The Monkey essays

The Monkey essays Are humans animals? We are mammals just like primates and other animals that gives birth to young, milk their young, and have the skin more or less covered with hair. We humans are mostly related to primates, or even closely in that manner to the chimpanzee. Besides the striking physical characteristics between us and the chimpanzee, we are also similar in ways like we both hunt and eat meat, while also eating vegetation, we are both cautions, and curious about our surroundings, by having a male dominate society, and that we more or less fashion tools. So indeed we humans are animals. But with all these similarities how are we different from our brothers in the jungle. 1. Bipedal. I learned from On Being Human that we humans use the bipedal way of movement. Meaning that we stand on two feet and walk in an upright position. While other primates sometimes may walk upright, its body is suited to walking on all fours, making humans the only ones that are consistently bipedal. This act benefits us by that it frees our hands from carrying our bodies around, making us more efficient by being able to gather and carry food, or to carry and use tools. 2. S curved spine. I also learned from On Being Human that we humans are the only ones with an S curved spine. The primates have a round arch spine, making the S curved spine uniquely ours from any other primate or animal. This benefits us because it tolerates the stress from standing upright. 3. Foot arch. I learned from On Being Human that the average human has an arch in their feet. This feature is missing in all primates and other animals, making this uniquely ours. It benefits us by that it balances and supports the body when walking on flat surfaces. 4. Position legs. I learned from On Being Human that our legs are close together. This is different from primates who legs are more spread apart. This makes this characteristic uniquely human. This is benefit to us because to allow ...

Ten Facts About Cells and Cell Function

Ten Facts About Cells and Cell Function Cells are the fundamental units of life. Whether they be unicellular or multicellular life forms, all living organisms are composed of and depend on cells to function normally. Scientists estimate that our bodies contain anywhere from 75 to 100 trillion cells. In addition, there are hundreds of different types of cells in the body. Cells do everything from providing structure and stability to providing energy and a means of reproduction for an organism. The following 10 facts about cells will provide you with well known and perhaps little known tidbits of information about cells. Cells are too Small to be Seen Without Magnification Cells range in size from 1 to 100 micrometers. The study of cells, also called cell biology, would not have been possible without the invention of the microscope. With the advance microscopes of today, such as the Scanning Electron Microscope and Transmission Electron Microscope, cell biologists are able to obtain detailed images of the smallest of cell structures. Primary Types of Cells Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are the two main types of cells. Eukaryotic cells are called so because they have a true nucleus that is enclosed within a membrane. Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are examples of organisms that contain eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic organisms include bacteria and archaeans. The prokaryotic cell nucleus is not enclosed within a membrane. Prokaryotic Single-Celled Organisms were the Earliest and Most Primitive Forms of Life on Earth Prokaryotes can live in environments that would be deadly to most other organisms. These extremophiles are able to live and thrive in various extreme habitats. Archaeans for example, live in areas such as hydrothermal vents, hot springs, swamps, wetlands, and even animal intestines. There are More Bacterial Cells in the Body than Human Cells Scientists have estimated that about 95% of all the cells in the body are bacteria. The vast majority of these microbes can be found within the digetive tract. Billions of bacteria also live on the skin. Cells Contain Genetic Material Cells contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), the genetic information necessary for directing cellular activities. DNA and RNA are molecules known as nucleic acids. In prokaryotic cells, the single bacterial DNA molecule is not separated from the rest of the cell but coiled up in a region of the cytoplasm called the nucleoid region. In eukaryotic cells, DNA molecules are located within the cells nucleus. DNA and proteins are the major components of chromosomes. Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes (for a total of 46). There are 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) and one pair of sex chromosomes. The X and Y sex chromosomes determine sex. Organelles Which Carry Out Specific Functions Organelles have a wide range of responsibilities within a cell that include everything from providing energy to producing hormones and enzymes. Eukaryotic cells contain several types of organelles, while prokaryotic cells contain a few organelles (ribosomes) and none that are bound by a membrane. There are also differences between the kinds of organelles found within different eukaryotic cell types. Plant cells for example, contain structures such as a cell wall and chloroplasts that are not found in animal cells. Other examples of organelles include: Nucleus - controls cell growth and reproduction.Mitochondria - provide energy for the cell.Endoplasmic Reticulum - synthesizes carbohydrates and lipids.Golgi Complex - manufactures, stores, and ships certain cellular products.Ribosomes - involved in protein synthesis.Lysosomes - digest cellular macromolecules. Reproduce Through Different Methods Most prokaryotic cells replicate by a process called binary fission. This is a type of cloning process in which two identical cells are derived from a single cell. Eukaryotic organisms are also capable of reproducing asexually through mitosis. In addition, some eukaryotes are capable of sexual reproduction. This involves the fusion of sex cells or gametes. Gametes are produced by a process called meiosis. Groups of Similar Cells Form Tissues Tissues are groups of cells with both a shared structure and function. Cells that make up animal tissues are sometimes woven together with extracellular fibers and are occasionally held together by a sticky substance that coats the cells. Different types of tissues can also be arranged together to form organs. Groups of organs can in turn form organ systems. Varying Life Spans Cells within the human body have different life spans based on the type and function of the cell. They can live anywhere from a few days to a year. Certain cells of the digestive tract live for only a few days, while some immune system cells can live for up to six weeks. Pancreatic cells can live for as long as a year. Cells Commit Suicide When a cell becomes damaged or undergoes some type of infection, it will self destruct by a process called apoptosis. Apoptosis works to ensure proper development and to keep the bodys natural process of mitosis in check. A cells inability to undergo apoptosis can result in the development of cancer.

