NanoGene Technologies Essay

NanoGene Technologies, Inc is a life sciences start-up based on nanotechnology. The firm was founded by an unusually large number of people; five employees of the Eastern Institute of Technologies Advanced Materials Sciences Lab (AMSL). The founders worked in different sections of AMSL, but they were working on a set of technologies that were linked in the human genome project. Together, the founders developed techniques and compounds that caused the genes to ‘stretch out and straighten up’ making it much easier for labs to do the cutting and manipulation that is required in diagnostic testing. NanoGene planned to use this technology, which is owned by the Eastern Institute of Technologies, to begin to sell the patented substrate material to diagnostic testing labs around the world. As the business model of NanoGene formed, the founders decided to equally split the equity among the five members and all of them would have the same salary of $120,000. Will Tompkins, one of the founders, was named the CEO. In the first year, NanoGene secured the required intellectual property to the technology by offering the Eastern Institute of Technologies 15% in equity and a 3% royalty on sales. Will Tompkins used one of his contacts, an active angel investor, to obtain the angel funding of $600,000 at $2.25 million post-money valuation. The value proposition, customer segment, and revenue streams are fairly straight forward. NanoGene’s technology offers their target customers, diagnostic testing labs around the world, an easier and faster way to complete diagnostic testing. The sales of the substrate material will provide NanoGene with its source of revenue. Currently, NanoGene is trying to recruit Paige Miller, a Havard Business School graduate who has been doing some consulting for NanoGene. Additionally, NanoGene is in their Series A funding. NanoGene is looking to raise $10 million which will be sufficient to fund them for 18 months, to prove their technology, and to get them to a pilot production. At a meeting with a venture capitalist, NanoGene learned about the issues VCs have with the firm. The first concern the VCs have involves the founding team. The founding team is quite large, five members, and all of the founders are pure scientists with little to no business experience. Generally, the VCs invest in technology based start-ups with a founding team of two to three members. Usually one of the founders has had experience driving the commercialization of technology, typically as a Chief Scientific Officer at an established  firm. The unique size of NanoGene’s founding team and their lack of experience is an area of worry for the VCs. The VCs are also concerned about the founding team’s decision to compensate all founders equally. The scientists are splitting the equity evenly and are receiving a salary of $120,000 which is, at a minimum, $30,000 more than the annual salary of their former jobs at AMSL. VCs believe the founders and future employees should be compensated based on their added value to the company; a strategy commonly practiced in the business world. Typically, biotech CEOs have a higher salary and will retain about 2.5 times as much equity as VP-level founders. The VCs think Will Tompkins should be compensated more and the rest of the founders should be compensated less. NanoGene needs to address the VCs concerns in order for NanoGene to be a viable company. Paige Miller, a consultant for NanoGene, should be part of the solution in eliminating the VCs concerns. The founders have little to no background in business and have not been very professional as a team. In business, team members communicate and are not afraid to disagree with each other. With NanoGene, the founders want to make everyone happy. The scientist agreed to compensate equally since it would have been disruptive in their opinion to try to determine equity share and compensation based on a more complicated set of principles. Members didn’t want to upset the rest of the team. Additionally, the founders are already having disputes about how to compensate future employees. NanoGene needs someone with business experience who can be professional and focus on the goal of the company.  Paige Miller has the business experience and personality NanoGene requires. The only complication is her compensation of $175,000 in salary and 3% of the company equity. Paige Miller can lead the company through the disagreements and difficult challenges they will face in the early stages of development. Will Tompkins does not have enough experience to lead the company and commercialize the technology. The CEO should instead be Paige Miller, who is more qualified than Tompkins. Instead of increasing Tompkins salary and share of equity, NanoGene can compensate Miller. Installing Miller as the CEO will help solve the CEO payment issue and the lack of business experience found at NanoGene. At present, the founders may not be happy about their smaller share of equity and potentially lower salaries, but in the long run, the action of making Miller CEO will pay off. Miller has valuable knowledge of in commercializing technology and running a business, and can guide discussions on the hiring process, the potential compensation policies, the company goals, and company culture. She will also bring the professional touch NanoGene needs. Miller is also one of the few people familiar with the technology and business ideas of NanoGene since she has worked with NanoGene in the past. Without Miller, NanoGene may not get the funding they need to continue as a company. Another top priority of NanoGene is proving the technology. This can’t be done if there is no funding for the VCs. In the future, NanoGene should conduct more market research on diagnostic tests. Currently, NanoGene has a simple value proposition with a very general customer segment. NanoGene needs to identify specific customer segments of high growth and low competition. Research in other value propositions such as cost and accuracy will help also NanoGene’s profitability.

Modelling the Inflation Process in Nigeria

MODELLING THE INFLATION PROCESS IN NIGERIA 2. Nigeria’s inflation experience Nigeria has experienced all manner of inflationary episodes – from creeping to moderate and from high to galloping (see Table 1 and Figure 1). Average inflation during the period 1960–1972 was relatively low, the historical average rate being 5. 01%. When assessed on an annual basis, however, rising prices became a cause for concern for the then military government when in 1969 the inflation rate hit double digits at 10. 36%. Government’s concern seems to have been justified by the fact that Nigeria was experiencing double-digit inflation for the first time, in the face of a raging civil war whose end was not then in sight. In reaction, government imposed a general wage freeze for a period of one year. Apparently aware of possible opposition by labour unions, price control measures were introduced with the official promulgation of the Price Control Decree, early in 1970 (see Fashoyin, 1984, for comprehensive discussion of anti-inflation measures taken during this period). Inflationary pressures continued unabated, however, even with price controls. Table 1: Inflation episodes in Nigeria Period Average 1960–1972 5. 01 1973–1985 17. 96 1986–1995 31. 30 1986–2002 13. 34 Source: Computed by the authors Pressures for salary increases led to the setting up of the Wages and Salaries Review Commission. The Commission eventually granted salary increases to all categories of public service employees, and similar adjustments were later made in the private sector. These awards, which came at a time when the dislocation of domestic production and marketing as a result of the civil war had not been fully repaired, generated a measure of excess demand in the economy. This is likely to have been responsible for the rise in the rate of inflation by 16. 0% in 1971. Government’s immediate response was to lift import restrictions on several categories of goods. Excise duties on a number of goods were also reduced. A credit policy that favoured the production of food was also put in place. These efforts, coupled with the establishment of the Nigerian National Supply Company (NNSC), were credited with yielding the relatively low rate of inflation of 3. 2% recorded in 1972. The period 1973–1985 was one of greater inflationary pressures than the period 1960–1972, with an average inflation rate in those years of 17. 96%. The effects of the 3 RP 182_Olubusoye_maintext. pmd 21/10/2008, 14:29 3 6 RESEARCH PAPER 182 Exchange rate regimes and inflation in Nigeria Inflation and exchange rates have been identified as two of the key â€Å"barometers† of economic performance (Rutasitara, 2004). Exchange rate arrangements in Nigeria have undergone significant changes over the past four decades, shifting from a fixed regime in the 1960s to a pegged arrangement between the 1970s and the mid 1980s, and finally to various types of floating regime adopted in 1986 with the SAP. A regime of managed float, without any strong commitment to defending any particular parity, has been the predominant characteristic of the floating regime in Nigeria since 1986. Exchange rate policy emerged as one of the controversial policy instruments in developing countries in the 1980s, with vehement opposition to devaluation for fear of its inflationary impact, among other effects. Nigeria faced such a situation and there has since been interest in the performance of inflation and the role of the exchange rate in the process. The peculiarity of the Nigerian foreign exchange market needs to be highlighted. The country’s foreign exchange earnings are more than 90% dependent on crude oil export receipts. The result is that the volatility of the world oil market prices has a direct impact on the supply of foreign exchange. Moreover, the oil sector contributes more than 80% of government revenue. Thus, when the world oil price is high, the revenue shared by the three tiers of government rises correspondingly, and as has been observed since the early 1970s, elicits comparable expenditure increases, which are then difficult to bring down when oil prices collapse and revenues fall. Indeed, such unsustainable expenditure levels have been at the root of high overnment deficit spending. It became a matter of serious concern that despite the huge amount of foreign exchange, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) supplied to the foreign exchange market, the impact was not reflected in the performance of the real sector of the economy. Arising from Nigeria’s high import propensity of finished consumer goods, the foreign exchange earnings from oil continued to generate output and employm ent growth in other countries from which Nigeria’s imports originated. This development necessitated a change in policy on 22 July 2002, when the demand pressure in the foreign exchange market intensified and the depletion in external reserves level persisted. The CBN thus reintroduced the Dutch auction system (DAS) to replace the inter-bank foreign exchange market (IFEM). Since then, the DAS has been largely successful in achieving the objectives of the monetary authorities. Generally, it assisted in narrowing the arbitrage premium from double digits to a single digit, until the emergence of irrational market exuberance in the fourth quarter of 2003. Figure 2 charts the details of the movements in inflation and the parallel market premium over the official exchange rate. As can be seen in the figure, movements of the parallel exchange rate premium and inflation rate were very close, especially during the mid 1970 and early 1990s. Indeed, this was the period of widest divergence between the official and parallel market exchange rates. As can be seen from the graph, the peaks and troughs almost always go together, thus confirming that the parallel market exchange rate was significantly correlated with the inflation rate. RP 182_Olubusoye_maintext. pmd 21/10/2008, 14:29 6

On The Morning of Christ’s Nativity: An Application of The Bible to the Work of John Milton

Milton's Nativity Ode contains a â€Å"theory of all things† in respect to his vision. This theory deals greatly with the idea that the human body is merely a tomb for the soul. While in the Bible we have been taking the body of the King to represent the whole land. The death of the King is in comparison the death of the land. Like the Kings of Christ's time, Milton writes to bring attention to the three types of liberty he hoped to achieve in England: Liberty from the Church [tyranny of the bishops], liberty of the individual [divorce and education], and liberty from the state [King]. The poem can be broken down into four parts: the first eight verses deal with the coming of Christ, the next ten with the mystery of music, verse nineteen and forward focus on the silencing of the oracles and concludes with verse twenty-seven and the birth of Christ. In â€Å"On the Morning of Christ's Nativity† Milton sees both Christmas and Easter as the same thing since it is impossible to have one without the other. The baby in the cradle is the man on the cross. John Milton's â€Å"On The Morning of Christ's Nativity† uses the idea of the Jesus of history and the Christ of fact to relay his ideas of the creation of the world and the synonymous events. Comparison can be drawn between John Gospel and â€Å"On the Morning of Christ's Nativity† for it is an intensely symbolic book. John's version of Christ is a Christ of Faith, which has a plays a large part in the Ode. In the fifth verse of the â€Å"Nativity Ode† Milton declares that the saviour would come and sacrifice himself for mankind and work with his father to create â€Å"perpetual peace† (7]. In the glorification of Jesus in John's Gospel, the spirit makes him known as the Son of God. In the first hymn of the poem Christ is compared to nature and the natural world. For Milton, harmony can only be found in nature; nature has a deeper meaning then is initially revealed to the reader. Snow is able to cover the earth and blanket all of its sins. Nature takes the form of trees and rivers in the Old Testament; the Trees of Knowledge and Life as well as the Rivers of Eden [Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates]. As in comparison, in relation to the serpent, Milton uses the dragon to signify everything that is evil in the world. In classical mythology the dragon signifies the same as the serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden: The old dragon underground In straiter limits bound, Not half so far casts his usurped sway, And wroth to see his kingdom fail. [168-171] The Classics give you a limited and partial image of the truth. Milton uses classical mythology to prove that even in a pagan religion snakes are equated with evil doings. The slaying of the dragon is connected to every dragon slaying known to Milton from both the Biblical and Classical worlds. Milton recounts the story of how as an infant Hercules strangled two snakes: Not Typhon huge ending in snaky twine: Our babe to show his Godhead true, Can in his swaddling bands control the damned crew. [226-228]. Classical mythology, or the belief in it cannot save your soul but it can give you a nudge in the right direction. While in the poem Christ is replacing the classical culture he is also part of classical antiquity. At the closing of the poem we return to the musical serenade of the angels and the angel harmony as the angels sin in order serviceably. St. Paul like Milton believed that the body was merely a tomb for the soul: a container that while it was fallen could through acts of salvation help the soul return to a state of grace after death. Death as we see it is not really death then by the standards of Milton; death only wounds the physical body and allows the soul/spirit to return to the heavens. With death comes liberty, from the church, self and state. To St. Paul the body of mankind was an ever perishing home to an eternal soul. This is a recurrent theme in the narrative of the Bible, a story of loss and recuperation. Milton's â€Å"On the Morning of Christ's Nativity† calls on many images and ideas that are expressed in the Old and New Testament's of the King James Bible from the idea that the King is the land, the body is a vessel for the soul and that the snake/serpent and dragon are all representative of evil whether examining Biblical or Classical literature. Milton uses Biblical allusion and references to give his argument weight with his reader who would have surely at that time been familiar enough with the middles to draw the comparisons quickly and effectively. Top of Form Bottom of Form

