Social Class and Academic Performance - 2220 Words

Class Status and Academic Performance Introduction â€Å"Who fails and who succeeds in America s schools? For sociologists of education, the significance of this question rests with the fact that academic performance is socially stratified† (O’Connor, 2001, p. 159). Unfortunately, this paper will reveal facts that confirm this claim. Throughout this paper, I will discuss the idea of class and how it perpetuates itself within the classroom. As well, I will investigate recent studies into class in the classroom and how the students are affected in the relative short term and long term. These class-based studies, however, do not account for differences within each class. â€Å"Class-based models cannot, however, make sense of such findings†¦show more content†¦15). Furthermore, the stereotypes associated with the different classes were recognized and treated differently by the counselors. †¦class is positively related when it came to counselor recommendations to four-year colleges and negatively rel ated when it came to community colleges (Banerji, 2006, p. 15). To interpret this determination, the study found that more higher-class students are recommended to four-year colleges and more lower class students to community colleges. Finally, â€Å"Counselors were also more likely to recommend students with higher family incomes to four-year colleges regardless of the students gender, academic performance and race† (Banerji, 2006, p. 15). Counselors probably assume that the high-income families could afford the four-year colleges, which may or may not be true based on scholarships and government assistance. III. Study: Social Structure and Academic Achievement An interesting study concluded in 1997 that gathered data on class-specific distributions of school performance and cognitive competence. The classes were broken up into six groups, and measurements were taken at four intervals (see Appendix A). Referring to the first graph in Appendix A, titled â€Å"Educational Performance†, note the vertical separation of the â€Å"Series† (or socio-economic status) and the fact that the scale increases by half a point each increment. Turning the attention to the second graphShow MoreRelatedSTEM Studies1033 Words   |  5 Pagesoccupations vary and include the following: social science, biological science, computer science, etc. General occupations in the STEM field include but aren’t limited to: practitioners, engineers, technicians, professors. Most careers in the STEM field require a bachelor’s degree as the minimum, but there are a few that accept a high school diploma or an associate’s degree (Landivar, 2013). Academic performance is measure by a collective of a person’s test grades, class grades and overall GPA. EducationalRead MoreLiterature Review : A Research Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesDevelopments and Social Networking Sites When Hartshorne, Ajjan, and Cao (2016) conducted their study, they observed that there has been a significant increase in the number of social networking websites today. Indeed, Jacobsen and Forste (2011) argue that social networking websites have become an international phenomenon in recent years, with many individuals, especially teens and young adults becoming obsessed and addicted to this relatively new sensation. Teenagers and young adults use these social networkingRead MoreComparing Academic Performance And Class Start Times Between Morning, Day, And Night Classes1530 Words   |  7 PagesExamining Differences in Academic Performance and Class Start Times between Morning, Day, and Night Classes within WVU university students Academic achievement among university students is a primary goal amongst the student body for obvious reasons. Generally, a student’s performance reflects how successful they will be within their courses and produces their overall grade point average, GPA. Although a student’s academic achievement can be determined in many ways, GPA is a primary tool used to measureRead MoreThe American Society Moves Forward Into The Contemporary Era1604 Words   |  7 PagesDebt). The interpretations portrayed ,from these college advertisements, grants the observer a window into American beliefs about the idea of the American dream in society and the false perceptions of it. A primary example can be seen in Mantsios s Class in America-2009 article, where he talks about a common misconception that the United States is a fundamentally classless society (Mantsios 624). The advertisements claim that the American dream is obtainable by attending these particular schools andRead MoreStudent s Choose Online Courses For Students1354 Words   |  6 PagesStudents take online courses for many different reasons. Those students are usually older, have more hours at work, and need to commute long distance in order to take a class on campus (Huh, Jin, Lee, Yoo, 2009). Also for some students it is convenient since it may be hard to handle family responsibilities and attend traditional classes at the same time. Thus online classes are a good way to work the education into their busy schedules (Brown, 2012). In other cases students perceive online coursesRead MoreStudent s Performance As Cause Effect Phenomen A Multilevel Approach1245 Words   |  5 PagesStudent’s Performance as Cause-Effect Phenomena: A Multilevel Approach Introduction: Education plays a vital role in the human and country development at all stages. There are key determinants that affect the education level which ultimately translate into human and country s development. Quality education ensures the achievement of knowledge and required skills that enable individuals to enhance the productivity and improve their living standard and access to basic needs. ThisRead MoreEffects Of Social Media On College Students1212 Words   |  5 PagesSocial media is a huge platform that many people use as a social outlet to communicate among others. The more popular websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have long existed and given users a way to stay connected with family and friends. However, there has been an ongoing debate about the positive and negative effects that it tends to have on different generations. While many in today’s society believe that social media can be unhealthy due to its ability to become addictive, there areRead MoreIntrod uction To Chemistry, A Natural Science, And Social Science1249 Words   |  5 PagesThe subjects for this study will be undergraduate students enrolled in either Introduction to Chemistry, a natural science, or General Psychology, a social science, at the University of Arkansas in Spring 2018. Students will enroll in courses based on their own academic preferences. These courses are both scheduled for 50-minute discussion sections that meet two days a week (TTh) from either 9:30 – 10:20 or 10:30 – 11: 20. All identifying features of the student (e.g. names or student ID number)Read MoreMaking Sense of White Working Class Educational Underachievement by by Diane Raey 1537 Words   |  7 PagesMaking Sense of White Working Class Educational Underachievement Summary The article ‘Making sense of white working class underachievement’ by Diane Raey (2009) In the K. P. Sveimsson (ed) Who Cares about the White Working Class? , Published by The Runnymeade Trust, is important in indicating the weaknesses of the education system in the United Kingdom today. According to this article, the White working class children do not perform well in academic performance. This issue is the centre stage forRead MoreRelationship Between Personality And Academic Performance1075 Words   |  5 PagesThe relationship between personality and academic performance has been strongly identified in research that also suggests motivation, gender and different learning styles too have an effect on academic performance and are influenced by personality traits. Personality is not only related to academic performance but it is deemed a more valid predictor of academic performance than a student’s academic motivation (De Feyter, Caers, Vigna, Berings, 2012). T he five factor model (FFM) introduced by McCrae

The Future For Sport Management - 833 Words

Introduction The future for sport management in Australia appears prosperous. Over the years, Australia has managed to develop an international reputation for sporting excellence through its national team performances and the expansion of its sports systems (Daly, 1991; ASC, 1998; Shilbury Kellett, 2011). The country has managed to host some of the greatest sporting events, notably the Olympic games, the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, with aspirations to bring the Football (soccer) World Cup to Australia in 2018 (ASC, 2011). International sporting events of this scale are capable of generating considerable revenue for its sport industry, as well as the country’s economy (i.e. tourism). The Australian sport industry has become a multi-billion dollar enterprise (ABS, 2013), and the role of sport management has been intensified as a result of this. Australian Sport Systems Government Systems The support of government for sport has been increasing over the last thirty years, and is now on the political agenda of the Australian government (Shilbury Kellett, 2011). As Australian sport and its industry began to grow and develop further and further, sport programs were introduced in the sport system, notably the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). As a result of this, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) was created in order to coordinate sport on the government’s behalf (Shilbury Kellett, 2011). Sport Development Sport development is a notionShow MoreRelatedLove Of Sports : My Love For My Life1089 Words   |  5 PagesFor as long as I can remember, sports have always played a key role in my life. Whether I am watching basketball or baseball games on television, traveling to different NFL stadiums with my dad to root on our favorite teams on their home fields, or coaching gymnastics at the gym I spent most of my childhood in, I love every single aspect about sports. My little sister and I grew up doing gymnastics together. If we weren’t at the gym practicing, we were at home playing around on the gymnasticsRead MoreAssessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc.1124 Words   |  5 Pageshead: TEXT CASE STUDY 1 TEXT CASE STUDY ï ¿ ½ PAGE * Arabic * MERGEFORMAT ï ¿ ½2ï ¿ ½ Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. FIN/419: Finance for Decision Makers ï ¿ ½ Assessing the Goal of Sports Products, Inc. Many people believe that the primary objective of a firm is to maximize profits. Sports Products, Inc. is a firm who has followed this practice during its 20 year history. The management of Sports Products, Inc. has concentrated on maximizing profits while ignoring other critical factors. ManagementsRead MoreSports Management : Sport Management816 Words   |  4 Pages Sport management Did you know that there is more to sports teams than just scoring goals, touchdowns and runs? Sport management is a field concerning the business and education part of sports and recreation. It includes the front office system in professional sports, college sports, and recreation. Some examples of sport managers are: recreational sport managers, sport marketing, event management, facility management, sport economics, sport finance and sport information. Sport management canRead MoreThe Career Development Of Byu1599 Words   |  7 PagesComing to BYU I had no plans for my future. I had worked so hard to get into BYU, that when I finally got here I was lost. Thankfully the Marriott school hires great advisors to help point us in the right direction, and when I found out about recreations management and the jobs it leads to, everything seem to line up. While I had finally decided on the major I wanted, the professional career exploration allowed me to further dive into the careers and plan my future. In this report I have listed outRead MoreEssay about Sports Management814 Words   |  4 PagesSports Management Someone once said, There are those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. I consider myself one of those rare people who really knows how to make things happen. I have gone from being a follower to being a leader, from being someone who was shy and uncertain to a person who is self-confident and assertive. It has been a remarkable metamorphosis, and it has changed my future professional plans and personal goals. TheRead MoreSports : A Structural Model Of The Relationships Between Sport Website Quality823 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"A Structural Model of the Relationships Between Sport Website Quality, E-Satisfaction, and E- Loyalty (2011)† written by Drs. Youngjin Hur, Young Jae Ko, and Joseph Valacich examines if sport web quality positively correlates with E-Satisfaction and E-Loyalty. In the article, Drs. Hur, Ko, and Valacich break down what each category mean and how they interact together based on the cumulative research that the researchers conducted. In the opening of the research article, the researchers explainRead MoreThe Responsibilities Of A Sport President931 Words   |  4 PagesSports Management according to Lussier Kimball (2009, p.4) there is the term management which ultimately means the way the sport is achieved or another word manage. Armstrong (2012, p.24. chap 2) describe managers as â€Å"strategic thinkers† which means that managers need to have a clear idea of the future in order to make the whole organisation follow the future path. For sport to grow in the forthcoming, it, however, rely on the way the managers perform the following; roles, functions, tasks andRead MoreStudy on Service Employees’ Role in Sport Organisations1132 Words   |  5 PagesStudy on Service Employees’ Role in Sport Organisations This article will outline the critical role of service employees in sport organisations, which was split into two parts. A detailed statement of why service employees are significant to the success of any sport service organisation is discussed first. This will be followed by a comparison of employees’ importance between participants and spectators. In company after company investigated, Clutterbuck, Clark and Amistead (1993) concludedRead MoreCritically analyse why self-awareness is important in becoming an effective sport business manager1269 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Effective sport business manager Human beings are complex and diverse and therefore self-awareness is an important aspect for personal development and effectiveness (Moore 2009). When we understand ourselves in many areas, we become more self-aware (Kravitz Schubert 2009). According to Goleman (2003), there are key areas that form the basis of self-awareness including personality traits, habits, emotions, the psychological needs driving our behaviors and personal values. First, when we understandRead MoreStatement of Purpose1694 Words   |  7 PagesStatement of Purpose Name : Sphoorti Sangamesh Biradar Program Applied : Masters (MS) Major : Sports Management About me: I am very thankful for providing me this opportunity and it is with sincere sense of gratification that I pen down my brief statement of purpose before you. I am Sphoorti Sangamesh Biradar, 21 years old. I am studying B. Computer Science engineering final year in the reputed university Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) at college Sir.M.Visvesvaraya Institute