Parting the waters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Parting the waters - Essay Example This led to a number of literatures on Kings Events and occasions (Taylor, 4). One family known as the Rockefeller family created a major impact on King’s early life. It started in 1882, when a plea was raised at Ohio church for donation or a help fund. This plea was made by two women who intended for the Atlanta Female Baptist Seminary and Negro School for girls to be funded. During the event of the plea, the Rockefeller family was present, with the two women being teachers to Mrs Rockefeller. As a result, the family responded positively and agreed to come to the aid. In conjunction with Dr. Henry Morehouse the school was funded and set up and continued to operate. The Rockefeller’s family efforts continued and they saw the need to create a fund that will be able to cater for the needs of the minority group. This witnessed the birth of the Rockefeller fund, which in the later years, become a corner stone to majority of beneficiaries which included King. The fund did su pport King’s early education with a number of other civil rights activists. The foundation became an empowering tool to encourage majority of black Negros to embrace education (Taylor, 11). Years later when Martin Luther King Jr arrived at Crozer theological Seminary, he was amazed by what he found out; there were pool tables on one of the rooms in the basement. This was contrary to his past perception of associating pool social halls and places as scenes for immoral and bad behaviors. Secondly, he found ten Negro students out of a total of thirty five students, which came as a surprise to him as he was expecting a handful of them. One learning activity that surprised him was that there was no lock at the door and students were encouraged to actively participate in any free thinking and sharing of ideas. In the seminary, King’s first year was predominantly occupied with course work which took much of his time and attention and it covered topics like philosophy, the bib le and religious faiths. But the next years saw King being a dominant figure questioning every particular aspect or teachings. The life in the institution provided him with a wider knowledge on Christianity (Taylor, 24). King started to make visits to church leaders, pastors and church functions. One particular day he picked Johns and headed to Montgomery to a particular pastor known as Ralph Abernathy of the First Baptist Church. He was welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. This visit was highly beneficial to King as he was able to discuss in details, with his hosts, about the Negro churches and their challenges. It then brought a clear insight on what needed to be addressed or implemented to promote their existence. It is through such findings during the discussion that King, in the later years, used in reshaping the churches. Churches came up and continued discussing about civil rights (Taylor, 35). In the years that followed, it became an unfair scene to see majority of the Negros in Montgomery having to walk for long and impossible walks to and from work as the bus fares were too high and so was racial discrimination. As a result, city taxis cabs emerged and tried to cater for such needs and help out, but this was directly quashed out by the police commissioner who then arrested taxi drivers who overloaded the cabs smoothly

Social Psy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Psy - Essay Example The author will discuss a personal experience, the use by peers of alcohol and later drugs, that resulted in the author breaking free of conformist pressures and emerging stronger and more independent in the author’s social world. Too often, it would seem, individuals progress through life without careful reflection. People would appear to take individual changes for granted while simultaneously remaining oblivious to the events that contribute to or otherwise cause those changes. People sometimes claim feelings of powerlessness and impotence when living their lives, they feel unable to truly control their destiny, and life in many ways begins to feel somewhat random and meaningless. This personal position paper will argue, however, that life is not so random or unpredictable. More specifically, this paper will suggest that individual self-reflection, as it pertains to an individual’s interaction with different groups in the social world, can not only explain to some extant how different behaviors and performances become manifest but also how individuals may begin to control their behavior and destiny to a greater degree. As an initial matter, it is important to note that social psychology is concerned with how individuals fit into or otherwise interact with a social world. The social world concept, however is not monolithic; quite the contrary there are several social spheres, of different social worlds in which an individual does and may interact. The questions posed often relate to how an individual engages in self-perception, how individuals are influenced, as an individual relates and interacts with others in different social circumstances and settings. Generally speaking, therefore, a particular social world may be considered conceptually as the relationship and interaction of individual minds, particular