CRITICAL SYSTEMS THINKING AND PRACTICE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

CRITICAL SYSTEMS THINKING AND PRACTICE - Essay Example On the other hand, refugees are persons who would be persecuted within their own countries of nationality on basis of their religion, race, nationality, political stand or opinion or better still membership to a social group (Anon, 2011-12, p. 2). Immigration has been a common practice within the human culture and has been evidenced by the frameworks that have been crafted within government structures of different countries to deal with the feature. Governments acknowledge that there exists immigration into or out of these countries either legally or even illegally and thus the need for regulatory frameworks. Nevertheless, the major concern has been in manning the borders and having clear-cut boundaries between countries. However, there are international human rights that influence government decisions surrounding immigration, which are generally accepted within the international context. Such frameworks are basically meant to cater for refugees and thus covering them and their right s. However, every nation has her foreign policies as decisions that point to the future on accounts of other nations as against her internal decisions. The analysis revolves around the assessment of international as well as internal domestic political and social cultural environment. It also entails setting goals and determining the options on foreign policies regarding the level of porosity in terms of allowing people in as well as out of the country. Of much concern is a problem that has been associated with inclusion as well as exclusion in matters of boundaries in countries. This has been seen to be a critical issue in analysis of critical thinking and practices. This paper therefore intends to evaluate the issue of boundaries and inclusion within the context of Indonesia and Australia. Immigration is a common feature within these countries, though there are guidelines and frameworks that are responsible of regulating the issue within the countries. Moreover, apart from internal regulatory frameworks that govern migration of persons as refugees or even asylum seekers, there are international frameworks that work together for the good of the immigrants. The UNHCR among other UN bodies regulate the issue of migration to other countries of people who pose as refugees or asylum seekers; and thus ensure the proper handling of the persons within international frameworks, which are accented to by international community. Indonesia is a transit country to Australia and offers the cheapest way to refugees or illegal immigrants through the sea. This is because the country is well situated and is the passing point of the immigrants especially those from the Middle East countries, who are headed to Australia for settlement as well as seeking for employment. Indonesia fits transit point because she is made up of many islands and has good entry points through water transport; which proves to be cheap and affordable to the immigrants who in many instances lack enough mon ey for transport through other means. The local anglers and who indulge in the illegal business of ‘smuggling people’ offer transport services to the illegal immigrants

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 9

Economics - Essay Example Although, Federal Reserve uses monetary policies tools such as open market operations, the discount rate and reserve requirement, the tools affect the economy either positively or negatively (Giuseppe, 2009). More so, increase or decrease of the reserve requirement affects interest rates in a short period as financial institutions lack funds to issue to investors. Nonetheless, higher discount rates make borrowing less attractive from Federal Reserve for many banks while low discount rate make borrowing more attractive for banks because they have access to more deposits. More so, it is necessary to establish how monetary policy caused the financial crisis in the country Considerably, Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in determining money supply in the economy that eventually affect credit availability and the interest rates in the United States. More significantly, Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in 2001 as it induced investors to borrow money to finance mortgages and purcha se of houses for speculation. However, in 2004 Federal Reserve increased the interest rates making payments of mortgages difficult thus, leading to increase in house prices. More so, businesses and individuals had accumulated a lot of interest from the mortgages, making it difficult to pay leading to high defaulting rate of the borrowed funds. More than that, the boom in house markets impacted on financial market lead to high levels of delinquencies and foreclosures. Considerably, the recession period was marked by high levels of economic downturn as the decline in the gross domestic product increased with high levels of unemployment during the recession period (Giuseppe, 2009). In addition, there is a lower level of money in the economy with a high level of bankruptcies and default in loan repayment crisis as real income declines with the economic downturn becomes worse impeding the Federal Reserve to take action as the economic recession period showed likelihood of economic depres sion era occurrence. In addition, the Federal reserve set reserve requirements limits for banks and financial institutions as it decreased reserve requirements between 2001-2005 by about 20% funds reserves owned by banks were used to give out more loans to businesses and individuals. As a result, there was an increase in money supply available in the economy thus, leading to inflation. However, in 2005 to 2008 Federal Reserve revised its monetary policy reducing the growth of GDP as it enhanced reduction of money supply in the economy. Nonetheless, the development of collateral mortgage obligations structured product served as a security for borrowing of money thus, individuals later had easer availability to loans .as they used insurance as security for the provision of safety for the loan borrowed if defaulted (Blanchard, 2008). Nonetheless, Federal Reserve failed to recognize liquidity problem in 2007, as it increased the interbank rates while failing to provide an immediate solu tion to the increasing money supply. As a result, interest rate rose to unprecedented levels that eventually led the economy into a period of recession. With the worsening of the economy, the Federal Reserve provided solutions meant to solve challenges that the USA economy was facing in the year 2008 as it uses monetary policies to solve the financial crisis. Federal Reserve increased money supply in t

Healtcare Reform Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Healtcare Reform - Coursework Example Additionally, insurance policies were not flexible, and one could be denied adequate healthcare at any one time. Hence millions of people were not at the verge of affording such expensive insurance contribution. Currently, health care has adopted various reforms. More generic drugs production has lead to an increase in competition, spurring up a decrease in the drugs cost. Medicare has escalated the drugs cost for the seniors. A monitoring and evaluation body (PCORI) has been established to advice on the care improvement. In response to the rising cases of obesity and lifestyle related diseases, all restaurants have been forced to attach a label on their products so that the consumers can make informed choices (Odier, 2010). Insurance firms were previously notorious in dropping the coverage when one is sick, but currently the law restricts them to do so. Most significantly, children below twenty six years can remain attached to the parents’ insurance scheme. Other improvements include introduction of a state consumer assistance program to aid in citizens complains response, inauguration of fraud fighting tools, free preventive care, physician increase, especially in rural areas and 80/20 rule

The Boston Tea Party Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Boston Tea Party - Research Paper Example The first part is an overview of British colonization of America to show the relationship between ruled colonies and the ruling Empire. The second part summarizes the relationship between business and government in the colonies that led to abuses. The third part explores the role that taxation of tea, an ordinary beverage, played in the conflicts between the Crown and its colonies. The fourth part briefly discusses the protests that led to the Tea Party and the reactions of the British colonizers. The final part shows the link between the Boston Tea Party and American independence. The first English settlers sailed to America in the early 17th century, founding the colonies of Virginia in 1607. Despite harsh conditions of climate and violent resistance from natives, English settlers continued arriving in droves: settling in Plymouth in 1620, Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire in 1629, Maryland in 1630, Rhode Island and Connecticut in 1636, New Haven in 1638, North and South Carolina in 1663, New York and New Jersey in 1664, Hudson Bay in 1670, and Pennsylvania in 1681. Colonial settlements were established in Delaware in 1702, Georgia in 1732, and West Florida in 1763 (Innes 5-7). Each of these colonies was established either as a chartered company colony or a proprietary colony, which differentiates the way the colony is managed, its relations with the British government or Crown, and how revenues from trade and commerce in and out of the colony is shared with government. A chartered company is managed by business interests in behalf of the Crown, while civil servants appointed by the Crown manage a proprietary colony. Most chartered company colonies were not as well managed as proprietary colonies, so colonies such as Virginia, Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay were eventually turned into proprietary colonies, with the Crown appointing settlers from England as governors (Innes 11-13). America was a conglomeration of rich and

Category Management (CM) And Its Scope In Improving The Performance Of Essay

Category Management (CM) And Its Scope In Improving The Performance Of Retail Organisations - Essay Example Earlier, product manufacturers have assigned the duty of selling a particular product to the product manager. However, the evolution of CM forced the organizations to create a new post; category manager. Earlier organizations give more importance to product managers whereas modern organizations give more importance to category managers. This is because of the fact that marketing of a category of product is easier than marketing a particular product. For example, smartphones are conquering the market at present. It is easy for Samsung or Apple like smartphone manufacturers to market tablets along with smartphones since both smartphones and tablets almost belong to the same category. In short â€Å"CM helps category manager to sets the prices of all brands in the category so as to maximize total category profits† (Basuroy et al., 2001, p.17). ... In short â€Å"CM helps category manager to sets the prices of all brands in the category so as to maximize total category profits† (Basuroy et al., 2001, p.17). Moreover, it enhances the interactions between between retailers and wholesalers and helps them to reap more profit (Kulikova, 2012, p.67). This paper analyses how category management can improve the performances of retail organizations. Scope of category management in improving the performance of retail organisations CM starts from the definition of category and ends in the category implementation. Between these starting and end points, CM travels through other steps such as identification of category role, category assessment, category scorecard, category strategies, and category tactics. The figure given below explains various steps involved in CM. (Basuroy et al., 2001, p.17) After category implementation, organizations review the success and failures of CM. The category review process helps organizations to ident ify the strengths and weakness of existing CM and modify it to restart the CM process in a more efficient manner. In short, CM helps organizations to polish or fine tune the existing business strategies all the time and manages the selling of a particular category of products in an efficient manner. A typical category management framework is described in the following illustration. Category management framework (Effective day-to-day category management, 2011, p.3) From the above illustration, it is evident that market insight elements such as consumers, trends, economy, competitors and suppliers help an organization to formulate company goals related to customers, strategies, finance etc. Identification of goals helps a company to formulate strategies necessary for the promotion of a specific

Ecocnomic Assingnment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ecocnomic Assingnment - Essay Example y interpret â€Å"economic growth† to mean a sustained increase in per capita output (income) accompanied by reduction in existing inequalities and economic betterment of the masses. As per Classical Economists, Capital accumulation is the core of economic development of a country. It is the main factor that helps economic growth of a country. Capital Accumulation (M.L. Seth 2003) is the outcome of savings. The profits earned by businessmen constitute the major source of savings of a community. Larger the profits, larger the savings of the community. The classical economists assumed that whatever was saved was invested. Larger the profits, larger the savings. Larger the savings, larger the investment. Larger the investment, higher the rate of growth of the economy. The rate of growth of the economy, thus, ultimately depended upon the level of profits. It is on account of this realization that classical economists looked upon profits as the pace-setters of economic growth. The development of technology is another important determinant of Economic Growth. It accelerates the process of growth in the economy. Classical economists were aware of the role of technology as a stimulant of economic growth. Classical thinkers like Adam Smith and David Ricardo also realized the importance of technological improvement. According to Karl Marx, the adoption of improved technology causes the displacement of labor, increasing unemployment, decline in consumption, fall in effective demand, reduction in profits and ultimately slows down the process of economic growth. Despite the adverse effect of improved technology, capitalists, according to Marx, continue to opt for it because: George Rosen defined the Capital-Output Ratio as â€Å"the relationship of investment in a given economy or industry for a given time period to the output of the economy or industry for a similar time period.† The Capital-Output Ratio, thus, determines the rate at which the output grows as a result of a

Drug Control Strategy in Netherlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Drug Control Strategy in Netherlands - Essay Example The emergence of HIV/AIDS and its prevalence among injecting drug users further tightened the international resolve to classify most of the drugs outlined above as hard drugs and illegal. Consequently, there came the formulation of national policies and strategies, international agreements and cooperative strategies between states to tackle trafficking and combat drug use across borders. To date, the issue of drugs has become more complex with the emergence of production and trafficking cartels that have global representation and sophisticated smuggling tactics that are capable of evading customs authorities in many parts of the world. Efforts of several governments have borne fruit in controlling the menace while others are still staggering around the issue with no tangible progress (Thomas 142). Netherlands National Drug Strategy With legislation dating back to the early 20th century’s enactment of the opium actin 1928, followed by its fundamental amendment of 1976, the nati onal drug strategy of Netherlands came to effect in 1995 to provide a framework for dealing with illicit drug-related problems. The strategy has four major objectives, which include prevention of drug usage, rehabilitation and treatment of addicts, harm reduction among users, public nuisance eradication and diminishing production and trafficking. All these objectives aim at achieving the broader goal of promoting general health in the country. The strategy is restricted to illegal drugs with reinforcement from sector-specific strategies such as destruction of drug plantations, interception, and stoppage of trafficking through the airlines and shipping agencies as well as health promotion campaigns. The strategy is seen by many policy analysts as too liberal and giving a lot of room for drug use. This is because drug use constitutes a crime if it involves other unlawful practices like stealing and burglary, illegal trade, and trafficking. The use of drugs is also permissible outside public places like hospitals, schools, public means of transport and public parks. The strategy also exempts conviction for being in possession of small quantities of both soft and hard drugs that do not surpass the respective thresholds, in which confiscation is the only penalty.  

