Customer Service at Ll Bean

Abstract: This case discusses the customer service initiatives of LL Bean, Inc, a US-based multichannel retailer. LL Bean had evolved from being a mail order company selling hunting boots into a leading international retailer selling apparels, home furnishings and outdoor equipment. Its endeavor was to deliver quality products at reasonable prices and offer excellent customer service to customers. In its 98-year long history, the company had preserved the customer-centric tradition set by the founder and had, over the years, molded its operational policies to provide superior purchasing experience to customers. The company believed that a satisfied customer helped build customer loyalty and encouraged repeat purchases, which were essential to achieve success in the retail business. The case discusses in detail the customer-friendly policies of LL Bean and the customer service practices that had resulted in its being recognized as a customer service champion by consumers and industry observers. This also helped the company to perform better than its rivals during the global economic recession of 2007-2009. Experts felt that the company's superior customer service provided it with a competitive edge. The case will help students to: (1) understand the importance of customer service, particularly in the retail industry; (2) study the customer-centric policies of LL Bean and the various practices that the retailer followed to provide superior customer service; (3) understand how the customer-centric policies and practices contributed to the success of LL Bean; and (4) explore strategies that LL Bean could adopt in the future to attract more customers. This case is designed for MBA / MS students and is intended to be part of the marketing management curriculum. It can also be used in the business strategy curriculum. The teaching note includes the abstract, teaching objectives and methodology, assignment questions, feedback of the case discussion, and additional readings and references. It does not contain an analysis of the case.

Able Planet Case

Running head: Case 2 Able Planet Case 2 Able Planet Kelly Raines Devry University SBE 560 ? Contents Abstract3 The difficulties entrepreneurs face when raising between over $100,000 for their businesses4 Ways Kevin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital5 Memo to Kevin Semcken7 References9 ? Abstract This paper will analyze Case Study 2 Able Planet. In this case study, Kevin Semcken, Able Planet’s CEO and chairman is seeking capital to finance existing operations for its current products, build a prototype for a new product and market both products to new and current customers (Scarborough, 2012).Furthermore, Able Planet is unable to secure financing from a bank due to a predicament in the economic markets which has all but closed shut the lending opportunities at most commercial banks. Information that will be evaluated includes the following: †¢Why entrepreneurs face difficulties when trying to raise between $100,000 and $3 million for their businesses †¢Ways Ke vin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital by use of both debt and equity financing †¢What should be done before approaching potential lenders and investors in order to maximize the chance of getting needed capital ?The difficulties entrepreneurs face when raising between over $100,000 for their businesses Capital is the lifeline of any business; it supplies the funds to expand, grow and make a promising business idea into a money-making enterprise. However, many entrepreneurs miscalculate how difficult it is to obtain financing for a business venture and get annoyed by this step of the business startup process. Nevertheless, investors and banks have plenty of reasons to be wary of financing especially it involves several thousands of dollars.Some of the reasons that entrepreneurs have issues when trying to raise large sums of capital include: †¢Most small business fail: According to Channon (2012), â€Å"More than 50 percent of businesses fail within the first five y ears of operation. † This makes its difficult to raise capital due to the uncertainty in getting a return on an investment. †¢Unproven Business Model (Channon, 2012): If the business idea is new, then there is no historical data such as sales to show that the business will last. This means that there is no guarantee that the business will repay the loan or increase the investor’s equity. Lack of Coherent Business Plan (Channon, 2012): This will prevent lenders and investors from financing a business. The business plan will give a financial forecast along with market research and a list of competitors. This will allow investors to see an actual financial result that are expected and help them to decide of this is realistic. ? Ways Kevin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital Whether Kevin Semcken is preparing to launch a new product or is trying to grow Able Planet, one thing is for certain; he will need money.Debt and equity financing are two different financia l strategies that can be used to raise capital: Taking on debt means borrowing money for the business, while gaining equity entails injecting his own or other stakeholders’ cash into the business. Mr. Semcken can use debt financing as a means to raise the needed capital. One way to do this is borrowing from a financial institution. This involves loans that have to be paid over time and with interest. Able Planet can borrow money over the short term (less than one year) or long term (more than one year).The chief sources of debt financing are banks and government agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (Rath, 2012). Debt financing presents businesses a tax advantage, because the interest paid on loans is usually deductible. Borrowing also reduces the company's future requirement for loan repayments, because the lender does not obtain an ownership share in the business. However, debt financing also has its disadvantages. New businesses at times find it hard to make regular loan payments when they have uneven cash flow.Thus, debt financing can cause businesses to be susceptible to economic downturns or hikes in interest rates. Carrying too much debt is a problem because it raises the supposed risk associated with businesses, making them unappealing to investors and thereby lowering their capacity to rise future additional funding (Rath, 2012). The other option Mr. Semcken can use is equity financing. Equity financing refers to money attained from investors in exchange for an ownership share in the business.Such funds may come from friends and family members of the business owner, wealthy angel investors, or venture capital firms (Rath, 2012). The main advantage of equity financing is that the business is not required to repay the money. Instead, the investors expect to recover their investment out of future profits. The participation of high-profile investors may also help raise the credibility of a new business. The main disadvantage to this t ype of financing is that the investors become partial owners of the business, and therefore have a say in business decisions.As ownership interests become blurry, managers face a probable loss of independence or control (Rath, 2012). As well, an undue dependence on equity financing may signify that a business is not using its capital in the most constructive way. ? Memo to Kevin Semcken Memorandum To:Kevin Semcken, CEO and Chairman of Able Planet From:Kelly Raines Date:3/24/2013 Re:Steps to take before Approaching Potential Lenders and Investors Money is the livelihood of any business, and at some point, every company is apt to need an outside source to help it grow.Regardless of the amount that you are seeking, you will need to take a few steps before trying to make your case. Here are some steps to you must do before approaching investors or lenders for any amount of money: †¢Gather together the documents that will help you secure funding from a backer and that indicate you a re a good risk (Clifford, 2012). You will need: oA well written business plan, which will shows the backer not only why you want the capital but what you plan to do ith the money; oCash flow projections, which will show lenders and investors if you are able to repay the loan or offer a return on the investment. This will give backers concrete financial data that they can use to assess this risk; oA statement of your personal financial status, which lists your personal assets and debts to give the backer a fuller financial picture; oPast business tax returns: As this business is established and you have past business tax returns, it is a good idea to take them with you to the meeting.They will give the lender/investor a better idea of how your business is doing financially; and oA credit rating report: Your credit rating report shows loan repayment history and will help backers determine if you are a good risk. Additionally you should: †¢Line up your team (Clifford, 2012): This shows that you and the management team are able to execute the ambitious business plan you have presented and pay back your loan or generate a return for investors.Make sure you and your key people can talk about what may be ahead for the business, what the later phases of growth might be, what can go wrong, and how you might handle those things. †¢Practice your presentation (Clifford, 2012): This will include highlighting key areas of your business plan to potential funding sources. Try to find areas of your plan that show what you consider to be the most advantageous to them, and put these attributes into a 15 minute slide show presentation appropriate mainly to the professionals to whom you are presenting.Also study the business plans completely because you never know what questions will be asked, and you want to have answers pertinent to your business model. †¢Finally, research those to whom you will be presenting, produce samples/prototypes of your main product(s) for them to assess, purchase a nice business suit, and conduct the presentation of a lifetime. By following the above steps securing funding for Able Planet should be easy if you are properly prepared for the meeting. ? References Channon, T. (2012). Why is it So Hard to Raise Capital When Starting a New Business?. Ehow.Retrieved August 10, 2012, from http://www. ehow. com/about_7448696_hard-capital-starting-new-business_. html Clifford, C. (2012, June 15). 9 Things Startups Must Know Before Approaching Lenders. Entrepreneur. Retrieved August 10, 2012, from http://www. entrepreneur. com/blog/223818 Rath, T. (2012). Debt and Equity Financing: Two Options for Financing Your Small Business. About. com. Retrieved August 9, 2012, from http://sbinformation. about. com/od/creditloans/a/debtequity. htm Scarborough, N. (2012). Effective Small Business Management. (10th ed. ). (p. 812). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.

Pressures Students Face Essay

Pressures Students Face Imagine sitting in a classroom full of college students. They are from all walks of life. What could possibly be going on in the heads of those students? For instance could it be about the girl or boy that they have a crush on? Maybe they are wondering what they will do after school today? No, most of these students are working jobs to pay bills and tuition for the college they are attending. Also trying to maintain a good grade average which has to be a C or higher. These are some of the pressures that most college students have to face in this time of their lives. First, the pressures to perform academically are one of the primary causes of stress for all students. Most colleges recommend that students maintain a 2.0 GPA and a C average or better in order to keep the finical aide they received and to pass their semesters. First, coursework can be very demanding. For instance students who want to do their best and excel in school will want to make the top grades and struggle to get into graduate schools places a lot of pressure on them. If a student falls below a C average they will not pass the semester that they are taking and will lose what finical aide that was acquired for them to attend college. So keeping good grades is the main pressure they have to face besides having to pay to go to college. In addition to paying for college is another pressure that a college student has to face every year Students have to make sure there are enough funds for books, classes, supplies, and if so rooms. Many students face financial stresses. Students have to find enough money to pay for their tuition as well as getting enough funds to cover living expenses and traveling expenses back and forth while attending college. Furthermore students that have sufficient funds to pay for college still have to worry about repaying the loans that they have gotten before even graduating from college and joining the work force. Finally, being a full time student and working a full time job can be overwhelming for college students. Taking full time classes and juggling a job puts a lot of pressure on students and leaves little time for them to study and attend classes. Friedrich Nietzsche once quoted That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Meaning that if students can juggle jobs and college that will only make them stronger and better at what they do. Therefore, college students face pressures by trying to work, making sure  they maintain good grades and having enough tuition to pay for the college. Students have to face so many pressures going to college this is only a few of them. Being a full time student and working is not an easy job but people who want to get anywhere in their lives have to better their education so they can get better job opportunities. Many students with a lot of pressures just want to give up and quit at times. But as Winston Churchill once quoted Never, never, never give up. They just need to keep trying and no matter what once they graduate and have degree in their hands it will be well worth the pressures they had to endure during college.