The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay Example for Free

The Epic of Gilgamesh Essay The story of Gilgamesh was one of the world’s first literary works but most importantly the very first epic. â€Å"An epic or heroic poem is a long narrative poem, on a serious subject [that was] written in a grand or elevated style, centered on a larger-than-life hero† (Lynch). Because it was only recited orally for many centuries it was forgotten and vanished until â€Å"it was recorded at Sumer in the late third millennium B. C. E† (Fiero 19). The story of Gilgamesh is about an arrogant ruler, who changes because of an immense love and friendship with his companion Enkidu, it is a story about the wisdom he acquires with his journeys, and the inevitability of death. The story begins with the introduction of the two main characters, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The love these friends will stumble upon for each other makes both of them change as individuals. From their initial encounter they will discard part of their own lives and give a piece of them to each other. Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk is described as two thirds god and one third human. The Gods bestowed upon him courage, strength and beauty. â€Å"In our first view of him, Gilgamesh is the epitome of a bad ruler: arrogant, oppressive and brutal† (Lawall 10). He has no consideration for the people in Uruk he forces labor upon them, kills their sons and rapes their daughters, leaving â€Å"neither the warrior’s daughter nor the wife of the noble† (Lawall 13). The people of Uruk soon get irritated with Gilgamesh’s ways and pray to the gods to make his equal so that he may see his own evil ways and ultimately change. Aruru, the goddess of creation then creates Enkidu, the second main character, as a counterpoint to Gilgamesh. Far different from Gilgamesh he still contains his strength. â€Å"His body was rough, he had long hair like a woman’s [†¦] his body was covered with matted hair [†¦] he was innocent of mankind† (Lawall 13). Gilgamesh is told of Enkidu and his immense strength and devises a plan to overpower him by seducing him with a harlot so that he may grow weak and loose the powers of the beasts. Close to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, Enkidu is stripped of his primitive self and his innocence by the harlot. Gilgamesh has accomplished to civilize Enkidu there by weakening him as an individual. â€Å"The thoughts of a man were in his heart now† (Lawall 15) and he had become aware of the ways of the world. Meanwhile through Gilgamesh’s dreams he is told that a friend whom he will love like he would a woman is going to rescue him in this time of need. Enkidu then arrives at Uruk to challenge Gilgamesh but instead become friends, marking the beginning of Gilgamesh’s complete transformation. The journey to fight Humbaba, the guardian of the forest was Gilgamesh’s next component of change. Deciding to kill the evil in the land for the sake of his people gave him some wisdom and connection to the people, something Enkidu had already begun doing. By facing Humbaba in the forest Gilgamesh makes a name for him and changes the outlook of the people in the kingdom. Although the journey was at first only beneficial for him it would later be helpful in his own journey to become a more justly and praiseworthy ruler. The death of Enkidu also significantly changes Gilgamesh. After the killing of Humbaba, Ishtar deeply wanted to marry Gilgamesh but he refused. Extremely enraged she asked her father for the Bull of Heaven to kill him, which failed. Instead Gilgamesh and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven and feast, for now they were heroes, â€Å"endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for [their] bold exploits† (American Heritage Dictionary). She then puts a curse on Enkidu which leads him to a great sickness and finally after twelve days, to his death. Gilgamesh could not be anymore devastated about the loss. We can see his anguish when he says â€Å"the joyful people will stoop with sorrow; and when you have gone to the earth I will let my hair grow long for your sake, I will wander through the wilderness in the skin of a lion† (Lawall 30). Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu’s death by making the people weep over his death. By using garments such as he did and wandering like his old companion he is able to keep a part of Enkidu close to him and ultimately gain something from him. Following this, Gilgamesh comes to a realization that his day will soon come too â€Å"How can I rest, how can I be at peace? Despair in my heart. What my brother is now, that shall I be when I am dead. (Lawell 30). This will lead Gilgamesh to his quest for eternal life, it is in this journey where we he will find his real destiny. Gilgamesh’s quest is to find Utnapishtim who was the only mortal to receive everlasting life. In an effort to erase humankind because of an uproar, the gods sent a big flood and asked Utnapishtim to build a boat to save himself. â€Å"Tear down your house and build a boat, abandon possessions and look for life, despise worldly goods and save your soul alive† (35). Here we are able to see another biblical reference to the Old Testament. Just as Noah did when he was warned of such a disaster, so did Utnapishtim. Because they were the only mortals to survive, the gods gave him and his wife everlasting life to live at the mouths of the rivers. When Gilgamesh finally reached Utnapishtim he also gave him a chance at immortality. â€Å"As for you Gilgamesh who will assemble the gods for your sake, so that you may find that life for which you are searching? [†¦] only prevail against sleep for six days and seven nights† (38). But his attempt failed. Just as Siduri, the woman of the vine had for told Gilgamesh that heâ€Å"[would] never find that life for which [he was] looking† (Lawall 32) for. Before Gilgamesh returns to Uruk Utnapishtim tells him of a plant that will restore his youth. Despite its hard catch, he obtains it to give to the old men in his kingdom. But while bathing, a serpent snatches the plant and immediately his skin sheds to a new form. Most commonly in religious text serpents symbolize evil but here the gift of immortality is taken by the serpent because this destiny is forbidden for Gilgamesh. Although he did not achieve his most desired attribute Gilgamesh acquired many other things. From his journey of killing Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven to the death of his dearest friend Enkidu he most definitely gained more wisdom, ultimately understanding the people which in turn gained their trust and the glory. His failed attempt at his most endearing and significant journey to find immortality led Gilgamesh to find the meaningfulness of being human. Gilgamesh finally understood his true destiny. â€Å"You were given the kingship, such was your destiny, everlasting life was not your destiny†.