Chapter10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chapter10 - Essay Example In an example, when Dan comes into agreement with Mary that he will purchase her car for 1,000, the payment given by Dan is consideration. A key aspect in to understanding rules of consideration. The main rule used in lack of consideration is that for a promise to be enforced by the law of court there must be consideration. The types of consideration are considered in the law of intellectual property include a benefit to the promisor, a detriment to the promise, a promise to do something and a promise to refrain from carrying out an activity (Kubasek and Nancy, 2015). Promissory estoppel can be defined as a legal enforcement of an otherwise unenforceable contract as a result of detrimental reliance on the contract. Promissory estoppel is considered in different aspects including when one party makes a promise knowing that the other party will rely on it, the only way to avoid injustice is to enforce the promise and when the other party does rely on the promise (Kubasek and Nancy, 2015). In an example, when one receives a job offer and the person the job is offered cancels all the other activities involved in using finances and then told there is no job, the person under Promissory estoppel is able to sue the employer. According to the court, there is consideration of adequacy of consideration. The rule used in this aspect is that there is no weighing of whether there was making of a good bargain. In an example, when one is in the verge of bankrupt and the person’s creditors are posing threats of legal action, the person knows that when there is default of mortgage, there is ability of selling the assets so that the creditors are able to be paid (Kubasek and Nancy, 2015). The person may decide to sell all the assets and claim he is bankrupt knowing that the creditors will have nothing to collect. The court in this aspect will look at the adequacy of

Cosmetic Surgery and Its Affect on the World Today Essay Example for Free

Cosmetic Surgery and Its Affect on the World Today Essay How far will you go to get the look you want? There are many people who have gone as far as changing their appearance to the point that they are unrecognizable. From nose jobs, face lifts, to reshaping their eyes, it has become nearly an epidemic. Plastic surgery is a medical procedure invented to improve an individual’s physical appearance or to minimize scarring resulting from accidents, disease or birth defects as well as disfigurement. The word plastic is derived from the Greek, meaning molding or giving form. Included in plastic surgery is cosmetic surgery, which can be used to reshape your face or body features. Cosmetic surgery is designed to improve an individuals appearance. Some women in China would bind their feet, crippling themselves in the process to appear beautiful. It is said that their feet are to be no larger than a deck of cards or it was disgraceful. Western women poured themselves into corsets, often causing damage to their internal organs, for the sake of beauty. High heels are linked to back problems as well as foot problems. The search for beauty and eternal youth continues, and today, modern technology has brought the medical profession into the issue. Fat can be literally sucked out of the body, body parts can be reduced or enlarged through surgery, and wrinkles can be erased. Where cosmetic surgery was once the near-exclusive purview of women, men are turning to surgical procedures in increasing numbers. There are, however, costs to such modification, and these costs extend well beyond the financial. This research argues against the indiscriminate use of cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgery has a very long history. As early as 1000 B.C.E., the first plastic surgery was reported in India, where a persons nose might be cut off as a form of punishment or, in the case of an adulterous Hindu wife, bitten off by the wronged husband. Procedures, which displayed remarkable similarity to present rhinoplasties, were developed to reconstruct the noses of such errant individuals (Davis 14). Plastic surgery appeared much later on the European continent. In the early fifteenth century, physicians began doing nose surgeries, by using skin flaps taken from the arm. Other forms of plastic surgery began to appear around the early sixteenth century. With the invention of ether and antisepsis, plastic surgery was able to emerge as a full-fledged medical specialty (Davis 15). In the first part of the century, nearly all plastic surgeries were done to alleviate deformities due to disease, birth or mishap; however, in the second half of the century this was no longer the case. Plastic surgery has some advantages too, with reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery is used to fix deficiencies that couldn’t otherwise be fixed by any other treatment. Reconstructive surgery makes a notable advancement, and can be used to repair birth defects, such as hair lips, cleft pallets and internal forms of function. It can also be used for one that has suffered injuries due to an accident, and can also save limbs and restore joints that would be irreparable. There are certain skin burns, depending on how severe that can be repaired by skin grafting. Some facial injuries that involve dental repair are common procedures for plastic surgery. The field of plastic surgery has grown, allowing room for improvement and more accuracy of procedures. Cosmetic surgery may benefit some patients interpersonal relationships and self-esteem, which will lead to a better quality of life. This happens more often when the patient suffers from an abnormality, or other birth defects that affect their appearance. Cosmetic surgery is not to be taken lightly, as for some it has been proven to be damaging and have long-lasting side effects. There have been many people that have gone through multiple surgeries in order to get the look that they want. There are many different reasons behind some folks becoming obsessed with the surgery. The majority of ones belief is that they can achieve physical perfection through cosmetic surgery. In an attempt to achieve a state of perfect physical beauty, some people repeatedly seek cosmetic surgery procedures to alter their appearance, believing theyre only a surgery away from their imagined ideal. Many people who suffer from plastic surgery addiction are also victims of body dimorphic disorder, where an attractive person believes that they are unattractive no matter how appealing they may appear to another person. Celebrities who suffer from plastic surgery addiction often lack a strong self esteem and have a generalized level of unhappiness with them selves. Instead of addressing the real source of their unhappiness, they choose to solve their problems by altering their external appearance. There are many people in the world that also too have altered their appearance to look like a celebr ity as well. Many citizens in the society today have altered their faces to the point if you hadn’t known them before surgery, you wouldn’t recognize them afterwards. Statistics show that people aged between 35-50 years old had the most cosmetic procedures in 2007: 5.4 million or 46 percent of that total. People between ages 51-64 years of age had 25 percent of the cosmetic surgery procedures in 2007. People between ages 19-34 years old had 21 percent of the cosmetic surgery procedures in 2007. Senior citizens aged 65 and older had 6 percent of cosmetic surgery procedures in 2007. Teens aged 18 or younger had less than 2 percent of the cosmetic surgery procedures in 2007. Today even with the economy the way that it is people are still getting cosmetic surgery no matter what the cost. This just shows how some peoples lives are affected by the way that they appear to themselves and other people regardless of their age.

