Management Case Study free essay sample

The case study below takes place at the Sir Charles Wilberforce Hospital’s cafeteria, which is experiencing problems with the change management. Due to the new management undertaken by Keith Davis, there was a major issue of inadequate communication channels, as Keith told his employees what to do rather than consult them, especially with the decision-making. The best alternative to rectify this problem is for Keith to adapt to a consultative management style, in order for employees to take ownership in their workplace through expressing their opinions and feel more valued, however still allowing Keith to still make the final decision. Another major issue addressed in the Cafeteria was the amount of unmotivated staff. As employees feel unsatisfied with their work, the best solution to this issue is Goal Setting. Through employees setting strategic goals they will increase their motivation through achievement of these goals which will lead them to set more challenging ones. We will write a custom essay sample on Management Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lastly, the third major issue recognised was Keith’s poor leadership skills which made it difficult for employees to fulfil expectations and find enjoyment in the workplace. The best alternative solution for this problem is to retrain Keith’s leadership abilities so he is able to adopt all the qualities needed to become a better leader in his managing role. Although this may be an expensive method, the new leadership qualities Keith will learn will make a happier work environment for his employees and build a better employer/employee relationship. 3. Problem identification Poor communication channels Keith focuses on top down communication channels, providing a one way communication which is from him to his employees, rather than two-way which provides his employees to communicate ideas with him. This negatively impacts the hospital as the Keith is unable to discuss problems or ask questions amongst employees to see if there are any problems going on amongst the workers and therefore leading to job dissatisfaction employees. Although Keith tried to soothe Julia when the issue between her and Madison was brought to his attention, he did not follow it up or treat it as an importance. Lack of staff motivation Prior to Keith’s managing, Anne’s original foundations of self-satisfaction and close family ties seemed to motivate the employees at Sir Charles Wilberforce hospital. Keith’s changes were made to become more efficient, employees were left struggling to gain satisfaction and motivation in order for themselves to achieve their hierarchy of needs (Maslow, 1954). In this hierarchy of needs Maslow developed, employees have five needs, physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualisation, once they fulfil one of their needs they can graduate to the next one to fulfil it and so on. Without fulfilling the social needs of forming social ties or self-actualisation of gaining enough experience within the kitchen to become a supervisor, it became unknown to the employees of what they are capable of and decreased their enticements to complete tasks and feel satisfied. Insufficient leadership abilities Keith lacks major leadership qualities, as the organisational layout he uses is to tell employees what to do, depriving them of guidance and support. The Hersey Situations leadership model suggests that leadership focuses on follower’s readiness (Hersey, Blanchard Johnson, 2001). This theory suggests that at Sir Charles Wilberforce, if the employees feel they are unable to complete a task Keith should give those clear and specific instructions. If they are willing and confident Keith needs to provide them display high task orientation, and if employees feel able but are unwilling Keith would need to use a supportive approach. Lack of teamwork The teamwork environment of delegating tasks amongst of employees was not addressed by Keith. He believed that employees needed to finish work on time, plan menus monthly and take on cleaning responsibilities, whereas, the use of team work would have provided a better suited time managed system. Through having each employee assist with cleaning duties, planning menus, helping out another if time was short as well as assisting each other to get all food out and made the kitchen would be less chaotic. This would have assisted with issues if someone was ill, allowing more than one person to prepare greater portions of meals. 4. Statement of Major Problems The three major problems that are brought to the attention at Sir Charles Wilberforce Hospital are: Inadequate communication channels Unmotivated staff Insufficient leadership abilities The poor communication channel Keith utilises is top-down communication from Keith to his employees. As this is a workplace that depends on seeking ideas from others and support from each other, two way communications between Keith and his employees is necessary. This will allow employees to feel part of the decision making and feel they can share their ideas to improve the workplace. Following this Keith must then improve his leadership skills, putting his employees first and assisting them with any help and support they need in order to achieve a positive workplace. This may involve Keith revising the organisation’s culture, or distinguishing the strength and weakness of each employee so he knows how to assist each of them. Once Keith’s leadership abilities are improved, staff motivation must be identified and given, in order for employees to become productive within the kitchen and gain job satisfaction, increasing their abilities and allowing them to feel the want to work. 5. Generation and Evaluation of Alternative Solutions Inadequate communication channels Regular work meetings Set regular meetings within the kitchen, in order to concerns amongst employees to be discussed as we as evaluation on how the business is going and openly discuss ways to improve or maintain it. Advantages Allows for feedback Employees can listen to each person’s idea and encourages discussion openly Evaluate the earnings to the previous week and that time the previous year, allowing each person to suggest ways to improve or maintain their profit margins. Disadvantages Some employees may not attend May be time consuming to discuss all ideas Consultative management style Implement a Consultative management style in order to increase two-way and open communication between Keith and the employees. Advantages Allows employees to feel ownership in decision making Allows employees to share their ideas and opinions Gives confidence to employees Disadvantages Employees may feel held back to express their opinions because they do not feel comfortable Employees may feel offended if their ideas are not taken into consideration Time consuming Unmotivated staff Goal setting Implement setting goals, which involve employees setting goals that motivate them to improve their capabilities. Advantages Gives self-satisfaction Increases productivity and performance levels Disadvantages Time consuming to distinguish appropriate and achievable goals Goals ay appear as unattainable and lead to employees to give up Job design Mr Dev can alter the job design to assist in identifying and correcting any deficiencies that affect performance and motivation. Advantages Job enlargement, can be used to increase motivation by giving employees more and varied tasks so the employee is motivation to try new tasks Job rotation allows an employee to work in different departments or jobs in an organization to gain better insight into operations motivating the employee to increase his/her skills and knowledge about other jobs. Disadvantages Job enrichment may lead the employee transferred too much responsibility in the kitchen and independence in the planning and control aspects of the job which may suppress motivation levels Reward and Recognition Evaluating each employee to identify which people are performing to their maximum, and rewarding them financially or non-financially for their hard work, therefore motivating other employees to improve their work standards. Advantages Employees will increase performance to obtain more rewards Will produce higher standards amongst the employees Self- enrichment Disadvantages Expensive to keep purchasing rewards and reassess each employee to recognise After a while employees may feel that rewards may not motivate them anymore Keith may not want to undertake the idea of rewarding and recognising employees Insufficient leadership abilities Retrain Keith Retraining programs for Keith within the company or externally will allow Keith to develop better leadership qualities and create a happier workplace. Advantages Positively effects employees to feel trust and support from Keith Keith can evaluate themselves as to what skills are expected to lead the employees Disadvantages May take a while for Keith to learn and adapt to these skills May be expensive Dismiss Keith Dismissing Keith will demolish the issue of poor leadership abilities and will allow the business to replace him with a more experienced manager. Advantages Re-appoint a new manager who possess all correct leadership skills Employees are in a happier environment where they can get the support they need More time appropriate and efficient than retraining Disadvantages May be hard to find a replacement Employees may find it hard to adapt to a new manager and may be resistant to give them a chance due to their bad experience with Keith 6. Recommendation Consultative management style A Consultative management style is the recommended alternative for Keith to address to his employees. The type of management style used by Keith at this point is autocratic, which involves him making decisions for the hospital kitchen unilaterally. Although regular meetings are a good alternative by providing mediation and assistant towards employees, the consultative management style involves a permanent change to the organisation. The consultative style would involve Keith discussing ideas of possible changes to be made within the kitchen, as well as employees being able to give their opinions and ideas. By implementing a consultative management style, employees at the cafeteria will be able to perform to their optimum level, concentrating on increasing common sense approach for Keith to meet the needs and wants of the employees, as well as making employees realise their own abilities and capabilities in performing tasks, (McClelland, 1987). Similarly to regular meetings, the consultative approach gives open communication, however unlike meetings the consultative approach is more permanent in the workplace and is used daily, for example in decision making, gaining assistance with a task or getting support with a concern. This will benefit the kitchen, as the employees will respond more positively to any changes to feel more a part of the workplace and a sense of belonging. Keith will benefit from this style, as he will be given a broader range of ideas as well as maintain his authority to make the final decision. Goal Setting Setting goals is the preferred alternative for Keith to use within the kitchen. Despite the fact being rewarded motivates someone to maintain if not improve performance to be rewarded again, goal setting gives motivation. Goal setting enables employees to measure their processes and work performance. This enables employees to gain feedback on their results, unlike rewards and recognition which just motivates employees to try harder to gain another reward rather than possessing the want to gain the self-satisfaction that they have improved. Edward Locke’s theory of goal setting outlines that in setting specific and challenging goals it enables process and outcome improvement (Locke Latham, 1990). Similarly, job design suggests a different form of motivating to increase their skills of different tasks, however it also does hold the ability to measure the improvement that setting goals do. If goal setting is adapted by Keith, his employees would be able to achieve towards a higher performance, as well as motivating them to set higher goals with increasingly difficult tasks, once they have been achieved. Through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this can assist in setting goals with Locke and Latham’s theory. Maslow theory suggests that ‘although no need is every fully satisfied, a substantially satisfied need no longer motivates an individual to satisfy that need’ (Robbins, Bergmann, Stagg and Coulter, 2012, p559). This suggests that in identifying each need, physiological safety social esteem and self-actualisation, employees at sir Charles Wilberforce can pinpoint what tasks they need to complete in order to graduate to the next level. For example one of the employees may find that they feel they don’t belong, in order to achieve this level they can set a goal to form relations with other employees on a professional basis. Once this goal is achieved they can move on to develop their esteem needs. Retraining Keith Although, retraining Keith may be considered a time consuming process, compared to the alternative of dismissing Keith, it appears to be a more logical approach. Through retraining, Keith is able to gain leadership skills that he may not be aware are essential skills he needs in order to be a manager. This will transform him from telling his employees what to do, to instead assisting and guiding them through changes. Despite the expenses of this method, it may also be difficult for Keith to cooperate as well as understand the concept of these skills however unlike dismissing, he will be able to improve and allow for a happier work. The trait theory suggests that it is impossible to identify and isolate characteristics from leaders from non-leaders. However there are seven traits associated with leadership, these being ‘drive, the desire to lead, honesty and integrity, self-confidence, intelligence, job-relevant knowledge and extraversion’, (Robbins, 2012, p605). Eventually with the retraining, Keith may possess these seven leadership abilities to involve his employees in decision making process and form a trust bond.

