A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essays

A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essays A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essay A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essay A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Anil Gurung University of Texas at Arlington Department of Information Systems and Operations Management, College of Business Administration Office: Room 630 Business Building Box 19437 701 S West St. Arlington, Texas 76019-0437 Voice: 817. 272. 3528 Email: [emailprotected] edu ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the impact of information technologies (IT) on logistics by conducting a survey of literatures on academic logistics journals and practitioner journals. The literature survey and practice find that third party logistic providers have better opportunity to leverage IT since they need to have interoperable IT systems with their customers. The business philosophy of Just-In-Time (JIT) has also contributed to the impact of IT in logistics. Further, information technologies are identified that has benefited the logistics. Future directions of logistics are discussed. INTRODUCTION The proliferation of information technologies (IT) and the internet technologies have provided impetus and challenges to the logistics. New technologies present new means to manage the flow of information. IT as a productivity tool can be utilized to both increase the capability and decrease the cost at the same time (Closs et al. , 1997). It has been widely accepted that firms can achieve competitive advantage by cost reduction or differentiation with the proper implementation of IT (Porter Millar, 1985). Enabled by IT the logistics has become a source of competitive advantage for many firms. Two streams of research are identified that highlights the role of IT in logistics. First stream relates to just-in-time logistics information system (Anderson Quinn, 1986; Bookbinder Dilts, 1989; Das Handfield, 1997; Gomes Mentzer, 1988; Perry, 1988; Schwarz Weng, 2000; Spencer, M. S. et al. , 1994; Spencer, M. S. et al. , 1996; Takahashi Nakamura, 2000; Titone, 1996; Wafa Yasin, 1996). The other stream is the third party logistics (Lewis Talalayevsky, 2000; Peters et al. , 1998; Sauvage, 2003; Sink Langley, 1997; Vaidyanathan, 2005). Importance of IT in logistics has grown to some extent by business philosophy of Just-InTime (JIT) by firms. With the emphasis of firms on JIT, the impact of logistics has grown as it is increasingly recognized as a source of consistent, low lead time, damage free deliveries (Bardi et al. , 1994). In pursuit of competitive advantages, firms outsource their functions which are noncore competencies so that they can focus on their core competencies. A recent survey found that 83 percent of the surveyed Fortune 500 companies reported having at least one contract with a third-party logistics provider (Lieb Bentz, 2004). Over the years, the use of third-party logistics has been increasing. Similar survey of Fortune 500 companies taken in 1991 had only 38 percent of the respondents reporting the use of third-party logistics provider (Lieb, 1992). The 618 third party logistic operators attempt to harness the capability of information technology to provide superior services to their customers. The objective of this paper is to study how IT has impacted logistics. To this end, literature review of both leading academic and practitioner logistic journals is conducted. The next section will report the framework of logistics. The following section will analyze the IT enablers in logistics. Then, the implications of ecommerce are discussed followed by a section on future directions for logistics. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE A classification scheme logistics functions provides a meaningful way to study how IT has impacted the various functions of logistics. Previous research in logistics have categorized the use of information systems in logistics in different ways. A system of logistics functions can be divided into following five broad areas (Bowersox, 1974): facility location, transportation, inventory, communication and material movement. Based on the problem areas that application addresses, seven areas of logistics has been identified as facility location, inventory control, order entry, vehicle scheduling, warehouse layout planning, freight rate retrieval, and product and shipment tracing (Ballou, 1976). Another survey identified five categories as facility location, inventory control, transportation, production scheduling, and total physical distribution (House, 1978). These categories treated each category as individual entities rather than a whole system. Noting this shortcoming, Stenger (1986) proposed another classification consisting of transaction systems, short-term scheduling and inventory replenishment systems, flow planning systems, and network planning and design systems. Expanding on the framework developed by Bowersox, Novack et al (1992) divided logistics function into two categories. The first category refers to physical activities that are required various utilities of customer need. These will include inventory, transportation and customer service operations. The second category refers to flow of information or transaction activities that follow or initiate the physical activities. The physical and information flows in logistics function is well-depicted in Figure 1 that shows the categorization of logistics functions as described by Vaidyanathan (2005). As shown in the figure, information flows between logistics function are managed, coordinated and supported by various logistics technologies. 619 Inventory and Logistics Management: Freight Consolidation Freight Distribution Shipment Planning Traffic Management Inventory Management Carrier Selection Order Entry/ Management Information Flow Customer Service: Freight Payments Auditing Order Management Fulfillment Help Desk Carrier Selection Rate Negotiation Information Flow Warehousing: Packaging Product Making Labeling Warehousing Material Flow Transportation: Fleet Management Cross Docking Product Return Figure 1: Categorization of Logistics Functions (adapted from Vaidyanathan 2005) IT enablers in Logistics The literature in logistics is full of instances where information technology has been touted as a means to enhance logistics competitiveness (Bowersox, 1974; Closs et al. , 1997; Rabinovich et al. , 1999; Stenger, 1986). Yet there has been few empirical studies that relates logistics information capabilities to logistics competence (Closs et al. , 1997). A popular framework in information systems discipline put forward by Gorry Morton (1989) place logistics decisions as structured and varying from operational to strategic. The role of logistics information systems as operational and strategic enablers in different areas of the firm’s supply chain has been stated in the literature (Langley et al. , 1988). There has been a shift of IT from being an enabler of operational and material handling functions to being an enabler of decision-making and activityplanning functions within the supply chain (La Londe Auker, 1973). Logistics Information System Logistics Information System (LIS) is the application component of logistics information technology. An effective LIS facilitates the proper information flow between inventory, 20 Information Flow warehousing and transportation to realize the high level of customer service. The ability to optimize the logistics cost and service levels is affected by the LIS of the firm and its partners. Firms that provide better logistics services at a lower cost can have competitive advantage over its competitors (Bardi et al. , 1994). Two classes of LIS has been recogn ized in the literature (Closs et al. , 1997). Logistics operating systems (LOS) refer to transactional applications such as order entry, order processing, warehousing, and transportation. Logistics planning systems (LPS) refer to coordinating applications such as forecasting, inventory management, and distribution requirements planning. EDI Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has successfully enhanced the communication between firms which is essential for logistics. This technology requires firms to have common data formatting and transmission standards or protocols. Such technologies have been employed by companies to coordinate their value chain activities including logistics. Early applications of EDI has been on transmitting vehicle location information by railways to their customers. Other types of logistics information carried by EDI are purchase orders/releases and changes, advanced shipping notices, bills of lading, and invoices. Timely and accurate information is crucial in decision making about complex logistics problems. Japan Airlines (JAL) adopted EDI to manage their complex value chain logistics required for their operations, including procurement and just-in-time delivery of aircraft fuel, repair and maintenance aircraft parts, food catering and other customer requirements (Chatfield Bjorn-Andersen, 1997). The competitive advantage gained by companies employing EDI is cited in the literature. Firms utilizing EDI were better able to fulfill greater number of services to their customers (Rogers et al. , 1992). Bar coding Bar coding is one of the most IT enablers to date and has made significant impact in the practice. Starting in 1960’s some of the earliest implementation of bar codes were in rail road cars. Nowadays it is rampant in anything that needs to be identified and tracked. The different type of bar codes are available, known as symbologies, for different purposes. In practice, most firms prefer to use industry standards rather than proprietary standards for most of their bar codes on their products. By following industry standards, bar codes reduce the complications inherent in the use of multiple standards and thus provides a strong foundation for integrating the corporate logistics and the supply chain (Closs Kefeng, 2000). Real-time communications capability The logistics IT capability of real-time communications is essential for maintaining the flow of information. As noted by Dudley Lasserre (1989), one of the important roles of logistics IT is to substitute information for inventory. To make real-time tracking of goods, logistic information systems of business partners should have real-time communications capability. The business partners require an integrated messaging architecture which exchanges business data while customizing business flows and format transformation. Real-time communications also allows for schedule plans to change in dynamic routing and scheduling system when the vehicles are 621 already out on the road. Any last minute changes in routing and scheduling system or constant tracking has been possible only with real-time communications ability of the respective systems. RFID RFID helps to identify, track and locate items automatically. The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is expected to increase rapidly in coming years. Often referred to as the next step in the evolution of bar-coding, RFID is growing rapidly in the automatic data capture and identification market (Srivastava, 2004). RFID is not a new technology, in fact, its use dates back to 1940’s but only now it is starting to make a significant impact within the supply chain. The growth in use of RFID will be enhanced to some extent by mandates from large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target, and the US Department of Defense, who require their suppliers to adopt this technology within the next few years (Asif Mandviwalla, 2005). Among the companies that are piloting RFID in their supply chain management prominent ones are WalMart, Procter Gamble, Coca-cola and Gillette. Although the biggest driver in the popularity of RFID has been supply chain, companies are experimenting in other applications as well. Other applications are theft detection, asset tracking, mobile payments, in-process inventory tracking and luggage tracking. Dell, Seagate, Boeing and Ford are among other companies that are using RFID to track their in-process inventory in manufacturing. An RFID system includes transponders or tags that can identify items ; antennas that allows tags to be interrogated and to respond; and software that controls the RFID equipment, manages the data and interfaces with enterprise applications. RFID has lots of potential to improve the efficiency in the supply