Two Gallants Are Callous Men Essays - Dubliners, Two Gallants

Two Gallants Are Callous Men 'Two Gallants are Callous Men' Try not to let the title fool you. Two Gallants, written by James Joyce, is a short story centered around two callous men. One, Corley, is an older man of some rudeness and has a taste for womanizing. The other is a self-conscience, older man of some weight, named Lenehan. The story begins with a light approach, description of the evening weather and the ?illumined pearl? lamps of the street. All of Joyce's stories found in the work, The Dubliners, have a poetic quality that makes the simplest of remarks, beautiful. This story in particular has the evident use of eloquent and flowing language but, in keeping with Joyce's style, is used to mask the perverse subject matter. Underneath the language and examining the adolescent drives in two grown, callous men, is where the real story lies. As told by Joyce, Corley is an entertaining man who gives the reader pause as pertaining to his adolescent treatment of women. As read by a careful eye, Corley seeks the company of well-to-do girls as a prize and pay off. Through the beginning of the story, he tells his companion, Lenehan, about his latest encounter and his eminent one as well. Often referred to, is the question, as Lenehan puts it, ?Corley I suppose you'll be able to pull it off alright(31), this referring to Corley's congress with the girl. Lenehan's interest stretches to the point where he wishes permission to see the girl up close, by walking by the two as a stranger, and even follow the two. This voyeurism displays as evidence of perverse subject matter in the piece. The title is meant as an obvious joke because the two characters are as far from gallants as horses are from dogs. This show of cynicism reflects throughout the story not only the conversations between the main characters but also in Joyce's prose. Corley begins his journey as a night walk with his girl, departing from Lenehan who in turn, after following the two like a spy, makes his way to a bar. Lenehan has spurts of contemplation in which time he criticizes his own habits, vices and position in life, ?He was tired of knocking about, of pulling the devil by the tail, of shifts and intrigues. He would be thirty-one in November. Would he never get a good job? Would he never have a home of his own?(35)? This criticism reflects the need for the ?two gallants? to moralize their dealings with the opposite sex and the world at large. When Lenehan is at the spot the two, Corley and himself, had agreed upon to meet, he is made to wait ten or fifteen minutes. During this short span of time, Lenehan speculates the reason of his friend's lateness. Ideas so far fetched that Lenehan begins to think that Corley will abandon the agreed plan and him. This distrust existing in Lenehan's mind, of his own friend, edifies the presence of immoral drives and values. Although his paranoid speculation was unwarranted, it still existed as a possibility in Lenehan's stout mind. The last the reader sees of the ?two gallants? is outside the girl's house. Here is the place in the story the reader is lead to the assumption that Corley is paid for his company. The girl is lead to her home and although she enters, Corley stays outside on the sidewalk. His waiting is met by the re-emergence of the girl, who now carries in her hand a gold coin. The two exchanges the gold coin and Corley walks to meet his fellow ?gallant?, which waits, watching the two, from across the street. When the question, is again, put forth by Lenehan, ?Did it come off Corley's only reply is the raising of the gold coin. Book Reports

How The Simpsons Affects Kids Essays - The Simpsons, Free Essays

How The Simpsons Affects Kids Essays - The Simpsons, Free Essays How The Simpsons Affects Kids The Simpsons is one of Americas most popular television shows. It ranks as the number one television program for viewers under eighteen years of age. However, the ideals that The Simpsons conveys are not always wholesome, sometimes not even in good taste. It is inevitable that The Simpsons is affecting children. Matt Groening took up drawing to escape from his troubles in 1977. At the time, Groening was working for the L.A. Reader, a free weekly newspaper. He began working on Life in Hell, a humorous comic strip consisting of people with rabbit ears. The L.A. Reader picked up a copy of his comic strip and liked what they saw. Life in Hell gradually became a common comic strip in many free weeklies and college newspapers across the country. It even developed a cult status. (Varhola, 1) Life in Hell drew the attention of James L. Brooks, producer of works such as Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Terms of Endearment. Brooks originally wanted Groening to make an animated pilot of Life in Hell. Groening chose not to do so in fear of loosing royalties from papers that printed the strip. Groening presented Brooks with an overweight, balding father, a mother with a blue beehive hairdo, and three obnoxious spiky haired children. Groening intended for them to represent the typical American family "who love each other and drive each other crazy". Groening named the characters after his own family. His parents were named Homer and Margaret and he had two younger sisters named Lisa and Maggie. Bart was an anagram for "brat". Groening chose the last name "Simpson" to sound like the typical American family name. (Varhola, 2) Brooks decided to put the 30 or 60 second animations on between skits on The Tracy Ullman Show on the unsuccessful Fox network. Cast members Dan Castellaneta and Julie Kavner did the voices of Homer and Marge. Yeardley Smith (later to star in Herman's Head) did the voice of Lisa. Nancy Cartwright did the voice of Bart. Cartwright previously supplied the voices for many cartoons, including Galaxy High, Fantastic Max, Richie Rich, Snorks, Pound Puppies, My Little Pony, and Glo-Friends. Tracy Ullman later added Cartwright to her cast. (Dale and Trich, 11) Brooks, Groening, and Sam Simon, Tracy Ullman's producer, wanted to turn the Simpson family into their own show. The Fox network was looking for material to appeal to younger viewers. The only show they had that drew a young audience was Married With Children. To Fox's pleasure, The Simpsons saved the network from near failure. (Varhola, 3) On December 17, 1989, The Simpsons got their break. The Christmas special, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" aired. (Dale and Trich, 19) In the episode, Bart got a tattoo, much to Marge's dislike. She quickly spent all of the family's Christmas money to remove Bart's tattoo with a laser. At the same time, Homer, still on his morning coffee break at 4:00 in the afternoon, learns that he will not receive a Christmas bonus. When he learns that Marge is relying on the money for Christmas, he decides that he will do the Christmas shopping for the year. He quickly buys Marge panty hose, Bart paper, Lisa crayons, and Maggie a dog toy. When he realizes that he is not doing very well, he gets a second job as a mall Santa for the extra money. On the way home from work, he steals a Christmas tree. The next day at the mall, Bart sits on his Dad's lap and pulls down his beard. Homer responds by choking Bart and making him help make Christmas better. On Christmas Eve, Homer receives his check, $13.70 for over 40 hours work. Homer takes Bart to the dog track as a final chance for Christmas money. They discovered a gem in the third race, Santa's Little Helper. How could this dog lose on Christmas Eve? The odds were 99 to 1, they were going to be rich. Homer put all of his money on Santa's Little Helper, and to his horror, he never even finished. As Homer and Bart were scouring the parking lot for winning tickets into the night, they saw the track manager throw