The Eradication of Smallpox essays

The Eradication of Smallpox essays Although it has taken a huge collective effort by many individuals and nations, the eradication of smallpox was mainly brought about by the pioneering efforts of Edward Jenner. Smallpox had been killing humans for over 3000 years and has been referred to as one of the greatest all-time scourges to mankind. One of the first known efforts to fight this horrible disease by immunization was in China where powdered scabs of smallpox pustules were blown into the nostrils of healthy persons through a tube. This method of immunization was called variolation and involved taking samples (which consisted of vesicles, pus from pustules, or ground scabs) from patients who had a mild form of the disease and inoculating the material into other persons through the nose or skin (Hopkins 24). The practice of variolation came to Europe from the East at the beginning of the 18th century by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, and English aristocrat. Lady Montagues husband was an ambassador to the East for England and while in Istanbul, she observed their method of variolation. She was so impressed by the Turks method that she had her 5-year-old son inoculated then her 4-year-old daughter when they returned to England. This was the first variolation performed in England (Hopkins 38). This method of variolation slowly gained general acceptance throughout all of Europe, although it had varying degrees of success. A portion of patients treated with variolation became ill with smallpox and subsequently died from the infection or started a new epidemic, and thus there was a fear that the inoculation did not provide immunity, but just provided infection. A few innovative scientists saw that there must be a better way to provide immunity, and Edward Jenner saw this better way in a correlation between cowpox and smallpox that eventually dubbed him the father of the smallpox va ...

