Just-in-Time Production and Total Quality Management

JUST-IN-TIME Production and TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT Introduction In today’s competitive world shorter product life cycles, customers rapid demands and quickly changing business environment is putting lot of pressures on manufacturers for quicker response and shorter cycle times. Now the manufacturers put pressures on their suppliers. One way to ensure quick turnaround is by holding inventory, but inventory costs can easily become prohibitive. A wiser approach is to make your production agile, able to adapt to changing customer demands. This can only be done by JUST IN TIME (JIT) philosophy. JIT is both a philosophy and collection of management methods and techniques used to eliminate waste (particularly inventory). Waste results from†¦show more content†¦They followed the concept of â€Å"dock to factory floor† in which incoming materials are not even stored or warehoused before going into production. This paragraph also shows the need for an effective freight management system (FMS) and Ford’s Today and Tomorrow (1926) describes one. The technique was subsequently adopted and publicised by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan as part of its Toyota Production System (TPS). Japanese corporations could afford large amounts of land to warehouse finished products and parts. Before the 1950s, this was thought to be a disadvantage because it reduced the economic lot size. (An economic lot size is the number of identical products that should be produced, given the cost of changing the production process over to another product.) The undesirable result was poor return on investment for a factory. Also at that time, Japanese companies had a bad reputation as far as quality of manufacturing and car manufacturing in particular was concerned. One motivated reason for developing JIT and some other better production techniques was that after World War II, Japanese people had a very strong incentive to develop a good manufacturing technique which would help them rebuild their economy. They also had a strong working ethic which was concentrated on work rather than on leisure, and this kind of motivation was what drove Japanese economy to succeed. Therefore Japan’s wish to improve the quality of its production led to the worldwideShow MoreRelatedKey Term : Just For Time Productions Or Systems1198 Words   |  5 PagesKey Term: â€Å"Just-in-time productions or systems† Operational efficiency it s significant across all levels of manufacturing goods. Making a profit is the fundamental principle for any business to succeed. Reducing overhead cost and eliminating waste are key factors in driving down cost and maximizing profits. The challenge lies in the ability to reduce product costs while simultaneously adding value, maintaining quality, and ensuring adequate availability of the production system. The idea of manufacturingRead MoreTqm Toyota1189 Words   |  5 PagesTotal  quality  management  is â€Å"a  management  approach of an organization, centered on  quality, based on the participation of all of its members and aiming at long-term success through customer satisfaction, and benefits to all members of the organization and too society† (Wikipedia). This is the definition of  total  quality  management  as given by the International Standards Organization, and while the definition provides a vague notion of what  t otal  quality  management  is, it fails to provide any realRead MoreToyota s Theory Of Total Quality Management1500 Words   |  6 Pagesmanufacturers, Toyota has always had a reputation for high quality automobiles at very competitive prices. Toyota’s approach to production is a ‘lean manufacturing system’ or a â€Å"Just-in-Time (JIT) system, which aims at producing vehicles in the fastest and most efficient way possible, in order to deliver vehicles in the fastest possible time. Despite having a very effective production system in place, in 2009 Toyota experienced a crisis in the quality of their cars, which in result caused them to recallRead MoreOperations Management : The Administration Of Business Practices1267 Words   |  6 PagesOperations Management Operations management indicates to the administration of business practices to make the most elevated amount of productivity conceivable inside an association. Operations management is concerned with changing over materials and labour into produce and services as productively as possible to amplify the profit of an organisation. Operations management groups plan the technique for change of inputs (materials, work, exclusive data, etc.) into outputs (merchandise, administrationsRead MoreIntroduction And Problem Identification Of Toyota1601 Words   |  7 Pages MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS 1101IBA Liza Armia S5014132 â€Æ' Contents Introduction and Problem identification 2 Literature Themes or Arguments 3 Recommendations and Conclusion 5 References 6 â€Æ' Introduction and Problem identification Toyota became the world’s leading carmaker when it successfully surpassed general motors in sales and production. However since 2009, Toyota has been experiencing difficulties with their production which caused the company too recall approximately 9 million vehicles globallyRead MoreQuestions On Managerial Accounting : Module 31629 Words   |  7 Pagesmanufacturing overhead $81000 By end of January manufacturing overhead cost has been under allocated by $6000 Exercise S4-19, page 209: Quality Initiative Decision 1. Based on the explanation on page 201 below are the details of each cost and respective category: a. Prevention costs: i. Negotiating with and training suppliers to obtain higher-quality material and on-time delivery. ii. Redesigning the speakers to make them easier to manufacture b. Appraisal costs: i. Additional 20 minutes of testingRead MoreEssay about Khalideoq823 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿As the production manager, you need to minimize both ordering and inventory costs. You need to provide a recommendation of the optimal order quantity of raw materials to your plant manager. Your objective is to determine the economic order quantity (EOQ). If the annual demand for Ultamyacin at Smitheford is 400,000 units, then the annual carrying cost rate is 15% of the cost of the unit. The product costs $48/unit to purchase, and the product ordering cost is $28.00. Given: Demand or Annual inventoryRead MorePer Satterlee, Chapter Eight Of Organization Management1338 Words   |  6 Pageschapter eight of Organization Management and Leadership, is about operations management, which is how products or services are provided in the most efficient and effective way. â€Å"Operations management is the implementation of all the functions of management,† (Satterlee, p. 224). This includes where infrastructure may be built, where supplies and materials are obtained, production is scheduled, inventory is managed, and equipment is maintained. Project management takes a leading role within operationsRead MoreQuestions on Operations Management1661 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Chapter 1: Introduction to Operations Management Overview This chapter provides a definition of operations management. The role and importance of operations in an organization are described, along with operations decisions that are made. The differences between manufacturing and services are described. The history and current trends of operations management are discussed, including the impact of information systems. Finally, the interaction between operations and other business functionsRead MoreTotal Quality Management At Kiichiro Toyoda900 Words   |  4 Pages The main pillars in the model resemble the total quality control or total quality management of the company that can best be summarized in this pyramid illustration. Total quality management means that everyone is involved in continuously refining the service to customers with data and profound knowledge. Kiichiro Toyoda made customers a huge priority in his theory. The base of the pyramid consisted of the costs of gaining quality, processing services, testing, tools, and prevention. The second

Should Juveniles Be Charged As Adults - 956 Words

Should Juveniles Be Charged As Adults? Juveniles are being charged as adults more regularly, being housed in adult prisons and the judicial system is using this as a type of reform. There are multiple reasons that this type of reform has become more acceptable and why some believe it depends on the charge to whether the child committing the crime should be charged as an adult, as well as why housing minors whom charged as adults should not be housed in adult facilities. Most agree that minors who commit murder should be charged as adults and others believe that it depends on the charge itself. Society should be for juveniles being sentenced at adults because they know the difference between right and wrong, use being children to commit crimes, and are more likely to reform. Society should be against juveniles being housed in adult prisons because they are more likely to become more psychologically troubled and are less likely to reform. There is no reason to argue the ethics of charg ing juveniles as adults. There are statistics that help prove this and professionals who state that once a child is psychologically capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong that there isn’t any reason to question whether they shall be tried as adults. I do not agree with housing minors in adult prison no matter what the crime is or how the charges are brought against the child. I feel as though the environment isShow MoreRelatedJuveniles Should Not Be Charged as Adults2080 Words   |  9 Pagessentencing George Stinney to death in the electric chair. At Stinneys execution six weeks later, the guards had difficulty strapping him to the electric chair (he was 5 1 and weighed just over 90 pounds). During the electrocution, the jolt shook the adult-sized mask from his head. On the sixtieth anniversary of his electrocution, one of the last surviving members of George Stinneys family as well as the only living sibling of Betty June Binnicker recalls the event ( â€Å"George Stinney Youngest Executed†Read MoreJuveniles Should Never Be Charged As Adults894 Words   |  4 PagesJuveniles should NEVER be charged as Adults The criminal court system is the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses. While the juvenile court system, is used to address and deal with youth, who are caught and/or convicted of crimes. The juvenile court system was established in the United States about two hundred years ago, with the first court appearing in IllinoisRead MoreJuvenile Offenders Are Not Charged With Crimes968 Words   |  4 Pages Juvenile offenders are not charged with crimes; they are charged with delinquent acts. To determine whether or not a juvenile should be charged as an adult would be dependent upon what the juvenile was charged with (NCJRS Abstract- National Criminal Justice Reference Service,† n.d.). Juveniles who commit violent offenses to the extent that it labels the juvenile themselves as violent, should be charged as an adult. These types of offenses would include rape, murder, or any aggravated crimesRead MoreThe Main Aim Of Eradicating Criminal From The Society1439 Words   |  6 PagesJuvenile Crimes The main aim of eradicating criminal from the society is to enhance peaceful coexistence among people and to aid development. In this regard, individuals who fail to fit in this setting should be eradicated regardless of their age and made responsible for their actions. Releasing murderers, rapists, and other criminals from jail after serving a lenient and short sentence does not rehabilitate them in any way. In this regard, all those who are engaged in criminal activities that riskRead MoreJuveniles And The Criminal Justice System1594 Words   |  7 Pages Juveniles and the Criminal Justice System There is much debate over whether or not juveniles should ever be tried as adults. Juveniles are defined as children under the age of 18. In the past, juveniles have been tried in a separate juvenile court because of their age. However, trying juveniles as adults for violent crimes is a trend that is on the rise. Age is supposed to be a deterrent for placing those under 18 on trial and giving them stiffer punishments that are often reserved for adults. ManyRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Is The Highest Rate For Juvenile Crime1733 Words   |  7 PagesThe way the courts deal with juvenile delinquents varies depending on the country. Even the age of criminal responsibility is different depending on the country. Most people think when you become 18 you are no longer a minor and can be charged as an adult, well in Japan until you are 20 you can still be charged as a minor. In germany they consider 21 a legal adult .On the other hand when you become 17 in Australia you are charged as an ad ult. They way they treat juveniles in prison also differs. TheRead MoreWhen A Child Is Considered An Adult As Far As Criminal Charges Are Concerned?1015 Words   |  4 PagesJuvenile Justice The assignment being completed within this report asked the author of the report a number of related questions that all pertain to the juvenile justice system. The first question is when a child is considered an adult as far as criminal charges are concerned. The second question asks whether it is consistent throughout all of the different and interconnected justice systems and frameworks in the United States. The last questions asks whether the escalation to an adult punish forRead MoreJuvenile Courts Essay1689 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile Courts in United States Persons aged below 18 years are regarded as underage and when they break the law they are not charged in the adult courts. They are charged in the young offender courts which are also called Juvenile courts. For an offender to be eligible for juvenile court, he or she must be under the state’s laws categorized as a juvenile. The age of 18 years is the maximum age at which an offender can use juvenile courts. The applicable age in a few states is 16 or 17 years, whileRead MoreThe Juvenile Court : An Adult Offender991 Words   |  4 PagesThe Juvenile Court was established in 1899, under the Juvenile Court Act. The Act was established under three principles; children at a certain age are too young to be held accountable for their actions, they are not mentally competent, and they are more likely to be rehabilitated than an adult offender. However, in the past years juvenile are committing more violent crimes that suggest they should be tried in criminal courts rather than juven ile courts. It is my belief that if a child under theRead MoreEssay on Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults1503 Words   |  7 PagesHolden 5 Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults? Juveniles deserve to be tried the same as adults when they commit certain crimes. The justice systems of America are becoming completely unjust and easy to break through. Juvenile courts haven’t always been known to the everyday person. The Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1899 was the first juvenile court established in the United States (Locked Up†¦). The juvenile court was created to handle the offenders on the basis on their rather than their crime

