Operations Function Essay Example for Free

Operations Function Essay This therefore implies that Operation Management decisions are not made in isolation. Rather, each decision is intertwined with other organizational functions following the strategic direction developed at the top level of the organization. In a nutshell, many of the decisions made by operations managers are dependent on information from the other functions. At the same time, other functions cannot be carried out properly without information from operations as detailed below: 1. Finance: The finance function ties all departments together with monetary measurements that tell whether the company is making money. They also regulate the acquisition of funds to keep the business operations going, and investing money received wisely. Finance managers need to work closely with the operations function to be able to determine the need for capital investments, make-or-buy decisions, plant expansions, or relocation of business operations. On the other hand, operations managers cannot make large financial expenditures without understanding financial constraints and methods of evaluating financial investments. It is essential for these two functions to work together and understand each other’s constraints. . Sales and marketing: The sales and marketing function focuses on maintaining and attracting customers to the companys products and services. To be able to satisfy customer needs, the marketing function needs to understand what operations can produce, what due dates it can and cannot meet, and what types of customization operations can deliver. The marketing function can develop an exciting m arketing campaign, but if operations cannot produce the desired product, sales will not be made. In turn, operations managers need information about customer wants and expectations. It is the responsibility of the operations function to design products with characteristics that customers find desirable, and they cannot do this without regular coordination with the marketing department. 3. Information and Communications Technology (ICT): ICT is the function that enables information to flow throughout the organization and enables the operations function to operate effectively. The ICT function must understand the needs of operations and endeavour to meet those needs as regards timely provision of required information.

Foreign Literature Essay Example for Free

Foreign Literature Essay Last night I was at the presentation of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, where a young Angolan writer, Josà © Eduardo Agualusa, was announced the 2007 winner for his novel The Book of Chameleons, translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn. Set in contemporary Angola, the book is particularly notable for being narrated by a lizard. The judges this year were the poet David Constantine, writer and editor Jennie Erdal, Arts Council Literature officer Kate Griffin, novelist Ali Smith and the literary editor of the Independent, Boyd Tonkin. Admirably the prize is shared between the translator and author, thus honouring an art that often goes unsung. The book was evidently a popular choice and Agualusa received his award in person, accompanied by whoops and cheers. Tonkin extols the prize as a unique bridge between writers abroad and readers at home. As thrilled as I was that this talented newcomer beat such literary heavyweights as Ismail Kadare and Javier Marà ­as, however, I was even more delighted that the award honours a small literary publisher, Arcadia, who recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. The dedicated team at Arcadia are worthy recipients of this prestigious award, not just for bringing this imaginative young writer to an English readership, but overall for their championing of cultural diversity and for widening our literary choice 50% of their 2007 lists are books in translation. Given the effects of globalisation elsewhere, it seems astonishing that we dont translate more foreign literature in this country. Apparently, translated fiction accounts for only 3% of fiction sales in the UK, compared with 30-40% in France or Spain. The British are voracious readers, so why are we so insular? Dont we welcome unusual voices and different perspectives? How can we exert pressure on publishers to produce more translated fiction? For those interested in foreign literature, an excellent resource is Words Without Borders, an online magazine dedicated to promoting international exchange through translation and publishing works/extracts on the web. And if youd like to see Josà © Eduardo Agualusa and Daniel Hahn, theyll be reading from The Book of Chameleons this evening at Foyles bookshop, London, 6.30pm 8.30pm.