Advantages and Disadvantages of Effective Budget Control

Advantages and Disadvantages of Effective Budget Control This paper will look at what is required of an effective budgetary control mechanism and try to assess the advantages and disadvantages of using a system imposed from above, or externally, over a decentralized system controlled by lower level management as task level. Using an empirical case study from the international banking sector, it will be shown that too much managerial autonomy can lead to disaster not just for the manager concerned but also for the whole organization. In contrast the role of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in imposing nation-state loan budgets will be critiqued to highlight the potential flaws of centralizing and dominating budget control management. Effective budgetary control Henderson (2003) notes that regardless of the situation or workplace, in order to be effective it is crucial that budgetary control systems: Account for money received and spent Make sure that the organization’s financial policies are adhered to Ensure that m oney is not wasted Assist managers to run, and develop, services or departments These controls have developed from the need to account for large sums of money but are equally applicable to any budgetary situation. However, from a managerial perspective they have often been criticised for being insensitive and restrictive at the lower levels of management. As the number of stakeholders increases so does the need to be fully accountable and therefore more controls are also needed. This is particularly noticeable in the public sector National Health Service. Here lower level management are extremely subservient to imposed and tight budgeting restrictions from a distantly senior level. This is arguably a result of the need to satisfy a multitude of stakeholder interests and a concern that empowering lower management with the autonomy to control their own budgets would fail to include the number of interested parties from politicians to doctors and patients. With organisations as comple x as the NHS whether public or private sector – It is safer and easier to plan and control from above using imposed budget control methods. Politically imposed budgeting is preferably because senior managers, directors, or institutions who set the budgets are arguably best placed to recognise the wider implications of budgeting decisions but, according to Marginson (1999), financially imposed budget controls make sense too. Financial losses, which can occur for such damaging reasons as incompetence, error, negligence or fraud, are most likely to be minimised, or avoided altogether, by well constructed control systems. Imposed budgets benefit from the experience, acquired knowledge and full backing of senior management. They arguably encourage a sense of confidence in lower level management to do their job whilst reducing the massive levels of stress that come with having to create and manage your own budget. Another advantage of imposed budgeting is that it encourages regular monitoring, reporting, progress reports and ultimately improvements in the budgetary system. This enables problems to be uncovered and dealt with quickly and efficiently. Henderson (2003) states that it is advantageous to review arrangements occasionally. Even if procedures within your work area operate well, you should ensure that the budgetary responsibilities of staff at all levels are clear and understood by everyone. It would be unfortunate if problems arise because people do not know the extent or limit of their responsibilities (p33).

Biography of Immanuel Kant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biography of Immanuel Kant - Essay Example This paper illustrates that one of Kant’s important works include, the critique of Pure Reason, which was aimed at explaining the association between human experiences and reason. By undertaking this project, Kant hoped that he could manage to go past what had been thought as the failures in metaphysics and traditional philosophy. In this project, he had purposed to end what had been long considered as a period of speculative theories regarding human experiences while at the same time, opposing the cynicism of some of the great thinkers. Immanuel was born in Konigsberg town of Prussia in Russia in 1724, is the fourth in a family of nine. After baptism, he changed his name from Emanuel to Immanuel after having been introduced to Hebrew studies. In his early career life, Kant worked as a tutor in the town of Judtschen, which is now Veselovka between 1750 and 1754. His father, George Kant, was a harnessmaker who resided in Memel between 1682 and 1746. In his youthful time, Kant w as sold even though an unspectacular student. He was raised in a pietist family that was devoted to religious devotion, literal reading, and interpretation as well as personal humility, which was based on the teachings of the Bible. In his upbringing, he got a stern kind of education, which was very punitive, strict and full of discipline in which preference was given to religious instructions in Latin as opposed to science and mathematics. Despite the fact that Kant was raised in a Christian background and believed in God, he became skeptical about religion as he grew up later in life. Following this development, many people tagged him agnostic. Kant is renowned for his particular contributions I the fields of metaphysics and ethics, however, he was also helpful in providing important insights into various disciplines as well. Kant was instrumental in developing one of the most important discoveries about the origin of the earth and its rotation. In this discovery, he earned a glob al prize from Berlin Academy in 1754.

Critique of a text Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critique of a text - Essay Example Unfortunately, this article does just that. ‘Inconvenient lives’ is an insight into the reasons why humans resort to abortion, supported by statistics and facts and the writer’s own vehement anti-abortion views. Bork, in this article, answers the questions whether abortion is always killing of a human being and is it done mostly for convenience? He takes the stand that abortion is akin to taking a human life by stating scientific research regarding how human life begins; drawing comparisons between a fetus and an elderly human being; discussing the various reasons through statistics as to why women opt for abortion and criticizing the views of some of the pro-abortion advocates. The writer draws the conclusion that abortion is an immoral act and the reasons behind committing it are irrational. He believes that women solicit it because it seems to be the most viable and convenient solution for their own multiple problems that might arise due to unwanted pregnancy. The writer opens the argument by giving the summary of how a fetus comes into being and develops into a full-fledged human being. According to him, killing the organism formed after the fusion of a male sperm and female egg is like killing a human being. It is quite evident that the writer cannot demarcate between a human tissue (the zygote) and a living person (the mother). By stating scientific and medical opinion he is just trying to impose that this human tissue is important enough to have rights of its own. It shall be most unfortunate however, to grant it rights equal to or superior than that of a woman which is a human being, all flesh and blood with thoughts and emotions. It is an absurd comparison that only diminishes the value to a woman. Much dramatic light has been thrown on the rights that the fetus should be granted but at the end the writer himself admits that â€Å"†¦the fetus cannot survive

