Case Study LensCrafters

Case Study LensCrafters Operations Strategy LensCrafters specializes in the manufacture of eyeglasses. It has about 860 service shops in which customers watch over the process of assembling their glasses, which are custom made for one’s special needs. Although the company wishes to expand its markets to take full advantage of economies scale as part of its long-term operations strategies, LensCrafters occupies markets in Canada, Puerto Rico, and United States.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study: LensCrafters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More LensCrafters anticipates winning confidence of its customers to ensure sustainable business through the provision of quality products and services. These concerns for the operational strategy of the company are implied in the mission of the company, which states that the company endeavors to deliver legendary services to customers while â€Å"crafting perfect quality eyewear in about an hour† (Designing Operations Systems, n.d, p.126). Based on this mission, it is possible that the operations strategy of LensCrafters, which operates as the main mechanism of gaining competitive advantage, is organized around the need of delivering value to customers as the most valuable source of success. According to Pfeifer, Mark, and Conroy (2005), a strategic decision of an organization to focus on delivering values to customers is crucial. In fact, without them, an organization cannot dispose its products to earn profits and/or deliver value to its owners (p.13). Consequently, when LensCrafters focuses on creating value to customers through giving them an opportunity to watch over the process of making their eyewear, it implies that its sustainability efforts possess high probabilities of yielding fruits. The success of this strategy is akin to the development of perception in customers’ that satisfying their needs does not just entail picking an eyewear from t he shop shelves. Rather, it encompasses carrying a detailed analysis of the need of the customer to ensure that the specific needs of each client are fully addressed. How operation management activities affect the customer experience Operations management involves various activities, which enhance customers’ experiences and satisfaction. From the context of supply chain management, operations management houses activities such as â€Å"overseeing, designing, and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services† (Janvier, 2012, p.199). The manner of design of the production process and delivery of products influences the experiences of customers in terms of satisfaction of tastes, preferences, and aesthetic value of products as implied by customer perceptions. In case of eyewear, apart from the capacity to satisfy the medical need of the eyewear, aesthetics properties are also incredible properties of produc ts in the effort to enhance customers’ experience.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In operations management, several challenges are evident. Two of these challenges are communication and change management. In an organization, situations are encountered in which issues fall out of hand with instances in which an organization finds it hard to get people to seal the missing loops of communication within the appropriate time. This often happens when there is miscommunication or inappropriate interpretation of information that is meant to enhance the process of making quality decisions in an organization (Slack, Chambers Johnston, 2010). In such situations, mails, documents together with conversations are sent to various people only to land in the wrong hands or else arriving to the right people at the wrong time. Consequently, when problems emerge, people start blaming one another on various failures. To address this problem, operations managers should alter various communication structures in an organization. This strategy includes breaking down bureaucratic communication networks to permit vertical and horizontal communication. By accomplishing this role, it becomes possible to make clarifications concerning the issue of miscommunication and wrong attachment of meaning to information.  Any organization, including LensCrafters, which wishes to gain a competitive advantage and/or build a sustainable brand, must address the challenge of change management. Essentially, people are reluctant to change especially once they become accustomed to a given working culture (Slack, Chambers Johnston, 2010). In the process of execution of various operation strategies, operations managers anticipate achieving all plans within constrained timelines, with precise quality standards, and without flaws. However, in practice, this strategy is not pos sible since flaws are often inevitable. Managers have to face the challenges of project scope changes, personnel, and even alterations of various project parameters including timelines of various tasks. Such changes have negative consequences to an organization such as consumption of additional financial resources. To resolve the problem of change management, it is important that operations managers seek and/or embrace flexibility in terms of willingness to alter plans, information vital for completion of tasks in new ways, and more importantly embrace close collaboration with all stakeholders. This implies that, to develop the capacity to address challenges of change management, the organizational protocols for process execution need to have flexible command chains.