Tanks in World War I - 544 Words

The Great War, also known as The First World War, was a war that affected most of Europe and great part of America, Africa and Asia. Though it didn’t achieve much and caused the death of many, it did give a ground for warfare technology to be created. Poison gas, aircraft, machine guns, and submarines were some of the new inventions tested during this period of war. Tanks were also created in this war, and were a very necessary invention especially for Europeans. British, Austrians, Russians, Germans, and French had previously created fighting vehicles that could transport artillery and people through normal terrain, but not through trenches, which made a great part of the Western Front. Any new technology for transportation was received, and the British were the ones that came out with the idea of tanks. In 1914, the British Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Swinton, proposed the idea of a new fighting vehicle When he presented his idea to the government, and the Royal Navy supported his idea. It came from the development of farming vehicles that could cross difficult land easily by using caterpillar tracks. By June 9th, 1915, an agreement with the characteristics of this new vehicle were defined, it should have: â€Å"a top speed of 4 mph on flat land, the ability to turn sharply at top speed, the ability to climb a 5-feet parapet, the ability to cross an 8-feet gap and a working radius of 20 miles.† With all these conditions, an armored combat vehicle that moved on chain tracks wasShow MoreRelatedEssay on Weapons of World War 21395 Words   |  6 Pagesof World War II The result of World War II was affected by many different factors. One major factor which affected the war was the weapons and artillery used during the war. Since the beginnings of time, weapons have always been around. From swords and knives to nuclear weapons and missiles, weapons have evolved greatly throughout the years. The weapons and artillery used in World War II basically were evolved types of weaponry that were used during World War I (Military History 1). World War IIRead MoreWeapons of the First World War698 Words   |  3 Pages Research Overview of WW1 Weapons During World War I many new kinds of weapons and technology were invented and improved. Some of these weapons included tanks, chemical and biochemical weapons, grenades, and machine guns. Chemical Warfare was used for the first time on a large scale in World War I. There are two main types of chemical warfare, one affects the surface of the body they come in contact with and the other affects the nervous system. Almost all chemical warfare weapons needed to beRead MoreWeapons of World War 2 Essay1416 Words   |  6 Pagesand Artillery of World War II The result of World War II was affected by many different factors. One major factor which affected the war was the weapons and artillery used during the war. Since the beginnings of time, weapons have always been around. From swords and knives to nuclear weapons and missiles, weapons have evolved greatly throughout the years. The weapons and artillery used in World War II basically were evolved types of weaponry that were used during World War I (Military HistoryRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Tanks881 Words   |  4 PagesTanks, tanks have always interested me. Ever since I was little Ive always had a thing for militaria be it planes or tanks. World War II was the start of true tank combat and new designs of tanks and every other type of military vehicle and weapon.Most people when they think of World War II and tanks, lots of them look at the Sherman in the Tiger who would always be matched up against each other on the Eastern Front. No, I wont be talking about t hose tanks though, albeit they are the most comparableRead MoreThe Tanks Of World War II1266 Words   |  6 Pages4344 3 December 2014 The Tanks of World War II World War II was the first war to heavily employ tanks. The tanks ranged in variety for each of the individual nations. It has been said that the German Panzer tank was top dog on the battle field during the war but especially at the beginning of the war. This statement although true is not because the common belief that they were built better than other nation’s tanks but because German strategy and the preparedness of the tanks themselves and the crewsRead MoreWeapons of World War I Essay1623 Words   |  7 PagesNapoleonic Wars to World War I. This can be credited mainly to the new weapons. There were many different weapons in World War I, whether they were completely new or just variations and improvements of previous weapons. Some of the new weapons included machine guns, mustard gas, Zeppelins, and planes, while some of the improved weapons included the bolt-action rifle, the Howitzer, and pistols. The innovative new weapons that were introduced in World War I have for ever changed the way wars were foughtRead MoreA Brief Note On The World War II1317 Words   |  6 PagesMachinery, and Submarines of WWII World War II was one of the biggest epidemics in the history of humanity. From Hitler to Franklin D. Roosevelt there were problems world wide.(submarine) These problems eventually led up to the outbreak of war, this war wasn’t any ordinary war either. It was brutal to say the least, with over twenty million deaths worldwide it nearly killed off one percent of the world population (Sheehan) You would think that most people died in war but that is not the case. OverRead MoreWorld War Ii Weapon Advances Essay example1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe Advances of Weaponry During World War II In every war fought throughout the history of mankind, the dependence on weapons was highly sought after. From swords to guns, weaponry has progressed throughout the ages with each war fought. No other war has seen more advances in weaponry than World War II. Many of those advances made this war focused on artillery, land vehicles, naval ships and aircraft. These advances, although beneficial, have also led to more bloodshed on the battlefield becauseRead MoreEssay on A New Frontier for Engineering: The Mark I Tank1183 Words   |  5 PagesWells’ vivid details when writing, in 1915 British engineers were able to draw a plausible, working design for a contraption that would later be called the Mark I Tank. The introduction of the tank would startal the world and open up a new frontier for engineering. (I need help with a thesis!) On August of 1916, the first British Mark I tanks were commissioned into use at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, part of the Somme Offensive. None of them saw any action until September 15th of the same year thoughRead MoreImpact Of The Great War On The World War I1140 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Æ' The Great War The War to end all Wars† 1914 - 1918 The First World War was one of the most remarkable wars in history. Out of one shot from a Serbian rebel came one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history, and one of the most revolutionary. (importance of world war one, 2015) The purpose of this assignment was to find out the role of Australia in the war and its impact upon the nation. In this assignment, key events and actions that lead to the outbreak of war and Australia’s involvement

Montags Influences in Farenheit 451 Essay - 1280 Words

In the novel, FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury, Guy Montag lives in an inverted society, where firemen make fires instead of put them out, and pedestrians are used as bowling pins for cars that are excessively speeding. The people on this society are hypnotized by giant wall size televisions and seashell radios that are attached to everyone’s ears. People in Montag’s society do not think for themselves or even generate their own opinions; everything is given to them by the television stations they watch. In this society, if someone is in possession of a book, their books are burned by the firemen, but not only their books, but their entire home. Montag begins realizing that the things in this society are not right. Montag is influenced and†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The psychiatrist wants to know why I go out and hike around in the forests and watch the birds and collect butterflies† (Bradbury, 23). This quotation shows that Clarisse is considered differen t in this society, and she must see a psychiatrist because she admires nature. Clarisse influences Montag by admiring nature, because Montag is now starting to realize the beauty of nature, and beginning to develop his own opinion. Clarisse strongly influenced Montag after her death. â€Å"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, that is a last drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindness there is at last one which makes the heart run over† (Bradbury, 71) This quotation shows that Montag is starting to have feelings unlike the rest of society. Clarisse has come to influence Montag through her questions, her admiration of nature and her death. Clarisse influenced Montag enough to get him to begin having feelings. Although Clarisse influenced Montag to begin feeling emotions, the fire on Elm Street was a big influence for Montag. Secondly, the fire at 11 Elm Street greatly influenced Montag. The fire showed Montag how important books are. The fire also makes Montag curious about why books would be so important that the lady would die for them. The fire on Elm Street influenced Montag by the lady dying for her books, Montag stealing the books and his fellow firemen not feeling any remorse. When the ladyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of George Orwell s 1984 And Ray Bradburry s Farenheit 4511243 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradburry’s Farenheit 451, both Winston Smith and Guy Montag struggle to attain happ iness under a manipulative society. Two main factors that hinder the character’s actions are manipulation and dysfunctional relationships. In both texts the protagonists are overwhelmed and ultimately is controlled by the government. However Guy Montag overcomes the conflict by fleeing away from the cruel society while Winston smith in 1984 is forcibly manipulated in control by theRead MoreThe Similarities Between Societies1321 Words   |  6 Pagesthe book Fahrenheit 451 Bradbury has created a society in which a higher power has gone as far as to increase entertainment through technology than through books. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio on â€Å"Seashell Radio† sets attached to their ears. Fahrenheit 451 doesn’t provide a single