Comprehensive Problem Essay Example for Free

Comprehensive Problem Essay Dr. Harold Wolf of Medical Research Corporation (MRC) discovered a unique electronic stimulator that is said to have the capability of reducing the pain from arthritis. Even though the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) still has to approve the device, and the testing is in the early stages, the interest generated is powerful. Dr. Wolf has received three offers from interested parties and needs to decide which offer would make the most business sense. Offer One includes additional monetary incentives depending on the success of the device, Offer Two proposes a percentage of profits that would increase as sales are expected to increase and the final offer is the setup of a trust fund in an annuity over the next eight years. For discussion purposes here, each offer will be calculated to find the present value and then summarized; the offer with the highest present value will be identified for Dr. Wolf to review. Offer OneIn this offer, Dr. Wolf is expecting a future value of $4,200,000 in 15 years at a 10% interest rate, in which the probability of the expected future value is 70%. The numbers used in getting the future value is to add the present values of $1,000,000, $200,000, and $3,000,000. The present value for the first offer is $1,005,446.61 which is an increase of $3,194,553.40 for the future and since this calculation has a 70% probability of happening, the first offer would be a good decision. See the calculations below:FV=1,000,000 + 200,000 + 3,000,000 =$4,200,000N =15I =10%PV=$8,974,419.42Offer TwoIn this offer, 30% of the buyers gross profit on the product for the next four years is the incentive Dr. Wolf must decide on. Zbay Pharmaceuticals would be the buyer whose gross profit margin was 60%. If offer two were accepted by Dr. Wolf, his future value after just four years would have amassed approximately $3,138,300. This value assumes that he did not withdraw his profits and let the balance sit and gain 10% interest on the balance of the money and that sales grew by 40% in each of the subsequent years as anticipated by Zbay. Waiting till the fourth year to withdraw funds allowed the unused balance to compound interest payments. In general, this would be a good decision for the Dr. to accept, even considering the tax consequence that he would assume at the end of the four years. With the product not being approved by the FDA, Zbay Pharmaceutical has assumed all the risk which makes the offer even more lucrative. PV:2,000,000 the first year and 40% Growth each additionalFV: $5,488,000N: 4 yearsPV Profits: $360,000 year times 10%interest ($396,000)I: 10%FV Profits: $3,138,300Offer ThreeFor Offer three, Dr. Wolf may opt for a trust fund over the next eight years. Once that period was over, he would receive the proceeds discounted back to the present at 10%. At that time, he would receive semi-annual payments in the amount of $400,000 per year beginning immediately in an annuity due. This may be a worthwhile option to consider depending on the future business plan Dr. Wolf has. This would make the present value $1,721,216. The chart is shown below. Periods: 12 3 4 5 67 8$400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000Present Value (PV) = $1,721,216Highest Present Value and ReasoningPresent value is the value on a specific date of a payment or payments in the future that have been calculated to show the time value of money as well as other factors. These calculations are used industry wide as a method of the comparison of cash flows at different intervals over the life of the project. The basic present value formula is: PV=FV∙PVIF(r, n). The formula for an annuity is similar: PV=PMT∙PVIFA(r, n). In that case, n=number of periods, r=interest rate in the period, PV=present value at the beginning and FV=future value at time n. There are many financial arrangements that are set up with structured payment schedules and the term annuity is used to refer to that set up. A stream of cash flow that has a limited number of payments periodically that are to be received at given times is an annuity. If the payments were to be received indefinitely, then it would be perpetuity (Block, 2005). Based on this information, Offer I has the highest present value at $8,974,419.42At first glance, it is difficult to determine which offer might be the most beneficial offer for Dr. Wolf to choose. The first offer includes additional incentives relating to the success of the device, the second offer a percentage of profits also relating to the success of the device, while the third is an annuity in trust over the next eight years. Offer One has a present value of $8,974,419.42, Offer Two has a total present value of $2,524,713 and Offer Three has a total present value of $1,721,216. Given that Offer One of Dr. Wolf expecting a future value of $4,200,000 in 15 years at a 10% interest  rate, in which the probability of the expected future value is 70%, this would be the most advantageous offer for him to accept. References: Block, Stanley B., Hirt, Geoffrey A., Foundations of Financial Management (11th ed.),Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2005, Burr Ridge, IL.

Neurocomputers /article Review :: essays research papers fc

The dream of artificial intelligence that would allow a computer to learn, and thus get really smart, has proven to be something of a nightmare so far. That failure has lead biomedical engineer William Ditto and his team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University to look beyond silicon and even beyond light chips. Ditto points out that today’s processors may be a lot faster, but they’re not a bit smarter than they were 40 years ago. Ditto’s processor is designed with living tissue. The tissue being neurons taken from leeches because they are big, easy to use and they learn quickly. Neurons are able to process images more than a million times faster than the fastest computer (Sincell, 2000). The present review has two purposes: (a) to enlighten the reader that the quest to build smart computers, microchip engineers look beyond silicon and light to living nerve cells and (b) to suggest that this future technology could be the basis o f the next great computer wave.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The article being discussed out of Discover magazine states that brains derive tremendous problem solving abilities from two characteristics of their individual cells. First, a neuron can be in any one of thousands of different states, allowing it to store more information that a transistor, which has only two states, on and off (Sincell, 2000). Second, neurons can choose which other neurons to interact with by rearranging their own synaptic connections. Scientists have developed software that attempts to imitate the brain’s learning process using only the yes-no binary logic of digital computers with all the connections in a personal computer wired back at the factory. Breaking a single one of these connections usually crashes the computer. This is not a problem for a neurocomputer Ditto says, because dynamic chaotic systems like these naturally self-organize. An example of this would be the human heart. An isolated heart neuron simply sparks chaotically, without apparent intelligence. But when it is a part of the neuronal network in a living heart, it synchronizes with all the other neurons to create a steady heartbeat (Sincell 2000). The neurocomputer would work in a similar way. If a computer programmer posed a problem to a collection of neurons, such as create a regular heartbeat, the neurons would then figure out through trial and error how to rewire their own circuits to produce a steady rhythmic beat.