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Study: LensCrafters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More LensCrafters’ value chain The value chain of Lens Crafters is organized around customer perceptions about the nature and quality of products and services. From the perspective of the nature of services, the appeal of the stores of the company is a major concern. It is for this reason that the company ensures, â€Å"the store is spacious, open, clean, carpeted, and has professional merchandise display area fitted with modern furniture† (Designing Operations Systems, n.d, p.127). With this glamour of the store, it means that customers would associate the eyewear offered by LensCrafters with specialty, aesthetic, and confidence in terms of appeal while wearing them. In fact, if customers go home with the glasses and find that they do not meet this brand image, the company is flexible enough to reaccept the glasses in exchange for another pair that meets the needs of clients through its unconditional 30-day service guarantee strategy. In delivering value to customers through the provision of quality products and services, inputs of employees are vital. This position is perhaps magnificently clear in the operations strategy of the LensCrafters. The company frames its key issues for consideration at the service counters with regard to the satisfaction of both employees and customers. For instance, the company considers various issues that are worth paying sufficient attention to ensure that right people are recruited, trained, and motivated to enhance quality service at the customer service counters. The issue of rewards system is also not left behind. This strategy is an attempt to build employee commitment to the value, mission, and objectives of the organization. In fact, in any organization, employees are the people who are in close contact with customers to whom value must be delivered. Hence, even though organizational structures may be developed by the management team to enhance customers’ satisfaction and value delivery, their implementation is solely in the hands of employees. This assertion perhaps points well why the value chain for LensCrafters revolves around the aspects, which are in close contact with customers such as employees and the physical presence of the stores. Performance measurements Organizations must evaluate the extents of achievement of their goals, strategies, and operations in an effort to develop indicators that show whether the outputs measure up to the inputs as anticipated. LensCarfters can deploy several performance measurements. They include efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, quality, safety, and timeline performance measurements. The operations strategies of the LensCarfters that are deemed appropriate for ensuring that the organization gains a competitive advantage in the eyewear industry are structured in terms of value delivery to the customers.  Customers are cautious about the quality of the eyewear they purchase from LensCarfters. Hence, it is important for the company to develop quality performance measurements.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This goal can be achieved by development of a scale for rating â€Å"the degree to which a product or service meets customer requirements and expectations† (Ittner Larcker, 2008, p.215). A more simplistic scale would be keeping track of the number of returns and customer complaints. A lesser number of returns and customer complaints would imply a high quality of the eyewear offered by LensCrafters. An organization not only exists to offer quality products and services to customers. It also provides value to investors. Hence, a performance measure for effectiveness is necessary for LensCrafters. Such a measurement would help the company to know the degree to which the company is capable of producing outputs at minimal costs. Lower costs indicate a higher net of value return. Usage of effectiveness performance measurement at the company would mean that, in case it is realized that the company is cost ineffective, strategies should be deployed to alter operations and technologi es. Ineffective production technologies have the implication of low production outputs, which influence the competitive advantage of an organization together with its sustainability (Slack, Chambers, Johnston, 2010). Technologies applied to LensCrafters’ service operations Technology is dynamic. To avoid obsolescence, it is important for an organization to adopt flexible technologies. Flexibility is crucial since it creates opportunities for fast and cost effective switchover from one production technology to another when such a need arises. LensCafters may be viewed as deploying customized production technology. The company produces its products based on orders placed by clients upon successful testing to determine the type of product that best suits a particular customer’s needs. Since mass flow is not involved, high mechanization through the usage of single purpose machineries is not used in the making of glasses. This implies that the company has the flexibility i n terms of having the capacity to fit in new designs of eyewear. Customized production technology has its own demerits. For instance, it is incredibly difficult to determine the types of materials to procure since it is not precisely known what is likely to be demanded by a given customer and in what magnitudes. Consequently, although the company insists that it strategically focuses on one-hour service delivery, challenges emerge when urgent ordering of raw materials is required to meet the needs of special customers. Another important production technology showcased by LensCrafters is the just-in-time production technology. Under this technology, products are produced just at the right time when they are required. This helps in the reduction of waste accumulation. Wastes refer to finished stocks, work in progress, and raw materials that are held in stores among other things that are associated with unfinished products. In the context of LensCrafters, this technology is important s ince it enhances effective performance of the organization through the reduction of the costs associated with the handling of wastes. Reference List Designing Operations Systems (n.d). An integrated case study of LensCrafters. London: Routlege. Ittner, C., Larcker, D. (2008). Coming up Short on Nonfinancial Performance Measurement. Harvard Business Review, 2(1), 212-223. Janvier, M. (2012). A new introduction to supply chain management: Definitions and theories perspective. International Business Research, 5(1), 194-207. Pfeifer, P., Mark, H., Conroy, R. (2005). Customer Lifetime Value, Customer Profitability, and the Treatment of Acquisition Spending. Journal of Managerial, 17(1), 11-26. Slack, N., Chambers, S., Johnston, R. (2010).Operations Management. New Jersey: Person Education.