Overcoming Prejudices and Self Acceptance-the Color Purple Free Essays

Overcoming Prejudices for Self Acceptance Throughout Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, the main character, Celie, reveals all of the hardships she has endured during her life. Celie confides in her younger sister, Nettie, and God to express the way she feels in certain situations. As the story progresses, Celie eventually finds her voice and breaks away from all the men who oppressed her during her life. We will write a custom essay sample on Overcoming Prejudices and Self Acceptance-the Color Purple or any similar topic only for you Order Now For the duration of the novel, prejudice becomes a reoccurring theme. Not only does Celie struggle with the external prejudices of sexism and racism, but she also struggles with the internal prejudices toward herself. By using Celie’s struggles as an example, Walker teaches the reader that one must overcome prejudices in order to accept themselves. Sexism becomes one of the main external struggles throughout the novel. With the use of the name â€Å"Mr. __† for Celie’s husband, Albert, Walker shows the reader Celie’s growing resentment towards him. The use of this name â€Å"suggests fearful effacement of an identity too dangerous to reveal† (Heglar). She begins to show bitterness when she says, â€Å"I scurry bout, doing this, doing that. Mr. __ sit by the door gazing here and there† (Walker 43). Celie takes the traditional roll of caring for the house while Mr. _ sits by and tends to his own needs and not the needs of the family. Celie’s dislike towards him grows throughout the novel as he becomes more selfish. Sexism occurs again with the use of gender roles in Harpo and Sofia’s relationship. Sofia represents a strong woman who does not le t men dominate her. She and Harpo struggle with these roles throughout the novel. Sophia takes on a more masculine roll and Celie describes their arguments as â€Å"fighting like two mens† (Walker 38). Harpo believes that he should beat Sofia because she does not act like Celie in the sense that she does not give in to his every command. Finally, the use of gender violence is passed down through the generations. Gerri Bates stated that â€Å"The act of gender violence is almost handed down from father to son† (97). When the conflicts between Sofia and Harpo begin, Mr. __ encourages Harpo to beat Sofia so that she will give in to his ways. He uses Celie as an example because she never fights back and remains very obedient. With the use of sexism throughout the novel, Walker shows the reader all of the struggles Celie faced during this time period and how she overcame them. Racism also becomes a major external struggle during this novel. During this time period, whites embodied the image of higher class citizens. Many of the women in this novel aspire to look like white women in order to become more sophisticated. The white women of this time period wore an array of bright and vibrant colors that stood out from the rest. Celie describes the barrier between the races when she says, â€Å"Us dress Squeak like she a white woman, only her clothes patch† (Walker 95). This quotation depicts the difference between the races at the time, and how even though they tried to bring Squeak up in society, they couldn’t quite reach that level because of their race. The role of racism occurs again when the mayor’s wife treats Sofia’s children like animals. While walking around town one day, the mayor’s wife approaches Sofia and her children and begins petting them like animals and saying â€Å"and such strong white teef† (Walker 87); she looks down on the family because of their race and treats them like animals. This again builds the wall between the races and shows that the white race believed that they were superior to the black race. The theme of racism contributes to the plot again with the roles of blacks and whites within society. When Sofia begins to work for the mayor and his wife, she is discriminated against solely for her race. This act is seen when she says, â€Å"Have you even seen a white person and a colored sitting side by side in a car, when one of ’em isn’t showing the other how to drive or clean it? † (Walker 99). This quotation demonstrates the separation between the races during this time period. The mayor’s family â€Å"continually expect her to behave according to their cultural representations of the black mother† (Selzer). Whites and blacks could not create friendships and could not talk unless it was for business purposes. The roles of races play a major role in understanding the attitudes during this time period. With the understanding of the roles that the blacks and whites played in society, one can infer that Celie had to overcome more struggles than what she had originally dealt with in order to blossom and become herself. In ultimately finding herself at the end of the novel, Celie had to overcome the internal prejudices against herself. With the use of Shug Avery in the novel, Walker displays the hardships Celie must face with her new found sexuality. Because this relationship uses different and new feelings it â€Å"evokes so profound an erotic awakening that Celie believes she was â€Å"still a virgin† prior to it† (Hankinson). When Celie begins to have feelings for Shug, they start out innocent and then become more serious. She describes a night that they spent together when she says, â€Å"Me and Shug sound asleep. Her back to me, my arms round her waist† (Walker 116). Celie begins to allow her feelings with Shug to become reality and shows that she does not have the shy personality that everyone thinks she does. Celie breaks out of her inner prejudices again when she confides in her sister, Nettie. Celie begins to yell at the dinner table one night when she could no longer take the verbal abuse from Mr. __ and stated â€Å"You took my sister Nettie away from me, I say. And she was the only person love me in the world† (Walker 202). Celie believed that she could only confide in Nettie and God during difficult times, but she began to realize that all of her friendships would help her out in the end to become a strong, independent woman. Lastly, the growth of Celie throughout the novel is shown through all of the women that help her along the journey in becoming herself. Although Celie tries to discover herself, â€Å"Shug Avery and Sophia Butler provide the major alternative influences that allow Celie to grow and develop† (Heglar). All of the female relationships throughout the novel help Celie to realize that women do not need men to control their lives. She also realizes that women can become self-sufficient and brave without the help from other people. With help from all the women in the novel, Celie discovers herself and comes to realize that the support of a man is not necessary in the journey to happiness. By using Celie’s difficulties as a model, Alice Walker teaches the reader that self acceptance comes over time and that one must overcome prejudices in order to find themselves. During the course of the novel, Celie struggles with both internal and external prejudices. In the end she conquers them all and becomes the person that she truly wants to be. She realizes this when she says â€Å"I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time† (Walker 218). Walker teaches the reader that no matter what other people think, what truly matters is the beauty within and being able to handle one’s self in the worst of situations. Works Cited Bates, Gerri. Alice Walker A Critical Companion. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press: 2005. Print. Hankinson, Stacie Lynn. â€Å"From Monotheism to Pantheism: Liberation from Patriarchy in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. † Midwest Quarterly. 38. 3. Gale, 2003. Literary Resource Center. Web. 1 Feb. 2011. Heglar, Charles J. â€Å"Named and Nameless: Alice Walker’s Pattern of Surnames in The Color Purple. ANQ 13. 1 (Winter 2000): 38-41. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 167. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 Feb. 2011. inchell, Donna Haisty. Alice Walker. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992. Print. Selzer, Linda. â€Å"Race and Domesticity in The Color Purple. † African American Review 29. 1 (Spring 1995): 67-82. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 167. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 Feb. 2011. Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Harcourt, Inc. 2003. Print. How to cite Overcoming Prejudices and Self Acceptance-the Color Purple, Essay examples