chain and reduce waste. For example, efficiency would result from automatic update of inventory system when products with RFID tags are unloaded from trucks into stores. The advantages of RFID over bar coding are as follows: RFID tags can provide longer read distances; store more data; require no direct line of sight between tag and reader; and can collect data from multiple sources simultaneously (Asif Mandviwalla, 2005). There are some technical and business challenges to overcome before RFID can be ubiquitous. Technical issues include problems of interference, security and accuracy while business issues relate to costs and lack of standards. Another significant business challenge in adopting RFID faced by managers is to work out a business case for the executive board. Early adopters of these technologies are marred by problems such as possible adverse consumer outbursts to perceived invasion of privacy, reliability of the RFID system, and issues related to health, safety and IT integration. IMPLICATION OF ECOMMERCE ON LOGISTICS The growth of ecommerce pose opportunities and challenges for logistics. As internet retailing increases the companies are accepting orders from their clientele across the borders. In many instances the location of clients are not covered by any existing distribution system of the companies. On such occasions the companies have no resort but to turn towards third party logistics operators for physical flow of goods. As for the information flow, the companies need to have capabilities for ecommerce applications. The group of technologies and processes for coordinating logistics information flow has been named e-logistics. An important web 622 technology that facilitates the exchange of business data among logistics business partners across different platforms is extra markup language (XML). For example, UPS is exploiting the power of the web services to streamline its information flows for logistics activities such as RFQ, shipping and tracking. Changing Trends in Logistics Consultants are beginning to take an active part in helping out the shippers select third party logistics operators. Shippers hire consultants to help them align business processes with supply chain strategies. The newly coined term â€Å"4PL† for consultants stands for dominant role that consultants will be taking in managing the resources, the technology and the processes in the supply chain. It is yet to be seen whether the shippers will let the consultants manage all the logistics processes. Instead of handing over the authority to manage the logistics processes to the consulting firms, shippers may choose to develop alliance with the third party logistics operators and maintain the supply chain themselves. The key thing that will allow coordination between shipper firms and the third party logistics will be information technology and management skills to run the supply chain effectively. This implies that firms should also have proper logistic technologies in place to enjoy the full benefits of use of third party logistics. FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS The research directions that are available for researchers in logistics are numerous. Before companies implement new logistic information technologies such as RFID it is important to assess the viability of adopting the technology. What would be the expected benefits? What is the ROI? Researchers can come up with various econometric models to predict the outcomes of adopting logistics technologies. Modeling techniques can be used to assess the scenarios that would be beneficial for adopting new technologies. As companies are entering into ecommerce, better coordinating techniques are required to streamline logistics activities for transactions taking place on the internet. Collaborative technologies for supporting e-logistics would greatly enhance the future logistics. Multi-agent systems (MAS) provide an interesting avenue of research that is applicable for supporting logistics technologies on the internet. Intelligent software agents can be used to assess the bids offered by multiple third-party logistics operators. To support global ecommerce the companies need to have different options for global logistics. The best way to traverse the geographical distribution is through technology. What are the communication channels and technologies that would benefit the company in terms of monitoring and coordination logistics functions? More empirical evidence will be preferred to establish the direct link between organizational performance and logistics information systems. Researchers can seek to examine the complex relationships between logistics technologies and performance from different paradigms and theories. The perspective of organizational learning can be used to evaluate the performance gained by employing logistics information systems. 23 CONCLUSION The objective of this paper was to observe the impact of information technology on the logistics functions. A literature review of the academic and practitioners journals was conducted. The information technologies that have been used to support logistics functions were discussed. It is evident that academic researchers are aware of new tec hnologies in practice such as RFID. Development in technologies offer sources of competitive advantage for companies. Adoption of new technologies provide challenge and opportunities for the companies. Proper business case and calculation of ROI needs to be done to assess the expected benefits from new technologies. Changing trends in business in terms of ecommerce open new markets for firms for all sizes to expand their market share. Strategic use of information resource would bear results of competitive advantage and thus leading to success stories. The best practices in logistic information technologies need to be adopted by firms in alignment of their strategic goals. Future trends in logistics may prompt companies to rethink their logistics strategies. Firms may choose to use third party logistics in order to focus on their core competencies. However, firms need to have logistics information systems in place that is compatible with the third party operators in order to fully benefit from their services. REFERENCES Anderson, D. L. Quinn, R. J. 1986, The Role of Transportation in Long Supply Line Just-InTime Logistics Channels , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 68-88. Asif, Z. Mandviwalla, M. 2005, Integrating the Supply Chain with RFID: a Technical and Business Analysis, Communications of the AIS, vol. 15, pp. 393-427. Ballou, R. H. 976, Computer Methods in Transportation-Distribution, Transportation Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 72-85. Bardi, E. J. , Raghunathan, T. S. Bagchi, P. K. 1994, Logistics information systems: The strategic role of top management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 7185. Bookbinder, J. H. Dilts, D. M. 1989, Logistics Information Systems in a Just-In-Time Environment , Jo urnal of Business Logistics, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 50-67. Bowersox, D. J. 1974, Logistics Management: A Systems Integration of Physical Distribution Management and Materials Management, Macmillan Publishing, New York, NY. Chatfield, A. T. Bjorn-Andersen, N. 1997, The impact of IOS-enabled business process change on business outcomes: Transformation of the Value Chain of Japan Airlines, Journal of Management Information Systems, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 13-40. Closs, D. J. Kefeng, X. 2000, Logistics information technology practice in manufacturing and merchandising firms An international benchmarking study versus world class logistics firms, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 30, no. 10, pp. 869-86. 624 Closs, D. J. , Goldsby, T. J. Clinton, S. R. 1997, Information technology influences on world class logistics capability, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 4-17. Das, A. Handfield, R. B. 1997, Just-in-time and logistics in global sourcing: An empirical study, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 27, no. 3/4, pp. 244-59. Dudley, L. Lasserre, P. 1989, Information as a Substitute for Inventories , European Economic Review, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 67-88. Gomes, R. Mentzer, J. T. 988, A Systems Approach to the Investigation of Just-In-Time , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 71-88. Gorry, G. A. Morton, M. S. S. 1989, A Framework for Management Information Systems, Sloan Management Review, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 49-61. House, R. G. 1978, Computer Models in Distribution Management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 129-52. La Londe, B. J. Auker, K. 1973, A Survey of Computer Applications and Pr actices in Transportation and Distribution, International Journal of Physical Distribution, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 92-301. Langley, C. J. , Carlisle, D. P. , Probst, S. B. , Biggs, D. F. Cail, R. E. 1988, Microcomputers as a Logistics Information Strategy, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Materials Management, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 11-7. Lewis, I. Talalayevsky, A. 2000, Third-Party Logistics: Leveraging Information Technology , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 173-85. Lieb, R. C. 1992, The use of third-party logistics services by large American manufacturers, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 29-42. Lieb, R. C. Bentz, B. A. 004, The Use of Third-Party Logistics Services by Large American Manufacturers: The 2003 Survey, Transportation Journal, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 24-33. Novack, R. A. , Rinehart, L. M. Wells, M. V. 1992, Rethinking concept foundations in logistics management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 233-67. Perry, J. H. 1988, Firm Behavior and Operating Performance in Just-In-Time Logistics Channels , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 19-33. Peters, M. J. , Lieb, R. C. Randall, H. L. 1998, The use of third-party logistics services by European industry, Transport Logistics, vol. , no. 3, pp. 167-79. Porter, M. E. Millar, V. E. 1985, How information gives you competitive advantage, Harvard Business Review, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 149-60. Rabinovich, E. , Windle, R. , Dresner, M. Corsi, T. 1999, Outsourcing of integrated logistics functions, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 353-73. Rogers, D. S. , Daugherty, P. J. Stank, T. P. 1992, Enhancing service responsiveness: the strategic potential of EDI, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 15-20. Sauvage, T. 2003, The relationship between technology and logistics third-party providers, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 236-53. Schwarz, L. B. Weng, Z. K. 2000, The Design of a JIT Supply Chain: The Effect of Leadtime Uncertainty on Safety Stock , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 231-52. 625 Sink, H. L. Langley, J. C. J. 1997, A managerial framework for the acquisition of third-party logistics services, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 18, p. 163. Spencer, M. S. , Dale, S. R. Patricia, J. D. 1994, JIT Systems and External Logistics Suppliers, International Journal of Operations Production Management, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 6074. Spencer, M. S. , Daugherty, P. J. Rogers, D. S. 1996, Logistics support for JIF implementation, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 701-14. Srivastava, B. 2004, Radio frequency ID technology: The next revolution in SCM, Business Horizons, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 60-8. Stenger, A. J. 1986, Information Systems in Logistics Management: Past, Present, and Future, Transportation Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 5-82. Takahashi, K. Nakamura, N. 2000, Reactive logistics in a JIT environment, Production Planning Control, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 20-31. Titone, R. 1996, Moving Beyond JIT to Logistics Planning, IIE Solutions, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 22-4. Vaidyanathan, G. 2005, A Framework for Evaluating Third-Party Logistics, Communications of the ACM, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 89-94. Wafa, M. A. Yasin, M. M. 1996, The impact of supplier proxi mity on JIT success: an informational perspective, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 23-34. 626

