Media Is Playing a Constructive Role to the Society. Discuss Essay

Because of the extremely fast development of modern technology, people’s living condition has been changed entirely throughout the past decade. Instead of focusing on the material goods such as food and garments, we tend to strive for mental enjoyment; therefore, media has become an essential part of our daily life. When it comes to this issue, perspectives, apparently, may vary from individual to individual. Many people hold the opinion that media is positive to the society because of the large amount of information it brings to us. However, as far as I am concerned, Media is destructive to the society because of its negative influence, too much freedom, and over expose. My reasons are as follow. It is always top of my arguments that media is having the tendency of spreading negative influence towards the teenagers and young adults. For example, Hollywood produces thousands of movies every year, with the fact that more than half of them have the content of sex and violence. This will cause the effect that more than half of the movies that this generation watch is about the negative content, which can influence them toward these kinds of manner also. Apart from this, they may also have the possibility of using them in the real life. For instance, there are always scenes of smoking in the movies. Whenever they see these, they will have a desire of trying by them. Thus, Media is being extremely destructive to the society and human beings. Another equally essential factor, which brings about people’s attention, is that Media is giving too much freedom to the users so that they tend to abuse it negatively. Recently, there was an online fight between all the netizens and Facebook users towards the Muslim race. Instead of having Internet harmony, the netizens choose to post and write something against social harmony, which can also cause the disagreement towards some certain issues that should have been solved quietly and easily. Only if the Internet is banned can this these kinds of fight and argument be eliminated; therefore, media is not having constructive effect on the modern society  which indicates that media is playing a destructive role on it. However, many people hold the opinion that media has provided us with an open platform to get to know and understand the information all around the world. They consider that media is the only material that motivate and stimulate the process of modernization and globalization. Instead of a negative influence towards the society, the media is playing a positive and constructive role and it makes our society progressing in a positive manner. However, in my opinion, although media may have these advantages mentioned above, they are just the byproduct of the negative effect that media brought to us. As far as I am concerned, whenever media is connecting everyone closer and closer, it also produces a high chance of loosing personal privacy. As long as there is information on Internet, there will also be rumors and leaking of personal information. Media is giving out our own property instead of protecting us. Judging from this, media is playing a destructive role instead of affecting our so ciety positively. In conclusion, based on the evidence mentioned above, I personally consider that media is playing a destructive role in the society because it has brought about negative behaviors that may be copied by the teenagers and young adults, and it has created too much freedom and uncertainty for the media users to carryout unacceptable or illegal activities and programs.

Process or Reality Therapy

Reality therapy is an active, directive, and didactic model for change that stresses the person’s present behavior. A basic tenet of reality therapy is that individuals are responsible for their own behavior. It is a common sense approach an can be used by a wide variety of persons as well as highly trained professionals (Videbeck, 2007). The focus of reality therapy is behavior, not attitude, insight, feelings, one’s past, or unconscious motivation. This model refutes the medical model and encourages positive growth and success.It concentrates on what the clients can do practically to change behavior to fulfill their needs. The client is asked to identify wants and needs. They are asked to evaluate their behavior, formulate a plan for change, and follow though with their plan (Read, 1997). Reality therapy is grounded in the assumption that we all create our inner world. How the real world exists is not important, but rather what is important is the way we perceive it t o exist. Behavior is an attempt to control our perceptions of external world to fit our internal and personal world (Fatout, 1992).The process of reality therapy is: 1) Make friends – establish a warm, supportive relationship, and insist that clients take a look at the lives they are choosing to lead. 2) Focus upon daily activities and ask what they are doing now. 3) Ask the question: Is what you are doing helping you? 4) Help the client make a plan to do better. Using reality therapy requires a lot of time used in planning and checking with the client on how the plans are being carried out. 5) Commitment to the plan. 6) No excuses.7) No nourishment.These two go together, when there is commitment to plan, there is no excuse for not following through. 8) Never give up. To approach a person with the idea that, if things don’t work, we’re going to give up. Always have as your motto â€Å"We have just begun to fight. † 9) Once the relationship has developed a level of trust and friendship, introduce the client to Jesus Christ and present the plan of salvation. Incorporating biblical principles is the area of problem solving (Watson & Watson, 2005).

The Development of American Film Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

The Development of American Film Music - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that during the first half of the twentieth century, the American cinema was born in the laboratories, and grows as a means of expression and serves as a means to entertain the masses. American people thanks to three factors: The scientist, artist, and businessman. Each of these factors contributed to their configuration, stating his physiognomy and strengthens its power. It became one of the largest industries within the short span of time. In a new art, emerging from science and traditional arts, it became a powerful social factor. From 1896 to 1903 saw the genesis of the film, and successfully fulfilled its three objectives, the juicy field of business, a technique peculiar and a large audience. Littman discusses that the first civic screening of a film in the United States occurred in 1896 in New York. The projector had been developed by the inventor Thomas Alva Edison, whose company was also the producer of the shorts. The paternity of the American fiction film is often attributed to Edwin S. Porter, who in 1903 used an innovative technique of montage in the film 8 minutes Assault and robbery of a train by which different fragments from different shots of the same film come together to form a whole narrative. David Wark Griffith, a disciple of Porter developed using the principles of this panoramic shots and close-ups, as well as parallel assemblies as a means of expression to maintain dramatic tension, which became the most important pioneer of silent movies in States United.... The Birth of Hollywood Between 1915 and 1920, the film industry was gradually shifted from the East Coast to Hollywood, where new studies emerged. Film production has become an important economic sector and imposed their dominance beyond the country's borders. At that time came the major genres: the western, detective films, adventure, science fiction and terror, who lived a time of splendour with directors like Cecil B. De Mille, John Ford, Frank Capra, William Wyler and King Vidor, like most serious works by Ernst Lubitsch and Erich von Stroheim-two directors considered the best time - or documentaries by Robert Flaherty. A peculiarity of the American film was the slapstick, a gender-based persecution disparate comedy and gags or comic situations. The person responsible for the emergence of this kind in 1912 was Senett Mack, whose school was, formed Charlie Chaplin, author of The Gold Rush (1925). Other important representatives of slapstick were Buster Keaton (The driver of the overall 1927), Harold Llo yd (The student beginner 1925) and the duo formed by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (From soup to nuts, 1928). The Sound Films With the introduction of talkies in the late 1920 emerged film genres: the screens began to be dominated by musicals (with many dance movies, particularly Busby Berkeley) and films by gangsters, who tried two other themes Today: the Great Depression and the Law Seca (e.g. golden Hemp, Mervyn Le Roy in 1930, or Scarface, the terror of hemp, Howard Hawks, 1932) (Grimes, 2005, pp. 15-22). The Decades Of 1940 1950 In 1941, the premiere of Citizen Kane, Orson Welles, marked a turning point for American cinema. Welles abandoned the chronological narrative and created a work of art that shook the cinematic

Superman in Sixties and Pop Art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Superman in Sixties and Pop Art - Research Paper Example Superman in the Sixties has got both pictures and texts that accompany the pictures. This has made it akin to the "narrative literary texts†. This has been one of the factors that made it popular within young and old aged people. The use of both images and texts make the comic to elaborate the happening efficiently and effectively. Superman in the Sixties is a form of comic that narrates a story to the audience. There is an interconnection of the images and the word in the book. The Superman in the Sixties as a series showcases the work of several artists in the book. The artists identified include the pencillers and the inkers and offers comparison elements with other works. The comic employs the use of speech balloon, caption, thought balloons, tier of panels, balloon tail, and sound effects among others. Furthermore, the readers can see them from the beginning to the end of the comic book. In addition, there is also use of cartooning in the book to pass the information. The authors use cartooning to give the information in relation to the characters: Jonathan and Martha, Clark, and Lana Lang among others. This made it possible to include non- diegitic symbols. There is also use of caricature in the comic book, for example, the authors describe Superman as someone with huge chest as a symbol of his strength. The comic also promotes the use of feathering in some parts. The book also entails the use of various inflicted lines in different areas of the book. There is also use of emanate in the comic book.

Wetlands Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Wetlands - Research Proposal Example Other reptiles, mammals and birds have not only made wetlands their habitats but also a breeding site (Russo, 2008). The wetlands act as a sponge in trapping runoff water during a rainy storm and as the water is released slowly it is filtered thus removing toxic substances. Water will move through the plants and the small spaces in the soil allowing nutrients to be absorbed while pollutants will be trapped. Although seventy five percent of the earth surface is covered by water, there is only three percent of fresh water. Therefore, it is important to seek alternative ways of purifying water for the six billion people in this planet to consume. This research will test the hypothesis that water at the end of the river will be cleaner than at the beginning. I will evaluate if the ecological environment around the river will clean the water as it flows downstream. The study will test if wetlands can reduce the amount of toxins carried away in water runoff by using its plants and other micro-organisms in the purification process. The Passaic river has several swamps and meanders thus making it appropriate for the research study. The research will seek to identify which types of plants or organisms will be crucial in minimizing pollutants. Different plants will have varying results in the amounts of reduced chemicals; therefore the study will establish the type of plants in the wetlands that removed the chemicals more efficiently. Likewise, it is important to establish the effect of the toxins on habitats of the wetlands and the harm caused by continuous drainage of metals into saturated ground water. Wetlands can be classified differently using the system developed by Cowardin that divides wetlands according to the aquatic environment they are connected to. They are categorizes as: Marine wetlands that are found in seawaters, Estuarines that

The Relevance of EDI for e-Business today A critical Evaluation Essay

The Relevance of EDI for e-Business today A critical Evaluation - Essay Example When organizations implement EDI in payment of employees, especially in companies and banks, this institution uses the term FEDI (Financial Electronic Data Interchange) (Schneider 2013, p. 138). For business managers, with the current use of extranets, intranets, digital currency, and electronic catalogues, they should acknowledge EDI’s relevance for e-business today. However, implementation of EDI in business organization not only brings positive impacts, but it also has some negative impacts, which can cause negative effects to users who are using recent versions of documents instead of a business partner (McGrath 2010, p. 76). The aim of this report is to enlighten business owners the relevance of EDI in e-business today. EDI is the electronic communications or exchange of business transactions between business organizations. It entails computer-to-computer communications directly to order systems and vendor databases. In the year 1996, the NIST defined EDI as a computer-to-computer transaction of severely formatted information representing documents rather than financial instruments. It means exchange of a series of messages between two or more parties, whereby one serves as a sender and the one a receiver (Zainol 2009, p. 256). The originator transmits the formatted data that represent a document to the receiver through physical transportation on electronic media storage such as CDs or USB Flash disks or via telecommunication (Zekos 2008, p. 67). Despite the relative advantages of EDI, most business organizations still have challenges in implementing EDIs in their operations. However, the entire process of implementing EDI is complex and this is the reason why there is still a large group of organizations that uses the traditional mode of transmitting transactions (Zainol 2009, p. 259). In addition, the process of