School Uniform Free Essays

After a long termed research at the subject, whether students are satisfied with the fact that they have to wear a school uniform or not we have come to the conclusion that all the opinions at this subject are approximately divided into two halves. One half of the interviewed students was in favor of school uniforms wearing, the second half was against it. If you have received a task to write persuasive essay on school uniform, you can choose any of the above-mentioned options. We will write a custom essay sample on School Uniform or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus, we decided to provide in our article the theses, which you may use in both of the cases for your persuasive essay on school uniforms writing. Theses in favor of uniform wearing to mention in your persuasive essay on school uniform: †¢School uniform makes children treat the process of their study in a serious way, as school uniform disciplines students. As the person gets dressed each morning while going to work, students also put on their uniforms, this make them consider their study to be a responsible assignment. Mention this idea in your persuasive essay on school uniform. All the students are dressed in one and the same way that is why there are no any fights and bullying among the students because of the clothing matters. Extend on this idea while your persuasive essay on school uniform writing. †¢Wearing uniforms make children to be concentrated to their study instead of being concentrated at the subject what to wear in order to look better than the girl sitting next to. †¢School uniform is really cheap one if to compare it with all the other clothing. It is cheaper to buy the inform than to buy the clothing which should be changed almost each day. Theses against wearing uniform which you can mention in your persuasive essay on school uniform writing: †¢School is not a prison to wear one and the same uniform. †¢School uniform does not let students express themselves. †¢School uniform kills the individuality of children and makes them be just a part of faceless crowd. †¢School uniform does not fit everyone and makes some of the students to look ridicules. All the above-mentioned theses are just some ideas for your persuasive essay on school uniform writing, extend on these ideas, create your own ones while persuasive essay on school uniforms writing. Have a pleasant work. How to cite School Uniform, Papers School Uniform Free Essays string(90) " each other feel like they are accepted and part of a much bigger picture than just them\." School Uniforms Should Students in Public Schools Wear Uniforms? Abstract One of the most controversial issues in public school is the school uniforms. In 1996, the issue of school uniforms was bought to the forefront in President Clinton State of the Union address. People argue that uniforms can make schools safer and improve attendance and increase student’s achievement. We will write a custom essay sample on School Uniform or any similar topic only for you Order Now People opposing school uniforms argue that it has not been proven to work with discipline, attendance or the student’s achievement. The purpose of this research is to find out if school uniforms will work in all elementary public schools. Do the students and their parents want a change in their school district attempting to control many aspects, attendance, academic achievement, self-esteem, safety and violence? Interested in positive changes in the students success and achievement may want to consider school uniform policy in their school district. School Uniforms Uniforms in public elementary schools can have an impact on the students and on the school system. The students can focus more on their classes rather than social factors that students focus on when there is no school uniform and the dress code is not strict. There is no competition between peers to outdo each other when wearing uniforms. Some parents complain that uniforms are too costly for them, but uniforms are actually more affordable and there are fewer clothes to buy because everyone will be dressed in similar clothing. There are also ways to help low-income families with the cost. The school can set up funding for low income families to help pay for the uniforms for their children in the form of donations, clothing vouchers, and support from the business partners of the communities; this problem can be overcome. The thrift stores and uniform supply houses also reduce the cost for the clothing. These things combined can make it far less costly to purchase standard clothing than to meet the demand for designer clothing worn now. Many private schools have required uniforms for a number of years and now public schools are adopting the school uniform policy. With Long Beach, California being the first large urban school district to enforce uniforms to all students in Kindergarten through eighth grade in 1995. In 1999, New York City enforced uniforms in 70 percent of their schools. In 2000, Philadelphia enforced the uniforms district wide and 60 percent in Miami and 80 percent in Chicago (Konheim-Kalkstein, 2006). Since then school uniforms in public schools are becoming increasingly popular across the nation. Several other states have already implemented uniform policies in Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, Michigan, Florida, Utah, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, and District of Columbia. Many large public school systems including Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dayton, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Phoenix, Seattle and St. Louis have schools with either voluntary or mandatory uniform policies, mostly in elementary and middle schools (Brunsma, 2006). Advocates believe that the uniform policies have great benefits. They believe that it eliminates conflict over expensive items of clothing and has a business-like atmosphere to the school (Darden, p. 36). They also think that the uniforms will make schools safer, improve attendance, and a higher education achievement. By wearing uniforms in school they will be able to identify trespassers and setting a good example for the students who are serious about school work and their studies, and also discourages the activities of gang members and the tensions that result from wearing gang clothing attire (Boutelle, 2008). Opponents feel there is not enough evidence to support the relationship between the uniforms and discipline or uniforms and students achievement. According to Brunsma (2006, p. 85), he suggest that uniform policies may only serve as a band-aid in dealing with the problems of schools and may only provide policymakers a way to avoid making the decisions necessary to reform public education. Now the question is, â€Å"Would Delaware public elementary schools benefit greatly if this policy were adopted? † Resistance is always a factor when trying to make changes. Some par ents and students may not want the school uniforms for a variety of reasons. If the parents and students realize that uniforms will benefit them in the long run they may change their minds. There are many advantages to school uniforms, including academic advantages, social outcomes, behavioral issues, safety and cost of uniforms. Research is needed because elementary schools will benefit more if they had a school uniform policy enforced. Literature Review School uniforms have been the cause of many jokes and harassment to those who wore them. In the past, public schools considered uniforms old and out dated trends, though recently many public schools are starting to implement and enforce a uniform policy. The implementation of a school uniform policy is important if we are still striving to improve our students. The arguments against them are fading while the positive reasons for promoting school uniforms are gaining ground. Some of the possible benefits are safety, cost, uniformity and violence in academics instead of fashions. According to Boutelle (2008), school uniforms in today’s society â€Å"promote school safety and enhance the learning environment, and diminish the clothing completion† (p. 3). School uniforms unify a school and help the blending of the school cultures, instead of separating the students. Along with school uniforms there is a boost in academic performance. With the United States dropping behind other developed nation ranking in at number 18 of 24 (Boutelle, 2007), this is low for a nation that is spending a lot on education every year. Students are losing focus on school and are competing for what the newest fashion or gadget rather than focusing on school these days. With the addition of school uniforms in American society, students can focus more on their classes rather than social factors that students focus on when there is no school uniform and the dress code is not strict. With the addition of school uniforms in public schools students are bonding together helping each other feel like they are accepted and part of a much bigger picture than just them. You read "School Uniform" in category "Essay examples" Everyone wearing uniforms also makes it very easy to recognize people who are not supposed to be there or can make an intruder stand out in a crowd. The Department of Education gave out manuals to all of the nation’s 16,000 school districts with suggestions to make school uniforms mandatory and model programs that are in a few public schools (Brunsma, 119). Reasons for implementing uniforms included: reduce peer pressure, increase school pride, gear focus more to learning, assist in discipline problems, and create a more work-like atmosphere with less distractions and expense. Schools that have significant problems are mostly likely to have school uniforms. Having a good overlap of a zero-tolerance policies and school uniform policies do not need the security guards, metal detectors, sign-in policies, or the limited restroom time (Brunsma, p. 51). Many parents are faced with the dilemma of outfitting their children in the latest trends or putting money towards more important things like saving for their children’s college education. Some families are unable to afford the popular named brand clothing that their children desires, which make the children, feel inadequate in school when they are forced to wear lesser brand clothes. Granted, the cost may be a bit more substantial in the beginning, but the uniforms will last longer which means there is less out-of-pocket expense for replacement articles. With uniforms, the parents may only have to purchase two or three sets compared to several pairs of bottoms and tops. Uniforms are more durable and can be washed more frequently compared to regular clothes. This makes them the better option not only for lower income families, but all families in