Bob Marley's Weapon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bob Marley's Weapon - Essay Example Miller provides a very apt interpretation of this real 'weapon' of Marley which also indicates his political and revolutionary concerns. "Bob Marley often used to say, 'My guitar is my weapon.' What he meant, of course, was that he could make more of a statement about the futility of oppression and violence with his revolutionary reggae music than he ever could by fighting or organizing physical uprisings." (Miller) Through the strength of his music, Marley was able to influence the political and cultural transformation of his land and he was aware from his childhood that race was culture. The great political and revolutionary concerns of the musician were enlarged by the power of his music and through the medium of his guitar he achieved international acclaim for the same concerns. The most influencing elements in the musical and political ideologies of this renowned musician were race and culture.

Brief on Reasonable Doubt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brief on Reasonable Doubt - Essay Example ndard in criminal cases started even during the ancient times which became formalized in the phrase â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt† that occurred in the late 1798 (American Law Review, 642). In common law jurisdictions, this is now an accepted standard wherein the prosecution must be able to convince the trier that all the elements of guilt have been satisfied (Broun, 341). The United States Supreme Court on one occasion in 1970, explained that the due process clause proof beyond reasonable doubt of the essential facts of a crime charged against the accused, is the standard that guards the accused against an innocent person that may be found guilty (In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970). In the trial of cases, the jury is always instructed to apply reasonable doubt test to determine the innocence or guilt of the accused (U.S. v. Pepe, 501 F.2d 1142, 1143 (10th Cir. 1974). However defining reasonable doubt is not required by Courts (Torres v. State, 2003 WL 21757509 (Tex. App. El Paso 2003). There were attempts to define what reasonable doubt is. In the Commonwealth v. Webster, reasonable doubt has been defined as, â€Å"that state which, after the entire comparison and consideration of all the evidence, leaves the minds of jurors in that condition that they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charge,† Commonwealth v. Webster, 59 Mass. (5 Cush.) 295, 320 (1850). In another case, reasonable doubt has been explained to be that which is â€Å"founded upon a real tangible substantial basis and not upon mere caprice and conjecture,† (Cage v. Louisiana, 498 U.S. 39, 111 S. Ct. 328, 112 L. Ed. 2d 339 (1990). It is that doubt which would raise ‘grave uncertainty’ in ones mind because of insufficient or the lack of evidence in prosecuting a person of a crime (Bergman and Hollander, 4). Such a doubt must be an ‘actual substantial doubt’ that a reasonable man can assess (Bergman and Hollander, 2008). The certainty of

Culture and Society in Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Culture and Society in Japan - Essay Example They also attend the university for four years or join the community college for two years. Buckley (1998) indicates that of the total number of students, 90percent, and more graduate from high school. However, in higher learning institutions, at least 40 percent graduates, this shows the importance of education in the society of Japan. Those with disabilities are also considered but under separate schools. The country is keen to provide all individuals with equal educational opportunities hence, known to be one of the countries with high literacy rates in the world. According to Shields (2004), the year for most schools in Japan begins in April and has three terms. These terms are separated by spring, winter and summer holidays. However, the summer break is just one month. Students have an option to or not join the kindergarten when beginning. In 2000, the numbers of children in school were estimated to be half the total population of Japan. This was opposed to the requirements of t he state. According to Japan’s educational system rules, children who join the kindergarten must be 3 years and above and their parents have to meet the tuition fee required. At the age of 6 to 12 years, children attend elementary school known as Shogakkou. This is the first phase of the compulsory education in Japan (Okimoto and Rohlen, 1998). The curriculum in the Elementary school is divided into moral education, subjects, and special education. The subjects that are studied include languages, arithmetic, and life environmental studies, physical and moral education. In the special activities, students get involved in several club events. In this phase, students have play breaks and go on recess. Those between the age of 12 and 15 attend Chugakkou, which is junior high school. This phase is crucial for all students as it determines the future of an individual student. The performance here determines if one will get admission to a good senior high school or not. Joining a go od senior high school increases the chances of an individual to join the best universities and later attain a better career in life. In this phase, students have to extend after school and are required to attend Juku. Juku is a cram school that is meant to help students increase their knowledge grasping power and bright students are pushed to the next phase. Juku also assists students in the preparation of exams meant for high school entry. Entrance exams enable students compete for the best high schools. It is normal for students to be in school for 12 hours. This excludes the homework given and other different activities. This pressure on Japanese students prepares them to compete for high school positions. According to Dore and Sako (1989) the Japanese education System has special arrangements where students can also work full time, while attending senior high school part time. The Japanese education system has the following outstanding features that include; first, schooling occ upies childhood and adolescence stages completely, secondly, the development of the compulsory education both pre and post is privatized. Thirdly, under the single-track system, general education is preferred. Fourth, classmates are automatically promoted according to seniority. Fifth, the number of non-Japanese students and adults enrolled in different schools in Japan is low. Sixth, the country is known to have high education achievement