Crime Scene Investigation Case Study Essay

OBTAINING and RECORDING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE When it comes to identifying people that have committed a criminal act, the most positive means is through fingerprints. When we are born, our fingerprints stay with us until we die and our bodies start decomposing. To the human eye our fingerprints look the same, however, further investigation will show that each of us have a unique set of friction ridges that comprise our fingerprints and sets our identity apart from each other. At a crime scene, there are two different types of fingerprints that may be found. Patent prints are visible to the human eye. Latent prints are â€Å"unintentional prints found on items of evidence or at a crime scene† (Unknown, Obtaining and Recording Physical Evidence, n.d.). The ability to visualize prints depends on the physical condition of the person who left the print, the surface on which they left it, and the reflection of the light which is used to help visualize the print. Other circumstances that effect the visibility of latent prints is time and exposure to elements like heat and cold. However, in any case, prints should be attempted to be obtained. When latent prints are smudged they lack the specific ridges to distinguish the print correctly. These types of prints may not be perfect for fingerprint analysis; they may be utilized to provide other trace evidence. Before latent prints can be lifted and processed they need to be discovered. Each print left in different types of surfaces have to be processed in a special way. The most common means is with the use of fingerprint powders or through chemical treatment. Most field kits supply a variety of colors so that the powder can contrast with the background on which they were left. The most widely used colors are black and white  because they are standard colors that contrast on many objects. Fluorescent fingerprint powders help develop prints on multicolored surfaces, and require the source of ultraviolet light. As with most equipment, safety goggles and gloves should be used to avoid undue exposure and harm to the investigator. It is important to have a delicate touch and a small amount of powder to make the latent print visible. Once the print has started to show up, continuing to brush with the direction of the friction ridges will make the fingerprint stand out. At that time, a photograph of the print should be taken and logged prior to lifting the print. If an investigator is in the field without proper powders, passing non-flammable evidence through the smoke of a burning piece of pine will cause soot to deposit on the object. Chemical processing of latent prints happens in the laboratory. Lab technicians are trained in using techniques that are required by the federal law in using many chemical mixtures to aid in processing evidence. Many porous objects will absorb the secretions from fingerprints and will not rub off as easy as they will on nonporous surfaces or objects. In order to get these prints visible, chemicals are applied to react to the secretions to make the print visible. The amount of contact and pressure applied by the fingers will affect prints the most. Once the prints are visualized, and photographs have been taken, prints can be lifted and placed on a print card and transported to the lab for further processing. The most common method to use for lifting prints is rubber lifters and transparent lifting tape. Rubber lifters work the best on curved or uneven surfaces, whereas transparent tape will lift the print in the position in which they were left on flat surfaces. How to Lift Fingerprints The basic police officer’s fingerprint kit should contain a fingerprint brush, black and bi-chromatic powder, lifting tape, and fingerprint cards. There are several types of fingerprint brushes available, the one to use is a personal preference. Fiberglass fingerprint brushes have a better rate of to â€Å"distribute the fingerprint powder evenly† (Spraggs, 2007). Most crime  scenes will utilize the black lifting powder; however, the bi-chromatic powder will be very helpful in processing prints on dark surfaces, because it is a mixture of the black powder with a white or silver powder. When the bi-chromatic powder is used on dark surfaces it will look light and it will show up dark on light surfaces. The best rule for processing latent prints using powder is to use less lifting powder than you think you are going to need. Many latent prints can be ruined by over processing with powder. David suggests â€Å"give the print powder jar a quick shake before opening the lid† then goes on to say â€Å"remove the lid and place the fingerprint brush inside the lid† (Spraggs, 2007). The lid will retain enough powder to start processing the latent print. A precise amount of pressure applied while spinning the brush will produce a good print with good ridge detail. He mentions that too much powder will fill the ridges and over process the print and too little will not produce enough, keeping in mind that too much contact between the brush and the print will damage the print. Once the print has been developed it is time to begin lifting the print. Lifting tape comes in a variety of widths and compositions. General lifting tape is used on flat surfaces and polyethylene tape is great for curved surfaces like door knobs. An important key in applying the tape is to keep it evenly and as smooth as possible. David suggests using a credit card to ensure even and smooth applications. â€Å"Securing the lifting tape about an inch from the edge of the print, then use the edge of the credit card to gently press the fingerprint lifting tape onto the surface† (Spraggs, 2007). This process allows for thorough adhesion of the powder and the tape ensuring that air bubbles are eliminated at the same time and being trapped in the tape. He also utilizes the credit card again when placing the tape to the fingerprint card. How Far Should Prints Be Trusted? Fingerprint analysis is not an exact science and has many potential flaws. One man was imprisoned for six years in Massachusetts for shooting a police officer, only to be released in 2004 when the fingerprint evidence that was  used to convict him was trumped by DNA. For a long time the Department of Justice contended that there was a zero error rate in fingerprint analysis. In a study conducted by FBI’s Latent Fingerprint Section in Quantico, Virginia, concluded that the chance to be mistake a fingerprint for someone else was 1 in 1097. This study was conducted on 50,000 pre-existing images and compared electronically against the whole data set, thus producing 2.5 billion comparisons. However, many advocates against the admissibility of fingerprinting continue to jump on the bandwagon and believe the study does not reflect what happens in life. In life, partial prints from a crime scene can be messy and send an invalid picture of the criminal. In an unpublished study conducted by 92 students that had one year of training where they had to match archive and fake crime scenes. The end result was 2 out of 5861 were incorrect, which produced an error rate of 0.0034% (Coghlan, 2005). Results from proficiency tests published and cited in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (Vol. 93, p. 985), report error rates occur at a 0.8% average, and have been known to be as high as 4.4%. Latent Fingerprints In 1914, Dr. Edmond Locard established the first rules on the minimum number