Balancing Creativity and Discipline free essay sample

One issue, or strength, that I identified in my analysis of â€Å"Inside Microsoft: Balancing Creativity and Discipline† was Microsoft’s ability to recognize that it needed outside help. The company recognized that it needed outside help with operational discipline to control their freewheeling business environment. The company knew that the person to be hired needed a strong background in standardized business practices, so Microsoft hired Robert J. Herbold from Procter Gamble to take the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. Microsoft, the world’s leader in computer software, was also able to recognize the need to go to outside vendors for packaged software for the new financial reporting system and the new purchasing order systems (MSMarket and MSInvoice) that the company implemented (thanks to Herbold). Microsoft found another company that had the best software for their current need and customized where needed. No need to reinvent the wheel, right? Another issue, or strength, that I identified in my analysis involves the new systems put in place. We will write a custom essay sample on Balancing Creativity and Discipline or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These systems gave managers instant access to a variety of data. Within seconds, management could see up-to-date information for any geographical or business unit. They were able to look at the strengths and weaknesses in financials, operations, personnel, purchasing, etc. Having instant access to data helped keep Microsoft a world profit leader, allowing it to continue its world leading research and development programs, which in turn fueled growth. â€Å"Turn on a dime† flexibility, which is mentioned as one of Microsoft’s hallmarks, is only as good as the company’s vision for direction. I would recommend that Microsoft continue on the course they are down. Herbold brought innovation in management to the company, like the company brought innovation to the market through software. Microsoft has continued to bring new products to the market and it will be challenged to do the same internally, because that is what market leaders do.

How to Use the French Preposition Entre

How to Use the French Preposition Entre The French preposition entre means between, both literally and figuratively, or among and is used in many expressions.  Learn how to say briefly, tipsy, at dusk, and more with some  of the expressions  below using entre. Be careful not to confuse the preposition  entre  with the verb  entrer,  which means to enter; the two words  are unrelated.   Common Uses of Entre   Ã‚  Ã‚  Mettez une espace entre ces mots.Put a space between these words.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Cela devrait à ªtre entre parenthà ¨ses.That should be in parentheses.   Ã‚  entre deux portesbriefly   Ã‚  Ã‚  entre chien et loupat twilight/dusk   Ã‚  Ã‚  Entre toi et moi..., Entre nous...Between you and me..., Between us...   Ã‚  Le livre est entre ses mains.The book is in his hands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Entre le 2 et le 5 mai...Between 2nd and 5th of May...   Ã‚  La và ©rità © est entre les deux. (saying)The truth is somewhere in between.   Ã‚  sentendre entre euxto have a mutual understanding/agreement   Ã‚  Ãƒ ªtre entre deux vinsto be tipsy When Entre  means among   Ã‚  Ãƒ ªtre entre nousto be among friends, between us  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Jai trouvà © une jolie bague entre le bricbrac.I found a pretty ring among the bric-a-brac.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Mes à ©tudiants, entre autres, vont...My students, among others, are going...   Ã‚  Ã‚  Beaucoup dentre vous...Many among you...   Ã‚  Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.There is honor among thieves.

Some commentators have argued that the credit crunch has resulted in a Essay

Some commentators have argued that the credit crunch has resulted in a shortage of funds being made available to small firms - Essay Example It entails changing ones course towards new things that are considered more creative in generating ones desires. Growth of medium and small businesses encompasses an increment from a low level of business to an advanced level, covering operations over a large scope. There is a wide variety of business forms depending on their size, management, as well as proprietorship; and ranging from public corporations, private companies to the smallest businesses that are singly owned. The operations of each form of a corporation may take several courses where some come together to operate as a group, while others remain singly operated (Smallbone, 2008). For successful enterprises operations, valuers and policy makers or even the proprietors always find it necessary to value companies according to the prevailing operations. Valuation is crucial for it assists the concerned parties in making appropriate decisions as well as laying the corporations on a scale, a factor that helps predict the futu re direction of the companies. More so, different techniques and approaches are employed in the companies’ valuations, which are carried out depending on the form of the company at hand. Private company valuations are thus deemed very important in the day-to-day running of the corporations. There is a need for employment of different techniques in the valuation processes to enhance a comprehensive cover, since each technique yields distinct Results. This paper is aimed at investigating into the valuation of private companies and several valuation techniques in details. Additionally, it will be crucial to establish the advantages and disadvantages of the several methods herein discussed as well as the other alternative methods that could as well be used in the valuation processes in regard to private companies (Bridge, et al., 2003). Valuation of private companies Company valuation is a process that entails the utilization of a sequence of procedures in estimating its value. T his process is mainly carried out by valuators, who come up with a comprehensive report concerning the company’s assets and liabilities. Financial participants in the market mainly use the valuation as a basis for price discussions when the company is on sale. Earlier research has not established a professional method or approach that provides an actual value of a particular company, but numerous approaches and techniques are considered important in determining the value of a company. The current available used techniques only provide an estimate of what the company is worth. Various factors are always considered when valuing a company depending on whether the company is privately owned or publicly owned. Valuation processes are carried out with a lot of caution, considering the company’s assets quality, the nature of its liabilities as well as the intangible assets. It is beneficial to value a company’s assets since it helps the investors in making sound decisi ons concerning their company. Additionally, it is often important in giving prospective buyers some confidence due to the full awareness of the