Henry Ii Of England :: essays research papers fc

I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early life A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Birth B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Family C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Education D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reign A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early difficulty B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  King’s personality C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Government policies D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thomas Becket III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Achievements B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sons revolt C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Successor Henry II Henry II was the first of eight Plantagenet kings. He neither ignored his island kingdom nor dragged it into continental trouble. Along with Alfred, Edward I, and Elizabeth I, Henry II ranks as one of the best British monarchs. Henry II was born in Le Mans, France in 1133. Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and Matilda, daughter of Henry I, were his parents. Henry’s younger brothers were Geoffrey and William (Bingham 22; Tabuteau 185). Henry’s father gave Henry the best education possible at that time. Peter of Saintes, who was a well-known poet, was Henry’s first tutor. Adelard of Bath also taught Henry. William of Conches and Henry’s other previous tutors instilled in Henry the appreciation for literature. Soon after Henry II’s education, he became Duke of Normandy. With the death of his father, Henry II became the Count of Anjou at age eighteen. Once he became Count of Anjou, Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine on May 18, 1152, in the Cathedral of Poitiers. Their children were William, Henry, Matilda, Richard, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan, and John (Bingham 22; â€Å"Henry† 835-836; Tabuteau 185). Once Stephen, who was a well-known king, died, Henry II became lord of all land between the Pyrenees and Scotland (â€Å"Henry† 835). Henry had to deal with problems as soon as he became king. Once the Danish kingdoms established themselves in Ireland, the Danish colonists were at war with Irish people and the Irish people were at war with themselves. King Henry II realized he needed to stop all the chaos with a conquest of Ireland. In a few months, every part of Ireland except Connaught was under King Henry II’s control. The regions that the British controlled slowly dwindled away and soon vanished (Larned 114-115). Even though Henry II was a king, he did not resemble a king. He had a freckled face, gray eyes, and tawny hair. He also had a very short temper. At times, King Henry II would be as ruthless as a savage (â€Å"Henry† 835). In 1166, Henry instructed all the sheriffs to make lists of known or suspected criminals. The accused person did not go through trial by jury; instead, he or she went through trial by ordeal. The accused person had their hands and feet tied together and then dropped in a lake. A person who sank was considered innocent, and a person who floated was guilty of the crime (McKay 413).

Banking Industry Essay

The Banking Industry was once a simple and reliable business that took deposits from investors at a lower interest rate and loaned it out to borrowers at a higher rate. However deregulation and technology led to a revolution in the Banking Industry that saw it transformed. Banks have become global industrial powerhouses that have created ever more complex products that use risk and securitisation in models that only PhD students can understand. Through technology development, banking services have become available 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, through ATMs, at online bankings, and in electronically enabled exchanges where everything from stocks to currency futures contracts can be traded . The Banking Industry at its core provides access to credit. In the lenders case, this includes access to their own savings and investments, and interest payments on those amounts. In the case of borrowers, it includes access to loans for the creditworthy, at a competitive interest rate. Banking services include transactional services, such as verification of account details, account balance details and the transfer of funds, as well as advisory services, that help individuals and institutions to properly plan and manage their finances. Online banking channels have become key in the last 10 years. The collapse of the Banking Industry in the Financial Crisis, however, means that some of the more extreme risk-taking and complex securitisation activities that banks increasingly engaged in since 2000 will be limited and carefully watched, to ensure that there is not another banking system meltdown in the future. Mortgage banking has been encompassing for the publicity or promotion of the various mortgage loans to investors as well as individuals in the mortgage business. Online banking services has developed the banking practices easier worldwide. Banking in the small business sector plays an important role. Find various banking services available for small businesses. Management Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals andobjectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. Management comprises planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing, and controlling an organization (a group of one or more people or entities) or effort for the purpose of accomplishing a goal.Resourcing encompasses the deployment and manipulation of human resources, financial resources, technological resources, andnatural resources. Since organizations can be viewed as systems, management can also be defined as human action, including design, to facilitate the