Procurement Purchasing Supplier

Procurement Purchasing Supplier After having investigated briefly in general the concept of procurement and the emergence of the concept of procurement , it is imperative for us in this chapter to delve in detail the analysis of the concept of procurement , the various theories which have been predicated at the international level and their relevance for our study under investigation . We would also have to critically scrutinise how the different models of procurement effectiveness measurements can help us in our analysis to delve in greater detail the relevance of procurement from the perspective of SOM . It is important that we have to undertake a holistic approach in the investigation of procurement practices and procurement effectiveness in our literature Review chapter for this forms the foundation of our secondary research. Our primary research which would be delved in detail in the subsequent chapters would be further developed on the strong foundations of this chapter. In the final analysis we would be util ising in adequate measure the concepts from the secondary research as they develop in this chapter and couple it with our derivations from primary research to gain a greater in-depth understanding of procurement practices in Shell Oman and hypothesize relevant recommendations and remedial solutions for bringing about effective changes in the present operational systems at SOM Definition of Procurement Relevance : it is important for our study to understand clearly the meaning and exact phraseology behind procurement for the purposes of investigation of procurement practices in SOM . Since Procurement is an extremely broad concept which has applicability from strategic , operations and tactical level , various definitions would have to be looked into and strategically decipher their level of applicability for our purpose of investigation . Procurement, purchasing, and supplier management are all terms used extensively. They may mean the same or sometimes may have significant differences. Since the term procurement covers many areas, from operational to strategic levels, Knudsen (1999) has summarized the different terms, used for acquiring good and services in the following table. Level Term Meaning Strategic Supply Management To be aware of the strategic impact of procurement and fully exploit it by formulating a supply strategy Tactical Procurement To satisfy internal demands with external sources which adhere to objectives set at the strategic level Operational Purchasing The minimum activities required to obtain external products or services that result in invoice from an external source Timo et al (2005), argued in their document, the quantitative definition of purchasing is not accurate and suggest to a broader scope of purchasing, adding pensions, other personnel costs, financial expenses and increase in assets within the scope. They define Purchasing as: â€Å"Invoices or payments based on exchange of physical objects, services or rights†. There are two basic types of purchasing in the business world: (1) Purchasing for resale and (2) purchasing for consumption or conversion (Dobler and Burt, 1996). Purchasing for resale is performed primarily by merchants. Industrial buyers buy materials, services etc. for manufacturing companies, service business, institutions, utilities, and various government agencies. Other definitions of Procurement are as follows: Procurement is the acquisition of systems, goods or services at the best possible total cost of ownership, in the right quantity, at the right time, in the right place for the direct benefit or use of the governments, corporations, or individuals generally via, but not limited to a contract. (Project Management Body of Knowledge, 2000) Procurement is the process of acquiring goods, works and services, covering both acquisition from third parties and from in-house providers. The process spans the whole life from identification of need, through to the end of a service contract or the end of the useful life of an asset. It involves options appraisal and the critical â€Å"make or buy† decision which may result in the provision of services in-house in appropriate circumstances. (The Procurement process The Buyers Magazine, 2000). In the context of a procurement process, obtaining â€Å"best value for money† means choosing the bid that offers â€Å"the optimum combination of whole life cost and benefits to meet the customers requirement†.† (National Procurement Strategy for Local Government in England, 2003) The Importance of Procurement Relevance : The importance of procurement in the changing face of corporate scenario of today is all the more important as there is a greater strategic interface between the procurement department and the other key departments within functional global corporate entities . In this regard the study of importance of procurement as a terminology would help us in understanding and appreciating the strategic shift in focus of procurement operations from tactical to a crucial strategic level . This would help us in highlighting the importance of procurement practices in organisations such as SOM under investigation Many authors wrote about the importance of procurement function in todays organization and how it can impact the bottom line. Different terms are used in the literature, Procurement, Purchasing or Supply management but they all apply to the process of acquiring goods and services for the business, which account for a huge corporate expenditure. The following main objectives show how the procurement function can contribute to a companys competitiveness (Axelsson et al, 2005): †¢ Cost optimisation (e.g. lower transaction costs and overhead costs) †¢ Asset utilisation (e.g. outsourcing and inventory management) †¢ Value creation (e.g. process/products development and quality improvement) According to Procurement strategy council, the procurement function today is viewed as an important component of a firms strategic arsenal, the modern purchasing department can reduce a firms operational expenditure through streamlined purchasing and price reductions for goods and services. The article discuss that a smart purchasing can reduce costs 20% to 30%, freeing up funds to be used elsewhere. The realization that purchasing can impact bottom line saving has elevated procurements strategic importance. (Procurement Strategy Council, 2001) Improving the Bottom Line Reductions in Procurement Costs Directly Affect Net Income Income Statement (in millions US$) Initial 3% Reduction in OR Revenues $1000$1000 Operating Resources (OR) $350 $339 Direct Materials$220$220 Wages, Salaries, Benefits$200$200 Depreciation$110 $110 Taxes $60$60 Net Income After Taxes $60$71 Reducing purchasing costs translates directly into bottom line savings. By lowering OR costs by $11 million, a firm directly raises its after tax income by the same amount. Source: (Procurement Strategy Council, 2001) Further, van Weele describes in his book, ways that procurement can contribute to the companys competitiveness. They play a critical role in quality assurance by working with suppliers to ensure higher quality standards regarding incoming goods and services. Procurement can also effect how quickly a firm reacts to changes in demand, through increased involvement in supply chain coordination and inventory management. In addition, by reducing purchasing costs the function can contribute to substantial price reductions of the end product. The leverage effect of purchasing can be considerable depending on the purchasing-to-sales ratio and the capital turnover ratio. (van Weele, 2005) Nowadays companies outsource most of their activities, increasing their reliance on the competitiveness of their suppliers. . (J. Hamilton, 2002). As a support case study, the case of Toyota cars (Japan), can be highlighted, wherein 83% of all activities are outsourced form various global suppliers. (Toyota, 2000). This makes the process of procurement quintessential and in fact the most important, in todays business world. If a company procures the right quality products, at the right price, with the right delivery schedule, only then and then alone can it remain productive and competitive in todays environment (Ian McMillan, 2005) This shows that if the procurement process is not right, then the company product, the company image, competitiveness et al would surely take a dive. According to van Weele, â€Å"This is why management has become increasingly aware of the purchasing function†. Once regarded as a reactive activity, the procurement and sourcing process at leading firms is at the forefront of responding to and creating change. (Procurement Strategy Council, 2001) Within the past year, several new research initiatives from different relevant perspectives prove persuasively that excellence in procurement can lead to a host of proven, quantifiable business benefits (Procurement Strategy council, 2001). Lower operating costs, higher ROI, and a direct contribution to the bottom line are among the principal advantages that have been documented. The increased impact from purchasing on corporate performance is supported by a study recently conducted by IBM Business Consulting Services. In the study, called The 2005 Chief