IP 5 - Macro Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IP 5 - Macro - Term Paper Example The feasibility of any policy is essential, as it will determine the number of adjustments to be put in place to ensure maximum benefit. The World Bank applies policies based on sustainability. The advice given to new industrialized countries are based on economic growth and utilizing on the local potential. In Singapore, the balance is found between the social and economic spaces. The government polices are aimed at maintaining the balance between growth and social priorities. The steady economic growth measured based on GDP indicate the positive local models and the World Bank aims at ensuring financial and consultative aid is provided the country boast of economic stability (Page, 1994). However the local population required a sustainable model that balance between economic growth and social require are met. Social demands in this case imply the educational system and the healthcare provision. The country has been advised to focus on the educational system. The current curriculum should focus on productivity and evaluated based on quality rather than accessibility. In this case investment opportunities are introduced in the learning institution. The model is aimed at securing the future of investments and ensures continuous growth across the nation. Through education the country is a ble to plan for the future having secured the employment demand. The current educational system focuses on innovation and independent investments (Page, 1994). The educational system ensures continuous supply of labor while at the same time creating room for entrepreneurs. In Hong Kong, the focus is on the social policy is utilized to create a balance between the market demand and supply of labor. The aim is to empower local population hence reducing the rate of employment. High wages are to be triggered by the supply of skilled labor to the market. This implies increasing the local population purchasing

Critic of A Family Finds Entertainment by Ryan Trecartin Essay

Critic of A Family Finds Entertainment by Ryan Trecartin - Essay Example The genius of the film is not in the plot. The story is generally reflective of a teenager’s life in a highly urbanized environment whose sense of self is driven by consumerism and mass media. It is about a suicidal teenage character named Skippy whose gender is quite difficult to define but easily recognized to be Trecatin (being such, Skippy will be addressed as a boy) being clod in an outlandish costume who started in the film hidden in the second floor bathroom of their home. Skippy was asked and pleaded to come out by family and friends but instead of coming out, indulged in a surreal self assessment in the character of Kafka that drove him to cut himself. The irony was presented with the partying and singing downstairs while Skippy is in a self-mortification mood ready to cut himself/herself up. Strangely, a seashell told him to stop and stop he did. He left home and met a filmmaker but later hit by a car. A band played in electric frenzy followed by fireworks and festiv ity. The idea of the movie was not to conform but rather to challenge which is the genius of the film. ... recatin playing a role of female makes a statement that narration should be gender neutral and characterization should depend on the personality of the characters. This explains the over emphasized dialogues of the characters with Trecatin playing as Skippy and another female character. The construction of the character is not based on physiology but rather on the articulation of its mind. The way it investigate the circumstances and progression of the life of Skippy demonstrates that narration and story-telling can be done in non linear and even unrealistic way. The speech also does not have to taken literally just like Skippy’s seeming existentialist articulation when he was contemplating of suicide. There, it requires the consideration of not just the dialogue of the character but also the accompanying juxtaposition of the character’s body and its facial expression to finally get what the character is saying. This explains why the characters are outlandish because th ey complement the seemingly curt verbiages to complete a full dialogue. To illustrate, one can feel the gravity of the proposition that confounds Skippy when he was attempting to kill himself. Yet, the narration was only a serious of short talk, with series of impressions that were cut short by editing, but we are able to get it when we factored in the facial expression, the altered speech, the unorthodox lingo and body language of Skippy. The message that was delivered by shell or snail for Skippy not to take his life seems Kafkaesque in surrealism, but we get the message clear. Taking the whole context and narration of the film, Trecatin only illustrates that there are other ways of investigating certain phenomena whose story-telling is more contemporary albeit absurd in its presentation but the