production of useful outcomes from a system. This view opens the opportunity to ‘manage’ oneself, a prerequisite to attempting to manage others. Basic functions Management operates through various functions, often classified as planning, organizing, staffing, leading/directing, controlling/monitoring and motivation. * Planning: Deciding what needs to happen in the future (today, next week, next month, next year, over the next five years, etc.) and generating plans for action. * Organizing: (Implementation)pattern of relationships among workers, making optimum use of the resources required to enable the successful carrying out of plans. * Staffing: Job analysis, recruitment and hiring for appropriate jobs. * Leading/directing: Determining what must be done in a situation and getting people to do it. * Controlling/monitoring: Checking progress against plans. * Motivation: Motivation is also a kind of basic function of management, because without motivation, employees cannot work effectively. If motivation does not take place in an organization, then employees may not contribute to the other functions (which are usually set by top-level management). Basic roles * Interpersonal: roles that involve coordination and interaction with employees. * Informational: roles that involve handling, sharing, and analyzing information. * Decisional: roles that require decision-making. Management skills * Political: used to build a power base and establish connections. * Conceptual: used to analyze complex situations. * Interpersonal: used to communicate, motivate, mentor and delegate. * Diagnostic: ability to visualize most appropriate response to a situation. * Technical: Expertise in one’s particular functional area.. Business Ethics Business ethics (also corporate ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations. Business ethics has both normative and descriptive dimensions. As a corporate practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. Academics attempting to understand business behavior employ descriptive methods. The range and quantity of business ethical issues reflects the interaction of profit-maximizing behavior with non-economic concerns. Interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most major corporations promote their commitment to non-economic values under headings such as ethics codes and social responsibility charters. Adam Smith said, â€Å"People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.†[1] Governments use laws and regulations to point business behavior in what they perceive to be beneficial directions. Ethics implicitly regulates areas and details of behavior that lie beyond Business ethics reflects the philosophy of business, one of whose aims is to determine the fundamental purposes of a company. If a company’s purpose is to maximize shareholder returns, then sacrificing profits to other concerns is a violation of its fiduciary responsibility. Corporate entities are legally considered as persons in USA and in most nations. The ‘corporate persons’ are legally entitled to the rights and liabilities due to citizens as persons. Economist Milton Friedman writes that corporate executives’ â€Å"responsibility†¦ generally will be to make as much money as possible while conforming to their basic rules of the society, both those embodied in law and those embodied in ethical custom† Friedman also said, â€Å"the only entities who can have responsibilities are individuals †¦ A business cannot have responsibilities. So the question is, do corporate executives, provided they stay within the law, have responsibilities in their business activities other than to make as much money for their stockholders as possible? And my answer to that is, no, they do not. A multi-country 2011 survey found support for this view among the â€Å"informed public† ranging from 30 to 80%. Duska views Friedman’s argument as consequentialistrather than pragmatic, implying that unrestrained corporate freedom would benefit the most in long term. [ Similarly author business consultant Peter Drucker observed, â€Å"There is neither a separate ethics of business nor is one needed†, implying that standards of personal ethics cover all business situations. However, Peter Drucker in another instance observed that the ultimate responsibility of company directors is not to harm—primum non nocere. Another view of business is that it must exhibit corporate social responsibility (CSR): an umbrella term indicating that an ethical business must act as a responsible citizen of the communities in which it operates even at the cost of profits or other goals.In the US and most other nations corporate entities are legally treated as persons in some respects. For example, they can hold title to property, sue and be sued and are subject to taxation, although their free speech rights are limited. This can be interpreted to imply that they have independent ethical responsibilities. Duska argues that stakeholders have the right to expect a business to be ethical; if business has no ethical obligations, other institutions could make the same claim which would be counterproductive to the corporation. Ethical issues include the rights and duties between a company and its employees, suppliers, customers and neighbors, its fiduciaryresponsibility to its shareholders. Issues concerning relations between different companies include hostile take-overs and industrial espionage. Related issues include corporate governance;corporate social entrepreneurship; political contributions; legal issues such as the ethical debate over introducing a crime of corporate manslaughter; and the marketing of corporations’ ethics policies.According to IBE/ Ipsos MORI research published in late 2012, the three major areas of public concern regarding business ethics in Britain are executive pay, corporate tax avoidance and bribery and corruption.

