PROGRAM EVALUATION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PROGRAM EVALUATION - Research Paper Example The study found its advantages when highlighting procedures of the evaluation using different data instruments like questionnaires, interviews with the insurance members, other data –statistical where obtained from the survey conducted using open ended questions and other sources like newspapers-company newspapers and journals were used. The assessment study was to be done using comparison of the different variable through analysis. I. Evaluation of the benefits of the Insurance Cards to the local and non-local residents; this would be done through conducting of interviews directly to the general public. The interview questions were designed to obtain data like; the number of participants involved, the demographic data of the participants-age, gender, sex, and religion. II. The customer satisfaction was with the health care provided in statistical data is a very essential factor in this paper. This was analyzed using correlation test. The positivity of the test can be helpful to the government since it can help on the campaign of encouraging establishment of more insurance companies that offer medical covers to the general public. This could be achieved through public awareness and encouragement by media or through rallies. The regression trend was also important to be used in the study to determine or forecast the future of UAE in terms of health up keep. III. The standard or quality of health service; this data was collected using survey method. The survey targeted the customers or the people of UAE. Data from 500 participants mainly the general public were reflected to measure the quality of service offered. After an analysis of the results the importance of quality service will increase the establishment of more health Insurance companies. IV. To determine the benefits of the health insurance to the general public; this would be determined using interviews to both the people of UAE and the members of the Insurance companies. A sample of 300 members o f staff were used to conduct this test this number was a 1/3 of the population of members of the company hence it a valid result. Results and interpretations 1. Evaluation of the benefits of the Insurance Cards to the local and non-local residents Method: the data and information was obtained from the general public using interviews- open ended questions were used. The application for the insurance cards has increased since the introduction of health insurance companies in UAE. The number has been increasing rapidly as seen from the bar charts presented above. The number of participants applying has increased by more than 46% from 2005 to 2006. The rapid in the increase of people engaging in health insurance is an indication that the people of UAE are finding an importance of the programs. As indicated from the interviews conducted many people are holding the positive aspects of the insurance cards. The insurance cards have made even the low income and the destitute in the society t o afford medical care at the least cost. Health insurance was distributed evenly according to the information obtained from the participants. At first, health insurance was offered to the individuals between the age of 35-and above. This age group indicated that dependants to these eldest members of the family setting meant that the young benefited from the insurance program since the offers extended to

Hindu religious architecture Essay Example for Free

Hindu religious architecture Essay In order to understand a kind of people and their behavior, it is important to understand their literature and art . Different people have different cultures and believe, but can sometime adapt to the cultures of those they come in contact with. In India, there have been many cultural developments that have taken place over several years. The rich cultural activities in India have been due to the influence of many settlers in the county. Furthermore, India’s culture has been enriched by the kind of language that people talk and the religion they practice. Indian Architecture The Hindu architecture reflects the influence of various regions and dynasties. â€Å"With the Islamic style concentrating only on monuments and the Hindu style being more religious, thematically, Indian architecture is indeed a celebration of creatively of unsung artisans who dedicated their lives to bring to life such wondrous pieces of enviable beauty†, (India Travel Agents, N. d). The Hindu temple was built with the concept of four compartments i. e. an entrance porch (the ardhamandap), the vestibule (antarala) and the Sanctum (garbhagriha). In some large temples, was addition of mandap with liberal transepts for size and splendor (India Travel Agents, N. d). The coming of the Muslims in India brought about several changes that had not been experienced in the Hindu religion. One thing that the Hindu religion was not accustomed too was the architecture of the tomb. The Muslims build the â€Å"tomb as a form made modest beginning with small canopies over the graves of Sufi saints and soon led to the erection of increasingly complex structures culminating in India, in the monumental mausoleums of the Mughal emperors (Nangia, 2001). The fusion of the cultures The most striking different between the Indo Islamic and the Hindu religion is the place of worship. The Hindus worship in the temple while the Muslims worship in the mosque. These different worshiping places precisely explain the different conciousness between the two communities. The temple building contains abode of mystery, the courts of the temple are open to light and air. It has got so many doorways which invites publicity. On the contrary, the mosque encloses a ‘phantasma’ of massive darkness with somber passages leading to the dim cells. These places of the mosque are jealously guarded (Nangia 2001). According to Brown (1975), another different that can be spotted between the temple and the mosque is that, it is not infrequently introspective, complex and indeterminate (Nangia 2001). Furthermore, there were other stinking differences in the architectural work of the two religions. In the Hindu religion the temple had various carvings but this was prohibited to the Muslims. The Muslims also had decorations of letterings on the mosque and the tomb while the Hindu did not have such decorations. Most of the architectural designs came because of the various believes that was excised between the two religions. For instance, the Hindu believed in reincarnation and therefore did not practice burying of the dead, rather they practiced cremation. References India Travel Agents (N. d): Indian Architecture retrieved on 20th Oct from http://www. india-travel-agents. com/cultural-heritage-tourism-india/architecture-heritage-tours/index. html Nangia. A (2001): Islamic Influence, retrieved on 20th Oct from http://www.boloji.com/architecture/00015.htm