Chemical Hazards In The Working Environment Environmental Sciences Essay

Chemical Hazards In The Working Environment Environmental Sciences Essay Chemical Engineering is defined as the branch of engineering which is involved in the application of physical science and mathematics to processing and converting raw materials and chemicals into more useful forms. The outputs and methods of these processes are not always safe and chemical hazards need to be overcome to make the working environment a satisfactorily hospitable for everyone that the process affects. This includes the general public and the environment as well as the workers involved. Chemical Engineers need to ensure that the safety measures which they devise regarding certain processes are adequate enough not to pose hazards and to meet the regulations of the law. This term paper will outline some of the hazards which Chemical Engineers and other workers in the industry need to neutralise to ensure that the working environment is safe for those involved. A hazard is defined as anything which could result in an accident. Such hazards include those caused by the release of noxious chemicals which can prove damaging to the health of people and the environment. Chemical hazards can be especially dangerous due to the toxic nature of the substances used in the industry. Plant Safety The health and safety of plant workers is a major concern to the chemical industry. Accidents which result in loss of life or injuries are especially damaging due to the high costs they inflict. Costs in retraining personnel, repairing equipment damaged in have huge costs, as well as the interruption in business that ensues after an accident. The trends have shown that over the years fatalities have decreased but property costs have increased. This trend is due to the increased automated systems used in plants. These systems have increased complexity and productivity to older designs. In earlier designs the workers were more exposed to the chemical processes taking place in the plant, and were in turn exposed to more hazards. This however poses another problem because if workers are more isolated from a process, even if this greatly reduces health and safety hazards then if a malfunction occurs in the plant it is much more difficult to have experienced personnel available to fix a process problem. Due to this action compensation must be made in the case of higher property costs as opposed to loss of life and injury to workers. As of the early 1990s, annual worker fatalities ran about 9 per 100,000 employees; annual lost time disabling injuries ran about 4,000 per 100,000 employees. Property Losses increased fourfold from the 1970s. Safety assessments are now undergone on chemical plants to ensure that they adhere to safety levels proposed by regulation standards. Quantification of hazards such as overpressure potential and flammability were done by measurements of vapour pressure and of flash points and flammability limits. The process designers need to make use of data that gives information pertaining to the hazards of a process such as information of reaction rates and the energies involved in exothermic reactions in which heat is given out, that of unstable chemicals, of temperature limits in which explosive decomposition can occur, rates of generation of gas and vapour and emergency fail-safes such as pressure releases for high pressure systems. Citing Wikipedia, Fault tree analysis (FTA) is a failure analysis in which an undesired state of a system is analyzed using Boolean logic to combine a series of lower-level events. This is used to quantitatively combine the characteristics of human and component failure rates to obtain a safety assessment for that process. Many changes arose in the 1980s and 1990s regarding safety requirements in the petrochemical and chemical industry. These were presented by industrial groups such as Chemical Manufacturers Association as and the American Petroleum Institute as consensus guidelines. The objective of these changes was to make sure that all members of these industries were designed, maintained and controlled in the safest way that would be economically viable. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment Hazards associated with in facilities can be in the order of hundreds or thousands if the facility is large enough. These hazards occur as a result of factors such as the type of physical materials being used, the processes that are designed to make a product, the operating conditions and the design of a plant to name but a few. If hazards arent controlled a sequence of events can occur which will result in an accident. A hazard can result in an accident which is an unplanned sequence of events which can result in the loss of life, damage to the environment, damage to products and inventory and damage to equipment. Risk involves probability and consequence of something undesirable occurring. It is impossible to completely define a risk without taking both of these components into consideration. For example a hazard could involve a large consequence but also could have a very low probability of causing an accident or vice versa. In both these cases it would be classed as a moderate risk. The purpose of hazard analysis and risk assessment is therefore to characterise hazards, determine the probability of them occurring and then to consider and evaluate the consequences if an accident did occur. This procedure can be summed up by this flow chart in Figure 1. Flow chart describing the full hazard analysis and risk assessment procedure Fig. 1 Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) Flow Chart Explanation A committee is required to perform hazard analysis and risk assessment. Each member of the committee must have adequate experience to the chemical process that is being considered. The first step is to consider a detailed account of the process which describes it completely. This has to include the physical properties of the materials being used, instrument diagrams of processes, operating temperatures and pressures, materials for the construction of the equipment being used and any other detailed design specifications. The more detailed and updated this is, the more effective the analysis will be. The next step involves identifying the hazards involved in the process. This is done by a certain number of established procedures. In this step it is not uncommon to find hundreds of hazards for complex processes. The next step involves identifying all the scenarios which could result in the loss of control of the system, therefore resulting in an accident. This can be seen to be the most difficult step in the analysis. Most accidents occur due to improper accident scenario characterisation. Many complex chemical processes can have hundreds of different accident scenarios for each hazard but the most important part of this analysis is to pick the scenarios which are most dire but at the same time credible. Risk assessment is the next part of the procedure. This involves determining accident probability and the consequences involved. This procedure is performed for all the accident scenarios that were identified in the last step. Statistical models used to represent failures are the method preferred for determining the probability of each accident. Source models are used to provide information about how material would be ejected from equipment, along with dispersion and explosion models, a good estimate can be made to the cost of the damage to the affected areas. Thus the consequence is now determined. The final part of this procedure is to decide whether the risks involved are acceptable. If they are not then changes must be made and the process must be restarted to ensure that they are subsequently neutralised. If the risk is an acceptable one then the process can go ahead and be implemented. Hazard analysis or risk assessment can be undergone at any time during the course of a process life. It is however, must more cost effective to perform this procedure at the initial stages where changes would be less costly to implement. Process Safety Management Several incidents which occurred in the late twentieth century indicated that there needed a significant improvement in the management of process hazards. There are three incidents that have produced the greatest legislative response. These incidents are as follows The Flixborough disaster, U.K. 1st June 1974 in which a temporary bypass pipe ruptured causing 40 tonnes of cyclohexane to form a vapour cloud 100-200 metres in diameter. The cloud came in contact with an ignition source and exploded causing 1,800 buildings within a mile radius of the site were damaged. 28 dead. 89 serious injuries. Wikipedia, Flixborough Disaster (2010) The Bhopal disaster, India. 3rd December 1984 in which a runaway reaction caused by water entering tank 610 containing 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate vented to the surrounding areas forming a toxic cloud. ca. 3,000 dead. ca. 200,000 serious injuries. Wikipedia, Bhopal Disaster (2010) Polyethylene Plant Explosion, Pasadena, Texas. 23rd October 1989 in which a valve failure caused a large amount of flammable gas to be released which subsequently exploded. 23 dead. 130-300 serious injury. (www.cholarisk.com//Philips%20PE%20Pasadona%20Explosion.ppt). Standards and guidelines have been developed to ensure that these types of accidents do not occur again by improving management of process safety. The Health and Safety at Work Act developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was devised following the Flixborough disaster this meant that the HSE would require that the type or quantity of chemical used or produced was to be registered and also the HSE submitted recommendations for maintenance functions plant design and methods for evaluating process hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Act devised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which was enacted in 1970 established standards for occupational hazards such as toxicity, equipment guarding and protection against falling, noise and electrical shock. The New Jersey Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act was developed after the Bhopal disaster and several other incidents such as that of Institute, West Virginia in 1985 and several chemical release incidents in New Jersey in 1986. This required for each of the 109 materials listed in regulations to be registered based on attainment of a material that can cause acute toxicity at a distance of 100m from a source of 1 hour release. