants but also in elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities. For example, many elementary schools have weekly pizza and McDonalds days, while a vast amount of universities proudly display the number of Starbucks and Tim Hortons located on campus. This availability allows students of all ages to routinely purchase fast food instead of learning how to eat healthily. As a result of fast food being obtainable anytime and toand night, and to all age groups, it is clear that availability is one of the key reasons for consumers eating fast food. Another major cause of people choosing to eat fast food is due to the convenience that it provides. It is quick and easy to locate any fast food restaurant simply through using a computer, phone, or telephone book. There are even apps fo r electronic devices to locate the nearest fast food restaurant. For instance, if an individual is driving to work and is feeling, then a simple push of a button on a phone or GPS to locate ‘nearest food’ will result in a location being found. Also, if you are driving and have little time available, you do not even need to get out of your car. Many establishments have full menus available at drive through locations, which makes it extremely easy and quick to pick up a meal on-the-go. This convenience allows fast food to fit easily into the hectic daily schedules of people who do not have the time to prepare healthy and nutritious meals or those who do not want to go to the hassle of making a meal. Consumers are also drawn towards fast food because of the low prices available. With the tight financial economy today, saving money is important for many families, and inexpensive fast food fits many budgets. Thousands of dollars are spent daily to purchase this unhealthy yet tasty product. In fact, 40 percent of the money spent on food in Canada in 2009 went to fast food outlets. This percentage converts to $58.4 billion dollars spent on fast food in a single year (Statistics Canada, 2009). One of the reasons why so much money is spent on fast food is that it is much cheaper to eat a full meal at a fast food restaurant rather than another location with a healthier option that likely includes fresh produce. If a consumer eats at

Digital Media - Critical Perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words - 1

Digital Media - Critical Perspectives - Essay Example What then is information society? The most common definition of information society emphasizes on technological innovation. The term refers to society where the creation, distribution and use of information are the most important aspects of economic, cultural, technological, occupational and spatial activities. An information society idea can be contrasted in societies where economic strengths lie in industrial or agrarian base. The tools of information society are computers and telecommunications as opposed to ploughs showing that information societies represent highly industrialized societies (Webster, 2005:10). The concept of information society originated from the Japanese social sciences in the early 1960s. the Japanese version of the term (joho shakai or johoka shakai) came from a conversation between Kisho Kurokawa, a famous architect and Tudao Umesao, a renowned historian and anthropologist. The first debut of the term in a written text was in a study published in 1964 by Jiro Kamishima. Since then, the term has been widely used throughout the world. Therefore, it is important to understand the term information society from the five definitions including technological, economic, occupational, spatial and cultural aspects (Lyon, 1998:3). The technological definition of information society focuses on technological innovations and the effects that the innovations have on information technologies in different sectors of society. The major aspect here is that the cost of using computers has become cheap and helped in their application in different fields. This definition provides one important aspect of information society. Technological innovations are among the most visible indicators of new times and considered as an aspect representing the concept of information society. The technological innovations include personal computers,

Major project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Major project - Research Paper Example Both these organizations advocate rules and policies favoring workers in the US, and play an active political role, mostly favoring the Democratic Party. The recent Economic Crisis of 2008 that shook the economic basis of the US found the Labor Unions a burden. According to some people, the three major automakers of US found it difficult to cope with the changing situations and to compete with their global opponents as a result of the costly labor agreements including pension and health plan. As a result of this poor economic condition, states, especially the ones led by Republican Party like Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, and Illinois have introduced bills that would result in salary cuts, and some are planning to restrict the collective bargaining rights the workers enjoyed in the US for about a century. Thus, it becomes evident that the labor unions, despite decades of struggle and violence, seemed to have gained little as the new developments take away most of the freedom they gained over a century. Though polls reveal that most people are against this governmental step, the Democratic Party seems strong in its decision. ... However, it faced eventual collapse due to poor organization. Though there were labor protests even before 1800s, they were poorly coordinated and localized. The first recorded labor union strike took place in 1786 in Philadelphia. It was conducted by printers opposing a wage cut. However, the first major strike that brought the idea of the never ending conflict between workers and business owners was the railway strike in 1877. It was against the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and it spread to the whole of northeast. To curb the violence, troops were called out and using considerable amount of force, the strike was crushed. Throughout their history, the labor unions used ideologies ranging from intimidation, threats, vandalism, and violence, and their history was never peaceful. Another important incident (cited in Foner, 27-37) that deserves to be mentioned is the Haymarket Riot that eventually led to the development of AFL. On 4 May 1886, a labor rally was conducted at the Haymarket Square in Chicago in support of the eight-hour workday. However, the rally turned violent leading to bloody clashes between the agitators and police. The courts had a rough time dealing with the legal status of labor unions. The question was and still is whether these cartels of laborers lawful or not? Do they amount to criminal conspiracies against trade? Are the strikes an expression of the individual right to bargain for lawful employment? One can find a lot of disparity in the issue from the very beginning. To illustrate, as Tomlins (p.128) reports, in the 1806 Commonwealth v. Pullis, the jury convicted the accused unionists of criminal conspiracy. However, as Bennett, Heard and Holland (235) write, in Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842), the Massachusetts

Research in public policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research in public policy - Essay Example The first can be an assessment of the situation based on scientific method of investigation. The second method can be based on observation wherein the person does not make use of systematic process to make a generalization. In real life, there are other ways to find solutions to problems. Sometimes, even gut feel or intuition is used as a method in finding answers to queries. In some areas in the east, people rely on the wisdom of old people to answer most of the complex problems in life. To summarize the above definitions, research then is a method of inquiry for the purpose of obtaining facts in response to questions raised (Bautista, 1998). Bautista further added that research differs from other modes of knowing in the sensed that it is a systematic process of gaining information or knowledge. It is more that intuition, gut feel or tradition. 3) It is precise. Research usually aims at estimating the exact count of the event that has occurred or may yet occur. Statistics are helpful since the thrust is to quantify the incidence of the event being observed. However, there are instances when accuracy is not possible, especially if the objective of the research is mainly to characterize what is happening and not really to determine the frequency of the event. 6) Observations are usually undertaken under controlled conditions. ... 3) It is precise. Research usually aims at estimating the exact count of the event that has occurred or may yet occur. Statistics are helpful since the thrust is to quantify the incidence of the event being observed. However, there are instances when accuracy is not possible, especially if the objective of the research is mainly to characterize what is happening and not really to determine the frequency of the event. 4) Observations are recorded. Research necessitates the documentation of observations with the aid of instruments such as questionnaires, tape recorders for interviews, and many more. 5) Observation follows the rule of objectivity. Observations must not be influenced by personal preferences, prejudices, biases, attitudes, and feelings. 6) Observations are usually undertaken under controlled conditions. Researchers aspire to eliminate other factors or variables that might intrude into the observation of the major factors of variables that are being investigated. PURPOSES AND USES OF RESEARCH Any research, if correctly designed and undertaken, will build knowledge because it represents an objective investigation of facts about a certain subject (http://www.ryerson.ca/mjoppe/ResearchProcess/WhyConductResearch.htm). Research gathers facts that help people such as policy makers make decisions. A research becomes significant when it is used to show the interrelatedness of a variety of concepts and not simply describes how events take place. Research then is both fact-finding and theory building. According to Cresswell (994), "a theory is an interrelated set of constructs (or variables) formed into propositions or hypotheses that specify the relationship among variables (typically in terms of magnitude or direction). The