Free Trade and Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Free Trade and Protection - Essay Example There is no doubt pertaining to the fact that protection and free trade are the two approaches which can as much be resorted to by the developing world as by the developed world to meet their growth objectives and the domestic challenges. Especially more so when the US has an elaborate history of being open to the industrial products from foreign nations while strictly controlling the influx of their agricultural products. Pragmatically speaking, an allegiance of the developing world to the free trade will not be of any use to it, unless it aids in its objectives of poverty alleviation and extending health, nutrition, and education to the poorest of the poor. Considering the fact that large parts of China and India are facing a situation of severe drought, the producers of critical agricultural products in these two nations definitely needs to be protected. With farmers in the Telangana (India’s cotton belt) and Vidarbha (India’s breadbasket) parts of India committing s uicide owing to the massive losses incurred by them on a continuous basis and the inflation in India soaring to double-digit figures, India’s farming sector certainly needs to be protected from the onslaught of American farm products. The gravity of this tragedy is further accentuated by the fact that loan waivers of INR 60, 00 million extended by the Indian government failed to rescue the Indian farmers from a predominant mood of despondency, hopelessness, and frustration and the suicides are still continuing.... Especially more so when the US has an elaborate history of being open to the industrial products from foreign nations while strictly controlling the influx of their agricultural products. Pragmatically speaking, an allegiance of the developing world to the free trade will not be of any use to it, unless it aids in its objectives of poverty alleviation and extending health, nutrition and education to the poorest of the poor.Considering the fact that large parts of China and India are facing a situation of severe drought, the producers of critical agricultural products in these two nations definitely needs to be protected. With farmers in the Telengana (India's cotton belt) and Vidarbha (India's bread basket) parts of India committing suicide owing to the massive losses incurred by them on a continuous basis and the inflation in India soaring to double digit figures, India's farming sector certainly needs to be protected from the onslaught of American farm products. The gravity of this tragedy is further accentuated by the fact that a loan waver of INR 60, 00 million extended by the Indian government failed to rescue the Indian farmers from a predominant mood of despondency, hopelessness and frustration and the suicides are still continuing.Perhaps it is easy for the US to sing the songs of free trade, when its farming sector is primarily mechanized and employs merely 1.9 percent of its population. Contrary to this, China has nearly 23 percent of its population employed in agriculture while in India this figure stands at an astonishing 58 percent. Considering the contemporary recessionary global trends, the economic growth in India has already plummeted to 5.3 percent from the projected target of 7 percent. Large scale lay offs already becoming

Developing management Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Developing management Skills - Essay Example Mentoring as a method of leadership is also addressed as well as the means to stimulate employee motivation to delegated task assignments. A strategic directive has been issued by senior leadership determining that streamlining departmental operations has become necessary not only for cost objectives, but for enhancing communications within the business facility. It has been determined that the operational manager must research methods in which to design a better materials management system. Realistically, strategic directives from senior executives mean nothing without efficient middle managers who are able to design the systems and carry out the plans (Moss Kanter 2004, p.150). In such a situation, the manager must design a rational decision making model to assess the situation, make programmed and non-programmed decisions regarding new systems implementation, develop alternative measures, and accomplish the goal using employee/management resources. Assume that through needs analysis, the manager has determined that the most logical course of action is to implement an ERP system (enterprise resource planning) designed to combine the entire firms electronic functions into a single software programme on the same database. Such a project is a tremendous undertaking and involves skilful coordination between multiple departments. Senior leadership has not yet agreed to the new ERP system, has offered concerns about potential budget constraints, and expects continuous progress reports from the operational manager in regards to proposed implementation. The responsible manager must address the specific characteristics of management decision making including uncertainty, risk, conflict, scope and crisis (Gomez-Mejia et al 2005, p.241) and be able to effectively communicate these issues in order to receive senior-level approval for the proposed project. As part of the upward feedback process, the manager must create a frame for his message that orients the

History response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History response - Essay Example The poor felt they were only working hard and long hours without anything to show for their efforts but acting as mechanisms intended to cushion lives of the elite whom the majority were in the government and resided in posh regions. This is evident in the quote, which was a sentiment raised by a young laborer claiming despite how hard they toiled in order to make their lives better and bearable, employers were the sole determiners of their fate. Since, they mercilessly used policies to compel them in operating machines in their factories for long hours while in return offering extremely low wages that could not sustain them well where they lived. Based on this scenario, I tend to think most of them lost their jobs at a very high rate because employers had a big selection of choosing what they want and wished to pay in terms of labor. I wanted also to show the then lack of workers’ authority to influence determination of their salaries and wages. Employers especially the then manufacturing moguls enjoyed big margins due to cheap and easily available labor by willing people working long hours to earn more. This is to cater for numerous and even costly medical costs in their shanty residential areas. Therefore, employers in this case used meager earnings as a hook to retain poor laborers in their industries because they had no other options of earning the money they desperately needed for their daily sustenance. However, workers despite exploited by these moguls had the courage to voice their grievances. This is evident in the young man’s sentiments who without fear stood out to protest what he deemed was the then moguls’ state of exploiting poor laborers. Keen analysis of this sentiment brings out much untold exploitation despite being a short quote. For instance, the young lad contends of â€Å"oppressed on every hand† thus summarizing utter oppression and neglect even

Management of Information Systems and Decision Making Assignment Essay

Management of Information Systems and Decision Making Assignment - Essay Example Knowledge is embedded in procedures, software and equipment, various documents, databases, and online repositories. Knowledge is of two types: explicit and tacit. According to Wilson (2002), knowledge involves mental processes of comprehension that go on in the mind and only in the mind. This is also referred to as the tacit knowledge and it is transferred via inter personal or social relationships (Zack, 1999). Knowledge exists explicitly as codified in form of documents, databases, maps, and blueprints or is available tacitly as routines and experiences resident in the human resources. Knowledge creation is context dependent in terms of who participates and how they participate. Knowledge is one of the most important assets of an organization. According to Wilson (2002), the knowing mind assimilates, understands, comprehends, and incorporates information into knowledge structures of the mind. These structures are unique and biologically determined (Shutz, 1967 cited at Wilson, 2002). The primary focus of knowledge management initiatives is to develop new applications of information technology. The explicit knowledge is tapped, retrieved, stored, shared and documented either manually or digitally. Knowledge has the power to change the organization itself (Zack, 1999). Knowledge created and used within the company can be called tacit knowledge (Zack, 1999). Knowledge management emerged as a separate discipline only in the 1990s. The first generation knowledge management sought to improve information sharing within an organization and second generation knowledge management strategies focus more on organizational processes (Hovland, 2003). Knowledge management, much like knowledge itself, is devoid of a single universally accepted definition. It has been defined as the process of organizing, transferring, and using the expertise available within an organization. Knowledge management can also be

The Setting of The Cask of Amontillado by Edger Allen Poe Essay

The Setting of The Cask of Amontillado by Edger Allen Poe - Essay Example The distinction shown both literally and figuratively between these two aspects is typically called the gothic interior. The gothic interior, through careful attention to the setting, forces the reader to toggle between the feelings of being free and trapped, which in turn makes the reader more aware of these emotions. By taking an in-depth look at how the setting in, The Cask of Amontillado, including: the country, the carnival, the vaults, darkness, and the tomb: influence the main character’s attitude, decisions and behavior, and how it contributes to the story’s overall impact, the importance of the setting in gothic narratives becomes clear. The country in which The Cask of Amontillado takes place is Italy. This fact would typically not have a profound impact on the reader, unless they had some knowledge of the history of gothic narratives. Upon studying into the history of gothic narratives one would find that the first person to publish an explicitly gothic story , Horace Walpole did so in Otranto, Italy. The story he published, The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story, portrays confinement in that one of the main characters is ultimately pinned beneath a giant gold helmet that falls from the sky. So the fact that Poe chose to also set his short story, The Cask of Amontillado, in Italy could be a nod to the accomplishments of Walpole, and perhaps impact that Walpole’s writings had on his own. The fact that the main character of the story is ultimately trapped, along with the fact that one of the main characters in, The Cask of Amontillado, is trapped also leads many experts to feel this location comparison of Italy was intentional. The event that is occurring during the time this story takes place, the carnival, also has a profound impact on the gothic interior, or setting, and ultimately the actions of the main character, Montresor. The carnival is a celebration, the day before lent, in which people partake of those things they will be fasting during lent. This is a representation of a time of freedom and celebration before a time of confinement. For Montresor it also represents a time of freedom before he is ultimately confined by his own actions and murderous decision. However the description, given by Montresor, of the carnival is very vague and rushed. He does not take time to describe much of what is going on, only enough to prove how foolish and indulgent his protagonist, Fortunado, is. Even during the carnival Montresor keeps thinking of the vaults, or impending confinement. At one point during their walk toward the catacombs he says, â€Å"The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with niter† (Poe).This shows how consumed he is with his hate of Fortunado and his plan to kill. He consumed to the point that he is unable to see the life, party, or wealth he has around him his sole focus was the damp, darkness that lay ahead. As with most hate filled, vengeful plans the depths of emotion and mental turmoil lay within the dark inner chambers of ones heart and soul. This is physically manifested in The Cask of Amontillado as the dark, damp, vaults Montresor and Fortunado descend into. As they enter the vaults the narrator, Montresor, gives detailed descriptions of the death and darkness that surrounded them. He does this both verbally and with his narrative. At one point he says, â€Å"