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Safety and Hazard symbols A hazard symbol is defined as a recognised symbol that is designed to warn about dangerous locations or materials. NFPA 704- National Fire Protection Association NFPA 704 or the fire diamond is a standard maintained by the National Fire Protection Agency in the US. This standard is used by emergency personnel to easily and quickly identify the types of nearby hazards and to help determine what sort of equipment, precautions or procedures would need to be adhered to following an emergency response. There are symbols attached to the fire diamond which each signify a particular type of hazard. They are colour coded. Red signifies a flammability hazard, blue signifies a health hazard, yellow signifies an instability or reactivity hazard and white signifies a specific hazard such as a material that reacts unusually with water such as sodium or certain alkali metals, a specific hazard can be anything from a biological hazard to a corrosive hazard. Each of these hazards is ranked according to the level of risk they pose to personnel. It is ranked with 5 gradations, 4 being the highest and 0 being the lowest; this would pose no hazard at all. For each of the different types of hazards this high level of risk has a different definition. For a flammability hazard of 4 this would mean that the material has a flash point below that of room temperature and will burn readily at regular pressures and temperatures. Propane is an example of such a hazardous substance. For a health hazard of 4 this would signify that if one were exposed to the material for a short amount of time that it could cause death. An example of this would be hydrogen cyanide or phosphine. For an instability or reactivity hazard of 4 this would signify a substance that would be readily capable of detonation or decomposition at normal temperatures and pressure, such an example of this would be nitroglycerine. On the other end of the scale, a flammability hazard of 0 would be a substance that would not burn under any conditions such as water. A health hazard of 0 would be a substance that would pose no health hazard at all such as that of lanolin ointment. An instability/reactivity hazard of 0 would be a substance that is normally stable, even if it is exposed to fire, such as helium or any inert gas. These are some examples of the fire diamonds for various substances nfpa_diamond.png fire diamond for ethanol.jpg caffeine fire diamond.jpg Fig 2.1 Nitroglycerine Fig 2.2 Ethanol Fig 2.3. Caffeine Another method by which hazards can be averted is by specifying the types of precautions needed in handling potentially dangerous chemicals. The Hazardous Materials Identification Guide (HMIG) and Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) use a different system which signifies what type of protective equipment is needed when handling a certain chemical. This method is similar to the NFPA 704 (fire diamond). The differences lie in the white bar. In this system the white bar holds letters corresponding to different types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which are needed. The letters used are A-K and X and mean the same for both the HMIG and HMIS. They are also augmented with pictures of what icons are pictures showing the types of PPE that would be needed. HMIG.gif Fig 2.4 (HMIG) Safety Glasses Safety Glasses, Gloves Safety Glasses, Gloves, Apron Face Shield, Gloves, Apron Safety Glasses, Gloves, Dust Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Apron, Dust Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Vapour Respirator Splash Goggles, Gloves, Apron Vapour Respirator Safety Glasses, Gloves, Dust and Vapour Respirator Splash Goggles, Gloves, Apron, Dust and Vapour Respirator Air Line Hood or Mask, Gloves, Full suit, Boots X- Ask Supervisor or Safety Specialist for handling instructions Hazardous Materials Regulations In an operation where chemicals are manufactured and distributed the role of packaging these chemicals safely is an important priority to the chemical industry. Careful consideration must be made to ensure that the packaging used provides adequate containment of any hazards that may be held in the packaging so as to ensure that it can be transported safely from the place of manufacture to where it is being used. Not only that, but the product must be packaged as to contain the product adequately to ensure that it does not become contaminated by the surroundings, to provide vital information about product identity, handling information and any potential hazards to shippers and users. Due to environmental concerns packaging practises have undergone scrutiny by governments, regulatory agencies, consumer groups and environmentalists. It is becoming increasingly important that packaging is produced in a reasonable manner, is recycled when economically feasible and permitted by regulation, and is used in an efficient manner so as to ensure no wastage occurs where possible and to minimise usage of materials. Most products can be stored and transported by most means of packaging; the choice of the type of packaging is taken usually by the manufacturer for economic or marketing reasons. For a chemical however the choice of packaging is mainly dictated by safety priorities and chemical compatibility factors. In this case, for physical distribution the cost of the packaging can be comparable to the manufacturing costs of the product and this in turn will have a knock-on effect for the cost of the product for the consumer. Regulations regarding how a chemical product is packaged and shipped depend on whether the chemical is classified as hazardous or nonhazardous. Nonhazardous chemical substances are shipped and packaged subject to the rules of the carrier. The most common rules are those published in National Motor Freight Classification for trucks and Uniform Freight Classification for railroads. If items are not packaged according to the classification requirements then the carriers have a right to collect a surcharge and refuse paying handling or damage claims on such items. The regulations controlling packaging for hazardous materials are different. The primary document The Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) devised in the Code of Federal Regulations was changed in order to bring it to par with international rules and to enhance safety through better classification and packaging. The primary change was to replace specific containers with performance oriented packaging. This means that as long a s a packaging system passes test requirements it can be used. Certification of a package is now the responsibility of the shipper. Tests on packaging must be approved by a test laboratory and in turn this laboratory must be approved by the Department of Transport (DOT). Hazardous materials are regulated according to how they are classified. The HMR provides a table classifying the types of hazardous materials. There are 9 classes some with subdivisions. HMR Classification Class Subdivision Explosives 1.1 Mass Explosion Hazard 1.2 Projection Hazard; no mass explosion hazard 1.3 Fire hazard and minor projection or blast 1.4 No significant blast hazard 1.5 Very insensitive mass explosion hazard 1.6 Extremely insensitive detonating substances Compressed Gases 2.1 Flammable Gas 2.2 Non-flammable Gas 2.3 Poison Gas Flammable Liquids Flammable Solids 4.1 Flammable Solid 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible 4.3 Dangerous When Wet Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides 5.1 Oxidizer 5.2 Organic Peroxide Poisonous and infectious Substances 6.1 Poisonous Substances 6.2 Infectious Substances Radioactive Materials Corrosives Miscellaneous dangerous Substances Fig 3. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) Packaging requirements for hazardous materials are determined by finding them listed in Hazardous Materials table of 49 CFR, section 172. From this the hazard class, packaging group, identification number, label requirements, packaging authorisations and special provisions can be ascertained from this. All types of designed packaging must be tested before approval. If approved, it must be marked with the UN packaging marking which specify any details pertaining to the packaged material such as the type of material, relative density of the material and maximum gross weight for which the packaging has been tested, the packaging group for which the package has been approved, whether the material is solid or under pressure, the state or country of origin, the year of manufacture and the testing facility. When the package is ready for shipment it must be labelled with the identification number and shipping name in the top left corner, the hazardous materials label in the centre of the pan el, and the package marking in the bottom left corner. Shipping documents must also show the hazardous materials identification, the hazard class and an emergency telephone number. Improper packaging procedures including improper shipping documents, marking or handling can result in civil and/or criminal liabilities against the carrier, shipper or the packaging manufacturer. Hazardous Pollutants The chemical process industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. It is regulated regarding areas of environmental protection, health and safety. Everything is affected by the chemical industry, the siting of a new location for a facility, the transportation of raw materials and finished products, working conditions for employees, packaging of finished materials and interactions with the community. The chemical industry also develops additional regulations alongside the regulatory agencies to ensure the proper protection of the community, the environment and the employees. For example, The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) brought out the Responsible Care Initiative. This initiative, initially started in Canada, is a commitment on behalf of the chemical industry to continuously improve health, safety and environmental standards and to respond to public concerns. The initiative is implemented by 6 codes of management practices which cover Community Awar eness and Emergency Response (CAER), Employee Health and