Telecommunication in healthcare Speech or Presentation

Telecommunication in healthcare - Speech or Presentation Example Another area which has been evolving over the course of years and decades is the healthcare industry. Healthcare has constantly evolved with the times, from poor and dangerous practices to safer, more effective procedures. From the old days of blood letting and body humors, to CT scans and brain surgery, healthcare has come a long way, and continues to evolve in order to aid mankind in staying healthy, relieving pain, and generally living longer. The goal of this paper is to examine and assess the marriage of these two topics; telecommunications in the healthcare setting. It aims to discuss its current state, benefits and set backs, as well as to try and predict where it will be in the next 5 years. It aims to do so by laying the topic out as such: 1. What is telecommunication? 2. Telecommunication technology used in the hospital setting 3. Advantages and disadvantages of telecommunication in healthcare 4. Significance of telecommunication in the healthcare setting 5. Where will heal thcare telecommunications be in 5 years What is telecommunication? Telecommunication, according to dictionary.com, is â€Å"the transmission of information. . . usually over great distances, in the form of electronic signals..†. This gives us a guide as to how to look at the technology that will be discussed in this portion of the paper. There are many forms of this technology available in the market today. The basic form of this technology is of course the telephone. There are many types of telephones that use different types of connections in order to communicate such as the regular public switch telephone network, internet protocol or IP phones, and mobile carrier phones. This is most likely the first thing that would come to mind when thinking about telecommunication, however, this is but a small part of the technology. Other examples are chat and email. These on the other hand are text-related forms of telecommunication. These provide a great way to send out information quickly if incase there is no time to spend on the phone and if details are needed to be sent over that require visual support. You can also consider fax as a form of telecommunication as you are still sending over information electronically; it’s just turned into a hard copy once it is received. One other form of telecommunication, which people normally do not think of, is the public announcement system. It still fits into our description of sending over information electronically. The great thing about telecommunications is that it is flexible, it evolves in conjunction to our needs and it improves greatly over the course of a relatively short period of time. This means that it is effective in most settings and is able to provide multiple options for connectivity. Telecommunication technology used in the hospital setting The healthcare industry has slowly grown and evolved throughout time and so have the technologies that they used. As they made an effort to solve more prob lems, their need to communicate, share information and collaborate also grew and changed. Gone are the days of regular landline calls and pagers. The healthcare industry now uses great technology and equipment in order to have better communication, record keeping, and collaboration. Aside from the average technology such as IP phones, email, chat, fax and the PA system, the healthcare industry also has other tools up its sleeve. One of them is video conferencing. There is one kind that is specially

The Devils Highway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Devils Highway - Essay Example Most of these emigrants get to the US through illegally crossing the border. Crossing over the Mexican border has not always been illegal though. During the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th century, Mexicans were allowed to cross by the American government as they provided labor which grew the economy. In fact, they were so essential that the government would entice them with some allowances, to top up their salaries. The 1920s depression however saw an end to this and a barrier was constructed across the border to stop the crossing over. Nowadays, Mexicans wanting to access a better life in the US, have to illegally cross the border and survive the ruthless border patrol, unimaginable transportation conditions and not forgetting the one of harshest deserts in the world (Borjas 58). The Devil’s Highway Journalist Luis Alberto Urrea shares with us such an occasion in his book, The Devil’s Highway. The book describes the horrifying ordeals of some 26 Mexicans in their journey across the border. The group manages to cross over, only to find themselves in the Sonora Desert, or as others call it, the devils highway. In the aftermath, 14 of the emigrants die, making the highest group of deaths while crossing the border in history. Many of the deaths result from exposure to the extreme desert heat while those who survive are near death themselves. Urrea also details of all the mechanisms that facilitate the border crossing in the region, from the coyotes to the vigilante border patrols (Urrea 78). The story can be described as nothing less of an international tragedy. It is a very vivid description of the horrors that Mexican immigrants undergo as they are smuggled into Arizona. In comparison to other writers of his age, Urrea is very daring from the way he vividly and fearlessly tells it from all sides of the story with brutal honesty, even through the eyes of the border patrol officers. For example, in spite of their Wild West and ruthless na ture, one cannot help but empathize with the situations of the border patrol officers. Urrea also tells this tale with horrifying descriptions, but at the same time, shows compassion to these victims. The story is thrilling and fascinating while being tragic and horrifying at the same time. It is heartbreaking to learn of how some poor Mexicans fall prey to the promises of smugglers in the pursuit of some greener pastures, only to end up dead or in near-death. Some do not even make it to the other side as the coyotes betray them to die in the desert while they part with the money. Even those who complete the journey cannot be termed as lucky as they meet with a society that does not approve of their arrival, and a government that constantly seeks to flush them out and expel them. How the migration matters to us The issue of Mexican migration affects us all as the youth and citizens of America. As much as it pains to admit it, illegal emigrants bring more harm than benefit to the cou ntry, the biggest being the crossing over of drugs. In 2004, for example, 90% of the cocaine sold in America was smuggled by illegal emigrants through the US-Mexico border. Also, many of those caught attempting to cross over have been found in possession of such drugs, which they were meant to sell in the US. Another disadvantage of the emigrants is the increase of crime associated with them. Many of those who manage to cross over have criminal pasts from their country origin. These individuals enter the US then join or start up some criminal gangs like the

Nursing Issues in healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Issues in healthcare - Essay Example Patricia has served various leadership roles at Scripps Health, Presbyterian Intercommunity and Southwest Healthcare. In addition to leadership skills, she has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in nursing leadership. As a leader, Patricia is charged with making sure that the hospital meets its patient care, clinical and staffing standards. She also advises senior management on the best nursing practices and patient care. She is also responsible for managing nursing budgets, establishing nursing policies and procedures. Patricia also plans patient services and participates in cross-departmental decision making with other top managers. In addition, Patricia is responsible for all the nursing departments in the hospital. The discussion regarding generational considerations in nursing was very helpful because the leader provided a lot of light and information on the issue. Recently, much attention has focused on the generational cohorts that define the current society. The generational groups include the veterans, baby boomers, generation x, generation Y and the home landers (Stanley, 2010). The groups have difference defining characteristics and pose different challenges for nurse leaders. As such, it is important for nurse leaders to possess awareness of the generational differences and the accompanying varying communication styles for the different groups. Understanding the groups has implication in nursing from two perspectives. Firstly, it facilitates communication between the nurse and the patients or families. Secondly, it enhances communication among nurses and other health professional working together. The traditionalists are an old generation with members who follow the rules, value authority and chain of command. They are likely to respond to formal communication than casual or a direct approach. The baby boomers grew in a time of prosperity that formed the basis for their

RoseColored Glasses and The Glass Menagerie Essay Example for Free

RoseColored Glasses and The Glass Menagerie Essay The Glass Menagerie is about a dysfunctional family that consists of a mother, and her two adult children, Tom and Laura. All of them dream to seek comfort and to escape reality because none of them enjoys the life they lead. Similarly, in Rose-Colored Glasses, the narrator of the poem is inclined to dream rather than to face reality because she has not overcome the transition from one big happy family to getting kicked out of her old home and having divorced parents. These two families are reflections of each other because in both families, the characters rely on dreaming to overcome not only the fathers abandoning the family, but also to escape the financial and emotional despair in their livesboth of which are direct impacts from the fathers absence. Faced with disappointment because the fathers desert the family, the characters In Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie and Elizabeth Alexanders Rose-Colored Glasses, withdraw into their distinct worlds to escape the expectations that reality demands. Disappointment is a theme in both the story and the play and with similar impacts on the family. The first time the characters face disappointment is when the fathers leave the familyone through divorce, the other fell in love with long distances. The first impact is emotional despair for both families. In the Wingfield family, Amanda openly expresses her remorse and regret for marrying the absent father. Tom is emotionally distraught because he has to fill his fathers shoes in providing for the family when all he wants to do is to leave and become a sailor. The narrator in Rose-Colored Glasses experiences sadness because her family is broken apart. Besides emotional despair, both families are faced with financial problems. The narrator is kicked out of her apartment which is even more beautiful then it was then, and perfect. This shows how much she wants it back and how sad she must have been when she moved. As for the Wingfields, Tom makes so little money that he has to sacrifice the money for the light bill in order to pay for membership in the Merchant Marines. Laura is deeply disappointed when Jim tells her he is engaged that she may never have renewed hope for anyone again. Disappointment is a theme that partly drives the characters to retreat more so into their illusional worlds in order to escape emotional hurt and financial problems in the real world. The illusional worlds that the characters imagine themselves to be in are sometimes caused by the theme, expectations. Amanda expects Laura to be just like her and actually dreams Laura can be if she just develops vivacity and charm. Amanda fantasizes that these traits can easily be developed if one wills it. However, this is not an easy task for Laura because she is extremely shy. Although Laura is never expecting any gentlemen caller, Amanda never stops telling her to stay fresh and pretty because its almost time for our gentlemen callers to start arriving! 10 From this, we can tell that Amanda expects too much that in her mind, it becomes believable. In another scene, Amanda expects Tom to find Laura a husband in order to secure her future. Amanda so strongly expects Jim to be Lauras future husband that she actually begins to believe it. She ends up over preparing the house and over dressing Laura. She later accuses Tom of playing a joke on her when in fact, she never minded to ask him about it. Laura, on the other hand expects something to come out of her and Jims meeting because he kissed her. She sits dazed after he kisses her, possibilly imagining that he likes her when in fact, this is a false illusion created by her expectation. The narrator in Rose-Colored Glasses however, does not expect, but is expected from her mother to act grown up. When contrasting the time when she would Played checkers with a dolly being enough to be your sister and there was no desperation where one day [she] would cut off [her] tow long braids to now, she is obviously desperate to grow up because she is expected to be. during the years before the divorce she was still a child however the family breaks apart, she walks the passage to overcoming the impact of the divorce and during the process, matured. She feels obliged to deal with the divorce maturely, but at the same time does not want to stop being a child alotgehter, and so she retreats into her own illusional world where she can do whatever she wants. In order to escape disappointment and expectations in life, escapism is a theme in both Rose-Colored Glasses and The Glass Menagerie. Characters from both texts escape in one way or another in order to avoid confrontation with the harshness of reality. Tom goes to the movies to escape the mundane life he leads. Laura indulges in her glass menagerie and music to avoid her mothers expectations of her to socialize. Laura actually wants to be a part  of her glass menagerie and imagines herself to be. In fact, Lauras separation [from reality] increases till she is like a piece of her own glass collection. ixx Amanda and the narrator nostalgically reminisces their pasts as a way to escape. The narrator relives the past in her mind when there was no divorce and where you swung on a trapeze in the dining room archway and Plinked-plinked on the piano and Your little dogs nails scritch-scratching the hardwood floors when he heard you walking from the elevator. The narrator seeks comfort by immersing herself in her past, or perhaps she feels control over her life when she recalls these memories. Similarly, Amandas memories not only let her cling to another time, but also offer her escape from the blow to her self image when her husband deserted her. It is hard for any reasonable reader to believe that Amanda had 17 gentlemen callers in one day. She retreats so far into her world of illusions that this illusion becomes almost too real for her. She wears her yellow dress, believing that she can be just as youthful and vivacious as she was years ago when in fact, the dress is clearly out of place and time, and elicits surprise from both Jim and Tom. In both the novel and play, the theme disappointment leads the narrator in Elizabeth Alexanders Rose Colored-Glasses and Amanda, Tom and Laura in Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie to similar problemsthat is Amanda, Tom and Laura and the narrator become emotionally detached from the real world as they are left to cope with the disappointment that the fathers instill in them. Furthermore, the father leaves all his problems behind for the rest of the family which means every member of the family must fill new expectations in place of the father. Tom is expected to provide for the family, Amanda to care for her two children, Laura to get married so that she does not need to depend on Tom, and the narrator is expected to handle the divorce maturely. All of these expectations are against the wishes of the person expected to initiate them. Tom would rather become a sailor, Amanda to become youthful and to be given the chance to choose a new husband, Laura to become part of her glass menagerie world, and the narrator to live her childhood. All these expectations make reality hard to face and so the characters escape into worlds dreamt in their minds. Amanda and the narrator dream their old times, Tom dreams his sailing prospects, and Laura  dreams to be part of her glass menagerie world. Disappointment, expectation, and escapism are all central themes to both plays in order to convey the major theme that although the human need to dream may give one escape for a brief period of time, retreating too deeply into the dream can be harmful because you do not see reality as it is.