Biography of Augusto Pinochet, Chiles Military Dictator

Biography of Augusto Pinochet, Chile's Military Dictator Augusto Pinochet (November 25, 1915–December 10, 2006) was an army officer and dictator of Chile from 1973 to 1990. His years in power were marked by inflation, poverty, and the ruthless repression of opposition leaders. Pinochet was involved in Operation Condor, a cooperative effort by several South American governments to remove leftist opposition leaders, often by murder. Several years after stepping down, he was charged with war crimes concerning his time as president but died in 2006 before being convicted on any charges. Fast Facts: Augusto Pinochet Known For: Dictator of ChileBorn: Nov. 25, 1915 in Valparaiso, ChileParents: Augusto Pinochet Vera, Avelina Ugarte MartinezDied: Dec. 10, 2006 in Santiago, ChileEducation: Chilean War AcademyPublished Works: The Crucial DaySpouse: Marà ­a  Lucà ­a  Hiriart  Rodrà ­guezChildren: Augusto Osvaldo, Jacqueline Marie, Lucà ­a, Marco Antonio, Marà ­a Verà ³nicaNotable Quote: Everything I did, all my actions, all of the problems I had I dedicate to God and to Chile, because I kept Chile from becoming Communist. Early Life Pinochet was born on Nov. 25, 1915, in Valparaiso, Chile to descendants of French settlers who had come to Chile more than a century before. His father was a middle-class government worker. The eldest of six children, Pinochet married Marà ­a  Lucà ­a  Hiriart  Rodrà ­guez in 1943 and they had five children. He entered Chilean War Academy when he turned 18  and graduated in four years as a sub-lieutenant. Military Career Begins Pinochet rose quickly through the ranks despite the fact that Chile was never at war during his military career. In fact, Pinochet never saw combat while he was in the military; the closest he came was as the commander of a detention camp for Chilean Communists. Pinochet lectured at the War Academy and wrote five  books on politics and warfare. By 1968, he was promoted to brigadier general. Pinochet and Allende In 1948, Pinochet met future President Salvador Allende, a young Chilean senator who was a socialist. Allende had come to visit the concentration camp then run by Pinochet, where many Chilean Communists were being held. In 1970, Allende was elected president, and he promoted Pinochet to be commander of the Santiago garrison. Over the next three years, Pinochet proved invaluable to Allende by helping put down opposition to Allende’s economic policies, which were devastating the nation’s economy. Allende promoted Pinochet to commander-in-chief of all Chilean armed forces in August 1973. The Coup of 1973 Allende, as it turned out, had made a grave mistake by putting his trust in Pinochet. With the people in the streets and the countrys economy in shambles, the military moved to take over the government. On Sept. 11, 1973, less than three weeks after he had been made the commander-in-chief, Pinochet directed his troops to take Santiago, the capital, and he ordered an airstrike on the presidential palace. Allende died defending the palace, and Pinochet was made part of a four-man ruling junta led by the commanders of the army, air force, police, and navy. Later, he seized absolute power. Operation Condor Pinochet and Chile were heavily involved in Operation Condor, a collaborative effort among the governments of Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay to control leftist dissidents such as the MIR, or Movement of the Revolutionary Left, in Bolivia, and the Tupamaros, a band of Marxist revolutionaries that operated in Uruguay. The effort consisted mainly of a series of kidnappings, disappearances, and assassinations of prominent opponents of the right-wing regimes in those countries. The Chilean DINA, a feared secret police force, was one of the driving organizations behind the operation. It is unknown how many people were killed during Operation Condor, but most of the estimates range well into the thousands. The Economy Pinochet’s team of U.S.-educated economists, who were known as â€Å"the Chicago Boys,† advocated lowering taxes, selling state-run businesses, and encouraging foreign investment. These reforms led to sustained growth, prompting the phrase â€Å"The Miracle of Chile.† However, the reforms also led to a decline in wages and a spike in unemployment, and there was a severe recession from 1980 to 1983. Steps Down In 1988, a nationwide referendum on Pinochet resulted in a majority of the people voting to deny him another term as their president. Elections were held in 1989 and the opposition candidate, Christian Democrat  Patricio Aylwin, was victorious. However, Pinochet’s supporters continued to hold enough influence in the Chilean parliament to block many proposed reforms. Pinochet remained in office until Aylwin was installed as president on March 11, 1990, although as an ex-president he remained a senator for life. He also kept his position as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Legal Troubles and Death Pinochet might have been out of the limelight, but the victims of Operation Condor did not forget about him. In October 1998, he was in the United Kingdom for medical reasons. Seizing upon his presence in a country with an extradition treaty, his opponents brought charges against him in a Spanish court in connection with the  torture  of Spanish citizens in Chile during his rule. He was charged with several counts of murder, torture, and kidnapping. The charges were dismissed in 2002 on the grounds that Pinochet, by then in his late 80s, was too unhealthy to stand trial. Further charges were brought against him in 2006, but Pinochet died on December 10 of that year in Santiago before the prosecution could proceed. Legacy   Many Chileans are divided on the topic of their former dictator. Some say they see him as a savior who rescued them from the socialist policies of Allende and who did what had to be done in a turbulent time to prevent anarchy and communism. They point to the growth of the economy under Pinochet and claim he was a patriot who loved his country. Others say he was a ruthless despot directly responsible for thousands of murders, in most cases for no more than thought crimes. They believe his economic success was not all it seemed because unemployment was high and wages were low during his rule. Regardless of these differing views, it is undeniable that Pinochet was one of the most important figures of the 20th century in South America. His involvement in Operation Condor made him the poster boy for violent dictatorship, and his actions led many in his country never to trust their government again.   Sources Dinges, John. The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents. Paperback, Reprint edition, The New Press, June 1, 2005.ï » ¿The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2018). Augusto Pinochet: President of Chile.