A Study of Building Obsolescence in Standard Design

A Study of Building Obsolescence in Standard Design Abstract Once the building is obsolete cause by the defect of varying physical deterioration an ageing of various component and building of various age. The primary objective of this dissertation is to find out life cycle of building element and obsolescence and the effect for the building obsolescence. The definition and differentiation between obsolescence and depreciation, as well as explanation for all different types of obsolescence are being identified on the early stage of the dissertation. A survey is then conducted, few case studies are being conducted to collect information from double storey terrace housing tenants in order to achieve the targeted objective. During the survey, some difficulties are being encountered, such as time constraint and restrict of the obsolescence building have been over cycle life 30 years olds. The findings of the dissertation show that part of the hypothesis, which was set at the early stage is wrong. Not all types of obsolescence will cause depreciation of rental in office building. Legal obsolescence will not cause the renewal building and effect the service life of the building. At the end of the dissertation, recommendation will be made base on the research throughout this dissertation. It should be noted that the results from this survey are not perfectly reliable. However, it is hope that it can be a guideline to those who wish to carry out comprehensive or further research on building obsolescence. A STUDY OF BUILDING OBSOLESCENCE IN STANDARD DESIGN TERRACE HOUSES IN PERAK Chapter 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter is the introduction of the dissertation. It will define the background of the study. Aim and objectives of the research will be listed to give a clear understanding on the purpose of this dissertation. Besides, hypothesis is also stated to tell the reader what are the key questions being examined. Scope of study will be deliberated in this chapter too. It is to discuss on the coverage of this research. Research methodology will also be covered in this chapter to describe the method used to achieve the aim and objectives, as well as the way used to produce this dissertation. Case study, interview and questionnaire will be the main methodology of this research. The last part of the chapter will be the research structure, where it shows the layout of the chapter of the dissertation. 1.2 RATIONALE The initial idea of this topic is developed during my visit to my aunts work place. Renovation of her office building is carried out at that moment. The reason for the renovation work, which she told me, was to make the building attractive again, so that, the look of the building would not be out of date. Therefore, it gave me an idea to do a research on building obsolescence. Discussion with my colleagues and supervisor was carried out to narrow down the scope of this topic. Besides, many reading and thinking were done to decide what emphasis of my research is to be. Finally, the narrowed topic was found. As I have found out, obsolescence has been a persistent problem affecting houses property in recent years. Due to the impact of obsolescence, many houses have been renewal and redeveloped after only 20 to 30 years life, long before reaching the end of their physical life. Many houses in the future are likely to enjoy even shorter useful lives as a result of increased rates of obsolescence. Obsolescence occurs due to physical deterioration, wear and tear, technological advances, changes in the economic conditions users requirements, design, appearance, taste, legal, and social needs. Once the building is obsolete cause by the defect of varying physical deterioration an ageing of various component and building of various age. The research is undertaken to find out life cycle of building element and obsolescence and the effect for the building obsolescence. Hence, my research will discuss this issue in greater depth and goes on to consider different types of obsolescence. By doing so, I wish that the results from this research will help me to understand the defect of component of material cause the obsolescence building. Such results may also help me in future to know on the prevent ways to treat the obsolescence in building. 1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVE Aim To investigate varying physical deterioration an ageing of various component and building of varies age. Objective: 1. To investigate the life cycle of building element and obsolescence. 2. To investigate the effect for the building obsolescence. 3. To explain strategy for avoiding and minimizing the obsolescence in building. 1.4 PROBLEM STATEMENT Different project types have in themselves different project life cycle, which in turn influence the life expectancy of their various component. Different elements of building also have different stage obsolescence, Users or owners may change and have requirements different from those the element was initially intended to fulfill. Many of the technologies of modern facilities, as well as the activities they shelter and support to minimizing obsolescence, have changed substantially in recent decades and are continuing to change. 1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY The problem of obsolescence is hardly new so need find the board expertise and extensive experience to get the more information for this dissertation. We should be concerned that in an age of rapidly changing technology our buildings are apt to be obsolete. These building might have been built 35 years ago so we will investigate varying physical deterioration of ageing. These changes in technology are not only inevitable; in the long term they are desirable because the new systems and services offer enhanced performance to the facilities, users and owners. However, in the short term, obsolescence can be costly. Thoughtful design and management can defer or avoid obsolescence and thereby improve efficiency as well as effectiveness of our facilities, and that is the ultimate aim of this dissertation. 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Various research studies relating to building obsolescence in standard design houses in Perak had been carried out in many ways:- Literature review Case Study and Questionnaires Interview 1.6.1 Literature review iterature research is very important to get the information in order to do the theoretical of this dissertation. Reading courses such as books, magazines, reference, articles, newspapers, journals and publication are some of very useful sources to get the data required for the dissertation. The sources can be reached by visiting the National Library, KTAR Library or bookshop in town. Internet advertising is very convenience to use especially for this dissertation, since it related to the internet itself and quite new. By logging onto the internet, website of the internet advertising of the property developer can visited and can get more ideal way of literature research sources. These normally gather from newspapers, journals and publications. Publication: 1. Revision Notes on Building Maintenance and Adaptation, Butterworth (1984), George.T.Hall. 2. Depreciation, Obsolescence and Ageing, (1965), Cowan,P. 3. The Fourth Dimension In building : Strategies for Minimizing Obsolescence.(1993), Donald G. Iselin and Andrew C. Lemer. 1.6.2 Case Study This stage will survey some standard design double storey houses located at Perak. Some houses was built in between the years 1970s and 1990s. Some properties also included building extension for large families, adaptations for the disable, reorganization of space, re-roofing that was present in some of the properties. The renewal internal for these properties was therefore about 20 years. This is a typical time scale for houses and it linked to the condition of properties, available funding, obsolescence, and the need to provide adequate houses in a community. A STUDY OF BUILDING OBSOLESCENCE IN STANDARD DESIGN TERRACE HOUSES IN PERAK Chapter 2 2.1 INTRODUCTION Over the past half of century, our country has been increasing the processes of ageing and obsolescence in building. An observation of buildings in any town will expose an array standards of physical ageing and condition. Many of the buildings are also being used for a purpose which they not original design that one form of obsolescence has affected them. Today, the demand for new building already diminished that many town have become derelict and need some form of urban regeneration. However, such of the regeneration is more likely from renewal and modernization through the development of greenfield sites. Many traditional structures have lower failure rates and costs less to maintain than some of the newer forms of the building. With the increasing level of affluence, standards in buildings, life styles demand to improve quality, space and other. This leads to both the desire for new building and to the renewal of existing structure. More of the renewal of the building is cause by the obsolescence building that failure the structure and the physical. There is considerable degree of confusion surrounding the definition of obsolescence. These two terms are usually without precision. A detail study on the definition of obsolescence is carried out in this chapter to make a clear understanding on building obsolescence. There are two impacts of the obsolescence on a building named are curable obsolescence and incurable obsolescence. Reflection of them will be given separately in this chapter. Obsolescence itself can be divided into different categories. As this dissertation is undertaken to find out which types of obsolescence, it is necessary to understand the definition and differences of each type of obsolescence. Hence, the chapter will also go on to define different types of obsolescence. Hopefully by doing this can provide a guidance to differentiate each type of obsolescence and eliminate the misconception of different types of obsolescence. These changes are related to the uses of a building or certain spaces within the building are expected to serve (i.e., functional); the cost of continuing to use an existing building, subsystem, or component in comparison with the expense of substituting some alternative (economic); the efficiency and service accessible by the existing installed technology compared with new and improved alternatives (technological); or the broad influence of changing social goals, political agendas, or changing lifestyles. 2.2 DEFINITION OF Obsolescence Obsolescence is not depreciation. Both of them are two different terms. However, they are related. Depreciation is an accounting terms and have a formal definition of depreciation, drafted by the Accounting Standard Committee (1987), is: Depreciation is the measure of the wearing out, consumption, or other reduction in the useful economic life of a fixed asset whether arising from use, afflation of time or obsolescence through technological or market changes. This definition is comprehensive and clearly stated what is the depreciation. Besides, the reader can understand the differentiation between the depreciation and obsolescence. Base on this definition, reader can understand the depreciation is a loss in the existing use value of the property and it occurs as the result of the building becoming obsolete. This implies that obsolescence is the cause of the building and depreciation is the effect of the obsolescence. Obsolescence was defined differently by many studies in North America and the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, according to Baxter (1971) defined obsolescence as a decline in utility not directly related to physical usage or the passage of time. This definition is not quite correct because the author does not consider physical deterioration as part of obsolescence. In accounting work, obsolescence is separated from physical deterioration. However, based on the original definition given by the Oxford dictionary, obsolescence includes physical deterioration: The word obsolete derives from the Latin obsoleo, which was in use from the middle of the sixteenth century with the following meaning, which is no longer practiced or used; discarded; worn out; effaced through wearing down, atrophy, degeneration. The other aspect that can cause confusion is whether the obsolescence is defined as a decline in the utility of the building as defined by Baxter (1971) or a loss of utility introduced by Flanagan et al. (1989). Both the definitions are correct because both decline and loss of utility are affecting the rental price of a building and therefore, shall be included in the definition. To clarify, obsolescence is the process of becoming antiquated, old fashioned, outmoded, or out-of-date. It describes a decline in utility that not result directly from physical usage, the action of the elements or the passage of time (Baum, 1991). According to Nutt et al (1976), the buildings can only truly be defined as obsolete when they have become completely useless with respect to all possible uses that they have been called upon to support. Utility the sense of use fullness, desirability or satisfaction is therefore central to the concept of obsolescence; if something is not felt to be providing utility, it will be considered obsolete (Smith et al.1998). However, because there is no single measure of utility it is difficult to produce a rational, consistent and objective measure of obsolescence (Raftery, 1991). To overcome this problem, obsolescence in buildings is normally measured in terms of the real or nominal decrease in value (Salway, 1986). Obsolescence also related to decay of tangible and intangible things that all products have an irresistible tendency to become old, but the speed of ageing is different for different objects and circumstances. Obsolescence is much more difficult to control since concerned with the prediction of charges in fashion, technological development, innovation in the design and the use of buildings. Obsolescence occurs due to physical deterioration, wear and tear, technological advances, changes in the economic conditions and user requirement. The design, appearance, taste, legal, and social needs will also have an impact to the building. The impact of obsolescence on a building can be classified into curable obsolescence and incurable obsolescence. Curable obsolescence is one that can be control by the building owner through choice the construction materials, preserve high standards of maintenance and refurbishment. But, it can only manage to a certain extent. The factors into the curable obsolescence are including: a. Construction faults b. Level of deterioration c. Poor level and standard of services Normally, curable obsolescence can be easily counteracted by means of maintenance or repair. Incurable obsolescence being the results of inappropriate changes is less easily controlled by the building owner. The most that can be done is to incorporate flexibility into the design of a building to make alterations and adaptations easier in the future. The treatment of incurable impact of obsolescence requires the introduction of new characteristic into a building, which may not be similar with the existing structure. 2.3 CATEGORISATION OF BUILDING OBSOLESCENCE Previous studies categorized obsolescence into physical obsolescence (Winfrey, 1931; Little 1964); functional and locational obsolescence (Cowan, 1965; Medhurst, 1969); environmental obsolescence (Medhurst, 1969); economic obsolescence (Seymour, 1982); aesthetic, legal, and social obsolescence (CALUS, 1986; Baum 1989). The above studies considered technological and functional obsolescence as one category. However, at later stage, CALUS (1986), as well as Duffy and Henny (1988) suggested that technological and functional obsolescence should be separately categorized because of the differences in the impact on buildings. Suggestions from them are correct. Technological obsolescence should be considered as one of the major causes of obsolescence because of its important. A building that is functionally obsolete has to be demolished to obtain a better return from the site. However, it does not necessarily apply to a building that is technologically obsolete. For example, a lift has become technologically obsolete, but it does not render the function of the building obsolete. Therefore, the building will still be retained but the lift might be replaced. Based on the above, obsolescence therefore, categorized as: Economic Obsolescence; Functional Obsolescence; Aesthetic Obsolescence; Environmental Obsolescence; Legal and social Obsolescence; Technological Obsolescence; Locational Obsolescence; Physical Obsolescence. 2.3.1Economic Obsolescence Economic obsolescence seems to control the durability of real estate, whether residential, commercial or industrial. CALUS (1986) suggested that a building might become economically obsolete following a change in the highest and best use for the land. This might result either from a change in the market condition or in planning policies. Rand came out with another suggestion saying that besides changes in market condition and planning policies, a change in the national economy can also cause the land to appreciate over and above the normal increase in cost. Compare both the suggestions; CALUSs suggestion is poorer. He has neglected national economy as one of the reason that causes economic obsolescence. National economy must be one of the concerns as it has great effect to the land value. Once there is a change in the national economy, the land value will be affected. According to Salway (1986), Economic Obsolescence is considered to be the result of a change in the highest and best use for the land. Such a change could be related to specific site or more generally to the surrounding area. Economic obsolescence is a function of appreciation rather than depreciation: a building becomes economically obsolete not as a result of the existing structure, but through enhancement of the development potential of the underlying land. The building value decreases over time due to obsolescence. The building can become obsolete if the land value exceeds the capital value of the building faster than its expected physical life. On this occasion, replacement of the existing building becomes economically attractive, as better return from the asset can be generated. For instance, the land value in a particular area drops due to relocation of the central business zone to another area. New development having advantage of cheaper land cost will be more competitive and attractive to the tenants and will cause the rental for the existing buildings to decline. Economic obsolescence is incurable and difficult to predict due to lack of information on the future development and confidentiality of government policies. 2.3.2Functional Obsolescence Functional obsolescence is a product of technological progress resulting either in change in the occupiers requirements or in the introduction of new building products: A building may be considered functionally obsolete due to its defective layout (e.g., inadequate floor to ceiling heights and close-spaced structural columns); A building may become functionally inefficient because its inflexibility to accommodate new information technology (e.g., no raised floor for distribution of cables). CALUS (1986) suggested that functional obsolescence is the loss of value of the subject facility resulting from a deficiency (other than physical deterioration) that impairs the subject when compared to a replacement facility. Functional obsolescence is mainly incurable, which can shorten the economic life of a building (Rand, 1986). Baum (1991) considered Functional Obsolescence as the product of technological progress that causes changes in the occupies requirements, impinging on the layout and facilities and also felt that legal and social obsolescence should be regarded as sub-sets of Functional Obsolescence. 2.3.3 Aesthetic Obsolescence Buildings may deem unacceptable by occupiers if the appearance is outdated and incompatible with their corporate image. Either fashion in architectural style may have changed or, alternatively the building may simply look old and fail to satisfy an inspiration to be associated with up-to-date products. The improved appearance of a building could result in more satisfied employees and the higher standing of the firm and its services or products. CALUS (1986) suggested that fashion permeates all facets of life including architectural experience. Whatever the long-term view of posterity about a particular architectural style, it will invariably fall out of favor in the medium term. The changes in fashion will provide an adverse reaction against styles, which characterized the immediately proceeding era. Architectural style cannot be defined precisely. It is best described as a State of the Art of the building design, which is characterized by fashion, vogue, available technology, and personal taste. The introduction of a new architectural style can in some cases, cause buildings with an old design to appear old fashioned and less attractive to potential purchasers or lessees. Buildings with a distinctive design appeal are more likely to have lasting appeal and to be less affected by changes in architectural style. The effect of aesthetic obsolescence is greater in commercial buildings because the buildings with new architectural styles can fetch higher rental values. The decline in the revenue of old buildings requires the buildings to be refurbished to make them attractive and competitive again. 2.3.4 Environmental Obsolescence Medhurst (1969) suggested that environmental obsolescence of a whole neighborhood may occur when the conditions in a neighborhood render it increasingly unfit for its current use. Changes in the character of an area may make a building unsuitable for its original intended use. Environmental obsolescence will normally be of greater relevance to depreciation of land than to the depreciation of buildings. Environmental change such as high pollution, road congestion and urban decay causes environmental obsolescence. For example, an office building may suddenly become obsolete when the adjacent site is used for industrial use. Disturbances from factory engines and air pollution will deter tenants from staying and the building revenue will start to decline. The need for a change in the infrastructure of an area can also cause a building to be environmentally obsolete. For example, the area needs more car parking, pedestrian areas, efficient public transport and roads. This type of obsolescence is not directly related to building design and difficult to forecast. 2.3.5 Legal And Social Obsolescence egal obsolescence stems from the introduction of new legislation or new standards controlling matters such as health, safety, and fire control, which in extreme cases may render a building obsolete. CALUS (1986) and Baum (1989) suggested that changes in social needs might result in occupiers demanding for high and compatible image, good neighborhood and amenities. For instance, cinema in an area loss its utility due to introduction of home videos, VCD or DVD. So, cinema become uneconomic to operate because loses of revenue. The only way is to convert the cinema to other uses. Many building become social obsolete although suitable for the purpose envisaged, because it is situated in the wrong location and therefore of only limited practical to use. egal Obsolescence occurs where a building fails to meet current legislation requirement and the costs involved in bringing the building up to the required standard are prohibitive. In this case, legislation will advance demolition beyond the buildings physical life. Examples, asbestos and other hazardous materials to health are now prohibited in new buildings and where they occur in existing building they need to be either removed or provided with sealed protection systems. The general condition of a building may in some cases make this financially prohibitive, even where grants for their removal are available, resulting in demolition. A STUDY OF BUILDING OBSOLESCENCE IN STANDARD DESIGN TERRACE HOUSES IN PERAK Chapter 2 2.3.6 Technological Obsolescence A Technological Obsolescence occur when the building in no longer technologically superior to alternatives and replacement is undertaken because of lower operating costs or greater efficiency. A building may become technologically obsolete before half of its physical life passed then the speed of change in current society suggests that in the future this life will be reduced even faster. CALUS (1986) suggested that this form of obsolescence occurs as a result of technological innovation. For example, some of the existing electrical and mechanical services are no longer technologically suitable or superior in terms of performance or efficiency. Consider for example, improvement in the lighting efficiency of a new lamp, which may make an existing lighting system no longer economically or technologically effective. In some situations, as with building management systems, it may be possible to install these innovations, without replacing the existing asset. 2.3.7 Locational Obsolescence ocational obsolescence occur when an area and the property located in it suffers from devaluation because it is considered less fashionable or attractive by occupiers (Bryson,1997). A building can become locationally obsolete when the economic activities in the area change (Medhurst, 1969). A change in the city planning, such as relocation of the commercial area and construction of new roads and motorways can change the economic activities of the affected areas. 2.3.8 Physical Obsolescence ittle (1964) suggested that physical obsolescence occurs solely due to the deterioration of the buildings physical fabric. This suggestion is not correct because he stressed only deterioration of buildings physical fabric causes physical obsolescence. The readers may think that no other factors will cause physical obsolescence except for the deterioration of physical fabric. Actually, components of the building can be considered as one of the physical aspect of the building. Hence, if there is any deterioration of the buildings component, the building is considered physically obsolete too. Therefore, Winfrey (1931) said that physical obsolescence not only due to the deterioration of the physical fabric but also the other components such as mechanical and electrical services and equipment used in the building. However, both the definitions have not mentioned what are the factors that cause deterioration of buildings physical fabric, materials or components. Then, CALUS (1986) came out with the suggestion saying that an asset may remain as good as ever in itself, but be rendered obsolete by external factors such as physical deterioration. Physical deterioration is defined as deterioration of the physical fabric of building as function of use and the effect of the passage of time. It is felt that the separation of physical deterioration from obsolescence is not significant, and it is considered as a category of building obsolescence. Flanagan et al. (1989) supported this view by saying that physical deterioration was considered as physical obsolescence. This is because they have similar effects, which can cause the rental price of a building to decrease and its economic life shorten. Flanagan et al. (1989) came out the statement stated that physical obsolescence is determined by environmental and non-environmental factors. Any material or component will deteriorate because of environmental factors such as radiation (solar and thermal), temperature ranges, water (rain, condensation, snow, ice), air contamination, biological factors (micro-organisms, fungi, bacteria) and stress factors (physical action of wind, hail). The non-environmental factors are generally the stresses that are imposed by humans in their various activities of living, working and playing. Examples are permanent loading, fatigue loading, impact, abrasion, chemical attack, normal wear and tear, and abuse by the user. The rate of physical deterioration can be forecast within tolerable levels of accuracy using the lives of the respective building components. However, it must be remembered that considered variation exists in the lives of even the same building component depending upon a wide range of the different circumstances (Ashworth,1996). Kirwan and Martin (1972) suggested that this physical deterioration occurs as the deterioration of the physical structure of the building. It is not simply a factor of age but a combination of age, use and scale of maintenance. Physical deterioration occurs more slowly than other forms of obsolescence, but it is predictable and curable provided the building is well maintained. Baums (1989) showed that physical obsolescence is not as significant as functional and aesthetic obsolescence. The rapid deterioration of buildings and their components can be attributes to many different causes: An emphasis upon initial building costs without considering the consequences of costs in use. Inappropriate design and detailing of buildings and their components. Use if materials and components that have insufficient data concerning their longevity. Constructional practices on site that were poorly managed, supervised and inspected. A lack of understanding of the various mechanisms of deterioration. Insufficient attention given to the maintenance the building stock. Inappropriate use by owners and occupies. Whereas the rate of physical deterioration, can be controlled by the designer through the correct choice of material, methods of construction and appropriate standards of maintenance, obsolescence cannot, other than through the ability to provide a flexible and adaptable design solution to facilitate easier adaptation and renewal at same later date. 2.4 SUMMARY After the study, I clear understanding is developed on depreciation and obsolescence as well as different types of obsolescence. There will be no confusion and misconception surrounding them. Depreciation occurs as the result of the building becoming obsolete. Hence, depreciation is considered as the effect of obsolescence and obsolescence is the cause of depreciation. The impact of obsolescence is classified into curable and incurable. Incurable obsolescence is more crucial than curable obsolescence as it is more difficult to control. It can immediately shorten the physical life of the building. Besides that, I also can understanding the 8 categorizes of obsolescence in this chapter. The categorizes of obsolescence economic, functional, aesthetic and fashion, environmental, legal and social, technological, locational and lastly physical obsolescence. Through the study, it was found that there are no best and perfect suggestions or opinions in the concept of obsolescence. Especially during defining different types of obsolescence, different authors have their own suggest