Procurement Survey, purchasing managers and other people in leading positions at companies around the world were interviewed concerning the current and future role of purchasing. Many reasons to the increased importance are pointed out, for example the growth in outsourcing, corporate restructuring and increased supplier value adding and risk. (The 2005 Chief Procurement Survey, 2005) Another study, conducted by business consultancy Archstone Consulting, found that nearly 90 percent of participants agreed that procurement plays a strategic role in the competitiveness of their organization, but needs to be further elevated in the organizational hierarchy to be truly effective. (Supply and Demand Chain Executives, 2004) The best-practice companies truly understand the power of procurement, says Pierre Mitchell, a director at The Hackett Group, which recently concluded an in-depth research into the procurement practices of more than 300 companies, found that world-class organizations generate 133 percent greater return on their investment in procurement than the average companies. The bottom line is that world-class companies continue to take a very different view of procurement, looking at it as an investment rather than as a cost center, says Mitchell. This is how they generate the millions of dollars in additional savings that other companies dont see. (Quinn, 2005) Ready or not, procurement is moving to center stage, with top billing on the corporate agenda. At companies around the world, CEOs and boards are counting on procurement initiatives to keep their businesses favourable positioned in todays intensely competitive marketplace. (The Global CPO Survey, 2005) To understand the new found omnipotence of the procurement process in organisational hierarchy, it is imperative to understand the stages of development of the process, right from its inception (Quinn, 2005). Historical Development Relevance : The historical development of procurement would help us to analyse the changing face and role of global procurement practices and understand critically how over the years the concept of procurement has begun to occupy the one of the centre stages for corporate performance . As would be revealed in this section we would find that procurement can no longer be visualised as an isolated entity but has to be strongly viewed as an inherent and integral part of the process of company operations. The historical development of procurement would add on a chronological dimension to understand the growing importance of procurement over the past decades . In the early 1970s, Ansoff, opined that the purchasing process played a passive role in the business organization and did not have any strategic role. (Ellram and Carr, 1994). The 1973-74 oil crisis and related raw materials shortages drew significant attention to the importance of purchasing. However, top management and purchasing professionals, did not react to enhance the role of purchasing in corporate strategy until when Porter came with his famous five force model that shape the competitive nature of industry, identified buyers and suppliers as two of the five critical forces. Thus, the strategic importance of the supplier and the firm as a buying entity began receiving recognition in the mainstream strategy literature. (Ellram and Carr, 1994). Since then 1980s the attitude toward procurement was changes and evolving to a more strategic level. According to the procurement strategy council article, the procurements movement from a tactical to a more strategic role in corporate operations is predicated on a broader shift in corporate strategy. Before World War II, purchasing departments accounted for barely 20% of corporate expenditures. Today, purchasing departments are responsible for 50% to 70% of corporate expenditures. This explanation is supported by Monczka et al. First, that the role of purchasing is presently being reshaped in order to fit the modern economy. This is related to the increasing globalisation, technology development and changing consumer demands. Another conclusion, according to Monczka et al, is that purchasing must continue its integration with customers, information systems, operations etc. (Monczka et al, 2000) The following table shows a compilation of strategic and operation tasks carried out in the procurement function. Strategic Procurement Identify necessary capabilities to match the customers needs regarding flexibility, innovation, agility, quality, responsiveness, cost levels and price levels Assess ones own capabilities (Knowledge, technology, capacity, competence, long term importance, total cost) Assess supplier capabilities (knowledge, technology, capacity, competency, long term imprtance, total cost, type of market, localisation, and substitutability) Model cost drives for items purchased Model Single/ Multiple sourcing effect on total cost Model how supplier relationship affect total cost (cost benefit of engaging in a close supplier relationship) For close supplier relationships share information and knowledge and make relation-specific investments Procurement Process Identify needs Conduct market analysis Send out and expedite RFx Do Background review Negotiate contracts and select suppliers Purchase order fulfilment Monitor supplier performance Internal Tasks Analyse corporate spending Parts bundling Aggregated corporate expenditures Develop relationships with internal customers Reduce maverick buying and promote compliance Disseminating procurement relation information External Tasks Scan for innovations Monitor, disseminate and stimulate Develop new sources Foster external capabilities Source Strategic Procurement Council, 2001. Value Improvement (Value Based Procurement The Organisational Quintessential) Relevance : It is important for us to understand the concept behind value improvements or value based procurement . The fact that tangible and intangible values could be quantified to procurement products and services makes the study of procurement systems all the more interesting for definitive mathematical extrapolation of the relevant results. Value systems and the ability to attribute value systems makes the procurement operational systems multidimensional and unique . Furthermore this is a system which could be aptly applied for effecting improvements in procurement systems for SOM, therefore a thorough investigation of the relevant concept is deemed important for our investigation . To be successful in business, we need to satisfy our customer by providing them with something they perceive as value. Since we are dealing with internal customers and suppliers, the concept of value becomes vital, which is directly linked to customer satisfaction. High customer satisfaction means their needs are met at high level. The customers will be satisfied if the product or service provides them with value. The term ‘value is used in every day business language however it is often misused and misunderstood. The concept of value has many definitions (Zeithaml, 1988; Anderson et al., 1993; Monroe, 1990; Gale, 1994; Woodruff, 1997) but generally they are not distinct. Common themes throughout these definitions are that (Dumond, 2000): Customer value is linked to the use of a product or service, thereby removing it from personal values; Customer value is perceived by the customers rather than objectively determined by the seller; and Customer value typically involves a trade-off between what the customer receives (e.g. quality, benefits, worth) and what he or she gives up to acquire and use a product or service (e.g. price, sacrifices). The concept of value is important for this study since our purpose is to illustrate value improvement initiatives to enhance the current procurement system with Shell Oman Marketing. According to Hill (2005), value can be classified under two headings: Use Value: The properties and qualities that accomplish the function of service or product. Esteem value: the properties, features or attractiveness that causes people to want to own or use it. Value, therefore, consists of a combination of use and esteem properties related to the cost of providing them. However, the measure of value added is directly linked to customer satisfaction. The measurement of procurement activities based on traditional efficiency report, and short terms savings doesnt support value base procurement. In order to reflect shift in the focus in procurement activities, new measurement techniques must be target at those activates which reflect value to the stakeholder. (Butler, 1995). An interesting study conducted by Dumond (1994) about creating a value base procurement. Based on his finding, many firms the operating environment does not support value-based purchasing. Senior management plays a critical role in developing an environment that will support and encourage value-based purchasing, the following steps are recommended: Focus individual purchasers on customers needs and identify the value-adding processes Develop a performance measurement system that emphasizes quality, process improvement, and customer satisfaction Integrate purchasing into the firms communication system (elevate if needed) Educate-not only individual purchasers but also their customers. 