Analysis of School Policies

Analysis of School Policies Introduction Assignment one is to review several policies in an existing school policy manual and to analyze each evaluating its efficacy. The school chosen for this assignment is Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School (MSPCS) located in Miami Shores, Florida. MSPCS is a small religious based school for students age eight weeks to fifth grade and provides families an affordable option for an outstanding academic and social-emotional program. Created in 1966 as a parents morning out program, MSPCS was, and is, well known for its small community and loving environment. The parents morning out program transitioned into a preschool program during the 1970s. In 1999 the church added a kindergarten class to their preschool program. Beginning in 2003 the school began to add one grade each year until finishing with the 5th-grade. In 2008 MSPCS had its first 5th-grade commencement. In July 2013 the school hired a new Headmaster, and a year later he hired a new preschool director. The school began developing a rigorous academic program. With an increased effort on providing students with a quality school experience and the hiring of new teachers with proper certification/credentials, the school is now seeing the benefits of the transformation. Policy Making Procedures The Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School Commission, appointed by the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church Session members, governs MSPCS. The School Commission has a set of specific by-laws, which clearly outline the role of the commission versus the school (Wirth). The policy manual is intended to provide guidelines and directives from the School Commission to the Headmaster regarding general policies, processes, and guiding beliefs of the School. As such, the document contains critical information for executing management plans and processes necessary to meeting and maintaining the school purposes stated in the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School Bylaws. Policies outlined in the MSPCS Policy Manual may be altered, amended, newly established, or repealed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Commission at any regular or special meeting, providing that such changes be proposed and presented to the Commission in writing at a previously scheduled commission meeting at least two weeks prior. The Headmaster may create interim policies when necessary, and the policy will remain in effect until which time the Commission acts to establish permanent policy on the given matter. There are six overarching sections in the MSPCS Policy Manual. They are academic and educational, finance, health and safety, parents, personal and School Commission, and students. For the purpose of this assignment, analyzing one policy in each section would prove to be beneficial to gathering full insight into the creation, purpose, and efficacy of the schools manual. Challenge of Materials Policy Academic and Education Section Objectives: To establish a policy that helps Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School to respect the convictions of parents and teachers in various academic subject areas, while at the same time maintaining our goal of teaching all subjects in the light of a comprehensive Christian worldview. Scope: This policy applies to all literary materials used at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School. Definitions: Objective Materials: A subject which Christian families and churches commonly consider divisive, whether or not the introduction of the topic was planned by the teacher or brought up by a student. Examples include: Environmentalism, the War Between the States, old earth/young earth, partisan politics, etc. Guidelines: The MSPC School Commission has the final authority in retaining or excluding a book from the collection. Any definition of objectionable material needs to keep our target readers in mind. The library exists to meet the needs of Elementary students. Materials that might be deemed inappropriate for younger readers will not be omitted on that basis. Parents/Guardians that feel a book contains offensive material should follow the following steps to address the issue: Bring the book in question to a Teacher, Media Specialist or Administrator. The Administrator or Media Specialist will review the book and determine if the offensive material is egregiously and indefensibly objectionable. If the material is not found to be egregiously and indefensibly objectionable, the book shall be returned to the collection. If the material is found to be objectionable, the book will be taken out of circulation. The Challenge of Materials Policy is an original policy from the prior administration, there is no reference number, and the creation date and author are unknown. The policy is designed to address a parent who questions a book or material that the school and the Commission deem to be appropriate. In 1986, in reply to questions from librarians facing book or material challenges, the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) established a list of definitions to explain vocabulary related to challenges (Merola). The charge for the IFC was to recommend such steps as may be necessary to safeguard the rights of library users, libraries, and librarians, in accordance with the first amendment to the United States Constitution and the Library Bill of Rights as adopted by the ALA Council (Klipsch). The significant step of defining terms that are universal provides library staff with an appropriate and consistent terminology when responding to a complaint. With this understanding, to date, the MSPCS Challenge Material Policy has not been confronted or questioned. Therefore, no revision is necessary to this policy. Although the policy addresses adult concerns, it ultimately affects the students due to the potential of removing reading material and media from their library choices. Volunteer Hours Policy Finance Section Objective: To set guidelines for volunteering requirements of families with children who attend the elementary school of Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School. Scope: This policy applies to all families with children who participate in the elementary school of Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School. Guidelines: Parents or guardians of elementary school students must complete a minimum of 20 family hours of volunteer service per year. It is the sole responsibility of parents to sign-in and out on the volunteer card/sheet and to verify the card/sheet is validated by an MSPC or MSPCS staff representative. Volunteer hours that are not completed by April 30th will be charged the rate of $25.00 per hour to the familys account. The Volunteer Hours Policy is an original policy from the prior administration, there is no reference number, and the creation date and author are unknown. Establishing a policy for mandatory volunteerism theoretically helps support the school and their initiatives to meet the mission. This policy addresses apparent shortcomings or lack of desire for families to become involved with their childs education and other school matters. There is currently legislation in California and Pennsylvania in regards to parent volunteerism. In both instances, the legislation protects families that are required to volunteer at their childs school from their employer who may not allow the time off. As recently as January 01, 2016, California expanded upon the Family School Partnership Act allowing, employees to take job-protected time off to find, enroll, or re-enroll their children in a school or with a licensed child care provider (Corcoran, 2017). The volunteer policy at MSPCS requires families to serve a minimum of twenty volunteer hours per year or pay $25 for each hour under the required minimum. A volunteer is defined by Merriam-Webster (1960) as, a person who voluntarily (proceeding from the will or from ones own choice or consent) undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service. By definition, requiring volunteer hours is an oxymoron and furthermore, charging individuals for not completing the requirement could be justification for litigation. The policy is in need of elimination more than a revision. When parents understand and appreciate the significance of their support, a punitive Ifà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ then policy is not necessary. When prospective parents come to school, they receive the mission statement and discuss its importance with an administrator.   The first part of the schools mission statement is A Christ-inspired experience. Being Christ-inspired means for an individual to broaden their se nse of giving to others. As long as parents understand the importance of their participation in their childs education, there is no need of a policy requiring their presence. Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, and Safety Drills Policy Health and Safety Section Objective: To set guidelines for Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School stakeholders in being prepared for an event when they may be in potential danger. Scope: This policy applies to all Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School stakeholders. Definitions: Evacuation: The immediate and urgent movement of people out of a building from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Reverse Evacuation: The immediate and urgent movement of people inside the building from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Lockdown: A confinement of all individuals to a secure location due to a perceived or real threat. Guidelines: All drills (evacuation, reverse evacuation, and lockdown) will be held on a monthly basis. During the first week of school, staff members shall take their class for a practice fire drill. Follow the evacuation map in the room using the primary route. The secondary route is also noted, and there will be one fire drill a year when the secondary route will be utilized. The school is equipped with an intercom, fire alarm system and sprinkler system. The Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, and Safety Drills Policy is an original policy from the prior administration with two key additions from the current administration in 2013. There is no reference number, and the creation date and author are unknown. Before 2013, the policy only addressed evacuation drills. The drill is typical in all United States schools and is mandated by federal law. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), which oversees Floridas business safety and health structure, requires that companies with ten or more employees have written fire prevention and emergency exit plans, as well as practices for such an emergency for each workplace. During 2013, the new MSPCS administration included the reverse evacuation and lockdown safety drills to the policy in reaction to the climate of todays society of schools under attack by unstable or angry people. The first known instance of a reverse evacuation drill policy was after the state of Kentucky put out a school crisis planning guide, and then FEMA included the policy in their guide (Dorn). Additionally, in 2013, a lockdown drill was instituted at MSPCS. On December 14, 2012, a tragedy occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, when a disturbed man went into the school and shot many students and several teachers. The administration recognized the potential of this occurring anywhere and why it is important to establish a policy for children and educators to understand and know what to do in this type of emergency. The Federal Government does not mandate lockdown drills. However, several states have legislation in place requiring schools practice lockd owns as frequently as they practice evacuation drills. Each of the safety drills and their continued practices is essential to keeping students and educators prepared for an emergency situation. No one can tell how someone may react in an actual emergency, but having the knowledge of what to do, may decrease further stresses or even casualties. There are no plans to revise this policy, because of the eminent danger that society faces. Parental Non-Compliance Policy Parent Section Objective: To establish a set procedure for Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School administrators when parents are not in compliance with school policy or procedures. Scope: This policy applies to any time administration believes parents are not in compliance with school policy or procedures. Definitions: Non-Compliance: Failure to act in accordance with a wish or command or inability to conform to rules or standards. Guidelines: When an incident is considered serious enough according to the schools parameters, all family members will be asked to withdraw from the school regardless of previous incidents. In most instances, the following will take place: FIRST INCIDENT: Written notification regarding the incident or offense will be sent to the family and placed in the families file. A parent or guardian may be required to attend a meeting, at school, with the Administration. SECOND INCIDENT: Written notification regarding the incident or offense will be sent to the family and placed in the families file. The parent, parents, or guardian will be required to attend a meeting with the Administration. The family will be put on probation for the remainder of the school year. THIRD INCIDENT: All family members will be asked to withdraw from school the following year, or if deemed appropriate, immediately. The administration has an obligation to inform the School Commission of any incident that reaches non-compliance status. In the event of family withdrawal, the School Commission has final authority to accept or reject the administrations recommendation. The Parental Non-Compliance Policy is an original policy from the prior administration along with a recent 2015 revision by the new administration. Included in the revised version are the three step process and the paragraph giving final authority to the School Commission. Adding both parts to the policy ensures and protects the family and the administration from emotional decision making. There is no federal or state legislation on parental non-compliance at school, but many private schools do have some policy written to safeguard all parties. All members of a school community, including families, educators, students, visitors, and the administration, have the intention to work in partnership to provide the children the best experiences in their education and care. From the onset, families and staff agree at the time of acceptance or employment to acquaint themselves with and meet the terms of the schools philosophy and Code of Ethics. There are times when behaviors or actions go against the philosophy or code. Therefore, it is essential to have a policy and process for dealing with such occurrences. If the administration selects families into the school community that are mission appropriate and who can abide by the schools philosophy, then this policy, in theory, would not be necessary. Unfortunately, circumstance can arise, and each party needs to be protected and valued during trying times. In the next revision, an initial step of a verbal warning may be beneficial in providing due process to the policy and may mitigate any further escalation. Currently, the first step is to write up a warning of the incident, and this does not comply with the schools Caring Community philosophy. Within the Caring School philosophy, one of the schools goals is to empower and listen to others to further understand their perspective. A conversation to express the school displeasure with a parents behavior or action allows the parent to provide their point of view. Through respectful and honest conversation, the school and parents may agree on a solution without further incident or create hard feelings. Evaluations/Personnel File Policy Staff, Personnel, and School Commission Section Objectives: To ensure consistency of procedure and standards in all performance assessments of the staff of MSPCS. Scope: This policy applies to commission evaluations of the Headmaster, the Headmasters evaluation of administrative staff, and the Directors assessments of the teaching staff. Definitions: Evaluation: A procedure for measuring a staff members performance in helping to achieve the goals and policies of MSPCS, the curriculum objectives of the school, and the observation of the guidelines and handbooks. Personnel File: A file maintained by the Headmaster in the administrative office of MSPCS for all faculty and staff members of the school. General Statement: Several fundamental principles underlie the MSPCS approach to supervision and evaluation. These principles are grounded in current research that identifies effective instructional practices that maximize student learning and achievement. The MSPCS model for supervision and evaluation recognizes the importance of linking teacher evaluation to professional development and student learning. It also acknowledges the value of a differentiated structure that supports teachers at varying stages of their career and experience and promotes greater teacher involvement in the evaluation process. At MSPCS we recognize the importance of the supervision, evaluation, and Professional Growth process. The MSPCS Supervision, Evaluation, PGP program incorporates supervisory options connected to personal growth in a collaborative environment. MSPCS is a professional community, which encourages feedback and reflection as a means of promoting continuous teacher growth and improved student achievement. Meaningful feedback comes from multiple and diverse sources and provides an opportunity for reflection which sharpens our teachers skills of self-assessment. Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Growth is an interactive process perceived as valuable by all involved. The MSPCS program involves assessment structures that promote an array of reflective, creative and analytic skills. In the MSPCS program, outstanding teaching is studied, sought, recognized and supported. By promoting structures that encourage professional development, a reflective school culture and research-based practices; MSPCS ensures that it will remain focused on its mission, vision, and continued goal to improve student achievement. The objective of teacher supervision, evaluation, and professional learning is to increase student achievement by encouraging and supporting the professional growth of all teachers. Administrators Assurance The MSPCS Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Growth Plan will: Provide clear, concise, comprehensive teaching standards based on current research of best teaching practice. Provide a fair, clear system for teacher evaluation used on current research. Provide useful, timely feedback related to MSPCS teaching standards to guide professional development goals. Foster a culture of trust, mutual respect, and constructive professional dialogue, which encourages risk taking in a learning community. Refine the craft of teaching through reflection and risk-taking. Utilize data from student assessment to guide teaching practice as related to MSPCS teaching standards. Encourage teachers to chart their course for professional development. Value the diversity of teachers perspective, skills, knowledge, and practice. All MSPCS educators will have: Support and encouragement from the Preschool Director, Headmaster and other staff members. Reviewed procedures and be informed on the supervision and evaluation format and forms. Professional development goals that incorporate one or more of the MSPCS Teaching Standards. Numerous opportunities to be observed through walkthroughs. An annual formal written observation grounded on teacher reflection and growth. Opportunities to discuss their growth with the Preschool Director or Headmaster. Guidelines: All employees will be formally evaluated at least once a year. Each director will be responsible for assessing the teachers and staff members immediately under his/her supervision. The Headmaster will be responsible for the evaluations of the directors, the accounting staff, and other support staff, and the commission will be responsible for the assessment of the Headmaster. The evaluations will be based principally on formal observations of the staff member and interviews with the staff member. Observations and opinions of third parties (parents, other staff members, individual commission members, etc.) may only be taken into account if the staff member being evaluated is given an opportunity to respond to the third partys questions/concerns raised before the finalization of the evaluation. The evaluation will be considered finalized when the staff member being evaluated and the one responsible for the evaluation both acknowledge by signature that the assessment has been discussed in detail. When the evaluation is finalized, the Headmaster will place it in that staff members personnel file. Other appropriate inclusions in the archive of staff would include letters of commendation or reprimand, as well as any responses, comments, or relevant data the staff member may wish to add. Under no conditions will a staff members personnel file be made public to other staff members, parents, or anyone outside MSPCS line of authority. The file of staff may be used by an authorized representative of MSPCS to draft a letter of recommendation to a prospective employer. The file is only to be used for purposes of refreshing the memory and is not to be reproduced for the prospective employer. The Evaluations/Personnel File Policy, entirely rewritten in 2016, from the original policy that was not a policy but more of an outline of procedures. In the original policy, there was no mention of school beliefs or the purposes of the assessment. Also, the wording in the original policy was punitive and full of if-than statements as opposed to helping an educator grow and develop their skills. Often formal evaluations cause stress to an educator, because of the judgment or perception of another persons point of view placed on the individual. At MSPCS, the elimination of judgment and the focus on individual improvement and self-reflection help create a positive experience for all parties during evaluations. Marzanos model of instructional evaluation focuses on specific strategies and how well they are working. Taken one step further, MSPCS adds a component where the teacher generates the level of specificity during a self-reflection period and a pre-observation meeting with the administrator. During the pre-observation meeting, the teacher shares the learning targets for the students and how they plan to prepare the students for the lesson. The teacher provides a brief overview of the sequencing and strategies of the content of the lesson, how the students will practice or demonstrate the new content, and how students will summarize the lesson. During the meeting, the teach er selects an area they would like to improve upon and asks the administrator to assess him/her on a specific task or technique. Additionally, the teacher prescribes two or three questions that he/she would like the administrator to ask the students. During the observation, the administrator documents what is heard or seen, without opinion or judgment. He/She then moves around the room asking the prescribed questions the teacher presented to him/her during the pre-observation meeting and documents the answers the students gave to him/her. A post-observation meeting is held within a day or two to capture the momentum and to provide effective feedback. The meeting always begins with the question, On a scale of one to ten, ten being the best, what would you rate your lesson? Not one person in seven years of asking the question has rated themselves a ten, which means the conversation begins with the understanding that everyone has room to improve. Much of the conversation revolves around the administrator continually asking what do you think and why do you think type questions, because the process is a self-reflection, not a judgment of being good or poor. After analyzing the data, we set goals to work on for the next observation, which may not be a formal one. The idea of the evaluation as a growth process instead of a judgment allows teachers to step back and truly look inward at their practice in a non-threatening way. There are no plans to change this policy as it has proven to be very effective. Discipline Policy Student Section Objectives: To ensure consistent biblical discipline at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School. Scope: This policy applies to all elementary students at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School. Definitions: Discipline: The practice of instructing and training people to understand and adhere to rules or a code of behavior. Guidelines: Each class develops their student appropriate discipline guidelines. Under no circumstances is corporal punishment allowed. Staff members may not withhold the bathroom, withhold food or belittle the student. MSPCS believes that everyone has the right to experience a safe and friendly school environment. Therefore, we have expectations that students will: Keep hands, feet and all objects to themselves. Show respect for adults and other students. Cooperate and show self-control at all times. Follow directions the first time without questioning. Be prepared for class each day. Be punctual and attend class each day. The school will not tolerate any of the following behaviors and may be cause for expulsion: Verbal and physical fighting. Defacing or damaging school property. Theft of school or personal property. The use of profanity or name-calling. Procedures: When a student violates classroom/school rules for the first time, teachers will discuss the infraction with the student and document the incident. In the event a student commits a second infraction, the teacher will contact the parent to discuss the issue and document the parent/teacher conference as a Step Two Referral. A parent must be contacted for a StepTwo Referral to be completed. If a third infraction occurs, the StepThree Referral must be documented on the referral form. If the student is disrupting the class to the point where learning cannot take place in the classroom, they may be sent to speak with the Preschool Director or Headmaster. If infractions continue to occur and are impeding upon the learning process for the student and others, the student may be sent home. A follow-up meeting will happen with the Preschool Director or Headmaster when the student returns to school. This session will be reflective in nature and to set guidelines and goals for the student to meet. All missed class work due to an infraction of a rule must be completed at home and returned to the teacher when the student arrives back to school. Transgressions, including but not limited to fighting, weapons, severe disrespect, bullying, etc. will result in disciplinary action which may include dismissal from school, even for a first offense. Also, if the MSPCS staff identify, through the course of observation and discussion with parents, that a students particular behavioral issues are beyond the capacity of the program to serve them, the school reserves the right to terminate enrollment at any time. The Discipline Policy is an original policy from the prior administration, there is no reference number, and the creation date and author are unknown. All schools have a discipline policy because it is a critical element in maintaining a safe environment for students and staff. In many schools, a discipline policy states all of the things a student cannot do and what will happen if they do it. At MSPCS, the student discipline policy is more of a threat of words on paper, because the current administration does not believe in sending students home as a punishment. Skiba, Shure, Middelberg, Baker (2011) offer there is no evidence proving that discipline practices that eliminate students from classes by the punitive acts of suspensions and expulsions help to improve either student behavior or school climate. Instead of sending a student home, where they will often be unsupervised, developing an effective intervention at school is more in line with the schools Caring Community philosophy. Another part of this policy that is inaccurate is in the first line that states consistent biblical discipline. The Bibles view on discipline clearly demands that parents be responsible and diligent in spanking, but strongly prohibits physical abuse of any kind (Ingram, 2006). Further, in the MSPCS student discipline policy, it states under no circumstances is corporal punishment allowed. At MSPCS, the administration is not reinforcing the written policy properly, and the language in the policy is sending mixed messages to our families. An easy fix to the discrepancy is to eliminate the word biblical from the policy. However, a complete rewrite of the policy is necessary to match the schools philosophy of a Caring Community and preserving dignity for all. The Caring Community requires a positive-based discipline program where students are self-reflective and empowered while maintaining their dignity. The goal is for students to take responsibility for their actions and learn from each of their experiences. At MSPCS, the school teaches students to look inward to work towards developing intrinsic motivation, while at the same time reducing teacher-centric external motivation. The objective is to influence change in a students undesirable behavior through conversation, demonstration, and sending a consistent message. At MSPCS teachers receive training in the art of being an authoritative classroom leader. Bear (2010) states, An authoritative teacher set high standards and hold high expectations; enforce rules and standards in a firm, fair, and consistent manner; and promote autonomy by encouraging students active participatio