Five Easy Steps of Research Paper Writing

Five Easy Steps of Research Paper Writing Five Easy Steps of Research Paper Writing Writing a research paper doesnt have to be as daunting as it seems. The process can be done by you or you can turn it over to  paper writing services. In case you cant this time around and you have to do it yourself well clue you in to making things a bit easier. But, next time you may want to call  paper writing services  just to be sure the paper is picture perfect.  Step OneBe clear about your subject matter. If you are able to choose your own subject matter then make sure its one that you can research reasonably easily. Move to step two if you have been given your subject matter. Step Two-Prepare your spaceYour research will be primarily online so you will need to be on the computer quite a few hours at a time. This means your work area must be conducive to writing and concentration. Make sure that all your equipment is ergonomically correct. This means the desk and keyboard is at the correct height for your wrists to rest properly. Make sure the lighting is sufficient and you have a comfortable chair.Step Three Prepare your ResearchThe research should be done for each of the sub headings you choose. Subheadings should be major points that you will cover in your paper in logical order. This makes it easier to read and to keep the paper clear and on target which is a great part of your score in most cases.Step Four Prepare the body of each sub headingAs you are writing the body of each subheading make sure you are keeping it true to the title or thesis and make sure you are giving a clear conclusion and flow to the next subheading. You want the paper to speak of what it promised in the title and allow it to give clear points in each subheading yet flow as one paper. This takes a bit of talent and practice and if you hate writingthis may be the time to call Master Essay   because your lack of confidence will show, and that you dont want.Step Five Your CitationsEvery paper absolutely must have citations that will tell the reader that your research and all claims in the research is credible. This means you will have to set aside a list of the source of your research. Whether this is from the computer or a book or whatever source you get it from. This ensures the paper is credible.As a last point, remember that plagiarism is a criminal offense and you can be sued. This happens when you use any form of another work by another author whose work is not in public domain. This is a serious thing. Your professor will have programs like Copyscape and Dupe Report which will alert them to any plagiarism. Call 800-573-0840 for writing services by .

Quality Assurance Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quality Assurance Plan - Essay Example It does not guarantee success every time, but the prospects are much higher with a QA project plan than without one" (Guidance for quality assurance project plans http://209.85.175.104/search'q=cache:QQE3iLkA01QJ:www.epa.gov/quality/qs-docs/g5-final.pdf+Quality+Assurance+Plan&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1) The quality assurance plan will not guarantee the success since success of a product depend on other aspects as well. For example without proper advertisement even a quality product may not be succeeded in the market since its quality details may not reach all the people. going to do, to ensure the quality of your solution. Quality Planning is a critical part of any project. It enables the company to agree a set of quality targets with their customers. It then helps the company to monitor and control the level of quality produced by the project, to ensure that the company meets the quality targets set. By using this quality plan template, the company can set quality targets and ensure that their project produces deliverables which meet customer's needs, thereby ensuring the company's success A Quality Plan helps you schedule all of the tasks needed to make sure that your project meets the needs of your customer. It comprises two parts; the Quality Assurance Plan lists the independent reviews needed and the Quality Control Plan lists the internal reviews needed to meet your quality targets. By using Quality Assurance and Quality Control techniques, you can create a comprehensive Quality Management Plan for your project.QA plan should be developed either along the project planning or immediately after that. But it should be completed before the project is started. Appoint a professional team, planning of the things to be done to promote the product, Outline the QA plan based on the studies, Get the approval for the plan from the top management, and start the work based on the approved plan. QA assurance plan should have enough information to describe project objectives and details. For developing a QA plan following things should be kept in mind. Identifying the customer' s requirements, Listing the project deliverables to be produced, Setting quality criteria for these deliverables, Defining quality standards for the deliverables, Gaining your customers agreement with the targets set, Identifying the quality control tasks needed to control quality, Listing the quality assurance activities required to assure quality. Ensure that the information is accurate and complete. Ensure that all appropriate elements are being addressed. Ensure that the plan identifies the project's Quality Assurance Plan 3 technical and quality objectives, and that the intended measurement and data acquisition methods will satisfy these objectives. Confirm that the planned assessment procedure will be adequate to evaluate the project and confirm that there is a process to identify any limitations on the use of the data. The organization performing the work is responsible for ensuring