Jewish Museum Berlin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jewish Museum Berlin - Essay Example Under it, one would see an independent infrastructure on the outside though both the new and old buildings are interconnected underground. There is a second underground tunnel that directs one to the E.T.A Hoffmann Garden or The Garden of Exile and a final underground tunnel that leads from the Museum to the Holocaust Tower which is a 79 foot tall empty silo. This final tunnel is an empty concrete where light can only come through a small slit of the roof that covers it. These three tunnels are three spaces that represents the connection of the realities of Jewish life in Germany- Continuity of that history, Emigration from Germany, and of course, the Holocaust. Today, there is a multifunctional space that gave way to the establishment of the Museum’s restaurant and also an area to hold lectures, concerts, and events while still keeping up with the Baroque style of architecture. 1 A lot about the infrastructure’s architecture has a lot to do with the cultural circumstances, both social and intellectual of that time. The interconnections of the three tunnels actually represented Berlin politics at that time where East and West Germany was starting to build and develop a relationship on the year 1960s which only came to a halt when they started competing with each other in year 1989. The spaces that are readily felt and seen inside the building highlights that relationship which was anything but static, resulted by the political clashes afterwards. The Museum’s extension, showed the re-integration of the understanding of politics and social significance at that time which is hoped to bring the East and the West Germany together. Also, the changing mood of the entrants from the cool and neutral spaces to a radical and zigzag design which earned the name â€Å"Blitz† are a strong symbolism of the unstable and ever changing history at that time

Arabic Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arabic Culture - Essay Example he gender division of roles, responsibilities and resources within the household play an important role in shaping what men and women are able to do beyond the household. Islamic texts and traditions lie at the heart of Arab cultural conventions. Critics have seized upon the way that the exact interpretation of religious doctrines varies from state to state, and stress that it is important to reflect on who is making the rules for gender roles and activities, namely men, and how little real choice women have. The definition of what is a matter of culture and religion, and what is a matter of human rights is contentious. Handrahan, for example, compares the human rights offences which occurred in apartheid South Africa with the treatment of women in Arabian culture and describes the Arabian situation as â€Å"gender apartheid† (Handrahan 9) The absence of equal voting rights for women is quite obviously matter of serious discrimination and it attracts condemnation from critics both inside and outside Arabia. A woman’s identity in Arabian culture and society is constructed, in the very first place, on the basis of men’s superiority. Such discriminated gender growth is justified on both cultural and religious basis. In a rigidly religious society, men’s superiority and women’s dependency on men are ratified by the following verse of the Holy Quran: â€Å"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them guard† (Quran  4:34). Indeed this verse is one of many from the Holy Quran that the clerics of the society manipulate to enact rules, regulations and laws that slaughter women’s equality to men. Some of these rules and regulations are male guardianships, Namus, Purdah, Dress codes, sexual segregation, etc. One of the common aftermaths

Fire Protection Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Fire Protection Management - Essay Example The local fire department usually provides fire protection for the rest of the airport. Airport fire trucks are equipped with water and a substance called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). According to wikipedia "AFFF is a water based synthetic animal protein solution that is lighter than oil, alcohol, and petroleum products. When properly mixed and aerated into foam, it will create a floating film on flammable materials that prevents fumes from igniting or re-igniting after a fire. It has been in use by the military, airports, and fire departments for years and has always been an effective fire fighting agent. It is a biodegradable solution that leaves virtually no residue, and can safely be cleaned off with water." AFFF is used to combat aircraft fuel fires. The foam covers burning fuel more effectively than water alone and acts like a blanket to extinguish the fire. Foam is used to extinguish fires in combustible liquids, such as oil, petroleum, and tar, and for fighting fires at airports, refineries, and petroleum distribution facilities. According to a website "Understanding how foam works in extinguishing different types of fires, and the principles of making different foams correctly, are essential to successful foam fire fighting operations. All too often, foam fire streams fail to accomplish their objective due to a lack of understanding and training on the part of the operator. " It is proved that foam is an efficient firefighting tool that is gaining greater acceptance and use throughout the fire fighting community as of today. II. FIGHTING THE FIRE Most fire fighting consists of applying water to the burning material, cooling it to the point at which combustion is no longer self-sustaining. Fires involving flammable liquids, certain chemicals, and combustible metals often require special extinguishing agents and techniques. With some fuels the use of water may actually be dangerous. Foam extinguishers use an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) agent that expels a layer of foam when it is discharged through a nozzle. It acts as a barrier to exclude oxygen from the fire. Foam extinguishers work well in fire fighting, proven not only on Class A fires which include those ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, and paper. But especially on fires involving flammable liquids, oils, and grease burning, generally known as class B fires. Each class of fire requires its own type of fire extinguisher. There are two kinds of foam extinguishers, so check which one best suits your needs. Aqueous film forming foam is now accepted to use as a fire fighting agent. III. HOW TO USE When applied directly to a burning liquid, the aqueous film forming foam has the capability to spread and form a thin, uniform duplex thin impervious film for about 10 to 30m thick that arrests flammable vapors and also keeps oxygen away. This film is tough and persistent and suppresses volatile vapors. In addition, it has reforming, and has self-sealing action which prevents the foam be disturbed. The water film forms under the foam bubbles which cool the liquid fuel which provides an effective fuel vapor barrier to the cooling and blanketing effect of the foam and thoroughly eliminate the formation of flammable vapors and provide a dramatic fire knockdown, an important factor in crash rescue fire fighting. Foam must be applied more gently so that it does not penetrate the liquid but, rather, spreads readily over it. According to a

Disability and Able-bodied People Essay Example for Free

Disability and Able-bodied People Essay What is a normal person? Is it a man playing basketball with his friends in a park? Is it a woman riding horses through a grassy field? Or is it the double amputee that wears expensive sunglasses on a summer day? These images have all been depicted in the media, but the latter is not shown as frequently. If the media features disabled persons more often and in a better light, it will become the norm, therefore evoking unity among all Americans. As a society, we do not truly embrace people who are different than us. We are only tolerant of them because we are required to be. Television, print, and commercial advertisements are the only representation that the majority of Americans receive of the world around them. To combat prejudice and division between disabled and able-bodied people, there has to be an unbiased, well-rounded view of each in the media. Imagine if you lived in a world where you only saw ads with people who suffered from degenerative diseases, paraplegia, genetic disorders, etc. Would you begin to question whether you were normal or not? During the spring of my senior year in high school, I shadowed an occupational therapist who worked with autistic children. There were great lessons to be learned this semester, many of which I discovered from observing the children themselves. I began to sympathize with them and put myself into their shoes. I realized that I was in no better shape than they were, and we were not actually that different. In my free time, I would search tirelessly for ads which brought autism and disability into the forefront in a way that showed that they live their lives just as I did. Very seldomly would I come across one, and when I did, it was not from a major retailer. Disability rights organizations do a great job of raising awareness as advocates for the disabled, but I challenge the rest of the media to do the same. By making the lives of the disabled more visible in the media, everyday Americans will have the ability to see the handicapped in the same way I saw them during my internship. The able-bodied will see an array of people different from them just by putting those suffering from various disabilities on television. As a result, bringing able-bodied and disabled persons one step closer together. Additionally, the manner in which the disabled are depicted in the media is equally important. Becoming acclimated to seeing handicapped people in roles that we normally do not encounter will further show that we can all live together in unison. Switching the disabled person from door greeter to cashier in Walmart commercials is one example of this. Seeing a disabled person compete in the International Olympic games and not just a participant in the Special Olympics is also another example. Instead of diminishing the abilities of the handicapped, we can portray them in areas where they are apart of and grow with society. Are disabled and able-bodied people gelled together living in harmony or merely separate groups put together by force? Based on my experience, it is the latter, but it does not have to be. The media has played a major role in the way individuals are viewed throughout history. Once we change our outlook and perceptions on others, we change the way we live our daily lives. At that point we will begin to question who defines what is â€Å"normal† and what is not.