Learning Program free essay sample

Introduction This essay looks into a learning program which was personally delivered. It aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness of the program by drawing upon relevant theories and models revolving around adult and organisational learning. Theories are used to substantiate the step by step processes undertaken in the program as well as to critique the areas which could have been performed better or were carried out successfully by the program coordinators. This essay is told from the perspective of a facilitator’s role in which I was primarily involved in. At the end of this essay, we hope to understand how a successful HRD learning program should be run and what factors significantly influence its success. Learning Program The selected program used throughout this essay as a case study is the ‘Combat Medical NSmen Ops Refresher Training’. The program involved me as one of the key facilitators which was conducted during my national service time. The objective was to ensure the competence of the National Service (NS) men in carrying out their medical responsibilities and performing up to expectations when the time arises for them to do so in future. This was carried out by first refreshing the NSmen’s theoretical knowledge of specific medical subject matter, i. e. various emergency surgical procedures, that was taught during their NS days. Typically conducted annually, the refresher training would see the NSmen undergoing classroom learning followed by a practical hands-on session of role playing, after which they would be tested under a controlled, simulated setting as a form of learning assessment. The refresher training was a one-day program carried out in the compounds of the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Training Institute (SMTI). The facilitators comprised of regular senior medical officers and fulltime national servicemen (NSFs), of whom I was one of them. The seniors acted as supervisors while the NSFs were more primarily involved in running the program on the ground. Teaching and demonstrations were conducted by NSFs while assessment was done by the senior officers. The age group of the NSmen participants ranged from 30 to 40 years old, thus the target audience was specific to older adult learners who were most likely married or some even fathers. The program was catered to a batch group of 20 NSmen with 2 facilitators assigned. The four stages of HRD HRD is an ongoing learning process involving training and development activities which seek to groom individuals’ skills for the purpose of enhancing organisational productivity (Swanson Holton 2001). Adult learning falls within the HRD learning process. Knowles (1998) mentioned that adults tend to follow andragogical assumptions of learning such that firstly, the learning should have practical value for applying in real-life situations and problems. Next is for the learning to utilise the knowledge inherent in the adult and lastly it should actively engage him/her. All these are reflected in the medical refresher program and will be explained through a series of four step by step stages namely the needs investigation, design, implementation and evaluation stages. HRD Needs Investigation (HRDNI) HRDNI refers to the process of identifying how much is known by the participants prior to the program against what is expected of them to know based on the learning objectives set out (Tovey Lawlor 2008; Rothwell Kazanas 1989). It represents an organized way to determine if a HRD solution is needed in the first place. It helps identify the content and learning objectives, the population, resources required, as well as context and organisational politics. Behind every successful HRD learning program is a good HRDNI carried out in the beginning. The refresher program showed that HRDNI was conducted successfully as clear learning objectives, competencies and learning outcomes were established (Delahaye 2011). The needs were determined through the two levels of HRDNI: surveillance and investigation (Delahaye 2011). Program coordinators had long been monitoring how competent NSmen were in carrying out their medical duties upon completion of their NS time. Through the observation of several past reservists’ in-camp trainings where these NSmen were required to demonstrate their medical proficiency in a simulated battlefield environment, their quality and competencies were analysed. Data was gathered through the means of organisational records and observations (Delahaye 2011). It was found that most NSmen were unable to remember much of what they had learnt during their NS days and thus, lacked in several key competencies. One of which was the ability to remember the medical apparatus to be used in assisting the surgeon in the surgical procedures. Thus, as a result of HRDNI, the ‘Combat Medical NSmen Ops Refresher Training’ learning program came about as form of HRD intervention. Its aim was to keep NSmen constantly up to date with their medical roles so that when a real emergency breaks out in Singapore, they would be ready for it. Although the need for refresher training was correctly identified by program coordinators, the HRDNI could have been more specific to seek the opinions of the participants as well. Conducting such a program meant that more time, be it for work or family, had to be sacrificed by the working adults so that they could attend. Moreover, not all might feel the need for the refresher as they might be confident of their own knowledge. Thus one investigatory method to gather their opinions would be through holding an online survey questionnaire weeks before the commencement of the program. The questionnaire could ask them for their current level of knowledge and ask if the refresher would be effectively catering to their needs, also for their level of interest in participation. Curriculum Design This is the second stage once HRDNI has been completed. Curriculum represents the systematic process of putting the learner through action (Smith Lovat 2003). This stage involves matching the learning structure to the characteristics of the adult learners (Delahaye 2011). To do this, constructive alignment needs to take place. This means that the expected actions the learner has to emulate based on the learning objectives must be coherent with the teaching and assessment style (Biggs Tang 2007). The refresher program was successful in achieving constructive alignment as the objective to instil confidence in the NSmen to showcase their medical proficiency in carrying out the surgical procedures was well reflected by the practical role-playing sessions demonstrated and taught by the facilitators. The design structure of the refresher program followed closely to Delahaye’s (2011) Hierarchy of Learning Outcomes (HLO) model. The model emphasizes the progression from explicit to tacit knowledge and this was seen in the program as facilitators made use of instrumental to communicative learning. The program outlined movements from basic to intermediate to complex, just as how HLO mentions in its five categories of programmed knowledge, task, relationship, critical thinking and meta-abilities. The refresher program started off with programmed knowledge which was in the form of classroom-based learning to provide the factual and theoretical knowledge to the NSmen. It then moved into task where they were required to be analytical in a role-playing scenario. That involved a linear, diagnostic and complex analysis which in short, refers to using simple information-processing, interpretation, problem solving and decision making skills. The role-playing session incorporated discussions and effective team play as well, which in turn worked on a relationship level of interpersonal communication between participants. The program ended off with action learning where participants were encouraged to use mental agility under the meta-abilities category to be able to think clearly under pressure, when performing their learning assessment in a controlled environmental setting. The HLO progression was mapped in accordance to the learning characteristics of the NSmen participants. Facilitators took into consideration that because the participants were older learners, the learning environment created was a similar aged batch of between 30 and 40 years old so that they would feel more comfortable and safe (Delahaye Ehrich 2008). Older learners tend to be involved in complex learning, occasionally switching from being dependent to independent learners and thus passively seeking and actively seeking knowledge, respectively. Hence, the design of the refresher program ensured a combination of various learning strategies to meet to these adult learners’ characteristics. These strategies will be covered under the implementation stage later. It was indeed a good initiative by the facilitators to find out the basic characteristics of their adult learners and thus used HLO as a step by step process to teach them. However, there is room for improvement. All adult learners have different learning styles and so a good HR designer would pay close attention to finding out what styles their participants fall under. This can be done by issuing out a learning style questionnaire which will seek to determine if a participant is a reflector, theorist, pragmatist or activist (Honey Mumford 1992). Each learning style will differently influence the way an individual learns, and so will impact the design of a learning program. However, an individual may also have at times a combination of both styles. Thus, a good designer should strive to integrate all four styles in any learning program. Implementation This third stage of the HRD process covers the skills required of a HR developer who is also known as the facilitator. In other words, this section analyses how effective or skilled the facilitators are in conducting the learning program, based on the participants’ level of engagement. It also covers the various learning strategies used. As one of the facilitators of the refresher program, I exhibited strong micro-skills of questioning and responding, and a high level of enthusiasm, channelling the energy positively to the participants. Delahaye (2011) pointed out that such skills are important in the delivery of a learning program, but are often overlooked by HR developers. Feldman (2007) agrees that with greater enthusiasm demonstrated, the higher are the chances