Open Source Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Open Source - Essay Example e accounts and financial records of such businesses, with the aim of determining how well the organizations are run, and how accurate the financial records of the business are prepared and stored. In an accounting and auditing environment, there is a variety of software that requires to be applied. While some of those software are tailor-made specifically for the accounting purposes, others are general purpose software, which can also be applied by other computer users, to undertake various activities that are not related to accounting. The basic software that must be applied in an accounting and auditing environment are the Windows XP operating system and the Microsoft office suit (Amushie, 12). These software provides the basis for which the computer is operated, and the basis for which records are made and kept, for the operating system and the Microsoft office suit, respectively. It is through the Windows XP operating system that an interface is created in the computer, through which the user of the computer can navigate variously. On the other hand, the Microsoft office suit comprises of various applications such as the Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Acces s, which are programs that are used to prepare and store records, while also being applied to undertake various arithmetic functions, especially for the Microsoft Excel (Grauer and Maryann, 33). Both the Microsoft Office suit and the Windows XP are found in different versions of software. There are some versions of both Microsoft Office suit that are proprietary and others that are open source. Similarly, Windows XP operating system has some of its versions that are proprietary and others which are open source. While the Windows XP Service Pack 3 is a proprietary software, the Windows XP ReactOSÂ ® is a version of the windows XP operating system that is open source (Gross, 9). Similarly, Microsoft office suite has Microsoft Office 2007 as a proprietary software, and another version called the

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

Inventory - Essay Example After a long time use of the time series forecasting method, the company should now adopt a new strategic plan, which should enable it to penetrate its market deeper. It is not safe for the company to rely on its historical data alone in the prediction of its future needs when considering demand. Therefore, the qualitative forecasting method is the best method applicable by the company. This will ensure that the company knows the likely direction to be taken by its customers in the consumption of its goods; and adjust appropriately to cater for the views of the consumers. Besides the techniques already listed in the abstract, there are other forecasting techniques available and already in operation. They are each used in line with the future need that a company requires. Therefore, before using any of these methods, consider the time of preparation, cost, and accuracy of the technique. These techniques make different assumptions in their operation (Makridakis, Wheelwright, & Hyndman, 1998). In addition to the already mentioned methods are Regression methods, which involve the extension of linear regression that is a variable, linearly relates to some other independent variables. The other method of forecasting used is the multiple equation methods, which involve some variables that are dependent interacting with each other in a number of equations. This method receives proper application in the economic models of forecasting. These techniques have their basis on human judgment in the forecasting of the planned future of a given company. Therefore, these methods are said to be subjective based on the judgments and opinions given by the experts and the consumers. These techniques apply to the decisions that are intermediate and long range. They can be used in the creation of forecasts that are short term and can supplement projections,