A Study of Performances Improvement on IT Project Management Workers Dissertation

A Study of Performances Improvement on IT Project Management Workers ..A Case Study of China's C Information Technologies Co - Dissertation Example Moreover, Maslow’s motivational theory is used in understanding the motivation for improved performance within C Information Technologies Ltd. More importantly, the evaluation and discussion of factors affecting the performance of individuals and the strategies used by companies to improve performance are analysed and discussed within the paper. Introduction and Background The human resource function of contemporary organizations has revealed an increased focus on performance management for IT employees. Wikina (2008, p. 19) explains that this is attributed to the increased competitiveness within various markets and the changes in work activities which emanate from the advancement of information and communication technology. Performance management involves employee evaluation within the IT department which acts as a guideline for the needs of employees for skills, knowledge and abilities that will allow them to improve their productivity and performance at the work place (Gheo rghe & Hack, 2007, p. 17). China is a very competitive and rapidly growing economy especially within the IT sector. In addition, companies operating in China have experienced tremendous changes in the recent past which are related to the changing business environment and the demand for IT expertise. It is because of these challenges that most organizations and companies within China have demonstrated an increased regard for performance improvement for IT staff through employee development and training. This paper presents a report on the investigation on performance improvement among IT project management workers within C Information Technologies Ltd. The Chinese company acts as a case study for this investigation which is aimed at achieving a deeper understanding of the process of performance management as it is applicable within this company. More specifically, the study will achieve an analysis and evaluation of the characteristics of the company’s IT staff such as skills and attitudes towards work. This analysis will be conjugated with a study on the various factors which affect the performance of the C Information Technologies Ltd.’s IT staff with a view of determining the need for improvement. Furthermore the paper explores past literature on the topic to analyse and discuss the factors affecting performance management and the best strategies of improving the performance of the IT project workers within the IT industry. More significantly though is the fact that this study applies scientific methodology approach in meeting the following research questions and objectives. Objectives of the Study 1. To explore upon the theoretical framework on incentives and motivation of IT project staff which contributes to improved performance 2. To find out the important factors which affect job performance of IT project staff 3. To determine the most effective techniques and strategies in performance management which will improve the performance of IT pr oject staff within C Information Technologies Ltd. Research Questions 1. What are the performance characteristics of IT project staff within C Information Technologies Ltd? 2. What theoretical framework describes the motivations and incentives behind the level of performance among the c C Information Tec