Foreign Direct Investment: Country Risk Assessment of Spain Essay

Table of Contents A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3 B.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Political Indicators  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   4-11 C.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic Indicators  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   12-18 D.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Social Indicators  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   19-23 E.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall County Total  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   24 F.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works Cited  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   25 A. Introcution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, it has played a catch-up role in the western international community. Continuing concerns are large-scale unemployment and the Basque separatist movement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spain's population density, lower than that of most European countries, is roughly equivalent to New England's population density. In ... ... 23 July 1998. http://www.businessweek.com/1998/31/b3589007.htm#Main%20Story Foreign currency Debt. Ministry of Economoy of Spain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.mineco.es/tesoro/deuda/acerca_de/en/acerca_div_i.htm Giles, Ciaran. Spain, Britain Predict Gibralter Deal. 21 November 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63022-2001Nov21.html Key Economic Indicators: Business Prospects for 2001. September 2001. Ministy of Economy in Spain http://www.investinspain.org/default.htm Society (Spain). On The Line. http://www.ontheline.org.uk Spain POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. Tradeport Trade Directory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.tradeport.org/ts/countries/spain/political.html Quintero, Josephine. Economy of Spain: Historiacal Overview. http://www.andalucia.com/ U.S. Department of State, August 2000 Bureau of European Affairs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/spain_0008_bgn.html#econ World: Europe, Britain and Spain draft joint proposal for labour reform. November 1998.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_224000/224854.stm