Critical Analysis of Genre in the Film Industry

Critical Analysis of Genre in the Film Industry The topic of Hollywood and genre is multifaceted, dealing with definitions, characteristics and the social cultural roles genre performs. Steve Neales Genre And Hollywood (2000), and Rick Altmans Film/Genre (1999) take on board these a genders both offering a different theoretical approach to the topic, which I will analyze then voice my own conclusion on my findings. Both show that genre is an important, productive way of thinking about Hollywoods film history, and its audience. Each book presents new research, new thinking on genre that will be investigated and applied to its appropriate film style. Questions are raised from these existing accounts: that definitions of genre are restrictive and narrow, that traditional genres are inaccurate and that cultural theories are often over generalized. The arguments on the subject will be looked into detail, presenting my own opinions on these accounts. As genre is a complex subject, with many contexts, I will be breaking the subject up, firstly looking at definitions of genre, and general concepts applying them into individual genres. I will be looking at theories on genre by a number of people all different in there opinion. With the knowledge and understanding of genre, I will look into film noir, a critical category within the Hollywood film industry. Genre has occupied an important part in the study of cinema for years. Genre is French word, meaning kind or type. The term sub-genre is also used to refer to specific traditions within a genre ( as in gothic horror, slapstick comedy and so on). When genre is discussed or defined it is usally focused on commercial mainstream films, Hollywood films in particular. Barry Keith Grant states that genres are exclusively identified with commercial cinema: Genre movies are those commercial feature films which through repetition and venation, tell familiar stories with familiar characters in familiar situations Books and articles were being published in the 1940s and 1950s, in Europe and the USA, talking about individual Hollywood genres, establishing its self more, becoming an academic formal discipline in film studies. Theorists, critics and teachers of film at this time wanted to engage in the appearance of genre and genres inparticular with popular Hollywood cinema, offering a critical approach with a desire to displace or compliment films. Hollywood films had always been discussed by reviwers and critics, usally hostile to to the films Hollywood produced, arguing they aimed at mass market, conservative,commercially produced films lacking in realism, over loaded in fantasy. During the early 1970s a generation of critics began to value elements of popluar American culture, re-assesing its value. Here the auteur theory began, more simply known as auteurism. Based around three basic premises, firstly that cinema is a personal and individual expression. The second is that individual could be the director, a figure equivalent to an artist in painting. Lastly was that cinematography authorship wasnt to be found in just Hollywood cinema. An auteur is a director whos work is characterized by distinctive elements and traits in there films, stamping each piece of work with there own personality. The criticism is that films are just the personal expression of the director. Interpreting each film in the context of the film makers style makes the director responsible for the major creative descisions. The concept of the auteur theory is a crucial development in film theory, moving away from literary analyses of films narrative content to aspects of art and style specific in film. Many questions are raised on genre as a term, with little agreement on what it exactly means, if it can be clearly defined. Genre criticism firstly began from the notion that there are many kinds of literature, with different contexts. Aristotle tried to separate his poetry , from what we call lieterature into categories such as epic, lyric, tradgedy and so on. Distinguieshing each piece of works properties, working out particular properties of each distinctive kind trying to establish their relative importance, applying these into categories. Aristotles ideas were taken up during the Renaissance placed into a set of rules so that each style, were prescribed for each kind. This codeification evolved in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, literature was being divided more into categories, each with there own subject matter. Such a doctorial approach became frowned upon. In the late 1930s a Chigargo based school of critisicm known as the neo-Aristiteians, spoke out against this new criticism, which repudiated a historical approach to literature, believing literature exists by itself without contemporary or historical refrence. An attempt was made to rescue literature from isolation, resureting the theory of genres. Now that genre has become much more of a phenomenon, expanding hugly in Hollywood encompassing the cartoon, the B movie, the gangster film and many others. Now that genre has become multi dimensional the building of generic corpuses and audience expectations need to be addressed. Verisimilitude is a theory addressing the point of what justifies a genre, its systems of plausabilty, motivation, and justifications of belief. It is these systems of expectation which the spectator brings to the cinema, in which to interact with the film its self while viewing, providing the spectator with means of recognition and understanding. Verisimilitude helps render individual films of there generic corpuses, working out the significance of what is taking place on screen, why characters are dressed the way they are, why they are acting in a certain stlye. For example if a character bursts into song, the viwer will recognize that this particular film is a musical. Its plot is liable to follow certain directions rather then others, so these systems of expectation involve a knowledge of Verisimilitude which the viewer takes with them to the cinema. Todrov explains different regimes of Verisimilitude, with notions of propriety, of what is probable in a film therefore appropriate. In a musical bursting into song is appropriate therefore probable, there for believable in a musical, but not in a sci-fi or horror film. Murder is possible in westerns, gangster, and thrillers but unlikely in romantic comedy. Singing is obligatory in a musical, likely to be seen within its narrative, the spectator interacts with this being able to acknowledge its genre. Todrov explains how there are two types of Verisimilitude. Generic Verisimilitude and cultural Verisimilitude. Work is said to have Verisimilitude in relation to two chief kinds of norms. The first we call the rules of genre: for a work to be said to have Verisimilitude, it must conform to these rules. These rules Todrov refers to stem back to the idea of regimes within genres, with notions of probability. Todrovs second type of Verisimilitude has a more social context. But there exisits another Verisimilitude†¦that the Verisimilar is not a relation between discourse and its referent, but between discourse and what readers believe is true. Defined Hollywood genres arguably involve transgressions of social cultural Verisimilitude, for the entertainment and aesthetic pleasure. Individual genres have a balance between both social cultural and generic Verisimilitude, some genres appealing more to the generic context. War films mark this appeal by using discourses, maps, memories, and so on. Horror films operate much less to this authenticity, for example the discourses they cite, like the book of revelations in the Omen, is obviously fictional. Inbetween these two cases lie science fiction, films such as Them, draw an authentic status of science and technology to motivate an otherwise non-Verisimilitude event. A relevnt theory is that of Todrovs work on The Fantastic existing of different regimes of Verisimilitude. Two categories lie in the fantastic, The Marvelous and The Uncanny. Events are understood in the marvelous as supernatural, where the uncanny is understood in terms of laws of the natural world, involving a hesitation between the two for the viewer In a world that which is indeed our world, a world without devils or vampires, there occurs an event which cannot be explained by the laws of this same familiar world. The person who experiences the event must opt for two possible solutions: Either he is the victim of an illustion of the senses, of a product of the imagination Or else the event has indeed taken place, an integeral part of reality, controlled by Laws unknown to us. The Fantastic is the uncertainty between the two, the hesitation experienced by the viewer who can only relate to the laws of nature confronting the uncanny, an apparently supernatural event. Noel Carroll applies a similar theory, in two plot structures characteristic in horror films. The first he calls the Discovery plot, consisting of four stages, onset, discovery, confirmation and confrontation. Discovery involves the failure of responsibility and capacity for belief of those in authority, while confirmation is the realignment of their event. This structure articulates a play across themes and positions of responsibility, a play between knowing and not knowing. This plot is the most serviceable narrative armature in the horror film. For example in The Exorcist, the demons presence is established by the girls abnormal behavior, which is then discovered by an individual or group, in this case the poseesed girls mother. For some reason this discovery of this threat is not acknowledged by the police, an authorertive power, as they would not believe in such a erratic tale. Its plot moves away from discovery into confirmation, where the discoverers must convince some one else of the existence and danger of this demon, becoming an elaborate part of the film creating the suspense. While the girls possessed state worsens the mother has to seek other means of help to a higher authority, the time lost during this the demon becomes for powerful. After the hesitation stage of confirmation, it converts to confrontation. The demon is in contact with mankind, as the vicar finally meets the possesed girl. It is this tension between the discoveries (mother noticing abnormal changes in daughter) and the confirmation to convince someone who will believe in the monster or demon (mother seeking help for her possesed daughter) that creates a tension, leaving the audience knowing and not knowing. A second plot is the Overreacher plot, which involves superstition and scientific knowledge. Carrol says this plays an important role to the plot structure 37 . Frankenstein is an example to this approach†¦where the discovery plots often sightedness of science, the overreacher plot critizies sciences will to knowledge. The over reachers plot has four basic movements, the first comprises the preparation for the experiament, including philisophacal approach, or a debate about the experiaments motivation. The overreacher himself can become quite megalomaniacal. Such a theory can only be applied to a horror film, as Carroll states the specifics that the plot must have shortsightedness of science, where the overreacher becomes melodramatic. Frankenstein, and Jekyll and Hyde embody the overreacher, bringing an experiment to life comprehends a debate and motivation Carroll mentions, with this melodramatic behavior from the scientist performing the act. The experiment itself goes wrong, resulting in devastation, only now does the overreacher realize the error in justifying there experiment. It is the death and destruction the monster brings to innocent people, which brings the overreacher to his senses repeling him to destroy his creation. Both theories lean heavily on suspense, which is a key ingreediant in the narrative of a horror genre Narrative suspense can occur in most, if not all, of the plot movements†¦an incident in the onset movement might involve an innocent victim being suspense fully stalked, or our discoverers purseued by the monster. These theories are emboidied in the Horror genre, this repetition of narrative links in with each film, sets the genre away from others. With similar narrative and structure the viewer can relate and then categorize this, knowing that the film they are viewing is a horror film. It is these aesthetic theories that make a genre, the expressionism and communication that define it. As the idea of repetition is inherited in genres, these were thought of as clichà ©s, that the structures are one dimensional, becoming stereo typed. Most critics shared this idea. Shazts contests that Hollywood films involve similar one-dimesional characters acting out a predictable story pattern 208 gh. This pattern becomes familiar with an audience, as each genre contains its own narrative traits such as setting, characters, and plots. A theory by Cawelti called stereotype vitalization shows how characters traits can add to audienes recognition to a genre. Stereotyped characters are commonly found for example in westerns, the audience can expect to see brawls, crooked villains and the cowboy heroine. With such sterotypes within characters it heightens the audiences acknowledgment, as they recognize previous examples with these characters. It is argued however that these stereotypes must be regenerated But a good writer must renew these sterotypes by adding new elements, by showing us some new unexpected facet, or by relating them to other stereotypes in a particular fashion†¦maintaining an interest for later generations and other cultures. Without adding to a stereotype, films would become too familiar and predictable. Stereotyped vitalization contains two elements. The first is that of a stereotyped character which embodies another contradict cal stereotypical trait. For example Sherlock Holmes stereotyped traits are of a rational, logical, man of reason. On the other hand he is also a romantic poet, drug taker, and a musician. Such opposite sterotyped traits is what makes Holmes a striking literary character, this renewal on a character adds a new element referring back to Catweitis idea of adapting on just one stereotype, bringing more to a film. Another example is that of Gary Cooper, a great western star recognized for his violence , and skill to be quick on the draw, despite being a shy man. A second form of stereotyped vitalization is the stereotyped figure becoming complex and frail, such complexity in a character can however damage a narrative. This is a very delicate matter, for if a character becomes too complex it may cast a shattering and disruptive light on the other elements of the formula. This predictability and pattern within the film allows the viwer to distinguish traits between different genres. Neale argues that we must first understand what is meant by a story pattern, and predictability. In a broad sense Neale states that the story pattern refers to the main shape of a story, that violent climaxes of war films are generically requisite therefore predictable, all common plots recognized by a viwer. However Neale states that climaxes to films in there own genre can vary considerably. War films and western films permit death or defeat as well as victory and survival 211 gh. The same can be said for romantic films, where it could end happily or unhappily, so the narrative is not completely predictable. Each genre can then follow its own narrative which contains its own stereotypes so the viwer can comprehend the genre, yet at the same time as Cawelti stated, by adding elements to the sterotype (character,narrative) the viwer can still relate to the film. This makes each film within its own genre more interesting and diverse. All genre films are distinguished by sharing the same subject matter, a samurai film for example involves swords, science fiction embraces technology, or a gangster film with violence and corruption.These films are defined by similar plots and patterns. For example the plot pattern of an investergation that concludes the early mistery, solved at the climax of the film is common in detective films. Neale however points out that although we can separate each genre, it is only by its basic terms ( a detective story is about an investergation). Hybrid films combine two elements of the same genre into one. For example a combination of horror and science fiction in Alien, or a detective tale with science fiction in Bladerunner. Neale states that classification means genres share multiple relations, not all defined by the traits. If traits can be combined in a genre, what classifies a genre? This combination or cross breeding all relates back to repetition and difference in a films genre, hybrid films however become complex, unable to be pinned down to one single defined genre. It seems most genres are hallmarked by this idea of repetition, films sharing similar attributes. Hans Robert Jauss believes genres are best under stood as process. Repetition does dominate this process , but is also marked by difference, variation, and change. There are three levels in which a genre manifests itself. A level of expectation, level of generic corpus, and the rules and norm that administer both. A new film adds an existing generic corpus to a genre, as in Dracula where the character has to be characterized supernaturally or psychologically as is the case in the film Psycho. These are extended in a new genre film by adding new elements or transgressing an old one. John Carpenters Halloween played between psychological and supernatural elements both displayed within the monster. With this a genre is not simply being replayed but its generic corpus is expanded. It is films with the same generic corpus that base around expectation. Generic elements can be found in advertising. Where this develops so to does a films image, where a genre can expand and change as well. An original text is the viewers expectation familiar to him or her from earlier texts; these can be as shown, extended and varied. With each genre expanding on an original narrative it is as Neale states difficult to fully list the characteristics of each individual genre. Only can we define them in a broad sense, for example a war film that represents its wages in warfare, its main familiar trait, yet with each war film with its own separate narrative. Aesthectic characterictics are found in mass produced genres, Neale states that the term genre is not only used in film but in art and entertainment. Williams relates back to the roots of genre as a term, how it has evolved fistly Borrowed as a critical tool from literary studies†¦a concept in film studies raises some fairly tough questions. Genre films referring to a genre category substitute film narrative. Williams believes this to be the real genre, considering genres more as narrative film, documentary, or avant garde. It is these sub-genres that Williams believes to have more significant differences that we can distinguish. Ralph Cohen also relates heavily to the roots of the term genre, as it evolved in the nineteenth century, where popular mass produced fiction was making its first appearance. Hollywoods industry has played a huge role partly responsible for creating genres. Hollywood sets out to make profitable films to a mass market, where directors create different films each time as the audience would get bored seeing the same similar films, resulting in viewers not turning up to cinemas, leaving companies bust. Neale uses a nice analogy to illustrate this idea. A car company creates models to keep up with current trends, to keep there products in demand, yet each car has an idenity with one an other. Its principles apply to the film industry. Hollywood genres have the same ranges, producing films with similariteies but each with its own unique touch to keep its audience entertained They enable the industry to meet obligations of variety and difference inherent in this product†¦to regulate demand Hollywoods studios focus on this idea of adding to a genre to keep up demand, to maximize there profit. Studios developed in the 1920s, where groups of studios began such as Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, all producing films. These were the main high profit studios, only later did smaller studios develop creating indepentant films. Backed with money the major studios were creating films for the spectible, with higher budgets to draw in there audience. Smaller companies however were not able to show there films, until 1948 where government legislation meant that the smaller studios could release there films into the cinema. With this, studios could market there films in a predictable way with expert staff, directors, producers, and starts. All this meant studios could create there own generic enterprise. With changing ideas and narrative to engage an audience, a genre keeps to its generic form aswel as incorpaerating new plots and style for the audience to enjoy. John Ellis agrees with the importance of the institutional aspects of genre. Ellis mentions the narrative image for each film is a strong hint to its genre, but also stronger when applied in advertising Television and radio often plays a huge part in the construction of such images†¦but also a key role is played by the industry its self. Films advertising to the public, in posters, or television show a clear image of its narrative. Reviews on films state its generic framework, even on posters, statements are shown the comedy of the year clearly telling the viewer the films genre. It is this that raises the publics expectations through means of media, a method Ellis calls inter-textual relay. As any business, it wants to draw its target audience in; the film industry is no different. By advertising a narrative and in some cases even telling us the genre it sells the film instantly. Without advertising the public would simply have to go on a film by word of mouth. Without advertising its audience would be confused, not knowing the films genre, there for unlikely to go to the cinema and pay to watch the film. Inter-textual relay circulates a number of generic labels, terms, and names. It is there existence that makes a genre, although Altman argues Hollywood has a limited role to play when mentioning categories and terms. The industrial/journalistic term thus finds a hypothesis about presence of meaningful activity, but does not necessarily contribute a definition or delimitation of the genre in question Agreeably advertising does not fully explain the narrative, but does tell us the fundamental framework, the basic premises that the audience analyses and can make there own assumption of its genre.

