National Cranberry Cooperative Free Essays

Background National Cranberry Cooperative (NCC) had faced operational problems at Receiving Plant #1 (RP1) during the peak harvest season in the fall of 1995, which had resulted in unhappiness of the owners of the Co-operatives and high labour cost, despite the purchase of an additional dumper. To avoid the same problems in the coming peak season, it is important to analyse the plant operations based on predicted demands and make recommendations if new equipment should be purchased before the fall of 1996. Problem During the peak seasons, RP1 faces 2 key operational problems: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on National Cranberry Cooperative or any similar topic only for you Order Now Long idling time of trucks and drivers prior to unloading berries at the plant; and 2. High overtime cost due to the long plant operation hours. The long idling time of trucks and drivers caused extra cost and much unhappiness among the growers, who are the owners of the cooperative. In spite of this, NCC’s profits are not affected. On the other hand, high overtime cost will negate the revenue from the sales of berries, affect profits and is a more crucial problem to be solved. Plant Operations Analysis The process flow diagram for RP1 up to the separation processes, including the process and storage capacities, is shown in Appendix A. Following assumptions were made to calculate the capacities: 1. There are 2 continuous flow processes in RP1, 1 for wet berries and 1 for dry berries; 2. Berries flow continuously at a constant rate throughout the entire process; 3. There is negligible flow time at the receiving and testing process, and the process is trea ted as an inventory; and 4. Trucks spend 7 to 8 minutes to empty their contents and leave the platform and it was assumed that an average of 7. minutes was required to unload a truck carrying 75 barrels of cranberries at each of the dumping units. The process capacities are calculated and shown in Table 1. Process| Type of Berries Processed| Calculation| Capacity (bbls/h)| Dumping| Dry/Wet| (75bbls / (7. 5 min/60)) * 5 units| 3,000| Destoning| Dry| 1,500bbls/h * 3 units| 4,500| Dechaffing| Dry| 1,500bbls/h * 1 units| 1,500| Dechaffing | Wet| 1,500bbls/h * 2 unit| 3,000| Drying| Wet| 200bbls/h * 3 units| 600 (Bottleneck)| Separating | Dry/Wet| 400bbls/h * 3 units| 1,200| Table 1 Processing Capacity It is given that 16,800 barrels of berries are delivered in a typical peak harvest day, of which 70% are wet berries and 30% are dry berries. Throughout the 12 hours of receiving process, the demand for wet berries is 980 barrels per hour and that for dry berries is 420 barrels per hour. The total demand for all the berries is 1,400 barrels per hour. Table 2 shows the implied utilization for each of the processes. Process| Type of Berries Processed| Calculation| Implied Utilization (%)| Dumping| Dry/Wet| 1,400 / 3,000| 47| Destoning| Dry| 420 / 4,500| 9| Dechaffing| Dry| 420 / 1,500| 28| Dechaffing | Wet| 980 / 3,000| 33| Drying| Wet| 980 / 600| 163 (Bottleneck)| Separating | Dry/Wet| 1,400 / 1,200| 117| Table 2 Implied Utilization From the implied utilizations, it was determined that the operations at RP1 is process constrained, with the capacities of both the drying and separating processes lower than their demands. It was also identified that the drying process is the bottleneck of the operations and will require 63% more capacity to process the demand of wet berries. Although not the bottleneck, the separating process requires 17% more capacity to process the demand of berries. NCC is concerned about the overtime cost incurred from the peak harvest season and the plant operation time would be determined to address this concern. Another concern is the waiting time for the trucks and drivers before unloading berries at the dumpers and the waiting time required for the last truck would be determined. The following assumptions were made: 1. There are no berries inside the holding bins before operations begin each day; 2. There is no idle time between processes and all processes are able to operate at full capacity; 3.Due to the peak season, the dryer operators will start work at 7:00am; 4. As the bottleneck process is the one processing wet berries, holding bins #17 – 24 would be used to hold wet berries only to optimise plant operations thus making total wet berries holding capacity to be 3,200 barrels; and 5. Trucks will arrive at RP1 at a constant interval over a period of 12 hours starting from 7am. Figure 1 illustrates the plant operation time and the truck waiting time. Truck waiting time Area = ? (1360bbl) x (5. 