F. Scott Fitzgerald and New Consumer Culture

What do you think of the view that obsession with money and the new consumer culture of the 1920s dominates human thinking and behavior in ‘The Great Gatsby’? One of the key themes in The Great Gatsby is ‘The morality and importance of Wealth’ in high end New York social circles of the 1920s. Fitzgerald himself lived during this period of significant culture change in America and therefore I feel his own feelings and concerns on obsession with money and the new consumer culture was one reason as to why he wrote this novel. He begins by establishing this theme through Daisy and Tom.Daisy’s voice often has references to wealth: â€Å"Her voice is full of money†. The synecdoche here represents Daisy herself as an object of desirability and high status. Daisy represents perfection to Gatsby because she has the wealth, class, charm and sophistication that Gatsby has wanted all of his life. The life that they lead seems to lack direction and meaning, the couple drift unrestfully to wherever people â€Å"were rich together†. This shows that their behavior is dominated by social conventions of consumerism, it is important for them to be seen with people like themselves.Although Daisy has such a privileged life style her face is â€Å"sad†, here Fitzgerald is commenting that money cannot buy happiness or true fulfillment. In chapter 2 Fitzgerald creates a gothic vision, using bleak descriptions of the waste land that lies between the two eggs. Fitzgerald uses ashes as a way to symbolize the impure, dim and dirty lives that the rich lead: â€Å"ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys† which â€Å"ash grey men† inhibit (if you come to close to them it can become harmful).The desolate waste land is an industrial dumping site and I feel Fitzgerald uses it as a device to contradict the world of beauty glamour that its creators live in. It is a way of showing the darker, less glamorous truth of the new co nsumer culture as the vast amounts of waste create such an unpleasant sight. This introduces one the key themes in the novel which is the morality of wealth. The â€Å"white ashen dust† that covers Wilson and his surroundings is representing the poverty that he lives in due to his lack of money.In comparison to Tom, Wilson is much more passive and shy which could be due to the fact that he is much less wealthy. Tom seems to have automatic dominance over Daisy however Wilson clearly lacks control over Myrtle, suggesting he is respected more. This displays the theme of The Importance of money as their different fortunes influence the way these men behave and the quality of life they have. Myrtle is a key character in the novel in displaying Fitzgerald’s concerns with the new consumer culture and the way it dominates human behavior.As the party in the small apartment develops, her mannerisms completely change: â€Å"with the influence of her dress her behavior had also u ndergone a change†. This shows that the luxurious lifestyle hugely influences people often, like myrtle, badly. In the comfort of her new, fake privileged lifestyle and raised status she becomes more confident and ‘haughty’. This could suggest that myrtle is shallow as the way she conducts herself changes as easily as the colour of her dress, which is often used in The Great Gatsby as a technique to represent social status or class.

5 Words from the Kitchen

5 Words from the Kitchen 5 Words from the Kitchen 5 Words from the Kitchen By Mark Nichol Words most people associate primarily with the kitchen have multiple nonculinary connotations as well. Here are five words you may find useful in other contexts. 1. Apron This name for a garment worn to protect the wearer’s clothes from food stains (or one that is purely decorative) also applies to similar protective attire. From this usage stems meanings for structures with similar form and/or purpose, including a piece of wood under a windowsill, an extension of a bathroom fixture, the part of a pier or wharf along its edge, an erosion barrier, or the part of a stage that extends past the proscenium arch (the opening between the stage and the audience area). 2. Cook This is not just a verb for the action of preparing food and a noun describing a preparer; it also refers to a process for producing a substance or a material, such as the act of cooking methamphetamines. It’s also a slang term used a as a synonym for happen or occur (â€Å"What’s cooking?†), for doing well (â€Å"That band is really cooking!†), or for falsifying documents, especially financial records (â€Å"He was caught cooking the books†). 3. Glass The word for an often tall, narrow container for drinking liquids from, regardless of material, also applies to the mixture of materials used in making clear or tinted glass. Glass may also apply to another item made wholly or in part from glass or a similar substance, such as a mirror (or looking-glass), a basketball backboard, an hourglass, a telescope (or spyglass), or eyeglasses; a barometer is often called a glass. The word also denotes a container full of a liquid (â€Å"Have a glass of beer†). 4. Plate A plate is a shallow, mostly flat dish for serving food, but it also refers to other usually flat, thin items such as a piece of armor or a body part that is similar to armor, any flat structural piece, a part of Earth’s crust, and precious metal, and has other meanings, including the figurative reference to matters and responsibilities â€Å"I have a lot on my plate right now.† 5. Table In addition to the meaning of a piece of furniture with a flat surface, often used for dining, table refers to any such surface, such as a geographical feature (tableland). It also has figurative meanings for eating (â€Å"Sit down to table†) and assembling (â€Å"Sit at the bargaining table†). Table also refers to a list or an arrangement of data. Table is used as a verb to describe entering data in a table. It also refers, in American English, to remove from consideration during a formal meeting or other procedure; in British English, curiously, its meaning is the opposite: It denotes placing an item on an agenda. There’s also a small but rich list of idioms that include table, including â€Å"lay (one’s) cards on the table† (â€Å"to be candid†) and â€Å"under the table† (â€Å"intoxicated,† or â€Å"secretive†). 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a SentenceHang, Hung, Hanged30 Nautical Expressions

7 TED Talks That Will Inspire You

7 TED Talks That Will Inspire You Even if you’re the wisest and most self-confident person around, sometimes it takes a little outside inspiration to dig deep and become the person you hope to be. Check out the 7 TED talks below if you’re in need of a little guidance from the pros on how to reach for the stars when it comes to your career.â€Å"Why you will fail to have a great career† by Larry SmithIf you’re the type who fails to go after your dreams with sufficient vigor or commitment, this talk is for you. It’s funny, bracing, and calls you out on all your crap. Stop making excuses for why you’re not pursuing your ideal career.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume† by Regina HartleyA HR exec tells us why and how and in which scenarios she prefers to go for the â€Å"scrapper† candidate and give someone a chance. Listen to how to maximize your chances when your resume is not yet maxed out to its (or your) full potential.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How t o find work you love† by Scott DinsmoreThis guy wasted years at a job he hated, then a few more figuring out what he really loved. Save yourself the middle steps and listen to what questions you need to be asking yourself in order to do what you love and love what you do.â€Å"5 ways to kill your dreams† by Bel PesceHave a huge dream or a big idea but you’ve convinced yourself you can’t make it happen? Bel Pesce debunks the five myths that are probably holding you back. Get the confidence to make your dream projects happen.â€Å"A kinder, gentler philosophy of success† by Alain de BottonWe all want success, and if we get it, we all think we’ve earned it. It’s a cutthroat world. Mr. de Botton helps us reconfigure the way we look at the concept of success, in hopes we can be gentler on ourselves and others, and make more meaning (and find more pleasure) in the work we do.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"How to get back to work after a career break† by C arol CohenA career re-entry expert helps you strategize how to get back in the game after short and long absences. Find out how to rebrand yourself as return-to-work talent and develop a game plan to get you back on top.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why we do what we do† by Tony RobbinsThis talk is good enough for Al Gore- who’s sitting in the front row. Listen to a great talk about the â€Å"invisible forces† that motivate us, and how we can use them to maximize, rather than minimize, our potential.Talks to help you find the right job

Free sample - The Clash. translation missing

The Clash. The ClashIntroduction Aesthetics is a philosophy that was concerned with the nature of art work and criteria of artistic art work. A clash in art work refers to noise that is produced when doing art work or bad objects which result from aesthetic work. In art work creativity and symbolic aspect of an object is considered.   Clash between aesthetics and function The clash between aesthetics and function has become an issue in architecture beyond reasonable doubt. The work of art including ceramics, textiles and art furniture was an architect designed modernist for apartments in early 1960s and 1970s.This was marked as the time when people had experience on design work based on social, civic and cultural significance. But nowadays, architecture work has changed because building aesthetic achievement has been left out from its real function. The work of artist architecture at present depends on clients; target consumer needs and products at consumer prices but contain professional grade functionality (Shiner 2003). The constructions of modern architectures are important in art museum though they incur challenges when relating with aesthetic and function museum designs. Art museum is a challenge because it needs a lot of art work in every stage of production. The category of art museum represent type of structures either explicitly created to commemorate important events like churches and civic buildings. Art itself has an important function which people admire and tour especially places like museums which have exiting features. The clash between aesthetic and function has totally changed for a decade ago. At that time many contemporary artists produced long and thoughtful observation products that were meant for spiritual purposes. For instance temporary exhibitions and installations were less designed as neutral containers for permanent works than areas of interactive experience (Shiner 2003). Conclusion The art of historical past and present has caused a clash in aesthetic work. The contemporary issues involved opposed conceptions of what social workers of art and modern artists have done. Different views between past and present art workers were raised in consideration of aesthetic and function thus continuing causing trouble in studio crafts. Reference list Shiner, L. (2003).The Invention of Art: A Cultural History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Training in Food Safety is Essential for Foodservice Employees Research Paper