The Morality, Humanity, and Legality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Morality, Humanity, and Legality - Essay Example Pain management is, simply, no longer working and, as hard as it is to admit, she is clearly slowly dying. You stop and ask yourself, â€Å" Would she want her suffering to end? You ask yourself, â€Å"Would it be wrong to want her suffering to end?† The answer to these questions are comntroversial ones. If Susie were a pet then we would not question the honorable decision of ending her pain and suffering. We would consider it a humane thing to do. Yet, if Susie is a person then, for many people, the logic is the exact opposite. Even, if Susie, herself, desires that option, it may be considered in-humane to support such an option. To be humane is a part of being human, yet the same â€Å"humane† compassion that we would show our beloved pets, we do not feel compelled to show the same to our fellow human beings. Euthanasia, in its different forms, is not immoral, if it suits the morality of the person whose life, and death, is in question. In order to truly understand t he contraversial issue that breeds so much ethical and moral debte it is impotant to review the full scope of the topic, from both sides, eliminate misconceptions, and, ideally, represent the morality of allowing individuals to choose not why they die, but the quality of that death, when death is inevitable. Firstly, euthanasia is not simply another word for suicide; it is, also, not another word for murder. The word means the intentional ending of a life, not out of malice or ciriminal intent, but to end suffering when death is imminent and saving of that life is no longer an option. For those who are in excruciating pain, suffering unbearable illness, and will inevitably die as a result, euthanasia is an opportunity to have an option, when all other options have, essentially,been taken away. There are different forms of euthanasia that are relevant in understanding the practice. Passive Euthanasia involves the allowing of a person by not providing medical procedures and removing o f life support; this considered to be allowing nature to take its course. Involuntary Euthanasia is used to refer to the ending of the life of someone who is in a persistent vegetative state; in those cases where there is no realistic medical hope of any form of recovery. Active Euthanasia is, accordingly, when someone ends the life of another through a direct act at the request of the person that whose life is to be ended. This is, most commonly seen, when a spouse or relative of a loved one assists in the request to end their life. The last, and most focused upon, is Physician Assisted Suicide, or PAS, which refers to lives that are ended under the supervision and administration of a physician.(Goel 225) However, this extreme and final measure is intended to end the pain and suffering of those with no other options and have requested and chosen this end. The opportunity to die with dignity is a valid consideration. It is PAS that does get the greatest attention, because legislatio n is, always, being presented to, legalize the practice, but it is the ethical and moral elements that keep the issue, in many instances, at a stale mate. So what is the morality of euthanasia? As stated before, the morality is unique to the individual considering the option. If someone clear of mind makes the decision to end their life themselves then morally they have made peace with it. It is, of course, logical to question the morality when the potential actions of a person will directly, unfairly, or negatively impact another’s life, rights, or personal being. However, by ignoring these requests for right to die by the competent, but tragically ill, is, in fact, are directly and wrongly interfering in their rights and personal being. Supporters of PAS, and the implementation of legislation to legalize the act, explain that there

Areas of Legal Liability for Advanced Practice Nurses Essay

Areas of Legal Liability for Advanced Practice Nurses - Essay Example The failures to follow standards of care may include failure to institute a protocol or failure to use proper procedure for a particular skill. Under such circumstances, nurses are liable for damages caused as a result of their failure to implement proper actions. Hence, management should be ready to take necessary actions against nurses who violated proper standards of care. Such a response may assist the management to limit the liability for managers and the facility. Failure to use equipment responsibly falls under the category of direct breach of care, standards and it can be more easily proved. If a nurse deploys a clinical equipment for any use other than it was actually intended, he/she is liable to face legal consequences. In addition, it is observed that nurses often use equipments that they have not been adequately trained to use. If the misuse of the equipment causes any harm to patients, the nurse is in legal jeopardy. Hence, the management must ensure that they have employed adequate number of skilled and experienced nursing staff to prevent nurses from risking the life of patients. An effective nurse-patient ratio would reduce equipment errors significantly. In most of the nurse malpractice suits, an element of poor communication between nurse and patient, nurse and physician, or nurse and other healthcare providers is identified. The communication failure cases may include nurses’ failure to communicate all relevant patient data to the physician or discharge information to the patient. In order to avoid such troubles, the management may insist nurses to record all matters concerning patient care appropriately. In addition, it is advisable for the management to establish an effective reporting system in the care facility so that the flow of communication between nurses and other parties would become effective. In the eyes of law, if a nurse fails to document something appropriately, the court will consider as it

Is our Education System Failing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Is our Education System Failing - Essay Example Research evidence seems to indicate the problem may be one of inappropriate measurement methods; however, a more detailed examination of American secondary schools indicates that although measurement methods might negatively affect our estimates about how much high schools are failing students, an underlying problem still exists and it needs to be corrected. This underlying problem with secondary schools is one that revolves around the concept of accountability, and a number of issues emerge from unaccountable schools. An important consideration to make when considering the success or failure of American secondary schools is the statistics involved with either side of the argument. A graduation rate is a good indicator of whether a specific school is successfully educating and preparing its students. Therefore, it is essential to see whether the statistical measurements of graduation are actually correct or not. Swanson (analyzes American graduation rates across the country, and offe rs a resource for better evaluating and measuring the graduation crisis. The analysis points to a clear role for public policy in improving the conditions and environmental circumstances in which American secondary schools operate. An important consequence of this is that â€Å"the findings here do tell us that there is a strong and very detrimental linkage between graduation rates and the environmental conditions that go along with factors like poverty and segregation† (Swanson, 2003, p. 35). Accordingly, the author of this report is convinced that incorrect concepts of graduation rates leads to incorrect views (and incorrect solutions) of the educational crisis. That is, by identifying the environmental circumstances surrounding failing schools, officials can be better prepared with â€Å"better knowledge† about how to fix the problem. However, ascribing poor graduation rates to environmental circumstances (such as poverty and segregation) is a point of view that mov es responsibility for failings away from the schools themselves. Swanson (2003) is suggesting that the only solutions to the graduation crisis can only come from successful interventions, which implies that internal changes to schools is not an effective strategy. But studies such as Chiang (2009) indicate that accountability pressure, which is defined as the â€Å"threat of sanctions on low-performing schools,† is not an effective tool when schools are able to manipulate the accountability system. Referencing claims like those made by Swanson (2003), Chiang (2009) argues that accountability systems within schools properly constructed and maintained make educational reforms more likely to generate test score gains. So, even if in fact American secondary schools are failing their students in terms of the students’ long-term benefits, improved accountability systems within schools will lessen the impact of environmental circumstances that decrease student performance. Fo r instance, in some cases, sanction threats prompted schools to increase spending on instructional technology, which improved student performance. Knowing that accountability is the best solution for making sure secondary schools do not fail their students, one might compare that result with additional studies where accountability is a problem