Sustainable Architecture And Passive Housing Construction Essay

Sustainable Architecture And Passive Housing Construction Essay In the daily life, a lot of people past by some of these words: sustainable architecture or green buildings; however, they dont the meaning of it. For that reason, Ive decided to write about passive housing, which is a type of sustainable architecture. But before starting discussing the topic, a brief introduction to sustainable architecture will be given. There are a lot of definitions for sustainable architecture; nevertheless, there are two definitions that simple and exact idea about it. The first one is Environmentally-friendly houses and commercial buildings that are designed and built using sustainable building technologies, sustainable building materials, and sustainable energy systems, that dont burden future generations with environmental and financial debts. (Sustainable Architecture) And other defection was defined by architect Robert Berkebile, Sustainable Architecture is a design that improves the quality of life today, without diminishing it for the next generation. (Sustainable Architecture) In short, sustainable architecture is a way of building house and commercial buildings to save the environment for the future. Sustainable architecture isnt a new technology. It started developing in Europe since almost 500 years ago. It started by simple idea, which indicates how houses can be cool in summer and warm in winter by using minimum energy. Now days, they have more complicated ideas such as: producing their own electricity and recycling waste. That is because of the new technological advances, human has been developing over the years. There are three types of sustainable architecture mostly common and they are: zero energy buildings, passive housing and law energy housing. Is sustainable architecture that important to be developing for all of these years? In fact, its an important factor of saving the environment from depletion. According to the National American Homebuilders Association, a typical, (non-sustainable) stick-built or wood-frame home was 2,085 square feet and required  more than one acre of trees/forest; moreover, the waste created during the construction of this typical home averages between 3 tons to 7 tons, for every new house built. It only saves construction materials, but also reduces the consumption of energy and water. Passive house have one main principle which is reduce the energy lost in the house. But how can it be done. Its done by isolating the building and using the energy of people and the households. Passive house is very energy efficient because it use only 10% of energy that regular house use. This amount of energy is used for heating, hot water, and household electricity. In May 1988, Professors Bo Adamson of Lund University, Sweden, and Dr. Wolfgang Feist of the Institut fà ¼r Wohnen und Umwelt (Institute for Housing and the Environment) had a conversation about the Passive House standard originated. As result of the conversation, they developed the concept of passive housing by doing many research projects which have been supported financially by the German state of Hesse. The first passive house buildings were built in 1990 in Darmstadt, Germany. The Passivhaus Institut (the passive house institute) was established in September 1996. The concept of passive housing became more commercialized and following the  European Union  sponsored  CEPHEUS  project in winter of 2000-2001. Moreover, in 2003 the first passive house was built in North America, Urbana, Illinois. Since the institute was founded, 15,000 passive houses were built worldwide. Most of these houses were built in Germany andAustria. Figure Time Line of the History of Passive Housing The Design of Passive Housing There are mainly two key elements from designing a passive house, which are the orientation of the building and the construction material. The Orientation of the Building: The first feature that should be considered before building a passive house is the orientation of the house that is because it is the key of the utmost energy production. Since the solar energy is the most reliable energy for the house, the house should be directed to the sun. On the other hand, the wind also should be considered because it can cool the house during winter. For these reasons, the house is directed to the east-west axis and most of the windows are ought to be on the south wall of the house. In this way, the house will get maximum of sunlight and minimum of wind entering the house. Although, these conditions work perfectly in winter, there is other condition should be thought of in summer which is shading. Shading is important because it reduces the sunlight getting into the house. This is the main technique that passive house uses to heat and cool itself. The Construction Material: Figure How passive house works? As any ordinary house, passive house has the same basic building material, but it is only enhanced to maximize the energy gained and minimize the lost. Concrete, bricks and stone are the basic material for building a passive house because they can absorb the energy from the sun fully and gradually. As result of the long period of energy absorbing, a phenomenon which is called lag happens. Lag is the warm sunlight which was absorbed during the day then released slowly during the night. There three types of windows glass and they are: one pane, two pane and three pane windows. One pane and two pane windows are commonly used in normal houses; however, three pane windows are used in passive house. Moreover, they are made from three glass panes which are split by air or Argon gas. This makes the window more insulated that prevents cold air getting in and decreasing the heat getting out. Because of the house is insulated, Mechanical Ventilation is used in the house to proved fresh air and heat. It gets fresh air from and takes out the polluted air from the house while it heat the fresh air by absorbing the heat from the polluted air. Also, all passive houses have solar panels that convert the sun light to electricity that serves the house. Moreover, some of the houses have wind tribunes which also provide it with electricity. The wind tribunes are installed only if the area where the house is built has sufficient amount of wind. There are many advantages of building house passively. The cost of electricity is very low which is about 100à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ a year. Also, it is eco-friendly because it uses less electricity and that lead to less consumption of petroleum product, nature gas, coal and wood. These products release a lot Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that pollute the air which leads to global warming. In addition, it improved the sustainability of the house. Furthermore, it helps people who have allergies by reducing their symptoms. It is reduced because the air ventilation system cleans the air from dust are pollution. However, there is one disadvantage of passive housing that is air tightness, so without an efficient air ventilation system that keep the air clean and preserve an excellent humidity percentage in the house. Conclusion To summarize, sustainable architecture is the way of building without harming the environment. There are many ways of sustainable architecture, and one of them is passive housing. It has one key principle which is minimizing the energy lost from the house. Passive housing is new trend which started in 1988. The standards of passive housing are set by Professors Bo Adamson and Dr. Wolfgang Feist. The standards of passive housing have two main ideas which are the orientation of the building and the construction material. The cost of passive housing is higher than a normal house by 5-15%. Eco friendly and cost efficiency are advantages of passive housing, but air tightness is a disadvantage.