The philosophy of human rights

The philosophy of human rights You may undertake EITHER a philosophical defence of human rights (paying particular attention to the fundamental critiques addressed to human rights) OR a philosophical critique of human rights (paying particular attention to the strongest arguments in their favour and to a possible alternative to them). â€Å"Defence of human rights philosophically† â€Å"Natural right is not the just resolution of a dispute offered by a harmonious cosmos or Gods commands. It derives exclusively from the nature of â€Å"each man†. (Douzinas: 2000, p70) Introduction The philosophy of human rights in turn is based on cultural philosophy and historical philosophy. Whereas human rights cannot be illustrated on the ground of other factors such as reality of violence in historically, culturally, politically or sociologically. Occasionally ethics, literacy, economics, psychology, philosophy and politics are some of the spots who can help describing the human rights better and made it easier to understand â€Å"respect of human rights† as a general set of work and discussion. Rights that are connected to human beings and performed as ethical pledge to hold up our argument towards the fulfillment of a simply fine living are called Human Rights. In broad term, human rights on their own are imitative of the perception of a right. We have customaries that human rights initiate as moral rights but that the flourishing channel of numerous human rights into international and national law permits one to consider human rights as, in many situations, both moral rights and legal rights. In addition, human rights may be either claim rights or liberty rights, and have a negative or a positive complexion in respect of the obligations imposed by others in securing the right. (Andrew, 2005, online) Aristotle stated that â€Å"justice† is a complete virtue, although not without qualification, but in relation to other individual. And for that reason justice is often consider to be the greatest of virtues. According to him â€Å"justice† is an actual exercise of virtue, as person do not think about himself but he care about other either a king or colleague. He said that justice is not a part of virtue but virtue entire. He said that just is a species of proportionate is the equality of ratios and proportional sharing. Whereas geometrical equality refers to an adequate measure of proportion. Justice is a kind of mean but, not in the similar way as other virtues and it linked to intermediary quantity. It is a virtue in which a just man is known as a achiever, by option of that which is just, and one who will share out either among himself or another or between two others not so as to give more of what is advantageous to himself and less to other human being, but so as to give what, is equal in agreement with proportion; and resemblance in allocating out between two other persons. (The Nicomachean ethics, Ch.V, 1925) I agree with Kant views about that our objectives are proscribed by rationale, and he verifies it by a statement, There is no possibility of thinking of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can be regarded as good without qualification, except a good will.( Barbara Herman, p. 208, 1993) The human nature understood by liberal philosophy is pre-moral. According to Immanuel Kant , the transcendental self, the prerequisite of deed and basis of meaning and value, is a mortal of complete ethical duty and lacks any earthly characteristics. The supposition of the independent and self-disciplining theme is shared by moral philosophy and jurisprudence but has been turned into neo Kantianism. Kant was predictable that Natural right become a matter of introspection and disclosure rather than of rational deliberation and dialectal argument and let to a conceptual morality of percepts. Kant viewed Morality as it is no longer stranded in pre existing idea of the good nor does it obtained from an external source. Kant assumed that classical philosophy made a fault of arranging first good and evil and then arranging the moral law consequently. Dealing to rational law, human rights mean to admit and defend the central and absolute characteristics of human nature. (Douzinas, 2000) Kants thought of freedom turns apparent when seen in the perspective of the problem that it was believed to solve. Rational beings survive not only as self conscious axis of knowledge, but also agents. Kant argues â€Å"is the sole principle of all moral laws, and all of duties which conform to them; on the other hand, heteronomy of the will not only cannot be the basis of any obligation, but is, on the contrary, opposed to the principles therefore, and to the morality of will†. Since sovereignty is patent only in the conformity to reason, and because reason must lead action always through imperatives, autonomy is explained as ‘that property of will whereby it is a law to itself.'(Roger Scruton, 1982) From some past decades, philosopher in many different times and places grappled with tricky issues about mutual connection among human beings both as an individual and as a member of communitarian society. Every so often lacking any exacting religious direction at all, they also contemplated the denotation of human nature, the universality of fundamental principles, ethical duties to siblings, social justice, whether customary rule based civilizations should be changed in to right based civilizations, and the proper responsibility of government in the lives of their people. In spite of their much dissimilarities of point of view and cultural tradition, they all required understate not through the exposure of religious faith or metaphysical basics but slightly through worldly inquest and human rationale. (Paul Gordon Lauren, 2003) The division of rights into personal right, real right and right to act is, in the vein of many other partitions, designed to systemize the heap of unfamiliar material. However this distribution quite confuses rights which presume such tangible relations as the family or the state with those which direct to sheer abstract qualities. Classification did by Kant, of rights into Real rights, Personnel rights and Personal rights that are of real kind. We will get too confused afield to explain how knotted and illogical the classification of rights into personal and real is. Visibly it is just personality which provides us a right to things, and therefore personal right is embedded in real right. A thing must be received in its Universal context as the external reverse of freedom, so with the intention of sense that my body and my life are things. (G.W.F.Hegel, p.4) If we look at a framework of human rights, the debate about the dignity of human beings relative to the rest of nature not only is a divergence from the context of human rights, but brings in us to metaphysical dialogues unrelated to the issue of human rights. The foundation of human rights, along with harmony and subsidiarity, is the metaphysics of the human beings. Those type of metaphysics function as the sense giving route relating to the wisdom of the speech and praxis of human rights, subsidiarity and commonality. Metaphysics like this should not start from a description or presumption whether religious, judicial or philosophical about human rights, which would be to take as fact to begin the point of influx. Problem regarding Hegels position should be kept in mind always. (Kant by Mary and Roger, 1996) The famous documents claiming personal rights, such as the Magna Carta (1215), the French Declaration on the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789), and the US Constitution and Bill of Rights (1791) the English Bill of Rights (1689), are on paper pioneer agreements to many of modern human rights documents. However much of these written agreements, once initially converted into course of action, debarred women, racism, minorities, religious, economic, and political groups. On the other hand, demoralized natives all over the world have strained on the ideology to these written agreement papers for expressions to maintain revolutions that affirm the right to autonomy. This type of pattern and lawfully binding manuscript shield the people from arbitrary persecution and punishment. Much of the flaws of Hammurabis code were due to its cause and effect nature, it failed to protect more conceptual thoughts such as religion, attitude, race and personal free will. One of the other important documents of the English history is called Magna Carta. It was about the group of barons who stood against the conflict to the increasingly authoritarian rule of King John, and were ensured with the implementation of the terms of Magna Carta, ‘the great charter of liberties as it was previously known just ten years later, officially contracted by him at Runnymede on 15 June 1215. It was based on the sequence of undertakings on a paper. According to that paper King should rule England keeping in focus the customs of feudal law. (Matthew Stricland, 2005, online) If we compare American bills of rights and English declaration such as Magna Carta, it demonstrates at once that the placing out of principles summary, and hence vague, is both common, as is also the suffering with which they are narrating. The French have not only adopted the American ideas, but even the structure they established on the other end. The cavernous gap divides the American declarations from the English ratification that have been mentioned. The Historian of the American revolution says about Virginia declaration that it was tested beside all oppressions in an account of the eternal laws of mans being: â€Å"The English petition of right in 1688 was historic and retrospective; the Virginia declaration came directly out of the heart of nature and announced governing principles for all people in all future times.† (Bancroft, VII, p.243) The English laws that set up the rights of subject matter are communally and independently verifications, come up of particular situations, or analysis of existing law. â€Å"Even Magna Carta contains no right, as Sir Edward Coke, the great authority on English Law, perceived as early as the beginning of the seventeenth century.†(Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, I, 1, p.127) On the other hand, American declarations consist of percepts which are placed on a top then the common policymaker. In the individual states as well as in Unions, there are parted appendages for regular and for legitimate legislation, and the judge observes the performance of the legal boundaries by the common legislative authorities. If according to his conclusion a law disobeyed on the primary rights, he must stop its enforcement. The assertion of rights even at present day is inferred by the American as realistic defense of the minority. (Cooley, Constitutional Limitations, 1890, Ch. VII.) According to Jellinek â€Å"American declarations are not laws of higher kind in name only, they are the creations of high lawmakers.† As in Europe, the establishments lay reserved complexity in the way of altering their conditions, but about all over it is the lawmaker itself who makes a decision upon the amendment. The American bills of rights do not dispute about setting firm ethics for the states organization, but first of all they try to draw border line between state and individual. They think that individual is not the mainframe of rights in the course of the state, but by his own nature he has incontrovertible and undeniable rights. The English do not take it seriously. They do not care to be familiar with an everlasting, natural light, but one hereditary from their forefathers, â€Å"the old, undoubted rights of the English people.†(1902, p.13) If we look upon right and liberties† we find them in seventeenth century English laws. Legislative body is always demanding simply the confirmation of the â€Å"laws and statues of this realm† that is, the strengthening of the existing relations between king and people. Even none of their document contains a single word about the new rights. Consequently there is no reference whatever to the important fundamental rights of religious liberty, of assembling, of liberty of the press, or of free movement. Blackstone (1765) is considered as the first doctrine of the absolute rights of persons upon â€Å"the idea of the personal rights of the individual. Security, liberty and property are the absolute rights of every Englishman, which from their character are nothing else than the natural liberty that remains to the individual after deducting the legal restraints demanded by the common interest.† (Loc. cit., p. 125 (113). Furthermore, the American declaration of rights, initiate with the proclamation that all men are born free and equal, and these statements articulate of rights that fit in to â€Å"every individual†, â€Å"all mankind â€Å"or â€Å"every member society†. They count on a much bigger figure of rights than the English declarations, and seem to be taking these rights as inborn and undeniable. (Jellinek, 1901, p. 14) One of the most dominant political philosophers of the present period is John Locke (1632-1704). He fortified the statement in Two Treaties of Government that human beings are by nature liberal and equivalent in opposition to statements that God had completed all men naturally refer to a sovereign. He stated that men comprise rights, such as freedom, right to life and possessions that covers groundwork, free of the laws of any scrupulous civilization. He made use of the argument that people are naturally liberated and the same as piece of the explanation for considering lawful political control as the effect of a societal bond where populace in the condition of nature provisionally convey some of their rights to the commanding authority in order to improved indemnify the constant, contented enjoyment of their lives, freedom, and assets. (Alex, 2005, online) Lockes views on property shows that natural right to property can be derived from the natural right to ones life and labour, is usually read as if it were simply the sustaining argument for the bare contention offered at the beginning of treaties that every man had a natural right to property â€Å"within the bounds of the law of Nature†. According to him there are two claims, the men have right to preserve their right, and that a mans labour is his own, Locke defended individual misuse of the generation of the earth which was originally given to mankind in common. Locke highlighted that, Money, is a commodity which has a value because it can enter in to exchange with other commodities. But its rationale is not merely to make possible the exchange of things created for consumption, that is, to enlarge, beyond the scale of trade, exchange between producers of goods planned for utilization. The attribute basis of money is to serve as capital. Locke has vindicated the purposely c apitalist misuse of land and money. And it is to be noticed that he has justified this as natural right, as a right in the state of nature. Therefore there are two levels of consonant in Lockes theory. One is the consonant between free, equal, rational men in the state of nature, to put a value on money, which Locke treats as accompanied by conventional recognition of the obligation of marketable agreements. (Macpherson, Ch. 5, 1962) Locke begins conventionally with a state of nature, and from ‘the law of nature which governs this state. But the content of this law does not seem reductivist at all. The state of nature that ‘all men are naturally in†, is not a social condition but a historical situation. It is that state in which men are set by God. The state of nature is a topic for theological indication, not for anthropological research. The theological environment functions rather as an interpretive proverb, it does not just lessen to a set of based on fact claims. Locke argues to be taking into consideration the human condition at large in terms of reason but what he recognizes in it is what he already knows (from Christian revelation) to be there.(John Dunn, Ch, 9. 1969) Dozinas argues â€Å"Desire is always moved by evil, to fly it† and the highest evil is death. The purpose of desire and fear overlaps. Nature built the desire of what it fears most. Nature, including human nature , which declared as the gauge of all things, ends up being just matter, to be proscribed, oppressed and shaped either by the self fashioning human being or by the all influential autonomy. According to him the rights of man, like all rights, are not natural or unchallengeable but historical formations of state and law. Their appearance and dialectal process is quite multifaceted: while the partition between state and society was the product of economic changes in society, the state turned the situations of survival of capitalism, which brought in to life, in to lawfully acknowledged rights and sanctified them as natural and eternal. Human rights are for that reason real and valuable but they attain much more and different from what is visible. (Douzinas, 2000) Conclusion I will say that the every individual had rights and its reality must be accepted undisputedly whereas there are some clarifications which should be needed in that account. The speech of human rights is implicated and operated by several peoples in extremely assorted conditions. Human rights have a lengthy historical legacy. The major philosophical basis of human rights is a standard in the continuation of a type of integrity applicable for all human beings, universally. To understand human rights understanding is just not needed but there should be some sensibility. The delightful conclusion of a human race can be only be obtained from ‘love for the joy of human beings. The modern principle of human rights has move towards to take up midpoint of geopolitical dealings. I would also mention criticism from Marx. His ideology is measured as an unsophisticated and brutal discharge of human rights and their ambitions. Marx was critical too of the rights of the citizens. But this was not because the rights are false and unfair, but because they cannot distribute what they promise within the boundaries of bourgeois society. Rights are confined but can only be criticized and forwarded from the point of view of an unrealized and unrealizable universal. Rights function as serious function only against a future perspective, that of the (impossible) ideal of an unbounded and self comprising humanity. (Douzinas, 2000) Human rights have turned out to be essential to the current indulgent of how human beings should be taking care of, by one another, locally and internationally political organizations. Human rights are finest reflection of as possible ethical agreement for each individual to direct a simply fine life. Philosophical source of human rights has been issued to regular criticism. Although, various features of the consequent discussion among philosophical followers and challengers of human rights stay unsettled and, possibly, not solvable, the all-purpose side for human rights stays honorably dominant. Debatably, main convincing inspiration for the survival of human may respite upon the implementation of thoughts. Refernces Douzinas, C. (2000 [reprint 2007]): The End of Human Rights: Critical Legal Thought at the Turn of the Century, Oxford: Hart Publishing. Macpherson, C. B. (1962): The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jellinek, G. (2007 [1895]): The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, Montana: Kessinger Publishing. 25-page electronic version in pdf format available at http://oll.libertyfund.org blackboard. Kant, I. (1996 [1797]): The Metaphysics of Morals, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Scruton, R. (1982): Kant, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hegel, G.W.F. (2005): Philosophy of Right, trans. by S.W.Dyde, Dover Publications Inc: Dover Ed edition. Aristotle, (1998): The Nicomachean Ethics, trans. by William David Ross, David Ross, J. O. Urmson, Oxford World Classics: Oxford University Press. Herman, B. (1993): The practice of moral judgment, Harvard: Harvard University Press. Lauren, G. P. (2003): The evolution of international human rights: visions seen, University of Pennsylvania Press. Strickland, M. (2005): ‘Enforcers of Magna Carta (act. 1215–1216), Oxford Dictionary of National, Biography, online edn, Oxford University Press. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/93691] Cf. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, I, 1, p. 127. (Edited by Kerr, London, 1887, I, p. 115.) Cooley, Constitutional Limitations, 6th edition, Boston, 1890, Chap. VI Dunn, J. (1982): The political thought of John Locke: an historical account of the argument of the Two treatises of government, Cambridge University Press. Fagan, A. (2005): Human Rights: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, University of Essex.