85/75) hrs. = 53hrs 800bbls/h 380bbls/h 00bbls/h 3200 7:00am 0 7:00pm 7:00am 3:25pm 4560 2:36am Time (hours) Holding Wet Bins Capacity 3 dryers 4 dryers 5 dryers 2160 9:42pm 180bbls/h 1680 9:00pm 840bbls/h 140bbls/h 9:16pm Wet Bins (barrels) Berries waiting on trucks Figure 1 Process Flow of Wet Berries at RP1 In the current plant setup where there are only 3 dryers, the holding bins will be filled up at 380 barrels per hour, which is the excess demand flow rate (980 barrels per hour) over the process capacity (600 barrels per hour). At this rate, the wet bins would be completely filled at 3:25pm. At 7:00pm, when the last truck has arrived at RP1, 4,560 barrels of wet berries would have accumulated, of which 1,360 barrels would be on the trucks. With the plant processing rate of 600 barrels per hour, the trucks would be emptied by 9:16pm with the last truck having waited for 2 hours 16 minutes. The entire process stops at 2:36am, with the total processing time of 19 hours 36 minutes. Potential Solutions Installing a new dryer will increase the drying capacity to 800 barrels per hour but this process will still remain the bottleneck (with implied utilization of 123%). In a typical peak harvest day with 16,800 barrels of berries delivered, the rate of accumulation of wet berries is reduced to 180 barrels per hour and a total of 2,160 barrels will be accumulated at 7:00pm. The entire operation will complete at 9:42pm, with the total processing time of 14 hours 42minutes (Figure 1). At the same time, there would be no truck waiting time as the holding bins will not be filled up completely before 7:00pm. To determine savings, the following assumptions were made: 1. 2 shifts will be implemented during the peak season and overtime is paid after 11:00pm; 2.The process capacity of RP1 is not affected by the implementation of the shifts; 3. Workers would be paid for the full shift (8 hours a day) even if plant operations end before 11:00pm; and 4. Only 8-9 seasonal workers would be used to do overtime and an average of 8. 5 workers is used for calculations. With the current RP1 setup, overtime cost is $37,087 (8. 5 workers x $12 per hour x 3. 6 overtime hours x 101 peak season days). With the additional dryer, no overtime will be required and the cost savings is $37,087. The cost of the dryer ($60,000) exceeds the cost savings for the coming season. As such, NCC’s investment in the dryer will be recovered in 1. 6 seasons ($60,000/$37,087) and net cost savings from the additional dryer will be produced during the 1997 peak season. Another option to improve the process is to install two additional dryers that would increase the drying capacity to 1,000 barrels per hour and the drying process will not be the bottleneck anymore (with 98% implied utilization). The new bottleneck will be the separating process. At this point, the rate of accumulation of berries will be 200 barrels per hour resulting in 2,400 barrels of berries accumulating in the bins by 7:00pm. Of these, 1,680 barrels are wet berries and 720 barrels are dry. After 7:00pm, all berries will be separated in 2 hours (2,400/1,200). The entire operation will complete at 9:00pm (Figure 1). There would be no truck waiting time as both wet and dry holding bins will not be filled up completely. Installing the second additional dryer would cost yet another $60,000 but would benefit only by reducing the total processing time by 42 minutes compared to the processing time achieved by installing one additional dryer. This reduction in time is not considerable compared to the capital that would be invested to install the second additional dryer. Hence this option may not be viable to choose. The third option to consider is to convert some of holding bins for the dry berries to hold wet berries at a cost of $10,000 per bin. This solution will reduce the waiting time of the trucks but does not reduce the overtime cost for the plant as the bottleneck capacity is not increased and operation will continue to end at 2:36am. Recommendation After analyzing all 3 options, it is recommended that one additional dryer be installed. This will eliminate both the need for overtime expenditures and the waiting time for trucks and drivers at a minimal cost. There will be overtime cost savings of $37,087 when compared to the current plant setup. Growers will also save on truck leasing cost although it does not directly affect the profits of NCC. The cost will be recovered in 1. 6 seasons and is expected to turn out as a good long term investment. The additional dryer will increase the efficiency of RP1 and ease the process constraints in operations. Appendix A – Process Flow Diagram Dumping 5units x 75/(7. 5/60) = 3,000bbls/h D Holding Bin #1-16 16Ãâ€"250=4000bbls W D/W Holding Bin #17-24 8Ãâ€"250=2000bbls Holding Bin #25-27 3Ãâ€"400=1200bbls Destoning 3units x 1,500 = 4,500bbls/h Dechaffing 1unit x 1,500 = 1,500bbls/h Dechaffing 2units x 1,500 = 3,000bbls/h Separating 3units x 400 = 1,200bbls/h Drying 3units x 200 = 600bbls/h Bailey Mills 3units x 400 = 1,200bbls/h Shipment Area Disposal Area Trucks Dry Berries Wet Berries Dry/Wet Berries How to cite National Cranberry Cooperative, Essay examples

Self and Community Exploring the Anatomy of the Modern Society