The words and actions vivid Essay Example for Free

The words and actions vivid Essay Some incidents in the play take place in the public streets, others in other private settings. Choose two incidents, one public and one private and show how the settings help to make the words and actions vivid The two incidents I have chosen to compare are act one scene one and act one scene two. I have chosen these two scenes because in both scenes it shows clearly which one is public and which is private. Act one scene one is set on a Sunday morning in the streets of Verona, which is a charming city in Italy, where Two Capulet servants enters into the scene. The two servants, Sampson and Gregory are wondering about in the streets, were bored and miserable with nothing to do. As they walked in the streets, They run into two montogue servants. Sampson bites his thumb at them. This is considered an insult to the Montague servants. Without their masters, the servants were cowards, but when the masters came a big riot commenced between the two families and the rest of the town. The riot got so bad the prince arrives reinforced, which builds up the tension dramatically and makes the scene a lot more vivid. The prince comes out with a fine speech that has a great impact on the servants and the streets. Here is a extract of the script clearly showing this If you ever disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. Within this line, the prince said that if another fight is made in public streets then there will be death as a consequence. The riot ends. The result of his speech was something he expected, silence. Another scene I will analyse is Act two scene 2. at the beginning of this scene Romeo begins to speak about his love for Juliet by saying that he pretended to love Rosaline: Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick with pain and grief, That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. At this point Romeo is talking poetically to himself, he is saying that Juliet is the sun and Rosaline is the moon. When Juliet came out to the balcony she did not know that Romeo was downstairs hearing her every word. When they talk they tease each other. At that moment the nurse calls breaking the flow of the conversation. Juliet makes a proposal of marriage to Romeo: If that thy bent of love be honourable, Thy propose marriage, send me word tomorrow, To conclude from this analysis I have found that in a public place a character can not be themselves as it is not the right place to express their intermit thoughts and feelings out into the open. It is only when a character is secluded from the rest of the world where they can express these feelings. So Shakespeare has made some characters vivid by using a setting that doesnt allow characters to express their feelings. This is so that the audience only gets a slight impression of the characters. I think that this is a really good way of making characters vivid.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Example for Free

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Summary: Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe explores the coming of the white man and its effects on the culture of the people of Umuofia. The coming of the white man brought about culture conflict which affects the people of Umuofias religion, their agriculture, their judicial system and their social life. The coming of the white man affects the people of Umuofias religion and cause culture conflict. The people of umuofia have many gods. Agbala- the oracle of the Hills and Caves. People come from far and near to consult it . People consult it when they have dispute with their neighbors and also, they can discover what their future held for them from this god. Chi is also a personal god which judge people by the work of their hands. They also believed that if they say yes that their chi also says yes. The people of Umuofia are very obedient to their gods. They dont go to war without consulting their gods. When a daughter of Umuofia was killed in Mbaino, they didnt just decide to go for war or do things on their own; they consulted their gods and they were asked to demand s lad and a virgin from the people of Mbaino. However, if the people of Umuofia had not obeyed their gods, and had gone to war that they were told not to go, they would be defeated. Even when Okonkwo broke the week of peace by beating his youngest wife, he made the necessary sacrifice as was also demanded by their god. Okonkwo also shot Ezeudus son accidentally, he had to go on an exile for seven years which was a crime against the earth goddess. If they had disobeyed the law by allowing Okonkwo to stay in the village, the people believe that all the clan will be punished and their leaders said if one finger brought oil it soiled the others . More so, the people of Umuofia dont desecrate their gods. Their egwugwu who gives justice is feared by the women and their children. Whenever the egwugwu is approaching, the women and children always shout and run away . They also dont unmask the masquerade. The masquerades identity is not known by anyone who doesnt belong to the clans secret cult. The religion of the people of Umuofia is totally different from the white mans religion. This situation caused a culture conflict between the white man and the people of Umuofia. The white man wants to impose his religion on the people of Umuofia. The white man believes in one God which he believes to have made heaven and earth. Also said his God made the entire  world and the Umuofias gods. He wanted the people of Umuofia to abandon their gods and follow his own religion. The white men belittle the people of Umuofias gods by saying different things about their gods. The white man says that the people of Umuofias god are gods of deceit who tell them to kill their fellow and destroy innocent children. The white man says that their gods are not alive and cannot do them harm and that they are made of piece of wood and stone. Hearing and seeing all these from the white man, the people of Umuofia were not happy with the white mans religion which was a reason for a culture conflict. The economy of the people of Umuofia was out in conflict with the white mans economy. Agriculture is the source of living in Umuofia. Peoples riches are based on the number of barns they have. Peolple really work hard on their farm to make harvest. Both children and wives help on the farm to plant yams. The people of Umuofia have a very good scene of agriculture. For instance, during the planting season, Okonkwo planted his yam from the smouldering earth by making rings of thick sisal leaves around them. This yam is so precious to them that they celebrate a Fest of the New Year which was held every year before the harvest began to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan. On the other hand, the white man was more interested in making money. They made the farming worthless because their convert can use money to buy the yams. Children no longer farm, they goes to school which was built by the white man. The white man has also brought a government and a system of running it . They also brought their own trade. These causes a culture conflict because the Umuofias economic value was disvalued. The white man set his own economy above their cash crop; thereby reducing them to poverty. Rich people were reduced to poor, everything they work very hard for will be bought with money. The coming of the white man also affects the form of justice in Umuofia. In Umuofia, everybody knows the law. The egwugwu is the highest and final court in Umuofia. They dont have lawyers and they dont tell liars when reporting their cases before the egwugwu. There judgment is based on the true evidence. This can be seen when Uzowulu and Mgbafo came before the egwugwu to settle their dispute. Each of them stands at different direction to state their cases. The egwugwu went to consult together in their house . The egwugwu settle their dispute and they were all satified with it. Although Uzowulu knows the law about beating his wife, he will not  listen to any other decision except from the egwugwu. However, the white mans form of justice is different, only the interpreters and the whites knows the rules. They alos had built a court where the District Commissioner judge cases in ignorance. The white man had court messengers who brought men to him for trial. The court messengers guard the prison, which was full of men who had offended against the white mans laws . The court messengers beat the prisoners and made them to work every morning clearing the government compound and fetching wood for the white commissioner and the court messengers. Aneto and Oduche were fighting a land, when Aneto killed Oduche, the white man judge this case by hanging Aneto to death and putting his family in the prison. One may think that the people of Umuofias social life were not affected but it was due to the culture conflict which was caused by the white man. The people of Umuofia form the in an hierarchy standard, that is, the father is at the top, followed by their wives, and children. Children fear their parents. Also, their warriors were also feared and respected. For instance, Okonkwo defeated a wrestler at the age of eighteen and was placed at a higher level. Although, he was still young, everyone respected him. At an early age, Okonkwo had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in all the land. The outcasts or osu are the people they dedicate to a god, they will not marry nor be married by the free-born. They live in a special area of the village, close to the Great Shrine. They are the bottom of ladder children, and they were not to mix with the free-born in any way. On the other hand, the social life of the white man is totally different from that of the people of Umuofia which also lead to a culture conflict. The outcast or osu which are at the lower level in the village are now very important people. They made the rich poor and the poor rich. The clans were very rich but after the coming of the white man, they were poor and the outcast that was nobody was now rich. The white man allowed them to mix with free-born. Mr Kiaga told the church member that wanted to chase the outcast from the church that they are all children of God and they must receive these their brother . He also shaved the osus long and tangled hair before they were fully member of the church. White man also destroy the hierarchy of the people of Umuofia, Umoye who feared his father before the coming of the white man, disrespected his father after joining the white mans religion. He no longer talk or visit his father . He told Mr. Kiaga  that he had decided to go to Umuofia, where the white missionary had set up a school to teach young Christians to read and write. Their interpreters who the people of Umuofia know as weak people and not very strong, come from the village were they fear the warriors of Umuofia. Those are the people that are now interpreting words to them. The white spoke through an interpreter who was an Ibo man though his dialect was different and harsh to the ears of Mbanta . The white man humiliated the leaders of Umuodia. When they put them in prison, their hair was shaved and their hands were handcuffed. At night the messenger came in to taunt them and to knock their shaved heads together . The coming of the white man cause culture conflict in the people of Umuofias religion, their agriculture, their system of justice and their social life. The white man is ethnocentric and there was also language and non-understanding of culture barrier.