of learner accomplishment. As for the learning strategy, a structured style was used in the beginning stage of the refresher program. This took the form of lecture-style learning. Delahaye (2011) regards lecture as structured due to the teacher-student controlled form where the teacher assumes full responsibility over the learning of the student and controls what and how the student will learn. Facilitators conducting the lecture used PowerPoint presentation to recap the relevant theoretical knowledge of the emergency surgical procedures. The slides included detailed photographs showing how each procedure was to be carried out step by step. This was complemented with a set of the hardcopy handout slides so that the NSmen could write notes throughout. On top of that, the whiteboard was used simultaneously by the facilitator to jot down the key points of the presentation. This ensured an appropriate usage of visual aids to appeal to the adult learners (Delahaye 2011). The lecture-style teaching made use of instrumental learning, one of the three transformational adult learning domains (Mezirow 2009). Instrumental allows learning to be controlled and can manoeuvre the environment. Under it is the knowledge generation process of combination which sees a transfer of explicit to even more complex explicit knowledge (Nonaka von Krogh 2009). The PowerPoint presentation, for instance, got the NSmen to combine the explicit knowledge they were looking at and listening to with their own explicit knowledge, thus leading into a process of re-sorting and re-understanding of their inherent knowledge. Another point to make was that sufficient breaks were given throughout the lecture presentation so as to space out the learning and carry out part learning so that participants could digest the information better, especially since older learners dislike having big chunks of information (Grattan 1955; Miller 1956). These were some of the principles of learning highlighted during the structured strategy. Subsequently, in the refresher program, the learning strategy shifted from structured to semi-structured. After the theoretical bit was covered, facilitators proceeded onto the practical, hands-on session. The knowledge just learnt or recapped was to be applied on mannequins which acted as causalities. Here, the actual whole tray of medical apparatus needed for the surgical procedures is introduced to the NSmen participants, after seeing pictures of them in the PowerPoint slides and the hardcopy handouts. Participants were divided into 4 groups of 5 in which each group had a mannequin and a set of tools to work with. Each facilitator was assigned to 2 groups to firstly demonstrate the correct techniques and steps to perform the emergency surgical procedures, using the apparatus provided. Participants observed carefully to learn the steps that they would later be tested, in what was actually known as modelling, one of the 3 basic types of learning. Modelling refers to copying an action after observing how it is done (Bandura 1977; Gardner et al. 1981). Facilitators of the refresher program aimed to see an exchange of tacit to tacit knowledge between the participants and themselves in a socialisation process. This was achieved through the modelling learning behaviour. The semi-structured strategy using the mannequins was a form of role-playing as within each group, participants took turns to role play as surgeons and assistants to the surgeons. This role-playing also helped to strengthen the HLO in areas of forging better interpersonal relationships and the use of group processes, just to name a few (Delahaye 2011). On a separate point, role-playing illustrates that the NSmen participants also underwent communicative learning, which is known to be a learner’s effort to relate to another to understand each other’s viewpoints (Mezirow 2000). Evaluation This last stage of the HRD process signifies the importance for proper assessment methods. The evaluation technique that was used for the ‘Combat Medical NSmen Ops Refresher Training’ program was the assessment of learning. This assessment, as stressed by Delahaye (2011), paves the way for measuring the effectiveness of the learning program, allowing the examiners to gauge how useful the program had been for the participants as well as to see if the learning objectives set out from the start had been met in the end. In addition, assessment offers feedback for both the adult learner and HR developer. Through it, they can identify their strengths and weaknesses so that they can make necessary amendments to make their learning processes more effective in future. Out of the six types of assessment of learning methods available, the refresher program used performance tests, which proved to be the most suitable form of evaluation due to the complex nature of the program (Delahaye 2011). Following on after the role-playing session of using the mannequins and medical tools, the NSmen participants were made to undergo a performance test in the outdoors open field which simulated an actual situation of what it would likely be in an actual war zone battlefield environment where the NSmen would encounter multiple casualties suffering from different kinds of wounds and war injuries. They would be required to think on their feet using mental agility, under a stressful environment, of which of the following emergency surgical procedures learnt would be best used for treatments. As said by Delahaye (2011), performance tests need to be conducted by highly skilled trainers whose evaluation makes use of their tacit knowledge. Thus, the assessment of the program was a success as it brought in the senior medical officers, who have years of experience in the field, to evaluate the performances of the NSmen. This also served to be a non-biased evaluation as the seniors were not involved in running the on ground training. In evaluation, a pre-designed evaluation criteria form was used by the senior officers so as to quantify the observed results (Thorndike 2007). The results were then showed to the NSmen participants during the program debrief. The outcome of the performance test showed a match to the adult learners’ HLO, identified in the curriculum design stage, in the categories of programmed knowledge; and task and relationship. It also successfully tested the learners’ action learning process of critical thinking and meta-abilities. Conclusion This essay has looked at the ‘Combat Medical NSmen Ops Refresher Training’ as a learning program which served as an HRD intervention based on the needs investigation conducted. It found that a refresher program would be beneficial to the NSmen in helping them to familiarise with the medical proficiency knowledge they are required to demonstrate in their annual reservist in-camp trainings. This essay thus went on to elaborate the four stages involved in influencing this successful HRD learning program using theories primarily from adult learning. Following on from a thorough HRDNI, the design of the program saw that a necessary constructive alignment was made between the teaching style and the characteristics of the adult learners. The HLO model was used in this stage. As for the implementation, the facilitators of the program demonstrated strong micro-skills as well as using structured and semi-structured learning strategies through a PowerPoint presentation and role-playing session which reflected on instrumental and communicative learning for the adult learners, respectively. The final stage was the evaluation of the program in which a performance test was carried out as a specific assessment of learning method. Word Count: 2566 Reference List Bandura, A 1977, Social learning theory, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Biggs, JB Tang, C 2007, Teaching for quality learning at university: what the student does, 3rd edn, Open University Press, Maidenhead. Delahaye, B Ehrich, L 2008, ‘Complex learning preferences and strategies of older adults’, Educational Gerontology, vol. 34, pp. 649–662, viewed 30 August 2012, Emerald Database. Delahaye, B 2011, Human resource development: managing learning and knowledge capital, 3rd edn, Tilde University Press, Prahran Australia. Feldman, KA 2007, ‘Identifying exemplary teachers and teaching: evidence from students’ ratings’, Perry, RP Smart, JC (eds. ), The scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education: an evidence-based perspective, Springer, AA Dordrecht, Netherlands. Gardner, G, Innes, JM, Forgas, JP, O’Driscoll, M, Pearce, PL Newton, JW 1981, Social psychology, Prentice Hall, Sydney. Grattan, CH 1995, In quest of knowledge: a historical perspective on adult education, Association Press, New York. Honey, P Mumford, A 1992, The manual of learning styles, Peter Honey, Maidenhead, UK. Knowles, MS 1998, The adult learner: a neglected species, 5th edn, Gulf, Houston. Long, HB 2002, Teaching for learning, Malabar, Florida, Krieger. Mezirow, J 2000, ‘Learning to think like an adult: core concepts of adult learning theory’, in Mezirow, J (ed. ), Learning as transformation: critical perspectives on a theory in progress, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Mezirow, J 2009, ‘Transformative learning theory’, in Mezirow, J Taylor, EW (eds. ), Transformational learning in practice: insights from community, workplace and higher education, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Miller, GA 1956, ‘The magical number seven plus or minus two: some limits on our capacity for processing information’, Psychological Review, vol. 63, pp. 81-97, viewed 30 August 2012, Emerald Database. Nonaka, I von Krogh, G 2009, ‘Tacit knowledge and knowledge conversion: controversy and advancement in organizational knowledge creation’, Organization Science, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 635-652, viewed 28 August 2012, Proquest Database. Rothwell, WJ Kazanas, HC 1989, Strategic human resource development, 4th edn, Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Smith, DL Lovat, TJ 2003, Curriculum: action on reflection, 4th edn, Social Science Press, Tuggerah, NSW. Swanson, RA Holton, EF 2001, Foundations of Human Resource Development, Berrett-koehler, San Francisco. Thorndike, RM 2007, Measurement and evaluation in psychology and education, 7th edn, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Tovey, MD Lawlor, DR 2008, Training in Australia, 3rd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