Training in Food Safety is Essential for Foodservice Employees - Research Paper Example   Probable undesirable compounds found in foods span a broad range, from environmental contaminants such as dioxins and natural contaminants such as mycotoxins to agrichemicals such as pesticides. A vast majority of incidences of foodborne illnesses are preventable if all food safety principles are adhered to from food production to consumption. Given that it is presently relatively impossible for food producers to guarantee a pathogen free supply of food, foodservice employees serve as critical links in the chain to deter foodborne illnesses. This paper will examine what foodservice employees need to be aware as effective strategies of minimizing the existence and consequences of pathogens or their inherent toxins in food. Food safety is a crucial issue that engulfs the foodservice industry. An in-depth understanding of the procedures encompassed in food safety, as well as the potential causes of foodborne illnesses is quite pertinent for all persons who handle food. It is only kn owledgeable, skilled and highly motivated foodservice employees trained to adhere to the proper procedures coupled with management that effectively keep an eye on employee performances can guarantee food safety (Chapman, Eversley, Fillion, MacLaurin & Powell, 2010). Foodservice employees play quite an integral role in deterring, as well as controlling or managing the epidemics of food borne illnesses. Foodservice managers typically employ the services of a massive number of part-time, as well as full-time employees, to offer food services. Part-time employees are typically aimed at providing flexibility in the workforce. It is, therefore, quite common that foodservice managers hire a large number of part-time, as well as international student employees who have no foodservice history or experience. In addition, many part-time employees work in the foodservice industry for only a brief timeframe before leaving for employment in other fields and industries. As a consequence, part-time employees may typically have lowered awareness of, as well as concern regarding the principles of food safety compared to full-time employees. It is, therefore, critical that managers educate both part-time and full-time employees regarding the issue of food safety, train them to ensure that they make use of appropriate food handling procedures, and assess their overall performance. A number of studies have been carried out to investigate part-time and full-time foodservice employees’ knowledge, practices, training, as well as attitudes, towards food safety. For instance, Chapman (2013) examined food handling practices, the presence of precondition food safety programs, as well as safety knowledge among foodservice scholars at least 40 Iowa schools. The researchers aimed at determining the readiness of foodservice students to implement hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) programs within their foodservice undertakings.

Dahab Plastics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dahab Plastics - Case Study Example He still sticks to the outdated methods used by his father. For example, on the production line, he still keeps an old machine regularly improvised by his workers to improve efficiency. The machine also needs more operators, increasing cost of labour. Production data is manually logged into a notebook (Pg 177). A financial difficulty is also suggested here, because he cannot afford new equipment. Quality control methods are not standardized, allowing for erosion in quality (Pg 178). In his human resource structure, he does not acknowledge the hierarchy. Credit for meeting goals goes to supervisors. He does not pay workers for additional hours to meet targets (Pg 178). Competitors are also copying his molds and selling cheaper than him. Additionally, many of them are ISO certified. Amer needs to modernize his equipment. Automated machinery will improve quality and cut down on production costs. Volumes will also increase, with a marked reduction in workers, and hence cost of labour. This will enable him reduce the cost of products, giving him an edge above the competition. An ISO certification is also required as a quality assurance to the market. He should also engage the services of professionals in Human Resource management (Pg

Surrealism in American Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Surrealism in American Film - Essay Example The essay "Surrealism in American Film" discusses the American film and surrealism. Three American films are good examples of surrealism in the American Cinema. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) by Michel Gondry, Blue Velvet (1986) by David Lynch, and Spellbound (1945) by Alfred Hitchcock all draw upon the cultural movement of Surrealism in order to create their works. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) was written by Charlie Kaufman, well known for his surrealist concepts. David Lynch, who wrote and directed Blue Velvet (1986), is also a well known surrealist who has dealt at length with the theme of the illusory nature of reality. Alfred Hitchcock, whose talents for creating suspenseful films that leave the audience in wonder and shock, has long been an influence to contemporary film directors and writers for the modern interpretations of Surrealism in film. His film Spellbound (1945) is a primary example of this influence. Surrealism is a style of art that was developed to create an expressive expansion of the dreams of artists so that the internal could be expressed rather than the external repeated. For Salvador Dali, the work of the Surrealist is â€Å"based on phantasms and representations brought about by the materializations of unconscious acts†. The style utilizes what is real but puts it into an unreal framework. A good example of this type of recreation is in Salvador Dali’s Lobster Telephone, 1936, where a lobster has been substituted for the receiver of the telephone.

Summary of New Cardiovascular Drug Article Essay

Summary of New Cardiovascular Drug Article - Essay Example This is a disease of the cardiovascular system and the heart in particular. The physiological system under discussion in this article is the cardiovascular system. In general, the cardiovascular system is the main element that is concerned with the transportation of substances around the body and hence enhancing the exchange process. Substances like nutrients wastes, gases- oxygen and carbon dioxide are passed across the cells and the cell function is sustained (Marieb & Hoehn 2007). The cells form the body tissues while the tissues constitute organs and organs form the organ systems. The heart is cone shaped and lies on the side of the diaphragm inclined to the right side (shoulder) and having the widest part upwards. Its about the size of a fist roughly 9cm in width and 12 cm long. The muscles provide the force of pumping blood as it's the biological pump pericardium covers the whole heart. Heart muscles are specially designed for the pumping purpose and are called cardiac muscles. The muscles are striated and connected to form almost one block termed syncytium. The heart is divided into right and left chambers and further into two auricles and two ventricles. Ventricles pump blood outside the heart and heart valves direct their flow (Marieb & Hoehn 2007). Cardiovascular system also includes the blood

An human rights be universal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An human rights be universal - Essay Example And on the other, we have poor countries like India and Bangladesh where people do not even have enough to consume. How can these two different types of societies develop similar definitions of human rights or implement similar human right laws Human rights for someone in India may be having enough to eat and a place to keep oneself warm, while it has an entirely different meaning for someone in the United States. But human rights can and should be universal in nature as we shall discover from our discussion in this paper. All human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated. The international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis. While the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms. (United Nations 1993) But West may not be trying to integrate cultures into human rights definition for the sake of stamping its superiority but the main aim was to counter human rights violation in traditionalist Asian societies. The reality of an interdependent world has only recently dawned upon us and this has brought cultures and societies closer accentuating their differences. But these differences and the resulting furor over the concept of human rights being universal should not undermine the idea that world is interdependent and more closely linked than we previously assumed. The Declaration's provision of basic civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights for "all members of the human family" has helped the world understand that we need "a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations."(UN, 1948) The fact that United Nations chose to develop a new definition of human rights which it believes can be universally applies show its faith in human beings' "substantial capacity for moral understanding and progress." (Nickel: p. 41) The concept of human rights is not something new and can be traced back to philosophies of antiquity but it was in the last few centuries that they began taking their present form. However the inclusion of universalism in human rights is one concept which is not even a few decades old. Many events, declarations and globalization later we can summarize fundamental tenets of human rights law as follows: Every human being has certain rights that are inherent. Such rights can be enumerated or deduced; they are not earned or acquired but inhere in all people by virtue of their humanity alone. Every human being's basic rights are indefeasible or inalienable--that is, such rights can never be annulled or denied by outside parties or even by the affected individuals themselves. Conflicts between different rights must be resolved in accordance with just and impartial laws and procedures. (Sieghart, p.8) Human rights proponents offer some fair definitions of human rights w

Global Warming and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Warming and Religion - Essay Example Two thirds of the overall increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere since the 19th century has occurred since 1980. The environmental experts are certain of the fact that the increase in global warming is due to the rising concentrations of the greenhouse gases that are produced as a result of different human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The increasing debates regarding global warming have raised a question whether the action to reduce global warming is a theological and moral imperative or a matter of human and environmental expediency. The following paper would analyse the situation from both perspectives and it would be inferred whether the action to reduce global warming is linked with religion. There are a number of factors that have led the people to consider the religious and moral aspects of the actions to reduce global warming. A number of people hold the perspective that had everyone followed the religion properly the situation of global warming would not have arisen. The religion provides comprehensive details regarding the right way of life but these teachings have been ignored by the people and the global warming is one of the consequences of such ignorance.... It is one of the attributes held by the people who are inclined towards the religion. However people who do not follow the teachings of the religion properly moved towards luxury and in order to have an easier life, and they started to consume the natural resources in order to have luxuries. The scientists and environmental experts are certain that the main reason behind global warming is the consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation. In order to have luxurious ways of life, people got involved in the consumption of such rare resources and the situation has gotten worse ever since. Therefore, people who are inclined towards religion exercise simplicity which in itself is an action to reduce global warming (Stafford 1998). Stewardship of God’s Creation It is a common belief that stewardship of God’s creation is a biblical principle therefore man is responsible to take care of everything that has been bestowed upon him by God. The Earth and its many resources can be r egarded as God’s creation therefore man should ensure that all these resources are taken care of. However, the very cause of the global warming has been disclosed as the exploitation of natural resources. Each creation by God holds some purpose on Earth and moving it from its place may hold certain consequences, and this is being observed today in the form of rising global warming. Thus, the stewardship of God’s creation is one biblical principle that shows that the action to reduce global warming has a strong theological perspective (Nolen 2004). Rights of Non-Human Creatures The religion teaches that the rights of the inanimate planet and its non-human creatures are considered to be highly

Summary of New Cardiovascular Drug Article Essay

Summary of New Cardiovascular Drug Article - Essay Example This is a disease of the cardiovascular system and the heart in particular. The physiological system under discussion in this article is the cardiovascular system. In general, the cardiovascular system is the main element that is concerned with the transportation of substances around the body and hence enhancing the exchange process. Substances like nutrients wastes, gases- oxygen and carbon dioxide are passed across the cells and the cell function is sustained (Marieb & Hoehn 2007). The cells form the body tissues while the tissues constitute organs and organs form the organ systems. The heart is cone shaped and lies on the side of the diaphragm inclined to the right side (shoulder) and having the widest part upwards. Its about the size of a fist roughly 9cm in width and 12 cm long. The muscles provide the force of pumping blood as it's the biological pump pericardium covers the whole heart. Heart muscles are specially designed for the pumping purpose and are called cardiac muscles. The muscles are striated and connected to form almost one block termed syncytium. The heart is divided into right and left chambers and further into two auricles and two ventricles. Ventricles pump blood outside the heart and heart valves direct their flow (Marieb & Hoehn 2007). Cardiovascular system also includes the blood