The Three Types Of Impulse Turbine Engineering Essay

The Three Types Of Impulse Turbine Engineering Essay A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid or air flow. The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft with blades where the moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they rotate and impart energy to the rotor. Examples of early turbines are windmills and water wheels. Turbines usually have a casing around the blades that contains and controls the working fluid. Working fluid contains kinetic energy (velocity head) and potential energy (pressure head) and these working fluids may be compressible or incompressible. A compressor or pump is a device similar to a turbine but operating in reverse. The turbines produce almost all electric power on Earth. Most jet engines rely on turbines to supply mechanical work from their working fluid and fuel as do all nuclear ships and power plants. Aircraft engines also use the turbine powered by their exhaust to drive an intake-air compressor, a configuration known as a turbocharger (turbine supercharger). Turbines could also be used as powering system for a remote controlled plane that creates thrust and lifts the plane of the ground. They are as small as soda can, yet still strong enough to move objects with a weight of 100kg. THE TURBINE PROCESS If high-velocity steam is blown on to a curved blade and the steam direction changes as it passes across the blade. The steam will impart a force to the blade as a result of its change in direction across the blade. Now if the blades were free, it would move off in the direction of the force. The principle of steam turbine is where a number of blades were fixed around the circumference of a disc and the disc is free to rotate on a shaft. Steam is then blown across the blades which cause the disc rotates. To increase the rigidity of the blades, the top of the blades are connected together. By means of the nozzles, the high pressure steam is made to give up some of its energy to produce a large increase in kinetic energy of the steam. The steam thus leaves the nozzles at a high velocity. It passes from the nozzles over the blades and thus the turbine disc rotates. The power is then generated at the shaft. The number of nozzles which are in use act as a load to the turbine and so the hi gher the load requires that more steam must be used to sustain the load. Therefore, more nozzles are put into the used. The turbine described is a simple turbine which is also known as de Laval turbine. This type of turbine usually rotates at a very high speed and this high speed will produce a centrifugal force. This turbine is usually small in size and, hence produces small power output. Due to the high speed of rotation, a direct drive between drive between the turbine disc and external equipment is not generally possible. For this reason, a reduction gear box is installed between and turbines of the turbine disc and external equipment. A problem in steam turbine development has been to reduce the speed of rotation and at the same time to make full use of the energy in the steam, thus larger size and higher power output is produce. There are two basic types of turbines which is the impulse turbine and the reaction turbine. THE IMPULSE TURBINES These turbines change the direction of flow of a high velocity fluid jet and the resulting impulse spins the turbine and leaves the fluid flow with diminished kinetic energy. The pressure in the fluid of the turbine rotor blades remains constant. Before reaching the turbine the fluids pressure head is changed to velocity head by accelerating the fluid with a nozzle. Impulse turbines do not require a pressure casement around the runner since the fluid jet is prepared by a nozzle prior to reaching turbine. The transfer of energy for impulse turbines uses the Newtons second law. There are three different types of impulse turbines which are the Velocity compounding turbine Pressure compounding turbine Pressure-velocity compounding turbine THE REACTION TURBINES These turbines develop torque by reacting to the fluids pressure or weight. The pressure of the fluid changes as it passes through the turbine rotor blades. The reaction turbines require a pressure casement to contain the working fluid as it acts on the turbine stage or the turbine must be fully immersed in the fluid flow (wind turbines). The casing contains and directs the working fluid and, for water turbines, maintains the suction imparted by the draft tube. Multiple turbine stages may be used to harness the expanding gas efficiently for compressible working fluids. The transfer of energy in the reaction turbine uses the Newtons third law. Purple Moving blades Blue Velocity Red Pressure Brown Fixed blades THE VELOCITY COMPOUNDING TURBINE IN IMPULSE TURBINES Steam is expanded in a single row or nozzles in this type of turbine. The high velocity steam leaving the nozzles passes on the first row of the moving blades where its velocity is only partially reduced. Then, the steam leaving the first row of moving blades passes into a row of fixed blades mounted in the turbine casing and this row of fixed blades serves to redirect the steam back to the direction of motion such that it is suitable for entry to the second row of moving blades. The steam velocity reduces partially in the second row of the moving blades. A slower turbine is resulted due to only part of the velocity of the steam is used up in each row of the blades. Blue Velocity Red Pressure Green Nozzle Purple Moving blades THE PRESSURE COMPOUNDING TURBINE IN IMPULSE TURBINES The steam enters a row of nozzles where its pressure is only partially reduced and its velocity is increased in this type of turbine. The high velocity steam passes to a row of moving blades where its velocity is reduced. The pressure is again partially reduced and its velocity is again increased when the steam passes into a second row of nozzles. The high velocity steam is then passed to a second row of moving blades where its velocity is again reduced. Next, the steam then passes into a third row of nozzles and so on. All pressure drops occur in the nozzles but the pressure remain constant in each turbine stage. The turbine run slower since steam velocities will not be so high due to only part of the pressure drop occurs in each stage. All stages, however, are coupled to the same shaft, with the result that there is no loss of output. Green Nozzle Purple Moving blades THE PRESSURE-VELOCITY COMPOUNDING TURBINE IN IMPULSE TURBINE A combination of the pressure compounding turbine and the velocity compounding turbine will give a pressure-velocity compounding turbine. In this type of turbine, the steam is partially expanded in a row of nozzles where its velocity is increased. The steam then enters a few rows of velocity compounding turbine and then to a second row of nozzles where its velocity increases. The steam then enters another few rows of velocity compounding turbine and so on. All the pressure at the nozzles decreases. Generally, the diameter from the inlet to the exhaust increases in all multistage turbines. This is because the specific volume increases as the pressure of steam falls. A greater area will be required to pass the steam for continuity of mass flow and this can be done by either increasing the diameter of the turbine discs or increasing the height of the blades. A greater area will be required to pass the steam in order to preserve the mass flow if there is depreciation in velocity. Blue Velocity Red Pressure Green Nozzle Brown Fixed blades Purple Moving blades DIFFERENCES OF THE TURBINES There are many differences that can be stated between the 3 types of impulse turbine. The 3 types of impulse turbine are the: Velocity compounding Pressure compounding Pressure-velocity compounding The differences between these turbines can be classified in terms of: Structure of the turbine The process of the turbine The pressure change in the turbine The velocity change in the turbine Structure of the turbine The structure of the velocity compounding turbine is it consists of a turbine then to a moving blade and a fixed blade. The structure then continues with a second row of moving and fixed blades. The structure of the pressure compounding turbine is it starts from a turbine and then to a moving blade then to a second row of turbine and moving blades and so on. Besides that, the structure of the pressure-velocity compounding turbine is the combine of both of the structure of the velocity compounding turbine and pressure compounding turbine. The process of the turbines High velocity steam from the nozzles passes thru the moving blades then to the fixed blade and the second row of moving and fixed blade in the velocity compounding turbine. In the pressure velocity turbine, the high velocity steam from the nozzles passes thru a moving blades and the low velocity of steam enters another turbine and then to a second row of moving blades and so on. Whereas in the pressure-velocity compounding turbine, the steam from the turbine enters a row of moving blades then a fixed blade and then another row of moving blades. The steam finally then enters another turbine and the process is repeated. The pressure change in the turbine The pressure in the velocity compounding turbine remains constant throughout. In the pressure compounding turbine, the pressure decreases partially when it passes the rows of turbine. Furthermore, the pressure in the pressure-velocity compounding decreases partially then it passes thru the row or turbine and remains constant until the second row of turbine where the pressure decreases partially again. The velocity in the turbine The steam velocity reduces partially in the rows of the moving blades in the velocity compounding turbine. A slower turbine is resulted due to only part of the velocity of the steam is used up in each row of the blades. Whereas in the pressure compounding, the velocity decreases partially when its pass thru the blades but increases back when passing the nozzles. Finally, in the pressure-velocity compounding turbine, the velocity decreases in the turbine and remains constant when passing the blades. The velocity is again decreased when passes thru a second row of turbine. CONCLUSION The steam turbine has greatly improved the energy conversation in our daily lives. There are still future developments oh the steam turbines in order to improve efficiency. Development are now developing turbine which requires a smaller input but produces a bigger output.