Organizational Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational Analysis Paper - Essay Example ts of current policy regarding cash ordering systems, an assigned project team at SARAH proposed a somewhat radical change to internal processes and the much-required implementation of web-based, convenient cash ordering technologies. Despite the triumphs associated and a series of positive outcomes, failure to identify discrepancies in the implementation (including lack of on-the-job training and a variety of system glitches) have caused tremendous problems with the adaptation of the new cash ordering system. This report identifies the nature of these oversights and further proposes a step-by-step action plan for implementing change associated with the new, integrated technologies. Through extensive analyses, it was determined that employee training, feedback, and the creation of a culture valuing continuous improvement were necessary to streamline the new project at SARAH bank so as to provide increasing value to the organization and its customers. SARAH Bank is a flexible and progressive organization, focusing on contemporary leadership practices and continuous improvements both in terms of internal processes and customer relationship management. The vision of SARAH Bank is to emerge as the â€Å"Customer’s First Choice Bank†, however in order to make this goal a tangible reality, SARAH required significant strategic change which involved restructuring the organizational hierarchy and the adoption of new business models and internal philosophies. The organization is now heavily engrossed in the process of streamlining business functions to best accomplish its vision, including new acquisitions and the development of new products and services. These aggressive objectives had created a significant business challenge, specifically involving the efforts in adopting new products and associated technologies. The organizational unit responsible for the overall supply of cash to its branches and corporate clients within the State determined the necessity for a

Current Event Alcohol Essay Example for Free

Current Event Alcohol Essay This article is very surprising in the fact that the understanding of binge drinking is changing. It has been apparent for some time now that excessively drinking has been a problem but it is now under the microscope of having a positive light to the young population. This study had articulated how binge drinking is being looked at and what is changing across student college campuses. The article was based within a college campus, they were studying who or why college students binge drink. They found that students that are perceived as being â€Å"high status† are socially connected and mentally happier. On the other hand those that are considered â€Å"low-status† were deemed to not being as happy, especially in terms of the satisfaction of their college life. This study is trying to show college students correlation with alcohol and what may be happening as a whole within a certain community. As college students we are known to have very high stress, alcohol, is said to help lower this stress. The national institute on alcohol abuse says,†over 400,00 students between the ags of 18 and 24 had unprotected sex as a result of their drinking† all of these statistics are worrisome. It is hard to understand why this is becoming such a problem but as it is described here, it can be directly associated with peer pressure and failure of education about the matter. Binge drinking is a major problem within our society. Even though this article is only from one university it can be multiplied and used to inform and educate other universities across the United States. If we don’t understand the effects it is making now we will not be able to control the future generations. This is particularly close to family ties considering many young adults are dying every year from excess drinking. From the article they state that, â€Å"1,700 college student deaths can be attributed to excessive drinking. † This statistic alone proves that it is a problem that could be prevented with proper education or different drinking laws. The culture within the United States put such a high emphasis on drinking. We learned and talked about how when something is illegal it makes more people want to try it or use the certain substance, I believe this can be directly connected with alcohol in teens and young adults. It I no urprise to me that the statistic of those that are classified as binge drinkers is so high, they say it is â€Å"peer pressure at its finest†, but I wouldn’t only correlate it to be from that but also from our; parents, educators, and role models not creating a clear understanding of how dangerous it can be and is. I agree with their statement that, †we want to make clear that we believe binge drinking is a really dangerous and ultimately self destructive behavior, and that a social power structure that promotes this is a bad thing†. This sentence really amplifies the need for change. This article is almost making a plea for people to understand and have knowledge of this subject. It has been passed over and if we don’t stop this power trip alcohol is having on young adults we wont realize when we have changed the older generation of society as a whole. On the other hand I believe since this was only done within one small university, in order to have collected and statistic information more studies would need to be done to find an average across the United States. This article was an eye opener for me to some of the crazy statistics that are out there and primarily tied to the use of alcohol. This study is only one example of how alcohol is affecting our society. It may makes some college students happier about their college experience but in the long run it will catch up to you and hurt not only yourself but those around you, as we have talked about this many times in class. Overall I would hope you evaluate your own personal decision and decide what is your best option. Don’t let other dictate how you should live or what they think is the best way to live.