of minutiae necessary for a positive identification. According to his study, if twelve or more concurring points are present when the fingerprint is clear the identity is â€Å"beyond debate† (Unknown, Latent Prints, n.d.). If there are eight to twelve concurring points are present the certainty of the identity will be contingent on five additional points. They are the sharpness of the print, the rarity of its type, the presence of the center of the core and the delta in the exploitable part of the print, the presence of pores, and the perfect and obvious identity regarding the width of papillary ridges and valleys, the direction of the lines and the angular value of the bifurcations. If there were less than eight points present, the fingerprints could not provide a valid and accurate identity. Dr. Locard believed that approximately 40 pores in concurrence could establish individuality (Unknown, Laten t Prints, n.d.). Fingerprint Detection: Current Capabilities Crime scene investigators use a variety of tools to help solve a case. Latent fingerprint detection and identification is among one of the greatest forensic techniques used. The value of fingerprint evidence is insurmountable. An investigator needs to know how to detect, enhance and record the print that has been left behind not visible to the human eye. Latent prints left behind at the crime scene are the most common type of fingerprint evidence, but they are also the ones that can cause the most problems, mainly because it is there, but not to the unaided eye. Utilizing optical, physical or chemical treatments to develop the print comes with precise judgment. The investigator or crime scene technician must distinguish between porous, non-porous and semi-porous surfaces; water insoluble or water soluble, etc. Just like anything else, latent fingerprints will start to deteriorate and can lead to the loss of clarity over a specific time because of numerous factors. â€Å"Elements of this process include evaporation of volatile components (e.g. moisture), diffusion (e.g. through the substrate for porous surfaces and across the surface for non-porous surfaces), decomposition (e.g. bacterial action, oxidation, chemical breakdown due to heat and light, etc.)† (Lennard, 2007). The rate of dehydration will depend on certain factors like the temperature, humidity, and exposure to sun, air currents and the surface on which the print was left. Exposure to high humidity can result in diffusion of a water soluble print, causing the print to be lost, and any detection techniques to be ineffective. Using optical detection techniques will aid in finding latent fingerprints. Luminescence will help display a weak friction ridge detail. The best optical detection is achieved by using short-wave ultraviolet (UV) light. This technique is highly effective because the light acts as a contrast between the surface by absorbing the light or reflecting it back showing the presence of print. Will DNA Replace Fingerprints in the 21st Century? The use of fingerprints to help solve crimes was first suggested by Dr. Henry Faulds in 1880. Twelve years later, fingerprints that were left in blood at the scene of a double murder in Argentina were used to convict and identify the killer. However, the first fingerprints accepted in court in the United States didn’t happen until 1911. When we are born, we have distinct patterns on the tips of our fingers that will only change under a biological variation, because once formed in womb, the ridges are permanent and unique to each individual. â€Å"Biological variation is also known as the natural law of variation and is sometimes stated as ‘Nature never repeats’† (Leo, 2005). There are three basic types of fingerprint patterns: loops, whorls, and arches. Each of these patterns are arranged to give individuals unique ridges that make up the person’s characteristics of fingerprints. It is when these ridges are examined under a microscope side by side with a known source that a person can be confirmed or eliminated as a suspect. With new technology, fingerprint evidence can be searched through automated fingerprint information systems (AFIS). Fingerprints are used to establish a person’s identity in the United States and in every other country in the world. Fingerprints are not just used as evidence in a crime (criminal history), but for employment and security clearances. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was discovered in 1911. It was also discovered that this DNA was the carrier of genetic information. However, it wasn’t until 1985 that the structure also established the uniqueness of each person. One year later, the first use of DNA in a criminal case was used to match a suspect to a double murder in England. The first case of DNA evidence admitted in a United States court didn’t happen until 1988. Since then, over thirty-five states have admitted DNA evidence in one form or another while more than twenty-five states have the population frequency data or statistics to be admissible in court (Leo, 2005). DNA evidence is found at crime scenes as the presence of blood, semen, hair, skin, and saliva. In order to make a comparison a DNA profile must be extracted from the evidence and/or a sample taken from a known individual. A DNA profile is accomplished through a process called electrophoresis. After the profile has been extracted, the results are recorded on an autorad and can be compared to other profiles. There are thirteen markers that are used to standardize a national data base called Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in the United States (Leo, 2005). To date, DNA is still emerging as we continue to move further into the technological future, and can be used for personal identification, employment, security clearance, or to track criminal histories. Every second of the day, millions of fingerprints are being searched via the automated fingerprint systems around the world. Thousands of crimes have been solved because of the fingerprint evidence left behind at the scene of the crime. In 1994, when CODIS began, there have been over 20,000 DNA matches. In Los Angeles County, California, more than 500 latent prints are matched to criminal offender on any given day (Leo, 2005). Both methods of identifying an individual play crucial roles in solving crime. Although fingerprints are still considered the â€Å"golden standard† for forensic evidence in the courtroom (Leo, 2005), DNA is moving forward in being a very important tool to combat and solve crime. However, when it comes down to it, both techniques complement each other and provide vital information to help find criminals. Works Cited Coghlan, A. &. (2005). How Far Should Prints be Trusted? New Scientist, 2517(187), 6-7. Retrieved January 21, 2013, from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&an=18376323&site=ehost-live Lennard, C. (2007, December). Fingerprint Detection: Current Capabilities. Australian Journal of Forensic Science, 39(2), 55-59. Retrieved January 21, 2013, from http://www.informaworld.com Leo, W. (2005, September/October). Will DNA Replace Fingerprints in the 21st Century. The Print, 21(5), 1-5. Retrieved January 21, 2013, from http://www.fingerprintidentification.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/dnavfingerprints.pdf Spraggs, D. (2007, February 01). How to Lift Fingerprints. Retrieved January 20, 2013, from Police Magazine: www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2007/02/how-to-lift-fingerprints.as