Instrumental Reasoning Essays -- Philosophy

Can Instrumental Reasoning Stand Alone? I. Introduction There is something appealing about ordinary instrumental or means-end reasoning. One begins with a want, a goal or a desire and considers available options as means to its satisfaction or achievement. If, among the available options, one is the best or only way to satisfy the desire or achieve the goal, one has a reason to select it. If two or more options both seem to lead to the goal, they may still differ in other ways, e.g., in the probability with which they lead to the goal – in which case (if that was the only difference) one would have reason to choose the option which led to the goal with higher probability. To consider things in the simplest form possible, consider a being with only a single desire. Suppose that this being wants nothing but to break a street-lamp. Even in so simple a case, we can begin to say what he ought to do. Any number of things may be effective. If he has no other goals – not even going unapprehended so that he can do it again with some other street-lamp – he may use a rifle, a pistol, throw rocks at it, climb the lamp-post to bash it with his fist, etc. But we can say that there are some things that, in terms of his goal, he ought not to do, for example, that he ought not to try breaking it (because he won’t succeed) by throwing feathers at it, one by one. It looks as though, even in this deliberately simplified case, means-end reasoning, combined with some knowledge of the world, is enough to tell us something about what he ought to do. This is not, to be sure, a moral ‘ought,’ but we seem to have generated a normative conclusion, an ought-judgment of a modest sort, without appealing to any mysterious non-natural properties ... ...h a person? Perhaps, a real example of an existentialist chooser would say that there is not even a reason for committing oneself rather than not; one just does (or does not). [15] This is not being offered as a solution to the central problem that Korsgaard has raised. I am, as stated earlier, only assuming that there is some solution. Rather, I am trying to show that, given the existence of some solution to that problem, though we need some further normative principle, it does not have to be one that picks out certain ends for us. In short, we can do almost what could have been done had the defenders of the autonomy of instrumental reasoning been correct. (In fact, I think we can do quite a bit more than we could if they had been correct – but that’s a topic for another paper.) [16] And I do not in any case have non-dialectical proofs that they are mistaken.

grendelbeo Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf from Grendels Perspective :: Epic Beowulf essays

Beowulf from Grendel's Perspective One night, as Grendel was sleeping soundly in his home in the swamplands, he was suddenly awakened by the sound of music. The music angered Grendel because he had been up late the night before entertaining his monster friends and was in need of his beauty rest. So he headed out the front door and headed to see what the commotion is all about. ] Upon arrival at the mead hall, Grendel notices the door is much to small for him to enter through it easily. This does not make him happy because it happens everywhere he goes in the little human towns. So he squeezes his shoulders through the small opening and manages to ask the man at the nearest table what was going on. The man, being exhausted from his own celebrations, was to tired to even notice the beast standing over him. Monsters of Grendel's type are not used to be ignored and see it as disrespectful and so do not like to be ignored. Which is why Grendel pulled his head from the doorway and reached his claw in to snatch up unsuspecting man. Everyone else in the room was too busy to even notice the man being lifted from his place behind his drink. With the first man out of the way, Grendel decided to try a different approach. Again, scrunching himself down partway through the door, Grendel looked for someone to tell him what was going on. He cleared his throat an d said with a rough, gravelly voice, "Excuse me!" No one noticed. So he said it louder, "Excuse me!" A few heads turned. After a number of astonished gasps, more turned to see. Detecting he was now the center of attention, Grendel asked what they were all doing making so much noise so late at night. The men only stared at him. So he asked more simply and slowly, not knowing if they were intelligent or not, "What are you doing?" The only response this time was an echoed "Get him!" This surprised Grendel because they seemed to say it in unison. He jumped slightly and hit his head on the doorway. He stood up and rubbed his head and knocked over a horse and its cart with his foot.

Pride in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe :: essays research papers

In the novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, the main character, Okonkwo, has a lot of pride. There is a well-known aphorism, ?Pride goes before a fall.? Through Okonkwo?s hard work, he became a great man, with a sense of pride and haughtiness. He then suffered a loss of pride, which ultimately led to his down fall and even his suicide. So, through Okonkwo?s actions, Achebe suggests that excessive pride can lead to down fall. For my first point, I am going to start with a joke: ?One day there was an airplane flying Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Bill (a kid), and Billy Gram. Something went wrong with the plane, and so it had to be abandoned. The pilot strapped on a parachute and said to the passengers, ?There are only four parachutes, and I am taking one.? Bill Clinton grabbed the second and said, ?I am the most important man, and my country needs me, so I am taking one, too.? Then, Bill Gates grabbed the third one and said, ?I am the smartest man in the world, and my people need me.? After Bill Gates left, Bill (the kid) was just looking at the last parachute, when Billy Gram said, ?I am old and you are young, and you have your whole life ahead of you, so take the last parachute.? After a little while, Bill looked up at Billy Gram and said, ?I was not thinking about that, it is just that the smartest man took my back pack.? As you saw from the joke and the book, both Okonkwo and Bill Gates were full of prejud ice pride. Both thought they were great men, and saw others as inferior compared to them. But their pride led to their destruction. Second, Okonkwo?s pride was greatly bruised while attending a great warrior?s funeral, named Ezeudu. It was when ?Darkness was around the corner? (page 124), when Okonkwo?s life took a sharp turn down hill. ?Guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky. And then from the center of the delirious fury came a cry of agony and shouts of horror. It was as if a spell had been cast. All was silent. In the center of the crowd a boy lay in a pool of blood. It was the dead man?s sixteen-year-old son, who with his brothers and half-brothers had been dancing the traditional farewell to their father.

Dmitri Mendeleev Essay

I have chosen to write about Dmitri Mendeleev. What was Dmitri Mendeleev know for? Dmitri Mendeleev was a Russian chemist who developed the periodic classification of the elements. In his version of the periodic table, Mendeleev left gaps in places where he believed unknown elements would fit in and he predicted the likely properties of three of the potential elements. The proof of many of his predictions within his lifetime brought fame to Mendeleev as the founder of the periodic law. So who was Dmitri Mendeleev? Mendeleev was born on February 8, 1834 in the village of Verkhnie Aremzyani, near Tobolsk in Siberia. Mendeleev is thought to be the youngest of 17 siblings. His father was a teacher of politics, philosophy, and fine arts. Unfortunately for the family’s well being, his father became blind and lost his teaching position. His mother was forced to work and she restarted her family’s abandoned glass factory. At the age of 13, after the passing of his father and the destruction of his mother’s factory by fire, Mendeleev attended the Gymnasium in Tobolsk. In 1849, the Mendeleev family relocated to Saint Petersburg, where Mendeleev entered the Main Pedagogical Institute in 1850. Sometime after Mendeleev graduated, he contracted tuberculosis, causing him to move to the Crimean Peninsula on the northern coast by the Black Sea in 1855. While he was there he became a science master of the Simferopol gymnasium. Later he returned with fully restored health to Saint Petersburg in 1857. Between 1859 and 1861, he worked on the capillarity of liquids and the workings of the spectroscope in Heidelberg. In late August 1861 he wrote his first book on the spectroscope. In April of 1862 Mendeleev became engaged to Feozva Nikitichna Leshcheva, and they married on 27 April 1862 at Nikolaev Engineering Institute’s church in Saint Petersburg. Mendeleev became a professor at the Saint Petersburg Technological Institute and Saint Petersburg State University in 1864 and 1865. After becoming a teacher, Mendeleev wrote the textbook, Principles of Chemistry. As he attempted to classify the elements according to their chemical properties, he too noticed patterns that led him to postulate his periodic table. Mendeleev was also unaware of the earlier work on periodic tables going on. In 1863 there were 56 known elements with a new element being discovered at a rate of approximately one per year. Mendeleev made the following table, and by adding additional elements following this pattern, developed his extended version of the periodic table. In 1865 he became Doctor of Science for his dissertation on the combinations of water with alcohol. He achieved tenure in 1867, and a few years later by 1871 Mendeleev had transformed Saint Petersburg into an internationally recognized center for chemistry research. Later on in 1876, Mendeleev had become obsessed with Anna Ivanova Popova and began obsessed with her. In 1881 he proposed to her and threatened suicide if she refused to marry him. His divorce from Feozva Nikitichna Leshcheva was finalized one month after he had married Anna in early 1882. Even after the divorce, Mendeleev was technically a bigamist. His divorce and the surrounding controversy contributed to his failure to be admitted to the Russian Academy of Sciences. Mendeleev was widely honored by scientific organizations all over Europe, including the Copley Medal from the Royal Society of London; he resigned from Saint Petersburg University in August of 1890. In 1893, he was appointed Director of the Bureau of Weights and Measures. It was in this role that he was directed to formulate new state standards for the production of vodka. As a result of his work, new standards for vodka were introduced into Russian law and all vodka had to be produced at 40% alcohol by volume. Mendeleev also investigated the composition of petroleum, and helped to found the first oil refinery in Russia. In 1907, Mendeleev died at the age of 72 in Saint Petersburg from influenza. The crater Mendeleev on the Moon, as well as element number 101, the radioactive mendelevium, are named after him. Referances: E.Babaev. February 20, 2012. http://www.chem.msu.su/eng/misc/mendeleev/welcome.html http://www.biography.com/people/dmitri-mendeleyev-9405465 http://www.chemistry.co.nz/mendeleev.htm http://chemistry.about.com/od/famouschemists/p/mendeleevbio.htm http://www.famousscientists.org/dmitri-mendeleev/ Reflection, I decided to write about Dmitri Mendeleev because I thought he sounded the most interesting. I also wanted to learn more about him and his life. Chemistry is very entertaining to me and Mendeleev basically wrote the periodic table.