Cloning - Stronger, Smarter, and More Perfect Humans :: Cloning Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Cloning - Stronger, Smarter, and More Perfect Humans A few years ago if you were to ask someone about the possibilities of cloning they would most likely say it was impossible. This attitude towards cloning has been held into belief up until recently when scientists in Scotland cloned a sheep. And immediately after scientists in Oregon cloned a monkey (Fackelmann 276). The most major breakthroughs of the century in science has occurred and we are not ready for it. The scientific breakthrough of cloning has caused a great deal of controversy in the media and also in the government. The advantages of cloning are tremendous to the human race and cannot be ignored. I believe that cloning humans is what the human race needs to advance. Humans would be stronger, smarter, and more perfect. Scientists could remove bad genes from the parents and replace it with a good one. If one of the parents had a bad gene or hereditary disease this could be removed from the embryo and replaced with another "clean" gene. This process is called embryo screening it is used to determine if the child has received the defective gene. Several embryos could be cloned, then the DNA from one of the embryos would then be removed and standard genetic testing would be used to detect whether or not that embryo contained the genetic disease. If this cloned embryo containd a disease then one of the other embryos could be used for implantation in a parent, this guarantees that the child would be free of genetic disease (Marshall 1025). For those who disagree with cloning I am sure if there child could be saved from a genetic disease they would reconsider cloning. Imagine if one of your friends or family members was in need of a liver or kidney. Most likely you would donate your own liver or kidney to save there life. But then you are one organ short. Well this happens a lot and seems to work fine. But if they needed a new heart you might have trouble finding one. Not if you had a clone of yourself that could supply you with a new organ or maybe even a relatives organ that was naturally stronger (Cloning 1117). Someone could replace their old organs with new ones and extend their life span. Thousands of lives that could be saved if we had the technology and advanced science of cloning available. Even accepting an organ from a relative it may fail, it has to be compatible with our body system , if its your clone, then its

Kinship and the Inuit People

It takes a certain type of person to be able to survive the harsh freezing climate of the Arctic. The Inuit, descendants of the Thule have been surviving along the shores of the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Davis Strait, and Labrador Sea for over 1,000 years. The kinship relationships among the Inuit people are very important to their way of life and survival. Every family unit consists of the nuclear family. This is the most common type of unit in a foraging society, such as the Inuit. The nuclear family is the mother and/or father and their children. Occasionally, the Inuit nuclear family will include a spouses’ widowed mother or father or a single adult sibling. The village will contain several other households sharing kin members. This is important because they participate in generalized reciprocity. Generalized reciprocity is a form of exchange where there is no expectation for the immediate return of an item or service in exchange for something else. The different households visit each other, share food, and work together to complete everyday tasks. During the seal hunting season, about 15 different households come to work together. This is very important because seals are used for more than just their meat. They use the sealskins for various things such as boot liners, waterproofing clothes, houses, and kayaks, and the blubber for household lighting. However, â€Å"whenever food was abundant, sharing among non-relatives was avoided, since every family was supposedly capable of obtaining the necessary catch. In situations of scarcity, however, caribou meat was more evenly distributed throughout camp† (Laird & Nowak, 2010, p 3. ). This generalized reciprocity helps to ensure the survival of the people in times of need. However, because it is not done all the time, there is little conflict. During times of scarcity, the Inuit people have practiced infanticide. One of the reasons they do this is so the older children or adults do not starve. However, it has been noticed that they prefer female over male infanticide. This is most likely because the boys will grow up to be the hunters. A few women do hunt, but it is considered the men’s responsibility. Women do contribute to the food by gathering grasses, berries, tubers, stems, and seaweed. However, because there is very little vegetation in the Arctic, women are not the main contributors of food. They process and prepare the meats the men bring home. Women are expected to take care of the children and the house. This is one of the closest similarities between our culture and theirs’. In our society, women are still considered the primary caretaker of children and elder family members. Women are expected to come home from work or â€Å"berry gathering† and prepare dinner. Women run the household chores such as cleaning and laundry. Inuit women clean and sew for the children and men, except when the men go away to hunt and have to do it themselves. In our culture, men sometimes help with household chores, such as cooking, although they have the option of ordering in. Our culture also practices generalized reciprocity. Families gather together to share meals and everyday chores. We go to visit other households to enjoy holidays and birthdays. Family members exchange gifts, foods, and just enjoy being together. Some families gather to help one another out like when we moved. My father-in-law helped by lending us his truck. There was nothing expected in return. The one thing we do not share with the Inuit culture is infanticide. Although I understand why they do it, I would not be able to. In our culture, the parents would end up in prison. We also do not place as much importance on the sex of the child. The only benefit of a boy would be the passing on of the family name. However, today women can decide to keep the family name and add on their husbands, instead of giving up theirs for his. Although our cultures have many similarities, they are also very different. Kinship relationships are important in every society, including ours and the Inuit. However, our survival is not dependent on these relationships, whereas the Inuit are. Without the kinship of the Inuit, they would not be able to survive the harsh winters of their environment. It does take a very special type of people to survive the Arctic. The Inuit have proved to be one of them.