Question: Discuss about theSelf and Communityfor Exploring the Anatomy of the Modern Society. Answer: Individual Dignity Affected by the Hospital Services The present research study is an Op-Ed that is an Opinion Editorial report. This study mainly focuses on analysing the principle of the human dignity and common good principle of the nursing profession. In this particular study, the principles related to the dignity of human and the common good has been mentioned and discussed for providing a better knowledge on the issue study that follows. Along with these principles of human dignity and the common good, the study also mentions about the practice of the deontological perspective instead of the utilitarian perspective for the purpose of the nursing practise. The Principle of Human Dignity: The dignity of the human being has been insisted by the Catholic Church as the dignity of any human being is rooted and is confined within their own creation of the image or fondness or believes or likeness of god. As mentioned by Schachter (2013), the foundation of the all the social teachings of the Catholic Church is the belief of the human being in the inherent dignity. The principle of the human dignity has its grounds within the belief and the idea that each and every person is made within the image of god. The Principle of Common Good: The ways how a society of human is organized as per the economically, legally and politically is proportioned directly to affects the human dignity within the community. There is an dimension for the commitment of any individual for loving their neighbour however, it requires a broader commitment of society. It implies that every individual ha their own responsibility towards the whole society for the common good (Donnelly 2013). Human Dignity Effected: In the present research study, the chosen profession is the profession of Doctor and the services of the hospital. This study shows the ways how the doctors and the hospital services treat the patients dignity and privacy. Very high standard of code of professional conduct is the basic requirement of a good doctor- patient relationship. This requires of the doctor and the patient both to be courteous, honest to each other and compassionate. The doctor requires treating each of the patients as individual and disclosing one patients privacy and confidential matters to others. As mentioned by Banerjee and Sanyal (2012), the doctor needs to follow the protecting the patients privacy and confidentiality and disclose it only when it is demanded by the considerations of the public interests. The patients under any doctor or any hospital have the right to expect that their information regarding the genetics and other non disclosing informations to be held with the party with utmost security and confidentiality. The issues arise in these cases when the privacy regarding the patients is not maintained by the doctors or the hospital services. In the case of the hospital services an issues have been raised according to Broom et al. (2014) that lack of privacy in the hospitals have emerged as one of the central factors that have been leading towards the loss of dignity of the patients at hospitals. Examples: As an example for the hospital services not maintaining the proper security and privacy services and the dignity of the patient could be taken of NHS Hospital of England. This hospital of England does not provide its patients and the patients party with the caring environment that would support the patient privacy and the confidentiality. The patients of the hospital have been found to dislike the hospital staffs and the wards that do not allow privacy. The small spaces between the beds and the close proximity have leads to the loss of dignity of the patients (Lloyd et al. 2014). The second example could be taken of the Florence Nightingale Hospital of UK. The wards of this hospital are the traditional kinds of wards that consist of one long bed with beds on the both of the sides of the wards. Such kind of wards in the modern are a substance of low dignity for the patients that would not provide them with enough privacy an confidential space and lead to loss of dignity of the patients (Donnelly 2013). Conclusion: The hospitals as such require taking steps for the maintaining of the hospital services well for the protection of the customers privacy and dignity. The hospitals must also promote the maintaining of the privacy and the confidential statements and informations of the patients. This would help in the building up and the maintaining of the patients dignity in the hospital (Lloyd et al. 2014). References: Banerjee, A. and Sanyal, D., 2012. Dynamics of doctor-patient relationship: A cross-sectional study on concordance, trust, and patient enablement.Journal of Family and Community Medicine,19(1), p.12. Broom, A., Kirby, E., Good, P., Wootton, J., Yates, P. and Hardy, J., 2014. Negotiating Futility, Managing Emotions Nursing the Transition to Palliative Care.Qualitative health research, p.1049732314553123. Donnelly, J., 2013.Universal human rights in theory and practice. Cornell University Press. Lloyd, L., Calnan, M., Cameron, A., Seymour, J. and Smith, R., 2014. Identity in the fourth age: perseverance, adaptation and maintaining dig1nity.Ageing and Society,34(01), pp.1-19. Schachter, O., 2013. Human dignity as a normative concept.The American Journal of International Law,77(4), pp.848-854.