Global Warming and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global Warming and Religion - Essay Example Two thirds of the overall increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere since the 19th century has occurred since 1980. The environmental experts are certain of the fact that the increase in global warming is due to the rising concentrations of the greenhouse gases that are produced as a result of different human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The increasing debates regarding global warming have raised a question whether the action to reduce global warming is a theological and moral imperative or a matter of human and environmental expediency. The following paper would analyse the situation from both perspectives and it would be inferred whether the action to reduce global warming is linked with religion. There are a number of factors that have led the people to consider the religious and moral aspects of the actions to reduce global warming. A number of people hold the perspective that had everyone followed the religion properly the situation of global warming would not have arisen. The religion provides comprehensive details regarding the right way of life but these teachings have been ignored by the people and the global warming is one of the consequences of such ignorance.... It is one of the attributes held by the people who are inclined towards the religion. However people who do not follow the teachings of the religion properly moved towards luxury and in order to have an easier life, and they started to consume the natural resources in order to have luxuries. The scientists and environmental experts are certain that the main reason behind global warming is the consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation. In order to have luxurious ways of life, people got involved in the consumption of such rare resources and the situation has gotten worse ever since. Therefore, people who are inclined towards religion exercise simplicity which in itself is an action to reduce global warming (Stafford 1998). Stewardship of God’s Creation It is a common belief that stewardship of God’s creation is a biblical principle therefore man is responsible to take care of everything that has been bestowed upon him by God. The Earth and its many resources can be r egarded as God’s creation therefore man should ensure that all these resources are taken care of. However, the very cause of the global warming has been disclosed as the exploitation of natural resources. Each creation by God holds some purpose on Earth and moving it from its place may hold certain consequences, and this is being observed today in the form of rising global warming. Thus, the stewardship of God’s creation is one biblical principle that shows that the action to reduce global warming has a strong theological perspective (Nolen 2004). Rights of Non-Human Creatures The religion teaches that the rights of the inanimate planet and its non-human creatures are considered to be highly

Someone Who Has Changed My Life Essay Example for Free

Someone Who Has Changed My Life Essay Romans chapter 4 is about how faith is the means for is proof that faith has always been the means for justification. Paul reflects back to the Old Testament patriarchs who were justified by faith, not works, to illustrate his point. Paul uses this illustration to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The whole world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstances and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Chapter 4 shows proof that faith is the true meaning of justification. It tell us in the beginning of the chapter that Abraham trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own. I believed that we all should do that because God is the only one that knows best for us. We all think we know when we have a situation in our hands but we actually don’t know anything if we don’t ask God to help us out in it. It also goes back to the Old Testaments to show us that patriarchs who were justified by faith, not by works alone. Paul uses this example to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The entire world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstance and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Chapter 5 had a lot of things to talk about. It lost me i had to read it a couple times to understand it. I believe that Paul was trying to tell us that after being justify we will be saved. It also shows that we rejoice in the glory of God. It also shows that tribulation produces patience. Sin, death, judgement, condemnation entered the world by one man but after it tells us that Jesus Christ brought grace, gift, justification, life and righteousness. I learned that sin reigned in death meanwhile grace reign in eternal life. I knew that from before but it reinforced it. Chapter 6 talks about different things. It teaches us that as born again believers, sin’s power over us is broken. I learned that we shall not continue in sin that grace may abound. i also learned that we are buried with Christ through baptism unto death. We shouldn’t allow sin to reign over us. The wage of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life.Paul explains that we are freed from sin and made alive to God through Jesus Christ. Our sin was taken away when he got crucified for us. Chapter 7 shows the difference between living bound to the law and living fresh b the spirit of God. Tells us to serve God with newness of spirit. The law is not sin but the law is holy and spiritual. Paul mentions the law of God, law in my members, law of my mind, law of sin. Paul also mentioned that he served the law of God with his mind. My favorite chapter of all 4 that I read was the first one I really got something out of it. Sometimes i find myself doing alot of work but my faith is still lacking. That is something I am improving in but at the same time i know that i shouldnt stop doing work either. I really want to gain the gift of God. My second favorite chapter was chapter 7 there was a lot of little details there that i didnt know of. I knew the different laws but i didnt find myself actually think each of them. I had never actually read the book of Romans before and i find it very interesting. It actually makes keep me interested. Theres somepart in the Bible that bore you because thats not what we like to read. I am enjoying my time reading the book of Romans and understanding and leaning new things from another prospective.