general. Parents claim that uniforms will cost the families more money in the long run because parents will be forced to buy the uniforms and regular clothing for their children to wear when they are not in school. The cost for parents may double that of just buying traditional school clothes. Although this is partly true that parents would be faced making additional purchases for their children, in reality, should still be spending less money. Since uniforms are more durable, the parents only need to buy a limited supply and since the children will only be wearing their regular clothes outside of school, parents will not have to buy as many outfits. Most children wear out their clothes while in school. Since this is not an issue with the uniforms because they are worn during school hours only the traditional street clothes will last longer, hence saving the parents money in the long run. Also without the constant competition in schools, children may not feel the need to have the latest brands and styles as they would if they were wearing the clothes to school on a daily basis around other social classes. There are some objections to having children wear uniforms in school. The most popular one is the price of the uniforms; sometimes they may cost a lot depending on the company from which they are purchased. If the school does not go through a certain company but just asks the parents to buy certain colored shirts and pants, with no form f a logo on them, this would help make the cost of the uniform a lot less. Also, if the parents financially could not afford to buy the uniforms, then the parents would have to show proof of this and file for help with school board, which could provide them with a small grant to be used on the uniforms. In California, parents from low-income families are entitled to financial help and are able to receive assistance in purchasing the u niforms (Konheim-Kalkstein, 2006). Lake Forest School District in Delaware does not supplement the cost of the uniforms to low income families but if a child is in need they do go case by case. The school nurse keeps uniforms on stock and the local church also supplies the uniforms (Ms. Lands). Today’s style of uniforms is more relaxed than what they were before. The boys would wear dark slacks, white shirts and a tie and the girls wore a traditional blazer, white blouse and a plaid skirt. Now they can wear khaki pants or blue jeans with a white T-shirt, denim shirt or skirts. The largest manufacture French Toast has more than 4,000 school uniform items (Anderson, 2004). On the FrenchToast. com website short sleeve dress shirts with collar for boys cost $9. 98, pants $16. 8 and for girls the blouses and skirts are $9. 98 and pants are $14. 98. If parents could get them on sale they would defiantly save money. French Toast has a â€Å"Dollar in Uniform† fundraising event going on right now if the parents order from their website than the school they select will get a five percent cash back. Not only do mandatory uniform policies for public schools offer the pot ential for higher educational benefits and improved student discipline, school uniforms dissolve social boundaries between classmates. Students are no longer judged based off their appearance but by who they are on the inside. There is no more competition between social classes that these students may have otherwise felt and they work together as a team and share a common pride. All students will feel a sense of belonging. No longer will lower income children be labeled as poor based on their clothing. All children will appear as equals in the classroom and will be treated as such (Viadero, 2005). School violence can be greatly reduced by the use of school uniforms. With kids unable to noticeably tell or distinguish which kids belong to what gangs in school if any at all. Also, with uniforms it’s much harder to tell which kids come are wealthy and which kids come from needy families. This can relieve kids of the stress that social economic status can bring. With uniforms children blend, which helps kids see who the actual person is rather then who or where they came from or what their culture is or background. Stepping into any public school with a normal dress code during lunch is evidence of the different groups in a school including different educational and social statuses. Some school gangs separate themselves by their clothes. At any moment there could be a confrontation between any of these groups and instantly a conflict has started or worse school violence could happen between people. When something happens everything is stopped until the situation gets resolved whether it’s broken up by the school cop, teachers, or resolved between the people it happened between. Some of this can be stopped, as Bill Clinton said in his 1996 State of Union Address â€Å"I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenager will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniform. In the first year of using school uniform Long Beach, California, the school officials found that suspensions dropped by 28 percent; assault and battery decreased 34 percent fighting decreased 56 percent; sex offenses decreased 74 percent; vandalism decreased 18 percent and school crime decreased 86 percent (Brunsma, p. 36). With less violence in the school, more students want to come to school. Therefore more students would be more interested in going to school (Konheim-Kalkstein, 2006). RESULTS The school uniforms maybe a means of improving our efforts to help students in becoming healthier, making them a better citizen in their community and being an interest in our society. Realizing that the success of this policy may depend on each individual school system and their needs, and knowing a school uniform policy is not good for every school is of utmost importance. The studies that have been done have lacked the evidence that supports the school uniforms. Some schools might benefit from a school uniform policy. When adopting a school uniform policy many schools also adopted other new programs at the same time. It was unclear as to what exactly created the successes that were notable in the studies. DISCUSSION School Uniforms affect schools in a better way, appears that only when the school and community have done research and done their homework. The successful schools first compiled reasons for wanting school uniforms and then decided if they were relevant or not. There were surveys taken of staff, parents and the community to find out what the level of support was for the administration if they had to enforce a school uniform policy. Several steps were conducting and it appeared to work for many school districts. It is important to listen to everyone concerning the adoption of a uniform policy (Brunsma, 2006, p. 116). Slowly moving to give the community time to think about the positives and negatives of their decision is must. When wanting to implement the uniforms the style and nature should be considered as well the school history (McBrayer, p. 126). The students should always be involved in the decision making and choices, but they may not make the final decision. Parents and schools need to decide what is safest and healthiest for all and not just the individual. There were other changes incorporated in the schools at the same time the school uniform policy was adopted. Some examples of the changes that took place with the uniform policy adoptions were; changes in the curriculum, new problems solving curriculums, more teachers in the hallways between classes, and new discipline procedures. Changes are continuous and therefore it is difficult to only rely on one at a time. It is a very difficult job for administrators to develop safe and healthy schools. However, there are times that an administrator may determine a factor in the success of the school’s dress code, no dress code, or uniform policy. Consistency is very important part of keeping the students safe. CONCLUSION For the support of school uniforms the research of evidence, or the lack thereof, it is recommended that each school districts review the information concerning school uniform policies. Probably what would be best is observing a school that already has uniforms. Members involved should observe a school similar to their own; rural, urban or suburban, size and community standards. Members should also recognize and consider steps taken by other schools when they first enforced the school uniforms. It is very important to learn as much as they can about mistakes that took place at the other schools and consider possible successful alternatives. When putting a school uniform policy into effect everyone involved should have a discussion with the community including the students. Parents, students, administrators, teachers, support staff, and board members are all part of the community and should have a decision in the final decision. In the decision making they need to also discuss the prices of the uniforms and if there is going to be help for the ones who cannot afford paying for them. The future of our society depends on confident, inclusive, and caring people focused on valuing the skills, abilities and talents of all the decision makers. I believe that all students deserve a safe learning environment. School uniforms might be the best solutions to the public elementary schools education needs to stop the competitiveness of clothes and create better learning environments in student’s achievements and positive social outcomes. Anderson, W. 2004, February). School dress codes and uniform policies. College of Education, University of Oregon. Eric Digest, 148. Boutelle, M. (2008, February). Uniforms: Are They a Good Fit? Education Digest, 73, 34-37. Brunsma, D. (2004). The school uniform movement and what it tells us about American education. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Education. Brunsma, D. ( 2006, Jan/Feb). School uniform policies in public school. Principal, 85, 50-53. Brunsma, D. (2006). Uniforms in public schools A decade of research and debate. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Education. Darden, E. (2008, January). What Not to Wear. American School Board Journal, 195, 36-37. French Toast Official School Wear http://frenchtoast. com/jump. jsp? itemID=0itemType=HOME_PAGEcobrand=www. frenchtoast. com Konheim-Kalkstein, Y. (2006, August). A uniform look. American School Board Journal, 193, 25-27. McBrayer, S. (2007, September). The school uniform movement and what it tells us about American education: A Symbolic Crusade. Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, 11, 124-126. Viadero, D. (2005, January). Uniform effects? Schools cite benefits of student uniforms, but researchers see little evidence of effectiveness. Education Week, 24, 27-29. How to cite School Uniform, Essay examples