Barriers to Entry and Various Risks That Must Be Considered by Foreign Retail Companies Seeking to Conduct Business in China Essays

Barriers to Entry and Various Risks That Must Be Considered by Foreign Retail Companies Seeking to Conduct Business in China Essays Barriers to Entry and Various Risks That Must Be Considered by Foreign Retail Companies Seeking to Conduct Business in China Essay Barriers to Entry and Various Risks That Must Be Considered by Foreign Retail Companies Seeking to Conduct Business in China Essay Barriers to entry and various risks that must be considered by foreign retail companies seeking to conduct business in China By Aizhan Yermekbayeva Let China sleep, for when she awakes, she will shake the world (Napoleon Bonaparte) Most politicians, businessmen and academics would agree with the quote above. It is becoming more and more evident that â€Å"China is now slowly waking up†. And a market of over 1. 5 bn potential consumers is perceived by most multinational enterprises (MNCs) as an opportunity hard to miss. Businessmen and even renowned academics make various recommendations on approaching Chinese market. This article will provide a critical analysis on how to develop businesses in China successfully and sustain stable profitability. The main focus will be drawn on entering and operating business in the retail industry as the industry is attracting the growing number of foreign investors despite the fact of having unresolved issues with the supply chain management, â€Å"bureaucratic red tape† and most importantly fierce competition. China could be divided into two main parts when it involves setting up a business: Hong Kong and mainland China. Hong Kong, which was a British colony until it was reunited with mainland China in 1997, is considered to be one of the most liberal markets with low level of governmental interference. However this article’s primary focus is on the mainland China, given its current political and economic importance. Merely thirty years after the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, China has become the world’s fastest growing economy. Some predicted that by 2015 China will surpass Japan and will become the world’s second largest economy (Hall, 2009). But it happened five years earlier. It has been expected that by 2010 its retail industry will be worthy of $596 bn. China’s vast natural resources and cheap labour are substantially appealing to foreign investors. â€Å"No future is brighter than China†, states Coca-Cola’s chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent (Einhorn, 2009). As thought provoking as it may be Lehman Brothers in China still went bankrupt in 2009 and Marks Spencer, despite having more than sufficient financial resources, failed to succeed. According to a statement made by the executive chairman of MS Sir Stuart Rose, â€Å"basic shop keeping mistakes† (wrong clothing sizes) and issues in the supply chain were the main reasons why their market entry strategy did not succeed in China. However, there are still barriers to entry and various risks that must be considered by companies seeking to conduct business in China. The government in mainland China regulates the market, sets the controlling legislation and rules for foreign direct investments (FDIs) and competition . After China’s admittance to the WTO most of the regulatory barriers to Chinese market have been eliminated. China’s current economic environment offers a great opportunity for businesses. Although China has been undergoing fast economic reforms these are not necessarily followed in tandem by political reforms. As such, most MNCs mistake is that they approach China in the same manner and with the same strategy as they would any other country. Conversely those businesses that have succeeded in China have used a strategy of â€Å"understanding local ways†. It is vital not to underestimate the power of guanxi. Therefore foreign managers are strongly advised to understand this cultural phenomenon before attempting to start a business in China. Guanxi is â€Å"a complicated system of favour banking† which is practiced within a certain group. The importance of guanxi is often emphasised by a Chinese saying that without guanxi a person gets â€Å"half the result with twice the effort†. However, the main risk of guanxi is that it requires a high level of trust between parties involved in favour exchange – where someone’s word is his bond as opposed to an actual agreement. Strong guanxi networks would make the challenges of conquering Chinese retail market, such as setting up an efficient supply system less complicated. However there are additional threats and limitations that might affect foreign businesses, particularly retailers. Especially, taking into consideration a significant role that local government plays in the Chinese market. The growing concern for retailers is that the Chinese government is discussing adopting protectionist regulations in the retail industry. New regulations are showing signs already as the local government has selected a group of local retailers and is giving them financial support. It is the first stage of formation of the â€Å"national champions† local retail companies which are expected to become the leaders of the retail industry. There are many reason why the Chinese government is compelled to undertake these actions such as the retail industry is expanding at a fast rate and from the local population’s perspective the key industry players that benefit from it the most are foreign companies. This viewpoint pressurises the government to protect the local retail chains, which are not able to compete against international retail giants because of the insufficient financial resources. Therefore these regulations are expected to favour domestic retailers in allocation of strategic locations and have been highly welcomed by national retailers. Under these circumstances it is of utmost importance for foreign retailers to re-assess their future strategies. As it was mentioned before the Chinese retail industry is highly competitive which emphasises the importance of the visibility of hypermarkets. Another challenge of maintaining competitiveness lies in increasing prices of land and rented premises as foreign retailers are focused on operating hypermarkets in strategic and urban areas that raise operating costs. Moreover foreign retailers are already being pressurised into price wars as local retailers, mostly family-owned stores, offer very low prices which appeals to Chinese price-conscious customers. Furthermore with variety of retailers offering similar goods and services the local customers’ demands have shifted. The times when foreign companies could sell their ut-of-date products are long gone. Currently foreign retail companies are expected to provide high quality products and it makes it even more challenging to offer competitive prices at the same time. Initially foreign retail chains could differentiate themselves from locals with new technologies, innovative practices in marketing and by offering consumer friendly return policies. As â€Å"understanding the needs and motivations of Chinese consumers is the name of the game†. However they have soon lost this advantage as domestic competitors were fast to copy and employ them. Additionally local retail chains’ scope is smaller which makes it easier for them to set up an effective supply chain. While for retailers like Tesco, Carrefour and Wal-Mart it is difficult to keep supply chain centralised. Fragmented nature of Chinese retail market and geographically vast area impose more challenges. Moreover the local governments of different areas have customs duties which also increase the prices of suppliers. For example each of Tesco’s stores has to work with 1000 suppliers. Furthermore it is difficult for global retailers to overcome â€Å"the liability of foreignness†. It makes them vulnerable to changes in global political arena and politics between countries. In 2008 Carrefour suffered significant financial losses because Chinese customers decided to boycott all French retailers in protest to the pro-Tibet political standing of the President of France, shortly after riots in Tibet. Therefore political risks have to be taken into consideration. It is evident from the above mentioned that Western businesses coming to China should not make false assumptions based on the rapid development of infrastructure that the Chinese market and especially the retail industry function the same way. Therefore the significance of doing proper â€Å"homework† before approaching foreign markets, especially China, cannot be overemphasised. The differences outlined above should be considered to avoid future disappointments and subsequent failures in entry strategy. Companies that rushed into conquering the Chinese market without sufficient information failed to succeed encountering the Chinese bureaucracy and unreliable business partners. There are several conditions in order to create successful joint ventures in China: Finding a reliable partner, which is best achieved through connections attained with guanxi. Chinese business partners bring local knowledge and the experience in conducting business in the Chinese market which may be useful for cost cutting. Nevertheless when choosing a partner or business allies, financial strength and mutual interests should be taken into account. Foreign companies should seek for a financially reliable partner. Strategic location. Interaction with local governments is crucial for obtaining a desirable location Monitoring changes in accounting, taxation and other legislative modifications Human resources management (HRM). Low labour costs are one of the major incentives for foreign companies to come to China. The general manager of JV companies noted that there are three key elements to succeeding in China: â€Å"people, people, and people† (Epser 1991:24-30). Although success depends on the quality of personnel management. Relations with trade unions (TUs) may come as challenge as the way they function in China is different from Western countries. Interestingly it is noted that TUs are usually focused more on protecting the interests of the Party than that of employees. Other precautions include: avoidance of recruiting from only one source as in some cases new recruits may have similar negative qualities; While high quality employees may require patience and flexible attitude to find; Avoid employing a large workforce as local authorities might pressurise to hire more; Experienced native management personnel is essential for managing bureaucratic procedures; New employees should be trained, their skills and work ethics developed to coincide with main interests of the company Supply chain management is without a doubt of significant importance in decreasing costs and developing business. However this is one of the areas that have not been researched thoroughly. Summarising all criteria above, locating a Chinese partner with high level of reliability and with a nationally successful business is of utmost importance when establishing a joint venture. Guanxi is as well important in finding a strategic location and employing a suitable workforce. Nevertheless there is a scarcity in detailed information on supply chain management which is arguably one the most significant areas in cost cutting strategy. El Kahal identifies the main challenges of developing businesses in Asia Pacific, and as the author says â€Å"anyone who looks to Asia has to look at China†. Therefore challenges found the most relevant to conducting business in China and suggested (potential) solutions are presented in Table – 3. Table – 3. Challenges |Implications |Solutions | |Obtaining information on market competition |It is difficult for foreign managers |â€Å"hands-on experience†, the manager has to | |and the external factors affecting business |to assess the market, potential |have an extensive knowledge of the | |operations |rivals and find suitable partners |operating environment to reduce reliance on| | | |detailed data analysis. Establishing sound | | | |personal ties and networking is used by | | | |most local senior managers as an | | | |alternative to documented data and is | | | |essential for verification of information | | | |reliability received from various external | | | |sources. |â€Å"Bureaucratic red tape† |Might affect the pace of projects and|Weigh diligently possibilities of | | |business operations |regulatory and legislative obstacles and | | | |utilise the knowledge of the local managers| | | |through building a personal network | |Political aspects and internal issues of the|May lead to termination of business |It is highly encouraged to do thorough | |country like bribery |and even more severe consequences; |research before starting a business. | |make a significant damage to | | | |company’s reputation | | Overall China offers opportunities to prosper however challenges and obstacles should be taken into careful consideration. Foreign businesses should do their ‘home work’ to meet or avoid them. This article attempted to provide various advice and recommendations on the subject, however every company adopts a different approach based on the internal and external environments. Despite foreign retailers’ high expectation about future prospects of the Chinese retail industry, the economic crisis has affected China as well. Bain Co predict that in the next four years there will be a decreasing trend in the number of hypermarkets in China. According to Financial Times there is an over-saturation of hypermarkets in some urban areas such as Shanghai were there are already approximately 120-130 hypermarkets. This tendency causes an increase in rental costs, fierce competition forces rivals to cut prices and these factors combined with the country’s present infrastructure issues creates an uncertain future for foreign retailers. However, some global retail giants like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco see the economic downturn as an opportunity to get ahead of competition. Interestingly the Chinese character for ‘risk’ has two symbols: â€Å"danger† and â€Å"opportunity†. Investing abroad is a risk, but it is also an opportunity and with the right and timely information organisations can form a unique strategy of succeeding in China. References Chen, C. C. and Chen X. P. (2009) Negative externalities of close guanxo within organizations. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. 26. pp. 37-53 Chen, M, (2004) Asian Management Systems. 2nd ed. London: Thomson Learning. p5. , 241, 242 Chow, I. , Holbert, N. , Kelley, L. , Yu, J. (2004) Business Strategy: An Asia-Pacific Focus. 2nd ed. Singapore: Pearson Education South-Asia. El Kahal, S. 2001) Business in Asia Pacific. New York: Oxford University Press Inc. p. 63, 70, 562 Epser, P. (1991) cited in Chen, M, (2004) Asian Management Systems. 2nd ed. London: Thomson Learning. p. 241 Fels, A. (2009) The regulation of retailing – lessons for developing countries. Asia Pacific Busine ss Review. 15(1). Pp. 13-27. Gamble, J. (2009) Demanding customers in the Chinese context. Asia Pacific Business Review. 15(1). pp 93-105 Peng, M. (2009) Global Strategic Management. 2nd ed. Canada: South Western Cengage Learning. p. 16; 156 Wang, S. (2009) Foreign Retailers in post-WTO China: stories of success and setbacks. Asia Pacific Business Review. 5(1). pp59-77 Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour do battle in the East. (2008) Strategic Direction. 24(2). pp5-7. Hall, J (2009) Every little helps for Tesco in ChinaSupermarket makes steady inroads. Daily Telegraph. [online] Available from: http://find. galegroup. com/gtx/infomark. do? contentSet=IAC- Kent, M (2009) cited in Einhorn, B (2009) Coke Committed to China Expansion. Business Week. [online] Available from: businessweek. com/globaliz/content/jun2009/gb20090623_410186. htm Rigby, E (2008) Tesco in new drive on China. Financial Times. [online] Available from: ft. com. /cns/s/0/a89db8f6-89b2-11db-ae27-0000779e2340. html