The Importance of Training to Quality

Introduction Many theorists have suggested that it is crucial to adequately train stuff in order to improve the overall quality of the service or product offered. Today employers are increasingly depending on the skills of all their employees for improvements in efficiency, quality and customer service (Motwani, Frahm, & Kathawala, 1994a). This review will focus on the findings of the main theorists in the quality management field and their views on the importance of employee training. It will outline the factors which influence employee training and suggest how quality training should be implemented. The review will also provide some insight into alternative methods of quality employee training. The Importance of Training to Quality Motwani, Frahm, & Kathawala (1994b) state that training is the critical variable in the success or failure of a company’s quality improvement programme. They go on to say that training enables a company’s workforce to acquire the skills needed to improve and maintain the quality production process. As the challenge of improving product and service quality becomes more important for all organizations so does the challenge to the training and development profession (Motwani, et al. 1994a). Motwani, et al. , (1994a) agree with other authors such as Cocheu (1992) and Ishikawa (1976), that quality begins and ends with training. According to Kaeter and Cothran (1992), training influences the process that help to improve quality. Ishikawa (1976) who has been a leader in stressing employee participation and the man who advocated the use of cause and effect diagrams (also known as ishikawa diagrams) to diagnose quality problems, has stressed that it is crucial to train managers and employees to improve quality. Deming (1982) notes that all employees should be trained continually as the needs of the customers are constantly changing over time. It is not enough to hire good people for the business organisation. They constantly have to acquire new skills for new materials and new methods of production. Deming (1982) considers training to be a long-term investment in people and the future of the company. Continuous training helps employees to improve their quality performance and the quality of the work processes they are responsible for (Deming 1982). When identifying key practices of quality management, most authors agree that training is an important factor. Saraph, Benson & Schroeder (1989) list training as one of the eight critical factors of quality management. Lakhal, Pasin, & Limam (2006) go on to state that employee training and employee participation are two of the eight critical factors of quality management. Eight key employee practices to improve quality have also been suggested by Smith (2001) and they are: recruiting, selection, retention, teamwork, training and development, appraisal, rewarding quality and employee involvement. Just knowing that training is important is not enough; training must also be effective (Cocheu, 1992). Cocheu (1992) proposes that to improve quality, organizations can use a six-step strategy, which includes: 1. Preparation, 2. Planning, 3. Awareness, 4. Deployment, 5. Implementation, and 6. Continuous improvement. This strategy should be supported by a six-phase training approach: 1. Understanding and commitment, 2. Quality management systems, 3. Improvement teams, 4. Customer service, 5. Process improvement, and 6. Advanced quantitative methods. Each phase of the quality training curriculum should build on the preceding hase of the training to give people at every level of the organization the knowledge and skills they will need. This includes both the employees and the management. (Cocheu, 1992) The Importance of Management to Training Most authors agree that quality management is crucial for the successful training of the employees. Without the wholehearted commitment of top man agement, spending time on quality training is pointless. Employees look to management to see if a company is really serious about quality training. If the management does not commit itself to change than the workers will not do so either (Motwani, et al. 1994b). Successful implementation of any change programme requires proper education and training of those who would be involved in the implementation process (Ernest Osseo-Asare Jr & Longbottom, 2002). Management needs to be sincere and to devote adequate time and resources to the on-site training effort so that employees believe it is important. Whether on-site or off-site training is employed, the skills learned by employees need to be applied immediately. If this is done, employees will receive the quality message (Motwani, et al. , 1994b). Anjard (1995) argues that it is no longer a luxury or a question as to whether Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy should be adopted. He states that â€Å"unless we adopt the concepts of continuous improvement, we are guaranteeing organizational obsolescence†. TQM is a visionary movement which represents a final recognition of a management philosophy that encourages employees to share responsibility for delivering quality services and products. Commitment from the top as well as a willingness to transform an organization from the bottom up is essential for effective implementation. More importantly Anjard (1995), goes on to say that effective TQM managers lead, coach and mentor amongst other things and that managers must train everyone and provide them with the knowledge, skills and tools needed for continuous quality improvement. Mathews, et al. (2001) add that the training that underpins quality management determines the likely effectiveness of the quality initiatives undertaken. Quality is achieved where employee satisfaction results from high-quality management, which places great importance on employee motivation and morale (Crome, 1998). Clear objectives in line with vision should be shared with staff through proactive leadership, highlighting areas that work well, creating champions of good practice and being supportive and motivational (Curry & Lyon, 2008). Donaldson (2004) states that achieving true quality takes much more than just learning the basic skills and technical concepts, you also have to get the human element right. This means providing education and training opportunities for all involved, plus support and empowerment from above. The author adds that emphasis should be placed on employee empowerment and training to improve quality of service. Bharadwaj & Karkera (2001) add that it is not realistic to think that mangers can achieve control by simply hiring good people, aligning incentives and hoping for the best. Today’s managers must encourage employees to initiate process improvements and new ways of responding to customers’ needs – but in a controlled way. Also, the employees must be told specifically what is expected of them. Specific training makes employees more confident and reduces staff turnover rates. This in turn increases quality (Pollitt, 2006). Smith (2001) agrees and states that employee involvement is positively linked with improved quality. As a result of this employee empowerment, some trainers responsible for self-guidance of the development process, become concerned that the philosophy implies their role within the organization will eventually become redundant. Quality control managers have subsequently discovered that the move to TQM has not reduced the