Nutrition Practices Free Essays

Receiving proper nutrition to satisfy the physiological needs of man is a general knowledge that everyone is aware of. The food that we eat is necessary not only to fulfill the biological urge to satisfy hunger, but also to nurture the human body in order to withstand illnesses and diseases for a longer and healthier life. Although this is a common goal for nations, particularly of the United States, as manifested in health care services and policies granted to their citizens, other external factors seem to influence how individuals perceive nutrition. We will write a custom essay sample on Nutrition Practices or any similar topic only for you Order Now One major factor which affects the nutritional decisions and influences of individuals is their culture, for one’s racial or ethnic roots or backgrounds are attributed to nutrition practices. This fact may be observed in hundreds of individuals who belong to various racial and ethnic groups residing in the US. The evaluation or assessment of the nutrition practices undertaken by these individuals reveal that they are at high risk for experiencing health and nutritional deficiencies. For instance, the Prima Indians were found out to be at great risk for contracting diabetes primarily fueled by obesity. However, in this case, aside from the nutrition practices, the genetic make-up of this ethnic group also influences their health and wellbeing. Another case is the implication of the exclusion of milk, and other dairy products in the diet of Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans. (â€Å"Ethnic Traditions,† 2008) This is because studies have shown that these particular ethnic groups are more prone to lactose intolerance which leads them to remove dairy products from their nutrition practices or diet (â€Å"Ethnic Traditions,† 2008), consequently leading to Vitamin A, B12, D, and Calcium deficiencies (â€Å"Vitamins and Minerals,† 2008) Other health and nutritional deficiencies that are most common in the US for racial or ethnic groups include lack of Omega 3 fats, Copper, and dietary fiber. For the male populations belonging to African American and American Indian ethnic groups, they are most at risk for Vitamin A deficiency. This is because it has been observed that they refuse to consume vegetables in their diet. Some vegetables that are essential parts of the American diet contain beta-carotene which is a valuable substance present in them from which Vitamin A is taken from. (â€Å"Ethnic Traditions,† 2008*) Aside from the minor influences of physical and genetic features or characters, one component of racial or ethnic culture also influences nutrition practices. Religion plays a major role in dictating what kind of diets individuals will be implementing. For instance, individuals who are Jewish refrain from eating the common types of meat such as beef and pork and prefer meat from sheep, goat, etc. instead. This religious belief has something to do with the distinction of the clean and unclean meats. Moslems on the other hand are not allowed to consume pork and alcohol. In addition, some Islamic festivals require that they practice fasting which refrain them from consuming food and drinks at a particular time during the day. This particular cultural and religious practice affects the health and wellbeing of Moslems. (â€Å"Ethnic Traditions,† 2008) From the various, but limited, examples provided in this text of the various cultural nutrition practices that racial and ethnic groups observe, the influence of such practices are perceived to be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. In addition, resolving the issue of ethnic disparities in terms of health care and nutrition is quite difficult to resolve since it would be far-fetched to reverse a culture that has long existed. Moreover, the influence of physical and genetic factors is unavoidable. The challenge presented within this text now is how cultural differences and the standards and guidelines of health and nutrition are to be reconciled in order to come up with a cohesive society that is consciously aware of the need to promote health and nutrition for the betterment of human life. References â€Å"Ethnic Traditions.† (2008). Retrieved December 20, 2008, from The World’s Healthiest Foods. Website: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=specialneeddbid=11 â€Å"Vitamins and Minerals.† (2008). Retrieved December 20, 2008, from The Vegetarian Society of United Kingdom. Website: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/vitmineral.html    How to cite Nutrition Practices, Papers

Amsco Chapter Six Notes free essay sample

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) issued by Washington that America too weak to join war, Jefferson disagreed and resigned from cabinet. Jay Treaty- John Jay tried to talk Britain out of searching American Merchant ships, agreed to leave U. S. Western frontier but not to stop taking ships, this angered Americans but kept their neutrality. Pinckney Treaty (1795)- Spain negotiated treaty and agreed to open Mississippi River and New Orleans to American trade Domestic Concerns- Native Americans- Americans continued to settle as far west as the Ohio Valley and beyond, angered Indians posing treat of existence, British suppling them with arms and encouraged them to attack Americans, Battle of Timber Falls, Americans defeated Indians, Treaty of Greenville, Indians surrender claims in Ohio Territory Wisky Rebellion (1794)- farmers refused to pay taxes, Washington sent troops under Hamilton to show force, farmers backed down however, Jefferson gain popularity in farmers Washington Reelected (1789) Differences between Anti and Federalist Parties- Federalists: John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, central govern. We will write a custom essay sample on Amsco Chapter Six Notes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page pro British, aid business, large landowners Democratic-Republicans: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, weak central govern. pro-French, small army, favor agriculture, small farmers John Adams Presidency- federalist, Jefferson vice president XYZ Affair- Americans still angry about attacks on ships, sent negotiator to France, spoke with French ministers X, Y and Z, angered Americans Adams still refused to join war Alien and Sedition Acts- federalists won majority in both houses, made laws to restrict anti-federalist power, Alien Acts- president get rid of any aliens considered dangerous in time of war, Sedition Act- made criticizing president or congress illegal Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions- revolt against alien and sedition acts made by Jefferson and Madison Election of 1800- swept federalists from power in executive and legislative branches of govern. nd Jefferson was elected president Peaceful Revolution- passing power of 1801, non violent movement from federalists to anti-federalists

Teachers Inspiration free essay sample

My desk rattles. My chest heaves. I struggle to catch a breath. Concerned glazes from my fellow classmates dance around me, inquiring why I am splitting my sides at Dr. Persins corny, hackneyed joke. I regain my sanity, re-sync my breathing and smile as we begin todays AP Physics class. No, its not just his notorious catch phrases, eclectic attire, his manuerisms, corny jokes, or savvy intelligence. Its the blending of his eccentricity and his brilliance that allows students to excel in an enjoyble atmosphere. Dr. Persin informed me about the natural world, taught me valuable life lessons, and golly, someone that shares my qwerky humor? We bonded like the positive and negative poles of magnets. Magnets, circuits, trajectory motion. Indeed: a difficult class. However, Dr. Persin broke it down into simpler matter. He presented tangible models and explained concepts thoroughly. I struggled with mirrors and lenses until he pulled out the giant mirror and my cloud of confusion drifted away. We will write a custom essay sample on Teachers Inspiration or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He provided us with weekly, hands-on lab activities where we recieved insight towards the subject matter, gained useful experience of working with scientific equipment, and collaborated in a groups. AP Physics taught me time management and organizational skills with weekly note checks. Finally, this class granted me insight to how a college class will be. Homework was due weekly and tests were heavily weighted. Though a challenging cirriculum of advanced physics topics, I was blessed to have a teacher that creatively presented such knowledge. He has positively influenced me academically and enstilled in me irreplaceable wordly skills. I proudly imPERSINate his qualities.

Have a Vinegar and Baking Soda Foam Fight

Have a Vinegar and Baking Soda Foam Fight This is a twist on the classic baking soda volcano, where you use the ingredients to make squirt-able fountains of foam. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: Mere Minutes Heres How First, you need bottles for everyone. The classic 2-liter bottle is nice because its compressible and holds a large volume. Gatorade bottles are also good because they have wide mouths, so its easier to recharge the bottle.Fill each bottle most of the way full of warm water and add a squirt of dishwashing detergent.Gather the rest of the materials you will need: lots of vinegar and baking soda and food coloring if you want colored bubbles. Be advised: adding food coloring could result in staining of clothing and other surfaces.Add some baking soda to the bottle (​a couple of tablespoons or so). Put your hand over the bottle opening and shake it up to get the detergent water all sudsy. Drip a bit of food coloring onto the suds.Note: if you add the food coloring before shaking the detergent water, then the dye will go into the water and the bubbles will be clear. If you add the coloring just prior to adding the vinegar then the bubbles will be deeply colored (which also increase s the staining potential). Pour in some vinegar. This starts the reaction. Feel free to give the bottle a little squeeze to help things along. Do NOT seal the bottle with a cap or lid. That basically makes a baking soda bomb, which is dangerous.You can recharge the reaction with more baking soda and then more vinegar. If at any time you feel like shaking up the bottle only do this with your hand over the opening and never cap or seal the bottle.The foam fight part most people figure out on their own. Have fun! Tips Avoid getting the mixture into your eyes or mouth. If eye contact occurs, rinse the solution out. Dont drink the contents of the foam fight bottle.Avoid contact with unreacted vinegar or undiluted dishwashing detergent. Both can irritate skin and mucous membranes. What You Need empty compressible plastic bottle - no lidswaterdiswashing detergentbaking sodavinegarfood coloring (optional)