Evaluation of the existing operations

Evaluation of the existing operations Introduction In the initial part of this report, I critically evaluate the existing operations and identify areas of improvement in the system. While undertaking this process, I have also identified some problems in the existing operations, and have suggested some approaches to overcoming them, in line with modern approaches. I have chosen to undertake an analysis of the operations of TBS Publishers Distributors for my work. Methodology The information in this assignment is largely sourced from the primary source of information. I personally visited, observed and conducted various surveys and interviews with employees, management and customers for undertaking this assignment. Various websites, journals and online materials have been researched for undertaking this work, though primary source of information is stresses more and given more significance. I have approached this whole assignment, applying the principles and concepts of Total Quality Management (TQM), i.e., through continuous assessment and improvement of the whole operations system and looking at it holistically from customers perspective, as well as demanding the consistent participation of all the stake holders involved in the continuous improvement of Quality. The Quality Circles approach and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) has also been applied/recommended to suggest resolution of quality issues that might arise while implementing TQM. Scope and introduction to the problem TBS is one of the top selling book shops in Calicut, India. During peak seasons and the launch of bestselling titles, there is tremendous waiting time for customers, resulting in customer dissatisfaction and decreased/lost customer loyalty. After detailed analysis of the operations system (explained in the later part of this report), it was found that the high waiting time for customers was due to the inefficient forecasting of demand, which also contributed to insufficient number of employees. This could be solved by non-adoption of latest modern forecasting methods, as well as integrating all the various resources of the company by implementing an advanced Enterprise Resource Planning software solution such as SAP or Peoplesoft. About the company According to its website, TBS is a leading provider of books, music, and other educational services and products in the state of Kerala in India[1]. Kerala is located in South India, and is renowned for its high literacy rate and its advancements in modern educational institutions. TBS have become one of the top book-stores and publishers in Kerala with revenues estimated to be over INR 20 million by their unique combination of customer service, innovation, efficient operations and cost competitiveness. [2] TBS is headquartered at Calicut in northern Kerala and has branches spread across Kerala in places like Kannur, Kottayam, Trivandrum and Trichur. It also has a vast network of agents across Kerala through which it distributes its products. TBS also sells office stationery, all types of lab equipments, raw materials for labs including chemicals, surgical items and apparatuses, equipment for   small industries, computer and IT components, sports   and athletic goods.[3] 80% of TBS revenues, and 85% of its profits are estimated to be from its books business alone, and hence this piece of my operations management work focuses on the books business alone, and whenever a specific shop location has to be mentioned, the main bookstore of TBS at Calicut is taken as reference.[4] Total Quality Management (TQM) TQM helps in the delivery of highest quality standards and the subsequent increase in operational efficiency and effectiveness. Thus, TQM constitutes the following: strategy implementation, plans and operational strategies for bringing together all the relevant practical quality control methodologies (Quality Assurance, Reliability Analysis, Statistical Quality Control, Random Sampling Inspection, etc) with the entire organisational mechanisms encouraging the consistent and continuous quality improvement. TQM concentrates in the entirety of the whole system and not just in its individual parts. Failure could be caused by various factors such as culture clashes/shortfalls, teamwork related issues, leadership and management issues, HR related issues, individual motivation issues and employee commitment issues, and other psychological and social issues as well as skills shortage or inadequacies of technical manpower and equipments.[5] Under TQM, customer is the primary focus, and every aspect of improvement is to be seen from a customers perspective. A holistic approach is used from an overall organizations perspective, and the customers are the most crucial and focus point of the whole approaches, and they are treated as the vital component of the whole operations. All stake holders must work together to achieve its objectives, i.e., a holistic approach with customers as the focal point, and involving all stake holders of an organization. Thus empowerment of employees as well as their team work is very critical for this approach to succeed.[6] Customer Satisfaction Survey According to David Garvin, eight characteristics that customers are interested are the following[7]: Since Customers are the central focus of TQM, a customer satisfaction survey was conducted with a sample size of 250 customers based on a survey questionnaire, to find out what matters most to the customers. In this survey conducted to evaluate the above parameters, it was observed that Features and Performance were the main lagging indicators, and there was much scope for improvement in these areas. The following chart demonstrates the customer satisfaction index (out of a total score of 10), the blue being the present score and red showing the areas which has scope for improvement. Analysis of Operations Processes under consideration The operations of TBS was analysed using the concepts of TQM (Total Quality Management). TBS could be categorized into a mass service business, with high capital investment and high volumes, medium variety of service offerings and low level of customization for its customers. The basic business proposition of TBS is that of a service provider of quality books and other services from the publishers to the potential end customers (Figure 1). TBS business can also be classified as a service business involving both Transformation of Place and Transformation of Ownership operation. Transformation of place because this business involves a great amount of storage and transportation, and Transformation of Ownership because it involves the change of ownership from TBS to the end customer. The Value Generation Process / The role of customers in the system Applying the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), the customers play a major role in TBS business since the business of educational services in Kerala is highly competitive, with a lot of small bookstores and a greater competition from pirated books market. There is usually no intellectual property rights or exclusivity agreements, and hence almost all leading book stores in this market offer the same product services. However, TBS has managed to have a competitive positioning in this market, by ensuring a loyal customer base. By helping end-customers buy magazines, lab equipments, CDs, books and other educational items, in a very straight-forward and effortless method, TBS generates value for its end customers. Again applying the principles of TQM, for any efficient organization to succeed in the long term, they must offer a bargain for both itself and the customer. This bargain in this case, could be explained in figure 2: The value generating model could be characterized by the five key tenets (Figure 3) as per the model of service management system[8] by Normann. Applying the principles of TQM, it can be seen that People, Systems and Processes should work in perfect harmony with each other, under a conducive culture, effective communication and excellent commitment from all stakeholders, as described in Figure below: Market Segmentation The demographics of end customers of this educational market segment transcends across occupations, genders, ages and financial conditions. The key distinguishing feature is the need of these end customers for TBS educational products. By applying the principles of TQM, in my observations, it was found that the categories of customers that shop at TBS are (figure 3): Service blue printing technique[9] By using the service blue printing technique[10] of Zeithaml Bitner (2003), the following process maps in the next few pages demonstrates the various buying flow map of TBS various customer segments. The various type of customer segments found were: Focussed Customers Topical Customers Unfocussed Customers These are explained in detail in the next few pages. Focussed Customers these were customers who knew precisely what product they would like to buy, seek advice from the customer