importance of their job role. In fact, quite the reverse is usually the case because the quality manager’s new responsibilities as quality facilitator and mentor across all aspects of the organization’s activities is inevitably more rewarding and demanding than their old role of â€Å"organizational gamekeeper† (Chaston, 1994). Many companies have established written quality requirements for the products that they produce but few have developed internal requirements that must be met as process flows from one operation to another. Still fewer have developed requirements for the process itself – what must be done in what order to produce a conforming output (Oversmith, 1990). The author stresses the importance of using recognition systems that encourage participation and the involvement of employees in the quality process. Oversmith (1990) adds that companies achieve quality by making every single employee a â€Å"quality manager†. Each employee has to know what part they are playing in the quality improvement process. It begins when the employee is orientated into the company. The employee learns the requirements expected of all employees as well as the specific requirements for the job to be performed. This initial training should be followed up within the first few weeks of employment by formal quality education to stress the importance of the individual’s role in the quality improvement process as well as specific actions an employee is expected to take to avoid or eliminate quality nonconformance (Oversmith, 1990). Formal training in group problem solving and the proper use of teams to eliminate quality problems further prepares an employee to participate in improvement process. Smith (2001) also agrees that team based learning is important and suggests that incentives should be used to promote quality. Incentives for Quality and Alternative Methods of Training In order for the employees to use their training and improve the quality of the products/services, the management must provide them with incentives. If valued incentives exist for desired behavior, training that enables such behavior is likely to succeed as well: Many people receive a fixed amount of pay for the hours they work. They will not make more money immediately if they do a better job and they will not receive less, unless they are fired, for doing a poorer job. So, for these people, pay is an incentive for being present and for doing a minimally acceptable job – and not much more than that. Fortunately for employers, other incentives exist: approval and compliments, respect and trust, access to valued resources – tools, people, a window with a sunny view, awards, increased power and authority, more interesting or desirable assignments (Allen, 2003). Allen (2003) suggests that employers consider providing meaningful and memorable experiences through interactive multimedia to help employees see how the impact of their work determines the success of the group and ultimately affects quality. Burns (2005) suggests use of e-learning to train employees to improve quality. The key being interactivity. E-learning provides the potential to bring quality to life. When people are having fun, they won’t realize how much they are learning. If the average employee doesn’t enjoy learning he or she won’t absorb much about quality. Computers allow simulations to be built as an aid to learning and this is very relevant in lean Six Sigma training where factors such as throughput, work in progress, touch time and cycle time interact could be difficult to demonstrate. This would not just be effective but it will also be more enjoyable and people learn better when they are enjoying the learning experience (Pollitt, 2007). Pattison (2001) agrees that activities and interactivity make learning and training more enjoyable. Burns (2005) adds that humor is another means of providing motivation to learn about quality. Conclusion Upon review of literature on the importance of training to product and service quality it is evident that staff training is a vital part of any quality process. Quality products and services depend on a quality workforce. In order to sustain competitive advantage companies need to develop and implement quality training measures. A strong support from management is needed to constantly motivate and facilitate the employees training. Investing in employees training directly correlates with how the quality of the company’s products and services is viewed. If training continues to improve, if it continues to reinforce quality messages, then employees will believe quality truly is the foundation of their company’s long term culture. References Allen, M. (2003). Training rewards good performance. Quality, 42, 28-29. Anjard, R. P. (1995). Keys to successful TQM training and implementation. Training for Quality, 3(1), 14–22. Bharadwaj, G. , & Karkera, R. (2001). Employee training in quality in the new millennium. Quality Congress. ASQ's †¦ Annual Quality Congress Proceedings, 517-528. Burns, T. (2005). E-Learning: The Future of Quality Training. Quality Progress, 38(2), 50-56. Chaston, I. (1994). Managing for Total Training Quality. Training for Quality, 2(3), 11-14. Cocheu, T. (1992). Training with Quality. Training & Development, 46(5), 10. Crome, M. (1998). Call centres: battery farming or free range? Industrial and Commercial Training, 30(4), 137. Curry, A. , & Lyon, W. (2008). Call centre service quality for the public: a Scottish framework for the future. Managing Service Quality, 18(2), 194-208. Deming, W. E. (1982). Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position. Cambridge: MIT Press. Donaldson, D. P. (2004). Getting the People Part Right. Quality Progress, 37(7), 6. Ernest Osseo-Asare Jr, & Longbottom, D. (2002). The need for education and training in the use of EGQM model for quality management in UK higher education insitutions. Quality Assuarance in Education 10(1), 26-36. Ishikawa, K. (1976). Guide to quality control. Tokyo: Asian Productivity Organisation. Kaeter, M. , & Cothran, T. (1992). Pioneering Quality Training. Training(April 1992), 13-18. Lakhal, L. , Pasin, F. , & Limam, M. (2006). Quality management practices and their impact on performance. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 23(6), 625-646. Mathews, B. P. , Ueno, A. , Periera, Z. L. , Silva, G. , Kekale, T. , & Repka, M. (2001). Quality training: findings from a European survey. The TQM Magazine, 13(1), 61-68. Motwani, J. G. , Frahm, M. L. , & Kathawala, Y. (1994a). Achieving a Competitive Advantage through Quality Training. Training for Quality, 2(1), 35-40. Motwani, J. G. , Frahm, M. L. , & Kathawala, Y. (1994b). Quality Training The Key to Quality Improvement Training for Quality 2(2), 7-12. Oversmith, G. E. (1990). Developing Employee Ownership of the Quality Improvement Process. Hospital Materiel Management Quarterly;, 12(1), 38-45. Pattison, S. A. (2001). Staff meetings: an opportunity for accelerated training of employees. Journal of Workplace Learning, 13(4), 172 ±178. Pollitt, D. (2006). Holiday Extras is flying high Call-center training improves call time, quality and staff retention. Human Resource Management International Digest, 14(7), 22-24. Pollitt, D. (2007). ING Direct banks on the quality of its call centre employees. Training & Management Development Methods 21(4), 579-582. Smith, W. L. (2001). Customer service call centers: managing rapid personnel changes. Human Systems Management, 20 123–129.