Lean Manufacturing | Literature Review

Lean Manufacturing | Literature Review Since the 1980s, numerous businesses in various sectors of industry have continually been introducing programs intended to improve both productivity and quality. Several authors have posited lean manufacturing or lean production as the best possible production system and one that can be implemented in any industry and any process (Bonavia and Marin, 2006 and Lee-Mortimer, 2006). Doolen and Hacker (2005) mentioned that different researchers have explored the portability of lean practices both within and between different manufacturing sectors. In accordance, a variety of surveys conducted in different types of industry (Soriano-Meier and Forrester, 2002, Bonavia and Marin, 2006, Doolen and Hacker, 2005, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001 and Taj, 2008) proved that lean is widely successful in a variety of industrial sectors. However, there are two problematic issues regarding lean manufacturing have been addressed in several studies. First, Shah and Ward (2007) claimed that any discussion of lean production points to an absence of common definition of the concept. Likewise, Pettersen (2009) alleged that there is no agreed upon definition of lean that could be found in the literature. Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak (2005) declared that there is no consensus in different researchers perceptions to the concept of lean which leads to conflicting results in identifying and classifying its practices and techniques. Second, there is conflict in using terms such as elements, principles, constructs, techniques and practices. Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak (2005) mentioned that some of the elements of lean are actually referring to the goals and objectives rather than techniques or tools (e.g. elimination of waste, lead time reduction) and, in addition, a number of other best manufacturing practices (such as agile manufacturing) were used in literature as lean practices. Moreover, Shah and Ward (2007) underscored that identical items are used to operationalize vastly different concepts and different items are used to operationalize the same construct. Thus, Shah and Ward (2007) argued that a great source of confusion and inconsistency associated with lean is the more substantive disagreement about what comprises lean production and how it can be measured operationally. Statement of the problem The above mentioned issues revealed three confusions surrounding the lean concept in literature, which are (1) the lack of a consistent definition of lean, (2) the disagreement about the elements that comprise lean manufacturing and (3) the lack of a measurement tool for assessing changes towards lean implementation. With the aim to clarify and resolve these confusions, this chapter has three main objectives; (1) to propose a conceptual definition of the term lean manufacturing that captures all its main facets, (2) to provide a framework that identifies its major elements and practices, and (3) to develop an operationalized model to assess changes towards lean manufacturing implementation. To achieve these objectives, an in-depth literature review is conducted regarding the topic of lean manufacturing. At first, the concept of Lean and its main principles are introduced. Next, the elements of lean manufacturing and the practices for lean implementation will be investigated. Finally, different indicators that measure the progress achieved towards lean are explored. The concept of Lean Lean was associated with the practice of deciphering the value added activities from those that are waste in an organization and its supply chain (Comm and Mathaisel, 2005). Motwani (2003) declared that companies need to focus on each product and its value stream in order to distinguish between wasted activities and that actually create value. Moreover, Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak (2005) stated that leanness was introduced as an approach to manufacturing that was aiming at the elimination of waste while stressing the need for continuous improvement. However, lean manufacturing is much more than a technique, it is, in addition, a way of thinking (Taj, 2008). The issue of lean thinking was widely discussed in different researches. Comm and Mathaisel (2005) believed that lean thinking removes the traditional way people think about roles and responsibilities through remaining focused on the customer and the core competencies that the customer values from an organization. Therefore, Bhasin and Burcher (2006) claimed that for a successful implementation, numerous cultural changes are required for embracing empowerment and disseminating the lean principles through-out the value chain. Similarly, Taj (2008) confirmed that lean as a way of thinking creates a culture in which everyone in the organization continuously improve operations. In accordance, Comm and Mathaisel (2000) introduced leanness as a philosophy that intended to significantly reduce cost and cycle time throughout the entire value chain while continuing to improve product performance. Hence, lean should be described from two points of view; the philosophical perspective and the practical perspective (Shah and Ward, 2007). From the philosophical perspective, lean is viewed as an overall organizational philosophy that should affect the people way of thinking and behaving (Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak, 2005 and Bhasin and Burcher, 2006). This philosophy drives the guiding principles and the overarching goals of lean (Shah and Ward, 2007). On the other hand, the practical perspective see lean as a set of management practices, tools and techniques (Shah and Ward, 2007) that are used to apply the philosophy and to achieve the goals (Bhasin and Burcher, 2006). This two-perspective view of lean is supported by the definition of lean as a socio-technical system. Such system combines both technical system; i.e. technology and social system; i.e. people and organizational structure (Bhasin and Burcher, 2006). In the same context, Shah and Ward (2007) asserted that to pursue lean production, firms have to effectively manage their social and technical systems simultaneously. Moreover, Cua et al. (2001) proved that joint optimization of both socially- and technically-oriented policies or practices is necessary for achieving good results. Regarding its implementation, Panizzolo (1998) demonstrated that the wide range of lean practices are related to interventions in the manufacturing area, actions taken in other areas of the firm (design, HR, strategy, etc.) and relationships with both suppliers and customers. Likewise, Shah and Ward (2003) stated that lean should be seen as a multi-dimensional approach that encompasses a wide variety of management practices. This conceptualization of lean as multidimensional strategy is supported by a wide range of researchers (Doolen and Hacker, 2005, Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996, Shah and Ward, 2007 and Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak, 2005). However, it is well accepted among researchers that lean should be implemented as an integrated system (Shah and Ward, 2007, Bhasin and Burcher, 2006, Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996 and Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak, 2005). Shah and Ward (2007) suggested that a well-developed lean strategy implementation will require firms to exert considerable effort along several dimensions simultaneously. Bonavia and Marin (2006) concluded that there are only few relationships between the degree of use of lean production practices individually and operational performance (in terms of productivity, quality, lead time and inventory). In the same vein, Shah and Ward (2003) provide unambiguous evidence that the synergistic effects of all lean practices are associated with better manufacturing performance. Another feature of lean manufacturing that was emphasized in literature is its time-frame of implementation. Bhasin and Burcher (2006) and Doolen and Hacker (2005) believed that lean is a long-term multidimensional organizational strategy. Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak (2005) affirmed that transformation to lean requires a lot of effort, time and participation of all organization levels in addition to make changes in company culture and organizational structure. Thus, lean enterprises should continuously find ways to eliminate consumption of resources in their struggle to deliver value to their customers. In correspondence, the implementation of the lean program in the case study discussed in (Lee-Mortimer, 2006) proved that lean is not just a project, it is a long-term continuous journey which is implemented as a sequence of stages or projects. In conclusion, lean manufacturing embraces different features that should be taken into consideration when defining this concept. Lean should be viewed as a philosophy, affecting company culture, rather than a set of tools/techniques. This, in turn, reveals the importance of managing social system as well as technical system simultaneously. Moreover, lean implementation scope is not confined to the manufacturing function of a company, rather it relates to all functions ranging from product development, procurement and manufacturing over to distribution. Since lean companies seek to deliver value to their customers, this value should be predefined and delivered, while waste, which customers are not willing to pay for, should continuously be eliminated. All the aforementioned features of lean manufacturing can be captured in the following proposed conceptual definition. Lean manufacturing is a philosophy and a long-term strategy that is applied through a socio-technical system integrating all functions within the organization with the aim of continuous waste elimination while delivering outcomes that meet continuously predefined customer value. Lean principles Lean philosophy is mainly based on the principle of eliminating waste. Waste is anything other than the minimum amount of equipment, materials, parts, and working time that are essential to add value (Taj, 2008, Bonavia and Marin, 2006 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) cited that the main goal of lean is to eliminate all activities that do not add value to the product. Value should be specified as it is perceived by customers (Andersson et al., 2006 and Dahlgaard and Dahlgaard-Park, 2006). If the task does not add value from the customers point of view, it should be modified or eliminated from the process (Andersson et al., 2006). It is believed that by minimizing waste and zero-value added activities, companies can reduce production costs and the overall production system will be more efficient (Comm and Mathaisel, 2005 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Since inventory is considered one of the critical sources of waste (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996), Dahlgaard and Dahlgaard-Park (2006) declared that the traditional way of producing in batches is inefficient as it requires goods to wait in inventories before the next production step is started up. Thus, Motwani (2003) mentioned that the value must flow to the customer without interruptions. Andersson et al. (2006) confirmed that focus should be on organizing a continuous flow through the production or supply chain rather than moving commodities in large batches. Closely related to the continuous flow is the principle of just-in-time (JIT), since the ultimate goal that every process should be provided with only one part at a time, exactly when that part is needed (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Moreover, if continuous flow is not possible (Lummus et al., 2006), the way of scheduling the flow of material should be pull instead of push (Motwani, 2003 and Dahlgaard and Dahlgaard-Park, 2006). This means that customer demand should pull finished products through the system with the aim of not carrying out any work unless the result of it is required downstream (Andersson et al., 2006). It is obvious that to succeed in the implementation of any modern system, everyone from top management to any lower level should make sincere efforts, and set their goals jointly through active participation and understanding (Ahmed et al., 2004). According to (McKone et al., 1999), employees can contribute significantly to the organization when they are allowed to participate in decisions that impact their area of responsibility. As a result, involvement from all employees allows companies to better use of its available resources (McKone et al., 1999). This principle reflects the conceptualization of lean manufacturing as a socio-technical system, since it highlights the importance of managing social system as well as technical system. Since lean is viewed as a long-term strategy, lean philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement. Several researchers (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996, Comm and Mathaisel, 2005 and Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001) affirmed that one of the most fundamental principles of lean is the search for continuous improvement in products and processes. Lummus et al. (2006) mentioned that processes should be managed towards perfection to continuously reduce the time needed to serve the customer. Likewise, Andersson et al. (2006) underscored that the elimination of non-value-adding elements (waste) is a process of continuous improvement. In this context, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) highlighted the importance of employees involvement and top management support to create and train improvement teams that lead the organization to move toward zero defects. Based on the analysis of lean previous studies, it is concluded that there are five key principles / overarching goals which can be considered the bases for the lean philosophy. These principles are; (1) waste elimination, (2) customer value identification, (3) continuous production flow, (4) employees involvement and (5) continuous improvement. Furthermore, the aforesaid lean principles confirm some issues in the proposed conceptual definition. The unambiguous believe that elimination of waste is the fundamental goal is affirmed since lean is regularly defined as manufacturing without waste. Likewise, identifying value as perceived by customer is asserted in the proposed definition. Moreover, seeking continuous improvement as a principle of lean philosophy reflects the long-term nature of lean implementation. Thus, the proposed definition stresses the aim of continuous waste elimination and highlighted the need to continuously predefine customer value. Also, the importance of employ ees involvement emphasizes the social phase of the lean system as a socio-technical system. Finally, holding in mind these principles / goals underscores the view of lean as a philosophy that affects the people way of thinking. Lean implementation framework Previous studies concerning lean manufacturing revealed a number of manufacturing practices that are commonly associated with lean implementation. The initial step towards developing a framework for lean implementation is to capture different practices and combine them into