Systems Engineering: RTV Silicone Sealant Application System

Systems Engineering: RTV Silicone Sealant Application System Abstract As technology advances seemingly exponentially in the 21st century, the need for more and more complex systems grows too. Continuous improvement is key to a successful, growing business. This envelops everything within the organisation and engineered systems are no exception. Complex engineered systems require a level of control, this control is important for producing quality products and services. Considering advancing technology and continuous improvement, organisations need to explore ways in which the performance of engineered systems can be maximised. Multi-agent systems (MAS) are a relatively new theory which is put into practice when monolithic systems cannot solve the problem, so as systems become more and more complex, the need for MAS increase. Glossary of Terms FTT defined as the percentage of engines that pass a process first time. JPH the number of engines which pass through a process per hour. RTV room temperature vulcanisation silicone sealant. MAS Multi-agent systems 1. Introduction At the Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) manufacture and assemble diesel and petrol engines. The author is a process engineer within the diesel assembly hall, whose main job role is to improve any assembly processes that negatively impact first time through (FTT) or jobs per hour (JPH). Currently, the issue that is causing the largest impact on said deliverables is the automatic application of RTV silicone sealant to the engine block to form a seal with the rear cover (Figure 1, below). This automated process has an average FTT of 61% and a value of 59 JPH over the past thirty days.ÂÂ   The target JPH value across the entire diesel assembly line is 68, which means this process is causing an average deficit of nine engines per hour causing considerable damage towards achieving production targets. The process itself is performed by two autonomous robots whereby one robot applies the sealant and the other robot holds the engine and moves it along a specified path. There are two HMIs present, one to program each robot. The robot holding the engine can be programmed with its position, its movement within the six degrees of freedom and its velocity. Whereas the only programmable functions are the start, end and speed and feed of the sealant. 2. Systems Engineering Life Cycle Stages The role of systems engineering is to ensure the success of a system, judged by how well its requirements and development objectives are met, its operation in the field and the length of its useful operating life. Systems engineering aims to establish a technical approach that will aid the operational maintenance and the eventual upgrading of the system. A system life cycle is a term used to encapsulate the evolution of a new system, where it begins with a concept and grows through development into production, operation and lastly, destruction. 2.1 Concept Development Where there is a desire for a new system, the concept development stage contains the planning and analysis required to affirm the need, the feasibility and the architecture for the new system to best satisfy the needs of the user. There are four main objectives of the concept development stage: Decide whether there is a market and need for a technically and economically feasible system. Design and confirm the system requirements after exploring different system concepts (see figure 3 below). This stage converts the system which has been derived from the needs analysis, into an engineering oriented view for the concept definition and development. When looking at performance requirements it is important to identify the major functions needed to complete the actions needed. In the case of this example, its functional elements should include, power robot, control movement, control speed, and apply RTV. To aid with this activity a systems engineer would use a function category versus functional media diagram (figure 4). Concept selection, agree on its characteristics and plan for the forthcoming stages of engineering, production and operation of the system. It answers the question what are the key characteristics of a system concept that would achieve the most beneficial balance between capability, operational life, and cost?[1]. Develop and validate any technological developments required by the new system. 2.2 Engineering Development Figure 4 (below) shows three stages of engineering development. Firstly, the advanced development stage incorporates two important purposes. One being the identification and reduction of risks, the second being the development of system specifications. Secondly, the engineering design phase is considerably more detailed than any stages preceding it. Usually, this stage offers an opportunity for potential customers to get an early look at the product, who can, in turn, provide valuable feedback to the developers. Lastly, the integration and evaluation phase is where the new system is installed and subsequently checked to ensure that it meets customer requirements. 2.3 Post Development Within the post-development phase there are two sub-phases; the production phase and the operations and support phase. The system is now being produced, for example, for a manufacturing environment. Occasionally there are unexpected issues that arise within the production of the system which requires a systems engineer to solve to prevent disruptions in the production schedule. Once the system is live, system support is critical. Maintenance personnel should be sufficient until more complex problems arise, where they need to call on the experience of systems engineers. 3. Function Block Diagram 4. Control Architecture 4.1 Centralised Control The centralised control system architecture has one component designated as the controller which is responsible for managing the execution of other components. The term architecture is used to suggest a focus on the relationship between the major structural elements in a system. This architecture falls into two classes depending on the execution of the controlled components, either sequentially or in parallel. These are the call-return model, only applicable in sequential systems, and the manager model, used in concurrent systems [3]. The main reasons to use centralised control architecture is that it is simple to conceive and due to its omniscience it can make optimal decisions which take all factors into account. However this architecture does have drawbacks, most notably the expense in which is required to create the control architecture, the control algorithm needs to be very complex. Furthermore, the degradation of any signal path can cripple the function of the entire system, so they can be fragile. 4.2 Hierarchical Control Organised in a hierarchical tree, this control system decomposes the problem and allocates it to separate controllers which take control of a subset of the system functions. This can exist over a number of levels, meaning each function could be controlled individually. Optimal control is still possible within a hierarchical architecture as there is always a path to a top-level node; however, not all information can travel through every path. Commonly some filtering of data occurs between levels. In contrast to centralised control, the control algorithm is much simpler due to decomposition. This means the time and cost of implementation are much lower. Between the different branches of the structure, there is a degree of independence, reducing the effect of system degradation. However, there is usually delay in the processing of each algorithm and in the feedback loop. 4.3 Heterarchical Control Heterarchical control architecture is more robust than hierarchical control and is very flexible and extensible. Additional system functions, such as manufacturing processes and equipment, can be added with almost no added system control cost. However, heterarchical architecture lacks centralised visibility of the system as a whole which means planning can be sub-optimal; this control system is sometimes referred to as being short sighted. Though this does mean that short-term decision making is very good. [4] 4.4 RTV Robot Cell Control System Centralised control is not suitable for the RTV robot cell system. The reason for this being the fact that it is too expensive to create and change. Additionally, the fault tolerance of the control system must be taken into account. A manufacturing line with such high demand for machine availability must not be crippled by the loss of just one signal. The most suitable and, as it happens, the current control system architecture for this system would be hierarchical. The main downside to this architecture is its response time when there are lots and lots of levels. However, its strengths are combines the strengths of the other two control architectures discussed, albeit slightly diluted. Heterarchical control has strengths that would be fantastic for an automated cell in a manufacturing environment, but its weaknesses deem it unacceptable. If one could combine hierarchical and heterarchical architectures and take away the myopic nature of heterarchy, it could be a system which improves how automated cells are controlled. 5. Multi-Agent Systems A multi-agent system is a system composed of multiple interacting intelligent agents. For problems that are too difficult or even impossible for an individual agent to solve, multi-agent systems can be used. Commonly thought of as being computerised, the agents within a multi-agent system could also be robots, humans, human teams or a combination of humans and robots. There are three different types of agents: Passive agents, agents without goals. Active agents, agents with simple goals. Cognitive agents, agents containing complex calculations. Agents can also be reactive or deliberative, this can be represented by the BDI model (figure 6- below). BDI stands for Belief, Desire, Intention where belief is knowledge of the environment, desire is the need to satisfy an objective and intention is the ability to command action(s). Deliberative agents extend the BDI model to include a symbolic model of the external environment- including data and relationships, memory, the ability to plan and the ability to choose between alternative actions. One could make a case to incorporate multi-agent systems within an automated robot cell at the present time. There is a need for configurability, for example, when a new derivative of engine is introduced and the robot has to be programmed to function differently. The system will need robustness, so if one agent is lost it does not compromise the whole system. However using a hierarchical architecture provides a sufficient degree of configurability and robustness with less cost and complexity. Multi-agent systems provide dynamic task allocation rather than pre-planned schedules, for an automated robot cell this is not needed, automation needs efficiency in static conditions [5]. 6. Conclusion The automated RTV application robot cell is currently in the operational phase of the system lifecycle, it is in need of improvement however it is not the system that needs improving. The system works as it is meant to, however, it is the incorrect system that is in place which is causing the problems. As automotive technology moves towards electrification and autonomous behaviour there will be a need to include more and more multi-agent systems within the vehicles themselves but also within manufacturing systems. There will be a need for greater flexibility, adaptability, reconfigurability and collaboration.ÂÂ   Unfortunately, incorporating a multi-agent system in this instance would not have a positive impact on this system. 7. References [1] Kossiakoff, Sweet, Seymour, Biemer. (2011). System Life Cycle. In: Sage, A. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.. 77. [2] Lecture provided PowerPoint slides. [3] Ian Sommerville. (2008). Centralized Control. Available: https://ifs.host.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Books/SE9/Web/Architecture/ArchPatterns/CentralControl.html. Last accessed 14/02/17. [4] J.M. van de Mortel-Fronczak and J.E. Rooda. (1997). Heterarchical Control Systems for Production Cells. . 1 (1), 213-217. [5] Various. (). Multi-agent system. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-agent_system. Last accessed 20/02/17.