Beyond The Chocolate War Essay Example For Students

Beyond The Chocolate War Essay Beyond The Chocolate War, a novel written by Robert Cormier is the compelling sequel to The Chocolate War. Robert Cormier is a successful writer who pictures the typical lives of everyday people with extraordinary talent. He is also the author of After The First Death the set novel for year 10 this year. As the names suggest, these books revolve around the same classification: conflict however these are not your common books about pure physical war and battle but it adresses the other side of conflict – the thoughts racing though the characters minds. He very carefully nurtures the plot and story through not only the actions but the thinking of people to build up to a complex climax. The genre of Beyond The Chocolate War is a psychological thriller that deals with the darker side side of human nature. The novel considers real life situations exaggerated for more effect is a very psychological manner. The dilemmas and predicaments experienced by the many characters in the story are expressed via the battle with their own mind, their decisions and the outcomes of their decisions afterwards. There are many themes in Beyond The Chocolate War that all contribute to the composition on the story. Relationships, sexual desires, fighting, revenge, murder, rape, assault, anxiety/distress/trouble (very much so), rebellion, suicide, school values, secret societies and authority. The were numerous examples of relationships and sexual desires with the main character (Obie) having a girlfriend and other people lusting after her. Fighting was not used much – like brain over brawn although there were some fights involving physical violence and injury between students. The strong jocks and students who had built stature’s were made to be in a lesser class, easily manipulated and â€Å"dopey† despite their physique. The plot of the story was also largely based on revenge with many of the characters devising devious plans as vengeance against one of the other main characters (Archie Costello). These plans included the usage of attempted assaults, rapes and murders. Many of the characters in this novel were disturbed and had trouble within their life – which drove them to the creation of the plans. Most of the people in the story blamed it on the dictatorship of Archie Costello which led to rebellion. There was also a sad case of a boy who committed suicide. It was made known throughout the book that he obviously needed help from his family, teachers and peers alike but did not receive it. The most important factor of the book was a secret society called the Vigils within a Catholic school called Trinity High School. The authority of the leader of the Vigils (Archie Costello) was enormous, he controlled practically everyone in the school except Brother Leon the Head Master. Most of the people in the school hated these two characters both very shrewd, smart and cruel. Both also experienced students trying to take their life. Beyond The Chocolate War continues and shows the aftermath of The Chocolate War. Unlike other novels with pre-quels, Beyond The Chocolate War does not give readers a disadvantage and unfulfilling plot if they have not read the pre-quel. It may have been easier however to know the background of some of the characters that were carried over from the previous book but this novel but this novel has a fine stand alone story. The basic plot of the story of starts off with the return of Jerry Renault a boy was severely injured during a fight in the Chocolate War in the previous novel. He is still in shock and the book refers to some of his feelings about the confrontation with the boy who beat him up Emile Janza – a supposedly stupid person with muscles bulging everywhere. Over 3/4 of the story is from the eyes of the main character Obie who vows revenge on Archie Costello who ruined his life. Obie used to be Archie’s ‘right hand man’ and his best friend even though Archie was using Obie. .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .postImageUrl , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:hover , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:visited , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:active { border:0!important; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:active , .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4 .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u73c9d4ff5430c55368d52d773fb381e4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Expansion Of Arthur"s Battle With The Giant EssayNow he has become Archie’s arch rival and aches to get out of the secret society: the Vigils. This group is responsible for pranks/practical jokes (known as â€Å"assignments† to the Vigils) around the school and has caused much disruption in the school and even some deaths. The leader or â€Å"assigner† gives out the pranks to be carried to its members and no-one dares to defy the assigner. Without any choice, the members must complete the pranks which have caused depression and anxiety to many students and even teachers. The guilty conscience haunts them forever, knowing that they have caused so much h arm. The assigner does not do any of the assignments to avoid risk to himself. Obie abhors his role in the inclusion to the senseless pranks but after an â€Å"assignment† placed upon Obie and his girlfriend that involved an attempted rape without his knowing, he plans for the destruction of Archie Costello. â€Å"They touched me Obie! She yelped as Obie comforted her .. he knew it was the work of the Vigils and now the fire had been lit† The suspense and climax is not just provided from Obie’s but from an impending suicide of David Caroni who is driven to his decision by the corruption of teachers in the school (especially Brother Leon). The chapters that describes David’s thoughts are like a time bomb waiting to go off, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The title is significant as it refers to the happenings beyond/after The Chocolate War, other than that the title does not show some other deeper meaning. The writer employs a very descriptive style, which utilises both first and third person perspective’s (predominantly third person). Besides the descriptions taken from the characters minds, there is much dialogue which some sort contrast/similarities to their thoughts. This is a very real aspect of everyday life. There are some uses of personification, similes and expressive words to add meaning and interest (even though some of these words were beyond my comprehension). † . his voice an agonising whisper† He also made use of single word sentences to add depth and emphasise the meaning further. † . he had seen Tubs name in only two sales. Preposterous. † To make it even more realistic he includes various swear words and profane language in the students dialogues. Because there are many characters and parallel plots which converge, the story is exciting and ‘a real page turner’. The author evidently never runs out of words and ideas. While I was reading it, I did not at one point think that it was boring, the cover was boring enough and the small print and fine words would have turned me away from it. If I didn’t read some excerpts from it, even from a small excerpt where action could already be sensed I probably would not have borrowed it. Beyond The Chocolate War touches on the darker side of teenage life-real life situations with a twist. It is very successful in captivating me and even involves me in it. The characters are easy to keep track of as they have a distinct role which is not too confusing at all. The characters are very well chosen as their personalities are extremely original and typical for the distorted youths in the story. The story is very entertaining and offers a new outlook in bullying and ways to combat it. There are many things to learn from this book and if the message sent across by the reader is successful (that teenagers must be nurtured by their parents, peers and teachers and bullying, discrimination and unfairness stamped out), many suicides and teenage depressions could be prevented.

Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Overview This is a healthcare facility whose main objective is to offer health care services, carry out health related research, as well as promote biomedical education. The facility offers health care in various areas such as heart and heart surgery, endocrinology, respiratory disorders, kidney complications, as well as gynaecology among others.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a company that has several branches and a number of campuses that offer biomedical education. The headquarters of Vanderbilt University Medical Center are located in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States of America. Potential strengths and weaknesses Strengths The success of an organization is highly dependent on its strengths and opportunities available to it. Vanderbilt University Medical Cen ter has been one of the most successful companies in the industry. It has a number of strengths that have enabled it to achieve the kind of success it has today. One of the strengths that have been vital to the success of this company is the fact that it has staffs that are highly skilled and committed to the organizational duties (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). The staffs are always working to give the best services to the patients and their customers to ensure that anyone who gets the services is satisfied and will be willing to come back again. In addition to being committed to their duties, the staffs are also highly skilled. Therefore, the services they offer are top class and of high quality. It is important to note that most of the diseases that are handled in these hospitals need a high level of knowledge and skills, an attribute that the staffs already possess. The staffs are committed to ensuring the wellness of patients. As a result, patients are always willing to visit t he facility since they are assured of top quality services. One of the reasons that may have contributed to the company having highly skilled staffs is the fact that it has its own training facilities where it trains medical personnel. The research facilities available in the organization also help in boosting the knowledge and skills of the staff. It is, therefore, in order to say that the research institutions and the training institutions are also strengths to the company (Berkowitz, 2011).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other factor contributing to the company’s strength is its locations. As it has been mentioned earlier, Vanderbilt University Medical Center has several branches of hospitals that offer services to patients. The branches are located in strategic points where they can reach a large number of patients. The locations are easily accessible by road. The company is well connected within the country. It is also well equipped with technological facilities that are used in enhancing the level of services offered. Technology is a source of strength for any company that has it and utilizes it accordingly. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses that affect the business of Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the weak communication system that exists. The organization is very large, thus communication becomes quite complicated. It is not easy to communicate effectively with all the staffs. It is important to note that communication in itself is a competitive advantage for any organization. Therefore, it is likely for the organization to lose its competitive advantage to rivals if it is not able to communicate effectively with its stakeholders. There are cases such as duplication of services that result from weak communication systems at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Organizational differences One of the factors that c an facilitate the success of any organization is its differences. An organization that offers services that are differentiated is likely to gain a competitive advantage. It is imperative to note that the organizational differences distinguish the organization from its competitors. In addition, it is the differences that describe what the organization is all about, as well as its objectives and mission. According to Duncan, Ginter and Swayne (2013), organizational differences refer to the strategic resources of the organization and the measures that the organization has put in place to develop these strategies in order to differentiate it from competitors. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is different in that it has resources that are not available in many organizations in the same industry. For instance, it has training institutions where it trains its own staffs. This helps it offer quality training to its staff so that they can offer top quality services to patients, thereby m aking the organizational services differentiated. Another factor that makes the organization different is the fact that it has research facilities where its staff can carry out various researches.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research helps the organization improve on its services since it can make new discoveries and come up with new ways to deal with the various problems. In addition, research facilities and the technological equipment in those facilities are likely to support innovation, an attribute that is likely to give the organization competitive advantage to facilitate its objective of offering differentiated services (Berkowitz, 2011). ASSISTS Analysis This is an analysis that is used to determine the competitive relevance of the resources available in an organization, as well as the capabilities of the organization and its staff (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). One of the questions that have to be answered is the question of value. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has resources that have a lot of value to its customers. The resources are worth since they help the customers get the best services possible. For instance, the training facilities give the staffs knowledge and skills that help them offer quality services to the patients. The equipment is of high competence and is up to date in terms of technology. The other question relates to rareness. Not many competitor organizations have the resources that are possessed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For instance, it is not easy to find hospitals that have research centres and training facilities. Therefore, this is a point of strength to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and it gives it competitive advantage. The question of immitability should also be considered in determining the ASSIST analysis. It is impo rtant to note that most of the resources can be copied by the competitors in this industry. This is a weakness for Vanderbilt University Medical Center since its competitors are likely to copy and have means of duplicating the services and resources as long as they have enough finances. Finally, the question of sustainability should also be addressed. Vanderbilt University Medical Center has the ability to sustain its current competitive advantage for a long period. The value and the rareness can be maintained. However, the organization should take measures to improve on immitability of its resources and capabilities (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). ASSIST Analysis TableAdvertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Value Vanderbilt has high value resources e.g. training and research facilities. Has highly competent equipment and up to date technology. Rareness Competitors hardly have Vanderbilt’s resources such as training and research centres. Immitability Most of Vanderbilt’s resources can be copied by competitors. With enough finances, competitors can duplicate Vanderbilt’s services. Sustainability Vanderbilt can sustain its current competitive edge for long due to its unmatched, valuable and rare resources. Sources of competitive advantages An organization should be aware of the sources of its competitive advantage to be able to maintain them and find ways to improve on them. Competitive advantage is gained if an organization has the ability to add value to the services it offers to customers and in turn increase the level of customer satisfaction (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). There various ways through which an organization can add value to its services for customers. Among the ways through which an organization can add value include cost leadership, differentiation, as well as focus strategies. Cost leadership is where the organization has the ability to offer goods and services at a cost that is relatively lower compared to that of competitors. It is important for the organization to maintain the quality of its products, regardless of the costs involved. Therefore, the costs should be sustainable. The next method of gaining competitive advantage is through differentiation. This is the method used by Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Center offers services that are differentiated from those of its competitors. Differentiation can, therefore, be described as the source of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s competitive advantage (Schmidt, 2010). The research facilities available in the company help it develop ways of offering services that are of high quality. A research centre is a source of knowledge; therefore, employees of the company have access to knowledge that they apply in offering their services. In addition, the training offered also help in differentiating the company’s services. The health personnel are trained in a customized manner to offer special services to the organization’s patients (Berkowitz, 2011). Porter’s modified value chain for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Source: Schmidt (2010) Evaluating competitive analysis This is a stage that is very critical in determining the competitiveness of the organization since it is the stage that enables the organization in defining strategies that can improve on its current services and gain or sustain its competitiveness. A thorough analysis of the competitive advantage will help the organization improve on its marketing strategies, operations, infrastructure within the organization, as well as the technological development of the organization (Duncan, Ginter Swayne, 2013). Vanderbilt University Medic al Center is an organization that is highly competitive. It has resources that have helped it become one of the best in the USA, if not the best in the industry. Its capabilities are outstanding, thereby giving it an upper hand compared to its rivals. However, the company has some weaknesses that it should improve on in order avoid being overtaken by its rivals in terms of competition. For instance, communication is an issue that is likely to affect its operations. Despite the fact that the size of the company is an advantage, it makes it difficult for effective communication systems to be established. It is important to note that communication has the ability to improve the services offered. At the same time, communication can lead to poor services if it is not well established. Generally, Vanderbilt University Medical Center is competitive in the industry, but it should improve in communication to avoid losing its competitiveness. References Berkowitz, E. N. (2011). Essentials of health care marketing. Sudbury, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., Swayne, L. E. (2013). Strategic management of healthcare organizations (7th ed). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Schmidt, B. B. (2010). The dynamics of MA strategy: Mastering the outbound MA wave of Chinese banks. Frankfurt am Main: Lang. This assessment on Organizational Assessment of Vanderbilt University Medical Center was written and submitted by user Casey Carter to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

History of Ecuadors San Francisco De Quito