12 Trucking Tips to Drive Safer This Winter

12 Trucking Tips to Drive Safer This Winter I don’t know about where you are, but here in New York, autumn has finally caught up to us. All the trees are racing to turn to yellow and red, and if this year’s anything like the last two, we’ve got some frigid temperature and blustery snowstorms to look forward to. Many drivers who find themselves in winter conditions forget some basics- they don’t change their driving skills or brush up on maneuvering and skid control. Make sure you’re up-to-date on the preventative safety skills that could save your life or someone else’s.If you’re still on the road this time of year, here are some important safety suggestions from the experts at Smart-Trucking.com.1. Slow DownThe speed limit may tell you the legal max, but it can’t read road conditions or understand delays in stop time the way you can. Don’t let your eagerness to finish a trip make you hurry when it’s not safe.2. Follow SafelyWhen possible, leave 1/4 mile bet ween you and the vehicle in front of you, and try to give space to the vehicles next to you, too. Remember that if you’re driving with a group, the mistake the front truck makes can impact everyone else.3. Get Out of the PackFor that reason alone, try not to drive in the packs traffic tends to organize itself into- your goal should be attaining the maximum distance around your vehicle.4. Don’t Fixate on Tail LightsIt can be tempting to focus on the lights of the car in front of you when visibility or weather conditions get overwhelming, but if you can see them you’re probably too close!5. Don’t Stop on the ShoulderOther cars and trucks in low visibility may not be able to figure out your truck has pulled over or even that it’s stopped, and they could slam into your rear axle before they knew what was happening. Try to get to a truck stop or weigh station- anywhere you can pull fully off the road.6. Don’t Try to Be a HeroEven if you pride you rself on always being on schedule or arriving before your deadlines, remember that pushing yourself when the weather is inclement is not worth risking your safety. Balance the pressure you feel coming from dispatches or service rules with concern for your life and others on the road.7. Don’t Jake BrakeBe especially aware of the risks of employing your jake brake and over-using your footbrake on icy and snowy roads. You may find yourself sliding and spinning out of control, especially when the trailer is empty.8. Pay Extra Attention to your Circle CheckMake sure all your systems are fully functional- you don’t want the defroster, the heater, the wipers, or the lights (particularly the brake and tail lights) to go down on you in the middle of a scary stretch of road. Make sure everything that has a level is full to capacity. If possible, have extras stored away in case you need to refill mid-drive.9. Stay Fueled UpFull fuel tanks mean extra weight on your drive tires, wh ich helps with traction and stability. Make sure your tires have enough pressure for winter driving, as well.10. Keep Your Lights CleanWhenever you can stop, make sure to clear off your head and tail lights, particularly if you’re equipped with LED lights. Make sure you’re visible, so other drivers can adjust if they need.11. Pack an Emergency KitYour kit should have necessities for servicing your truck, but also the basics to help you hunker down if necessary: a change of warm clothes, a bottle of water, hand-warmers, first aid kit, batteries, a flashlight, and flares. Also,  consider investing in portable chargers for any electronics you carry regularly.12. Get off the RoadWhen in doubt, use your common sense and best judgment about when it’s time to get off the road. It may make for a great war story to power through a terrible blizzard and make your delivery dates, but I guarantee people would rather remember the time you arrived a day late, alive and well , than the horrific accident that kept you from arriving at all. Know when to pull off the road. Remember that you’ll be the one ultimately held accountable for whether you drove or parked to wait it out.