service personals on its price and stock availability and then make the buying decision. These customers usually only bought the precise product they came looking for, and would spend very little time in the store. The frequency of purchases made by this segment of customers were found to be very high, compared to the other two segments. Topical Customers these were customers who were interested in particular topics. However, they usually are not aware of a specific title/product. They would directly go to the appropriate section of the store, look at various titles under that topic and the various offers etc, and finally make a decision on which title /product to buy. The frequency of purchases made by this segment of customers were found to be lower than Focussed Buyers, though much higher than Unfocussed customers. Unfocussed Customers These were completely random customers, who came to the store without having any plan on which title or topic to buy. They would randomly go through various sections of the store, and make impulsive purchasing decision. The frequency of purchases made by this segment of customers were found to be very low, compared to the other two segments. Service Concept Applying the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM), the service concept of TBS can be classified based on the identified customer segments into Core services and Peripheral services Core: a. Location vital for any book store. TBS in Calicut is situated very close to a busy bus terminal and a leading supermarket, thus making it a very convenient and accessible spot for customers. b. Information counter/desk it is very essential and important because it helps TBS customers make decisions on which CDs, books or other educational products they need to buy, its location in the store and its inventory status. c. Variety a vast number of different services and books are offered at each TBS store, helping customers select their based on their individual preferences. d. Customer care facility    TBS offers excellent customer care facility to serve their customers. For this, they employ: e. Ease of reading/browsing The store layout has been carefully designed in such a manner that the customers can search efficiently and effectively e.g. adventure books by author, Playstation CDs by release date etc. Peripheral: Posters, Newsletters and other communications helps to enhance TBS visibility and information services by providing helpful information to customers. Sofas TBS always encourage customers to spend more time in their stores. They have realized that, more time customers spend in the book store, the more they purchase. Sofas are provided inside the store for reading the books in comfortable areas. Internet Connectivity There is Wireless Internet (WiFi) inside the TBS stores, giving additional revenues to TBS. It also attracts a lot of new and potential customers to the stores, especially travelers and tourists who want to access the internet. Coffee shop inside the stores Customers use this additional facility as it enables them to spend more time inside the store by having some refreshment during or after shopping. This facility also attracts potential new or future customers to the store. Delivery System In line with the principles of TQM, for delivering maximum value to its customers, TBS has designed and implemented a delivery system which is sketched out in Figure 4. The main components of this system include: For catering to ever changing customer needs and demands, TBS has ensured that it maintain many distinct layers of inventory. In each store, a back-office inventory is always maintained, to ensure availability of much demanded books, whose availability is important to prevent lost sales); also local warehouses are also maintained, enabling TBS to ensure that realistically fast-selling books are available in a timeframe of a maximum of 2 days; a central warehouse is also maintained to ensure that specialized books are stored, for those books that end-customers usually have to wait up to a maximum time frame of 5 days. TBS views inventory as both an asset and an insurance/guarantee against fluctuating demand, which is common in this turbulent market. However, the large amount of inventory at any point of time in their supply chain costs a lot for TBS, including: Physical/Geographic location: This is a very important factor of its business, because TBS relies primarily on end customers who visit its stores. With more customers visiting its stores, the more probability of sales. Also, it was observed that many new customers who primarily visit the stores coffee shop become buyers of TBS other product offering. TBS has a characteristic store plan/layout system, in which titles are grouped into topic (history, economics, politics etc), category (Posters, Blue-rays, books etc) and genre (comics, film etc). TBS also has different parts for specials such as new arrivals, offers/sale etc. to help customers. In addition, facilities such as sofas, coffee shop within the store, clean premises including passenger lifts and toilets. Also, other intangible factors such as a bright   and open atmosphere, large passages, passenger lifts and meticulously designed and implemented book-organization helps make it a comfortable experience for end customers. TBS has always ensured that good relationships with their vendors, suppliers, and publishers are maintained. This ensures more author visits, timely availability, higher priority treatment for new releases, and excellent price bargains from these vendors/publishers. Critical Evaluation of TBS operating and service delivery system For measuring the true most important strengths of TBS operating and service delivery system, it has to be assess at different levels: Based on my personal observations of the TBS bookstore and the feedback obtained with the interviews and interactions about the different kinds of customers who frequent TBS, the effectiveness of the operations management system could be evaluated by the following main criteria: a. Variety:   TBS end customers demand a vast variety of products including Books, CDs and magazines, and variety inside each of these categories as well. Hence, TBS has to ensure a right mix of volume as well as variety of CDs, magazines and books. TBS does not have a demand forecasting system right now, and hence it is very difficult to make any reasonable and accurate forecasting of demand in the near future. b. Availability: The buying decision of any customer is highly dependent on the ready availability of the product. In case the product they are looking for is not available, it is possible that the customer might buy it from its competitors. This is especially critical because TBS stresses a lot on customer retention and loyalty. c. Customer service experience: The customers overall experience in the store has to be pleasant, and is a very important factor. TBS ensures the availability of different ranks of customer-care service staff, who are well versed with specialist knowledge. Each of them serve about 6-7 customers/hour, and each customer on an average spends 6-10 min at the customer-care counter. TBS provides extra facilities such as a coffee shop, sofas, very clean wash rooms, baby feeding rooms and toilets. It was observed that almost 30% of the customers visit the coffee shop on course of their shopping experience in TBS. d. In-store promotions: These include promotions such as buy 1 get 1 free, festival celebrations, discounts, celebrity visits and authors book signing events. During my observation for two hours (2-4pm on a Saturday), 25 in 92 customers opted for a book which was under the promotions section. e. Purchase quantity per customer About 35% of customers purchased a minimum of 1 Magazine/CD/book. As described in Figure 6, we could plot a matrix to identify the various type of customers based on the amount of time they spent in the store, and the number of purchases they made. TBS uses this matrix to identify the most profitable high value customers as well as the least profitable unprofitable customers. The operational efficiency of the system determines the long term success of a business such as that of TBS. This could be evaluated and measured in various ways: a. Inventory flow is crucial for a fast-moving business such as educational books. Success is not defined by the quantity of books stocked in each store. But, how fast the product is transferred from the supplier/vendor to the end-customer determines the ultimate success of the business rather than finding the total number of books stocked. b. We must remove any bottlenecks that are there in any operations system. In the case of TBS, the main bottlenecks identified are: Bottlenecks in Supplier stage It is difficult to obtain enough quantities of some best seller books (especially those around which a hype is created even before the launch) from the supplier, as they are sought after by all book sellers, thus resulting in lost sales. This is the case especially during the initial launch of