History of Ecuador's San Francisco De Quito The city of San Francisco de Quito (generally simply called Quito) is the capital of Ecuador and the second-largest city in the nation after Guayaquil. It is centrally located on a plateau high in the Andes Mountains. The city has a long and interesting history dating from pre-Colombian times to the present. Pre-Colombian Quito Quito occupies a temperate, fertile plateau high (9,300 feet/2,800 meters above sea level) in the Andes Mountains. It has a good climate and has been occupied by people for a long time. The first settlers were the Quitu people: they were eventually subjugated by the Caras culture. Sometime in the fifteenth century, the city and region were conquered by the mighty Inca Empire, based out of Cuzco to the south. Quito prospered under the Inca and soon became the second most important city in the Empire. The Inca Civil War Quito was plunged into civil war sometime around 1526. Inca ruler Huayna Capac died (possibly of smallpox) and two of his many sons, Atahualpa and Huscar, began to fight over his empire. Atahualpa had the support of Quito, whereas Huscars power base was in Cuzco. More importantly for Atahualpa, he had the support of three powerful Inca generals: Quisquis, Chalcuchima, and Rumià ±ahui. Atahualpa prevailed in 1532 after his forces routed Huscars at the gates of Cuzco. Huscar was captured and would later be executed on Atahualpas orders. The Conquest of Quito In 1532 Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro arrived and took Atahualpa captive. Atahualpa was executed in 1533, which turned as-yet unconquered Quito against the Spanish invaders, as Atahualpa was still much beloved there. Two different expeditions of conquest converged on Quito in 1534, led by Pedro de Alvarado and Sebastin de Benalczar respectively. The people of Quito were tough warriors and fought the Spanish every step of the way, most notably at the Battle of Teocajas. Benalczar arrived first only to find that Quito had been razed by general Rumià ±ahui to spite the Spanish. Benalczar was one of 204 Spaniards to formally establish Quito as a Spanish city on December 6, 1534, a date which is still celebrated in Quito. Quito During the Colonial Era Quito prospered during the colonial era. Several religious orders including the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Augustinians arrived and built elaborate churches and convents. The city became a center for Spanish colonial administration. In 1563 it became a Real Audiencia under the supervision of the Spanish Viceroy in Lima: this meant that there were judges in Quito who could rule on legal proceedings. Later, administration of Quito would pass to the Viceroyalty of New Granada in present-day Colombia. The Quito School of Art During the Colonial era, Quito became know for the high-quality religious art produced by the artists who lived there. Under the tutelage of Franciscan Jodoco Ricke, the Quitan students began producing high-quality works of art and sculpture in the 1550’s: the â€Å"Quito School of Art† would eventually acquire very specific and unique characteristics. Quito art is characterized by syncretism: that is, a mixture of Christian and native themes. Some paintings feature Christian figures in Andean scenery or following local traditions: a famous painting in Quito’s cathedral features Jesus and his disciples eating guinea pig (a traditional Andean food) at the last supper. The August 10 Movement In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain, captured the King and put his own brother on the throne. Spain was thrown into turmoil: a competing Spanish government was set up and the country was at war with itself. Upon hearing the news, a group of concerned citizens in Quito staged a rebellion on August 10, 1809: they took control of the city and informed the Spanish colonial officials that they would rule Quito independently until such a time as the King of Spain were restored. The Viceroy in Peru responded by sending an army to quash the rebellion: the August 10 conspirators were thrown in a dungeon. On August 2, 1810, the people of Quito tried to break them out: the Spanish repelled the attack and massacred the conspirators in custody. This gruesome episode would help keep Quito mostly on the sidelines of the struggle for independence in northern South America. Quito was finally liberated from the Spanish on May 24, 1822, at the Battle of Pichincha: among the heroes of the battle were Field Marshal Antonio Josà © de Sucre and local heroine Manuela Senz. The Republican Era After independence, Ecuador was at first part of the Republic of Gran Colombia: the republic fell apart in 1830 and Ecuador became an independent nation under first President Juan Josà © Flores. Quito continued to flourish, although it remained a relatively small, sleepy provincial town. The greatest conflicts of the time were between liberals and conservatives. In a nutshell, conservatives preferred a strong central government, limited voting rights (only wealthy men of European descent) and a strong connection between church and state. Liberals were just the opposite: they preferred stronger regional governments, universal (or at least expanded) suffrage and no connection whatsoever between church and state. This conflict often turned bloody: conservative president Gabriel Garcà ­a Moreno (1875) and liberal ex-president Eloy Alfaro (1912) were both assassinated in Quito. The Modern Era of Quito Quito has continued to slowly grow and has evolved from a tranquil provincial capital to a modern metropolis. It has experienced occasional unrest, such as during the turbulent presidencies of Josà © Marà ­a Velasco Ibarra (five administrations between 1934 and 1972). In recent years, the people of Quito have occasionally taken to the streets to successfully oust unpopular presidents such as Abdal Bucaram (1997) Jamil Mahuad (2000) and Là ºcio Gutià ©rrez (2005). These protests were peaceful for the most part and Quito, unlike many other Latin American cities, has not seen violent civil unrest in some time. Quito’s Historic Center Perhaps because it spent so many centuries as a quiet provincial town, Quitos old colonial center is particularly well-preserved. It was one of UNESCOS first World Heritage sites in 1978. Colonial churches stand side-by-side with elegant Republican homes on airy squares. Quito has invested a great deal recently in restoring what locals call el centro historico and the results are impressive. Elegant theatres such as the Teatro Sucre and Teatro Mà ©xico are open and show concerts, plays and even the occasional opera. A special squad of tourism police is detailed to the old town and tours of old Quito are becoming very popular. Restaurants and hotels are flourishing in the historic city center. Sources: Hemming, John. The Conquest of the Inca London: Pan Books, 2004 (original 1970). Various Authors. Historia del Ecuador. Barcelona: Lexus Editores, S.A. 2010