inter-related groups in accordance to the multi-dimensional nature of lean manufacturing. The term practices in this context refers to the predominant methodologies that may include many techniques and tools. Shah and Ward (2003) identified and empirically validated combining lean practices into four specific lean bundles: namely Total Quality Management (TQM), Just In Time (JIT), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Human Resources Management (HRM). Bonavia and Marin (2006) found enough agreement in literature to identify the first three bundles; TQM, JIT and TPM, while Cua et al. (2001) are of the opinion that human and strategic-oriented practices are common practices that support all other three bundles. Although there is general agreement within operations management literature that JIT, TPM, TQM and HRM are conceptually, theoretically, and empirically well established (Shah and Ward, 2003), there is no unanimous classification of the lean manufacturing practices that make up each of the four bundles (Bonavia and Marin, 2006). Therefore, in an attempt to provide a framework for lean implementation comprises the actual practices that represent each of the four mentioned bundles, the basic theme of these bundles are identified. Then, different lean practices are combined into each of these bundles based on reviewing different research papers regarding lean implementation practices, in addition to articles that were focused mainly on one of these bundles. TQM bundle Lack of quality is a major source of waste, since the defective parts and products that need to be reworked or scrapped do not add any value to the customer and should be eliminated in order to attain high productivity (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Sà ¶derquist and Motwani (1999) underscored that quality should be a top management issue and continuous improvement efforts together with the zero error objective should be company-wide and extended over company limits in production chains. Cua et al. (2001) defined total quality management (TQM) as a manufacturing program aimed at continuously improving and sustaining quality products and processes by capitalizing on the involvement of management, workforce, suppliers, and customers, in order to meet or exceed customer expectations. Sà ¶derquist and Motwani (1999) emphasized that TQM approach is the philosophy that should underpin the quality project in a lean company. The practices combined to form the TQM bundle include; product quality control, visual management (Cua et al., 2001, McKone et al., 1999 and Sà ¶derquist and Motwani, 1999), process management (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999), product design and development (Cua et al., 2001 and Sà ¶derquist and Motwani, 1999), standardization (Sà ¶derquist and Motwani, 1999), suppliers quality management and customers involvement (Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999). JIT bundle Just-in-time philosophy means to deliver the right part in the necessary quantity and at the right time (Canel et al., 2000, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Ahmed et al. (2004) defined JIT as a philosophy and system concept of doing, maintaining and producing what is value adding or what is just needed, be it raw materials, components, parts, WIP, employees, or finished products. Cua et al. (2001) asserted that the primary goal of JIT, as a manufacturing program, is continuously reducing and ultimately eliminating all forms of waste through JIT production and involvement of the work force. JIT basic techniques include set-up time and lot size reduction, pull production systems (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999), equipment layout and cellular manufacturing (Shah and Ward, 2003 and Cua et al., 2001), production leveling and scheduling and JIT delivery by suppliers (Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999). TPM bundle It has been accepted beyond any doubt that maintenance, as a support function in businesses, plays an important role in backing up many emerging business and operation strategies like lean manufacturing (Ahuja and Khamba, 2008b). Without having a productive maintenance system, lean production, just-in-time (JIT) or total quality management (TQM) environment cannot be attained (Ahmed et al., 2004). TPM is a proven and successful procedure for introducing maintenance considerations into organizational activities (Eti et al., 2004). Ahuja and Khamba (2008b) stated that TPM is a methodology originating from Japan to support its lean manufacturing system, since dependable and effective equipment are essential pre-requisite for implementing lean manufacturing initiatives in the organizations. Cua et al. (2001) and Shah and Ward (2003) defined TPM as a manufacturing program designed primarily to maximize equipment effectiveness throughout its entire life through the participation and motivation of the entire work force for performing planned predictive and preventive maintenance of the equipment and using maintenance optimization techniques. TPM, according to McKone et al. (1999), provides a comprehensive company-wide approach to maintenance management which is usually divided into short-term and long-term elements. In the short-term, TPM basic practices include; industrial housekeeping, autonomous maintenance (Cua et al., 2001, Eti et al., 2004 and McKone et al., 1999), and planned preventive and predictive maintenance (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001, Eti et al., 2004 and McKone et al., 1999). In the long-term, TPM efforts focus on new equipment and technology acquisition (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999). HRM bundle Human resources have a critical role in carrying out the continuous improvement plans which are the basis for success in lean implementation (Panizzolo, 1998). Eti et al. (2004) claimed that the degree of employees eagerness to embrace change determines the rate of progress towards that goal. Moreover, McKone et al. (1999) declared that employees are the greatest sources of information for companies to improve their performance. Shah and Ward (2003) affirmed that the HRM bundle has significant theoretical and empirical support. The most commonly cited HRM practices are employees involvement (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999), multi-skilled workforce, multi-functional work teams (Shah and Ward, 2003), education and training (Shah and Ward, 2003, Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999), performance-based compensation system (McKone et al., 1999) and information and feedback (Cua et al., 2001 and McKone et al., 1999). Lean operationalized model Traditionally, managers have relied heavily on accounting metrics to determine efficiency, such metrics reflect the final state achieved as the result of a long chain of decisions (Taj, 2008), while lean should be seen as a direction rather than a state to be reached after a certain time (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Therefore, managing a lean factory requires key information to assess the changes taking place in the effort to introduce lean (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Consequently, in order to develop an operationalized model for lean manufacturing, the aforementioned bundles and practices will be discussed with focus on identifying the indicators that can be used in assessing changes towards lean implementation. It is important here to note that the focus lies on the changes in these indicators, not on their actual values. So, the desired direction of each indicator, if moving in a lean direction, will be also specified. Measurement of TQM basic practices Since the ultimate goal of TQM practices is to achieve zero defects, Motwani (2001) mentioned that the percentage of defects (TQM1) and the percentage of products needing rework (TQM2) are among the common quality outcome indicators employed by several researchers. Product quality can be controlled through the involvement of production line workers for identification and adjustment of defective parts and their authority to stop lines when defective parts are found in order to avoid any defective parts moving to the next production stage (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Thus, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) used the percentage of defective parts adjusted by production line workers (TQM3) as an indicator of transferring the responsibility for products quality from the quality control department to the line workers. In addition, Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m (1996) alleged that the number of quality control personnel (TQM4) and the size of repair area (TQM5) can be reduced as a consequence. Furthermore, Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m (1996) declared the use of autonomous defect control (poka yoke) as inexpensive means to help conducting inspection of all units with the ultimate goal of zero defects. Therefore, the percentage of inspection carried out by autonomous defect control (TQM6) is a common measure (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001 and Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Visible graphs and panels are used to gather performance data, to plot different measurements and to identify specific problems and causes of delay in order to take efforts for resolution (Lee-Mortimer, 2006 and Bonavia and Marin, 2006). For this, Bonavia and Marin (2006) measured the percentage of work areas where visible graphs panels are used (TQM7) as an indicator for visual management. In addition to controlling products quality, process management is essential to obtain fault free parts and products from the very beginning (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). Cua et al. (2001) emphasized the use of Statistical Process Control (SPC) techniques in monitoring processes to ensure that each process will supply defect free units to subsequent process. Shah and Ward (2007) and Bonavia and Marin (2006) measured the percentage of equipment / processes under SPC (TQM8) as an indicator to represent the expansion of using SPC. Panizzolo (1998) emphasized the attention that has been devoted to the relationships between product development and manufacturing activities. Sà ¶derquist and Motwani (1999) claimed that design for manufacturing through integrating product and process engineering is one of the core features of quality management within the lean production framework. Thus, the percentage of parts designed by cross-functional teams (TQM9) can be used as a measure for this practice. In addition, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) mentioned the use of common parts (TQM10) to manufacture different products as a technique used to reduce inventory and lead times as well. Moreover, participation of suppliers in the design stage (TQM11) facilitates manufacturing of components they have designed. Standardization is an essential principle of lean manufacturing that involves establishing the sequence of tasks to be done by each worker and how those tasks are done (Olivella et al, 2008), measuring and comparing the cycle time against the required takt time (Motwani, 2003) and specifying procedures, tools and materials (Bonavia and Marin, 2006). The percentage of procedures which are written recorded (TQM12) is the measure used by Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) and Bonavia and Marin (2006) to quantify the extent to which the company standardize its operations. Several researches emphasized the significant role that suppliers can play when involved in quality improvement programs (Panizzolo, 1998, Shah and Ward, 2007, Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak, 2005 and Motwani, 2003). In order to enhance suppliers involvement, Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez (2001) stressed the importance of information exchange with suppliers through conducting visits by engineers and technicians from both sides and interchanging documents. This will help to reduce inefficiencies and eliminate activities that are not value added (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001). This practice is measured by two indicators; the frequency of visits between companys and suppliers technicians (TQM13) and the number of suggestions made to suppliers (TQM14) (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001). With the focus on customers and their needs, Motwani (2001) declared that customer service programs should include quick responsiveness to complaints and maintaining a corporate goal to reduce the quantity of complaints (TQM15). Furthermore, Panizzolo (1998) affirmed that customer-driven enterprises dedicated much attention to organize customer participation in design, manufacturing and delivery activities. Thus, Bhasin and Burcher (2006) considered the percentage of projects in which the customer was involved (TQM16) as a signal of the systematically and continuously focus on the customer. In conclusion, table 3.1 summarizes the indicators developed to assess changes towards implementing the previously discussed TQM practices. Measurement of JIT basic practices Several authors (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001, Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996, Lee-Mortimer, 2006 and Salaheldin, 2005) have proposed the value of WIP (JIT1) and the lead time to customer order (JIT2) as common indicators of JIT implementation. Moreover, Motwani (2003) and Bhasin (2008) affirmed that total product cycle time (total time that material spends in the production system) (JIT3) is the best measure for tracking lean progress. Reducing set-up times simultaneously with reducing lot sizes is a technique used to reduce inventories and also it contributes to the reduction of lead times (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001) and increasing flexibility (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996). The progress in this practice can be directly measured by two indicators; set-up times (JIT4) and production and delivery lot sizes (JIT5). Firms use pull production systems to facilitate JIT production with the aim to produce the kind of units needed, at the time needed, and in the quantities needed (Shah and Ward, 2007). Bonavia and Marin (2006), Cua et al. (2001), McKone et al. (1999) and Shah and Ward (2007) highlighted the use of kanban squares, containers or signals as a means to pull material from an upstream station and manage product flow. Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m (1996) argued that as the work with implementing pull system proceeded, the number of manufacturing stages producing against customer orders should extend. Accordingly, they considered the percentage of stages in the material flow that uses pull (JIT6) as a determinant of the change towards this practice. Cua et al. (2001) and McKone et al. (1999) emphasized the importance of equipment layout to facilitate low inventories (JIT1) and fast throughput (i.e. shorten lead time (JIT3)). Grouping machines together in a cell-based layout (Cellular manufacturing) is one technique that is developed to facilitate line balancing with the ultimate goal of creating single piece flow (Lee-Mortimer, 2006 and Motwani, 2003). Implementing cellular manufacturing technique helps to eliminate the frequency (JIT7) and physical distances (JIT8) of parts transportation (Karlsson and Ã…hlstrà ¶m, 1996) and to reduce the investments (JIT9) in handling systems (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001). Panizzolo (1998) considered production leveling as a practice, in addition to small lots and pull control that is adopted to synchronize production and market demand. Thus, this practice contributes in achieving reductions in the value of WIP (JIT1) and the lead times to customer order (JIT2). Moreover, the synchronization between production output and market demand helps company to minimize finished goods inventory (JIT10). Suppliers are required to deliver the right quantity, at the right time, and at the right quality (Shah and Ward, 2007) in order to facilitate JIT production. Many researches agreed on the importance of reducing the number of key suppliers (JIT11) for the main components and engaging with them in long term contracts (JIT12) (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001, McKone et al., 1999, Shah and Ward, 2007, Doolen and Hacker, 2005, Bhasin and Burcher, 2006 and Papadopoulou and ÃÆ'-zbayrak, 2005). Furthermore, the case study of (Comm and Mathaisel, 2005) highlighted how maintaining good relationships with suppliers helped to keep minimum raw material inventories (JIT13). In general, McKone et al. (1999) highlighted the importance of on-time delivery (JIT14) to customers as an indicator of the JIT concept implementation. Likewise, Bhasin (2008) mentioned measuring on-time delivery as one of the customer / market indicators of lean implementation. In the same vein, Motwani (2001) recommended monitoring the amount of lateness in orders delivery as a tool in measuring the spread of delivery time. Furthermore, since the change towards JIT production and delivery is made gradually (Sà ¡nchez and Pà ©rez, 2001), the proportion of products transferred just-in-time between production stages (JIT15) and that delivered just-in-time by suppliers (JIT16) should be measured. Table 3.2 summarizes the indicators developed to assess changes towards implementing the previously discussed JIT practices. Measurement of TPM basic practices It is agreed upon in literature that overall equipment effectiveness OEE ( Adaptive Immune Response: Case Study Adaptive Immune Response: Case Study Adaptive Response Abstract Adaptive immunity is an important part of the immune system. It is the third line of defense in the human body, which includes highly specialized systemic cells and processes that eliminate or prevent pathogenic growth. Once external barriers have been compromised and inflammation (innate immunity) has been activated, the adaptive response is called into action (Huether McCance, 2012). It develops slower than the innate inflammatory response and is specific—unlike inflammation, which is non-specific—and has immunological memory that recognizes each pathogen by a signature antibody (Huether McCance, 2012). In addition, the activated B cells and T cells can develop to memory cells that respond rapidly and efficiently to a subsequent encounter with a pathogen. Adaptive immunity response primary obligation is destroying infectious agents that are resistant to inflammation and provides long-term protection against future exposure to the same agents (Huether McCance, 2012) . Adaptive Response The adaptive response consists of an antibody response and cell-medicated response, which are carried out by different lymphocytes cells, B cells and T cells respectively. B cells (B indicates bone marrow) are the major cells involved in the creation of antibodies that circulate in blood plasma and lymph, where they have capacity bind to almost any foreign antigen found in the environment (Huether McCance, 2012). Binding of antibody inactivates virus and microbial toxins by blocking their ability to bind to receptors on host cells. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulin, are large Y shaped proteins, which are typically composed of two large heavy pair chains and two small light chains (Huether McCance, 2012). There are five types of immunoglobulin: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, which are characterized by differences in structure and function, each has evolved to handle particular antigens (Huether McCance, 2012). The antibody responses are also called humoral immunity. Another ad aptive response is known as cell-medicated immunity responses that activate T cells to combat against a foreign antigen presented on the surface of a host cell. Also, T cells produce signal molecules that trigger macrophages, natural killers (NK), antigen specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and release of various cytokines in responses to an antigen (Huether McCance, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to explain pathophysiology of disorders presented in the scenarios, including associated alterations, and adaptive responses to the alteration as well as construct a mind map for the selected disorder. Furthermore, consider the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risks factors, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of the disorder and any adaptive responses to alteration. Scenario 1: The first scenario the patient’s mother mentioned that Jennifer is usually healthy and has no significant medical history. However, physical examination revealed clinical manifestations, which include fever; tympanic membranes slightly redden on the periphery, throat erythematous with 4+ tonsils and diffuse exudate; anterior cervical nodes palpable and tender to touch. The child indicated throat hurts and painful to swallow. Vital signs reveal increased temperature, pulse and respiratory rate that suggested tonsillitis disorder. Pathophysiology Tonsillitis is an inflammatory condition of the tonsils due to bacteria, allergies or respiratory problems (Tonsillitis, 2014). When inflamed, tonsils become swollen and red with a grayish or yellowish coating on its surface. Tonsillitis usually begins with a sudden sore throat and painful swallowing. Tonsillitis causes tonsils and throat tissues to swell obstructing air from passing in and out of the respiratory system (Huether McCance, 2012). The tonsils infection is common in children under age six and teenagers but rare in adults. The adaptive response activates the different B cells and T cells lymphocytes to eliminate the alteration, so body can return back to hemostasis. Scenario 2: Pathophysiology Irritant contact dermatitis is a common nonimmunologically mediated inflammation arising from the release of proinflammatory cytokines from skin cells (principally keratinocytes), usually in responses to chemical stimuli such as cleansers, soap detergent, and various chemical agents (Hogan Elson, 2013). The main pathophysiological changes are skin barrier disruption, epidermal cellular changes and cytokine release. Irritant contact dermatitis is a major occupational disease; skin disorders comprise up to 40% of occupational illness (Hogan Elson, 2013). Patient work history is crucial in making diagnoses, and appearance of the skin. It may be treated with topical agents such as corticosteroid skin creams, emollients or moisturizers to prevent further irritation (Hogan Elson, 2013). Scenario 2: The patient presented with redness and irritation of his hands. The history revealed no allergies or significant medical history except for recurrent ear infections as a child. He denied any unknown exposure to irritants. Also, patient admits to working in maintenance and often working with abrasive solvent and chemical. Normally he wears gloves, but this particular time the patient did not wear gloves. He exposed his hands to some cleaning solutions. The patient’s detailed history and clinical manifestations led the student to a diagnosis of irritant contact dermatitis. Pathophysiology Stress is any situation that results in a reaction of the human body called the stress response (Huether McCance, 2012). The stress response is a set of adaptations that are mobilized throughout the body to correct state of allostatic imbalance. This involves a fairly stereotyped set neural an endocrine changes. A critical one is the secretion of catecholamines-epinephrine and norepinephrine from the nerve endings of the sympathetic nervous system projecting throughout the body (Huether McCance, 2012). Catecholamine induces vasoconstriction and increases in heart rate and blood pressure. It also increases the amount of nutrient and oxygen that is available to the muscle’s reaction during a stress response (Huether McCance, 2012). Another is secretion by the adrenal glands of a class of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids (GCs) ((Huether McCance, 2012). While there is an array of additional changes in levels of various hormones during stress (generally an increase in ci rculating levels of glucagon, prolactin, and beta-endorphin, decreases in insulin and reproductive hormones), secretion of GCs and the activation of the sympathetic nervous system constitute workhorses of the stress response (Huether McCance, 2012). Some common symptoms can include: increase heart rate, chest pain, poor appetite, depression, and insomnia. Usually, coping strategies are beneficial in helping individuals manage stress physical and psychological (Huether McCance, 2012). Adaptive responses help prepare the body for fight or flight by activating adaptive immunity response to correct imbalance. Scenario 3: The patient in this case study recently retired from her job as an administrative assistance at a local hospital. She does have a history of hypertensive, but controlled for years with medication. Patient reported having problem sleeping, occasionally rapid heart rate, and decrease appetite. She also mentioned her 87-year old mother moved in a few years ago after falling down a flight of stairs and broken her hip. Martha is taking care of her mother who requires enormous amount assistance with activities of daily living. She is worried about her own health at her age and sleep habits therefore clinical manifestations suggested stress disorder. Mind Map for Tonsillitis Disorder Epidemiology Irritant contact dermatitis is common in occupations that involve repeated hand washing or repeated exposure of the skin to water, food materials, and other irritants. High-risk occupations include maintenance, health care workers food preparation, and hairstylists (Hogan Elson, 2013). The prevalence of occupational hand dermatitis was found to be 55.6% in 2 intensive care units and was 69.7% in the most highly exposed workers. Irritant contact dermatitis is significantly more common in women than men. The high frequency of hand eczema in women in comparison with men is caused by environmental factors, not genetic factors. Pathophysiology Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ICD) is a common nonimmunologically mediated inflammation arising from the release of proinflammatory cytokines from skin cells (principally keratinocytes), usually in responses to chemical stimuli such as cleansers, soap detergent, and various chemical agents (Hogan Elson, 2013). The main pathophysiological changes are skin barrier disruption, epidermal cellular changes and cytokine release hones naà ¯ve T- lymphocytes to the skin. Patients with altered barrier function are more prone to ICD. Risk factors People who work in occupational hazard environment and handles irritant such as cleaners, nurses, construction workers, mechanics, and agricultural workers are at risk for developing irritant contact dermatitis (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Another risk factor is younger workers often less experienced than their older colleagues or may have a more careless attitude about safety measures causing them to develop the disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Clinical presentation Clinically, irritant contact dermatitis presents with scaly erythematous plaques, cracking of the skin, inflammation, dryness, and fissuring. It commonly involves web spaces that extend to the dorsal and ventral surface of the hand and fingers (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Vesicles do not typically form. Pruritus can be mild; however, stinging, burning and pain are frequently reported symptoms. Diagnosis Irritant contact dermatitis does not need a specific test because ICD can be diagnosed through clinical examination and a careful history. A clinical examination must include a careful look at the distribution of the dermatitis (palmar, dorsal, face, abdomen, web spaces, and fingernails) as well as the extension of dermatitis to wrists or forearms (Mayo Clinic, 2012). The history should include a questionnaire that addresses the individual name and address of the employer; the worker’s job’s title and a description of functions. The worker should provide a list of all chemicals handled and supply information about them, such as found on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) in order to provide an appropriate diagnosis (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Adaptive responses to alteration Harding or accommodation has been defined as the adaptation of the skin from altered local expression of multiple cytokines and inflammatory mediators with repeated irritation from skin irritants. Accommodated skin has a relatively thicker layer of stratum granulosum versus normal skin. Accommodated skin may exhibit a slight sheen and glossy appearance with a mild scale. On manipulation, there may also be a slight loss of elasticity (Huether McCance, 2012). Conclusion When successful, an adaptive immune response terminates infection and provides long-lasting protective immunity against the pathogen that provoked response. Adaptive immunity is an evolving process within a person’s lifetime, in which each infection changes the make-up of that individual’s lymphocyte population. Adaptive immunity is an evolving process within a person’s lifetime, in which each infection changes the make-up of that individual’s lymphocyte population (Huether McCance, 2012). These changes are neither inherited nor passed on but, during the course of a lifetime, they determine a person’s fitness and their susceptibility to disease. Failures to develop a successful adaptive response can arise from inherited deficiencies in the immune system or from the pathogen’s ability to escape, avoid, or subvert the immune response. Such failures can lead to debilitating chronic infections or death (Huether McCance, 2012). References Golden, S. Shaw, T. (2013). Hand dermatitis: Review of clinical features and treatment options. Retrieved from www.cutis.com/fileadmin/content†¦/SCMS_vol32_No3_Golden.pdf Hogan, D., Elston, D. M. (2013). Irritant contact dermatitis. Medscape. Retrieved from emedicine.medscape.com/article/1049353-overview Huether, S. E., McCance, K. L. (2012). Understanding pathophysiology (Laureate custom ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. Mayo Clinic. (2012). Tonsillitis. Retrieved from www.mayoclinic.org/diseases†¦/tonsillitis/†¦/con-20023538 Tonsillitis. (2014). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://wwe.britannica.com/Ebchecked/topic/599370/tonsillitis