2.4Value Analysis Framework To analysis value in a system, it will be useful to the use the value analysis procedure, which is discussed in Terry Hill book of Operation Management (2005). The steps involved are: Select the service or product Gather information about it Analysis its function and its value for money Generate alternative ways to provide the same function through speculation and brain-storming Assess the worth of these ideas. Decide what is to be done Implement the decisions Evaluate the result EFQM Excellence Model Relevance : EFQM system analysis is extremely important for our investigation because EFQM model based on European models of operational management and Quality management help us through an exhaustive interface between strategic inputs and outputs to measure the effectiveness of procurement systems and delve on the findings to derive adequate strengths and measures for any procurement operational system . Since our investigation is essentially based on finding the points of improvement in SOM and capitalising on the strengths an understanding of the relevant model is highly warranted for our investigation and proposed study . Moreover since EFQM model visualise the operational mechanics of procurement system from multidimensional angles it is imperative for us to investigate the mechanics of operation of EFQM model in sufficient details for finding the relevant applicability for our study under investigation . The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) is widely discussed in the literature and many organizations have applied it as a tool for assessing all aspects of an organisations activities and results. According to EFQM, the model is intended to promote continuous improvement and is an aid to effective benchmarking. Excellence Model was introduced at the beginning of 1992 as the framework for assessing organisations for the European Quality Award. Now it became the most widely used organisational framework in Europe and considered as the basis for the majority of national and regional Quality Awards. 2.4.2Benefit of EFQM The EFQM Excellence Model  is a  business model tool  that can be applied in many different ways: As a business model for being able to assess independently the competency of the organization by the organisation itself. As a measure to benchmark other organisational functioning and strategy. As an improvement tool for highlighting areas to improve. As a common denominator, standard measurement scale or a common vocabulary. As a structural guide for the management of any organisation. The fundamentals of the EFQM Excellence model are based on nine criterions which are cannot be prescribed and such are practical in nature and application. Five of these are Enablers and four are Results. What a particular organisation does, those factors qualify as ‘Enablers†. The achievement of an organisation qualifies as the Results Criterion. Results are caused by Enablers and Enablers are improved using feedback from Results. Excellent results with respect to Performance, Customers, People and Society are achieved through Leadership driving Policy and Strategy that is delivered through People, Partnerships and Resources, and Processes. (Procurement modelling-a discussion, Harvard Review Press, 1996) The Fundamental Concept of EFQM Excellence Model are: Results Orientation Every organisation should look for the outcome of â€Å"enablers† to delight customers. . Customer Focus Excellence is creating sustainable customer value. Leadership and Constancy of Purpose Excellence is visionary backed by inspirational leadership, with constancy of purpose. . Management by Processes and Facts Excellence is managing the organisation through a set of interdependent and interrelated systems, processes and facts. People Development and Involvement Excellence is maximising employee contribution through employee development and involvement. Continuous Learning, Innovation and Improvement Excellence is challenging the status quo and bringing change by learning and innovation. Partnership Development Excellence is developing and maintaining value-adding partnerships. Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence is exceeding the minimum regulatory framework in which the organisation operates and to strive to understand and respond to the expectati ons of their stakeholders in society (Harvard Review Press, 1996) 2.5 Procurement Value Improvement Framework (The Shell Oman perspective) The structure of literature is in line with the value analysis framework. First, we identified the service we want to investigate, which procurement activities in Shell Oman Marketing. Secondly, we provided information about the procurement function in Shell Oman and its structure. Thirdly, we use Soft System Methodology (SSM), which is strong in analyzing a holistic situation and capture qualitative data. The SSM will only be used to develop understanding of the challenges exist in the current system. Unstructured Interview is strong in determine many qualities aspect which will be useful in revealing out issues and problems that other method of research can meet this object effectively. Therefore, to get different perception, it will be useful to carry out a survey through an interview with five key internal business stakeholders to analysis the strength and weakness of current contract and procurement activities. Fourthly, we dig in the literature and journals to search for ways o f adding value improvement to procurement function. Plus, interviews with two large companies in similar field to identifying the industry best practice in procurement function. Fifthly, an analysis of all the procurement best practices generated from above stage, which will be discussed in chapter 4 in detail. Sixthly, in chapter 5, based on the analysis, we will recommend the way forward. Unfortunately, this research will be limited at the recommendation stage and will not have the opportunity to implement and evaluation the result. 2.6The Purchasing Maturity (Organisational Stratagem) We can observe that the purchasing role in providing added value has evolved and has been modified along with the importance and the place taken by purchasing in organizations. In figure 3 the main values added by purchasing are related to each of the evolution stages towards purchasing maturity (van Weele, 1998). In the first stage the main value added by purchasing is by assuring the continuity of the supply. In the second stage the already purchased items have an increased importance in companys costing cost structure. The role of purchasing then left is to minimize material costs and improve /up the bottom line. Stage 3 would center on co-ordination between various departments .The main values added by purchasing are greater compliance with pre-negotiated contracts, uniform buying policies and systems and capturing the benefits from internal co-ordination. The next stage lays stress on use of inter-functional teams and the reduction pf the total systems costs satisfaction of the internal customer seems to be the main focus of purchasing then. The supply orientation stage envisages the selection of suppliers on strategic company guidelines, requirements, long-term relationships design, supplier network management and early involvement in the new product development process. In the final s tage the main goal is to design the most effective and efficient value chain possible to serve the end customer. This last stage is characterized by an extensive use of cross- functional supplier development teams and a close collaboration on advance technology with suppliers. (Telgen Sitar, 2001) 2.7 Categories of Value Added Procurement The literature review highlights five main categories of value added procurement which are representative and important for every organization: Better contracts Improved purchasing efficiency Customer satisfaction (improved quality and service) Closer and more cooperative relationships with suppliers Reduced costs, improved quality and increased time to market resulting from an early involvement of the purchasing department in the new product development process (NPD). The first four categories of values added are based on Leenders and Schiele (1999). Basically, the researcher took one aspect from each of the above categories of value added. The role of the purchasing department should be considered from all possible angles and viewpoints. There is an increasing contribution of the purchasing department in the new process development in todays organisations, with specific and special interests in -the contribution of the purchasing department in the areas of quality, cost and time to market resulting from an early involvement of the purchasing department in the NPD process. The Resource Based View of Procurement Relevance : The analysis of this model for procurement is important for adding diversity to our investigation of procurement systems and their mechanics . Resource based view of procurement is one of the important views for procurement practices from the global perspective especially from the point of view of competing firms in highly dense and competitive markets , where because of oligopoly of procurement practising firms each firm would have to build a set of unique identifiable resources to capitalise on a