Burberry Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Burberry Case Study - Essay Example Long business experience- Burberry’s was incorporated in 1856 and had been in operation for more than one century before Bravo took over in 1997. This had given the company vast experience in the consumer market for apparels and luxuries. The company was more experienced in business compared to its competitors such as Gucci and Armani which were founded in 1921 and 1975 respectively. Weaknesses Limited products- Burberry’s had very few products in the market. Its main products were umbrellas and outerwear. The company was left struggling to capture a significant market share while its competitors such Gucci and Polo dominated the market. Low levels of innovation- Burberry’s had kept its traditional products for a very long time without getting new ideas to improvements and make them were relevant to the market. The firm lost its market share to competing businesses such as Gucci and Polo because it was unable to introduce new products and stay relevant in the market. On the other hand, Polo and Gucci became household names because of their ability to introduce new products that were relevant in the market. Burberry’s position is sustainable because the company has vast business experience compared to its competitors. ... The company also has been producing quality products and strong brands that have for a long time been associated with safety, luxury and durability. Bravo needs to utilize these competitive advantages and improve on innovation so as to introduce a wide range of products that will enable the company stay relevant and remain competitive. 2. Prepare a positioning map to map Burberry's position vis a vis its competition prior to Bravo's hiring. Next, map Burberry's position vis a vis these same competitors after the marketing mix changes by Bravo took effect. Note: you may want to consider the fashion vs. accessory sides separately. Prior to Bravo’s hiring Quality Quality Gucci Coach Coach Gucci Burberry’s Burberry’s Fashion Accessories After changes on marketing mix Quality Quality Burberry’s Burberry’s Coach Gucci Gucci Coach Fashion Accessories 3. Bravo's team managed to elevate the overall status of Burberry by implementing changes in 3 high-priorit y areas: a. revitalization of the product line b. evolving brand associations c. overall brand stature. Describe in detail how Bravo's team managed to do this. Revitalization of the product line The first step in the revitalization of the product line was a reduction in the number of stock. This was aimed at eliminating products with outdated designs so as to create space for products with a consistent look. The company was able to redesign its traditional products to include a new range of products. The new product line was classified into two categories of continuity and fashion-oriented. Each of the categories consisted of three primary collections of products that included accessories, menswear and womenswear. Evolving brand associations Bravo’s team managed to

Legal and Ethical Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal and Ethical Issues - Research Paper Example The rules permit covered entities such as hospitals, clinics and health care providers in general to release de-identified data without obtaining an authorization. There are no further restrictions upon use or disclosure because de-identified data is not personal health information and, therefore, not subject to the HIPAA rules. Therefore during a research study, a researcher can obtain the data required under this provision. The right to anonymity and confidentiality is an important part of the rule. This rule can be applied during the study through involving the subject directly.  Here, the researcher can apply the confidentiality clause during the study by letting the test subject decide on what to avail to the public. The rules contain criteria for the alteration of the authorization requirement by an IRB or another review body called a Privacy Board. This works well for a study in which one does not wish to follow all the tiresome steps. The use of war victims in the recent past as test subjects without their consent or that of their families has led to a public outcry. Consequently, the rule on right to fair treatment and protection from harm was created. In the medical study one considers that the subjects are human and therefore avoids causing harm to them. Macklin (2004) notes that there are a number of marginalized populations where the rules of ethical treatment and legal actions are not followed. Such include case studies of Ebola in Central Africa and other areas close by. The application of the HIPAA rules can be achieved through incorporation of the basic rules in the recent studies by creating a compiled set of ground rules to follow in the study

Causes of Low Productivity and Policies to Raise Output in Essay

Causes of Low Productivity and Policies to Raise Output in Underdeveloped Countries - Essay Example According to Schultz (1998, p.329), economists find it difficult to understand the preferences and scarcity constraints that determine the choices that poor people make because they fail to understand is that poor people are no less than concerned about improving their lot and that of their children than rich people are. As poor people reside predominantly in low-income countries, they earn a pittance for their labor, half and more of their meager income is spent on food, and that most of them earn their livelihood in agriculture. Schultz also points out that economic history has also been neglected. Classical economics was developed during the time when most people in Western Europe were barely scratching out subsistence from the poor soils they tilled and were condemned to a short life span. As a result, early economists dealt with conditions similar to those prevailing in low-income countries today. Knowledge of the experience and achievements of the poor people over the ages can contribute much to an understanding of the problems and possibilities of underdeveloped countries today (1998, p.332). Accordin According to Emmerij (1987, p.9), the disappointing performance of agriculture in many low-income countries cannot be ascribed wholly to technical factors or agricultural conditions in that unsuitable economic policies can have the effect of reducing incentives to increase output and impending production. In connection to this, Schultz (1998, p.333) argues that differences in the soil productivity1 do not explain why people are poor in long-settled parts of the world, conversely, the state of agriculture in underdeveloped countries. Schultz narrates: "People in India have been poor for ages, both on the Deccan Plateau, where the productivity of the rainfed soils is low, and on the highly productive soils of South India. In Africa, people on the unproductive soils of the Southern fringes of the Sahara, on the somewhat more productive soils on the steep slopes of the Rift landform, and on the highly productive alluvial lands along and at the mouth of the Nile all have one thing in common: they are very poor" (Schultz 1998, p.331). Rather, Schultz cites that though land per se is not a critical factor in being poor, the human agent is. The expectations of human agents in agriculture - farm laborers who both work and allocate resources - are shaped by new opportunities by the incentives [in agriculture] to which they respond. These incentives, explicit in the prices farmers receive for their products and in the prices they pay for producer and consumer goods and services, are greatly distorted in many low income countries (1998, p.332). Governments tend to introduce distortions that discriminate against agriculture because internal politics generally favor urban at the expense of rural people, despite the much greater size of the rural population (Schultz, 1998). The effect of these government-induced distortions is to reduce the economic contribution that agriculture is capable of making (1998, p.332), despite the fact that