Health Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Health Economics - Essay Example For instance, high level of technology, decrease in the cost of production, decrease in profit obtained from other goods, and an increased number of sellers in the market will shift the curve to the right side of equilibrium. All these factors will lead to a decrease in price of the drug in question since very little cost is used in production (Taylor & Weerapana, 2011). On the contrary, Mankiw (2011) argues that if the price of inputs increases, cost of production of other goods increases, level of technology diminishes, and the number of suppliers in the market reduces, then it is expected that price of the commodity increases. These factors will shift the supply curve on the left side of the equilibrium side as a result of negative change in the market prices. Additionally, increased prices of the drug will lower its demand since very few people will be able to purchase it. On the other hand, demand curve will be affected by a several factors. For example, increase in the expected value of the good, increase in the value of a substitute, decreased price of the complementary good, increase in the number of the potential consumers and increased earnings of the consumer will lead to increased demand. This will lead to the equilibrium shifting to the right. This will lead to increased value of the drug. Moreover, when there is a decrease in expected value of the commodity, increased value of the complementary commodity, a decrease in the price of the substitute; decreased number of potential consumers and decreased income of the consumer will lead to a downward change of the curve or the curve shifts to the left hence less demand. This decreases the price of the certain drug and supply will be down. Decrease in demand leads to flooding of a certain good in the market (Arnold, 2008). Several factors impact the degree of supply curve or demand curve shift (Graves & Sexton, 2006). First, monopoly or production

The Real World of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Real World of Management - Essay Example Following will involve listening to subordinates. A manager should be listening and should incorporate the activities of other people in the normal running of his duties. The research will also deal on entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship. Those are the qualities of a manager that will enable him or her to increase innovation and profitability in the company. A manager should also be able to have problem solving skills, research skills and decision-making skills. Every organization will be faced by a number of conflicts; the manager should be able to solve the problems in a fair manner. A manager should also be able to carry out research on ways that will improve the working of a company. Management will also involve ethical management and corporate social responsibility. Ethical management implies the way an organization relates to competitors and other stakeholders of the company. Corporate social responsibility implies to the way a company gives back to the society. The society should be rewarded for being part of the company. According to peter drucker, management involves doing things that are correct while leadership is doing the correct things. A good leader should have vision and should eye things that are beneficial to a company. Traditionally, it was believed that leaders are born and not trained. In the modern view, hard work, patience, and persistence will lead to an effective leader. That means that a good leader should be able to undergo training that will enable him sharpen his skills. That means that a good leader will be able to evolve with time and be able to understand employees with time (Brooks 276)1. A good leader should be listening and understanding. He /she should lead by example. That implies that a lead should be the first person to adhere to the rules of the company and to conform to the vision and goals of the company. That will be leading by example and that will be

Sociology of work assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sociology of work assignment - Essay Example Man actually abhors unemployment as it dissociates him from society. The psychology of work according to sociological theories have made way for a pragmatic approach that relates the manner and circumstances available for ‘doing’ work, while constructing ‘work identity’. This has given rise to inevitable contradictions as contemporary issues have evolved as strong determining factors. The nature and dignity of a person is ought to be defined and protected through contemporary working life. There is continuous physical transformation of our environment due to several volatile factors working in tandem. Work being a part of social life, integrity and coherence in modern work aspects in religious and ethnic background, cannot be a criterion according to Durkheim. He explained the different social components by relating them to their contributions and evolved the concept of Functionalism. For him, society was beyond just a summation of its components or ‘methodological individualism’. Through his concept of Division of Labor, Durkheim classified Traditional and Modern societies and added the theories of social evolutionism. Traditional Societies were mechanical. Collective consciousness dominates the individual consciousness and the strength of social norms makes social behavior highly regulated. In Modern Work Society, the division of labor is extremely complex. This results in Organic Solidarity. Social roles are variegated and employment is specialized. This results in a dependency that tie people as they no longer feel to assume all the variegated roles by themselves. This is a state of enhanced division of labor that differs and is often in conflict with collective consciousness. (Emile Durkheim, Durkheim Suicide, 2006) Richard Sennett discusses the impact of capitalist economy on workers’ lives. He considers every life as an ongoing story, illustrated by progression of time and characterized by notable events