Terrorism: An External Shock of a Globalized Society Essay -- Globaliz

Terrorism: An External Shock of a Globalized Society For many, living in a globalized world has generated many benefits and welfare gains to their society, yet now it may be in jeopardy. Globalization is that phenomena where the world appears to be coming closer in terms of communication, services, trade, and culture. Examples of this includes the lowering of transaction costs in all these fields including the lowering of barriers to trade, reduced communication costs, (to an extent) the freer movement of people, and easier access to other countries' information. In economics, there has been a freer movement of goods, services, finance, and production between nation-states. In Europe, though on a regional scale, foreign and domestic policies are being harmonized among the member states. Thus it appears that the world has indeed been coming closer. However the events dealing with the World Trade Center have made many question whether globalization has stopped or is now in decline. Many have tried to even comprehend and question the caus es and motives of terrorism and its multiplier impacts that these terrorist acts have created. In light of this, is globalization viewed more at a discount? Many have been pessimistic, however, the events of September 11 and following may perhaps be a test to the world facing a common enemy and even make them become aware in looking at themselves as a citizen of the world, thus facilitating the increase of globalization. To begin, look at globalization mainly in light of its benefits and costs. Focusing at this idea more narrowed in terms of economics, the benefits include realizing the effects by practicing the theories of comparative advantage, and allowing greater efficiencies that produc... ...he New York terrorist attacks. It will be a long-term commitment as terrorism is complex in itself, yet humanity has progressed so far not to revert and steer into the opposite direction. Globalization pre-September 11 was never actually global, yet the world after this event may hope to aim in that direction. Works Cited Burns, Danny., and Robin Hambelton, Paul Hoggett. The Politics of Decentralization: Revitalizing Local Democracy. London: Macmillan, 1994. "Is it at risk? -Globalization." The Economist 2 Feb. 2002:65-66. "Pearl Warns That Globalization Facilitates Criminal Activities." US Department of State, International Information Programs: Washington File 13 Dec. 2000. < http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/00121300.htm > (27 Feb. 2002) "The Economy: 10 indicators." CNN Money. <http://money.cnn.com/news/economy/> (26 Mar. 2002)