American Indians :: essays research papers Native American Indian

The American Indians Between 1609 To 1865 The Native Americans or American Indians, once occupied all of the entire region of the United States. They were composed of many different groups, who speaked hundreds of languages and dialects. The Indians from the Southwest used to live in large built terraced communities and their way of sustain was from the agriculture where they planted squash, pumpkins, beans and corn crops. Trades between neighboring tribes were common, this brought in additional goods and also some raw materials such as gems, cooper. seashells and soapstone.To this day, movies and television continue the stereotype of Indians wearing feathered headdresses killing innocent white settlers. As they encountered the Europeans, automatically their material world was changed. The American Indians were amazed by the physical looks of the white settlers, their way of dressing and also by their language. The first Indian-White encounter was very peaceful and trade was their principal interaction. Tension and disputes were sometimes resolved by force but more often by negotiation or treaties. On the other hand, the Natives were described as strong and very innocent creatures awaiting for the first opportunity to be christianized. The Indians were called the â€Å"Noble Savages† by the settlers because they were cooperative people but sometimes, after having a few conflicts with them, they seem to behaved like animals. We should apprehend that the encounter with the settlers really amazed the natives, they were only used to interact with people from their own race and surroundings and all of this was like a new discovery for them as well as for the white immigrants. The relations between the English and the Virginian Indians was somewhat strong in a few ways. They were having marriages among them. For example, when Pocahontas married John Rolfe, many said it has a political implication to unite more settlers with the Indians to have a better relation between both groups. As for the Indians, their attitude was always friendly and full of curiosity when they saw the strange and light-skinned creatures from beyond the ocean. The colonists only survived with the help of the Indians when they first settler in Jamestown and Plymouth. In this areas, the Indians showed the colonists how to cultivate crops and gather seafood.The Indians changed their attitude from welcome to hostility when the strangers increased and encroached more and more on hunting and planting in the Natives’ grounds.

Hermes :: essays research papers

Hermes - Messager god Essay written by Jamecca The idea of gods and goddesses began as far back as the ancient Egyptians, but the ancient Greeks were the first group to form a religion based on gods and goddesses. They believed that the gods and goddesses were not different from humans. Some of the few ways humans were different from gods were that the gods were stronger and lived forever. Since the Greeks believe in many gods, they are Polytheists. The gods and goddesses were thought to control different parts of the universe. For example, Zeus is the king of the gods, controlled weather. Or like Athena who was the goddess of wisdom. You learn about different gods and goddesses in myths. A myth is a story about a god or goddess. Homer, a blind poet, is famous for telling myths. He told myths because no one could read or write. Hermes (Latin name Mercury) is the messenger of the gods. He is the fastest of all the gods and goddesses. He is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is a guide who knew the way to the underworld. So he would show the dead souls the way to the underworld. Hermes is also known as the patron of traders, merchants, thieves and everyone who lived by their wits. Some characteristics of Hermes include his ingenuity, knowledge, creativity, and is known to be very cunning. He is also quite good at gymnastics. Hermes is an incredibly clever god. He found a tortoise outside of his cave and displayed his godly talent by placing strings over the shell, inventing the first lyre. As a child he was very precious, even for a god. But he caused a great deal of trouble. But one day, he went too far and learned a very important lesson. Hermes is a master thief. He started his career as a thief before he was more than a few hours old! It was his intelligence and theft abilities in the following myth that won him recognition as a god. The worship of Hermes began in his birthplace, Arcadia. People of Arcadia would hold festivals called Hermaea in his honor. The sacrifices offered to him included honey, incense, cakes, pigs, lambs, and young goats. One of the most famous myths about Hermes shows his extreme intellect. One day after his mother fell asleep, Hermes tip-toed to the pasture where his brother Apollo kept a large heard of cows.