Internal Control of the System for B ltd Company- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAccounting For Business Combinations for Financial Reporting. Answer: Introduction Non-current assets are goods which cannot be readily converted into unrestricted cash within a period one financial year (Deegan, 2013). These assets are further classified as tangible and intangible goods. Intangible assets are held in a balance sheet for a period exceeding one financial year, they are non-physical, e.g. copy rights, and patent. Tangible goods are physical and may include land, buildings, and equipment (Malmi, and Brown, 2008). The acquisition and disposal of these tangible non-current assets is a challenge to most companies, this requires the laying down of appropriate foundations, term and conditions for the acquisition and disposal. Every company places all its effects in these to ensure accountability and transparency in its management. B ltd Company has laid down the procedures for the acquisition and disposal of its tangible non-current assets In this paper will discuss the strengths of the internal control for the acquisition and disposal of tangible non-current assets as laid by B ltd and propose the procedure for testing the internal control of its system. Strengths of internal control of the acquisition and disposal of tangible non-current assets of B Ltd. A purchase requisition form is completed and approved by the departmental manager for acquisition of new assets. This enables the department to be accountable on what is needed by the company for the efficiency of its operations. Some companies have their decision making, on what is needed and irrelevant in the company placed at the top of its management. B Ltd. Will not purchase any irrelevant tangible assets since it has full involvement of its employees, it is at the department level where the decision for the approval of the acquisition of any commodity is made. The acquisition is approved in the consideration of the needs of the company at the specific time. This helps in streamlining the process of new purchasing asset by the company. The purchase requisition form is checked by the purchasing officer for approval. Then, the Purchasing officer completes the purchase order. The purchase order indicates the agreed price, type and the quality of the commodity ordered. The consistency of information is maintained, the information contained in the purchase requisition form is approved. The quality of commodity and type needed is clarified that binds both the supplier and the company making the order. It helps for clarification of the information and correction of any errors that may have been unnoticed by the departmental manager when completing the assets requisition form. The financial accountant approves acquisition of new assets over $5000. The board of Directors approves purchase of new assets over $10000. This helps in monitoring huge expenditures by the company. B Ltd cannot spend large amounts of finances without the approval of the top management. It keeps the company away from the risk of overspending and running short of its finances due to large expenditures without approval from the board of directors. The board of directors has the authority to approve or deny the request for expenditure. They are holds the accountability of large expenditures by the company. The financial accountant also holds the responsively of expenditures below 5000 US dollars. In case of any misuse of the companys finances someone is held accountable since all the decisions made are certified by a certain individual. A copy of the purchase order is sent to the supplier and to the head office. The buyer indicates the quality, type and the price of each commodity ordered. The purchase order controls the purchase of commodities from the external suppliers hence avoiding confusions within the company. Once this document has been agreed by the supplier, it becomes a binding contract between the supplier and the buyer. Important information is communicated to the supplier, it also facilitate for ease in the tracking of any outstanding order by both parties (Zhihua, 2007). Once the quality, quantity and price has been communicated to the supplier, and a copy of the purchase order has been received by the supplier, it is the responsibility of the supplying company to ensure that it meets the standards specified in the purchase order (Romney, and Steinbart, 2012). The receiving clerk checks that the details of the asset purchased agree with those on the receiving report and the purchase order. The receiving clerk issues barcode numbers to the asset acquired. The barcode is attached to the asset and recorded on the receiving report and the supplier invoice. The receiving clerk has the responsibility to confirm the details in the order and identify any error that may have been unnoticed when writing the order. Issuing of number barcodes to the assets acquired helps in saving the time for tracking of the asset by providing more accurate efficient way to locate the assets (Dorf, and Bishop, 2011). The departmental manager keys in the details of the assets acquired into the asset register using a copy of the purchase order, the requisition form, and the barcode. Since the department manager filled the purchase requisition form, he uses the previous information to note any changes. The assets register filled helps in identifying all the fixed assets of the company by identifying the date of acquisitions, price, and where the asset is located. Once the asset is entered in the asset register of the company, the company bares the responsibility of maintaining and managing the asset. Entering the asset in the assets register means that the asset must be valued within the systems of the business (Hargie, and Tourish, 2009). An asset disposal form is completed by the departmental manager and a copy is sent to the financial accountant for approval. A copy of the approved asset disposal form is filed at head office and sent to the departmental manager for updating the asset register. The assets disposal form ensures that the asset to be disposed is handled correctly to facilitate transparency and accountability in the company. The decision to dispose the commodity is recorded in the disposal form and all the reason for the disposal is documented. This helps in preventing the disposal of assets in use by the company by irresponsible managers, and also guides the company in doing away with the assets that are not being used by the company (Furnham, and Gunter, 2015). The sending of the copy of assets disposal form to the financial manager for approval before a commodity is disposed is required for the auditing purpose. Once a commodity is disposed the assets register should be updated. This helps in the prep aration of the financial statement. The asset register is reconciled to the general ledger by the departmental manager monthly. The reconciliation of the register to the general ledger helps in the preparation of the financial statement because it contains complete financial transactions records related to the company assets and other important information. It has to be done regularly to ensure that the companys records are updated and prevent the back loading of unrecorded information. This make the work of preparing the financial stamen easier since all the information required is recorded (Porter, 2008). Depreciation is calculated monthly by the rate input by the departmental manager. Depreciation is the reduction of the recorded value of the fixed assets that helps to guide the company in deciding when the disposal or replacement of an asset is required (Buckley, and Caple, 2009). Depreciation calculation will help the B Ltd in accountability. Recommended procedures for testing the internal control of the system Internal control can be tested by the following seven step procedure. Separation of duties This is the breaking down of responsibilities for auditing, depositing, bookkeeping and reporting and assigning it to different personals. Access control The use of electronic access logs and passwords for the system to keep unauthorized persons out of the system Physical audit This is verification of the existence of an asset. It is done by hand count and can reveal hidden disparities in the system. Documentation This is normalizing documents used in accounting purposes. Trial balanced This is the use of a double entry account to ensure that the books of account are always balanced. Reconciliation It helps in ensuring that the balances held by other entities like bank is similar to the one in the accounting system. Approval authority This is giving responsibilities to authorize certain transactions to specific managers. Conclusion B Ltd has a well-structured system for the acquisition and disposal of tangible non-current assets. The system ensures that all the decisions made in the organization are based on sound consideration aimed to better the company. Accountability and transparency is also promoted by the system. Transactions involving large amount of money has to be approved by the board of management. There is no asset that can be disposed without a valid reason and consent of responsible personnel. The internal control of a system can be tested by the seven step procedure above. This ensures that the organization operations run effectively and efficiently. References Buckley, R. and Caple, J., 2009. The theory and practice of training. Kogan Page Publishers. Deegan, C., 2013. Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. Dorf, R.C. and Bishop, R.H., 2011. Modern control systems. Pearson. Furnham, A. and Gunter, B., 2015. Corporate Assessment (Routledge Revivals): Auditing a Company's Personality. Routledge. Hargie, O. and Tourish, D. eds., 2009. Auditing organizational communication: A handbook of research, theory and practice. Routledge. Malmi, T. and Brown, D.A., 2008. Management control systems as a packageOpportunities, challenges and research directions. Management accounting research, 19(4), pp.287-300. Porter, M.E., 2008. Competitive advantage: Creating and sustaining superior performance. Simon and Schuster. Romney, M.B. and Steinbart, P.J., 2012. Accounting information systems. Boston: Pearson. Zhihua, X., 2007. Internal Control, Corporation Governance and Risk Management: Relationship and Integration [J]. Accounting Research, 10(007).

Scramble for Africa

Athletic Injuries essays

Athletic Injuries essays There are many psychosocial factors that contribute to the occurrence and severity of athletic injuries. Many studies have found that there is a relationship between the occurrence and severity of athletic injuries and stress. Stress affects everyone and it is because of this we need to be properly educated about it. It is the bodys nonspecific response to any demand (Williams, 1996). Stress is composed of many factors and is often described as any feelings of nervousness or anxiety. It has been established that there is a direct positive relationship between stress and the severity and occurrence of athletic injuries (Hanson, McCullagh Despite proper rehabilitation, many athletes are not psychologically equipped to cope with the impact of an athletic injury (Larson, Zaichkowsky, & Starkey, 1996). Advances in sports medicine have allowed remarkable physical recoveries, however, many members of the medical community are urging injured athletes to have the psychological aspects of their injuries treated as well. Initially, sport psychology was used as a catalyst to enhance athletic performance. There is a growing awareness of specific psychological risk factors that are associated with athletic performance. More frequently mental health professionals are needed to assist an athlete adjust to life after an athletic injury. The psychological im...

The Four Methods in Lincoln Electric Case Study

The Four Methods in Lincoln Electric - Case Study Example Secondly, it was the R&D efforts of its founders and its proactive stance that made it a success over its competitors, even though it had shared technology during the Second World War for the benefit of the USA. The company setup was planned and organized with very few levels of management. Workers had a right to voice their opinions and thoughts and these were listened to, with the consequence that there was no need for unionization. There was an open door policy and every complaint was looked into. The vision for the company was to expand and prosper through a system of high productivity and rewards like year-end bonus and guaranteed employment. The company also promoted from within and many of the top management had progressed from the lower ranks up the organization. The company was successful in extending this culture and philosophy developed at Cleveland to some regions but met with opposition from others. To some degree, culture and education have been responsible for this. Di scuss Lincoln’s approach to the organization and motivation of their employees as it corresponds to the behavioral viewpoint of management, specifically as it relates to early behaviorism pioneered by Hugo Munsterberg, Mary Parker Follett and Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne Effect. The behavioral viewpoint of management seeks to motivate workers through a reward and punishment system aims to elicit a certain type of behavior from its employees. It is usually based on a system that is fair and equitable for everyone. Hugo Munsterberg proposed that employee skills match job requirements and devising management strategies that made employees follow management’s best interests. Mary Parker Follett preferred that organizations work like communities with joint efforts and collaboration between workers and management to deal positively with problems that might emerge.  

Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being Essay

Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of older people - Essay Example Among such studies, there is an article by Clark, Jackson, Carlson et al. (2012) that evaluated the relevance and efficiency of a lifestyle intervention for this particular group of the population. Not only the study confirms the positive impact of the OT intervention but it also delivers the idea of readiness as one of the factors that are obligatory for the practice of this intervention becoming a working mechanism. This idea is crucial not only because it is justified by the authors but because it deals with the application of the theoretical concept of practice. The question that is posed through it is whether older adults, as well as government and administrative agents, would be able to accept the changes and utilize the tool of lifestyle intervention for improvement of the well-being of elderly people. Currently, it seems that there is still a lack of understanding, especially from older adults about the relevance of this OT practice. This is demonstrated by the number of dropout subjects who were not ready for the changes to happen despite the positive results foreseen. The questions that are to be addressed are not only within the theoretical area of research but also within increasing the awareness among the patients about the usability of the lifestyle intervention and accepting its positive impact. These questions warrant further research as they would allow the practice to become applicable in real-life situations. This would bring benefits to both older adults as well as other stakeholders.

The Attack On 911 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Attack On 911 - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the 911 attack is known as the worst terrorist that the American history that changed the lives of the citizens and the world at large. The attack refers to a sequence of well- organized terrorist attacks that were instigated by the Al Qaeda in New York City. Terrorists hijacked two passenger airlines and flew them into buildings in suicide attacks. Two planes were crashed into the World Trade Centre and two hours following the attack the two Towers caved in. The fires and debris fully or partially destroyed the structures that were in the surrounding. Another airline crashed into the West wing of the Pentagon resulting in its partial destruction. The fourth airliner crashed in Pennsylvania but was meant to crash in Washington D. C. Most Americans were interested in finding out the individuals who were behind the worst terrorist attack in history. Investigation showed that nineteen terrorists hijacked four airlines and all of them were from the Middle East. It was clear that all of them belonged to the renowned Al Qaeda terrorist faction that was headed by Osama bin Laden who was among the most sought-after terrorists in the modern times. Al Qaeda is known to be a well- organized terrorist group that practices extreme Islam practices. Members of this group are also immensely opposed to Western nations mainly the United States. They termed the 9/11 attack as a revenge mission against the US.

Marks and Spencer Clothing Ranges | Analysis

Marks and Spencer Clothing Ranges | Analysis This report is pertaining to Marks Spencer UK Ref : 1) Identify and explain the different customer needs. Who are the three MS clothing ranges aimed to serve? Assume that the Perfect and Classic ranges serve essentially the same customer segment. 2) Identify and explain the order winners and qualifier for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 3) Apply the polar diagram to analyse and compare the different operations performance objectives for these three different clothing ranges at MS. Introduction: MARKS SPENCER (UK) Marks Spencer (MS) is a commercial organization and is one of the UK leading retailer of clothing and home product. Other than that, MS also selling high quality of foods and at the same time also provided financial service. MS claim to have 21 million of customer that visit to their store weekly and have 600 stores in UK and the business is expanding globally. MS have 2000 supplier and 75000 employees all around the world. MS also is the No. 1 women wear and lingerie provider in UK. Meanwhile the market share of men and children wear is expanding. Lastly, due to MS Plan A, a five year eco plan, MS is now more known for their green credential to become carbon free and no landfill waste by the year 2012. 1.0 Identify and explain the different customer needs which the three MS clothing ranges aimed to serve? Assume that the Perfect and Classic ranges serve essentially the same customer segment. 1.1 Identify the Segmentation. Market segmentation can be defined as the process of dividing a market into different segmentation by take in the consideration of the customers common needs or characteristic. (Schiffman Kanuk, 1997,p.46) In reference to the case study, the product agenda in the Marks Spencer can be divided by understanding segmentation is Season, Gender, Age. Season There are 4 seasons in United Kingdom, which is spring, autumn, summer and winter. By further reference to the case study, spring and autumn is the peak sales season of the Marks and Spencer. The clothing during spring and autumn is casual wear. And during this time, is when all the high-fashion wear take place as no heavy clothing is required. The figure below show the suitable clothing to be worn during spring and autumn season. Gender Marks and Spencer is targeted more on the women rather than man. This is factual that women are usually more into shopping and purchasing clothing than men. Take for instance; I usually go shopping for clothes once a year usually a few weeks before the Chinese New Year. It is Chinese tradition to wear new cloth during the celebration. Whereas my girl friend will keep on shopping whenever she likes together shopper impulse. The case study has a focus on women buying behavior pertaining to clothes. Age Product needs and interests vary with consumer age. Marketers have found age is a very useful demographic variable for distinguishing segments. (Schiffman Kanuk, 1997,p.53) By referring to the case study, Marks Spencer core and potential customer are women aged between 35 to 55. Where the women at this age are very active and the purchasing power is high. 1.2 Customer needs Customer needs are defined, XXXXXXXX. In the case of Marks Spencer the needs of women customers can be divided into the size, quality, design, pricing and also the services that are available to them in providing, them providing their personal and environmental needs. 1.2.1 The Size of the Clothing The different sizes of the clothing are one of the most important issues towards customer needs. A cloth can be designed with a very supreme layout, the colour can be extremely beautiful, the price can very reasonable and the quality can be fantastic, however when customer wants to purchase a particular clothing but not available in size, will result in customer behavioral stress with a perceptional and altitude change towards the item. MS should strategically consider in term of the size availability of the clothing that they wish to sell as compared to the women in Malaysia, the size are normally in the range S, M, L and XL as their body are relatively smaller if compare to the women in UK. 1.2.2 The Quality of the Clothing The quality is important to the customer and required need. The customer wants his money worth when she wears the clothes. From the case study, one of the customer stated that the cloth she purchase must be value for money. The busy lifestyle of today, the customers now need to be met by MS. They will preferred that the clothing that they purchase can be wash well and not require specialist washing and the cloth have to long last , colour not to fade and wont shrink while in wash. This is same for all the customers around the world. The customer is expecting the price will mirror the quality level of the product (Erickson and Johansson,1985 cited in Brassington and Pettitt, 2007,p.223). The quality of the goods and services accepted have to be equal to the money that they invested. 1.2.3 The design of the Clothing Good design satisfies customer, communicates the purpose of the product or service to its market, and bring financial rewards to the business. The objective of good design, whether of product or service is to satisfy customers by meeting their actual or anticipated needs and expectations (Slack, et al., 2010) The customers demand a good design of clothing and shall be not recognized as MS on the first sight especially for the premium and high fashion clothing. Customer needs for something that is more presentable and different from the other brands. This is best described for the autograph range clothing. The design has to be supreme, outstanding. As what we understand that the hot sales season of MS is during Spring And Autumn, and during this two season, heavy clothing is not required and this is the time when the people wear out fashion and trendy clothing. Therefore the design needs to be the main consideration of MS while they make the purchase decision. Whereas, the customers in Malaysia especially for women, they will rather visit a boutique rather than a supermarket to buy their clothing even though the price is higher because of the design. As the cloth in the boutique are unique and rarely found in other shops and this will eliminate the chances to get embarrassed as 2 person we ar the same clothing at a function or dinner. 1.2.4 The services A good service usually helps to make sales successful. Customers who come to MS expected to receive a good service, such as after sales service, consultant service and other basic services. However, in the case study, one of the customers stated that she would not make a special trip to buy a high-fashion item and rather to have an impulse purchase. The busy lifestyle today, purchase through the internet is becoming a common thing. MS do have this service, and the customers do not have to go to the store to view and to purchase for the clothing. The electronic catalogue on the website and online purchase is available. This is one of the services that are demanded by the customer. This service is productive as customers now do not need to step out from their home to purchase. Especially in a critical weather condition, helps remove customer stress. As for the goods to be delivered, somehow, if MS will set up a special department to deal with the delivery, the lead time will be reduced and the satisfaction level of customer on the service will be enhanced. 1.2.5 The Pricing Price- the main consideration of customer on purchase. Form the case, the customer had stated that they would pay a high price but the design and quality must be there. But it is not applicable for all the customer as for the customer which comes from a middle and low income level, pricing will be an issue. As in Malaysia, if the product sell is cheap and worth, even though there is no advertisement, the store will have a lot of customers. From the consumer perception, the price of a product reflects the value that they attach to whatsoever is being exchanged. While the customer is making purchase decision, the marketer is considered be making a promise to the customer about what is the product and what is the value of it. The consumer is then going to determine the promise against the price and thus decide whether it is worth paying (Zeithaml, 1988 cited in Brassington and Pettitt, 2007,p.223). The same applies to MS, if the prices are lower compare to the competitor, and with good quality, automatically the customer will be there to purchase. Thus, pull up the profit of the MS. It will also create the loyalty of the customer towards MS. 2.0 Identify and explain the order winners and qualifier for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 2.1 Order Winner Order winner are those factor which directly and significantly contribute to winning business. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.69) In a simply words, order winner is the characteristic of a firm that cause the customer to purchase the goods and services from firm. Order winner play an important role to not only to end sales but also to secure new business. The ability of a firm in the strategic initiative as cost, price, lead time, quality, reliability, brand equity and etc can enhance a firm order winner. The order winner for classis and perfect range is for core customers with a busy life, versatility, fitness, reasonable price and quality The order winner for Autograph range is its Fashionable, unique and exclusive designs. The order winner for Per una range is Limited editions, special and more exclusive styles, competitive prices. 2.2 Order Qualifiers Qualifier are those aspect of competitiveness where the operations performance has to be above particular level just to be considered by the customer. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.69).Order qualifier is the characteristic to be equipped by a firm to make it outstanding among all the other firm and competitors. In a simple words, order qualifiers make the firm differ from its competitors. The order qualifiers for classis and perfect range are Timeless essentials reflecting ones style and finesse. The order qualifier for Autograph range is Collection with no more than 60 of each color and way and style. The order qualifier for Per Una Range is its Superb designs at very affordable prices 3.0 Apply the polar diagram to analyse and compare the different operations performance objectives for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 3.1 Polar Diagram Polar diagram is a useful way to representing the relative importance objective for a product or services. This is called the polar representation because the scales which represent the importance of each performance objective have the same origin. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.53). The polar diagram below can be used to analyse and compare he different operations performance objectives for the three different clothing range at MS. The 5 factor in the polar diagram are Cost, Quality, Design, Size availability and also the Sales volume SKU. 3.1.1 Cost Cost is the major performance objective especially for the firm which compete against each other in term of price as the lower the cost, the lower the price the firm can sell to customer. When the firm able to lower its cost but can maintains the quality, it is giving the firm the cost objective. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.40) By referring to the polar diagram, the cost for the Autograph range is the highest followed by the Per Una Range, meanwhile the cost for perfect and classic range is the lowest among the three MS Clothing range. The cost directly reflect the selling the price of three MS product range. The price of Autograph range is the most expensive among three as the product under this range use the design of top designer and high quality raw material. When the cost increases, automatically the selling price will be higher. 3.1.2 Quality Quality is a major influence on customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Quality is consistent conformance to customers expectation, which also mean doing thing right. High quality of goods and services that is offer to customer will ensure the return of the customer. This will give the firm a quality advantages. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.40) By referring to the polar diagram, the quality of the Per Una Range is the supreme follow by The Autograph Range then by the Perfect and Classic range. The material use in Per Una range product is Superb quality materials while the material use in the Autograph and Perfect Classic range is High quality and high quality fabrics material. This had show that the high quality material had been used by MS in producing their all range of clothing to ensure the quality of clothing is maintain at high level and ensure the customer satisfaction. By using the high quality material, the issue such as shrink colour fading will be eliminate. 3.1.3 Flexibility (The availability of Size) The flexibility simply means that the ability of the form to change the operation in some way. It also means that the firm will be able to react toward different and unexpected circumstances. The ability of the firm to give individual treatment to the different customer will give the firm flexibility advantage. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.46) The polar diagram show that the flexibility of the perfect and classis ranges in term of size is above the other two. This is due to the product available in this range are wide and quantity are large. Compare to the Autograph range, the product are unique and only limited number is available, those who miss the chances to purchase will be difficult to find another as it is purposely create the demand in a limited supply. Other than that the product in perfect and classic range is being sale in a wide range and in a large quantity. 3.1.4 Speed A firm might want to do thing fast, thus minimizing the time form the customer order and receiving it in full. The speed advantages means that the faster the customer can get the goods, the more they will buy and thus, the more the firm can gain from it. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.42) The product can be found almost all the outlet of the MS. Mean while, the product in the Autograph range can be found in selected store only with a lesser amount. On the other hand, the product under per una range can only be found in a limited number in the specific store only. There polar diagram are clearly show the different sales volume SKU of the three different clothing range of MS where the larger the volume of the SKU, the faster the customer can get the goods that they wish to purchase. 3.1.5 Dependability Dependability means that doing thing in time for customer to receive their goods or services exactly when they are needed, or at least when they were promise. When the firm able to perform this, it will give the dependability advantages to the firm. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.44) The polar diagram show that the dependability of the Autograph range is superior of the other two clothing range. The design of the Autograph range is to a wider audience within a unique environment, which means a special design by the famous designer. The design of Per Una Range is slightly below the Autograph range where it is affected by the latest trend but will outdate very fast. When it comes to the perfect and classic range, the design is more to casual and return to basic. Design play an important role in the expensive clothing range as they customer willing to pay just for the design, but when come to basic cloth, customer prefer value-for-money prices.