Cocaine :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For many centuries people have used different drugs for various reasons. Depending on which decade you are in there are particular drugs of preference and abundant usage. Cocaine is most commonly used among 18-25 year olds rather then other age groups. I chose cocaine because it is what effects people my age most commonly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cocaine was first used in the late 1800’s as a local anesthetic during surgeries. Cocaine is considered the most potent stimulant of natural origin. Cocaine can be used in many different ways. Snorting cocaine is the quickest way to use the drug. The drug is snorted through the nose and absorbed by the nasal tissues and spread through the blood stream. The quickest way to feel the impact of the drug is through injection. The drug is directly injected into the bloodstream causing immediate effects. The last way is inhalation. Cocaine can also be smoked by which it is inhaled into the lungs then into the bloodstream. Inhalation can be as rapid as injection. Another form of cocaine is known as crack. Crack is processed with ammonia or baking soda and water; it is then heated to a smoke able consistency.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in 2002 there were an estimated 1,059,000 new cocaine users in the United States. The average age of those who first used cocaine during the year was 20.3 years. Sadly in 2003-2004 approximately 34.9 million Americans over age 12 had tried cocaine at least once. The numbers are sad and shocking but amazingly continue to increase throughout the years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many health factors and risks arise with the use of cocaine. Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted blood vessels and increased temperature, heart rate, dilated pupils, increased energy and increased blood pressure. Cocaine use in its early stages is often hard to detect. Some of the signs of possible cocaine use are, nosebleeds, lose of appetite, stealing from loved ones for money, and lying. A cocaine user, once dependant, will experience stomach cramps, increased heart rate and random cold sweats. Some other long-term effects of the use of cocaine are paranoia, irritability, restlessness, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances and many others. Users may also experience feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety (NIDA). Many people who inhale the drug may suffer from acute respiratory problems including coughing, shortness of breath, and severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding.