Wrtie an executive summary based on Why It's So Hard to be Fair for Essay

Wrtie an executive summary based on Why It's So Hard to be Fair for your supervisor who is having trouble rallying his team - Essay Example ve the underlying reasons as to why employees are being laid off or if they do, time is not taken to allow for questions or even employees’ input on the matter. Firm B employees are further advanced good layoff packages as a sign of consolation. The employees of company B later file law suits claiming unlawful layoffs while none or just a few from firm A file similar suits (122-23). Firm B fund itself using a lot of resources in the lawsuits over and above the funds and benefits granted to the laid off workers. The difference in the above outcome was solely based on the approach taken to handle the situation and this is in regards to process fairness. This entails the manager treating the employees fairly and for the employees to feel that they have been treated as so. After the layoffs it was noted that for firm A the productivity increased for those who were left while in firm B it reduced. This therefore means that the employees who were left were affected by either in a positive manner or negatively. Those of firm A increased productivity because they believed that they had a responsibility toward enhancing organisational growth and felt that if they fail to work hard everyone stands to lose in one way or the other. In firm B workers felt that the laying off process was unjust as no much explanation was give and this reduced their morale a great deal (Brockner 123). As seen above time, resources and productivity was lost simply because the manager in firm B did not take time to be courteous enough to explain the issue at hand or even listen and discuss the situation with employees. The firm also ended up losing a great deal of money in the process. Employees need to feel in such situations their views are taken into consideration as well as their plight. This calls for the management to involve employees in decision making more so in areas that will affect their wellbeing. This scenario is also true with customers who need to feel that they have been

Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Success - Essay Example Thus, if my answer is considered correct, then the definition of success would vary from person to person, depending on his or her personal goals. Most of the people in life attribute IQ to success. They believe that if a person has a high IQ score, he or she will be extremely successful in their lives. However, in my opinion, the most important ingredient to achieve a goal, in other words, the most important factor to succeed is not an IQ score; rather it is the self-control in people. As previously mentioned, people usually assume that s successful life is promised to people possessing a high IQ. In today’s world, especially in Korea, most people believe that the level of university plays an important role in an individual’s success and right of admission to these prestigious universities is limited to students with high IQ scores. However, I still doubt the fact that high IQ results in achievement of success. My point of view has also been supported by Gladwell in hi s article â€Å"The trouble with geniuses†, who indicates that it is creativity, not high IQ that is the key factor for success in life. The author further asserts that â€Å"the relationship between success and IQ works only up to a point.† (79, Gladwell). In other words, Gladwell suggests that IQ is not the most important ingredient to achieve success. ... The purpose of the class was to amplify these students’ IQ and turn them into real geniuses so that they can play an important role in the society. A number of people believed that this course would help students a become members of prestigious universities. This specific course was so popular among parents and students that a few of my friends who were known to be smart students, desired to take that course which would result in admission into a top-notch university and a bright future. However, unfortunately, a number of those students who took that course were not accepted in top colleges. Overall, most of these students attended good colleges or colleges that were not famous. On the other hand, I observed that students who were not a part of that course, as in whose IQ was not as high, got accepted in various prestigious colleges and now have successful jobs. Thus, it is clear that IQ plays an important role in the success of an individual to an extent, but not completely. As long as individuals possess a certain level of IQ, IQ itself would not have a significant influence in our lives. An article, â€Å"Don’t† written by Jonah Lehrer, also suggests that IQ is not the most important factor in a successful life. This article places emphasis on self control as an important ingredient for success by revealing test results that indicate that who controlled themselves well were more successful. In this article, Mischel argues â€Å"intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control: even the smartest kids still need to do their homework.† (4, Lehrer). Here Mischel means that even the children with extraordinarily high IQ need to put in certain amount of effort to achieve success in life. By not striving hard