The Buddhist No Self Doctrine Philosophy Essay

The Buddhist No Self Doctrine Philosophy Essay The Buddha taught that there were no persisting identity and there are no permanent stable identities. We are just a complex experience streamed through time. We are just short lived, temporal, historical beings in the process of becoming. There is no difference between you and your life: you are your life history. thoughts were the thinker and experiences were the experiencer The Buddha taught Ksanika-vada which is an anti-substantial doctrine that the world is in a continuous flux and is impermanent. There is nothing more than movement and change in the world (Anitya). There are no fixed or permanent, absolute or independent substances. The Buddhist universe is the same as Heraclitus simile of a river as you cant step twice into the same river due to the constant changing of water. The phenomenology of reality, objects, events and self are not what we think they are. They are in fact a temporary interconnected stream of some fundamental elements. This is the Buddhist ontology that everything occurs through causes and effects. All these things we believe to be persisting entities, including self, are just a stream of events. The effect doesnt exist when the cause existed and the cause stops existing when the effect comes to exist. This results in everything in the world having a cause and nothing existing unconditioned. The idea of Atman is the metaphysical self or soul which is everlasting. The Hindu religion uses this idea of the soul thus they adopt the Eternalists view. This is that the soul is immaterial, infinite and immortal so it will continue to exist for ever. Atman has various meaning such as soul, self, being, ego or personality. This is what Buddhism rejects, a persisting and enduring entity in humans. The doctrine of Nairatmya-Vada teaches us that to recognize ourselves as a persisting entity is an illusion. We are actually a phenomenon of human experiences (dharma) so we are temporal being (Ksanika). What we call the self is actually a temporary interconnected stream of thoughts and desires. So why do we believe we have a self and why do we cling onto the idea of a self? The early Buddhist believed individuals were an arrangement is a composition of five aggregates (skandha). None of these phenomena contain an actually sense of self: The body (rupa) Feelings of pleasure and pain (vedana) Sense-based perceptions of objects (vijnana) Conceptual thoughts (samjna) Volitions, inherited dispositions and habits (samskara) To clarify, conceptual thoughts are not the mind but just the thoughts themselves. They are not a substance or an enduring self. Also consciousness is not found in these five aggregates as the Buddha rejected the idea. Rather consciousness is named by the cause. It is dependent on all five and it cant exist without them. For example the eye gives visibility which gives rise to visible consciousness. This is a mental consciousness. Consciousness is always an effect of the aggregates and always in flux. . The self is not actually real as none of these five aggregates show that there is a persisting and enduring identity in humans. What gives rise to individuals feeling of self is just the aggregate of these factors replacing each other. For example, a body touch a red hot poker, this will give rise to a feeling of pain, this will give rise to a thought of pain and the memory of what it felt like. It is a conventional designation for a becoming compound of the five aggregates that gives rise to the feeling that we are selves. Descartes believed that I think therefore I am, whereas the Buddha taught that I am because I think. Therefore Buddhism is an impersonalist teaching showing us that the self doesnt actually exist so we are not what we think we are, we dont matter. Nagasena explains this concept in Question of King Milanda through a conversation between Menader (a king) and Nagasena (a monk). Nagasena asks the king if the axle, wheels, chariot body, flagstaff, yoke, reins or goad-stick is the chariot. Also he asks if all of these are the chariot. All of these were answered negatively. Thus the chariot is not the same as the parts and is not the parts conjointly. He concludes that the word chariot is only a name for the parts in a certain way formation. He applies this to self and postulates that his name is just a construction of his five aggregates but not actually a self: As the various parts, the different adjuncts of a vehicle, form, when united, that which is called a chariot; so, when the five khandas are united in one aggregate, or body, they constitute that which is called a being, a living existence. The Buddhism doctrine of Pratiya- Samutpada, often translated as dependent arising taught that thirst or desires, attachments and commitments are causally related to suffering (duhkha). This is where the Buddha explains the process where enduring world phenomenon arises. Even though cause and events (dharmas) are separate in Buddhism they are still interconnected and this is the same for the continuous cycle of rebirth (samsara). It is just life a flowing river or an ever turning wheel. There is no need for the self, all phenomena, our experiences, substances and events, can be explained by caused and effect. Life is one causal sequence made of Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (nidanas). This shows that no beings exist independent of any other beings. Therefore it describes one enduring identity from birth to death and also reincarnated lives: 1. Ignorance 2. Volitional Actions 3. States of Mind 4. Name and Form 5. Sense Sources 6. Contact 7. Feelings 8. Attachment 9. Grasping 10. Becoming 11. Birth 12. Aging and Death Yet again this process shows us that nothing can exist by itself. This is because the Buddha taught that if something has a dependent origination then it cant be independent: If something is fundamentally dependent then it must be devoid of having a nature that is independent of other phenomena, of existing independently. Anything that is dependently originated must in fact be empty. Everything that we experience is a result of a cause and the nature of them is being dependent. This means that all of our phenomena are empty of having an independent self. To be enlightened is to take away the first link of ignorance and be aware that all our phenomena are empty and once we are aware of this we will become enlightened. This is becoming aware that we arent actually what we think are. Our self or personality is a constitution of feelings and attachments to objects which is what causes our process of becoming. This is the aim of Atman, to escape from this unsatisfaction that the phenomena of the persisting self causes. When we grasp an object we want we may feel happiness but this never last and even if we get an object we want we always crave for more or are scared of losing it. We need to become enlightened that these are not actually real and are only a product of our phenomena. The four noble truths teach us that you can realise your true self and aspire to a higher living. When you understand that ignorance, volitional action, attachment and feeling and grasping are empty then you will let escape the circle of birth, suffering, death and rebirth (samsara) and find peace in nirvana. As we have seen, early Buddhism analysed experience into five aggregates but later schools developed the process of reduction analysis. The Abhidharma, a later reduction analysis text, develops some of the fundamental teaching of the Buddhism. The Abhidharma analyses phenomenon and experiences, reducing them into minute essentials (dharma) by complex lists. This rejects the sustainable self as an independent entity because it is actually a changing construction dependent on complex connection of mental and material components. The Sarvastivada Abhidharma doctrine teaches that only impartite entities truly exist. If atoms make up an object then the object doesnt exist as it is just an aggregate. The impartite entities in phenomenon (dharma) have a permanent identity of their own (svabhava) and exist in the past, present and future. Each dharma has its own essences or intrinsic nature (svalaksana). This idea is Atomism, where the basic constituent ingredients for all mental thoughts an d physical materials are all reducible to this. Yet again this breaks down our habits of attachment as we are just a mass of material elements and just as the Lotus flower will fade and die so will us. As the dharmas which have no cause and effect dont include the self, this must mean that all aspects of our experiences are impermanent and dependent on many causes and effects which arise and pass. This ontology of dharmas shows us that the world we live in is not what we think it is. Hence our attachments, commitments and desires for objects of this world are false: Try to grasp the world and it runs through ones fingers. The Abhidharma lists conditioned realities (samskrta) which are made from temporary fluxes. These phenomena are conditioned: 1. Material phenomena 2. Mind 3. Mental phenomena 4. Elements which are neither material nor mental The mind is conceived as a complex cognitive process consisting of a succession or related momentary mental states. Mental states arise dependent on its cause therefore forming a mental flux. The mind is always rapidly changing, streams of consciousness is made up of streams of awareness. Every moment of cognition relates to a particular object therefore intentionality and consciousness are inseparable. Our phenomenon of consciousness is therefore a stream of immaterial and impersonal events; it is associated with the body in life but will come to exist dependent on another body after the death of the body. This is not a persisting self but an impersonal series of mental events. Our reality is made up of a connection of momentary events. So mind and matter are not substance but events, and mental and material events interact in a flux. The Sautrantika teaching are different from the Abhidharma teachings as it rejections dharma as actual reality. The Abhidharma introduced the idea of permanence in the world through dharmas and the Sautrantika rejects this unconditional reality. This is because the Abhidharma dharmas go against the Buddhist principle of impermanence (anitya). They retain the notion of dharma but eliminate the notion of svabhava. They believe that our basic reality is just flashes of momentary energy (svalakshana). Therefore all things momentary exist only in the minute when they are produced. This is a radicalisation of impermanence as everything is instantaneous and has no duration. All materials are also impermanent as all things decay. Decay needs no external causes as it is a self destruction of the material. So there is only ever a present, there is no past or future as everything is instantaneous. An enduring and persisting self can certainly not exist as there is only momentary existence. Thus consciousness actually is just a flux of momentary flash of energy hence there is no need for a conscious self with a past, present and future. The doctrine of sakaravada teaches us that we are never in contact with the material world but only perceive an aspect based upon the sense organs and sense consciousness: It asserts the mediated character of cognition, the recognition that perception apprehends its object through the mediation of a mark left by the object on consciousness. Therefore reality is not what we think it is as there is a gap between our minds and what is actually occuringf. It is not a self being confronted by a world of objects. It is actually our sense consciousness taking on the form of the sakaravada. Before there was a need for a self for something to be consciously perceived by the senses but in this theory there is no need for this as we are not in direct contact with the world (bahyartha-pratyaks). The Nyaya- Vaisheshika taught that the world had an objective structure, that we are permanent, that there were persisting entities and they were substances. Dignaga, a Buddhist scholar believed that these categories that have been discovered in reality are just imposed by the workings of the mind and dont actually exist in reality. Through the process of our imagination (kalpana) is what we are giving words to. It is our language that imposes structure of reality. The mind groups svalakshana together. So words for generalities, for classes, for types, for qualities and words for individual substances all would seem to have repeatable properties are just our interpretation of the world and not actually real. Our minds are linking together different particulars and imagine them as an enduring and persisting entity. We forget that we are part of a process and talk in terms of us being stable observers not matter or quantum self, however we are not except from processes. Thus the belief of the self is just a word invented by the mind for the different processes in flux. Yogcara, another School of Buddhism, rejects the Sautrantika and Abhidharma idea of there being a reality independent of the mind. These ideas are interconnected and give rise to other ideas whilst being self illuminating. The unenlightened believe they have a self or they are conscious but this actually arises from a stream of conscious self illuminating ideas. This is because these self-conscious ideas may wrongly believe they have a self when actually they are part of a flux. It is the mind-set that makes us have this belief as this establishes how we perceive the world. Even though the world is mind only, the ideas cast themselves as external resulting in the misconstrued belief that we have a self. People dont feel individual because of the external world but because of the certain habitual mind-set they have, their feelings and moods.

Creating Other Worlds in Fly Away Peter Essay -- Peter

Creating Other Worlds in Fly Away Peter  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel Fly Away Peter, David Malouf explores the individual’s ability to transcend the immediate, and create ‘other worlds’ of his or her own: "Meanwhile the Mind, from pleasure less, Withdraws into happiness: ...it creates,... Far other worlds..." Malouf uses the continuity of life to highlight the importance of the individual’s mind set against the meaning of human existence. Malouf’s three main characters, Jim Saddler, Ashley Crowther and Imogen Harcourt, are used to present Malouf’s themes in a unique and sensitive manner. Malouf also implies that fate is predetermined and beyond the control of the individual. The only escape route offered is through man’s imagination. "It is the human mind, the imagination which makes us special..." Malouf suggests life has a continuity, that there is a ceaselessness surrounding time and as a result, individual life is to be savoured. Malouf uses symbolism to represent life’s perpetuity. A prominent example of this is the migrational patterns of the birds in the novel. Birds continue regardless of time: "The timespan for them was more or less infinite.". When Jim marvels at the sandpiper’s ability to find its way across the world and back: "...because the [memory] was ... there... in the long memory of its kind." The constant reference to bird migration becomes a clear symbol of the idea of continuity. The concept of the continuity of life is also expressed by the association of humans and earth. The notion "...that the earth was man’s sphere...", occurs throughout the novel and represents re-growth and the idea that life goes on regardless of circumstance. Jim felt himself ‘dissolving’ into the earth when he ... ...he suggestion that fate is predetermined. Another example of this is the young officer who was hit leading his men onto the battle ground. He died with the look, "I wasn’t ready. Unfair!" Malouf shows that fate is predetermined. The only way the individual can escape it is by creating his own ‘imagined’ world. Fly Away Peter is unique in its presentation of universal and prominent themes. The significance of the individual, as opposed to the meaning of life, man’s ability to transcend the immediate, the continuity of life and predetermined fate are all examined in a sensitive and perceptive manner. Malouf crafts his three main characters to portray and develop the essence of his main themes. The most prominent of these themes is summarised by Malouf when he said: "We can and must transcend the conditions we find ourselves in, however terrible they may be."   