The Zero Crossing Detector Engineering Essay

The Zero Crossing Detector Engineering Essay The X 10 transmitter sends data timed with the zero crossing of the power line, thus each unit needs to have a built-in zero crossing detectors. Mainly, the X10 manufactures are using PIC16F8XXX family to detect zero crossing by applying the external interrupt on the RB0 pin, which links to the power line through 5M resistance (to limit the current into the PICmicro) as it is shown in the figure 00. The PICmicro has a protection diodes which are designed to clamp any voltage higher than VDD or lower than VSS. Thus, when a negative half cycle of the AC voltage is applied, the RB0 pin clamps the voltage to VSS 0.5V, this can be interpreted as a logic-0. At the same time, as the AC voltage rises to or over VDD, the logical value will become logic-1. RB-0 is configured for external interrupts, whereas the input buffer is a Schmitt trigger. Therefore, the input threshold (0.2 VDD = 1V) on the falling edge and (0.8 VDD = 4V) on a rising edge. So there is an interrupt occurs on every zero crossing. The following equation is used to calculate the RB0 pin state which will change in relative to the zero crossing V = Vpk*sin(2*Ġ¢*f*t), where Vpk = 320Vand f = 50 Hz On the rising edge, RB0 can go high about 64  µ s after the zero-crossing. However, on the falling edge, it can go low about 16 ÃŽ ¼s before the zero-crossing. 120 kHz Carrier Generator X-10 transmitters use 1msec bursts of a 120 kHz to send information over 50 Hz power lines. Different techniques could be used in order to generate 120 kHz, however, in x10 units are mainly use one of the PICmicro MCUs CCP modules as it is shown in the figure100. The CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) module of PIC 16F67xA is used in PWM mode to produce a 120 kHz square-wave with a half duty cycle of (50% of the duty cycle). In order to generate the carrier frequency of 120 kHz, the system oscillator capacity was chosen to be 7.680 MHz, Where the frequency of the PWM is the inverse of the period (1/period) And since one instruction is taking four oscillation periods we come up with the term of 4Tosc Main oscillator is 7.680MHz, Tosc = 1/7.680MHz PWM period = 1/120 kHz = 8.333 µs PWM period = [(PR2) + 1] * 4 * Tosc * (TMR2 prescale value) = [(0) + 1] * 4 * 1/7.680MHz * (16) = 8.333 µs After initialization, the CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) is always enabled, and the register TRISC bit is used to gate On and Off the PWM output. By sitting the TRISC bit = 1, then the pin is an input and the 120 kHz signal is blocked and not accessible to the pin, other than When the TRISC bit = 0, the pin becomes an output and the 120 kHz signal is free and coupled to the AC power line. Before the 120 kHz coupled to the powerline, it will pass through 200à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ resistance, a transistor amplifier and high pass filter as depicted in the Figure 5. Since the impedance of a capacitor is Zc = 1/(2*Ġ¢*f*C), If f = 120kHz Zc = 1/(2*Ġ¢*120k*0.1*10-6) If f = 50kHz Zc = 1/(2*Ġ¢*50k*0.1*10-6) The capacitor of the high pass filter is equal to 0.1 ÃŽ ¼F which presents low impedance to the 120 kHz carrier frequency, but with 50 Hz power line frequency it will present high impedance. Therefore high pass filter will safely couple the 120 kHz signal to the 50 Hz power line. Finally, the 12 kHz signal should well match with the synchronize of zero crossing with maximum delay about 300 ÃŽ ¼s from the zero-crossing to the beginning of the X-10 envelope in order to be compatible with other x10 receiver. Since the maximum delay of the zero-crossing detector = 64 ÃŽ ¼s 300 ÃŽ ¼s 64 ÃŽ ¼s = 236 ÃŽ ¼s Thus the firmware must begin the transmission of the 120 kHz envelope with maximum time of 236 ÃŽ ¼s after detection of the zero-crossing to. 120 kHz Carrier Detector In order to receive a x10 signal, it is essential to detect the presence of the 120 kHz signal on the 50Hz AC power line. This application requires a specific hardware structure which? contains three blocks placed between the PIC and the power line and subsequence the 120 kHz carrier will bass through all of them to reached RC pin of the PIC. The first block from the power line side is the decoupling capacitor which contains e a 0.1 µ capacitor in parallel with 1Mà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ resistance. The next one is the high bass filter and the final one is the envelop detector which is connected to the PC pin of the PIC as it shown in figureXX. Since the impedance of a decoupling capacitor is Zc = 1/ (2*Ġ¢*f*C), If f = 120 kHz Zc = 1/ (2*Ġ¢*120k*0.1*10-6) =1/ 0.075 = 13.26 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ Zc of 120 kHz = 13.26 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ If f = 50 kHz Zc = 1/ (2*Ġ¢*50*0.1*10-6) = 1/3110^-6 = 32.25 k à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ Zc of 50 Hz = 32.25 k à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ The capacitor of the decoupling filter is equal to 0.1 ÃŽ ¼ farad which is presenting low impedance (13.26 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦) to the 120 kHz carrier frequency, but with 50 Hz power line frequency it will present high impedance (32.25 k à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦). Therefore the decoupling filter will safely couple the 120 kHz signal detector to the 50 Hz power line and allow only 120 kHz to bass through it. The next block is another high pass filter, design an RC filter that will pass only 120 kHz carrier and attenuate the entire 50Hz. The second high pass filter scheme is shown below Where the high pass filter characteristics is shown in the next scheme ωp is the passband edge of the high pass filter ωp = 1 / CR where C = 150 pF and R = 33 k à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ ωp = 2 Ġ¢ fp fp = 1 / 2*Ġ¢*C*R fp = 1/(2*3.14*33*10^3*150*10^-9). fp = 32 kHz. Where, fp is the frequency of the passband edge that will assures all the 50 Hz signal is completely attenuated, at the same time as the 120 kHz signal is passed through the filter to the amplifier stages. The signals are inter the amplifier stage with a value between ten millivolts to a few hundred millivolts. The module must amplify the carrier to certain limit and converted to a logic level signal that the PIC can detect. The amplification, however, must be carefully selected in order to prevent the signal will pass through the first stage which is the tuned amplifier stage where the 120 kHz signal is amplified by using a series of 4069UB inverters to configure as high gain amplifiers. The tuned amplifiers operate with peak response at 120 kHz at the first two stages while the next two stages are untuned amplifier but provide additional amplification. The amplified 120 kHz signal is passed to the envelope detector block which is containing a diode, capacitor, and resistor. The out put of the envelope detector is buffered through an inverter and finally the inverse of the amplified 120 kHz is presented to an input pin (RC3) of the PIC16F8xxx. When the zero crossing is interrupt the RC3 will checked to see whether or not the carrier is present within the 1 ms transmission envelope. A stream of 1 volt is representing the presence of the carrier while 0 is the absence of the carrier. Transformerless Power Supply X10 modules used PIC16F877A or any other PIC requires a 5V supply to feed the board circuit. Since X-10 units are intended to be plugged into a wall outlet, a transformerless power supply is used to provide the require voltage. There are two significant characteristics of transformerless supplies that should be kept in mind: lack of isolation from the 240 volt AC and limited current capacity. Figure00 illustrates the transformerless power supply diagram used in this application. As it shown in figure00, a 220v VDR (voltage dependent resistor) being and connected between Line and Neutra to protect the circuit from spikes on the AC power line. 1Mà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦ resister connects in parallel with two capacitors to provide a discharge path for the voltage left on the capacitors when the module is unplugged from the wall. The voltage across 1000Mfarad was rectified by using two diodes and finally a 5.1V Zener diode to produce a 5V supply for the circuit. Load Switch There are two options to control a mains rated load, either to use a Triac or a relay. Electrical designers used relays in many different applications because they are suitable for very high power loads and very low power loads also when the main rated load need to be isolated and finally when the load require a relatively slow toggling rates. A Triac is the best option for switching non isolated medium power loads and they have a rapid switching capability and subsequence they are very suitable for dimming and lamp control. x10 manufacturer used a Triac as a load switch of the x10 units because its medium power switching capacity and most of the home appliances are consumes a medium power. In addition, Triacs are an inexpensive three-terminal device designed to switch a medium current load and has been used extensively in home appliances such as lamp dimmers and motor speed controllers. The main two terminals M1 and M2 are wired in series with the load figure00. A Triac is, three-te rminal device that acts as a high-speed, bidirectional AC switch, two terminals, MT1 and MT2, are wired in series with the load. A small trigger current between MT1 and the gate allow conduction to occur between MT2 and MT1.when the latching occur between M1 and M2, the load current continues to flow even after the gate current is disconnected, as long as the load current exceeds the latching value. Therefore, when the 50Hz AC voltage falls below the latching voltage near each zero-crossing, the Triac will automatically switch off. There are two ways to maintain the load current beyond each single half cycle of the 50Hz AC supply, either the gate current have to be maintained continuously or the triac have to be retriggered each half-cycle of 50Hz. the advantage of the pulse trigger is that only lower average current is required. Typically, the trigger pulse duration must be long enough for the load current in order to reach the latching current. A L4008L6 Triac was selected for X10 module because it has a sensitive gate that the logic level output of the PIC MCU I/O pin will directly control it. Although, the PIC MCU can provide only positive voltages to the gate, the sensitive gate Triac can control the alternative AC current in both directions through the device. A lamp dimmer can be created by including a delay between the time that the trigger current is provided to the Triac from the PIC MCU and the time of each zero-crossing. In other words, TRIACs can be used to control the brightness of a light by switching the 50Hz AC power on part-way through each half cycle (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Therefore x10 maker allows the PIC MCU to directly drive the gate of a TRIAC through a current limiting resistor. By controlling the power-line cycle, the PIC MCU can control the average voltage across the lamp, and therefore the brightness . . .(unclear) http://www3.telus.net/Whalco/SDim.htm ftp://ftp.efo.ru/pub/cypress/psoc/capsense/app/TD-AN_LampDimmerAppNote.pdf http://www.freescale.com/files/microcontrollers/doc/app_note/AN2839.pdf

Nuclear Energy :: Essays Papers

Nuclear Energy It seems that the world as a whole is in search of an energy source that is cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient. This seems to be particularly true in the United States where the government seeks to separate themselves from their reliance on petroleum from countries including those in the Middle East. Their agenda, unfortunately, is less concerned with environmental issues than it is with issues of power, money, and dominance. Either way, nuclear energy has emerged as the forerunner for alternative energy sources. Today, there are 109 nuclear power plants in the United States which contribute roughly 20% of the power used in the United States(Nuclear Energy, April 13, 2005). Nuclear fission is performed by fusion of hydrogen into helium. This is done using uranium, plutonium, or thorium and placing them in the reactor, which start a chain reaction that can produce vast amounts of energy. Uranium is the element primarily used in reactors. The fission of a single atom can produce 10 million times the amount of energy that an atom can produce that is burned from coal. Uranium is an abundant element which is easily found and extracted. It often has to undergo a relatively cheap refining process, however, as the isotopes are found mixed in nature. Nuclear fission is also relatively clean, as there is no excess CO2 produced, as there is in the burning of coal and petroleum. It does, however, have is pollutants. The filtering rods used have to be changed every two years and the o ld rods disposed of. Because the rods are highly radioactive, their disposal must be dealt with meticulously. Currently most of the rods are shipped to Yucca Mountain (The Bane of Nuclear Energy, April 13, 2005). Despite the benefits of nuclear fission, the quest still continues for an even better energy source. The hopes of the new energy source are pinned on a process known as nuclear fusion. This is the process that takes place on the sun and other stars under intense heat and pressure. The hope is that nuclear fusion will become a reality here on earth as it will provide an unprecedented amount of energy very cheaply and with very little pollution.