Essay --

Shusanta Bhattarai Ms. Kelley Formal lab report The conservation of Mass and how it’s connected to chemical reactions Introduction In this lab, we were looking at the conservation of matter, chemical reactions and using mass to find the number of moles present after a reaction. We had previously studied moles (measurement system) and mass. We copiously took notes on the masses of the objects after reactions and observed how the quantity would â€Å"change† after a chemical reaction. The conservation of mass is a law that states a mass will stay consistent over time and will not change until it is not combined or removed. We performed a lot of chemical reactions in this lab. The first part of the lab was putting a coiled piece of copper in silver nitrate and washing it out with water. The second and third part was also about adding chemicals and seeing the reactions. The purpose of the experiment was to determine if the values of silver and silver nitrate would stay the same. The hypothesis was that if chemical elements and compounds react the ratio would stay the same, due to the conservation of mass and the law it has. Procedure Originally, I was supplied with 30 cm of copper wire and a test tube. First, the wire was cleaned with steel wool.The copper wire was coiled around the full length of the test tube. The copper was then weighed. Then an empty 250 ml beaker that was labeled by my partner was weighed. A vial of white silver nitrate was also weighed. After, 2/5th of the clean beaker was filled with distilled water and the solid silver nitrate was stirred in with the water until the crystals that were formed dissolved. Then the end of the copper wire was bent so we could submerge the coil in the solution and still be able t... ...s is attached and the mass must remain consistent over time. The chemical process did not change the quantity and it showed. 4. The ratios might be different because there might have been a flaw in the procedure. They all still surround 1 and no one in the class got one but we all got something close. 5. I think that the decanting process was the main source of contamination. Sometimes water doesn’t take out all the specks. We could buy a high tech decanting type-system and walk through each student individually so that there would be minimal chance of error. Conclusion We saw that no matter the chemical change we would get the same ratio. The purpose worked out in a great fashion and showed us that the quantity was almost the same. The whole class got a number that was close to one. The hypothesis was supported because the conservation of matter proved to be true.