Genetically Modified Foods Essay

The term GM (genetically modified) food has gained controversy in the last few years, but in the first place we have to understand what GM food is and how it works, the term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is used when we refer to crop plants using different molecular biology techniques or methods to change their properties, such as to enhance their resistance to herbicides, improve nutritional content, and other properties. This seems great, but why there are people who disapprove the development and consumption of GM foods? Modifying plant genetics can have many benefits, because of the use of precise and accurate molecular techniques, the main difference between traditional breeding techniques which are not so accurate and need more time to develop, are the molecular methods that are used to modify plants. Genetic engineering can change plants genes in a short time, for example taking out a plant gene that gives low temperature resistance to the plant and insert it into another plant. The uses and varieties we can achieve are immense and can end with great results. â€Å"The world population has topped 7. 5 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways† (B. Whitman, 2000). The most common uses of genetic engineering in plants are herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought & salinity resistance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, etc. It could help even to stop malnutrition and in some years to reduce world food shortage, because the possibilities are wide. Why do people not approve of the use and consumption of these products? â€Å"Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight†. (B. Whitman, 2000). The principal reasons people disapprove GM foods are given in three main oppositions are separated into three categories, and they should not be concealed , first of all the environmental hazards as harming other organisms, reducing pesticides or herbicides effects and wrong targeting in genetic transfer (wrong species); also the human health stability and the risks genetically modifications and engineering can cause and finally the economic implications of the development and studies GM foods require. Currently, science is fastly evolving and the entire world is part of it and has to decide about changes. This is a subject we cannot be shelved. The problems GM foods may cause needs to be solved and improve constantly, because we are currently looking for solutions to the future and this may be one of them. So the challenges need to be solved and overpassed, with the required caution of avoiding damage to humans and environments, but it is clear we cannot ignore this enormous and potential technology â€Å"Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. † (SC-S. SI) Sources ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES. (1995, August). Genetically Modified Foods . Retrieved Noviembre 2013, from Safety Issues: http://pubs. acs. org/doi/pdfplus/10. 1021/bk-1995-0605. fw001 B. Whitman, D. (2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved November 2013, from http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview. php SC-S. SI. (n. d. ). GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD †¦ Is It Safe to Eat? Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www. sc-s. si/blog/wp-content/gm-foods-zp. pdf.

8 Things to Write About What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration

8 Things to Write About What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration 8 Things to Write About: What to Write About When You Lack Inspiration Youre struggling with finding things to write about- that much is clear.And you’ve decided to make that jump. Youve finally worked up the courage to write a book. Congrats!Now the daunting question of what you’re going to write rears its ugly head. What on earth can you write? What would people want to read?You find yourself at the first stumbling block, also affectionately (not) referred to as writers block.Here are 8 ways to find things to write about:Write about your passionsFiction or nonfictionWhat youre an expert inWrite about your experiencesGet ideas from friends and familyFind inspiration to write about onlineBrainstorm what to write about for a day or twoCollect a large list of ideas to write aboutNOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it here8 Things to Write About and How to Find Writing InspirationWell the good news is that all of us could write a book or two about something!Each one of us has our own unique set of experiences that others could learn from, not to mention the plethora of writing prompts and story ideas online. Figuring out what to write about simply takes some self-reflection, brainstorming, and research.Follow these next steps and you will surely find at least one future book topic!#1 Start with your passionsThe best place to start is with what brings you joy. After all, you’re going to enjoy writing your book a lot more if you enjoy the topic.Furthermore, you are more likely to really sell an idea and convince your audience of something if you’re passionate about it.Here are a few questions for finding what to write about:Whats one thing you enjoy most?What do you lose track of time doing?Where do your thoughts go when youre not paying attention?What do people describe you doing often?These things to write about could be as simple as bike riding, home organization, or cooking. It could be something more technical or complex.Take out a pen and paper, and make a list of all the things that you really love. Write them all down, whether they’re big or small. You will draw inspiration from this list, so write down everything that you can think of.#2 Choose to write fact or fictionOnce you have a good, working list of all the things you love, you need to decide something important: will your book be fact or fiction?There are so many different book genres out there that it can feel overwhelming. Hence, it’s best to get an idea of this before you start the writing process.Your passions list will really help you narrow this one down. Perhaps your love of cats could make you want to write a fiction novel about a cat who goes on adventures. Perhaps your love of home gardening could make for a great how-to book to help others who want to grow their own food. Maybe your love of ghosts could make for a good horror book. Whatever it is, your passions are th ere waiting to be turned into a book idea.Your specific genre can be modified as you begin to write. However, deciding whether your book will be fiction or about your real life, like writing a memoir, is something you need to decide before beginning the brainstorming and writing process.#3 What you’re an expert at/inEverybody is an expert in something. Do you believe me? Most people when they hear this go â€Å"oh no, not me!† After all, we are often our own worst critics.However, that’s where everyone is wrong. Each of us is an expert in something. The truth is that you don’t need a million trophies or some fancy title to be an expert. Furthermore, books written by experts don’t always sell. People love getting advice from ordinary people just like you! After all, if you can write and publish a book, so can they.You can find your expertise through a brainstorm.Much like your passion list, make another list! On this one, I want you to write down a ll of your work experience from the last 5-10 (or more!) years. I’m talking everything that you can think of such as employment, volunteer work, hobbies, and unique experiences. After you’ve spent some time on this list, start to look at the patterns: What things keep popping up?What do these things have in common?Are these things related?This list might help you see that you really are more of an expert in something that you can write about.You might not have been the boss of the company, but you might have learned more than you think working in public relations or even answering phones.#4 Pull things to write about from your experiencesYour future book inspiration doesn’t solely come from professional experience. It can come from personal experiences as well. With this, you’ll want to create another list.However, this one will be more of a brainstorm of different life experiences you’ve had.If you can’t just start making a list, start by mapping out your life.Jot down a few of these ideas to write about:Where do you live?Where are you from originally?Who are your family members?Who are your friends?Where have you traveled to?If you answer all of these questions, you will surely start to think of â€Å"that one time I †¦Ã¢â‚¬  or other memories. Write down all the words, thoughts and images that come to mind. Write down how you felt in these moments and how they affected you and youll have plenty of things to write about.When you brainstorm, let your creativity flow! Don’t worry about writing the words in a perfect list. If you feel inspired to draw, draw.These brainstorm sessions are for you and you only, so let them be as crazy as you want!#5 Get writing ideas from friends or family memberThose who know us best often see things about us that we cannot. They have the perspective of seeing our lives from the outside. If you’re thinking of writing a book, speak with someone you’re close to .They simultaneously know you best and want the best for you.Take them out for a cup of coffee and tell them that you want to publish a book. If you already have a few things to want to write about, you could run them by this person.If you don’t, you could simply ask them what they think you should write about. You might get responses like â€Å"I would love to read about your experience with _____† or â€Å"I think you could really tell this story well.†You’ll either narrow down your list of ideas or have a few new ones to add to the list!#6 Turn to the InternetThe Internet is a great place to find inspiration for what to write about. First and foremost, you want to ensure that someone hasn’t already written about what you want to write about.If it’s a broad topic such as â€Å"how to travel the world,† surely at least several people have already beaten you to the punch! However, this isn’t the end of the world.When searching , you can see how these people have written their books and think about how yours would be different. Since no one on earth is exactly like you, you certainly will have your own unique perspective to bring to the table! Only you can be you!In addition to a general Google search, use both Instagram and Pinterest to your advantage.These two social networks will bring your inspiration for what to write about- not to mention give you book marketing opportunities when you do write the book. When searching on Instagram, make sure to look at related hashtags such as this #writerinspiration one.#7 Leave all the brainstorming and discussion for a day or twoAfter you’ve brainstormed and talked with a close friend or family member, put it all down.Simply go about your life as normal going to work or school or whatever your normal routine is. You are sure to come up with more ideas or more details to add to your existing notes at the most random times. When something comes to mind, reco rd it right away!It might be good to have a notebook with you at all times or start a note on your phone. You can actually use an app like Evernote for this very purpose.After a few days of a break, come back to all your notes and decide on what you want to write about.#8 Create a list to work fromA lot of authors feel like pressure when picking their book topic. It is kind of scary to pick an idea and then write several hundred pages on it.However, remind yourself that choosing an idea to write about does not obligate you to write an entire book about it. You might start by writing the outline or the first few chapters and realize that you’d rather write about a different topic. That’s okay!Creating a large list of ideas will help you when youre just not feeling one idea anymore- whether youre writing a book or simply a blog post.Get out that notebook and get to work!The best time to get started brainstorming your perfect idea is now! Don’t wait around and let fear get the better of you.Get out your notebook and start making these lists. Write down every word, thought or image that comes to your mind!Are you ready to move forward with your idea?Weve got your next steps!If you want to take your book from idea to full outline to published book (in as little as 90 days), we have the process for you right here