CPPD

To enable trainees to recognize the variety of roles and contexts in the lifelong learning sector and the Impact that these have Objectives: By the end of this activity, trainees should be able to: List at least five different teaching contexts in the lifelong learning sector Discuss the effect of these contexts, different specialist subject areas, different organizational structures etc on the way they work In comparison with others Part 1: Wordsmith Wordsmith on the different teaching contexts in the lifelong learning sector.Discussion on which of these contexts are represented in the group or have been experienced In the past either as teachers or learners. How do they differ? What Impact do these differences have? Make use of any trainees in the group who teach in contexts other than FEE colleges. Part 2: Small group discussion Note: groups could be delved by subject area or randomly, but most effective If different teaching contexts are represented in each group where possible.D iscuss the way that their subject is delivered in their organization – how does this compare to how it is delivered in different contexts and how does it compare to other objects within deferent organizations. What is the main purpose of their organization and what impact does this have on the provision of their specialist subject? Are the student groups likely to be similar or different – in terms of ages, gender balance, motivation etc – in different contexts? What levels of their specialist subject are offered in their organization? What impact does the type of organization have on this decision?How is the organization structured – in terms of the size of the organization, departmental organization, line management, course co-ordination, teams of staff or individual teaching – and how goes this affect their teaching of their subject? What â€Å"roles† are involved in teaching their subject – egg teacher, lecturer, tutor, personal t utor, instructor, learning support etc – and does this affect the way their teaching is perceived in their organization? Plenary feedback with tutor to provide input and lead discussion on contexts not covered within the group.The context of teaching includes anything in the surrounding environment: physical, social, institutional and personal, that influences teaching and learning. The physical environment includes the classroom where teaching/learning occurs. For instance, he arrangement of the desks encourages some kinds of interactions and discourages others. Other factors such as lighting (enough to read by but not so much as to glare or be uncomfortable), heat (too warm makes people tired, too cold makes them uncomfortable and focusing on their physical feelings), time of day, and even the day of the week can make a difference.The social environment including the relationship between teacher and students and the cultural norms play a significant role in what can and doe s occur in the classroom. How friendly/ approachable an instructor seems to be determines how outgoing students will be ND the kind of communication that will characterize classroom interaction. The cultural norms: what is expected of a teacher and a student also have to be considered. This includes norms and attitudes regarding gender, age, class and ethnic roles.For instance, research shows (check with Elaine Blackmore on this) that it is more difficult for students to address a female professor as â€Å"Dry. Whoever† than to address a male professor similarly. The institutional norms play a similar role as cultural norms but perhaps more strongly affect what behaviors the teacher and students see as acceptable. Is the teaching method â€Å"du Sour† being promulgated as the only acceptable teaching practice? Is teaching â€Å"outside the lines† an acceptable custom? Are teachers encouraged to take risks?Are students encouraged to take an active role in their o wn education? The culture of the institution determines what is valued/ rewarded/recognized in the context. Is teaching rewarded or does research have higher esteem and, thus, more currency. How is teaching evaluated? All of these are affected by the larger culture, but specifically designated by the institution's culture and the norms of the department within which the course is offered. Last, but certainly not least, is the personal context which each instructor (and every student, for that matter) brings to the classroom.Personal context includes stresses context contains teachers' attitudes about learning, teaching, students, their own abilities, and their subject matter. For instance, teachers who believe their students can learn the content and communicate that belief to students can create a self- fulfilling prophecy in much the same way as teachers who do not believe in their students' abilities can create failure, regardless of actual student abilities. More importantly, is teachers' ability to teach from who they are.Teachers, to succeed, must believe in themselves, their students and the importance and awesomeness of their subject. Today's classroom is dynamic and complex. More students are coming to school neglected, abused, hungry, and ill-prepared to learn and work productively. To combat increasing student alienation, and meet the scope and intensity of the academic, social and emotional needs of today's students, those entering the teaching profession will need to find ways to create authentic learning communities y adjusting the power dynamics to turn power over into power with learners.These changing demands call for teaching styles that better align with emerging metaphors of teacher as social mediator, learning facilitator, and reflective practitioner. Being able to function in these roles begins with teacher self-awareness, self-inquiry, and self-reflection, not with the students. Becoming an effective teacher involves considerably more th an accumulating skills and strategies. Without tying teaching and management decisions to personal beliefs about teaching, learning, and development, a teacher will have only the bricks.The real stuff of teaching is the mortar that holds the bricks in place and provides a foundation. Being successful in today's classroom environment goes beyond taking on fragmented techniques for managing instruction, keeping students on-task, and handling student behavior. It requires that the teacher remain did and able to move in many directions, rather than stuck only being able to move in one direction as situations occur. Effective teaching is much more than a compilation of skills and strategies. It is a deliberate philosophical and ethical code of conduct.When teachers become reflective restrictions, they move beyond a knowledge base of discrete skills to a stage where they integrate and modify skills to a specific context and eventually, to a point where the skills are internalized enabling them to invent new strategies. They develop the necessary sense of self-menace to create personal solutions to problems. If teachers latch onto techniques without examination of what kinds of teaching practices would be congruent with their beliefs, aligned with their discountenancing structures, and harmonious with their personal styles, they will have Just a bag of tricks.Without yin teaching decisions to beliefs about the teaching/learning process and assumptions about, and expectations for students, teachers will have only isolated techniques. Unless teachers engage in critical re-section and on-going discovery they stay trapped in unexamined Judgments, interpretations, assumptions, and expectations. On Becoming the Critically Reflective Teacher Developing as a critically reflective teacher encompasses both the capacity for critical inquiry and self-reflection. Critical inquiry involves the conscious consideration of the moral and ethical implications and consequences of classr oom practices on students.Few teachers get through a day without facing ethical dilemmas. Even routine evaluative Judgments of students' work is partly an ethical decision, in that lack of considerations. Self-reflection goes beyond critical inquiry by adding to conscious consideration the dimension of deep examination of personal values and beliefs, embodied in the assumptions teachers make and the expectations they have for students. For discussion purposes, the term critical reflection will be used to merge the two concepts of critical inquiry and self-reflection, and [email  protected] the distinguishing attribute of re-active practitioners.

A Brief History of the Tower of London

A Brief History of the Tower of London If you watch a British entertainer on their home soil make a joke about the Royal Family, youll probably see them follow it up with a quip like oh, they’ll take me to the Tower! They dont need to say which tower. Everyone growing up in the mainstreams of British culture hears about The Tower, a building as famous and central to the national myths of England as the White House is to the myths of the United States. Built on the north bank of the River Thames in London and once a home of royalty, a jail for prisoners, a site for executions and a storehouse for an army, the Tower of London now contains the Crown Jewels, guardians nicknamed Beefeaters (they arent keen on the name) and legend securing ravens. Dont be confused by the name: the Tower of London is actually a huge castle-complex formed by centuries of addition and alteration. Described simply, the nine hundred-year-old White Tower forms a core surrounded, in concentric squares, by two sets of powerful walls. Studded with towers and bastions, these walls enclose two inner areas called wards that are full of smaller buildings. This is the story of its origins, creation and the near continual development which has kept it at the center of an, albeit changing, national focus for nearly a millenia, a rich and bloody history that easily attracts over two million visitors every year. Origins of the Tower of London While the Tower of London as we know it was built in the eleventh century, the history of fortification on the site stretches back into Roman times, when stone and wooden structures were built and marshland reclaimed from the Thames. A massive wall was created for defence, and this anchored the later Tower. However, the Roman fortifications declined after the Romans left England. Many Roman structures had their stones robbed away for use in later buildings (finding these Roman remains in other structures is a good source of evidence and very rewarding), and what remained in London was likely foundations. Williams Stronghold When William I successfully conquered England in 1066 he ordered the construction of a castle in London, using the site of the old Roman fortifications as a base. In 1077 he added to this stronghold by ordering the construction of a huge tower, the Tower of London itself. William died before it was completed in 1100. William needed a large tower partly for protection: he was an invader attempting to take over a whole kingdom, one which needed pacification before it would accept him and his children. While London seems to have been made safe quite quickly, William had to engage in a campaign of destruction in the north, the Harrying, to secure that. However, the Tower was useful in a second way: the projection of royal power wasnt just about walls to hide in, it was about showing status, wealth and strength, and a large stone structure that dominated its surroundings did just that. The Tower of London as Royal Castle Over the next few centuries monarchs added ever more fortifications, including walls, halls and other towers, to an increasingly complex structure which became referred to as The Tower of London. The central tower became known as the ‘White Tower’ after it was whitewashed. On the one hand, every successive monarch needed to build here to demonstrate their own wealth and ambition. On the other hand, several monarchs had need to shelter behind these imposing walls due to conflicts with their rivals (sometimes their own siblings), so the castle remained nationally important and a military keystone in controlling England. From Royalty to Artillery During the Tudor period the use of the Tower began to change, with visits from the monarch declining, but with many important prisoners held there and an increase in the use of the complex as a storehouse for the nation’s artillery. The number of major modifications began to decline, although some were spurred on by fire and naval threats, until changes in warfare meant the Tower became less important as an artillery base. It wasnt that the Tower was any less formidable to the type of people it had been built to defend, but that gunpowder and artillery meant its walls were now vulnerable to new technology, and defences had to take markedly different forms. Most castles suffered a decline in military importance, and instead transformed into new uses. But monarchs were looking for different sorts of accommodation now, palaces, not cold, draughty castles, so visits fell. Prisoners, however, did not require luxury. The Tower of London as National Treasure As the military and government use of the Tower declined, parts were opened up to the general public, until the Tower evolved into the landmark it is today, welcoming over two million visitors annually. Ive been myself, and its a striking place to spend time and muse on the history its seen. It can get crowded though! More on the Tower of London The Tower of London Ravens: Ravens are kept at the Tower of London, in part to fulfill the demands of an old superstition†¦ this article explains why.The Beefeaters / Yeoman Warders: The Tower of London is guarded by people called Yeoman Warders, but they’re better known by a nickname: the Beefeaters. Visitors to the Tower should keep an eye out for, what by modern standards, are their unusual uniforms.

Hijacked train Essays

Hijacked train Essays Hijacked train Essay Hijacked train Essay Australian men pulled the emergency brake on an E-Z Express freight train in Toronto, and planted a bomb in the front engine. The hijackers held 50 male employees hostage onboard the train for 10 days. The reason for this unforeseen hijacking is due to the five million dollars of gold bars onboard. The train that was on route to Hamilton, Ontario was headed for Hamilton Harbor. The harbor is known for its easy access to the seaway where the gold was destined for Europe. This operation was supposed to be confidential through ISIS, but there was a breach of confidentiality in the system and now the RECAP is doing a thorough investigation on how it was leaked. After several lengthy negotiation tactics with the men, they were able to work out a deal to let a painfully sick crew member out of the train. They were not able to work out any other deals as the demands were too high. The RECAP then took it to the next level. They sent out 3 Z- 500 Jet planes to fly over the train to hopefully get hostages o duck down, where they would be safer. Then the Marines Special Force Unit started to shoot the train, in the first class areas and in between compartments, killing 10 hijackers. Through this hijacking process 12 hostages were killed, on the scene and several others died in hospitals due to hypothermia, land lack of food and water. The police were not able to recover to the dead bodies until several days later. Salina Amnesia, the wife of Bernie Amnesia one of the crew members said, I just cant believe it, how could someone do something so bad to someone who they never even known? Ten days after the hijacking first started, the hijackers surrendered due to the harsh weather conditions, below zero and shortage of food. Six hijackers survived and were later convicted and sentenced from six to nine years. The Australian government hasnt offered any apologies as of now. Rick Hansen one of the twenty hijackers told reporters, This isnt the last of me, I will be back Hijacked train By Antidisestablishmentarianism