Informatics Solution Proposal: Problem Identificatio Essay

It is no surprise that customer satisfaction is the primary focus for successful delivery of healthcare. The health care industry is booming with technological trends and consumer empowerment is evident. Patients are able to shop around for the best health care available at the right cost, forcing facilities to upgrade to the latest technology in order to compete. The problem is patients often get confused keeping up with different providers and different facilities. On top of that are expected to remember their medications and complete health history, along with diagnosis, different exams and lab testing. Health care costs are on the rise because of repeat tests and data is lost in the shuffle. Our goal is to find a technical solution providing patients with an easily accessible, comprehensive overview of their entire health history. The patient deserves access to their health records, health education at their fingertips, and most of an organized system to provide the best health c are possible. Our best solution is the personal health records category. Personal health information can be easily accessed online wherever internet is provided. There can be one or multiple databases that safely stores their information and with easy access, patients won’t feel so frustrated having to wait for a healthcare worker. Another rationale is that personal health record systems can offer multiple functions for the patients, such as paying their medical bills, renewing their medications, and more. Designing the appropriate PHR system can provide an endless amount of functions to help meet patients’ needs. Finally, a PHR can save patients and providers both time and money. PHR systems can decrease the labor needed to provide patients with information while still maintaining effective communication between providers and patients (Kaelber & Pan, 2008). Some ethical issues to consider would be protecting patient privacy. Information entered into the  iPad, even something such as calling the front desk, must go through a server (or a third party). This may compromise privacy. It could end up in the iCloud, or even be hacked. Visitors in the room may see sensitive information. Additionally, expecting an older population to use an iPad could be seen as discriminatory According to Hebda, and Czar (2013), legal issues for interactive applications of consumer health information involving PHI include protecting privacy and security of PHI. Many consumer health web sites are lack ing in protection of healthcare information. Some issues included lack of anonymity, poor protection for privacy policies and health information as well as inadequate privacy policies. Special attention will have to be made to adhere to the HON code of conduct for protecting users with the implementation of interactive health care technologies. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to rule on the use of electronic health information and the devices and systems used to access this information. The final ruling requires vendors of PHR’s and related services to notify the FTC, potential involved consumers, and associated services providers of any breach in security as this information is now to be covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (FTC, 2009). This ruling also provides for consultation on potential privacy and security breaches between the FTC and the Department of Health and Human Services (FTC, 2009). Project Overview: The purpose of the Informatics Solution Proposal is to promote nursing students’ comfort and knowledge with informatics and technology products for the health care workplace setting. Students review the functionality of various products and select one that best meets the needs of a health care setting. Learning Teams collaborate to identify a clinical or administrative issue and propose an informatics solution. Each week, Learning Teams work on an element of this project. In Week Five, teams compile their work into a proposal appropriate for the directors of a health care organization. Project Elements: Week Two: Problem Identification Collaborate with your Learning Team to identify an issue in a health care workplace that could be resolved by implementing an informatics or technology solution. The issue could be an administrative issue or a clinical issue. Draft a letter or memo to a nursing administrator informing her or him of the clinical or administrative problem, why it is a concern, and a request for permission to propose a solution. Support your letter with at least three peer-reviewed resources. Format the letter consistent with APA guidelines for formal business correspondence. Provide an APA-formatted reference page for all resources used. Note. Do not send the letter. Week Three: General Solution Collaborate with your Learning Team to determine a category of informatics or technology that could be implemented to solve the clinical or administrative issue. Compose a 350- to 500-word summary of the benefits of selecting a product from this category of technology or informatics system. Address the following: Identify a category of informatics or technology solution that may be appropriate for the identified workplace. Note. Select a category of solution but not a specific product. Provide rationale for why this category of solution may help address the clinical or administrative problem. Describe regulatory, legal, or ethical issues this category of solution may cause or resolve. Include a minimum of three peer-reviewed references, and develop an APA-formatted reference page. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Week Four: Areas of Evaluation Select two products from the category that your Learning Team identified in Week Three. For example, if you selected the category of EHRs, then identify two specific EHR products. Describe a minimum of five criteria with which to evaluate the functionality of the two products. Ease of use Clarity Time Select two or more additional features to evaluate. Include a minimum of three references. References may include product websites or other reputable sources in addition to peer-reviewed resources. Faculty approval is required for sources other than peer-reviewed resources. Provide an APA-formatted reference page for all resources used. Week Five: Specific Solution Proposal Develop a proposal in which you evaluate two specific products from the general category previously selected. The goal is to persuade the directors of the health care workplace to implement your chosen informatics solution. Address the following details: Brief description of the administrative or clinical issue Concise overview of the two products (include evaluation of all relevant features of each product) Clear explanation of why one product is chosen for implementation (not both) Two suggestions of how the chosen product could be implemented Two suggestions for how the chosen product would be evaluated after implementation (one qualitative and one quantitative) Identify a future trend in this area Develop a presentation using one of the following formats: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® Presentation including 15–20 slides and speaker’s notes Oral presentation including appropriate visual aid (for example, a handout or brochure) Prezi ® Presentation Another format approved by your facilitator Include a minimum of seven peer-reviewed references, and develop an APA-formatted reference page. Format your proposal and reference page consistent with APA guidelines. References Federal Trade Commission. (August 17, 2009). FTC Issues Final Breach Notification Rule for Electronic Health Information. Retrieved from http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2009/08/ftc-issues-final-breach-notification-rule-electronic-health Hebda, T., & Czar, P. (2013). Handbook of informatics for nurses & healthcare professionals (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Kaelber, D. & Pan, E.C. (2008). The value of personal health record (PHR) systems. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2655982/. Informatics Solution Proposal Overview

Natural Physical Environment of Apple Essay Example

Natural Physical Environment of Apple Essay Example Natural Physical Environment of Apple Paper Natural Physical Environment of Apple Paper As of November 2010, Apple operates over 300 stores relied and online shop where its products are sold. The Apples well known hardware products involve Macintosh for personal computers, the pod for media players and phone. Apple employs over 49,400 employees worldwide and Apples financial results for its stock was making history of its own. Apple became the most valuable company in the world in 2012. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumer around the world through its innovative hardware, software and internet offering. The Societal Environment Demographic trends in current U. S are part of the coloratura aspect of the societal environment. Even though the worlds population is growing, not all regions will grow equally. Most of the growth will be in the developing nations. The population of the developed nations will fall. Developing nations will continue to have more young than old people, but it will be the reverse in the industrialized nations. Apples products users are mainly young people. The demographic bulge in the U. S. Population caused by the baby boom in the asss continues to affect market demand in many industries. This group of million people now in their ass to ass the largest age group in all developed nations. Hopefully Apple can find opportunities to offer products or services to attract older customers. Recession, the world wide economic crisis have one of the largest negative impacts on Apple sales. Comparing with other electronic device manufacturing companies, Apples products ar e higher in price. Even many customers want to use Apples products, there are lower cost substitute. Intense competition in the smart phone industries led to numerous lawsuits on design and intellectual property. In 2010, Apple initiated litigation against Android devices, first against ETC and then Samsung. Combining the computing power of the personal computer, the networking of the Internet, the images of the television, and the convenience of the telephone, these appliances will soon be used by a majority of the population of the industrialized nations to make phone calls, send e-mail, and transmit documents and other data. In this digital lifestyle, Apples Digital Hub strategy has achieved success. The Mac could be the preferred hub to control, integrate, and add value to these devices. Apples control of both hardware and software is one of the few remaining in the PC industry, as a unique strength. These days, people are more concern about environment. Increasing of environmental awareness affect Apples strategy. Apple highlighted its computers as well as the worlds greenest lineup of notebooks that were energy efficient and used recyclable materials. The Task (Industry) Environment Porters Five-Force Analysis Threat of new Entrant Competition is high and every organization wants to diversify its business so it is easier for companies to enter in new market. Apple is electronic organization, already has many competitors around so threat of new entrant is high for Apple. Scale economies in the production and sales of digital devices gave Apple a significant cost advantage over any new rival. Apple manufacture products such as Macro Air, Pod, create high entry barriers through their high levels of advertising and its uniqueness. There are huge financial resources needed to invest in order to produce those Apples product. For example, to manufacture cell phone, research, development, design, making contract with carrier, distribution, and so on. Threat of Substitute It focuses on the alternative products available in market with low price and better performance. Apple produces music players, PCs, mobile phone and tablet PCs. There are many other companies that are producing same products with lower price. The competitions between the existing company sis in same industry are high. The competitions result in margin, pressure on selling price. Apples products are higher in price than its competitors so threat level is high for Apple. Apple produces various products. Each products and services have various competitors. However, Macintosh/Macro/Macro Air/lama thanks to creative marketing and several innovative computer products, Apple became the third-largest PC vendor in the Competition ; Hewlett-Packard is most recent leader of PC manufacturing Industry. ; Dell who held the second-largest market share with 12. % of worldwide PC shipments for 2011. ;Leno, China-based, vaulted into the front of ranks odd PC venders in 2005 when it acquired Vims memory-losing PC business for $1. 75 billion ;Acre, Taiwan-based, Acre bought Gateway, a leading IS. S. PC brand, and became the third-largest PC vender in the world. The Pod was initially one of many portable digital music players based on the AMP standard. Thanks to its sleek design, simple user interface, and large stora ge, it became an icon of the Digital Age. By the launch of the tunes store, it had a galvanic impact on Pod sales. After the Tunes launch, Pod sales shot up to 304,000 units in one quarter and exploded thereafter. -Two features that differentiate Apples Pods were its Tunes desktop software, which synchronized Pods with computers, and its Tunes Music Store, which opened in April 2003. Online music stored such as Amazon, Anapest, and Walter. Com offered individual song downloads at competitive or discounted prices to Tunes. Internet radio sites, such as Pandora, offered free streaming music. Sportier allowed users to create their own playbills, share them, and stream free music like a virtual AMP player. -One key driver behind the Phone sensation was the launch of the Apple App Store in 2008. Apples App Store was the first outlet that made it easy to distribute, access, and download applications directly onto the mobile phone. -Competitors fell into two large categories: horizontal and vertical. Manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, ETC, LAG Electronics, and Motorola followed a horizontal approach, where they licensed their SO, Operating System, and built their own hardware. Phones greatest competition in 2012 came from Android, an open and free platform developed by Google. -Samsung was Apples most direct competitor. Samsung was relatively late to enter the smartened segment, but it became the volume leader in 2011 with the introduction of its Android-based Galaxy SO handset. -ETC, based in Taiwan, had pioneered several smartened innovations, including being first to market with Android, G, and G phones. As Phone and Samsung sales outpaced the industry in late 2011, ETC remained large and profitable, but lost market share. Research in Motion (RIM) and, to a lesser extent, Monika took a vertical approach by controlling both hardware and software. RIMs Black Belly smartness historically delivered one of the best mobile e-mail experiences and was a popular choice among corporate consumers. Monika suffered the greatest decline. The biggest cellophane company in the world for more than a academe, the companys strength had been in Europe and emerging markets. -Googles competitor to Apples App Store, called Play Store, surged in 2010-2011. The number Of Android applications was Rapidly approaching Phone APS. Pad is defined a new device category that was described by Jobs as even more intuitive and easier to use than a PC, and where the software and the hardware and the applications need to be intertwined in an even more seamless way than they are on a PC. -Android-based tablets were ruches to the market in late 201 0, and by the end of 201 1, Android held a 38% share. Apple had at least three potential serious competitors for tablets: ; Manufacturers using Googles version of Android ; Amazon, which used an open source version Of Android ; Forthcoming Microsoft-based tablet. In the first category, the leader was Samsung which sold an estimated 5 million tablets minion. Samsung 9-inch tablets were very similar to the Pad in design and price, but Android lacked the applications and ease of use of an Pad. Amazon, by contrast, had a different model: it developed a distinctive user interface and sold its 7-inch tablet, the Kindle Fire for $199. Amazons reduce costs were estimated to be slightly more than 5200. While Apple sought to make money on hardware, Amazon hoped to make money on software, applications, and content. The greatest uncertainty for competition in tablets was Microcosms entry with Windows 8. Some Windows 8 tablets would offer a new user interface and backward compatibility for Windows applications. -cloud allowed users to synchronize seamlessly across multiple Apple devices by strong data, pictures, music, and so on, in one location on the Internet. -Following Apples lead, SO competitors such as Google and Microsoft offered heir own cloud storage services, while product competitors such as ETC and Samsung struck deal with Drop box.