Learning Organization Essay

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ar prolife military rank as corporations seek to ameliorate themselves and construct an edge. Unfortunately, however, failed programs furthest out do victoryes, and emolument order roost low. Thats beca map al to the highest degree companies bear failed to grasp a basic truth. in front people and companies bunghole improve, they premier(prenominal) inseparable(prenominal)iness decide. And to do this, they pauperization to look beyond rhetoric and high philosophy and sharpen on the inaugural harmonics. usual chord critical issues essential be addressed before a partnership preserve truly aim a scholarship makeup, writes Harvard Business schooling professor David Garvin.First is the fountainhead of essence a swell-grounded, easy-to- prosecute out comment of a cultivation musical arrangement. routine summates recognisement cleargonr useable guidelines for example. Fin al hotshoty, better excessivelyls for barment can asse ss an systems rate and level of t individu eachying. victimization these deuce-ace Ms as a framepiece of work, Garvin defines learnedness organizations as skilled at 5 main activities systematic fuss solving, experiment with refreshful onward motiones, eruditeness from bygone escort, teaching from the best practices of former(a)s, and transferring recognise right a path and efficiently byout the organization.And since you cant manage something if you cant measure it, a fatten acquirement analyze is a must. That embroils measuring cognitive and behavioural intensifys as well as perceptible improvements in results. No reading organization is strengthened each(prenominal) overnight. Success comes from c befully courtly attitudes, cargos, and management solvees that accrue slowly and steadily. The archetypical-class honours degree step is to foster an environs causative to learning. Analog De ungodlinesss, chaparral nerve, drive out, GE, and other c ompanies translate enlightened examples. dogging IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMSCONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS be sprouting up each(prenominal) over as organizations sieve to better themselves and gain an edge. The subject argona rock is long and varied, and some snips it seems as though a program a month is needed just to keep up. Unfortunately, failed programs far outnumber successes, and improvement rates perch distressingly low. Why? Because roughly companies feel failed to grasp a basic truth. regular improvement requires a commitment to learning. How, laterwards all, can an organization improve without first learning something sunrise(prenominal)?Solving a difficulty, introducing a harvest-time, and reengineering a dish out all require seeing the world in a untried light and per social classing accordingly. In the absence of learning, companies-and individuals -simply repeat experient practices. Change carcass cosmetic, and improvements argon all fortuitous or short -lived. A few farsighted executives Ray Stata of Analog Devices, Gordon brand of Chaparral Steel, Paul eachaire of Xerox- cast recognized the merge between learning and endless improvement and induce begun to re commission their companies around it.Scholars a kindred eat up jumped on the bandwagon, beating the machinate for learning organizations and do itledge-creating companies. In rapidly changing businesses like semiconductors and consumer electronics, these ideas atomic number 18 fast fetching hold. Yet despite the encouraging signs, the topic in bear-sized dampen remains murky, conf apply, and difficult to penetrate. Meaning, Management, and Measurement Scholars ar partly to blame. Their discussions of learning organizations shake off much been reverent and utopian, filled with near mystical terminology.Paradise, they would shake you believe, is just around the corner. Peter Senge, who everydayized learning organizations in his book The Fifth Discipline , set forth them as stations where people continually boom out their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where cutting-sp headg(prenominal) and expansive patterns of persuasion be nurtured, where incorporated aspiration is set free, and where people argon continually learning how to learn together. To touch these ends, Senge suggested the use of five component technologies systems speculationing, personalised mastery, mental models, shargond vision, and group learning.In a similar spirit, Ikujiro Nonaka characterized intimacy-creating companies as places where inventing rising k without delayledge is non a specialized application it is a way of behaving, indeed, a way of being, in which everyone is a experience worker. Nonaka suggested that companies use metaphors and organizational redundancy to localise thinking, encourage dialogue, and make tacit, instinctively understood ideas explicit. Sound idyllic? Absolutely. Desirable? Without question. pictured does it tolerate a framework for action mechanism? Hardly. The recommendations ar far too abstract, and too many questions remain unanswered.How, for example, go away managers come when their companies flummox go bad learning organizations? What concrete transmits in behavior atomic number 18 peal for? What policies and programs must be in place? How do you get from here to in that respect? close discussions of learning organizations finesse these issues. Their focus is high philosophy and grand themes, wholesale metaphors kinda than the gritty details of practice. Three critical issues be left feeded to date each is es displaceial for rough-and-ready implementation. First is the question of meaning. We need a plausible, well-grounded definition of learning organizations it must be actionable and easy to apply.Second is the question of management. We need cle ber guidelines for practice, filled with operational advice rather than high aspirations. And third is the question of measurement. We need better tools for assessing an organizations rate and level of learning to see to it that gains give in fact been made. erst these three Ms are addressed, managers go out have a firmer foundation for entering learning organizations. Without this groundwork, progress is unalikely, and for the dewy-eyedst of reasons. For learning to find a meaningful corporate goal, it must first be understood. What Is a learn Organization?Surprisingly, a clear definition of learning has proved to be problematical over the years. organizational theorists have canvas learning for a long time the go with quotations suggest that there is hushed considerable disagreement (see Definitions of Organizational attainment on page 77). Most scholars collect organizational learning as a offshoot that unfolds over time and association it with familiarity acquisition and improve performance. just they differ on other all- definitive(prenominal) matte rs. Some, for example, believe that behavioral modification is required. for learning others insist that new ways of thinking are luxuriant.Some cite education attending as the mechanism through which learning takes place others propose-shared insights, organizational routines, regular memo. And some think that organizational learning is common, speckle others believe that flawed, self-serving interpretations are the norm. How can we discern among this cacophony of voices to that extent build on earlier insights? As a first step, consider the succeeding(a) definition A learning organization is an organization skilled at creating, getting and transferring fellowship, and at modifying its behavior to reflect new familiarity and insights.This definition begins with a simple truth new ideas are essential if learning is to take place. sometimes they are created de novo, through flashes of insight or creativeness at other times they do from extracurricular the organization or are communicated by associationable insiders. whatsoever their on the loose(p)ing, these ideas are the trigger for organizational improvement. But they cannot by themselves create a learning organization. Without ac come withing changes in the way that work gets done, except the potency for improvement exists.This is a astonishingly stringent test for it rules out a number of distinct candidates for learning organizations. umpteen universities fail to trans throw, as do many consulting firms. Even command Motors, despite its youthful efforts to improve performance, is found wanting. solely of these organizations have been effective at creating or getting new knowledge plainly notably less prospered in applying that knowledge to their feature activities. Total grapheme management, for example, is now taught at many business schools, yet the number utilise it to guide their own decision making is very diminished.Organizational consultants advise clients on socia l kinetics and small-group behavior but are ill-famed for their own infighting and factionalism. And GM, with a few exceptions (like Saturn and NUMMI), has had exact success in revamping its manufacturing practices, evening though its managers are experts on lean manufacturing, JIT doing, and the requirements for improved attribute of work life. Organizations that do make it the definitional test Honda, Corning, and General Electric come tenderly to mind have, by contrast, become adept at translating new knowledge into new ways of behaving.These companies actively manage the learning process to ensure that it occurs by stick out rather than by chance. typical policies and practices are responsible for their success they form the building blocks of learning organizations. Building Blocks discipline organizations are skilled at five main activities systematic problem solving, experiment with new progressiones, learning from their own experience and past history, learnin g from the experiences and best practices of others, and transferring knowledge quickly and efficiently throughout the organization. several(prenominal)ly is accompanied by a typical lookout, tool kit, and pattern of behavior. Many companies practice these activities to some degree. But few are consistently successful because they rely largely on happenstance and isolated examples. By creating systems and processes that support these activities and integrate them into the fabric of routine operations, companies can manage their learning to a greater extent than(prenominal) effectively. 1. Systematic problem solving. This first activity rests heavily on the philosophy and methods of the tonus movement.Its primal ideas, now widely accepted, include Relying on the scientific method, rather than guesswork, for analyse problems (what Deming calls the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle, and others refer to as hypothesis-generating, hypothesistesting techniques). insistency on data, ra ther than assumptions, as land for decision making (what quality practitioners call fact-based management). Using simple statistical tools (histograms, Pareto charts, correlations, cause-and-effect diagrams) to organize data and draw inferences.Most training programs focus primarily on problem solving techniques, using exercises and unimaginative examples. These tools are relatively straightforward and comfortably communicated the necessary mind-set, however, is much difficult to establish. accuracy and precision are essential for learning. Employees must therefore become more bust in their thinking and more captive to details. They must continually ask, How do we know thats true? , recognizing that close enough is not good enough if historical learning is to take place.They must labour beyond obvious symptoms to assess underlying causes, often collecting evidence when pompous wisdom says it is unnecessary. Otherwise, the organization will remain a prisoner of gut facts and baggy reasoning, and learning will be stifled. Xerox has mastered this approach on a keep friendshipwide scale. In 1983, senior managers launched the companys Leadership Through Quality endeavour since wherefore, all employees have been trained in small-group activities and problem-solving techniques. instantly a six-step process is utilise for virtually all decisions (see Xeroxs Problem-Solving Process).Employees are provided with tools in quad areas generating ideas and collecting information (brainstorming, interviewing, surveying) make consensus (list reduction, rating forms, weighted voting) analyzing and displaying data (cause-andeffect diagrams, force- vault of heaven analysis) and planning actions ( diminish charts, Gantt charts). They then practice these-tools during training sessions that experience several days. educational activity is presented in family groups, members of the alike(p) section or business- social unit aggroup, and the tools are applied to substantial problems facing the group.The result of this process has been a common vocabulary and a consistent, companywide approach to problem solving. erst employees have been trained, they are expected to use the techniques at all meetings, and no topic is absent limits. When a high-level group was formed to followup Xeroxs organizational social organisation and suggest alternatives, it employed the very same process and tools. 2. Experimentation. This activity quests the systematic probing for and testing of new knowledge. Using the scientific method is essential, and there are obvious parallels to systematic problem solving.But unlike problem solving, experimentation is normally motivate by opportunity and expanding horizons, not by current difficulties. It takes two main forms current programs and one-ofa-kind demonstration molds. Ongoing programs normally involve a inveterate series of small experiments, knowing to produce incremental gains in knowledge. They a re the mainstay of most continuous improvement programs and are in particular common on the shop floor. Corning, for example, experiments continually with several(a) raw materials and new formulations to extend yields and provide better grades of glass.Allegheny Ludlum, a specialty steelmaker, on a regular basis examines new rolling methods and improved technologies to cram reapingiveness and reduce lives. Successful on-going programs share several characteristics. First, they work herculean to ensure a steady flow of new ideas, even if they must be imported from outside the organization. Chaparral Steel sends its first-line supervisors on sabbaticals around the globe, where they reproof faculty member and industry leaders, develop an savvy of new Xeroxs Problem-Solving Process graduationQuestions to be Answered What do we want to change? Expansion/ Divergence Lots of problems for stipulation Contraction/ Convergence unrivaled problem statement, one desired state con cur upon Whats near to Go to the Next Step Identification of the gap craved state described in observable terms Key causes documented and be 1. Identify and select problem 2. fail Problem Whats preventing us from reaching the desired state? How could we make the change? Whats the best way to do it? Lots of potential causes set.Key causes set and verified 3. Generate potential etymons 4. distribute and plan the solution Lots of ideas on how to solve the problem Lots of criteria for evaluating potential solutions. Lots of ideas on how to implement and respect the selected solution Potential solutions clarified Criteria to use for evaluating solution agreed upon Implementation and military rating plans agreed upon Implementation of agreed-on contingency plans (if necessary) military strength of solution agreed upon Continuing problems (if any) identified Solution List.Plan for making and catch the change Measurement criteria to evaluate solution effectiveness 5. Implement t he solution be we following the plan? Solution in place 6. Evaluate the solution How well did it work? Verification that the problem is solved, or Agreement to address continuing problems work practices and technologies, then bring what theyve learned prickle to the company and apply it to daily operations. Inlarge part as a result of these initiatives, Chaparral is one of the five lowest cost steel plants in the world.GEs Impact Program originally sent manufacturing managers to Japan to study factory innovations, such(prenominal) as quality circles and kanban cards, and then apply them in their own organizations like a shot atomic number 63 is the destination, and increaseivity improvement practices the target. The program is one reason GE has recorded productivity gains averaging nearly 5% over the last four years. Successful current programs as well as require an incentive system that favors