A. Grocery Store/Courthouses

The courthouse is found on the grocery store’s premises itself. While there are court hearings, the pungent smell of cheese and other strong-smelling meat which Starky is able to identify with his nose, and not with being able to read labels. The overpowering smell plus the proximity of where food is stored to where justice is supposed to be upheld suggests that there is not much respect given to justice in the place. B. The de Spains’ mansion Compared to the other buildings, the deSpains’ mansion becomes more opulent. It has a gate that protects it from the outside world and even a covered walkway.Before reaching the big house, one must pass through a wide driveway. The mansion is representative of the luxurious life of the Southern landowners. C. The Snopes cabin A two-bedroom house may seem more than enough for a sharecropper family such as the Snopes, but the house becomes cramped when there are seven people sharing it. The Snopes have to be used to sharing; they do work for other people’s lands, contributing their effort to plant on ground that will never be theirs. The cabin represents the poverty of sharecroppers in a world where landowners reign. D.Barns – The barns symbolize the properties of landowners that ultimately separate them by status and wealth from other classes of people. Since the barns are symbols of separation, Abner Snopes feels like he is making everyone equal by removing one of the major sources of the landowners’ wealth. 2. Some of Snopes’ possessions are listed as â€Å"the battered stove, the broken beds and chairs, the clock inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which would not run, stopped at some fourteen minutes past two o'clock of a dead and forgotten day and time, which had been his mother's dowry†.They symbolize neglect, just as the lower classes are being neglected by those who have more power and more wealth. Meanwhile, the ribbons that Starky’s sisters wear symbolize th e small luxury that the poor sharecroppers indulge in. These may seem pretty for them as they use the ribbons to adorn their hair, but they are to be labeled as â€Å"tacky† by the rich landowners. 3. The passages that describe the houses of the de Spains and the Snopes show the extreme difference between the two social classes.Moreover, the incident with the rug emphasizes the difference in wealth, as the rug which de Spain claim to be worth a hundred dollars is considered to be several times more costly than the ten bushels of corn that Snopes can produce. The corn is already of great importance and worth to the Snopes family, a family who only cares about the food that they will eat and not about any expensive, luxurious rug. 4. Before the events of the story, Abner Snopes has already been guilty of letting his hog loose on Mr. Harris’ property.Even with Harris trying to negotiate by providing him materials that can be used to build a fence to hold the hog, Snopes i s still uncooperative. He goes unpunished because there is not enough evidence but is ordered to leave town. Although he is guilty of barn burning during the time interval of the story, there is enough evidence to show that he has done the deed several times before: â€Å"that niggard blaze was the living fruit of nights passed during those four years in the woods hiding from all men, blue or gray, with his strings of horses (captured horses, he called them)†.Such a persistent type of behavior shows the disrespect Snopes has for Southern landowners. For him, it is mere property that has made these landowners important, and without the property they are just ordinary men like him. His is not an ordinary envy but a festering hatred that pushes him to perform such extreme actions. 5. An explicit passage that references the idea of `Owning people` is when Abner Snopes declares that: â€Å"I reckon I'll have a word with the man that aims to begin to-morrow owning me body and soul for the next eight months.† There are other more subtle references to owning other people in the text, like â€Å"Pretty and white, ain't it? That's sweat. Nigger sweat. Maybe it ain't white enough yet to suit him. Maybe he wants to mix some white sweat with it. † This line of dialogue suggests that Abner Snopes believes that the black servant is considered by the de Spains as mere property as his sweat is considered to be an ingredient that has helped build the white, pretty mansion. His work is given value but he is still nothing compared to his masters. 6.The story implies that though the United States has already been dubbed as the land of opportunity and justice at that time, there is still an inequality in terms of how justice and opportunity are distributed among the different social classes. The Snopes are mere sharecroppers. They contribute the sweat that feeds the ground but even with daily toil, they are not able to improve their circumstances. The wealthy, meanwhile, has all the opportunity in the world to become wealthier as they sit back and wait for the next harvest. Justice also smiles on people like the de Spains because they are respected by the community.

Elaboration Theory in Learning Psychology Essay

The concept of elaboration theory centers greatly on progressive learning. That is, the steps in learning are built upon each other in a series of increasingly complex steps. In other words, rather than plateau the learning progress, it increases in complexity as time goes on. However, what was learned in the earlier portion of the progression is not discarded. So, the concept of elaboration can be visualized as an upside down pyramid. It starts at a small point and expands. However, the progression is always connected to its origination point. An example of this is as follows: a student is taught basic sentence structure. Then, the basics of sentence structure are expanded into the proper way to devise a paragraph. This later extends further as the students is taught to the create a series of paragraphs that form a coherent essay. An essay can later be expanded into a lengthy research paper. Really, there is no limit to the progression as long as it never deviates from the origination point of proper grammar and structure. Why theorists recommend that learners elaborate as much as possible. Many theorists believe that the elaboration theory provide a cohesive approach to learning. This provides for an increase in retention and overall improvements in learning. How schemas and scripts are often involved in elaboration. The way schemas and scripts work in the realm of elaboration is that they involve the individual’s prior accumulation of knowledge. This can be a help or a hindrance depending upon whether the prior knowledge improves or impedes the facilitation of new knowledge. Why different people may elaborate differently on the same information. Different people may have different strengths and weaknesses. They also may have different goals for learning the material. Since elaboration is a process and not a product, it is understandable that different approaches to present the same material are needed. Why elaboration sometimes leads to the storage of inaccurate information. No system of learning is perfect and elaboration theory is not free of such problems. One possible reason that elaboration theory can lead to inaccurate information is because the progression of learning goes off on tangents. If this occurs, then it may prove difficult to develop a coherent learning paradigm.