Customer Relations Essay

How can organizations become more open to feedback? What kinds of employee training would help? What would you tell your employees about feedback importance if you were the boss? Establishing Policy An organization can become more open to feedback by practicing as part of its daily operations, a system of feedback receptiveness that encourage customers to complain. This system will also require employees to act on those complaints in productive ways. The more customers come to expect good responses from the organization, the easier it is to be that company that welcomes feedback. Paul R. Timm (2011) maintains that you create a good feedback climate by reinforcing customer behaviors, not by challenging them. If customers fear a debate or argument every time they voice a concern, they will quit giving feedback. So he suggests the following: -Compensate them or provide restitution for unsatisfactory product or service. -Share their sense of urgency; get the problems handled quickly. -Avoid further inconveniences. -Punish someone for the problem (sometimes). -Assure them the problem will not happen again. (Timm, 2003) If companies can accomplish these first important steps, they will show customers and employees that they are serious about receiving feedback, establishing a dialogue, and keeping their customers. The feeling of engagement goes a long way toward earning allegiance and building confidence in management, but defensiveness against feedback will put you out of business. As a customer, I have had the best customer satisfaction in establishments that have a well-advertised customer service focus (Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, Starbucks, and Nordstrom’s Rack). The ones where employees know there’ll be mystery shoppers; that â€Å"corporate† takes its ALS seriously; that reward or recrimination depends on each customer interaction they have throughout the day; that the company who acts on complaints quickly, tactfully, and efficiently, wins! Using Technology By having third-party involvement as a neutral conduit between the customer (and employee) and the organization, frank and open communication can be achieved. It eliminates barriers to listening like interactional elements arising from listener self-centeredness and self-protection. The more the organization hears from its customers, the greater its responsibility becomes to act efficiently and swiftly. It can easily invite feedback and advertise itself as engaging and receptive with the use of listening system technology. Allegiance Technologies has developed a Web-based â€Å"active listening system† (ALS) that provides an exceptional turn-key customer and employee dialoguing tool. (Timm, 2011) It gathers complaints, compliments, questions, and suggestions, assures anonymity, and provides customers with a third party through whom they can feel safe blowing the whistle on their local Target, or long-time employer. The anonymity feature makes the system especially useful for employees who may fear retaliation. E.g., in government-mandated processes for facilitating whistle-blowing on company misdeeds. Once the company responds to the feedback, the ALS system provides follow-up in order to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction. Additionally, companies must be sincere and accommodating when they use technology driven forums like feedback pages and social networking to invite customer feedback. If they can get the customers to feel good about giving it, then they would have scored a victory for customer satisfaction. Employee Training Training employees to get with the program should begin at the recruitment phase. John Mackey of Whole Foods looks for people who have a high degree of emotional intelligence — a high capacity for caring. (Mackey, 2009) The fact is you have to care about people to succeed at good customer service. The notion of getting the right people in is something that employers Wal-Mart and Southwest Airlines understand well. The right people tend to adapt quickly to the goals and mission of the company and training will be that much more effective. Organizations should consider the people that interact daily with customers, a most critical element of every corporate strategy. Despite numerous studies indicating a strong relationship between employee loyalty and customer loyalty, the average customer service representative stays an average of 18 months on the job. The onus is on companies to do more to upgrade the skills, training and pay of customer service representatives, especially si nce they handle an estimated 65% of all complaints. To ensure compliance with its customer service goals, employers can use a variety of employee monitoring systems, such as mystery shopping. Traditionally this approach grew unreliable as findings were tainted by the subjective judgment of the shopper. However, with the use of digital video, mystery shoppers can evaluate the action through cameras hidden in their clothing. The images are digitally recorded and stored on a computer within 48 hours of the mystery shop. Managers can then sit down with employees and invite them to view the tape, and simply ask, â€Å"How do you think you did with that customer?† and sit back and listen. The employee gets the benefit of exceptionally clear, robust data—feedback that he or she may use to improve service skills. Feedback receptive organizations can take example from Whole Foods whose stores are like big amphitheaters intent on monitoring every aspect of customer service. Ever notice how at Whole Foods no matter who you ask for help you always get an answer? The company tracks and analyzes employee/client encounters with digital video. A look to the sky in any Whole Foods store reveals a wide array of state-of-the-art â€Å"eyes in the sky† that are not just meant for shoplifters. This complete surveillance makes the company aware of the moves of every one of its agents and customers know it. The â€Å"unreasonable† customer will know that cameras will back her up in the event of a dispute, and she’ll have no fear of a debate or argument from the company. She’ll be confident that no-one will try to handle her, and that resolution will be swift because Whole Foods and others like it know that nothing impresses people as significantly as quick follow-up. They also recognize that timing is critical when you get customer or employee input, and that early recovery is far easier than letting a bad situation fester and then trying to fix it. Moreover they do it consistently so that it becomes status quo for employees and customers alike, using a three-step process of feeling empathy, resolving the problem, and offering something more to exceed what the customer anticipates. (Timm, 2011) So when I failed to hear my name called as my coffee order was served, a Starbucks server eagerly offered to make me a new latte if mine wasn’t warm enough. Barely five minutes had that piping hot latte stood on the counter when I came to claim it, and I was happily taken aback by the show of concern from behind the register. Chalk one up for exceeding their expectations! This environment and culture is the one that customers will willingly engage, while happily paying $6.00 for coffee, or $4.00 for a tomato! Chapter 9: Reviewing the Facts Question 2 What are the three important steps needed to recover the potentially lost customer? The effort to satisfy unhappy customers to reduce defection, also known as Customer Service Recovery, is best handled when seen as an attitude of opportunity rather than a painful chore. Companies are highly motivated by some scary statistics: customers who experience poor service will tell seven to 13 others about it, and will continue to voice their dissatisfaction for up to 23 years. On the other hand, a satisfied customer will tell four or five others about a pleasant brand experience. One thing we can all agree on is; you want to keep a customer. The best attitudes for a service provider to adopt stem from a desire for a win-win relationship with the customer; both parties want to feel good about the business transacted. This is not necessarily a â€Å"customer-is-always-right† attitude. Rather, it is more of a problem-solving non- blame-setting attitude. (Timm, 2011) Since dissatisfaction does occur, it can be useful to accept each event as an opportunity and a challenge, if you want to assure your customer that you want to strengthen your relationships with them. It is also not bad for the bottom line– its impact on profitability can be substantial. Studies indicate that service recovery investments yield returns of 30%-150%. (Brown, 2000) Furthermore, British Airways calculates that their efforts to retain customers return $2 for every dollar invested. In fact, the airline finds that â€Å"recovered† customers give the airline more of their business. Likewise, Hampton Inn Hotels estimates that its service guarantee increased revenue $11 million and earned it the industry’s highest customer retention rate. (Wreden, 2003) An effective service recovery program occurs on two levels, the first of which is a three-step process that must be incorporated into customer service operations. The first step consists of both: Apology and Accountability Saying, â€Å"I’m sorry,† communicates an empathy with the customer, showing them perhaps that you feel their pain, and take ownership of a mistake, even if it’s because of supplier or other problems. The second step obliges the provider to: Do everything in their power to resolve the problem. This starts with clarifying exactly what the issue is in a caring manner that avoids interrogation. Responses must also be timely and the timetables for resolution should be a part of customer service policy. Customers appreciate any efforts you expended to solve their problem quickly. If a product needs to be replaced, do it now. If something needs to be repaired (or repaired again), give a high priority to scheduling such repairs. If a delivery has to be rescheduled, do it immediately and confirm it with the customer. Customer expectations can be managed with resolution schedules; if you specify time frames for the next steps, customer satisfaction will increase by 40%. Previously cited British Airways research showed that 40%-50% of customers defected if it took the company longer than five days to respond. (Wreden, 2003) That said follow up is a key element in this step. The provider must determine whether the customer received the promised treatment, and, more importantly, how they feel about it. One study indicated that a follow-up call to a once unhappy customer can boost satisfaction by 5%-7%, and intentions to repurchase by 8%-12%. Finally, giving something to the customer to make up for the problem they had, otherwise known as: Symbolic Atonement Often it cannot fully repair the damage, but it symbolically indicates that you are trying. It’s the â€Å"something extra† you give to appease the customer and help win him back. (Timm, 2011) Since atonement calls for having customer reps work directly with customers to determine an appropriate remedy, companies that encourage employee empowerment stand to gain by giving authority to employees to win customers back. Agents at Marriott International, for example, can spend up to $2,500 without authorization to compensate customers — a clear acknowledgement of not only the customer’s direct loss but also â€Å"pain and suffering.† Involving the customer in the process by seeking his ideas, â€Å"What can we do to make this better?† is wise, and might even lead to less costly solutions. REFFERENCES Brown, Stephen W. PhD. (2000). Practicing Best-In-Class Service Recovery: Forward-thinking firms leverage service recovery to increase loyalty and profits. Retrieved from http://www.mba.asu.edu/csl/upload/Service-Recovery-MM-2000.pdf Inc. Staff. (2009). Interview with John Mackey, CEO Whole Foods. Hiring Leaders. (Jul 1, 2009) Timm, Paul R., Introduction to Customer Service: Career Success Through Customer Loyalty 5th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2011) Wreden, Nick. (2003). How to Recover Lost Customers Noted Fusion Branding author details key steps to boost profitability by improving customer recovery. Retrieved from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/01/prweb54863.htm

Botany Durian

Durian: Genus: Durio Family: Malvaceae Kingdom: Plantae Tribe: Durioneae Order: Malvales Subfamily: Helicteroideae Scientific Classification: †¢ There are 30 recognized Durio species †¢ Nine of them produce edible fruit 1. Durio zibethinus 2. Durio dulcis 3. Durio grandiflorus 4. Durio graveolens 5. Durio kutejensis 6. Durio lowianus 7. Durio macrantha 8. Durio oxleyanus 9. Durio testudinarum †¢ Durio zibethinus is the only species available in the international market †¢ Other species are sold in locally Species Durian: It is a large-sized tropical fruit tree.The tree can reach a height of 35 – 45m if grown from seeds. Durian trees that are planted on a smooth level of land are smaller in size (10-15m in height). Climate: Climate Condition †¢ Soil: It grows best in fertile, deep soils with abundant organic matter and a pH of 6-7 †¢ Temperature: 25 -30 C; evenly distributed. The trees may survive occasional changes in temperature as low as 10? C a nd as high as 46 C. †¢ Needs tropical warmth, abundant moisture, and sunshine to thrive. †¢ If coconut can grow and bear well in some climate, except for seaside areas (durians are not salt-tolerant), durians may be possible too.Soils: The durian needs Loamy to sandy loamy is the most suitable soil. This soil is mostly found at the slopes of hills. Soil like â€Å"bris† soil, sulphuric acid and peaty soil is not suitable for durians. Roots: Durian roots have primary taproot going directly down from the trunk and secondary roots growing out from it. Durian Flowers †¢ Durian flowers are strongly fragrant and having nectar †¢ 50-70 mm long and grow in clusters of 1 to 45 individual flowers per cluster †¢ Flower clusters hang from the main and smaller branches, or directly from the trunk of the tree. Period of 3 to 4 weeks of dry weather is needed to stimulate flowering †¢ It takes about one month for a durian flower to develop from first appearance as a tiny bud to an open blossom. †¢ Each flower has 5 sepals and 5 petals †¢ Colour of the flower matches the color of the edible pulp that will develop inside the fruit; – Yellowish petals produce yellow-fleshed Durians (the most common) – White or Reddish petals will produce white or reddish fleshed Durians. †¢ Durian flowers are normally open from around 3 p. m. to midnight †¢ Durian flowers are hermaphrodites, each having a stamen and pistil in the same flower. Self-pollination rarely happens because the pistil and the stamen do not appear at the same time. †¢ Durian flowers are primarily pollinated by Bats when they visited flowers for nectar †¢ No evidence for any durian pollination happens via the wind †¢ It has been demonstrated that durian fruit-set will greatly increase by human hand-pollination †¢ Usually only 1 or 2 durian fruit develop from each flower cluster Flowerbud and flower: The nocturnal durian flower blooms when night falls and is at its peak at midnight. Usually, no pollen can survive until the next morning, so active pollination occurs during the night. Bats are pollination agents. Durian Leaf †¢ leaves are about 8 – 20 cm long and 2. 5-7. 5 cm wide †¢ Elliptic to oblong in shape †¢ Upper surface is shiny smooth, light or darkgreen †¢ Bottom surface is somewhat scaly, sometimes brown but more often with a golden shine. †¢ Leaves are folded at their mid-rib when they first appear, then stretch out as they mature. Durian Fruit †¢ Durian fruits’ Weight commonly ranges from 2-5 kg, up to 8 kg is also possible. †¢ Thai varieties are generally the largest, as 200 mm long by 175 mm in diameter †¢ Fruits from Philippines and most other regions are sually smaller and lighter †¢ The weight of the fruit and its spiky armor make a durian grove a hazardous place during ripening season, unless the fruits have all been pre-tied with string s or ropes to prevent their fall to the ground, or large safety nets positioned to catch them. Durian Fruit †¢ Inside each fruit there are 5 compartments containing the arils and 1 to 7 seeds of 2-6 cm long with glossy, red-brown seedcoat †¢ The aril or pulp varies extensively between cultivars and different seedlings in aroma, flavor, texture, thickness, and color, usually ream yellow to deep orange, but also rarely in some varieties white and even bright red. †¢ Durians from trees aged 50, 60 years and more have enhanced qualities of flavor, aroma, and texture †¢ Fruits of older trees can be identified visually by having very wrinkled skin on the fruit sections. †¢ Durians are highly perishable. They are fully ripe 2 to 4 days after falling and lose eating quality in 5 or 6 days †¢ The fruit is attractive to a great variety of animals and insects as well as people, including monkeys, gibbons, orangutans, apes, birds, dogs, pigs, rhinoceros, ears, squi rrels, tapirs, deer, elephants, tigers, and even the domestic cat. Odor/Smell of Durian — Smell of Durian is a mixture of – Unwashed socks – Rotten fish – City dump on a hot summer's day – Carrion in custard – Decayed onion – Turpentine – Garlic Taste of Durian †¢ Taste of the Durian is a mixture of – Custard – Almonds – Cream cheese – Sherry wine – Ice cream spices – Banana Medicinal Properties †¢ Parasitic worms are said to be expelled by eating durian †¢ Fevers are said to be reduced by drinking a tea of the leaves and roots, or applying durian leaf juice to the head. Swellings and skin diseases are said to be healed by applying a tea of the leaves and fruits †¢ People with high blood pressure or pregnant women are traditionally advised not to consume durian †¢ Durian is not recommended for consuming with alcoholic beverages, as the combination of natural sub stances is a powerful producer of internal gas. Facts About Durian: -The durian is commonly known as the â€Å"king of the fruits. † The name comes from the Malay word duri, meaning â€Å"thorn. † -Durians cannot be plucked from the tree. You have to wait for durians to drop. The fruit usually drops at night.