Black Friday Descriptive Essay

There are experiences in life that create an everlasting impact on our character. Seeing first hand what kind of intestinal fortitude one possesses can be both rewarding and humbling. Black Friday is the 1st day used by Special Forces Assessment and Selection to test the individuals who volunteer to serve in the elite Army Special Forces Green Berets. Just as many people before me pushed themselves to the absolute limit; I was about to experience my own test of will. Camp Mackall airfield is located a mile or so from the main training area.The airfield is surrounded on all sides by the thickest pine forest, one that you would think wasn't by accident. The thick summer humidity sucked the oxygen from the air. Amazingly the dew and fog never quite leave the airfield, as if to create a more somber atmosphere. The landing strip itself looks dilapidated and left more as a reminder of a different time. WWII era trucks, rusted and worn, are locked behind a fence as a constant reminder of th e pain that will come week three. The smell is almost pleasant, like a candle, creating a false sense of comfort that will soon be shattered.The trainig begins before dawn, the time wasn't known since watches weren't allowed. The rustling of 400 eager souls, ready for the pain we all knew was coming, filled the air. Loud bullhorns and exploding ordnance coming from every direction drowned out all attempts to organize the mass of candidates. The jog to the airfield was slow but purposeful, and didn't take very long. Once gathered on the airfield some final instructions were given, groups were made and dispersed evenly throughout the field.Like gathering for a little game, Green Berets from all over Fort Bragg position themselves with fold out chairs awaiting the excitement of other peoples torment. Some even have food, which adds to the misery of not having normal food for seven days. A local fire truck comes screaming by horns blazing and lights flashing, and parks just to the right of the mass of candidates. I find myself, rifle in hand, closest to the fire truck wondering what is next. The fun begins with an instructor briefly explaining the first â€Å"exercise.†The simple task soon felt like a mountain that never seemed to stop rising. Shortly after I hit the dirt, face first the fire truck begins to point the high pressure hose at me forcing me to either endure the sting or move faster. I crawl for what seemed like forever until I heard a horn signaling this station was done, for now. I stand up and move to the next station, simple rifle exercise was the task. With the rifle only weighing five pounds the movement seemed easy; lift over the head, then down to the midsection, then back up again.By the hundredth repetition the rifle might as well have weighed a hundred pounds. Next was logs, four hundred pound logs smooth and smelling of past candidates sweat. The task was to lift the log up, as a team, and then lower to the opposite shoulder. This is the first event that tested everyone’s determination and reason for attending the course, sadly candidates began to quit. The weight of the log, and frustration with fellow candidates, contributed to grown men saying they couldn't take it.The beautiful pine forest backdrop was replaced with bright simulated machine gun fire, exploding ordnance and instructors gawking at every sign of weakness. It was somewhere between burpee long jumps and kettle bell swings that I caught a glimpse of a sight that I can still picture today. The fire hose was spraying into the air creating a mist, the muzzle flashes from the machine guns flashed brightly. The three hundred candidates continued moving with such vigor reminding me of why I was there,which gave me the boost I needed to endure several more hours of pure pain.The jog home was quiet and quick, grown men eager for good meals ready to eat (MREs). The pure joy of being pushed to the point of total discomfort and breaking thru a mental barrier radiated from every man there. As abruptly as it began the day simply just ended. Nothing else about Balck Friday is special except the good ole fashioned gut check. The pain, distractions and ridicule were meant to weed out the weak and retain the strong. Realizing this made me appreciate making it thru and now possessing the tools needed to overcome life’s obstacles. Black Friday Descriptive Essay There are experiences in life that create an everlasting impact on our character. Seeing first hand what kind of intestinal fortitude one possesses can be both rewarding and humbling. Black Friday is the 1st day used by Special Forces Assessment and Selection to test the individuals who volunteer to serve in the elite Army Special Forces Green Berets. Just as many people before me pushed themselves to the absolute limit; I was about to experience my own test of will. Camp Mackall airfield is located a mile or so from the main training area.The airfield is surrounded on all sides by the thickest pine forest, one that you would think wasn't by accident. The thick summer humidity sucked the oxygen from the air. Amazingly the dew and fog never quite leave the airfield, as if to create a more somber atmosphere. The landing strip itself looks dilapidated and left more as a reminder of a different time. WWII era trucks, rusted and worn, are locked behind a fence as a constant reminder of th e pain that will come week three. The smell is almost pleasant, like a candle, creating a false sense of comfort that will soon be shattered.The trainig begins before dawn, the time wasn't known since watches weren't allowed. The rustling of 400 eager souls, ready for the pain we all knew was coming, filled the air. Loud bullhorns and exploding ordnance coming from every direction drowned out all attempts to organize the mass of candidates. The jog to the airfield was slow but purposeful, and didn't take very long. Once gathered on the airfield some final instructions were given, groups were made and dispersed evenly throughout the field.Like gathering for a little game, Green Berets from all over Fort Bragg position themselves with fold out chairs awaiting the excitement of other peoples torment. Some even have food, which adds to the misery of not having normal food for seven days. A local fire truck comes screaming by horns blazing and lights flashing, and parks just to the right of the mass of candidates. I find myself, rifle in hand, closest to the fire truck wondering what is next. The fun begins with an instructor briefly explaining the first â€Å"exercise.†The simple task soon felt like a mountain that never seemed to stop rising. Shortly after I hit the dirt, face first the fire truck begins to point the high pressure hose at me forcing me to either endure the sting or move faster. I crawl for what seemed like forever until I heard a horn signaling this station was done, for now. I stand up and move to the next station, simple rifle exercise was the task. With the rifle only weighing five pounds the movement seemed easy; lift over the head, then down to the midsection, then back up again.By the hundredth repetition the rifle might as well have weighed a hundred pounds. Next was logs, four hundred pound logs smooth and smelling of past candidates sweat. The task was to lift the log up, as a team, and then lower to the opposite shoulder. This is the first event that tested everyone’s determination and reason for attending the course, sadly candidates began to quit. The weight of the log, and frustration with fellow candidates, contributed to grown men saying they couldn't take it.The beautiful pine forest backdrop was replaced with bright simulated machine gun fire, exploding ordnance and instructors gawking at every sign of weakness. It was somewhere between burpee long jumps and kettle bell swings that I caught a glimpse of a sight that I can still picture today. The fire hose was spraying into the air creating a mist, the muzzle flashes from the machine guns flashed brightly. The three hundred candidates continued moving with such vigor reminding me of why I was there,which gave me the boost I needed to endure several more hours of pure pain.The jog home was quiet and quick, grown men eager for good meals ready to eat (MREs). The pure joy of being pushed to the point of total discomfort and breaking thru a mental barrier radiated from every man there. As abruptly as it began the day simply just ended. Nothing else about Balck Friday is special except the good ole fashioned gut check. The pain, distractions and ridicule were meant to weed out the weak and retain the strong. Realizing this made me appreciate making it thru and now possessing the tools needed to overcome life’s obstacles.

Free Essays on The Road To Wigan Pier

In The Road To Wigan Pier, Orwell has described the lives of the coal miners in the 1930’s. In reading another assigned book, Hiroshima by John Hershey, a much greater compassion for the people of Hiroshima immerged in the reader. Both books communicate the lives and conditions the people of these two towns were subjected to and how they survived their surroundings. Orwell’s The Road to Wigan Pier is full of facts and accounts but nothing compared to the feelings brought forth in the visual image story telling style of Hershey’s Hiroshima. Orwell is very factual in his account of the conditions and lives of the coal mining community and its people while Hershey tells of the lives, the pain and the desensitizing of an entire town when the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Orwell discusses the wages, living conditions, working conditions and how they survived on the food that they could afford. He seems very unattached to his entire surroundings and is only writing the facts as he sees them. As any person reading this book, feelings of sadness can arise for the people of Wigan Pier as well as any other coal mining town. In Hershey’s book he paints a picture of the people of Hiroshima who were left with nothing and wandered the town passing people they could not help and knew would die. This line of story telling draws the attention of the reader and makes a point at the same time. The points made in both books are the same, despair and helplessness but also of pride. The coal miners in Orwell’s book are in a helpless situation, the same as the people of Hiroshima. Pride was the source of strength in both books that seemed to be overlooked by Orwell in his depiction of the times and lives of the people. Orwell was much more passionate in the second part of his book discussing Socialism and Fascism, then he was for the people of Wigan Pier. Hershey’s vivid characterization brought a human face to the destruction caused... Free Essays on The Road To Wigan Pier Free Essays on The Road To Wigan Pier In The Road To Wigan Pier, Orwell has described the lives of the coal miners in the 1930’s. In reading another assigned book, Hiroshima by John Hershey, a much greater compassion for the people of Hiroshima immerged in the reader. Both books communicate the lives and conditions the people of these two towns were subjected to and how they survived their surroundings. Orwell’s The Road to Wigan Pier is full of facts and accounts but nothing compared to the feelings brought forth in the visual image story telling style of Hershey’s Hiroshima. Orwell is very factual in his account of the conditions and lives of the coal mining community and its people while Hershey tells of the lives, the pain and the desensitizing of an entire town when the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Orwell discusses the wages, living conditions, working conditions and how they survived on the food that they could afford. He seems very unattached to his entire surroundings and is only writing the facts as he sees them. As any person reading this book, feelings of sadness can arise for the people of Wigan Pier as well as any other coal mining town. In Hershey’s book he paints a picture of the people of Hiroshima who were left with nothing and wandered the town passing people they could not help and knew would die. This line of story telling draws the attention of the reader and makes a point at the same time. The points made in both books are the same, despair and helplessness but also of pride. The coal miners in Orwell’s book are in a helpless situation, the same as the people of Hiroshima. Pride was the source of strength in both books that seemed to be overlooked by Orwell in his depiction of the times and lives of the people. Orwell was much more passionate in the second part of his book discussing Socialism and Fascism, then he was for the people of Wigan Pier. Hershey’s vivid characterization brought a human face to the destruction caused...