Gender Stereotype Essay -- essays papers

Gender Stereotype According to the writers in chapter, â€Å"Gender Stereotyping And the Media†, gender stereotypes are harmful to men and women. Gender stereotypes set impossible standards for men and women that lead to unhappiness, loneliness and possibly violence towards themselves. Stereotypes affect relationships between a man and a woman. Moreover, stereotypes dictate the behavior of boys and girls that lead to violence. Rather than combating gender stereotypes, our society reinforces stereotypes by passing them to the next generation and giving labels and names to the people who do not conform to the stereotypes. Hence, the dichotomy is that our society buys into the stereotypes that reinforce abuse, while tying to remove violence from our society. Traditional female stereotypes rigidly emphasize the belief that women must perform the specific role that are assigned to them. From a traditional perspective, â€Å"femininity is characterized by passivity and sumission.† (Devor P.169) Feminine characteristics of passivity and submission allow women to best fulfill t...

Computers in the Classroom :: Teaching Education Essays

Computers in the Classroom Computers are everywhere in the world today. Everywhere that you turn you are going to see some form of a computer. Computers are found in every work place and are used by many different people. It is very important these days that everyone learns the basics for using a computer because most jobs or professions will require some computer knowledge in order to be qualified for many positions. The profession I am looking to get into is the teaching profession. I am hoping to teach business classes at the high school level and that is why I am majoring in education and business at Lake Superior State University. Computers have a very important role in teaching and in business. Some business people will tell you that the computer is the single most important business tool. Without the Internet or spread sheets, the business world as we know it today would be very different. Although computers have an enormous role in business what I would like to discuss is the impact of computers on Teaching. About all full-time regular public school teachers report that they now have access to computers and the Internet and it has become a normal part of classroom activity in most places. Computers are very useful tools for teachers and they could change the way classes are taught in the future. There is no need to worry, I am not hinting that there will be some sort of computer programmed robot teaching kindergarten, but I am referring to the great benefits of computers in the classroom. The amount of information accessible is amazing and can really assist the teacher with lessons and such. Also computer programs like word processors and spread sheets are very helpful to the students; not to mention the positive effects some educational games have on children. These games which are played on computers are every teachers dream; they make learning fun and enjoyable for the student. One problem which arises when considering computers in the classroom is that many teachers did not grow up with the technology of today and are not fully capable of operating a computer and therefore steer away from them. According to a new survey released by the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics, teachers with more than 32 hours of professional development are twice as likely to use computers as are teachers with no such training.

Chris Van Allsburg Essay -- essays papers

Chris Van Allsburg Chris Van Allsburg has been named one of the most intriguing authors and illustrators of children’s books. He has a unique style that captivates children and adults alike. Often, a person’s background and experiences influence their work. Imagination has many roots into the childhood of an individual. Chris Van Allsburg grew up in a quiet suburban setting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the 1950’s, when he was a child, the town was a place that seemed like a haven for any young boy. There were open fields that provided places for the children to enjoy a baseball game in the spring. The houses were not separated by fences, but rather blended together by the yards. The setting in which he grew up provided activities and locations that fostered imagination. He used to go down to the edge of a river and tried to catch tadpoles. Walking around in the wilderness that surrounded his town could be very relaxing and allow for the mind to conjure up many ideas. The child’s mind has a great ability to make up stories, but when you are constantly â€Å"practicing† at make-believe, you tend to become better and better at it. You also come to develop your own unique style. As a young boy Chris Van Allsburg enjoyed drawing. He loved to sit down and put his imaginative ideas to paper for his own viewing pleasure. In school and with his family he was not encouraged to spend so much time drawing and painting. Since he was a boy, he was encouraged to participate in sports more often. Chris Van Allsburg abandoned his passion for drawing and went along with the pressures of his family and friends. He would not discover his passion for a few more years. When Chris Van Allsburg entered college he took a freshman cours... ...books. His writing style, accompanied with the talented illustrations, makes for a great book. These are the types of books that a child would want to read over and over again. They are also appealing to adults, which would allow for a parent to spend some quality time reading with their children. I believe that Chris Van Allsburg was born with his incredible imagination. Through his drawings and through the courses he took in college he found his true passion. If weren’t for that chance meeting with his wife’s friend he might have never had the chance or the desire to write storybooks for children. Chris Van Allsburg Storybooks The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, 1979 Just a Dream, 1990 Ben’s Dream, 1982 The Polar Express, 1985 Two Bad Ants, 1988 The Wreck of the Zephyr, 1983 Jumanji, 1981 The Mysteries of Harris Bur*censored*, 1984 The Widow’s Broom, 1992