books (Eg: Harry Potter books). Bottlenecks in in-store Queuing system Customers are very demanding it terms of the time they spend in a queue in a shop, due to the fast lifestyles and increasing availability of online book shops. During my observations, it was found that the average dispensation time for each end-customer was 1.5 minutes, and the average queuing time was 6-8 minutes. Bottle neck in Customer care desk Customer satisfaction is very important in a highly competitive business such as book stalls. Any lack of customer care personnel, or the quality of service offered, could result in lost sales. The number of customer care personnel in TBS was limited during peak hours, and each customer during peak hours had to wait for an average of at least 3 minutes before he/she got some kind of help/support. c. Inventory Forecasting In the books business, it is crucial to effectively forecast demand and manage an optimum level of inventory in the whole system, i.e., both in-store and in warehouses. It must be able to predict much in advance, the expected peaking of sales (for eg: Cake cooking books during Christmas season or sports magazines during the time of a major sports event). TBS does presently this by using a multi-stage inventory, and promotional free home delivery offers during such peak periods. Suppliers as well as buyers possess enormous amount of power in the educational book industry. To have a profitable business, the books selling companies sign prior long term agreements with different stakeholders: a. Contractual agreements with publishers The negotiations with publishers are centered around the following areas: b. Business factors Book stalls has to consider other factors such as employee salaries, cost of maintaining the stores, the annual rents etc. The success of TBS depends heavily on the commitment and performance of its employees, both in-store employees and warehouse employees. The following considerations are needed : A major book shop like TBS requires many types of personnel for manning the various department inside the store such as administrative, billing, marketing sales, commercial, Human Resource Management and Inventory Management etc. TBS employees work in triple shifts and at any point of time, employs 13-17 employees inside the store, and during peak hours the number of employees can go as high as 20. b.  Ã‚   Employee Training Employee training is expensive, and it costs time, effort and money for TBS. To ensure that employees are working to their maximum efficiency, they have to be trained need to be ready to handle the high standards expected of them. c.  Ã‚   Efficiency The efficiency of staff has to be monitored continuously, and this could be done by measuring various parameters such as average time per customer, average time to fetch a book, number of positive customer feedbacks, etc. The largest customer who contribute maximum to the bottom line of TBS was found to be the unfocused buyers. Hence, it is imperative that TBS tries to get more of this customer segment to visit their store, and make them spend more time in-store (time spend in the store has shown strong correlation to the purchasing decision). I would like to recommend the following changes, in line with principles and practices of TQM and Quality Function Deployment (QFD), with the primary focus on customers and continuous quality improvement respectively as their goals. 1. Establishing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution To effectively have a holistic and total approach as envisaged by TQM, I recommend establishing a companywide Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution such as SAP or PeopleSoft. This system will integrate all the sub systems of TBS such as Inventory Management, Inventory Forecasting, Billing, Logistics, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Customer Service, Information Management etc. For instance, under the inventory management module, if the stock(inventory) gets below a particular amount (counters set in advance), the system will automatically place the orders for additional stock from the publishers/suppliers. 2. Suppliers could also be given access to the stock levels of each store, or when the customer places a new order, for their particular products. Thus the principle of Just In Time (JIT) inventory management is also implemented. By implementing this system, the waiting time in-store could be reduced drastically resulting in better customer satisfaction. Also, information and orders can be placed/obtained at any place, or customers in remote locations could order and gift products to their friends in Calicut, by ordering online as envisaged by TQM. Delivery system demand forecasting before implementing ERP system 3. Improvement in online/web presence There are a lot of customers who visit the physical TBS store, however this has created bottlenecks in the system, especially in terms of billing counter and customer care desk. This has translated into customer dissatisfaction, and hence applying the principle of TQM, I recommend establishing a full-fledged, easy to use website, where customers can view the books, preview its pages, and make an order using debit or credit card, and have the book delivered at home. The delivery and payment mechanism could also be made flexible, such as reserve and pick-in-store, cash-on-delivery etc. Thus the principle of Total Quality Management is applied effectively and efficiently. 4. Loyalty Programs On top of the in-store customer experience and promotions, TBS should also offer loyalty programs (eg: Reward/Discount cards) to reward and promote repeat/high value customers. 5. Starting a DVD/CD/Blueray rentals section instore. The number of customers switching from Books to CDs and DVDs are increasing. Since, we are renting them, customers would come back to return them possibly resulting in future sales. It must be linked both to the online presence of TBS as well as to the ERP solution to be implemented. Thus, customer satisfaction could be improved because they can get all necessary related products from the same roof. Thus, the prime objective of TQM can be successfully satisfied by meeting the demands of customers and making them satisfied. 6. Increase the number of customer-care service personnel Non availability of personnel or high waiting time for customers in the customer care results in immense customer dissatisfaction, and lost customer loyalty. These have a long term effect on TBS brand and customer perception. Thus, this will ensure that Quality Function Deployment (QFD) objectives are also met, and could save TBS considerable amount of money that would have been lost due to bad quality. Simple changes such as installing a ringing buzzer in the counter could potentially resolve these issues. 7. Modern Billing Self-Desks These days, customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and comfortable with modern technology. They can without difficulty self use a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) billing self-desk by their own. Thus, savings on Human Resources as well as decrease in waiting time for customers can be obtained. 8. Well qualified and personable support personnel Staff must be well aware of the locations of various titles, and should be passionate about the products they are dealing with. They must be extremely patient, and hospitable. Staff must be always be well dressed and hygienic, and if they are not, it could result in a bad customer experience. By applying the concepts of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Quality Function Deployment (QFD), we can provide immense value to customers, and drastically improve their satisfaction levels, at the same time providing value to us as well. I recommend, primarily the implementation of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution that will holistically and totally look at and improvise all the different components of the service delivery system. Customers are the key focus, and priority is given for Do-it-right-the first-time approach, rather than rectifying after a problem arises. Thus by implementing the suggested recommendations, the operational profitability of the firm should increase. [1] http://tbsbook.com/About.php (accessed: 22/01/2010) [2] http://tbsbook.com/About.php (accessed: 22/01/2010) [3] http://tbsbook.com/About.php (accessed: 22/01/2010) [4] Estimates, based on Personal Interviews with Management of TBS [5] RDI Online Course Materials for Operations Management [6] RDI Online Course Materials for Operations Management [7] Garvin, David Competing on the Eight Dimensions of Quality, Harvard Business Review, December 1987 [8] Richard Normann (1991), Service management: strategy and leadership in service business, Wiley (1991) [9] Zeithaml, Valarie A. and Mary Jo Bitner (2003), Services Marketing, International edition New York: McGraw Hill, third edition [10] Zeithaml, Valarie A. and Mary Jo Bitner (2003), Services Marketing, International edition New York: McGraw Hill, third edition