Mythology In and Around Sophocles Antigone Essay -- Antigone essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚   How extensive and deep are the mythological roots in the Greek Sophoclean tragedy Antigone? Research indicates that both within the drama and around it there are numerous mythological influences. The use of mythological elements in Greek tragedy is very compatible with the Greeks’ sense of history surrounding a drama. Martin Heidegger in â€Å"The Ode on Man in Sophocles’ Antigone† comments on the Greek audience’s sense of history and a drama: Polis means, rather, the place, the there, wherein and as which historical being-there is. The polis is the historical place, the there in which, out of which, and for which history happens. To this place and scene of history belong the gods, the temples, the priests, the festivals, the games, the poets, the thinkers, the ruler, the council of elders, the assembly of the people, the army and the fleet. All this does not first belong to the polis, does not become political by entering into a relation with a statesman and a general and the business of the state. No, it is political, vile. at the site of history. . . . (91).    C. M. Bowra in â€Å"Sophocles’ Use of Mythology† gives the rationale behind the Attic dramatists’ preference for myths in their plays:    Myth provided the framework of drama, which illustrated in a highly concrete and cogent way some important crisis or problem, and that is why Greek tragedy can be called symbolical. The old stories are indeed told again for their own sake, and there is no lack of dramatic tension and human interest, but they also exemplify some far-reaching problem, which is admirably presented in this individual shape (31).    Antigone, the drama, begins with the main woman character and protagonist, Antigone, inviting Ismen... ...l Themes.† In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997.    Segal, Charles Paul. â€Å"Sophocles’ Praise of Man and the Conflicts of the Antigone.† In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    Sophocles. Antigone. Translated by R. C. Jebb. The Internet Classic Archive. no pag. http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html    â€Å"Sophocles† In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.    Watling, E. F.. Introduction. In Sophocles: The Theban Plays, translated by E. F. Watling. New York: Penguin Books, 1974.    Woodard, Thomas. Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.   