Safety, Distribution, Process Safety, Pollution Prevention and Product Stewardship. More than 35 countries in the world have taken on responsible care and are developing their own means of implementation. Uniformity to environmental standards was attempted by the International Standard Organisation (ISO) by following up the ISO 9000 series of quality standards with the ISO 14000 environmental management standards. For example ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems, is a statement of environmental policy which includes the commitment to comply with environmental legislation and a commitment to ensure continual improvement; it also ensures that environmental objectives within the plant are identified, management representatives that ensure that the companies plans are implemented and procedures that might detect any noncompliance to such standards by means of periodic environmental management system audits are carried out. Any company wishing to do business in the international market will need ISO 14001 certification. Environmental Protection Water For a long time in the US water pollution control were taken on a basis of water quality standards for bodies of water such as streams, lakes and rivers, receiving bodies of water. There was no effective, national legal authority which limited the discharge of pollutants into bodies of water and was regulated more so on a state-by-state basis. In the late 1960s the US revived the 1899 Refuse Act which prohibited discharging anything into navigable water unless certain permits were obtained. This provided a new control over discharges of materials by industry. Along with this, legislation from the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments (FWPCA) was put forward with an objective to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations waters. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). New water quality standards were introduced by means of stream use classification. This gave control to states to decide what they would use their water for. The EPA defined 4 categori es. Class A Primary water contact recreation Class B Propagation of desirable aquatic life Class C Public water supplies prior to treatment and Class D Agricultural and industrial uses After this, water quality criteria were to be developed. This means that for each designated water use there were going to be limits to the allowed concentration of pollutants. Limits of discharged effluent were controlled by means of regulating the unit weight of pollutant discharged per mass of product manufactured, rather than measuring the overall concentration of pollutant in a discharge stream. In this way chemical industries would be unable to dilute chemical pollutants to avoid surpassing concentration limits. Air 2500 years ago lead pollution produced by silver smelters in Rome and Greece were a major cause of concern. Analysis of lake sediments has shown that this lead pollution has spread across the northern hemisphere. Air pollution caused in the modern working environment is usually due to burning of fossil fuels and as early as the 13th century this has been attributed to the burning of coal. The main cause for concern with coal burning was the unpleasant sulfurous odour released and the soot produced but the health effects caused by this has not been made clear until recently. National Ambient Air Quality Standards 6 pollutants that cause major concern have been classed by the EPA under The Clean Air Act 1970. These are Sulfur Oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), lead, particulates i.e. (subdivisions of solid or liquid matter suspended in a gas), and photochemical oxidants (ozone).The EPA developed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to combat levels of air pollution based on the level of highest concentration that would have no adverse effects on the environment or on human health. These standards are expressed by ground level concentrations where the concentrations of pollutants are measured at ground level in measurements of parts per million or micrograms per cubic metre. Solid and hazardous waste Implementation of laws concerning the control of pollution due to solid waste disposal was formulated much slower than for those were for water and air. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976 (RCRA) was the first act passed where newer substantial controls were authorised. The objective of the RCRA was to conserve public health, the environment and natural resources. It was implemented to ensure that practices regarding the production, storage, transportation and disposal of waste would minimise or completely eradicate the hazard to human health and the environment. The section of the RCRA that caused the most concern to the Chemical Industry was subtitle C. This was the hazardous waste management regulations. The objective of this was to monitor and regulate hazardous waste from the time of production to its disposal. Facilities which would work in the transportation, storage, treatment or generation of hazardous waste are covered by these regulations. The definition of a s olid waste to the RCRA covers a broad category of substances including solids, semisolids or liquids or any contained gaseous materials. A hazardous waste is a substance that must be either listed by the EPA or have a hazardous characteristic Kirk Othmer (1991-1998). Certain types of solid wastes are excluded from the hazardous materials regulations specifically for the large volume by which they are produced or other reasons. These would include household wastes, fossil fuel combustion, exploration wastes and some agricultural and mining wastes. A solid waste is considered hazardous if it is listed in the EPA or has a specific characteristic hazard. There are four characteristics of hazardous wastes: reactivity, corrosivity, ignitability and toxicity. Toxicity refers to how leachable the waste is and the toxicity in the groundwater that would result using Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, an analytical method. Some examples of hazards included in TCLP are listed in the ta ble below. Maximum Concentration of Contaminants for Toxicity Characteristic Contaminant Regulatory Level (mg/L) Arsenic 5.0 Benzene 0.5 Silver 5.0 Lead 5.0 Mercury 0.2 Chloroform 6.0 Chromium 5.0 Selenium 1.0 Fig 4. Kirk Othmer (1991-1998) It is the responsibility of the producer of the substance to determine whether it is hazardous. They are required to hold records; label substances correctly, inform transporters and report to the EPA periodically. Groundwater and air quality are monitored for any facility that could potentially produce emissions. Any regulations concerning nonhazardous waste are controlled by the local and state authorities. Due to increased pressure on landfill sites these regulations are getting more stringent for nonhazardous solid waste. Better management of nonhazardous waste is encouraged through recycling, reduction and reuse. Industrial Hygiene Industrial hygiene is a profession devoted to anticipating, evaluating and recognising any environmental factors or stresses arising in the workplace which could cause impaired health and wellbeing, sickness, inefficiency and significant discomfort between workers and those of the local community. In the U.S., industrial hygienists are usually members of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) or other groups such as the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene (AAIH). Industrial Hygienists work with other professions concerning health in the workplace such as safety engineers and occupational health nursing. All these groups work in implementing the laws regarding the regulation of health and safety in the workplace. The principal laws are the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in the U.S. but similar laws are put into place all over the world which are proposed by International Organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Or ganisation (WHO). Hazards arising from the workplace which industrial hygienists are interested in would include the following categories. Chemical Carcinogens, Reproductive Hazards, Acute Poisons, Irritants, Corrosives, Neurotoxins Ergonomic Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Back injury, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Human-Machine interaction Physical Noise, Cold, Heat, Ionising Radiation, Extremely Low Frequency Radiation (ELF), Ultraviolet Radiation, Laser Radiation, Infra Red Radiation Industrial Hygienists must be able to detect what potential hazards might result from workplace materials, to evaluate hazards and determine how much risk is posed by it, and to recognise hazards as they occur. The best and cheapest way to approach workplace hazards is to anticipate them and if possible to completely prevent them from happening. When a new chemical process is conceived an industrial hygienist must check the toxicology of the substance produced, either by animal testing or by human epidemiology. Some substances are self limiting, others are potent and carcinogenic but most chemicals lie somewhere in between. Wherever possible it is encouraged to abstain from using potentially dangerous chemicals. Also potentially damaging physical hazards which arise from certain processes such as excessive heat, noise or pressures must also be anticipated and avoided where possible. Usually industrial hygienists are capable in devising methods of using hazardous chemical substances safely. To recognise potential hazards industrial hygienists must have an extensive knowledge of the kind of hazards that may occur in types of industry. Recognising hazards is done by looking for sources of harmful chemical or physical agents that would cause damage if exposed to workers. Fugitive emissions are an example of an industrial hazard, and occur when there is a break in the barrier which provides containment for the chemical process. The main source of loss can be attributed to seal and flange leaks where material could escape. Even though the emissions can be incredibly small so that they are undetectable by a material balance, they can however build up in the work area which could lead to overexposure to harmful chemicals. Valve stem leaks are one example. These can worsen over time if not corrected. Pump seal leaks which are usually quite small can become large if there is total seal fail