Supply Chain Strategic Management For Nike Marketing Essay

Supply Chain Strategic Management For Nike Marketing Essay Nike, Inc was founded in 1964 in the state of Oregon, US. Nike is the largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. Its main business is in the design, development and marketing of high quality footwear, apparel, and equipment and accessory products. Products are sold to retail accounts via NIKE owned stores and online sales, independent distributors and licensees in 170 countries across globe. Footwear and apparel products are manufactured outside Unites States while equipments are manufactured both in US and outside US. Nikes products are produced in factories owned/operated by independent contractors Nikes footwear products dominates its market share and footwears are designed for aquatic activities, baseball, cheerleading, football, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and other athletic and recreational uses. (Nike 2010) Nikes accessories and apparels are designed to match its footwear and performance equipment like bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs are also manufactured. Plastic products are produced in Nikes self owned subsidiary, NIKE IHM, Inc. Other wholly owned subsidiaries of Nike are Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley and Umbro. Supply Chain Process Overview: Business related operations like marketing and contracts with the factories for product development activities is executed in Nikes headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Nikes global operations are largely categorized into four geographic segments United States; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Asia Pacific and Americas (includes Canada, Mexico and other Latin American countries of Chile, Brazil and Argentina). Nike has outsourced its manufacturing activities across globe since mid-1970s. And the products are developed at factories owned and managed by business partners. (SCM are ERP Implementation at Nike: From Failure to Success 2005) United States Market: Fig 1.1: Nike US Retail Stores Source: Nike Annual Report Fig 1.2: Nike Non-US Retail Stores Source: Nike Annual Report plastic and metal hardware, and specialized performance fabrics designed to repel rain, retain heat, or efficiently transport body moisture. NIKEs contractors and suppliers buy raw materials in bulk. Most raw materials are available in the countries where manufacturing takes place. Supply Chain Framework: The three components of SCM framework are Supply chain network structure, supply chain business processes and the supply chain management components. The three vital components of supply chain network structure are members of the supply chain, structural dimension of the network and various types of process links across the supply chain(Lambert and Cooper 2000). Key members involved in supply chain should be identified. Primary members of a supply chain to be all those autonomous companies or strategic business units who carry out value-adding activities (operational and/or managerial) in the business processes designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market .In contrast, supporting members are companies that simply provide resources, knowledge, utilities, or assets for the primary members of the supply chain (Lambert and Cooper 2000). Structural dimension of the network assist in evaluating and managing the supply chain. Horizontal structure means the numbe r of tiers across supply chain and vertical structure means number of suppliers/customers within each tier. Any changes in structure impacts supply chain and proper analysis should be done before making modifications. Successful SCM needs a shift from handling individual processes/functions to integrating activities across supply chain. GSCF identified eight supply chain processes Customer service management, Customer relationship management, Demand management, Order fulfilment, Manufacturing flow management, Procurement, Product development and commercialization and Returns. There exist 4 types of links in business functionalities. They are Managed business process links, monitored business process links, not-managed business process links, and not-member business process links. Managed process links are links that the firm views them as vital to integrate and deal with. These are the links that exists between firm and tier1 customers/suppliers. Monitored process links are albeit not crucial, but vital to the firm and they are the links existing with other member companies. Not-Managed process links are not crucial and the firm is not directly involved in managing them but assign the job of managing the links to member factories. Non member process links are linkages between the firm and other non-members of the supply chain. The nine management components for successful SCM of Nike would be planning and control; work structure; organization structure; product flow facility structure; information flow facility structure; management methods; power and leadership structure; risk and reward structure; and culture and attitude. Supply Chain Process and Objectives of Nike: Precision : The objective is to satisfy customers through product delivery and information accuracy. Nike follows few methods to measure precision DIFOT (Delivery in Full- on Time) and Time to provide resolution to customer queries. The products are produced in factories based on the orders and the developed finished goods are consolidated and then distributed by air/water/road ways to NIKE Customer service centres Fig 1.3: Nike Delivery process Fig 1.4: Nike Apparel and Footwear Product Flow Fig 1.5: Nike Previous Supply Chain Model and desired Simplified Model Fig 1.6: Pictorial representation of Inventory management Fig 1.7: Life Cycle Cost Analysis Fig 1.8: Supply Chain Objectives of Nike Nikes i2 implementation failure : Supply and demand issues need to be paid utmost attention particularly in retail industry as it has to deal with wide choices for each product category like size, color etc. The huge SKU which signifies varied inventory pictures a hurdle to supply chain management. The manufacturing cycle before the implementation of software solutions is generally 9 months. Hence the need for demand planning system arose and Manugistics software was implemented. Due to various limitations in the software, in march 1999, Nike decided to implement software from i2 Technologies for managing its supply and demand. The desired functionality of the software was to match its supply with demand by mapping out the production of varied products at manufacturing units. The module should have been implemented and linked to ERP and other backend functionalities but however Nike implemented software from i2 using the legacy systems rather than implementing as part of its SAP ERP Project (SCM and ERP Implementation at Nike: From Failure to Success 2005 ) In 2000, after the implementation of i2 software, NIKE stated that it resulted in stock pile up for slower-selling shoes and shortages for high demand shoes. Nike blamed i2 software for poor planning forecast which was actually developed to reduce production days. Investors believed Nikes blame game and the shares of i2 dropped severely. But i2 managers claimed that Nikes issues were not linked to software but the way the software was implemented. They did not use the standard template offered by i2 for its footwear division. But i2 accepted the blame of not being forceful in compelling Nike to stick onto their implementation methodology and the bitter truth was i2 desired to solve Nikes complex issue of tracking every shoe model it manufactures. Nike experienced some major issue and hence i2 thought resolving those legitimate issues would really serve as value addition to i2 Technologies. Joshua Greenbaum, a consultant stated that i2 software is not known for technical failures but it is well known for its complexity and the issue here is that Nike went go-alive with the new software even before they were ready to go live which resulted in major chaos. Lessons learnt by Nike : Implementation issues in supply chain can have disastrous effect in Supply chain process of an organization and hence great care should be taken while implementing software solutions for managing supply chain. If a standard template is customized as per the clients requirement then the service provider should monitor that the client adheres to implementation procedures as instructed. If a solution is being offered to address complex issues, then the system should not go-live before appropriate testing to check if all the needs of clients are better served. Premature switching has devastating effect on the organization which Nike has learned at its cost. Fig:1.9: Nikes latest SAP IT Solution to manage supply chain functionalities Nike owns a system Futures wherein the retailers place orders 3-6 months in advance which does assist in demand and forecast planning. But the scenario is different for it Football Team Sports (FTS) category which constitutes 10% of its overall market. Its FTS line comprises about 100 varied styles and it uses a unique fabric Dri-Fit that absorbs sweat. Usually sports team places the order, expects delivery in a weeks time, demands more customized options and hence prestocked items doesnt hold good for all customers. The challenge for FTS apparel lies in its supply chain. Nike has to seek ways to reduce current lead time like modifying demand planning/ forecast system, shifting production base from Asia to Europe and preordering undyed fabric called greige and contracts with strategic suppliers/manufacturers can result in faster delivery even amidst last minute orders. (Nike:Just Do it But How? 2009) Evans and Danks model : Fig 1.10: Evans-Danks Model Source: Evans and Danks (1998) Strategic supply chain management Creating shareholder value by aligning supply chain strategy with business strategy. In: Gattorna, (ed.): Strategic supply chain alignment, Hampshire: Gower, pp. 18-38 Sourcing Strategy : Global Commodity Chain (GCC) perspective provides greater insights on design, distribution and marketing activities. Nike has captured a greater place in US athletic footwear market albeit its manufacturing activities are held overseas, formulating Nike to be archetype of global sourcing strategy. Its successful execution of sourcing strategy can be best known in Nikes effort to retain its power and authority over its highly profitable nodes of the footwear commodity chain which offers them the strategic and geographical mobility. Nikes distribution network was broadened by forming strategic alliance with retail outlets. It shifted its manufacturing base from high cost production countries to low cost countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Asia etc. The merits of producing goods in developing nations have to be weighed against the demerits of other costs like sourcing, production flexibility, transportation and storage. Nike took advantage of global sourcing as a way to reduce cost and in 1980s relocated its plants to Taiwan, South Korea and in 1990s to China, Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2006,over a half a million workers were engaged in 700 factories in 51 countries, although the firm had around 23000 employees in its payroll.(Lechner and Boli 2004). The efficient management of sourcing strategy obtained Nike to manufacture goods as low cost and thereby its market share and profitability increased. Nikes Futures system is order and planning system which serves to resolve inventory and financial bottlenecks. Nike had more flexibility options like modifying design specifications by dealers which offered competitive advantage over its competitors like Adidas. Donaghu and Barff categorised and identified 3 sets of Nikes factories developed partners, volume producers and developing sources. Developed partners are Nikes first/upper tire suppliers who are accountable for innovative and stylish/premier models. Volume Producers produce products in large quantities but selected products. Developing sources are recent factories that have enticed Nike due to low labor cost. Various steps are involved in making a atheletic shoe designing, model and pattern making, molding of soles, material cutting, stitching, lasting, finishing, final inspection and packaging which requires little skill. Hence unskilled workforce and lower wage rate are quintessential in manufacturing shoes competitively. Nike did not own a factory in Asia but had contracts with partners who manufacture apparels and footwear. Nike took the ownership of the products only after they are finished and delivered from factories. Fig 1.11: Members within Nikes Supply Chain Process Fig 1.12: Nike Brand Factories across globe Source: Nike website Demand Flow Strategy: Nike uses Futures Order system to manage its supply with demand. Nike sells its product through various channels Nike owned stores, online, independent distributors and licensees. Nike doesnt own a factory but outsources its manufacturing activities to subcontrators across globe. Nikes manufacturers deploys Just-in-Time principles to manage inventories. Supply Chain Integration Strategy: Information integration, Decision integration, Financial integration, Operational integration and Physical or Virtual links are the key factors of Supply chain integration. Nike uses SAP software solutions to manage its supply chain processes. Nike never manufactures but establishes contracts with subcontractors across globe. Since 1972, Sojitz Corporation of America (Sojitz America), a large Japanese trading company has been offering financial assistance in exports-imports of Nikes products. It offered purchasing and financing services for Nikes goods in Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Chile, Brazil, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, China, Korea, and Thailand, excluding products produced and sold in the same country. (Nike 10K Report, 2010) . Any disruption/failure from it would affect Nikes power to buy goods from suppliers and to sell goods to customers. FishBone Diagram: Fig 1.13: FishBone Diagram for Nike Time Compression: Time is a critical factor in todays supply chain. Time compression can be defined as reducing the amount of time taken for a process in a business operation ie inputs is being transformed to expected/desired outputs in a process but in a compressed period of time. To achieve time compression for the holistic supply chain, activities that does not add value to the process should be identified which is achieved by removing waste and refocusing on the process steps. The horizontal and vertical structure which forms the basis of supply chain must be properly integrated. The structural and infrastructural linkages in a supply chain depicts how efficiently resources, inventory are utilized. (Beesley 1996) Few generic principles to identify and understand supply chain process: The end users in a supply chain are customers who demand speed and adhere to delivery. Nike customers demand variety in products ranges and hence Nike strives to manufactures wide range of products but maintains a minimal stock so as to accommodate many varieties. Customers are not willing to pay extra cash for speedy delivery because similar services are offered by its competitors also. Many firms are just