SAT Logistics - PrepScholar 2016 Students Encyclopedia

SAT Logistics - PrepScholar 2016 Students' Encyclopedia SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In the U.S., the SAT is offered seven times throughout the year, in January, March (or April), May, June, October, November, and December. Internationally, the SAT is typicallyoffered six times, including all the aforementioned dates with the exception of March. The redesigned SAT, commonly referred to as the new SAT, will be first administered in March of 2016. Students testing internationally will first encounter the new SAT in May of 2016. Note: this article is a series in the PrepScholar2016 Students' Encyclopedia, a free students' and parents' SAT / ACT guide that provides encyclopedic knowledge. Read all the articles here! Most SAT administrations begin at 8:30 AM on Saturdays. Students whose religious beliefs prevent them from testing on Saturday may request an alternative date at the time of registration, though their requests are subject to denial. Students with documented disabilities may request accommodations, the most common of which is extra time. Typicallythe full test is strictly timed at3 hours and 45 minutes, while the actual testing time is approximately 4.5 hours to include the proctor's instructions and three 5 minute breaks. Students may not revisit any sections once time has been called, nor may they discuss test material during break time. Proctors are expectedto report anysuspicious behavior, such as flipping through sections in the test booklet or using prohibited materials, and they have the authority to dismiss students from the testing room. College Board also has the right to withhold, audit, or cancel individual test scores, often as a result of a warning from a proctor or unexplained score fluctuations among sections. Students may speak to their test proctors or contact College Board directlywith concerns about their testing centers, including issueswith timing, noise, instructions, or possible cheating. The June 6, 2015 administration of the SAT, for instance, had timing issues due to a misprint in the testbooklets. To resolve this issue, College Board decided to leave the affected sections unscored, saying they were still "able to provide students with valid and reliable scores." Apart from strict regulations in timing, the SAT also has clearly stated rules about acceptable materials within the testing room. Students may only use Number 2 pencils to write on the answer sheet and essay section. Most graphingcalculators and all scientific and four-function calculators are allowed during the math sections. Snacks and drinksmay be consumed during breaks outside of the testing room. All other materials, especially technology with communication capabilities, like cell phones and recording devices, are strictly prohibited. The SAT costs $54.50, with an additional regional fee of $30 to $40 for students testing outside of the U.S. Fee waivers are available for eligible students and include registration for up to two SATs, two SAT Subject Test dates (on which students can take as many as three Subject Tests, with some exceptions), and an additional four score reports to colleges. The typical requirement for fee waiver eligibility is a student's inclusion on his/her school's federal Free or Reduced Lunch program. Students register for the SAT through their College Board account. It is also possible, and required for students under the age of 13, to register by mail. When creating aCollege Board account, students will be prompted to inputautobiographical information, their high school code (U.S.-based homeschoolers use code 970000), and a clear, recent photograph to be used for identification purposes on test day. During registration, students can choose their test date and testing center, usually their local high school. If their preferred testing center is full, students can selectanother nearby center or choose to be placed on a standby list.The deadline to register is typicallyabout one month before the test date. Additional fees apply for late registration, changes to test date or location, and standby testing. During registration or for up to 9 days after, students may choose as many asfour colleges to bescore report recipients free of charge. Any additional score reports cost $11.25 each. Scores are usually available about three weeks after testing. Official SAT score reports must be sent to colleges, even if students also self-report their scores on the Common Application or college-specific application forms. As of 2009, College Board offers SAT Score Choice, giving students choice over which SAT score reports are sent to colleges. Students who wish to view their SAT scores before sending them to colleges may choose to forego the four free score reports at the time of registration. Some colleges prohibit the use of Score Choice, requiring students to send all available SAT scores from all dates they took the test. Schools that expect students to send the results from their entire testing history include Duke University, Rice University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and all schools in the University of California system. The majority of colleges allow the use of Score Choice and may consider a student's highest section scores across all dates or highest sitting on one test date. More than half of all test-takerschoose to take the SAT more than once. Studies have shown that students are statistically likely to improve their scores upon retesting. Preparation has also been shown to significantly improve SAT scores. Most students take the SAT in their junior and senior year of high school. Others take the test earlier to ensure a greater number of available test dates for retesting. Important considerations in choosing test dates include college application deadlines, colleges' policies towards SAT scores and Score Choice, preparation time, and skill readiness. Read more from the SAT Encyclopedia! Further Reading How to Register for the SAT, Step by Step How Many Times Should You Take the SAT? Choose Your SAT Test Dates: When's a Good Time for You?

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 20

Discussion - Essay Example icle, â€Å"Effective Communication-That is just what I mean† by Santosh Sachdeva, the author has emphasized on the importance of effective communication. The author has also highlighted the significance of accurate body language and tone while communicating with the other person. Body language, voice and words play are the most essential elements of an effective communication. A person can misunderstand or misinterpret the meaning of the entire message; if any element of an effective communication is absent from the message. The author further adds that feed back or the response signifies that the message has been understood by the receiver. However, we cannot ignore the issues that generally emerge during any communication either it is done verbally or nonverbally. People often ignore what other person is saying. They focus more on their response rather paying attention to the words of other person. People make errors in communication either they are bounded by their ego or they feel superiority complex over the other one which damages the effectiveness. Perception is another issue which causes damage to effective communication. People often ignore the message of a person who is low in status or less privileged. On the other hand, people pay more attention to the words and meanings of the person who is more sound and stable than the other groups. Sometimes people ignore the message conveyed to them in state of stress. People believe what they see, they acquire from their surroundings and what is being fed in their minds rather they communicate and talk with other groups to justify the authenticity of the information. To avoid issues in communication, it is very important to listen actively to the words of the speaker and to give a proper feedback to the person in order to assure him that you have understood the message and the

Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Supply Chain Management - Essay Example Zara contributes a total of 2/3rd  of the total Inditex Group. With a turnover of more than $150 million, the success mantra for Zara is to offer the best quality at shortest time span possible and cheapest prices. 2.0 Supply Chain management at Zara With a rapid change in the market conditions, like every other sector, the fashion industry has been under immense pressure to efficiently manage its supply chains. It has become important for the companies to increase their capacities and better manage its operations in order to save costs and also remain competitive. Supply Chain Management has a very important role to play in the success of Zara fashions. The creation of the final product a d its final delivery to the customer involved the art and technology of Supply Chain Management (SCM) working to streamline the operational functions and styles of doing work. The Zara managers have clearly defined the role of SCM as a blend of a variety of procedures that begin from the prelimin ary stage of the product till the completed utilization of the same creation by the customer. It is a procedure which entails the development, execution, of these plans, and scheming of the product construct with the purpose of providing absolute fulfillment to the customer with regards to the quality of the product, (Abernathy, Dunlop, Hammond, and Weil, 2000/1). Subsequently, by the application of better management capabilities, Zara supply chain fashion has achieved the following: Greater operational flexibility Ability to expand geographically Focus on core competencies Ease of achieving economies of scale Sourcing Strategies of Zara and its Supply chain configuration As compared to its competitors, the fashion brand – Zara follows quite a different business strategy with regards to the sourcing and its chain structure. Unlike most of its competitors, Zara has not resorted to or given the slightest inclination towards outsourcing. Normally, most of the major fashion brand s, have outsourced more than 90% of the operations to cheaper economies like India and China. More than 80% of the material is manufactured at the in-house facilities controlled by Zara in Europe. Although the cost of manufacture is 20% higher in Europe than in Asia, Zara still possesses a competitive advantage over its competitors with relation to its operations. With the help of its business and strategic partners based in Europe, the company easily has a product throughput time of 3-4 weeks from the initial conception phase to the final distribution to stores. In order to achieve this time target of 3-4 weeks, as compared to 3-4 months by its competitors, Zara designs and cuts the cloth at its in-house design centers and colors the fabric in just four colors to keep the costs low. The process of dying and design printing is kept waiting till the fabric finally enters the manufacturing phase, thereby minimizing the waste and inventories. This allows Zara to adapt to the latest mar ket trends and customer requirements in minimal time. On the other hand, the competitors of Zara, who outsource their work to Asia, are not able to take advantage of this aspect – they are not able to offer flexibility to change orders as per ; attests trends and fashion requirements. The orders with these competitors are placed for the whole season in bulk and are kept as inventories in distribution facilities for much larger periods of time as compared to Zara.