Family Member Perspective and Damage to Temporal Lobe :: Medical Chemistry Chemical Papers

Family Member Perspective and Damage to Temporal Lobe The temporal lobe has several functions. Among these functions are auditory, memory, and emotional tone to sensory input. In these ways temporal lobes allow us to not only hear, but to comprehend what we hear and put it in to the proper context to effectively remember. (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005) Because of the functions of the temporal lobe, someone who suffers from damage to this area due to either a lesion or tumor can also suffer from a major change in personality. Drastic personality changes are one of the primary reasons it can be difficult to live with a family member who is experiencing temporal damage. One important role a family member of a person who suffers from temporal lobe lesions or tumors plays is helping the person recognize that there is a problem. Recognizing that there is a problem can be achieved through understanding the various symptoms associate with temporal lobe damage. One major area of symptoms deals with the drastic personality changes. The predominate symptom associated with personality changes experienced as a result of temporal damage is an extreme increase in aggression. Other symptoms of personality changes deal primarily with personal behavior, such as a change in sexual behavior, and a major shift in general personality as well as affective behavior. A second major group of symptoms associated with temporal damage is in the area of sensation and perception. These symptoms include different disorders of visual perception, difficulty perceiving auditory stimuli, and difficulty paying attention to visual and auditory stimuli. A final group of temporal lobe damage symptoms includes difficulty with long term memory, as well as problems with language comprehension and organization and categorization of verbal material. (â€Å"The Temporal Lobe,† 2005) Once symptoms have been recognized, a family member can assist in testing for damage. Personality Changes As mentioned above, personality changes, particularly aggressiveness, are a major side effect of damage to the temporal lobes. Aggression can be described as â€Å"a form of behavior characterized by physical or verbal attack.† (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2005) This aggressiveness can be expressed either externally or internally. In other words, some patients with temporal lobe damage acts out physically towards other people, while some patients aggressiveness is directed at themselves, through harsh and violent thoughts or physically hurting themselves. (Amens, 2005) Family members of those who suffer from temporal lobe damage due to lesions or tumors are primarily affected by the