Artifical Intelligence Essays - Computational Neuroscience

Artifical Intelligence Essays - Computational Neuroscience Artifical Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence is a highly debatable topic. You either believe that it may be achieved or think it can't, and the middle is a little shady. Artificial Intelligence is the study to create a machine that can act like a human brain, including emotions, and consciousness. This speech will cover the subject of if it can ever be achieved and at what level. This would be a giant technological step. If it is ever achieved, everyday activities such as vacuuming, or laundry, would become automated. The leader in the field of AI is actually not a business, but MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. It does more ground breaking research in the all fields of AI, including robotics and neural networks, than any other facility in the world. First I will describe the different techniques and fields that fall under AI. The first technique that is used to create intelligent systems is the top-down approach. That is when the computer is given a written set of directions such as IF that is red, THEN go forward and it will go from there according to the program. This technique was widely used back in the 1950's when AI was still a mysterious subject, but it has major flaws. To write complex programs that take in all their surroundings would take hundreds of thousands of lines of code, which no one has the time to write. The newest technique that is being used is bottom-up. That is the arrangement of data into a complex system where all information is connected, like a brain, which is why it is also referred to as a neural network. It is extremely complex and confusing at some points, so I won't describe it here, but you don't need to understand it to answer the question at hand. There are also many different fields of study that fall under AI. The first field that I'll talk about is robotics. This field has been prospering in the '90's. It is not so much the engineering for the robots that is causing the standstill in functionality of these machines, but the computers that control what they do, which is the problem with all forms of AI right now. There is also database processing, which works with the way that a computer sorts and retrieves information. And intelligent software agents that can tell you when to buy and sell stock among many other things. But, what this speech mainly focuses on is the theory behind all this, which has its own field. There are four categories of viewpoints that one may have on this topic. A. All thinking is computation; in particular, feelings of conscious awareness are evoked merely by the carrying out of appropriate computations. B. Awareness is a feature of the brain's physical action; and whereas any physical action can be simulated computationally, computational simulation cannot by itself evoke awareness. C. Appropriate physical action of the brain evokes awareness, but that physical action cannot even be properly simulated computationally. D. Awareness cannot be explained by physical, computational, or any other scientific terms. Penrose 12 All that says is that it all depends if the brain functions computationally or physically (chemical reactions) and whether or not you believe that either of those can be simulated by a machine or biological creation of some kind. We will be dealing with viewpoint A and D. If you believe in viewpoint A than you believe that computers can become aware of their surroundings. The word aware means that it can take in its whole surroundings and make judgments and actions for itself, which a giant leap from where AI is at now. It really depends on how you view how the brain functions. Research is being done by neurobiologists to unlock the secret of how the brain works. It could function by computation or chemical reactions, no one is really sure. If you think that it is all done computationally, and that humans can simulate it in a machine of some sort than you believe in A. A is an implication of a highly operational attitude to science, where, also, the physical world is taken to operate entirely computational. Penrose 13. There has been no evidence that supports or denies this viewpoint because the secret of how the brain works has not been solved, yet. The viewpoint D, on the other hand totally rejects the whole idea that computers, or any machine can achieve any form of intelligence that may be mistaken for human action. The main reason for believers in this category is from the work of a German mathematician named Kurt Goedel. He was

Apply The Prescribed Ethical Decimation Making Model (P.30 ) Using The Essay

Apply The Prescribed Ethical Decimation Making Model (P.30 ) Using The case California Parks Department Scandal - Essay Example In his model, Cooper further explains the consequences of the individual decisions and alternatives. In fact, Cooper is very clear that the consequences are in four broad categories, that is, Moral Rule, Ethical Principle, Rehearsal of Defenses, and Anticipatory Self-Appraisal (Cooper, 2012). These are the virtues that an individual holds, in most cases they are propelled by religious convictions, evolution of the conscience, and the fear of being caught and being exposed. Lopez was faced with an ethical problem whose first alternative would have had a moral rule that he had a criminal record in the past and he in that he participated in hiding the parks funds. In whatever way the Lopez would try to justify his deeds, the moral judgment in either case would be that he be fired and prosecuted for having a hand in mismanaging public money. It was apparent that Lopez even had a share of the funds for himself. Ethical principles by far falls under the category of the outlined codes of conducts in this case those of a public officer. In fact, these codes are extensively spelt out in the constitution, which public officers must obey or else be prosecuted. It is expected that any public officer is conversant with these laid down guidelines. As such, Lopez acted contrary to the ethical codes he is expected to safeguard and uphold. Consequently, being delegated for such an office is an honor and the public officer is expected to serve the public’s interest first rather than act on personal gains. Lopez, has the alternatives named earlier, however, whatever alternative he chooses will lead to on ethical principle consequence; be fired from holding any public office and be prosecuted for acting centrally to the ethical codes knowingly. In this element the administrators is expected to asses and align the alternatives they have and this should be guided by the norms of the organization as well as the involved political forces. The results of cases that are

Dissertation- The Importance of human resources development for Dissertation

- The Importance of human resources development for competitiveness in organization - Dissertation Example Date: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Statement 2 This dissertation is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by citations giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Date: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Statement 3 I hereby give consent for my dissertation, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for interlibrary loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organizations. Signed: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Date: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ [Please check with university requirements for this section] D e d i c a t i o n [Please fill as required] A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s [Please fill as required] Thank you!!! Contents D e d i c a t i o n 2 A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s 3 Contents 4 List of Figures 7 List of Tables 8 A b s t r a c t 9 Chapter 1 10 Introduction 10 1.1 Overview 10 1.2 Aim of the Study 11 1.3 Objectives of the Study 11 1.3 Methodology Overview 12 1.4 Overview of Chapters 12 1.5 Summary 13 Chapter 2 14 Literature Review 14 2.1 Introduction 14 2.2 Chosen Company 14 2.3 Learning Organisation 15 2.4 Training vs. Development 17 2.5 Position of Training and Development in HR 18 2.5.1 Importance and Benefits: 21 2.5.2 Impact on Employee Performance 25 2.5.3 Impact on Intellectual Capital 28 2.6 Training and Development and Competitiveness 29 2.7 Summary 32 Chapter 3 33 Research Methodology 33 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 Achievability of Objectives 33 3.2.1 Objectives Description 34 3.3 Research Design 34 3.4 Theoretical Framework 37 3.4.1 Research Methods: 38 3.4.2 Chosen Method: 39 3.4.3 Research Validity and Reliability: 40 3.5 Limitations of the Research: 40 3.6 Summary 41 Chapter 4 42 Resea rch Findings and Analysis 42 4.1 Introduction 42 4.2 Response Rate 42 4.3 Demographic Information 43 4.3.1 Gender Distribution 43 4.3.2 Age Distribution 44 4.3.3 Level of Education 44 4.3.4 Work Experience 45 4.4 Useful Information 46 4.4.1 Working for Team 46 4.4.2 Number of Trainings 48 4.4.3 Official Trainings 48 4.4.4 Compulsion on Training 49 4.4.5 Certificate Courses 50 4.5Training and Development 51 4.6 Training and Competitiveness 59 4.7 Analysis of Findings 64 4.8 Summary 66 C h a p t e r 5 67 Conclusions 67 5.1 Introduction 67 5.2 Research Conclusions and Recommendations 67 5.3 Further Research Recommendations 71 Bibliography 72 List of Figures Figure 1 Five Disciplines of Learning Organisations 16 Figure 2: Research Design 36 Figure 3: Gender Distribution 43 Figure 4: Age Distribution 44 Figure 5Level of Education 45 Figure 6 Work Experience 46 Figure 7 Current Team 47 Figure 8 Number of Trainings 48 Figure 9 Office Trainings 49 Figure 10 Training Compulsory 50 Figure 11N umber of Certificate Courses 50 Figure 12 Trainings and Jobs 52 Figure 13 Training and Practical Work 53 Figure 14 Training Programs and Companies 54 Figure 15 Training and Development Programs and Performance 55 Figure 16 Work Speed and T&D Programs 56 Figure 17 T&D and Satisfaction 57 Figure 18 T&D and Performance 58 Figure 19 T&D and Specialists 60 Figure 20 T&D and Employee Needs 60 Figure 21 T&D and Company Competitiveness 62 Figure 22 T&D and Motivation 63 Figure 23 T&D and My Performance 64 List of