Approach to Persuasion Essay -- Psychology

Embracing an individual’s point of view by means of reasoning, argument or entreaty is an act of persuasion. An individual is regularly confronted by persuasion throughout their everyday life. It takes place in various situations that are categorized in three sections, the appeal to emotion, the appeal to reason, and the appeal to one’s character. Furthermore, this leads to an influential aspect. It is from one’s characteristic to be influenced by persuasion, thus, to be overlooked by outside sources. This is not only found as a human speaks, but persuasion is the aim of advertisements, and political candidates who are trying to sway voters to vote for them. Since Ancient times, persuasive techniques have been observed and studied but due to its importance, physiologists formally began to study of persuasive techniques in the 20th century. The focus of persuasion is to awaken a belief by the appeal to reason, and the use of emotional appeals, and the appeals to one’s character. According to Aristotle and others who tend to echo his belief, these are three these "artistic" or "intrinsic" proofs. Aristotle calls them Ethos, Pathos and Logos. The appeals to reason - Logos is the use logical arguments, logic, rhetoric, the scientific method and proof to persuade. In contrary, the appeal to emotion - Pathos, is the use of advertising, faith, presentation and imagination, propaganda, seduction, tradition and pity for persuasion. Furthermore, Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology (Reynolds). Usually the appeals to reason, and the appeal to emotion, are applied together for more efficient and faster persuasion. These methods ta... ...can be defined as "...a symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or behaviors regarding an issue through the transmission of a message in an atmosphere of free choice." Aristotle describes persuasion in three different forms: Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Ethos is the persuasive appeal of ones character, Pathos is the appeal to emotion and Logos is the appeal to reason. A persuader should use these forms of persuasion, moreover, motivate them and satisfy them by introducing that what is being convinced fulfills a need. Works Cited Reynolds, Nedra. â€Å"Ethos as Location: New sites for Understanding Discursive Authority.† Rhetoric Review. 11.22 (1993): 235-338. Print. Shell, Moussa, and Mario G. Richard. The Art of Woo: Using strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. 2-163. Print

Cross-Cultural :: essays research papers

Cross-Cultural Introspective   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Culture is the customs, institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group. My culture has influenced me in many ways. Being an African American woman, I have to strive to the best I can be. My ancestors died, so that I may live a full and wonderful life. I have to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I believe that I am black first and a woman second. As an African American, I feel that I have to prove myself to the world. I fell that I have to show them that I can make it. I am not a lost cause. My ancestor have taught me that my values and beliefs does matter. Family, education, and religion are the three most important things in my life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My family is the most important thing in my life. Everything I am, is because of my family. In a African American family the mother is a lot of times the strongest figure. They are equal to their husbands, they share work responsibilities inside and outside the home. My parents stressed morality, the value of labor, and education, and racial uplift. My mother took my brother and I regularly to church. My mother was very strict with us. My father insisted that we work hard in order for the us to be successful. My grandmother is considered our strong figure. Strong religious orientation has been a factor in African-American culture for many years. My grandmother learned to read and write at church. As a little she went to Mount Calvary Baptist in New Iberia, Louisiana. Her churched formed schools for free blacks, as well as for slaves; created institutions, such as banks, hospitals, and homes. My grandmother said church and religion was a way to bringing a positive outcome to her life. My grandmother, Dorothy Harding, was an astonishing woman. My grandmother was a strong, proud, beautiful black woman. She was the rock of our family. I can remember when she would sit all of us on the floor and tell us about her childhood. She would start off by saying   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"You’ll never know what it was like growing up in 1940,† then she would continue with â€Å"all you do is complain, but let me tell you, you have it very easy.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then she would go on to say how her family had no money and that she never had her own pair of shoes.