order qualifiers and not order winners. The call for JIT inventory can be satisfied by maintaining correct proportion of stocks in stores. Positioning of resources and inventory also plays a vital role in maintaining a optimal supply chain. Burbidge and Forrester states that the effect of demand variation in a supply chain oscillates out of control and impacts the lower level of supply chain. Fig 1.14: Internet Driven Supply Chain Model Wireless Technology and RFID are used by Nike at a minimum level. Efforts are taken to widely utilize it across its factories. The usage of RFID however raised some privacy concerns and hence Nike is striving hard to resolve such issues and trying to make use of the technology in the best possible way. Globalisation does impact Nike and offers many challenges. Global sourcing and reduced tariffs in developing countries have created complicated webs in supply chain. Infrastructures in developing economies are not well developed and hence it requires partnerships with 3PL providers who possesses better knowledge on market and in few cases Nike has to build its distribution centres. Periodically detailed research has to be done to understand infrastructure issues. Consumer expectation varies in different countries. One size fits all rule doesnt apply anymore. Customization plays a vital role in acquiring customer satisfaction. Product proliferation challenges can be tackled by being more responsive and quick in addressing the needs of the end users. Nike needs to adapt lean and agile manufacturing programs based on their volume-variety formulae. Retailing customers demand for shorter lead times and faster inventory turns and they make attempts to push the products upstream. As a reciprocative action, Nike offers out-of-stock and replenishment programs but should strive to improvise/speed-up time to market and reduce lead times. Conflict exists between cost and flexibility. Manufacturing lead time is longer due to technical complexity associated with fabrics and products require complex innovation which ultimately results in cost of time and delays. Supply Chain Integration Issues and Recommendations for Nike The key thing to focus is to understand the nature of the demand for the products in supply chain. Functional products are those products that fulfil minimum needs, dont alter to a large extent over time, possesses stable and expected demand and lengthy life cycles. Innovative products are expected to have short life cycle and unpredictable demand. Innovative products supply chain differs from functional products supply chain. Two types of supply chain are Physically efficient supply chain and Market Responsive supply chain. The below table shows the attributes of two supply chain. To develop an ideal supply chain strategy, the nature of demand for products is plotted against their respective supply chain. The 2*2 matrix thus depicts if the existing supply chain matches the right demand for the products. The supply chain strategies are perfect if the functional products possess efficient supply chain and innovative products possesses responsive supply chain. Physically Efficient Process Market Responsive Process Primary Purpose Supply predictable, demand efficiently at the lowest possible cost. Respond quickly to unpredictable demand inorder to minimize stockouts, markdowns and obsolete inventory Manufacturing focus Maintain high average utilization rate Deploy excess buffer capacity Inventory strategy Generate high turns and minimize inventory throughout the supply chain Deploy significant buffer stocks of parts or finished goods. Lead Time focus Shorten lead time as long as it doesnt increase cost Invest aggressively to reduce lead time Approach to choosing suppliers Select primarily for cost and quality Select primarily for speed, flexibility and quality Product design strategy Maximize performance and minimize cost Use modular design inorder to postpone product differentiation as long as possible. Table 1.1: Attributes of Physically efficient and Responsive Supply Chain Source: Fisher,M.L., What is the Right Supply Chain for your Product? A simple framework can help you figure out the answer Functional Products Innovative Products Efficient Supply Chain Match Nikes atheletic shoes and casual shoes, sports equipment, apparels and accessories. Mismatch Nikes shoes for diabetic patients, Zoom Air shoes for athletes, high technology sports equipment. Responsive Supply Chain Mismatch Match Table1.2: Nikes product and supply chain positioning matrix Nike should take efforts to shift from upper right hand cell to lower right hand cell. This can be achieved by making few of the products functional and developing a responsive supply chain for the rest of the innovative products. Nike can handle unceratinty by three ways reducing leadtime and becoming agile such that products are produced only when there is market demand; searching for new information that act as indicators and sharing a common platform and components for varied products and demand becoming predictable; hedging against outstanding ambiguity with buffers of inventory (Fisher ) Arcs of Integration: Ragatz et al (1997) claims that the effective integration of suppliers into product value/supply chains will be a key factor for some manufacturers in achieving the improvements necessary to remain competitive.The two types of integration are : delivery integration or forward integration which involves the flow of material between suppliers, manufacturers and customers (Saunders 1997, Trent and Monczka 1998) and Information integration or backward integration that include the effective functioning of IT and flow of data between customers and suppliers (Martin 1992, Trent and Monczka 1998). Tan et al (1998) state that when firms integrate and act as single unit, overall performance is improved across the supply chain. Manufacturers should decide in which direction (customers or towards suppliers) and to which extent (degree of integration), they should undertake upstream and downstream integration. Fig1.15: Integration in the Supply Chain Source: Frohlich, M.T., Westbrook, R., 2001., Arcs of Integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. Journal of Operations Management, 185-200 Fig1.16: Nike striving to move towards outward facing Arc of Integration Source: Frohlich, M.T., Westbrook, R., 2001., Arcs of Integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. Journal of Operations Management, 185-200 C2C Cycle: Fig 1.16: Nikes 5 year trend of Operation Cycle Source: Thomson One Banker Agility is defined as a capability to meet demands of end users and to warrant that supply matches the demand. The key factor is flexibility and time to market in response to demand is crucial. Transforming the supply chain from make-to-sell to make-to-order is the desire of any organization that wants to gain competitive advantage via supply chain management. Nikes objective is centralization and it is achieved by information sharing through the effective implementation of IT. Nikes claims its lead time is 6 months due to technical complexity associated with producing fabrics and products. In this competitive world, 6 months is a wide gap for any rival to gain access competitive advantage. Nike should adopt following ways to reduce lead time gap. Postponement Strategy: Postponement or delayed configuration is a way of manufacturing products in common platforms, components or modules but the final assembly or customization does not happen until the final market destination and or customer requirement is known (Christopher 2000). Inventory levels can be maintained at a generic level which results in lower stock keeping variants and flexibility it offers in greater. Forecasting is easier at basic level than for a final product. Customizing a product locally means more variety at less cost which paves way for mass customization. Through Localization, postponement strategy is fully achieved which implies that the final product is finished in the local region. The hurdle for efficient SCM is to build lean strategies till the decoupling point and agile strategies further than that point (Christopher 2000). Decoupling point is the point at which demand diffuse through the supply chain. The flow of product upto the decoupling point should be forecast driven and the flow of product after the decoupling point should be demand driven (Christopher 2000). The two decoupling points are material decoupling point where inventory is stocked as its basic form and it should continue as far downstream as likely ; information decoupling point which should be available as far upstream as likely to which data about demand diffuses. Nike should seek ways to handle the two decoupling points thereby becoming more agile than competitors and reducing Bullwhip or Forrester effect. In most of the processes it is the lead time of the suppliers that restricts the firm to be more agile to customers demand. Order to Delivery Cycle: Order cycle time is defined as the time consumed from placement of order by customers to delivery of the product to them. The components of order to delvery cycle are order communication, order entry and processing, order picking or production, transportation, customer receiving. Each of these steps consumes time and any bottlenecks associated with any of the processes would result in increased cycle time. Optimum Production Technology categorizes any activity as bottleneck and non-bottleneck. Nike should focus on bottlenecks to which capacity can be reduced and set-up times can be reduced. The firm should also focus on non-bottlenecks in a similar fashion. SCOR and DCOR model: Supply Chain Operations Research Model is used to analyse the current position of the organizations business processes and functions. It possesses a set of metrics to be evaluated and can be compared with the benchmark data. Design channel Operations Research Model links business processes and functions, metrics, good practices and technology attributes into a single unified model to support communication within design chain partners and to improve the effectiveness of extended supply chain. Sustainability: Nike has taken steps towards sustainable business and the need of the hour is to take proactive steps by focusing on sustainable manufacturing, sustainable product development and developing a sustainable marketplace. Nike should take efforts to identify closed loop models and processes which would enhance sustainability across supply chain. Nike must follow an integrated approach in tackling supply chain by fusing lean, energy, water, waste and compliance teams into one model: sustainable manufacturing and sourcing. Sustainability is the path to forthcoming profitability. (Nike Corporate Responsibility Report 2009 ) Nike deals with many contractors and hence Nike should seek long term sourcing consolidation strategy and rationalize its supply chain functionalities. Nike has to take steps to build a sustainable base , align with strategic manufacturers who are able to deliver high end products and are highly innovative, building relationships with contractors willing to adhere to Nikes corporate responsibility. Fig 1.17: Nikes Supply Chain towards Sustainability Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Environmental Impacts: Waste is produced at every step of supply chain. In FY2006, Nike conducted waste mapping study and discovered that 75% of waste is generated from supply chain activities outside factories and when measured by weight, about 40% of the purchased materials end up as waste. One-third of waste footprint is generated from retail packaging and from shipping packaging. Nike operates 5 waste management centres in 4 countries and about 50 products are transported to material vendors so as to recycle them to materials from which Nike repurchases. Nike should focus to utilize more waste effectively to sustainable uses. The firm should seek ways to reduce waste in design stage rather than seeking ways to reduce waste in downstream supply which would decrease costs and waste materials being generated. Fig 1.18: Percentage of Waste generated across Nikes supply Chain Process Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Fig 1.19: Nikes Reuse-a-Shoe Program Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Fig 1.20: Greenhouse gas emissions across various supply chain process of Nike Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Supply Chain Mapping Tools: Various supply chain mapping functionalities are available which can be utilized by Nike to determine its current position and future growth prospects. Demand Density Mapping: Sales Territory Mapping: Gross Margin Map: Customer/DC Allocation Map: Isochrone Mapping: Centre of gravity mapping: Table 1.3: Supply Chain Mapping Tools Source: Types of Supply Chain Map, 2007. Nike should manage the business process links based on its objective such as product variety, improvising quality, lowering cost across supply chain. Number of links should be monitored and managed with great care any decision to change links should be well analysed before incorporating amendments. Owing to high variability in customers expectations, Nike should focus more on demand management to gain a sustainable competitive position in the volatile market. Nike can utilize Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems and key customer data to effectively manage demand and supply thereby lowering uncertainty and offering smooth flow across supply chain. Order fulfilment activities should be given high priority and customer needs should be satisfied greatly which requires proper integration with Nikes manufacturers, distributors and logistics providers. Nike should seek to partner with fourth party logistic providers depending on the marketplace and other benefits. Innovation is the lifeblood of Nike to stay competitive and hence new product development process needs high attention. Nikes should identify end users articulated and unarticulated needs; identify strategic suppliers and forms efficient links for a smooth supply chain. Nike should leap forward towards Joint planning and control approach so as to effectively operationalize its functions globally. Nike has failed to monitor its contractors factories who have employed underage kids and havent adhered to minimum wage rates. Owing to this, Nikes brand names have been associated with child labour and Nike has to face loads of labour rights issues which defamed its brand. Nike has been really doing well in managing its supply chain integration. However if it maps and analyzes every bit of linkages across the chain and takes corrective actions, it can gain a well established position in the market and thereby reducing the cost by a large amount. Conclusion: The mapping of SCM process results in understanding the existing issues and paves way for defining solutions. Identifying the critical members of the supply chain, kind of functionalities to be connected and what nature/degree of integration is necessary for each link are key factors that require deep insight. The goal of SCM is to create the highest possible value not only for the specific firm but across the supply chain including end-consumers. Aligning the product supply with their appropriate supply chain is also vital for increasing sales. Amplification caused by uncertainty can be reduced