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

Module 1 - Essay Example It focuses on how people live and survive in particular places and how they govern themselves, organize themselves, and create meaning. It bases its discussion on gender, social classes, the different races, nationality of individuals and sexuality. Sociocultural anthropology analyses findings from many areas of the economy. These include work, health, ecology, education, agriculture, social change and environment (Nanda & Warms, 2011). Sociocultural anthropology is a good area of study as it is the study of the most important part of human life. Such areas as work, education, and health form the base of human activities. Study of such areas has many advantages. It helps a person to understand others and know exactly how to handle different groups of people (Nanda & Warms, 2011). This will help a lot in my career as it will help me in handling my colleagues at the place of work. When in a position such a manager or a supervisor, it will help one to know how to handle the different em ployees at the place of work. It also helps one to understand all the differences between the different societies. One is able to know the strengths and weaknesses of the way of life of the different communities that exist (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2012). This will then help one in his career to know how to handle colleagues and managers. ... From the study, one is also able to understand the meaning of religion, community and family. This helps to appreciate the reaction of individuals in different situations at the place of work (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2012). This also equips one with knowledge on how to deal with the community members at the place of work. This may include the customers at the place of work and all other associates to the place of work. It enables for the presence of good understanding between community members and the business people (Jacoby & Kibbee, 2007). This includes the managers at the place of work and the employees. This understanding and integration boosts the smooth running of business activities and acquisition of necessary good for business. This can include such things as workers, business partners, investors into to business, raw materials and assets such as land for the expansion of the business (Nanda & Warms, 2011). Cultural lens is an approach of analyzing culture in different dimensio ns. It is an analytical system that helps experts to analyze and understand the cultural values, structures and assets in different cultural setups (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2012). This analysis helps in the understanding of the weaknesses and strengths in the different cultures. Use of cultural lens tries to clarify sociocultural assets and realities of societies in focus. It also explains the internal cultural tensions in conjunctions with the objectives of the various sub cultures (Ferraro & Andreatta, 2012). This study can then help the analyst to develop many skills on how to deal with the different communities. It helps one to develop skills on how to deal with communities, individuals and interest groups in a particular culture.

External Analysis of the Automotive Industry Essay

External Analysis of the Automotive Industry - Essay Example rm has concentrated and accelerated its development of hybrid vehicles by providing customers with attractive and appealing cars people truly want, the chairman added (ibid.). The big opportunity for Toyota is to capitalize on its excellent goodwill and customer loyalty with the production of reliable automotive vehicles. Its Prius model is still regarded as the best-ever car among 300 models that are eco-friendly (Ikematsu & Honma, 2010, p. 1). However, the current fiasco over the Prius recalls (500,000 units recalled so far) due to sticky pedals and unintended acceleration has put Toyota in a bad light and together with the 8 million other Toyota models recalled worldwide, has put into question Toyotas manufacturing expertise and its priorities. Previously, the two earlier heads of Toyota (Sakichi and Kiichiro Toyoda, grandfather and father, respectively, of current president Akio Toyoda) had always emphasized the customer first in all its corporate decisions. This means Toyota has acquired a very excellent reputation for quality, performance, comfort, good mileage and a low price. But some independent analysts are of the opinion Toyotas present troubles are self-inflicted as it had strayed away from its original founders mission statement of serving the customers first. Priorities during Toyotas early years were always safety, quality and sales (a distant third) but the current presidents obsession to surpass the achieve ments of his predecessors by becoming the worlds number one maker (achieved in 2008 by eclipsing GM) led to quality problems. Instead, the obsessive drive to become number one caused Toyota some missteps that had greatly eroded its great brand name and excellent reputation for quality craftsmanship in the minds of consumers and other stakeholders. The year 2008 also saw the company posting its only second loss (but biggest) ever in its corporate history to the tune of US$4.8 billion. It had jumbled its priorities and put sales first and