Chicago tribune tower competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Chicago tribune tower competition - Essay Example (see fig. 1) Yet as with any design project, opinions were subjective, many professionals believing the winner should have been the simplified modernistic design by the Finnish architect, Eliel Saarinen.(see fig. 2). Winner or not, future designs would soon replicate Saarinen’s simplicity and the competition itself become the focal point of discussion and ideas that would forever effect the purpose and design of these giant, impressive structures. (jitterbuzz.com, no date) Howell’s and Hood’s design, with its classic buttresses popular in the early twentieth century, seemed a logical choice to blend with other more traditional buildings in the city. The thirty-six story building featured a spectacular topside treatment with structural piers shooting upward to flying buttresses that form an ornate ornamental crown. Elaborate Gothic carvings adorn the top and bottom of the building along with contributing decorations from more than one-hundred and twenty structures of significance, including the Great Wall of China. As was the case with most of Hoods projects, the sculptures and decorations were executed by the American artist Rene Paul Chamberllan. The tower also features carved images of Robin Hood (Hood) and a howling dog (Howells) near the main entrance to commemorate the architects. Its famous lobby incorporates patriotic passages defending freedom of the press. Its Gothic style, hardly unique, was somewhat based on a precedent set by Hood’s Woolworth Building, built 1913†(see fig 3) ( jitterbuzz.com, no date, para. 3). Critics such as Louis Sullivan, who coined the phrase â€Å"form ever follows function,† disagreed on principle with the committee’s choice. Though Sullivan’s quote has often been over-and misused over time, â€Å"his [Sullivan’s] point, that the style of architecture should reflect its purpose, made sense at the time, and continued to do so for much of the last century...† (Rawsthorn, 2009, para. 3). In preferring

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Employee Commitment Among Essay

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Employee Commitment Among Perfusionists - Essay Example IV. This study shall establish the relationship between self-efficacy and employee commitment among CCPs. It shall also investigate the role of age, gender, workload, experience, education and self-efficacy on CCP commitment. V. The research design is that of a quantitative correlational study. Two survey instruments would be used. One would measure organizational commitment through the organizational commitment questionnaire and the other would be the work self-efficacy inventory. Data would be analyzed using t-tests and multiple regression analyses as well as non-parametric tests. VII. With positive social change, better societal outcomes can be gained, in this case, better outcomes for patients and better working scenarios for CCPs. This study would benefit CCPs primarily, improving their work conditions and commitment. It would also benefit the patients with improved quality of care. This is an optional page for a dedication. If you include a dedication, use regular paragraph spacing as shown here (not centered, italicized, or otherwise formatted). If you do not wish to include this page, delete the heading, the body text, and the page break below the end of the text. No page number appears on any of the pages up to this point. If you do not wish to include this page, delete the heading and the body text; if a blank page remains, delete the page break above but leave the section break that you see below this text. Perceived self-efficacy refers to an is an individual’s beliefs in about accomplishing a specific task successfully (Bandura (1977). The theory of self-efficacy is a component of the social cognitive theory, which emphasizesd that cognitive, behavioral, personal, and environmental factors interact impact on to determine motivation and behavior. Beliefs in personal efficacy affect individual personal choices, including the quality of their performance, their resilience, and their level of motivationimpact the choices

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation - Essay Example nd aerobic respiration (Campebell 141).   Glycolysis produces two ATP and thirty-four more ATPs are produced by aerobic pathways if there is presence of oxygen. In absence of oxygen, fermentation reactions produce alcohol or lactic acid but not ATP (Campebell 142). During vigorous exercises more oxygen is consumed faster than required. More ATP energy is supplied to muscles by the process of glycolysis resulting in build up of lactate in muscles (Campbell Neil A. 304). When lactate builds up blood pH drops and the muscles are fatigued. When at rest lactate gets converted back to pyruvate and oxygen debt is repaid. This is the reason why a person continues to breathe hard even after finishing a race or rapidly climbing fleet of stairs (Campbell Neil A. 304). 3. Oxidative phosphorylation via the electron transport chain is carried out on the inner mitochondrial membrane (Strver 46). In absence of oxygen cellular respiration consists of only two metabolic pathways: glycolysis and fermentation both of which occurs in the cytosol (Strver 46). Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol (cytoplasm) and does not require oxygen. It is a process that includes a number of chemical reactions, each that require special enzymes to make it happen (Campbell Neil A. 147). During the third step of the process glucose gets converted to fructose. Fructose from organism’s food is put into the process and there are other ways to react chemically dietary sugars, lipids and proteins so that their energy can be recovered (Campbell Neil A. 146). All nutrients are used as fuel and act as building blocks. During the process glucose (C6) is broken down to two molecules of pyruvate (C3) (Strver 50).   This change is accompanied by a net gain of 2 ATP molecules and 2 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) molecules. There are ten steps in glycolysis and each is catalyzed by a specific enzyme (Strver 51). Two ATP molecules are then used to phosphorylate and activate some compounds that are

Muhamad Abdel Wahab Essay Example for Free

Muhamad Abdel Wahab Essay Mohammad Abdel Wahab was born in 1907 and died in May 3, 1991. He was a prominent 20th century Egyptian singer and composer born in Bab El Shriyah area of Cairo Egypt. He composed 10 songs for Omm Katherm, the greatest Arab songstress in history. Mohammad Abdel is a legend to the vast majority of Arabic speaking people. Mohammad was a renown singer, composer and actor and who lasted in musical career for spanning seventy four (74) years. He had a captivating voice and his melodies were of the classical poetry from the Arab’s golden age and that of their modern struggle against Western colonialism. Through this composition he instilled in his listener a feeling of pride in their Arabic’s rich culture and heritage. Though Abdul Wahab is known for his music, he composed more that he sang. Exploring the life of Abdul Wahab as a composer without referring to his songs or music and acting is inadequate for all of were a part of him and his many released songs and movies that later became `hits` were as a result of his creativity and talented mind. His enjoyed musical voice and the melodies were no doubt a product of his great composition. His songs were his own compositions and it is said that from his teens Mohammad had composed for himself and other leading Arab singers over 1800 romantic and patriotic songs (Salloum. Habeeb). His composition had the Western taste due to his innovative nature of always thinking of new and better ways to enrich the traditional songs. This is a factor that has contributed to a great extent to the popularity and influence of his compositions among the youth, a reason that has made his compositions to maintain the lead in music industry up to date. In the 1920s Mohammad is said to have become a close friend of a well known poet, Ahmad Shawky who helped him excel well in compositions and boost his talent as a composer. In the following years the world watched Muhammad Abdul Waham climb the ladder to later become a star and earned himself the title ‘singer of princes’ When the Egyptian monarchy was overthrown in 1952 by young nationalist army officers his perception of life changed drastically and radically. His songs which were purely his own compositions became more inspiring and more patriotic. He produced some of his finest works which included ‘The Eternal Nile’, ‘Damascus’, Palestine the musical scores for Egypt’s national anthem and the national anthems of Oman and the United Arab Republic. He composed political, national and Arab national songs; Muhammad also composed more songs after 1933. His compositions underwent different stages of development due to the environment in which he lived. Muhammad as a person accepted the changes and that is why his music in great deals synthesized the two worlds (both Western world and Arab world). (Levinson. M. L, 1995) His music was at first traditional a thing that later changed to westernization after he underwent formal training in both Arabic and Western music. Among his early composition of song was the Goose Consul Operetta, based on a theme of Naguib El Rehani which became a great success. Later his movie composition introduced female artist such as Leila Murad a thing that may have been found awkward during the time. Muhamad Abdul Wahab in his own way was a revolutionary leader in some sort of special way. His compositions featured large orchestras with a Western blend of instruments such as the guitar bass, accordion and later the organ and synthesizer. He also added new rhythmic formulas, including the tango, the mambo, samba and rumba, as well as the Arabic oriental rhythms, maqsoum and baladi in his compositions. (The story behind the stomp) In the 1960s Abdul Wahab composed songs for other singers such Om Koulthom. He released Omri a recording that later became Egypt’s all time best seller. In the 1970s he started fading from the public though his music from his own compositions continued with the same energy and vigor but in 1988 when he was (81), he emerged again to the surprise of many with new composition of his own. Age to him was nothing, infact it gave him more reason to write and consequently more reason to live. In his life time Abdul Wahab was recognized for his work in his great compositions, music and movie industries and hence received a lot of awards. Suprisingly enough his work is still rated as one of the best to have ever come from an Arab world. (Levinson. M. L) He died at the age of ninety and Egypt country honored him with a huge military funeral at the Rabia-al-Aldawiya Mosque in Cairo. After his death, his work was covered in newspapers, radio and television ranging from his compositions of songs and movies. He was accorded the title `The father of modern Arabic songs`. He died in 1991 of heart failure; he left a legacy nobody can afford to forget especially in the world of modern Arabic music and melody. Up to until his death Mohammad sorts peace in his writings, writings that appealed to both the old and the young. He stole many hearts with his music and compositions and became a beloved figure. Although he is gone he speaks to us through his work Works Ci

What Is Capacity Planning?