Infant mortality rates and importance of them

When studies measuring America ‘s wellness attention are released, many articles place heavy accent on infant mortality rates and its analysis. These studies are straight measured with a state ‘s health-care development, demoing betterments in surgical processs or a interruption in advanced engineering. About every state in the universe, including the U.S. and European states, takes careful consideration of its infant mortality rate when mensurating its ain wellness attention system or puting their informations on the universe phase for international comparings. Infant mortality rates, of import pieces of statistical information to a state, have prompted inquiries of whether a individual set of Numberss validly assesses a state ‘s overall health care quality or simply serves as an undependable step taken excessively critically. Infant mortality rates provide undependable statistical informations chiefly due to a deficiency of standardised steps in entering infant deceases across states, ensuing in misdirecting information. Assorted states throughout the universe define baby mortality otherwise, which Jonathan Cohn describes as â€Å" rough steps † ( Hogberg ) . Some states consider any baby who â€Å" breathes or shows any grounds of life † feasible as referenced in the Demographic Yearbook [ 1 ] 2002, and others â€Å" must be at least 30 centimetres long † to be considered life as stated by Nicholas Eberstadt ( Hogberg ) . Because of alone measurings across states, Country A may hold its infant mortality rate elevated or lowered significantly in relation to Country B criterions. For illustration, Country A, with an infant mortality rate of 2.7, counts every mark of life as a unrecorded birth. State B, with an infant mortality rate of 5.8, counts merely babies weighing over 500 gms at birth, ensuing in a larger tallied figure of deceases. If Country A were to set to Country B ‘s criterions, it would most likely produce a higher mortality rate. Without a consistent system, both infant mortality rates and rankings are well skewed. Due to an unorganised system of infant decease enrollment, states including New Zealand and Australia are prone to losing informations, and some exclude â€Å" babies who die shortly after birth † from their informations wholly ( Hogberg, MacDorman, and Matthews ) . Underreporting consequences from these undependable patterns, unwittingly casting the image of a state with a higher quality health care. Some of the top grade European states could be every bit low as the United States, or the United States itself could lift to the upper tierce. Without a standardised system, the truth of universe health care rankings is peculiarly questionable. Erratic studies, eventful from mendacious variables, send messages that do non effica ciously mensurate a health care system. Infant mortality rates reflect socioeconomic factors of the state more than the quality of its health care straight. The rates normally reflect the â€Å" obscure†¦ prevailing broad disparities among racial groups † ; statistics from the Department of Health and Services show the correlativity between infant mortality and ethnicity ( â€Å" The U.S. Health † ) . As of 2008, African Americans have an infant mortality rate of 13.6 out of every thousand births ; Whites, 5.66 out of every thousand births ( Blue ) . The present racial disparity links to the disadvantages of minority groups such as changing life conditions, ineffectual fiscal assistance, and deficiency of proper antenatal instruction. Without proper antenatal instruction, female parents lack cognition in caring for their kids decently earlier, during, and after construct. Depending on the regional countries in which these minority groups settle, entree to health care may besides be limited, impacting the attention of babies. Financial issues in a state once more indicate a relationship to the infant mortality rate. Research from the University of Maine studies that â€Å" Denmark and Germany have wellness systems which are really just in fiscal parts to the system, [ but ] other states such as the U.S. have really unjust systems of wellness funding † ( â€Å" The U.S. Health † ) . Denmark and Germany, both extremely industrialised European states, item significantly lower infant mortality rates than the United States, which coincidently besides spends the most in health care. Fiscal factors do non play a important function in the health care system itself, but more on the authorities policies sing a state ‘s fiscal distribution. Most issues point towards a state ‘s socioeconomic issues instead than its health care related jobs upon measuring an overpoweringly big analysis on infant mortality rates. On the other manus, infant mortality rates can rede a state sing the way of its health care focal point. One of the more discussed grounds for the United States holding a higher mortality rate is that many doctors think the United States are concentrating more on handling issues, instead than forestalling them ( Park 48 ) . This observation serves as an of import index to the focal point of the United States ; the quality of the United States ‘ wellness attention may be earnestly undermined, and the betterment of the state ‘s health care is slowed by the clash of misdirected focal point. Because of the error doctors are doing by seeking to bring around a deceasing babe instead than forestalling the mortal state of affairs ab initio, American baby mortality rates are unreasonably in the lower tierce of industrialised state rankings. The United States, honored as the richest and most powerful state in the universe, faces embarrassment in an cryptically low ranking in an cou ntry in which it is expected to stand out. Relatively high baby mortality rates points the U.S. in a way to increase its attempts in a new visible radiation. Datas studies from the CIA reveal a correlativity between infant mortality rate and the figure of doctors per 1000 people, which show an norm of 337 physicians in European states with an infant mortality rate of less 4.5 and the United States with 256 physicians with an infant mortality rate of 6.26m ( The World Factbook ) . A lurid deficit of doctors in the United States should dismay Americans who need to switch their current wellness focal point to supplying more physicians. Mothers may non be having equal attention from accoucheurs or babies may be treated with sloppiness by baby doctors because a work deficit may non let a doctor to supply the focal point and personal attention to every patient. Infant mortality rates are of import indexs to direct the focal point of a state sing the betterment of its health care. Inadequa te systems of entering infant deceases greatly hamper the credibleness of publically reported informations used to rank the quality of a state ‘s health care. Another country where baby mortality plays a function in health care is finding the effectivity of a state ‘s medical engineerings and interventions. Alice Park in a wellness issue of TIME magazine studies that some adult females â€Å" take advantage of generative engineerings [ that ] cause opportunities of multiple births, which in bend addition the likeliness of premature birth † ( Park 47 ) . Premature birth additions infant mortality to a unsafe extent, given the fact that premature babies will have undeveloped lungs and encephalons. Since premature births are increased, the information points towards unproductive medical engineerings, which threaten the province of a state ‘s overall health care quality. Premature births are besides caused by birthrate interventions taking to multiple births, ensuing in early cesarian subdivisions ( Stobbe ) . The impractical nature of these birthrate interventions basically represents an barbarian intervention system, which in bend affects the overall methods of intervention of the full health care construction. Infant mortality rates in the United States did non demo a considerable lessening until the development of inoculations against diseases aiming babies ( Park 42 ) . Unlike the old fortunes, this state of affairs proves that the success of ground-breaking engineering dramatically increased the quality of the state ‘s health care. Specified to the efficaciousness of a state ‘s medical engineerings and interventions, infant mortality rates provide intelligent grounds of the quality of a health care system. Infant mortality rates are normally used to measure a state ‘s overall health care position. I, nevertheless, do non believe that rankings of states ‘ infant mortality rates are valuable indexs. While the informations may supply some penetration into delivering methods, antenatal attention, and postpartum attention, most surveies clearly illustrate that causes of infant mortality are non entirely medically based. In fact, most causes of infant mortality are economically and socially based ; hence, infant mortality rankings have merely a modest cogency in verifying the makings of a state ‘s wellness attention. Upon analysing demographic informations, entree to wellness attention is conspicuously dependent on environmental factors, such as where one lives ( Meckel 281 ) . By comparing population maps to healthcare entree charts, it is evident that there is a way relationship between countries with higher population densenesss and higher health care entree. Cities with big populations show a big contrast in racial disparity versus infant mortality rates, in which African Americans and Native Americans have higher rates than White persons, but both Hispanics and Asians have lower infant mortality rates. The causes for the disparities are identical, which makes infant mortality rates a faulty agencies of analyzing health care. Some variables involved in cut downing infant mortality rates over the decennaries included a higher criterion of life, antenatal instruction, and teenage gestation instruction ( Meckel 281 ) . These factors show no relevance towards health care. The lessening in infant mortality in this instance was the effects of social reforms and non actions covering with the overall health care system. In my sentiment, the system of computation baby mortality rates confronts the most upsetting job: Measurements are incompatible. It is unlogical to compare uncustomary statistics and utilize it to knock a state ‘s quality of health c are. In order to efficaciously rank a state ‘s wellness attention quality, and finally its system, accent demands to be placed on more information pertaining as closely to the health care itself without outlying factors. Infant mortality rates appear with excessively much gravitation in every health care analysis study. Infant mortality rates serve as highly of import statistical information ; nevertheless, less weight could be placed on the rates itself sing the rankings of healthcare quality. Alternatively, infant mortality rates can be analyzed to better socioeconomic issues within society. [ 1 ] A aggregation of demographic statistics assembled by experts internationally and published by the United Nations for the usage of economic experts, demographists, etc.