Frankenstein vs Planet of the Apes

Frankenstein VS Planet of the Apes: A Frightful Showdown Humans as a species like to experiment with the world around them and push the limits of any known law. As a result, the human race is constantly toying with the everlasting puzzle: What is life and how can it be manipulated? Through many realistic fiction stories—such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Rise of the Planet of the Apes—the general public is able to take a look into how far the human mind wants to go.Both stories use technology as a vehicle to enhancing human life and end up with horrible endings. Though these tales share a common theme, they diverge in plot lines by exploring different ways that technology can affect life as usual. By examining these tales one will notice the difference of experiments, consequences, and relationships. The first major difference is the means of experimentation between the two protagonists. In Frankenstein, Victor uses a mysterious â€Å"spark of life† t o bring his creation alive in order to fulfill his own ambitions.In Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the protagonist’s motivation for experimenting on life is for the greater good from the get go. By these plots being different, the audience can see how even though scientists can have totally separate ideas and reasoning the end game is usually the same. However, this was not the only difference between the cautionary narratives. The other key thing that made these stories different was the endings. In the film, the experiments wreak havoc on the city just so that they could get to safety.In the novel, the creation causes destruction for the sole purpose of tormenting its creator. The apes reach their destination and though they leave a wake of terror in their path are generally safe and complacent, while the protagonist quietly mourns losing his friend. On the other hand, Victor loses his life in the hunt for the creation and the monster commits suicide leaving no trace of an y the events that took place. These two differences are what make each tale unique. The film and novel have one commonality: they warn humans of the dangers that can be self-inflicted.Each story results in suffering, loss, and destruction caused by the creations. They try and convey the message that manipulating life can be a volatile process and should be handled with the utmost care. Though one lead character lives while the other main character dies, they both reach a point where they realize the power and seriousness of their actions therefore teaching the reader/ viewer. Watching/ reading these interesting narratives can leave a person more cautious of their actions and decisions.Overall, the book and film differed in a variety of ways, ways such as plot line and end results. However the overall theme of the power of technology in human lives remained dominant in both tales. One is a film with wonderful visual effects and the other is an aged book that still retains the vividne ss of its day. They are both striking entertainment and could be interchangeable for instilling a sense of power and responsibly in reckless youth. There were few things that could be tweaked and more informative tales should be made revolving around this universal subject.

French Past Imperative - Impératif passé

French Past Imperative - Impà ©ratif passà © The French past imperative is very rare  because its usage is restricted to a single situation: it gives a command for something that must be done before a certain time.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aie à ©crit ce rapport demain.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Have this report written by tomorrow.If you obey the instructions in the above example, when tomorrow comes the report will already be written, so the writing of it will be in the past, ergo, the past imperative. If you use the regular imperative, Écris ce rapport demain, the report wont yet be written when tomorrow rolls around: in accordance with the command, you will be writing it tomorrow. On the other hand, the careful use of a preposition can make all the difference - you could just say Écris ce rapport avant demain and avoid the past imperative altogether - probably another reason that it is so rare.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Soyez partis midi.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leave / Be gone by noon.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ayons fini les devoirs 7h00.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lets have our homework done by 7:00.The past imperative is kind of similar in nuance to the past infinitive, except that it indicates a command rather than a statement of fact. Because the past imperative is so rare, theres really no need to learn how to use it, but you should be able to recognize it. How to Conjugate the Past Imperative The past imperative is a  compound conjugation, which means it has two parts: imperative  of the  auxiliary verb  (either  avoir  or  Ãƒ ªtre)past participle  of the main verb Note:  Like all French compound conjugations, the past imperative may be subject to  grammatical  agreement: When the auxiliary verb is  Ãƒ ªtre, the past participle must agree with the subjectWhen the auxiliary verb is  avoir, the past participle may have to agree with its direct object As with the present imperative, the past imperative has conjugations for only three grammatical persons:  tu,  nous, and  vous. Pronoun parler choisir avoir tre (tu) aie parl aie choisi aie eu aie t (nous) ayons parl ayons choisi ayons eu ayons t (vous) ayez parl ayez choisi ayez eu ayez t Pronoun sortir descendre aller venir (tu) sois sorti(e) sois descendu(e) sois all(e) sois venu(e) (nous) soyons sorti(e)s soyons descendu(e)s soyons all(e)s soyons venu(e)s (vous) soyez sorti(e)(s) soyez descendu(e)(s) soyez all(e)(s) soyez venu(e)(s)

14 Classic Gift Ideas for College Graduation

14 Classic Gift Ideas for College Graduation Graduating from college is often one of the most important milestones in someones life. Finding the perfect college graduation gift to match such a momentous occasion, however, can be a bit tricky. These 14 graduation gift ideas are classic, affordable, and practically guaranteed to work for any situation. Classic College Graduate Gifts Diploma frame from the graduates school: whether your graduate is going to run her own company or have a small office in a mega-company somewhere, theyll most likely want to display their diploma proudly for all to see- and for years to come. Many campus bookstores offer diploma frames with college or university logos that will add that extra pop to your graduates official degree.Shadow box: many craft and frame stores offer shadow boxes: a box that has one side made of glass (made to look like a frame) that you can hang on a wall. Create a special one tailored just for your graduate- with mementos, college insignia, and even sports paraphernalia, if appropriate. As a bonus, shadow boxes work well in an office or your graduates new apartment.Digital frame: your graduate undoubtedly has quite a few digital photos from their time in college; a digital frame can quickly turn into a great photo album of sorts that documents their time in school. Dont forget to add a few photos beforehand to get things started! College memorabilia: this can include anything that best fits your graduates personality and interests: a sweatshirt, a workout outfit, a duffel/travel bag, an alumni bumper sticker, a portfolio, or even a clock. Many campus bookstores stock up on these kinds of items around graduation day, so there should be plenty to choose from.Gift for a new apartment: is your new graduate moving out from the residence halls  and into a new place? Consider getting something that will work in a new apartment, like a portable toolkit, a gift certificate to a store like IKEA or Home Depot, or even a traditional item like bread and salt (or other culturally appropriate gifts).A classic book: your graduate spent the last several years reading hundreds of things to earn their degree, but books that help reinforce the basics are always a smart gift idea. Oh, the Places Youll Go! by Dr. Seuss and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein are timeless graduation presents.Your favorite cookbo ok: your graduate may have eaten on-campus food, fast food, and overall-just-not-so-great food over the past several years. Why not buy a new copy of your favorite cookbook to help get them started as they learn to cook for themselves? Or, better yet, pass along your own cookbook, complete with notes you write in, for an even more personal touch. A recipe box or binder full of family recipes: this may take some time to put together, but its definitely worth the extra effort. Put together a recipe box or binder full of your favorite recipes, your family recipes, or even recipes from friends. This personalized collection can help your graduate learn how to cook meals that are familiar and delicious.Things to use in their new city or at graduate school: is your graduate moving to Boston, Washington, D.C. or New York City?  Consider buying them subway fare cards or even a monthly pass. Other locale-specific gifts, like a Zagat book or Thomas Guide, can be incredibly helpful- and appreciated!- as your graduate starts their new life in a new city.Business card holder: your graduate might be working for a non-profit or for corporate America. Either way, theyll probably have business cards theyll want to hand out at conferences, meetings, and other business events. Consider buying a small, nice, classic business card holder- some c an even be personalized- as an inexpensive but highly useful graduation present. Briefcase or a nice bag: While a briefcase is a traditional gift for a law school graduate, it can also be a great gift for any college graduate. Dont worry about needing to buy the nicest, brand-name, all-leather bag you can find, either; messenger bags and other options might work, too, depending on your graduates career field and geographic location.Engraved pen: This is one gift that never goes out of fashion. Many companies offer very nice, classic-looking pens that can also be engraved. (Some college bookstores, too, offer similar pens with tiny college logos somewhere on them.) These pens work well for business- and, of course, your graduates first day of work.Classic piece of jewelry: A pearl necklace, diamond earrings or bracelet, or even a ring with gemstones that match your graduates school colors are practically guaranteed to be a hit. Your graduate will have something to remember their special day with- and a piece of new jewelry to boot!A family memento or heirloom: Col lege graduation day is a big day for both your graduate and their family. Consider gifting something that has been passed along in the family- a piece of jewelry, an old book or diary, a photo album, or a piece of military memorabilia, for example- to mark your graduates transition from dependent student to independent, college-educated adult.