Essay --

Missouri Mandatory Reporting Laws Brandon Ruble Southwest Baptist University Missouri Mandatory Reporting Laws In a study performed by the National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice in June 2013, a staggering 5,961,658 cases of elderly abuse occurred in 2010 (â€Å"Elderly Abuse†, n.d. para 1). That is approximately 9.5% of America’s population. As the elderly become unable to protect themselves or their interests, they are increasingly reliant on the healthcare professional to advocate on their behalf. Missouri has implemented legislation that provides the healthcare professional with resources to report elderly abuse, neglect and exploitation. This report gives the healthcare provider tools including definitions associated with elder abuse, clinical signs of abuse, and actions necessary when abuse is suspected. According to Missouri legislation (â€Å"Protective Services for Adults†, n.d.) abuse is defined as â€Å"the infliction of physical, sexual, or emotional injury or harm including financial exploitation by any person, firm or corporation (para. 4). Furthermore, neglect is â€Å"the failure to provide services to an eligible adult by any person, firm or corporation with a legal or contractual duty to do so, when such failure presents either an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the client†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (para. 4). Along with strict definitions of â€Å"abuse† and â€Å"neglect†, Missouri’s legislation also mandates that â€Å"†¦any person having reasonable cause to believe that there is a likelihood that, without protection, serious physical harm may occur to an eligible adult shall report information to the department† (â€Å"Protective Services for Adults†, n.d., para 6). It is therefore the duty of the registered nurse, as being th... ...e elder population. It is therefore necessary for the healthcare provider to become educated and thoroughly aware of the potential for elder adult abuse and neglect. Prevention of elder adult abuse is key, failing that, becoming the client’s advocate in situations where abuse and or neglect are suspected becomes the most important task. It is not only the ethical responsibility of the healthcare provider to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect it is mandatory in Missouri. References Elderly Abuse Statistics. (2013, June 18). In National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice. Protective Services for Adults. (2010). In Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. http://health.mo.gov/living/lpha/phnursing/protectiveservices.php Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. (2010). Toward healthy aging: Human needs & nursing response (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier

Segregation: Martin Luther King

In the early 1900s America was torn apart in a battle known as segregation. The African American race was treated unjustly and faced a tough journey. They were shoved aside and torn apart from the Caucasian Americans. There was separate railroad cars, schools, and even to such small insignificant things as separate water fountains. The white children were being taught to treat African Americans as dirty people who deserved to be separate. It created a prejudice that would take years to overcome, to completely be unselfish again. Caucasian Americans were very wrong in their thinking and they never thought about how it made African Americans feel. The African Americans of this time period were struggling to overcome this new time where they were treated as outsiders, as if they were not a part of the American people. Every single human being is uniquely different and segregation was a constant battle our fellow Americans fought to overcome, all for the sole purpose of gaining equality. There were Caucasian people who thought segregation was a good thing and supported it strongly. They didn’t think there was anything wrong with separate facilities and they didn’t even wonder about how African Americans lives were affected by this injustice. African Americans rights were basically stripped away all because they were viewed as â€Å"different. † A Florida congressman, Frank Clark, was open about his views on segregation. He truly believed segregation was a great thing and he supported this belief. When talking about the railroad cars he explains that it is good to have separate ones. He blames the conditions of the cars on the African Americans. He states to â€Å"imagine a nice, new passenger coach, packed with dirty, greasy, filthy negroes, down South in midsummer, and you can readily understand why that car does not long remain as good, as clean, and a as desirable as a similar car occupied exclusively by white travelers† (Frank Clark praises segregation 37). In this statement he was expressing his true beliefs. He also said that â€Å"if God Almighty had intended these two races to be equal, He would have so created them† (Frank Clark praises segregation 37). Frank Clark was a very firm believer in the Social Darwinism theory. He believed that white men were better because God created them that way. He was very prejudiced in his way of viewing the human races, as if whites were superior. Another person who supported segregation was George Wallace, a governor of Alabama. During his inauguration speech, he says that â€Å"in the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny and I say: segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever† (George C. Wallace, Inaugural Address as governor of Alabama 120). He wanted the Southerners to fight for segregation. He wanted them to vote and to defend â€Å"their† homeland. Wallace said that he was helping every person in the state, but in all actuality he was supporting whites only. Not as openly as some, but definitely in favor of segregation. He wanted the Southerners to be the most powerful, the Caucasian Southerners. Segregation was a very powerful movement that had everyone in an uproar. Although some saw segregation as a good thing, many others fought for their freedom wholeheartedly. For this reason, the â€Å"Separate but Equal† case eventually became overthrown. Those who fought for freedom slowly made progress. W.  E. B Du Bois, a leading African American of this time, stood up for the rights they were being robbed of. He didn’t believe Booker T. Washington was dealing with civil rights in the best way possible. Talking about the African American race, he states that â€Å"-we must unceasingly and firmly oppose them. By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men, clinging unwaveringly to those great words which the sons of the Fathers would fain forget ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (W.  E. B Du Bois, â€Å"Of Mr. Booker T. Washington 33). He believed there were ignoring the fact that the stands there were already taking and the movements that had created were not working. He believed they needed to take a better stand to end segregation. Another supporter of ending segregation was pro-baseball player Jackie Robinson. He wrote a letter to President Eisenhower so that he could explain what it was like living in America this way. He wanted the president to understand what they were doing to the African American race. Robinson explains that the African Americans have been patient for too long and it was time for the country to change. He wanted the president to give them the rights they were entitled to have as Americans. He challenged the President to find a way to give them back their freedom and treat them equally. (Letter From Jackie Robinson to President Eisenhower 103). During this time period, one of the most famous speeches of all time was given. Martin Luther King’s, â€Å"I Have a Dream Speech† rocked the nation to its core. He wanted to completely end segregation and create a nation that was equal. He believed that civil rights advocates should not use violence to get this freedom, but to do it in a way that showed American the true souls of the African American people. He dreamed of a day when the nation would treat everyone equally, he dreamed of a time when whites and former slaves could share a table and meal, he dreamed of Mississippi becoming a state of freedom and justice instead of oppression. Martin Luther King had a dream that children would not be judged by their skin but by who they were as individuals. He had a dream that one day we could all sing together â€Å"My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring! † (Martin Luther King, I have a Dream Speech 122). This was the most influential speech of all and many people took it to heart. All of these different people fought to end segregation. Segregation was a true raging enemy in the eyes of African Americans. They wanted the freedom that was promised to all American and they fought hard to gain that freedom. Many speeches, many movements and many humiliating experiences got them closer and closer to achieving their goal. Finally the Supreme Court declared segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. This was the first progress African Americans had seen in a long time. They deserved to be treated equally. America would not be America if people were not all equally free. Freedom holds this country together, as it has for all of the years past. Segregation was a battle fought for years, but in the end was worth it for every race, ethnicity, and even religious person could have equality.