Ebooks vs books Essay

Paper and electronic books both make an excellent and effective way of reading, although paper books allow more of a precise effective reading while electronic books is often quicker and more convenient. Reading has always been one of our important and educational element. Since childhood, reading and books has always been exposed to us. Society evolution of books has completely changed and restructured our way of reading. Paper books are described to be â€Å"traditional books† whereas electronic books are described to be â€Å"modern†; but no matter of its  differences, both paper and electronic books are essential functions of reading. In difference of the fact that readings traditional and modern have many similarities, they also have some differences. Between Paper and Electronic Books, there are loads differences as well as similarities shared. Paper Books, for example affects the reader more differently than electronics. Though they both serve the same purpose in the matter; reading traditionally, increases the reader’s way of thinking and education. It impacts the readers on how they express themselves; improve  communication skills and opening their mind to new ideas. It offers more of an escape to the readers, thus broadening their mind and creativity. Whereas electronic books, has the advantage to change their lightning so that it is easier for the readers to read. Like a computer, it allows the reader to have the ability to translate any given book, look up information about the book and retrieve books quickly. Based on earlier research, many people assume the price of eBooks is more or less better than buying books. Generally each book has a different price depending on if it is hard or a paper  copy. Reading electronically, there are many of websites that could give the reader books for free and some that sells them at a cheaper price. Nevertheless, paper books at least have its advantages and reasons in their price. Despite their price in new books, bookstores can offer discounts and other benefits for books of usage at lower prices than eBooks. According to publishers, printing paper books are usually accounted for only eight percent of its cost based off the publishing. However, electronic books are often cheaper because of none printing fees. A clear difference is also the space and weight between each other. Coming in different bulky sizes, books often take more than enough space and are heavy. Carrying more than two or three around can become like a work-out. One the other hand, studies show that readers like some of the weight. With the given weight of the books, it allow readers to make sure that their items are not misplaced (Kevin O’Kelly). Despite the weight, books are known to be reliable equipment. Withstanding abuse form variations of temperature, moistures, falls and tearing, they are often known to be strong. Even more so, they give off an appealing yet elegant look and do not involve a need of power to function. Whereas eBooks are often thin and created to weigh the amount of a smart phone. EBooks are more of viewing hi-tech software, which can carry dozen to hundreds of books. Although they are able to withstand traveling without weight, eBooks also are able to break easily. Not being durable enough, eBooks has more of a chance breaking when dropped or wet. Still rather than being an easy usage, eBooks often need connection and can only produce a reader one book at a time. This can be problematic for a student that needed to study. In contrast, accommodating either paper or eBooks, each has their own disadvantage and advantage in reading. Each is somewhat of an advantage or disadvantage to different readers but they are both materialistic of the same thing and purpose. Similarly, both paper books and eBooks serve the purpose, for the reader to enjoy books. The decision is ultimately up to the reader to decide. Some people find that technology is convenient and reliable; while other fined that there is no reason to change things. They just each have ways of being an advantage and a disadvantage but are very similar in ways SOURCES Couts, Andrew. â€Å"IS THERE ANY REASON TO OWN PAPER BOOKS BESIDES SHOWING OFF? NOT REALLY. † Web. 26 October 2013 Mandly, Leah. â€Å"Nook vs. Book. † Daily Collegian (2010): Web. 21 Nov 2010. O’Kelly, Kevin. â€Å"EBooks vs. Print: Actually a Nonissue†. Web. 25 February 2014. Rlaforme. â€Å"Kindle vs. Nook vs. Book. † Genera=on the Alterna=ve Voice 1984. SBI. 12 January 2010. Web. 21 November 2010. Slater, Marc. â€Å"EBooks VS Printed Books: Which Is Preferred Now? †.