How to Keep in Touch with Friends from High School

How to Keep in Touch with Friends from High School While college often leads to a new city, a new school, and new friends, your new college life doesnt have to come at the expense of your high school friends. But how exactly can you keep in touch with your friends from high school when youre busy managing all that college has to offer? Use Social Media Things like Facebook and Twitter are likely already a part of your social life. As you transition from high school to college, using social media to keep your friends updated and to stay updated about them can shift from something of interest to something important for your friendship. With a little work, you can stay informed about relationship updates, school changes, and the overall ups and downs of your friends lives. Use the Phone and Video Chat Using tools like Facebook can be great but they are often a rather passive way of keeping in touch with someone. Sure, a friends status update may say one thing, but a heart-to-heart chat on the phone can tell you so much more. While they dont have to happen frequently, phone calls and video chats can be an important part of how you keep in touch with your high school friends. Use IM You really need to finish your paper but your brain needs a break. That being said, you dont necessarily have the time for a phone call or video chat. The solution? Consider a quick IM conversation with one of your high school friends. You can give your brain a break while also checking in with a friend. Consider it a win-win situation (as long as you get back to your paper within a few minutes, of course). Use Email You may be used to communicating via text messages, IM, and video chat, but email can also be a great tool. When its 3:00 in the morning and you need something to do to shift your brain from your Shakespeare paper to sleep mode, consider spending a few minutes drafting an email to an old high school friend. Update them about your own college life while asking for the latest news on their end. Meet Up Whenever Possible ​No matter how great technology is, theres just nothing like a face-to-face meeting. Meeting up in person is important if youd like to maintain your high school relationships both during and after college. Remember, too, that you can meet up in all kinds of places: back in your hometown, at your campus, at your friends campus, or even somewhere fun you both have always wanted to go. (Vegas, anyone?)

How to Motivate Your Characters

How to Motivate Your Characters How to Motivate Your Characters How to Motivate Your Characters By Mark Nichol You are like unto a god, because you have the omnipotence to create literary characters. But as we all know from watching Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility. This is the greatest of yours: Before you endow your creations with any other attributes, they must have motivations. Just as actors need to determine what it is their characters want in each scene of a play or a movie, book or short story characters must have one or more needs that drive them at all times. And, in the same way that actors do not necessarily explicitly express their characters’ desires, though they are the origin of all that the characters do, you must convey the compulsions of your characters not in exposition but in behavior. Actors often invent back stories for their characters autobiographical information they never share with anyone that helps them comprehend the people they portray. Benefit from their example: Examine the lives of your characters, and understand how they got to be the way they are now. That is what propels them to say and do the things they do in your story. Speaking of autobiography, the easiest way to create a character, of course, is to pattern it on yourself. But it doesn’t take a great leap of effort to produce a personality that is much different than yours. A character need not share the same desires (and fears) you do, but you can apply them to the character’s own drives. He or she doesn’t have to have the same ethnic and socioeconomic background, the same family dynamics, or the same educational and professional experiences, but you can draw on those elements of your life to develop someone who is quite distinct from you. Your main character is the foundation of your story, and his or her motivations are the cement in that foundation that bind that person together, so you must develop the motivations before you do anything else even before you formulate the plot of the story the character inhabits. That may seem counterintuitive, but follow the foundation metaphor: The plot the character inhabits is the house, the place in which everything takes place. But what happens results from what the character does. Only after you decide what your character wants, what your character needs, what your character must have or he or she will die physically or psychologically only then should you discover how he or she is going to go about getting it, and what ramifications that will have for the wider world and the other people who inhabit it. And notice I haven’t said anything about the character’s appearance, personality, or habits. Motivation drives each of those aspects to some extent, too, so motivation comes first. I’ll get to the trappings another time. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should AvoidTime Words: Era, Epoch, and Eon40 Synonyms for Praise

Full stream service from VIP Clientele Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Full stream service from VIP Clientele - Essay Example An input, process and output model is established. Quality service and standards, test marketing, social marketing, key personnel involvement and competitive analysis are among the key aspects that are analysed in the model. A critical appraisal of the airline service provider is done by comparisons from other service providers. Business Process Model Review A well designed business process model should encompass the relationship of the entire processes as a whole to integrate the overall goal of value for the customer’s money. Value proposition section depicts the intended methods of services to be provided for the target market (see figure 1). VIP clientele are dispersed all over the world with an emphasis on the developed continents. Radical changes in this proposition are seen in the model. The intended goal of this proposition is to become leaders in providing full stream services in the airline industries. This has not been practiced before therefore, the introduction of the same will cause a shift in profits patterns from other airline competitors. Leasing of airplanes as well as rental of planes is a radical change in the airline industry. Focus has been in the past of private jet purchases but not rental or even on leasing terms. The door to door services is a radical change in this process. ... New airplanes will not be designed in this case. The business model will encompass the existing marketing strategies as an incremental change for the intended airline business. Technology has been developed in e-marketing which helps in marketing strategies. Catering during the flight will be done by already established high class caterers. The full stream services in the airline business will integrate the various aspects of high class services as a whole to achieve the target market. The preliminary stages in the design of the business model called for a thorough research of the airline industry. Gaps in the services were identified as high oil prices which will devolve to wiping out low costs air tickets in the coming years. A further analysis shows that safety during flight is at the core of any customer’s choice of airline service provider. In light of this, we deduced that customers need value in the flight services. Hiring or leasing a plane at ones comfort is the way f orward, ensuring high class services are provided from the beginning to the end. Door to door service is a deduced solution since the existing airlines do not offer such to customers. The innovation of this new business model is towards the customer’s experience before, during and after arrival of a flight. Customers are having fears of lack of safety in the pre-existing services. This will be counteracted by individualized services e.g. lease or rent of a plane, a cab for efficiency and effectiveness of the entire flight experience. High oil prices will cause high costs for travelling in the airline industry. The business model is market driven as a shift from highly priced and crowded airlines will be experienced to safe and specialized flight services. Existing technology