What Is Capacity Planning? Planning is concerned with thinking ahead, making provision. Capacity can be referred to as the upper limit on the rate of output. Another meaning of capacity can also be to maximum rate at which a transformation system produces or processes inputs. Therefore capacity planning can be defined as the process used to determine how much capacity is needed and when it is needed, in order to manufacture greater product or being production of a new product. According to TeamQuest (www.teamquest.ocm/capacityplanning Date access 12 Feb 2010) the goal of capacity plannings would be to provide satisfactory service levels to users in a cost-effective manner. Capacity planning has become a major issue in a global environment due to the financial benefits of the efficient use of capacity plans within material requirements planning systems and other information systems. Insufficient capacity will lead to insufficient delivery performance, stress on current work-in-process, and frustrate sales personnel and those in manufacturing. However, excess capacity can be costly and unnecessary. The lack of proper capacity planning will become a barrier to the achievement of maximising performance. With regard to Natref refinery they have a constant plan ahead for the next six months where the last three months are fixed. A shortage of supply would definitely influence its ability to provide according to its estimates. The supplies need to be monitored closely due to the fact that capacity is a possible restraint, especially when there is a need for stock building. These problems are closely planned and scheduled to reduce unforeseen capacity problems. The planning is done by the shareholders of Natref namely Sasol, that holds 63.64% of the shares and Total that holds 36.36% shares. The shareholders are very closely involved with Natrefs daily operations. The levels of capacity and production rate is constantly monitored to ensure that the plant is run in an optimized way and to ensure that there are no shortage of raw materials. When doing capacity planning it is important to consider the following three steps as set out by TeamQuest (www.teamquest.ocm/capacityplanning Date access 12 Feb 2010): To follow the above mentioned steps, you can ensure that your organisation will be prepared for the future. You will have the information necessary to purchase only what you need, avoiding over-provisioning while at the same time assuring adequate service. To be able to do capacity planning it is important to understand and determine the market requirements. To be able to determine the requirements you need to understand the workloads. Before setting service/product levels, you need to determine what unit you will use to measure the incoming work. According to TeamQuest (www.teamquest.ocm/capacityplanning Date access 12 Feb 2010) the workload can be explained as a logical classification of work performed. It is useful to analyze the work done on systems in terms that make sense BOTTLENECKS What is a bottleneck? A Bottleneck is the action that occurs and causes the capacity in a certain procedure that is not fully utilized for (Operations Supply Management, Jacobs, Chase, Aquilano, 2009:165) this action, it may be time, how long it takes to complete the task or the facilities that are in process for instance dispatch places of the final product. Business Definition: Bottleneck (http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/bottleneck.html Date of access 10 Feb 2010) An activity within an organization which has a lower capacity than preceding or subsequent activities, thereby limiting throughput. Bottlenecks are often the cause of a build-up of work in progress and of idle time, A limiting factor on the rate of an operation. A workstation operating at its maximum capacity becomes a bottleneck if the rate of production elsewhere in the plant increases throughput but at that workstation can not be increased to meet demand. An understanding of bottlenecks is important if the efficiency and capacity of an assembly line are to be increased. The techniques of fishbone charts, Pareto charts, and flow charts can be used to identify where and why bottlenecks occur. Identification of bottlenecks (Production and Operations Management, Ray Wild, 1979) There are two ways to identify bottlenecks in a system, first check whether the resource profile is correct for the given capacity and secondly make use of the knowledge of personnel in the specific layout by discussing this and finding out where they see the bottlenecks. In the process to avert and manage bottlenecks, there need to be looked at the following factors: The work that must be done and the work ethics The goal is to establish what the most economic way is, to get the work done. To standardize the method, equipment and material that is used to get the work done. Furthermore there should be established how much time a qualified worker needs to do a job of a given quality standard. It is important that this process be applied for maximum benefit to the organization. The interpretation of the layout Points that need to be looked at are the following: Cost of the handling and moving of crude oil. Utilization of labour, facilities and the space of the plant. Are there initial plans for the maximization or minimization of the layout? If equipment needs to be changed or replaced, does the plant compensate for it? Capacity planning and management thereof Effective capacity management is of utmost importance to Natref. The main goal for capacity planning is to balance the level of manufacturing to the demand of the product being manufactured. Capacity planning comes down to the following two factors: Determining the capacity needed for the manufacturing system. By developing and implementing a strategy that can be used in the existing process by applying resources in such a manner those fluctuations can supply in demand. Scheduling Because Natref is operating on a LEAN process, scheduling is of utmost importance, for example when a shutdown is planned. This means that certain activities will have to be rescheduled, for example, more completed products will have to be stored for the demand thereof during the shutdown. The ships with crude oil that have been ordered, will have to be rescheduled, because there might not be storage available at Natcos. The design and scheduling of the process flow See if the refinery process used by Natref is entailing optimal flow, in other words, is the manufacturing line in balance. All these processes are being used and implemented by Natref. What makes the situation at Natref a slightly different is that bottlenecks can not only arise in the layout, but also in the process of crude oil being provided from Durban by pipe line. Bottlenecks can also arise at the storage facility (Natcos). Refer to Annexure A for the schematic presentation on the potential bottlenecks. All the points marked A, B, C, D and E can be identified as probable bottlenecks. Because Natref itself does not have a lot of storage capacity (LEAN) for crude oil, they should act more pro-active to avoid bottlenecks in the refining and procurement stages. If bottlenecks occur during the refining process, then it should be dealt with the utmost urgency. Note to Natref At present Natrefs biggest points for bottlenecks are the procuring and shipping of ready products, because in both cases they do not have enough storage capacity. The existing shipping facility is too small and therefore a bigger shipping facility is being built to increase the tempo for road- and rail transport. This is a much cheaper option to building a storage facility at Natref, because there would be less risk due to fire hazards when product is kept in storage. Natrefs main goal is procurement of energy resources. Natref should in fact make use of its clients storage facilities and so shipping its ready-made products quicker. Relating to the procurement of crude oil, Natref should manage bottlenecks as follows for minimum risks: Advanced buying of crude oil should be scheduled that there would always be enough ships on its way, so that Natcos (storage farm at Durban) would not run out and that there would always be enough storage space. Maintenance plans for the pipe line from Natcos to Natref should be thoroughly seen through, so that continual flow of crude oil can be maintained. Maintenance should be synchronized during shutdown dates. CAPACITY PLANNING: CHANGES IN DEMAND AND SUPPLY The business environment has never been more challenging than it is right now. The speed of change in the marketplace is creating a stress on corporations to respond quickly and effectively. The foundation that is required to react to dynamic changes in supply and demand is based on understanding your supply chains capacities. Understanding and then building the infrastructure that provides the needed flexibility and speed requires an in-depth understanding of how capacity impacts your business. The impact of capacity management is felt throughout the organization, within every element of the supply chain. Supplier capacity can bring production to a standstill. Production capacity is equally important; if the capacity is not great enough to meet peak demand periods and inventory building is not properly planned, customer demand will go unfilled. Distribution capacity, both storage and throughput, ensures delivery of the right product at the right time. Transportation connects all elements of the supply chain; as such, its capacity issues are key, influencing service levels and on-time delivery performance. Change has become the rule, not the exception. The need for capacity management is measured not in years or quarters but rather in weeks and months. Changes can be brutally fast and without warning. Industry over the past two years has been hit hard with a steep slowdown of their business. Some were managing their capacity to great detail during the late 90s, with state of the art systems in place; however, these systems failed when business conditions began impacting their extended supply chains, including contract manufacturers and suppliers. With these current levels of change, dynamic measurement and planning tools have become a necessity. External as well as internal dynamics create the need for constant monitoring and adjustment of capacity levels and policies. Global economic conditions and competitors cause external pressures that challenge current business practices. From price pressures to raw material availability, organizations must be flexible enough to react quickly to these changes. Internal dynamics can be equally as disruptive. Acquisitions and partnerships as well as moves into new markets create opportunities to leverage current assets and spend capital wisely. However, without proper planning, these opportunities can become large challenges and liabilities if synergies are not exploited. No matter how well capacity planning is conducted, these decisions must periodically be revisited to make sure they are still aligned with the organizations goals. If so, they will provide the foundation to support new initiatives including collaboration throughout the extended supply chain. Management Reality: A subjective issue As every manager knows, capacity is a difficult concept to quantify. Whether its a workstations ability to process jobs or a manufacturing plants capability for a year, the answer is frequently it depends. Because of the dynamic nature of capacity and the interrelationships among different supply chain elements, capacity is forever changing. Product-mix changes, process or equipment engineering improvements, labor availability and new data management systems are only a few reasons capacity can suddenly change. The most available and, therefore, most popular measure of capacity is the past-but the past is not necessarily a good indication of the future. There is an answer. Many tools have been developed to address the dynamic nature of supply chains today. In an effort to empower managers, to allow them to plan rather than react, planning tools evaluate a variety of variables and are superior to educated guessing about where, how much and when capacity should be modified. With a scope ranging from a full view of the supply chain to a subset of the organization to a micro within the box view of a facility, there is a tool to meet any capacity management need. These tools help quantify the differences among alternatives and lead to a greater understanding of the interrelationships within a supply chain. From identifying bottlenecks, to backup suppliers, to available alternate routings, to contingency planning, the true cost and impact of decisions can be evaluated. Because all elements of the system being studied can be represented at once, sub-optimization can be avoided. Alternatives can be objectively evaluated to determine their t rue impact on a variety of performance measures, including throughput capacity, inventory levels, and cycle times, before expensive and disruptive changes are made. According to Baltzan et al. (2009:184) demand planning SCM (Supply Chain Management) software can help an organization determine capacity. An organization must determine the performance capacity level for each of its facilities. If it decides a facility will have a large amount of excess capacity, which provides the flexibility to respond to wide swings in demand, then it is choosing an effectiveness strategy. Excess capacity, however, cost money and can therefore decrease efficiency. Natref does just this, by utilising its software, swinging the throughput of its product albeit Diesel or Petrol, whenever the demand for the one product exceeds that of the other the system can rapidly change the throughput of the product needed. Competitive Advantage: Knowledge is Power Capacitys pervasive influence and the pace of change make the need for accurate knowledge and flexibility a necessity. The ability to quickly react, while making educated and informed decisions, will directly impact the health and success of your organization. It will enable you to rise above your competition, to compete based on your supply chain and the service and flexibility you can provide. In todays dynamic business environment, speed and flexibility are a necessity. From being able to quickly respond to business conditions to reacting to dramatic changes in customer demand, a disproportion of capacity can have devastating results. Too much capacity can result in low return on assets, morale damaging layoffs and expensive facility closures while too little can result in lost sales and eroding customer loyalty. Utilizing a strategic network design tool allows an organization to objectively evaluate its extended supply chain and simultaneously consider all costs and business policies. This understanding can then drive an organizations capital expenditures and strategies as they build a world-class supply chain, built to compete against any organization in the world. It can be said that from the information provided by Natref it is utilising its capacity very successful. In total Natref produces 170 000 m3 of Petrol 170 000m3 of Diesel fuel + 30 000 m3 of Diesel fuel for export markets, 110 000 m3 of Jet-Fuel (kerosene) and 25 000 t Heavy Fuel Oil for industrial use 13 000 t of Bitumen. Thus a total of 480 000m3 and 38 000t of product. The demand fluctuates constantly and Natref has to constantly stay abreast with changes. Natref are fortunate to have shareholders that have a direct input into the market that helps with its planning. TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE LONG-TERM CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS To achieve real (effective) capacity, you must understand what is produce, need to look at both resource input and product output. As operation manager you have to ensure to view also the dimension of capacity, and that capacity must be stated relative to some period of time. This is evidence in the common distinction draw between long-range, intermediate-range, and short-range capacity planning.