Human Nature and society presented through Huckleberry Finn Essay

Human Nature and Society presented through Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain opposed many of the ideologies of his time. Through his novel Huckleberry Finn, he explored human nature and the society. He made apparent his dislike for them. The book focus’s on the general treatment of black people during this time. Specifically, the author criticizes morality, slavery and racism. The characters encountered in Huckleberry Finn do not have very high moral standards. Many of them think and act very irrationally. In Chapter six, the newly appointed judge in town denied the widow and Judge Thatcher custody of Huck, despite Pap’s abusive, alcohol dependant history. Here the author criticized the knowledge and decisions of society’s authority figures. Throughout the book Twain attempts to portray the inhumane society he observed. People were treated very differently according to wealth, race or social stature. In Chapter eleven, Ms. Loftus sympathizes with Huck, a runaway and aids him in his travels, providing food and comfort. Ironically when the runaway was a black slave, her only concern was turning him in for a reward. As Huck travels further with Jim, their bond grows stronger. He realizes how Jim and others are being mistreated and taken advantage of. Despite this, Huck was still bombarded with the idealisms proposing slavery. When faced with the options of turning Jim in or not, it was a difficult choice for him to make. With his decision to assist Jim in his escape, he was...

Kurt Cobain Essay -- essays research papers

Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain was born on February 20,1967 in the town of Aberdeen, Washington. Aberdeen is on the west coast and is about 108 miles southwest of Seattle. Aberdeen is a dreary place with about seven feet of rain a year. Kurt was born to Mrs. Wendy Cobain and to Mr. Donald Cobain. Wendy was a homemaker. She had a very tight bond with Kurt. He was her first born. She had another child three years after she had Kurt. Her name was Kim. Donald was a mechanic. He was very into sports. He often tried to push Kurt into sports but Kurt just didn't like them. Even though the Cobain's didn't have much they seemed to do all right. Wendy dressed her children in the best clothes she could afford. They always looked like the best dressed kids in Aberdeen. Kurt was an extremely happy child. He would wake up everyday so happy. He was always filled with joy and always had a smile on his face. Kurt once said his upbringing could be decribed as "white trash posing as middle class". His mother told him to stay away from the poor kids. She said they were dirty. So Kurt did and he also would beat the up. Then in 4th grade he realized he liked them better. Around that time people started to notice that Kurt was very good in art. Most of Kurt's friends didn't really like things like art and music. He loved these things so much he stopped making friends because he was different. Kurt was not such a health kid. His whole life he suffered chronic bronchitis. At age of seven he was diagnosed hyperactive. He was put on Ritalin. This seemed to make him stay up until four in the morning. They soon put him on sedatives. This did not work either. They made him fall asleep in school. Doctors told Wendy to try subtracting sugar and Red Dye #2 from his food. This was the right prescription for Kurt. Sometime during the 8th grade Kurt was diagnosed with scloiosis. In his later years the weight of his guitar made it worse. Suicide also ran in his family. In 1979 a great uncle committed suicide and in 1984 an uncle also committed suicide. Kurt was in love with music since the age of two. He was brought up in a musical family. One of Wendy's uncle had some records out in the 40's and 50's. Her brother was in a Rock and Roll Band. Her sister was in a country band and played the guitar. Almost everyone had some sort of musical talent. Kurt had always wanted to be a ... ... Kurt wakes twenty hours later and denies it was an attempt. At this time Nirvana decides to cancel the rest of the tour and take a rest. Through all of the tours their are rumors that tensions are high between the group members. The press says there is constant fighting. There is even a rumor that the group is going to break up. To add to the cancellation of their tour they also cancel all their involvement in Lollapalooza. Then on March 18,1994 a startling thing happens. Kurt locks himself in a room of his house. He will not come out and he has a 38 caliber revolver with him. He threaten to kill himself. Courtney Love once again calls the police. The police come and take control of the situation. They take the gun away. Some time around March 30,1994 Courtney calls for an intervention to get Kurt off of drugs. She realizes he really does need help. On March 31,1994 Kurt checks in to the Exodus Recovery Center. It seems as though Kurt wants help. This doesn't last long. The day after he checks in he jumps a wall and it is the last anyone sees of him. He is missing On April 8th an electrician finds Kurt dead in home, from an apparent self- -inflicted gun shot wound to the head.

Governments can affect tourism development in a number of different ways and at three scales, national, regional and local

At a National scale the government sets a very broad agenda for tourism, they define primary goals for development and identify polices with broad strategies for their implementation. The main aim at this level is to encourage economic development, especially in LEDC's as both local and international tourism can be very profitable. National tourism plans designate tourism development regions to help redistribute wealth, to create employment and to channel development into zones that have the appropriate attractions and infrastructure. This broad planning and concentration on economic development is very clear in the case study of Ireland. IN 1993 1. 25 million people visited Northern Ireland and 10,000 were directly employed in the tourism industry. In Ireland there were about 3. 5 million visitors and over 90,000 people were employed in tourism. Then in December 1994 the British and Irish governments announced national tourism plans to market Ireland as a whole rather than two separate areas. In 1995 i6. 8 million tourism incentive attracted 92,000 more visitors to the area, which in turn generated a further i4 million in international aid. This should help Ireland to develop economically and should create 30,000 new jobs. Such promotion has increased the confidence of private investors e. g. Hilton International built a i17 million luxury hotel along the lagan river in Belfast, as part of a i130 million investment scheme. At a regional scale the government has a much greater influence on specific tourism development issues. There is usually a greater level of concern over potential environmental impacts of tourism development, so therefore the government may constrain tourism development rather than totally encouraging it to protect the environment. Also a more detailed consideration of the type and location of visitor attractions, together with supporting services such as accommodation are considered. Regional plans often provide strategies aimed at the concentration or dispersal of visitors, the planning of tourist information services, the designation of tourist routes and strategic placement of key attractions. Therefore the government may encourage a new, up and coming regional attraction or they may attempt to discourage use such as in the region of North Devon, where for example Braunton burrows is being discouraged from tourists, as it is a very fragile area. This is done by restricting use to the car parks, placing ministry of defence signs and promoting the area of Saunton Sands, which will draw tourists out of the fragile location. Another example is the south west of England where the tourist boards of England and Wales (although they have no legally enforceable status) provide important frameworks for co-ordinating private and public sector development of tourism. They have to manage problems such as congestion and poor accessibility. Local scale planning policies are focused on the physical organisation of tourism resources and facilities (accommodation, local, transport, catering and local attractions), the control of physical development (such as hotel construction) and management of visitors. These are mostly short-term plans and mostly deal with preventing or reducing conflicts in tourism and encouraging its development. The management of tourism is vital to the continued success of the industry. The main aim of tourism is to be sustainable, because all tourism developments have the potential to damage the environment, the social structure or the economic stability of an area. The environment is particularly easy to damage if the carrying capacity of a tourist attraction is exceeded. This will lead to a series of problems, which will decrease the quality of the attraction and therefore discourage visitors from coming, which will then destroy the industry. So management is particularly important with environmental attractions with the main aim of keeping the number of people below the carrying capacity. An example of this kind of management is Watersmeet in North Devon. Here there is careful management to prevent lots of visitors from coming to the location. There is a very limited car park, which requires a fee based on the length of time stayed. The lodge of Watersmeet is located away from the road and is not easily accessible to wheelchairs, elderly or buggies due to narrow steep paths and bridges. It is also deliberately badly signposted so that is difficult to find unless you specifically look for it. There are also no signs to encourage strolls along the footpaths to the surrounding villages to preserve the paths and bridges. The culture and heritage of a location can also be damaged by tourism. Clovelly best illustrates this, as it is a ‘honey pot' attraction in North Devon. This village was very popular with tourists and because of its size was overrun by the increase in numbers. This could have lead to the construction of new buildings such as hotels and restraints that weren't in fitting with the existing culture and may have even replaced existing traditional shops. To prevent this kind of social damage the area is managed to restrict visitors and is closed to all traffic. Development is also restricted in Clovelly to preserve the culture and traditional crafts of the area. All over North Devon there is a delicate culture that many tourists come to experience. To protect this especially in the National Park areas, it is managed so that any conflicts always favour the solutions that protect the environment, culture and heritage of the location. Surprisingly tourism can also damage the economic stability of an area, which at first sight is not thought of, as tourism is a profitable industry. It requires a vast quantity of investment to set up a tourist attraction and then unless the project is carefully managed the attraction will loose money and either the owners or the local area will have to pay back the loan, upsetting the economy. Tourism also requires a lot of extra money to maintain the attractions, which can be wasted unless it is carefully managed and spent wisely. If the money is wasted and doesn't properly restore the facility then it will loose business and the tourism industry will suffer. Another problem with tourism is that the jobs it provides for the local economy are seasonal and not full time. This doesn't help put money into the local economy as many of the residents require more permanent jobs and so seek employment elsewhere. The jobs provided are also often given to outsiders who then take their profits out of the location, not aiding the economy. Management, especially in the National Park and Heritage Coast of North Devon, ensures that those who profit from tourism are either from the immediate area, or are people who will use the money to help maintain or further tourist development. This includes large companies such as the National Trust who plough profits back into the economy, this keeps the tourist industry afloat while also creating a stable economy. A big problem for the tourist industry is the infrastructure of the location and whether it can deal with the high numbers of visitors or not. It has to be carefully managed so that the tourists can get to the facilities and enjoy their stay without damaging the environment, or the cultural heritage of the attraction. For example tourists need roads and accommodation to enjoy their trip, yet if this involves buildings a huge bypass then this will damage the environment and decrease the environmental quality of the area, this may lead to a decrease in visitors and a decline in the industry. Also a new hotel complex may be built for tourists yet this may replace a traditional shop or craft centre, which was originally a tourist attraction, so management is very important. Overall it is clear to see that unless a tourist area is carefully managed then it will be damaged which will mean les people visit the area and so the tourist industry will fail.