Diets for Pets with Medical Disorders essays

Diets for Pets with Medical Disorders essays DIETS FOR PETS WITH MEDICAL DISORDERS Homemade Diets For Pets with Skin Disease (Allergic Conditions) The most common skin disorder seen in many veterinary practices is allergic (atopic) dermatitis. This condition results in itchiness after exposure to environmental (usually airborne) allergens (foreign proteins which induce allergies.) True food allergies are quite rare in pets. Food intolerances, in which the pet develops and allergic response to a non-nutrient in the food (such as an additive,) occur in pets but the true incidence is hard to gauge. While dietary therapy is not a mainstay in the treatment of itchy pets, feeding the best, most natural and holistic diet possible is recommended. Diets designed for pets with gastrointestinal disease can be useful for pets with skin disorders with some modification. These modified diets are used to assess and treat food allergies as well as assess any improvement in the pet with any skin disorder, including atopic dermatitis. Keep in mind that even itchy pets without true food allergy may still show improvement when fed the diet used to test and treat food allergies. Controlled Diets for Adult Cats with Skin Disease (Allergic Conditions) Multivitamin/mineral supplement (added as clinical signs improve after the feeding trial, as long as the pet does not relapse if using flavored products.) This diet provides 352 kcal, 31.1 gm of protein, 25.1 gm of fat, and it supports the daily calorie needs of a 10 pound cat. 1. 4 1/2 ounces of cooked venison can also be used in place of the rabbit. 2. 1/2 cups of rice or 3/4 cups of boiled potato with skin can be added to the diet if desired. 3. Vitamins and minerals can be supplied as follows: A natural product from Standard Process (Calcifood Wafers or Calcium Lactate) can be used (use 1-2 Calcifood Wafer or 2 Calcium Lactate tablets.) ...

Describe a time you set a goal higher than you thought you could Essay

Describe a time you set a goal higher than you thought you could achieve. Explain the steps you took to achieve your goal. What was the outcome What did you learn from the experience - Essay Example Therefore, I set myself a goal of shedding 10 kilograms every week. Unfortunately, I could not achieve this target, which got me so devastated and the motivation to reduce my weight was fast waning. I realized that I was not regulating my calorie intake because I was still stuck with too much junk food. I also tried to lose weight by skipping meals, which did no good to my health. I had to review my goal and set practical ways of shedding excessive weight. I created a schedule, which included adequate gym time with guidance of a gym instructor and also set diet timetable with the help of a nutritionist. The result was so amazing. Every week I lost at least 1 kg, which was positive result towards achieving my goal. I realized that success demands specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time Bound objective. I also realized that too high and unachievable objectives demoralize people while too easy goals undermine ones

Critical Thinking Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Thinking Questions - Essay Example This paper will discuss the composition of a successful lesson plan, the importance of considering students’ backgrounds and strategies of differentiated instruction. A lesson framework acts as the instructor’s guide to what students should learn and how it will be implemented effectively within the allocated class time (O'Bannon, 2008). Before planning a lesson, an instructor should identify the learning objectives and design appropriate learning activities and strategies to get feedback on student learning. A successful lesson plan is made up of objectives for student learning, teaching and learning activities and ways of checking student understanding (O'Bannon, 2008). A well created plan includes; A) The goals the lesson is reaching towards B) The measurable outcomes in acquired skills at the end of the lesson C) Ratio of the expected number of students to the teacher D) Previous knowledge of the learners E) Required time for each teaching and learning session F) Co nsideration of cultural differences, specific needs and learning styles of individuals G) Methods of evaluating the lesson Lesson plans may be varied by certain aspects in different content areas. They may include the content, introduction, goals, objectives, materials, and development (Wong, 1998). The introduction describes the area of focus and ways of getting and retaining the students’ attention while motivating them to participate in the learning process. Getting the students to attend and respond to different introductions sets the stage for the upcoming lessons. Under contents, the teacher lists the key concepts, facts and skills the lesson intends to cover (Wong, 1998). A teacher may also prepare an outline with key learning outcomes. The goals identify the aims or desired results that students should achieve at the end of the planned lesson. They are the end products and broad in nature and relate to the knowledge and skills identified in the contents. Objectives id entify what the students are expected to achieve in the tasks they will be engaged in within the learning process. They are behavioral and performance specific in nature (Wong, 1998). They outline what will be under observance in student performance and the criteria by which they can be measured. The list of materials outlines the resources that will be used throughout the lesson for a successful ending. It may also include technological resources that vary according to the desired results (Wong, 1998). Different development strategies describe how a teacher plans, models and explains what students should do. Modeling the learning behaviors expected of students demonstrates whether they can imitate and practice on their own. Different areas of learning will have different development plans (Wong, 1998). Students in the same class have varying learning abilities. Among them, there are differences in learning style, background knowledge, language proficiency and readiness to learn. Ho wever, regardless of their individual differences, they are expected to understand the same principles, concepts and skills. This requires innovative thinking from the teachers (Wong, 1998). They should provide several learning options that help students understand information and make sense out of concepts and skills conveyed to them. Furthermore, they should present appropriate levels of challenge to all categories of students, including those with quick understanding