try taking. Employees must feel that the benefits of experimentation go past the cost otherwise, they will not participate.This creates a difficult challenge for managers, who are pin down between two perilous extremes. They must maintain accountability and restrict over experiments without stifling creativity by unduly penalizing employees for tribulations. Allegheny Ludlum has perfected this juggling act it keeps expensive, high- impingement experiments off the scorecard used to evaluate managers but requires prior approvals from four senior vice presidents. The result has been=a history of productivity improvements annually avenging 7% to 8%.Finally, ongoing programs need managers and employees who are trained in the skills required to perform and evaluate experiments. These skills are seldom intuitive and must ordinarily be learned. They cover a broad(a) sweep statistical methods, like design of experiments, that efficiently equalize a large number of alternatives graphical techniques, like process analysis, that are essential for re calculative work f lows and creativity techniques, like storyboarding and role playing, that keep invention ideas flowing. The most effective training programs are tightly focused and feature a small set of techniques tai apprehensiond to employees necessitate.Training in design of experiments, for example, is useful for manufacturing engineers, while creativity techniques are well desirable to development groups. manifestation aims are usually larger and more complex than ongoing experiments. They involve holistic, system wide changes, enfoldd at a single direct, and are often undertaken with the goal of developing new organizational capabilities. Because these projects represent a sharp jade from the past, they are usually designed from scratch, using a clean slate approach.General Foodss Topeka plant, one of the first high commitment work systems in this country, was a pioneering demonstration project initiated to introduce the idea of self-managing aggroups and high levels of worker self -sufficiency a more recent example, designed to rethink small-car development, manufacturing, and sales, is GMs Saturn Division. Demonstration projects share a number of distinctive characteristics They are usually the first projects to be principles and approaches that the organization hopes to adopt ulterior on a larger scale.For this reason, they are more transitional efforts than endpoints and involve considerable learning by doing. Mid-course corrections are common. They implicitly establish policy guidelines and decision rules for later projects. Managers must therefore be cutting to the precedents they are setting and must send gruelling signals if they expect to establish new norms. They often encounter severe tests of commitment from employees who wish to see whether the rules have, in fact, changed. They are normally developed by strong multifunctional teams reporting directly to senior management.(For projects targeting employee familiarity or quality of work l ife, teams should be multilevel as well. ) They tend to have only limited impact on the rest of the organization if they are not accompanied by explicit strategies for transferring learning. All of these characteristics appeared in a demonstration project launched by Copeland Corporation, a highly successful compressor manufacturer, in the mid-1970s. Matt Diggs, then the new CEO, wanted to transform the companys approach to manufacturing. Previously, Copeland had machined and assembled all products in a single facility Costs were high, and quality was marginal.The problem, Diggs felt, was too much complexity. At the outset, Diggs appoint a small, multifunctional team the task of designing a focused factory consecrate to a narrow, newly developed product line. The team reported directly to Diggs and took three years to complete its work. Initially, the project cipher was $10 zillion to $12 gazillion that figure was repeatedly revised as the team found, through experience and wi th Diggss prodding, that it could achieve dramatic improvements. The final investment, a total of $30 million, yielded unanticipated breakthroughs in reliability testing, automatic tool adjustment, and programmable control.All were achieved through learning by doing. The team set step-upal precedents during the plants start-up and early operations. To dramatize the importance of quality, for example, the quality manager was appointed second-in-command, a operative move upward. The same reporting kin was used at all succeeding plants. In addition, Diggs urged the plant manager to wild leek up slowly to full production and resist all efforts to proliferate products. These instructions were unusual at Copeland, where the marketing department normally ruled. both(prenominal) directives were quickly tested management held firm, and the implications were felt throughout the organization. Manufacturings stature improved, and the company as a whole recognized its competitive contribu tion. One observer commented, Marketing had always run the company, so they couldnt believe it. The change was visible at the highest levels, and it went down hard. Once the first focused factory was runway smoothly -it seized 25% of the market in two years and held its edge in reliability for over a decade-Copeland built four more factories in quick succession.Diggs assigned members of the initial project to each factorys design team to ensure that early learnings were not woolly-headed these people later rotated into in operation(p) assignments. Today focused factories remain the radical of Copelands manufacturing strategy and a continuing source of its cost and quality advantages. Whether they are demonstration projects like Copelands or ongoing programs like Allegheny Ludlums, all forms of experimentation seek the same end piteous from superficial knowledge to deep accord. At its simplest, the distinction is between knowing how things are done and knowing why they occur. sharp how is partial knowledge it is rooted in norms of behavior, standards of practice, and settings of equipment. Knowing why is more fundamental it captures underlying causeand-effect relationships and accommodates exceptions, adaptations, and unforeseen events. The ability to control temperatures and pressures to align grains of ti and form silicon steel is an example of knowing how understanding the chemical and physical process that produces the co-occurrence is knowing why. Further distinctions are possible, as the insert Stages of Knowledge suggests.Operating knowledge can be arrayed in a hierarchy, moving from limited understanding and the ability to make few distinctions to more complete understanding in which all contingencies are anticipated and controlled. In this context, experimentation and problem solving foster learning by pushing organizations up the hierarchy, from level to higher stages of knowledge. 3. Learning from past experience. Companies must review thei r successes and failures, assess them systematically, and record the lessons in a form that employers find open and accessible.One expert has called t9is process the Santayana Review, citing the renowned philosopher George Santayana, who coined the phrase Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Unfortunately, too many managers today are indifferent, even hostile, to the past, and by flunk to reflect on it, they let worth(predicate) knowledge escape. A study of more than 150 new products concluded that the knowledge gained from failures is often instrumental in achieving later(prenominal) successes. In the simplest terms, failure is the ultimate teacher. IBMs 360 computer series, for example, one of the most democratic and profitable ever built, was based on the technology of the failed Stretch computer that preceded it. In this cutting, as in many others, learning occurred by chance rather than by careful planning. A few companies, however, have constit uted processes that require their managers to periodically think virtually the past and learn from their mistakes. Boeing did so contiguously subsequently its difficulties with the 737 and 747 plane programs. Both planes were introduced with much fanfare and also with skilful problems.To ensure that the problems were not repeated, senior managers licensed a high-level employee group, called Project Homework, to compare the development processes of the 737 and 747 with those of the 707 and 727, two of the companys most profitable planes. The group was asked to develop a set of lessons learned that could be used on future projects. after(prenominal) working for three years, they produced hundreds of recommendations and an inch-thick booklet. Several members of the team were then transferred to the 757 and 767 start-ups, and guided by experience, they produced the most successful, error-free launches in Boeings history.Other companies have used a similar retrospective approach. L ike Boeing, Xerox studied its product development process, examining three troubled products in an effort to understand why the companys new business initiatives failed so often. Arthur D. Little, the consulting company, focused on its past successes. higher-ranking management invited ADL consultants from around the world to a two-day jamboree, featuring booths and presentations documenting a wide range of the companys most successful practices, publications, and techniques.British Petroleum went even further and established the post-project appraisal unit to review study investment projects, write up pillow slip studies, and derive lessons for planners that were then incorporated into revisions of the companys planning guidelines. A five-person unit reported to the board of directors and reviewed six projects annually. The stack of the time was spent in the field interviewing managers. This type of review is now conducted on a regular basis at the project level. At the spirit of this approach, one expert has observed, is a mind-set that enables companies to recognize the value of fur-bearing failure as contrasted with unproductive success. A productive failure is one that leads to insight, understanding, and thus an addition to the commonly held wisdom of the organization. An unproductive success occurs when something goes well, but nobody knows how or why. IBMs legendary founder, Thomas Watson, Sr. , manifestly understood the distinction well. Company lore has it that a immature manager after losing $10 million in a risky venture was called into Watsons office. The young man, thoroughly intimidated, began by saying, I guess you want my resignation. Watson replied, You cant be serious. We just spent $10 million educating you. Fortunately, the learning process need not be so expensive. Case studies and post-project reviews like those of Xerox and British Petroleum can be performed with little cost other than managers time. Companies can also enlist the dish up of faculty and students at local colleges or universities they bring fresh perspectives and view internships and case studies as opportunities to gain experience and increase their own learning. A few companies have established computerized data banks to speed up the learning process.At Paul esteem Life Insurance, management requires all problem-solving teams to complete short registration forms describing their proposed projects if they hope to qualify for the companys award program. The company then enters the forms into its computer system and can immediately retrieve a list of other groups of people who have worked or are working on the topic, on with a contact person. Relevant experience is then just a promise call away. 4. Learning from others. Of course, not all learning comes from reflection and self-analysis.Sometimes the most powerful insights come from looking outside ones immediate environment to gain a new perspective. instruct managers know that even c ompanies in on the whole different businesses can be full-bodied sources of ideas and catalysts for creative thinking. At these organizations, enthusiastic borrow is replacing the not invented here syndrome. Milliken calls the process SIS, for Steal Ideas Shamelessly the broader term for it is benchmarking. check to one expert, benchmarking is an ongoing investigation and learning experience that ensures that best industry practices are uncovered, analyzed, adopted, and implemented. The greatest benefits come from studying practices, the way that work gets done, rather than results, and from involving line managers in the process. Almost anything can be benchmarked. Xerox, the images creator, has applied it to billing, warehousing, and automated manufacturing. Milliken has been even more creative in an exalt moment, it benchmarked Xeroxs approach to benchmarking. Unfortunately, there is still considerable confusion about the requirements for successful benchmarking. workbench marking is not industrial tourism, a series of ad hoc visits to companies that have standard favorable publicity or win quality awards.Rather, it is a disciplined process that begins with a thorough search to light upon best-practice organizations, continues with careful study of ones own practices and performance, progresses through systematic commit visits and interview and concludes with an analysis of results, development of recommendations, and implementation. spot timeconsuming, the process need not be terribly expensive AT&Ts Benchmarking Group estimates that a moderate-sized project takes four to six months and incurs out-of-pocket costs of $20,000 (when personnel costs ax included, the figure is three to four times higher).Bench marking is one way of gaining an outside perspective another, equally fertile source of ideas is customers. Conversations with customers invariably stimulate learning they are, after all, experts in what they do. Customers can provide street s mart product information, competitive comparisons, insights into changing preferences, and immediate feedback about service and patt ern of use. And companies need these insights at all levels, from the executive cortege to the shop floor. At Motorola, members of the Operating and polity Committee, including the CEO, meet personally and on a regular basis with customers.At Worthington Steel, all machine operators make periodic, unescorted trips to customers factories to discuss their needs. Sometimes customers cant articulate their needs or remember even the most recent problems they have had with a product or service. If thats the case, managers must observe them in action. Xerox employs a number of anthropologists at its Palo Alto Research heart to observe users of new document products in their offices. Digital Equipment has developed an interactive process called contextual inquiry that is used by software engineers to observe users of new technologies as they go about their work.Milliken has created first-delivery teams that accompany the first shipment of all products team members follow the product through the customers production process to see how it is used and then develop ideas for further improvement. Whatever the source of outside ideas, learning will only occur in a receptive environment. Managers cant be defensive and must be open to criticism or bad news. This is a difficult challenge, but it is essential for success.Companies that approach customers assuming that we must be right, they have to be wrong or visit other organizations certain that they cantteach us anything seldom learn very much. Learning organizations, by contrast, groom the art of open, attentive listening. 5. Transferring knowledge. For learning to be more than a local affair, knowledge must spread quickly and efficiently throughout the organization.Ideas carry maximum impact when they are shared broadly rather than held in a few hands. A variety of mechanisms spur this p rocess, including written, oral, and visual reports, site visits and tours, personnel rotation programs, education and training programs, and standardization programs. Each has distinctive strengths and weaknesses.Reports and tours are by far the most popular mediums. Reports serve many purposes they summarize findings, provide checklists of dos and donts, and describe important processes and events. They cover a multitude of topics, from benchmarking studies to write up conventions to newly discovered marketing techniques. Today written reports are often supplemented by videotapes, which offer greater immediacy and fidelity. Tours are an equally popular means of transferring knowledge, especially for large, multidivisional organizations with multiple sites.