(Jacobs, Chase and Aquilano (2009:121-122)) According to Jacobs et al (2009:123-124) the objective of strategic capacity planning is to provide an approach for determining the overall capacity level of capital-intensive resources facilities, equipment, and overall labour force size that best support the companys long-range competitive strategy. To ensure overall capacity level the concept of best operating level must be used and at all time ensure a 100% capacity utilization rate is acquired. Capacity utilization rate is determined by the actual capacity used divided by the actual capacity it has been developing for. The % out of 100 will determined the utilization rate. When determining capacity requirements, you have to require demand for each product line, individual plant capabilities, and allocation from production: Use forecasting techniques to predict sales for individual products within each product line. Calculate equipment and labour requirements to meet product line forecasting. Project labour and equipment available over the planning horizon. (Jacobs et al (2009:121-122)) To evaluate capacity alternatives Jacobs et al (2009:131) suggests the use of a decision tree. A decision tree is a convenient way to evaluate a capacity investment decision; this does not only help to understand the problem but also finds a solution. A decision tree is a schematic model of the sequence of steps in a problem and the conditions and consequences of each step. The way forward is that a square indicates a decision point and the circles represent change events. Branches from decision point show choices available for decision maker, branches from chance events show the probabilities for occurrence. To solve the tree you work back from the end to the start of the tree, you calculate the expected values of each step, by calculating the value of each step the time and money value is important if the planning horizon is long. Example diagram of a decision tree Once the calculation is made you prune the tree by eliminating from each decision point all the branches except the one with the highest pay off. This continues until the first decision point and problems are solved. If no changes are made competitors will move in and would make expansion no longer feasible. According to an International Journal of Production Economics (2001:p215-22) in a manufacturing strategy, capacity is a structural decision category, dealing with dynamic capacity expansion and reduction relative to the long-term changes in demand levels. Sales and operation planning (SOP) is the long-term planning of production levels relative to sales within the frame work of a manufacturing planning and control system. Within the SOP, resources planning are used for determining the appropriate capacity levels in order to support the production plan. Manufacturing strategy and sales operation planning provides two perspectives on long-term capacity management, raising and treating different issues. Note to Natref: regarding best practice techniques to determine long-term capacity requirements Natref needs to: Estimate the capacity of the present facilities 115 000 barrels/day All petrol grades @ 3500 liter/minute 80% of JIA jet fuel requirements @ 2000 l/minute, and Diesel @ 4500 liters/minute With above information Natref need to establish their capacity utilization percentage and relates the actual output to output capacity and actual input use to input capacity. This will determine the efficiency of the current input and output capacity. With this a capacity cushion need to be added on to the capacity demand to allow for: greater than expected demand, demand during peak demand seasons, lower production cost, product and volume flexibility and improve quality of products and services. Forecast the long-range future capacity needs Natref need to consider the life input for the next 5 years and understand the product life cycle as it impacts capacity. Anticipate technology development and competitors action. Forecast the strategy and demand of shareholders. Ask the question what will change to the current month productions in 5 years: 170 000 m3 of Petrol 30 000 m3 of Diesel fuel for export markets 110 000 m3 Jet-fuel 25 000 t heavy fuel oil for industrial use Natref could also expand long-term capacity by: Subcontract with other companies, acquire other companies facilities and resources Expand , update or modify excising facilities When all above is done and the forecast and capacity requirements has been establish. Two approaches could be followed namely expand all at once or expand incrementally. Expand all at once build the ultimate facility now and grow into it Little risk of having to turn down business due to inadequate capacity and less interruption of production One large project cost less than few smaller projects and due to inflation, will construction cost be higher in the future Incrementally build as capacity demand grow Less risky if forecast needs to materialize and funds are not teid up in capacity for other investment possibilities Appropriate for new products May suggestion would be that after Natref has decides what strategy they want to take for the next 5 years regarding long-term capacity requirements they need to analyze more than one suggestion in a decision tree the expected value approach. The decision point would be the 5 year strategy, regarding this Natref need to determine more than one change event that will have an expected value. This will allow Natref to see all choices available for decision making and the probabilities for occurrence. When all the choices available value are calculated, Natref need to work back from the end of the tree to the start of the tree, this will allow Natref to calculated the expected value of each step and the time and money to determine the actual long-term requirements for the next 5 years. WAYS TO COUNTER LACK OF CAPACITY DURING PEAK DEMANDS/SHUTDOWNS If the goal of capacity planning is to provide satisfactory service levels to users in a cost effective manner, then the lack of capacity would be not succeeding in providing satisfactory service levels. And if capacity planning is defined as the process that is used to determine how much capacity is needed and when it is needed, in order to manufacture greater products or production of a new product, then lack of capacity is the situation where a goal is not achieved, due to some or other constraint in the process. According to a study conducted by Sylvester, Lendon and Bevan (2004:1) they prove that to continually add capacity is not a viable solution to counter the lack of capacity. In their study they needed to properly understand and manage patient flow in a hospital. This is removed from the capacity at a refinery, but the basics would still be the same. If one compare this directly to the Natref state of affairs, the assumption would be that to add capacity would not necessarily counter the lack of capacity. Natref is currently in the process of establishing another storage facility. The cost of adding this facility is very high, approximately R300 million. It is therefore not possible to constantly add capacity or storage facilities every time it seems that a lack of capacity will occur. Natref counter a lack of capacity by erecting a new storage facility, by ensuring that their estimates and planning for the given shutdown/peak period is precise. Although the product is stored periodically, to ensure that on the date of the shutdown or when the peak demand starts, it has sufficient stock to continue with the demand or supply in the additional situation, Natref should investigate the possibilities of utilising external sources of capacity. These storage facilities could include the underground tanks of the individual filling stations, and/or determining the product that will most likely be short or that needs to be stored for future use and to expand the storage of that product and less ening the storage of the product that would not be used as frequently. According to TeamQuest (www.teamquest.ocm/capacityplanning Date access 12 Feb 2010): there are five noteworthy reasons why capacity planning fails. It would also be possible to trace these reasons back and make a connection with the lack of capacity. If the planning fails the capacity would most probably fail as well. These five reasons are: 1. Imperfect data; 2. Lack of common goals; 3. Trendy versus modelling; 4. Too narrow view; 5. Flaws in the prediction method. If these five facts are taken into consideration when the capacity planning is done, it would increase the possibility of success for a project. Further there are three important considerations taken into account when adding capacity. They are: 1. Maintaining system balance; 2. Frequency of capacity; and 3. Use of external capacity. When analysing current capacity there are four basic steps that could be used to assist you: TeamQuest (www.teamquest.ocm/capacityplanning Date access 12 Feb 2010) identifies the following four steps: The first step would include comparing the measurements of any items referenced in the service level agreements with their objectives. This will indicate whether the system has adequate capacity. The second step would include checking the usage of resources. This analysis identifies highly used resources that may prove problematic at present or in the future. The third step would include looking at the resource utilisation for each workload. Determine which workloads are the major users of each resource. This will indicate the workloads that are making the greatest demands on the system resources. The fourth step is to determine where each workload is spending its time by analysing the components of response time. Allowing you to determine which system resources are responsible for the greatest portion of the response time for each workload. When measuring capacity you need to consider the following: Design capacity: the maximum output that can possibly be attained. Effective capacity: The maximum possible output given a product mix, scheduling difficulties, machine maintenance, quality factors, and so on. Actual output: the rate of output actually achieved. Measuring of System Effectiveness: Efficiency: the ratio of actual output to effective capacity Utilization the ratio of actual output to design capacity. PLAN FOR THE FUTURE: To ensure that you will be able to meet the requirements of the market in a years time, you need to do capacity planning based on the forecasted processing requirements. You need to know the expected amount of incoming work, by workload. That will allow you to calculate the optimal system configuration for satisfying service levels. Future processing requirements can come from a variety of sources. Input form management may include: Expected growth in the business Requirements for implementing new applications Planned acquisitions or divestitures to name but a few. Additional, future processing requirements may be identified from trends in historical measurements of incoming work such as orders or transactions. After system capacity requirements for the future are identified, a capacity plan should be developed to prepare for it. The first step in doing this is to create a model of the current configuration. From this starting point, the model can be modified to reflect the future capacity requirements. If the results of the model indicate that the current configuration does not provide sufficient capacity for the future requirements, then the model can be used to evaluate configuration alternatives to find the optimal way to provide sufficient capacity. When considering capacity planning there are even more issues to consider. Best practices. Since the late nineties refineries have expanded capacity significantly, production capacity has increased tremendously. As refineries got larger, it was expected that emissions would increase as well. Environmental problems have become a huge issue due to the large expansion in demand for product. Goals to achieve the environmental standards and best practices are a large part of capacity planning and production. Finding newer and better ways of producing more product and faster and cheaper. New modern techniques have challenged organisations to rethink the way they conduct business both internally and externally. To determine how efficiently and effectively their entire supply chain is managed. The petroleum refining industry has effectively embraced the software solutions to optimise the business supply chain to maximise the profit margins and create order in the chaos of numerous opportunities and challenges. The supply chain of a typical petroleum refining company involves a wide spectrum of activities, starting form crude purchase and crude transportation to refineries, refining operations, product transportation and finally delivering the product to the end user. The nature of the value chain is such that its economics are extremely complex and heavily linked. For example the process of selecting the right crude is liked not only to the transportation costs involved in delivering to the refinery, but it must take into consideration the refinery configuration, capabilities and constraints in converting the crude into products, as well as the product volume and price fluctuations. Software solutions based on Linear programming (LP) technique have emerged as leaders among various mathematical optimization techniques available to optimize the entire supply chain form crude evaluation and selection, production planning and product logistic planning Refinery planning form the foundation for the business decisions that have the biggest impact on refinery profitability. The following are plans that should be considered: Annual plans Monthly rolling plans Weekly Plans Strategic Plans Profitability improvement plans LONG TERM CAPACITY PLANNING According to the Encyclopaedia of Business, 2nd ed. The following is explained under long term capacity planning: Over the long term, capacity planning relates primarily to strategic issues. This involves the firms major production facilities. This type of planning also involves location decisions, technology and transferability of the process to other products. Long term capacity planning may evolve when short term changes in capacity are insufficient. Long term considerations relates to overall level of capacity Det