Commercial Analysis and Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Commercial Analysis and Planning - Essay Example When aircrafts were invented, continuous monitoring and hands-on by pilots was mandatory if the flight had to be flown successively (Bruseberg, & Johnson, 4). However, with the advancement it aircraft technology, planes that could facilitate long hours of flight were made. As a result, pilots suffered from fatigue and therefore a mechanism had to be invented to minimize this, autopilot: the first step to cockpit automation. In 1912, a corporation by the name Sperry, became the first to develop aircraft with autopilot feature. It was composed of a gyroscopic heading and attitude indicators which were connected to elevators and rudder that were operated by hydraulics. This enable the plane to follow the compass bearing and fly straight without negotiating corners (Damos, 11). Many were inspired by the invention and in the year 1930, Royal Aircraft Establishment, a corporation of England came up with their own autopilot which was referred to as pilots’ assister. It was built from , pneumatically-spun gyroscope, an advancement from the initial hydraulically operated ones. The development grew with the invention and inclusion of instruments that would allow the plane to be flown during the night. Autopilot has undergone computerization in modern planes. Modern level of autopilot are one-axis, two-axis and three-axis. Complex plane uses the three-axial autopilot. The purpose of autopilot is to control the plane when it takes off, during climbing, the smooth level air flight and during landing respectively (Billings, 23). Finally, current autopilot relies heavily on computers rather than the physical compass that was used by earlier aircrafts. Another phase of cockpit automation is in auto-throttle. In initial aircrafts, the pilot used to manually control the flow of fuel to the engine. However, auto-throttle has replaced this thus reducing pilots’

Analysis on a marketing news story which has appeared in 2013 Essay

Analysis on a marketing news story which has appeared in 2013 - Essay Example The review of the article reveals that the company wants to introduce digital marketing as a means of targeting its customer base in the United States. Analysis P & G, like its other competitors, has been following a combination of traditional and innovative marketing strategy for its products. However, keeping in view the market data and research findings of changing trends in consumers’ lifestyle, the management has decided to adjust its strategies accordingly (Serena & Vranica, 2013). After reading the article, it is inferred that the company is planning to spend more on online marketing activities of its products, owing to the fact that a vast number of Americans are expected to prefer spending more time on the internet rather than watching television. This shift in the consumers’ behaviour has in turn influenced P & G’s marketing experts to focus more on digital marketing concept (Serena & Vranica, 2013). The digital marketing concept, which involves the use of internet and mobile as a marketing channel, has been considered by the company as a replacement of its marketing campaigns on television (Ryan & Jones, 2012; Hoffman & Novak, 1996; Egan, 2007). The fact that digital marketing is cheaper and, with consumers spending more time on the internet, is more targeted, the company has aimed at spending one third of its total budget for marketing on the online advertisement and marketing campaigns in the United States (Serena & Vranica, 2013). The decision to switch from television and other traditional marketing channels to internet and mobile can be viewed as an intelligent one, since the marketing mix for the company can be developed in a more prudent manner (Ryan & Jones, 2012). As for instance, by marketing its products online, the company will be able to target its customers and inform them about products in a much more convincing and effective manner. Moreover, it will be possible for the customers to obtain information as per their respective needs, because the review of literature pertaining to digital marketing suggests that internet is an interactive marketing medium and is considered as a many-to-many model, in comparison with traditional one-to-many marketing channels (Silva & Vassiljev, 2011; Ryan & Jones, 2012). According to Hoffman and Novak (1996), internet as a marketing medium is a proficient means of communicating and advertising a product to target customers. Keeping in view the concept of â€Å"flow† which is defined as a process of optimal flow by Csikszentmihalyi (1990), Hoffman and Novak (1996) state that â€Å"when in flow in a particular Web site, a consumer will be more likely to remember the brand name, feel good about the brand, and be more likely to return on a subsequent occasion.† (p.2) These attributes of internet as a marketing medium have been taken into consideration by P & G’s marketing team, and in this regard the Chief Executive of the company has stated th at, â€Å"digital is incredibly effective, and we're doing more† (Serena & Vranica, 2013). The fact that there are some brands of the company, such as Tide and Pantene (Serena & Vranica, 2013), which have lost their respective market shares, and as a consequence the company has decided to introduce innovative strategies that may lead to capturing a significant market share in the United States. In addition to this, it is also pertinent to mention here that the company’s Chief Executive regards this strategic move of the