Energy Management Case Study: Siemens

In June 2009, Siemens took its effort in solar and wind to the next level by leading the Deserted initiative. This transcontinental project aims to generate solar power in North Africa, where it is most abundant, and then transport it to Europe. The project fits particularly well with Siemens because it requires not only experience in the primary wind and solar technology but also in the complementary technologies such as power grids and switchboard. Which have traditionally been strong business field for the company. Nuclear energy: 1.Nuclear reactors are the strongest power plants possible and the most economically feasible 2. Recently Siemens has taking up its nuclear activities anew and is expending to become involved in international agreements. With Siemens becoming a potential new partner in the Russian market that holds dozen of new sectors and china that have plans to have 100 new reactors in operation or under construction by 2020 Hydrophone: 1. Harnessing the power of ocea n waves has attracted significant attention since ocean cover 71% of the earth surface. 2.US department of energy established the hydrophone program, designed to conduct R&D that will improve the technical, societal and environmental benefits of hydrophone and provide cost competitive technologies. Geothermal power: 1. This technology has a major advantage that it can be installed wherever energy is actually needed. Geothermal plants require minimal fresh water and external fuel pupils, and due to their layout are highly scalable. Smart grids: 2. Smart grid technology seems to be a natural opportunity for Siemens, based on the company's long history with electronic technology and products.Wolfgang Then believes that the market for smart grids will increase due to climate change and economic stimulus programs. 4) Threats: 1) Carbon-based fuel amount to 39% of Siemens profits, facing the reality that fossil fuel are finite, supplies will eventually run out, it Just a matter of when. T he threat is that Siemens contingency plan in renewable energy consist of 11% of its profit. ) Alternative energy: Most alternative energy creation methods have one major drawback: they can generate energy only in places were natures provide the required energy input.Wind energy The size of the wind turbine is not scalable due to technological constraints. To increase capacity, multiple wind turbines there for must be spread out over large distance from one another. Densely populated urban areas do not have adequate space to house wind parks, and rural areas have expressed annoyance with the patterns and agriculture productivities. Wind turbines possess limited efficiency. Wind turbines require large and highly specialized assembly facilities. The first ever float turbines main concerns are the durability and maintenance of the equipment against aggressive environmental condition at sea. Siemens is considering to utilize its size, contingency, competency, and cutting edge technology to further increase its market share and global footprint in wind energy. The question is whether wind energy will turn out to be the leading alternative technology, and if it does, whether wind technologies alone can generate enough profit to keep Siemens aloft. Solar energy Like wind energy solar power most be extracted were it occurs naturally.Solar panels have a low efficiency. Reaching only about 25% under optimal laboratory conditions. Solar panels due too China has become the leader manufacturer of low-cost Combination of cheap labor and available industrial infrastructure; it drove prices Down by almost The method of disposing of nuclear waste in old caves and salt mind is not 100% safe, in addition there has been reports of increased leukemia rates in areas close to nuclear reactors, changes in the micrometer due to the vast amount of steam released into the atmosphere.Hydrophone: For the technology to work, the seashore needs to be flat with only a slight slope, and requi res long stretches of littoral waters. Also tide turbines are restricted to uninhabited beaches, since moving parts under the water surface, can create hazards for swimmers, water sports, and coastal ships. Some drawbacks to wave power include the efficiency of current application necessary resistance against hostile environment (storms and salt water corrosion), cost of electricity, possible impact on marine life, and hazards to shipping. ) Candidates such as geothermal energy and hydra power, not to mention next generation nuclear reactor have evolved quite rapidly in recent years and seem poised to pose a serious threat to wind and solar applications, Siemens most relied upon alternative energy source. 4) Siemens is considering multiple options as its gateway from the problem and has to place some significant bets. If Siemens bets badly, the company risks being relegated to the sidelines as newer, more innovator firms squeeze slower-moving incumbents out of the market.Ill) PEST A nalysts: 1) Political/Regulatory/Legal: l. Politician from the US and Germany 2 of the biggest industrialized countries in the world are supporting the development of alternative energy. II. A group of 20 Coos recommendations to 68 leaders in their 2008 climate policy: A paradigm shift to low technological innovation, this will open the door for new energy companies to enter the market Ill. Combined with a growing global awareness of the impact of green-house gases on climate change as well as increased concerns regarding energy security.Energy issues are now receiving renewed interest from government and corporation alike. IV. President Obama visited the wind-turbine blade factory in Fort Medicine, Iowa to show his support receiving importing political recognition. V. Producing industrial- call wind turbines requires large and highly specialized assembly facilities. The entry-level barriers are high. VI. The effort of Siemens research in nuclear energy were put on hold in the sass when the German government passed a law that would gradually withdraw the country from nuclear-power generation.However Germany is reconsidering this decision. The German parliamentary election 2009 spawned new hopes that the German nuclear industry might be revalidated. VI'. Russia, China and the US are in the market producing and licensing multiple new nuclear reactor (12, 100, 35 respectively) . VIII. Siemens was recently plagued by a bribery scandal and because the US and the EX. Have lows that make such business practice illegal, Siemens was sentenced to 1. 6 billion in finds by the German and the US authorities. However bribery is commonplace in countries such as Nigeria, Russia and China. ) Economic: l. The prices of oil have been trending upward in recent decades. Crude oil prices spiked at an old-time high of $145. 15 per barrel on July 3 2008(up from $50 only 18 month earlier). II. Solar panels have reached a production cost of less than $1 per k output. Ill. US are Jumpin g the band wagon partly because they believe that millions of new green Jobs may help to reduce high unemployment. ‘V. Chinese companies are entering strongly to the wind energy and solar market due to a combination of cheap labor and available industrial infrastructure.China drove prices of solar panels down by almost 50% from 2008 to 2009. V. The Obama administration set a side funding to build smart-grid technologies as part of its recent economic stimulus plan. 3) Social/Cultural: l. Social awareness of the impact of green-house gases on climate change as well as increased concerns regarding energy security. II. Burning of fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide(CO into the atmosphere, which has linked to global warming. In addition many cities have become contaminated by smoke and people are suffering health problems caused by increased pollution.Ill. US government believes that investing in alternative energy will create millions of new green Jobs. IV. Rural areas have expre ssed annoyance of the sound made by wind turbines as well as their interference with wildlife migratory patterns and agricultural productivity. V. Nuclear power has serious limitations issues include nuclear accidents like Coherently and Fuchsia and how to store nuclear products which can be harmful to any living organism. L. New alternatives-energy technologies are Wing to replace carbon-based fossil fuels. II.Better materials have enabled specialized companies to build ever-larger wind turbines and new improved solar panels though increasing efficiency and reducing cost. (example: the 3. 6 mm wind turbine, first-ever floating wind turbine, cost efficient Chinese solar panel, turnkey high-tech solar plants). Ill. R in various companies has spurred immense efforts to find optimal ways not Just to capture but also to store and distribute energy generated from natural resources. IV. US department of energy recently announced 40 million dollar in founding to support design and planning work for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NSP).V. Harnessing the power of the ocean waves has attracted significant attention since oceans cover 71% of the earth surface. Furthermore the US department of energy established the hydrophone program designed to conduct R that will improve the technical, societal and environmental benefits of hydrophone and provide cost competitive technologies. VI. The new smart grid technology include self-monitoring ND possibly self-repairing capabilities, smart sensors and meters, and a communication network similar to the internet. V) Competitive Analysis: 1) New Market Entrants: l. A paradigm shift to low carbon economy by 2050 has a potential to drive forward the next chapter of technological innovation, this will open the door for new energy companies to enter the market. II. Since the market of wind energy has high future potential new players are entering the competition most notably from china and In recent years China has become the leadin g manufacturer and global Japan. Ill. Exporter of low-cost solar panels. V.Concerning the nuclear energy I-J, Japan, Taiwan, south scoria and India are difficult market to inter because they possess their own technology and production capabilities and for security reasons. V. Start-ups are investing significant resources in R to engage in smart-grid technologies (2 of these start-ups, Grid Point and Silver Spring Network, have managed to raise $220 million and $170 million, respectively). 2) Supplier Power: l. Sound and wind will not cease to exist within a time frame significant to humanity.II. One of the attractions of wind power and solar turnkey COPS plans is that, once installed, the turbines need constant maintenance which means lucrative long-term service contrast for the original maker and installer of the equipment. Ill. Smart distribution will greatly reduce the current problems with power demands, and can serve to integrate both tradition and alternative energy into a com mon power supply and distribution network. 3) Buyer Power: K made this market perfectly competitive. II.Knowing that energy from carbon based fuel is still at disposal and at constant price competition in this market will remain high which will give consumer a buying power. 4) Product Technology Development: . Introduction off new 3. 6-Mm wind turbine featuring a 120-meter diameter rotor equipped with 58. 5-meter long rotor blades. First ever wind turbine off the coast of Norway II. The turnkey high-tech solar plans include SSP (concentrated solar power) and CISCO (integrated solar combined cycle system) plants. Ill. The next generation nuclear power plant (NSP). IV. Technologies in hydrophone (e. . , the Appeals Wave Energy Converter) to harness the power of ocean waves. V. The smart grids technologies that will help to avoid power outages, make the grid more reliable, reduce maintenance and save energy. VI. Craig Veneer a key figure in decoding of the human genome, actually view a lgae as the most promising path in renewable energy source. These microscopic plant cells are present in an infinite supply and can generate energy quickly effectively and in an environmental friendly manner. 5) Competitive Rivalry: l. Siemens leading competitors are ABA, GE and Lastly.Never less it is always intriguing to meet in the same room and talk about collaborative ways to improve worldwide energy efficiency. II. GE launched a multimillion dollar accommodation initiative to leverage its wide-ranging technological capabilities to address problem in he green-energy arena. Ill. Enron (Germany) and Vestals (Denmark) is the major competitor of wind energy in the U and GE in US. While China and Japan are also trying to enter the market in Asia. IV. Rivalry within the solar energy market is strong and almost perfectly competitive.V) Gap Analysis: 1) Customer Gap: One example of a customer gap that may be facing Siemens is when they introduce their floating wind turbine. This gap wi ll expand if the durability and maintenance costs exceed its value. Trying to close this gap Siemens is now testing this technology to evaluate whether it is feasible or not. 2) Provider Gap 1 (Listening Gap): Cutting down the number of sector from 1 dozen to Just 3 helped Siemens close down its listening gap by concentrating on fewer divisions, moreover the energy market is a very complicated buyer and seller will exchange all the details before the buying process is done.It's so difficult to find a listening gap in this market. 3) Provider Gap 2 (Design & Standards Gap): understand customer requirements and the presence of upper management in all transactions ( buying and selling ) to improve focus on customer requirements 4) Provider gap 3 (performance ) Turnkey COPS plants and wind turbines need a long term service provider for Constant maintenance. Siemens will try to narrow this gap by providing a on-duty engineers to maintain a standard in all its plants.In addition working o n the new developed Smart-grid will help ensure a positive outcome and narrow this Gap. 5) Provider Gap 4 (Communication Gap): Siemens claimed to be the only company worldwide that support customers with efficient products, solutions, and know-how along the entire chain of energy conversion from the production of oil and gas to power generation and the transmission and distribution of electrical energy. To narrow its communication AP Siemens must maintain these standards and deliver a price competitive product and services.VI) Alternative Courses of Action: The question raised by Siemens is what to do and where to invest? Do they try to improve their current alternative energy projects? Or try to expand to different sources? Will it be efficient to invest in new alternatives source or acquire smaller companies with innovative technologies and promising market segment? 1) Alternative one: Increase investment in research of the algae plant that shows a promising path. Disadvantages: i t might turn out to be Just rubbish and all investments made could e lost.Advantages: Siemens could be a first mover in this field of renewable efficient and environmental friendly energy source, which could change the world as we know it. 2) Alternative two: Increase further its footprint in the wind market by introducing multiple giant and floating turbines. Disadvantages: it might turn out to be inefficient compared to its coast and maintenance and another first mover in some other field might be more efficient and resourceful. Advantages: by increasing its footprint in the wind market Siemens will remain the only leader and increase its market share. Alternative three: Giving wind energy its rightful share but increasing investment in solar panels by acquiring new research companies that are currently working on making new improvement in the solar business one kind has a (microscopic forest) that collects liquid water to produce steam. Advantages: Siemens will insure that the in vestment will pay off on the long run knowing that the sun is there for another 5 billion years. Disadvantages: the initial gains on this technology might not be realized under the Siemens name. W) Recommended Course of Action: Our recommendation lies on the 3rd alternative.VIII) Reason for Choice: By giving wind energy its rightful share and nuclear power a miner share, focusing on solar source innovation is a very desirable choice knowing that first sun is infinite secondly solar panels are very cost efficient which will give a higher ROE than any other source of energy and finally it is environmental friendly and social acceptable. Recommendations: a. What should be done? Siemens should retain all its work flow and progress but focus more on energy coming from the sun as this energy will be the a panacea for the world's economy as well as environmental concerns.