Ib Physics Chapter 3 Notes

I did not understand how to explain why temperature does not change during a phase change and am not entirely sure if I have accurately or thoroughly described 3. 2. 3 and 3. 2. 4. This is also the case for 3. 2. 12 Thermal Physics Thermal Concepts: Temperature (T) is a measure of how hot or cold an object is, and it is the temperature that determines the determines the direction of thermal energy transfer between two objects. It is a scalar quantity and is measure in degrees celcius ( °C ) or kelvin (K). 0  °C is equal to -273K.Kelvin is based on the properties of a gas. Thermal energy is the receiving of energy from a hot body by a cold body when placed next to each other. Internal energy of a substance is the total potential energy and random kinetic energy of the molecules of the substance. It is where molecules in a body gain energy internally and are able to be move faster (increased KE) and move apart (increased PE) from work being acted upon it. Moles: †¢ A mole of a ny material contains 6. 022? 10^23 atoms or molecules. This is also known as Avogadro's constant. However, all moles don't have the same mass due to the different types of particles which have different mass Thermal Properties of Matter: Specific Heat Capacity (C) of a material is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg of the material by 1 °C. It is measured in J ?  °C / kg. It is expressed by the equation: c = Q/ m? T; where m is mass, Q is the quantity of heat and ? T is the change in temperature. Thermal Capacity (c) of a material is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature by 1 °C.It is measured in J /  °C . It is expressed by the equation: C = Q/ ? T; where Q is the quantity of heat added and ? T is the amount of increase in temperature of a body. The physical difference between liquids, solids and gaseous phases in terms of molecular structure and particle motion involve atoms having KE and having strong attraction to each other when soli d and having both KE and PE with less attraction and more room to move around when liquid with even more PE and increased potential to move around when gaseous.Evaporation is the change of state of matter from a gas to liquid, whereas boiling is the change of state from liquid to a gas. Specific Latent Heat (L) of a material is the amount of heat required to change the state of 1kg of the material without change in temperature. It is measured in J / kg. It is expressed by the equation: L = Q/m; where Q is the amount of energy and m is the mass. Kinetic Model of an Ideal Gas: Pressure = force/area The assumptions of the kinetic model of an ideal gas are: †¢ The Molecules are perfectly elastic The Molecules are spheres †¢ The Molecules are identical †¢ There is no force between the molecules (excepting collision) with constant velocity between collisions. †¢ The molecules are very small Temperature is hence a measure of the average random kinetic energy of the mole cules of an ideal gas as the speed of particles increase as the temperature rises. Thermodynamics: Thermodynamics relates to a thermodynamic system – this is a collection of bodies that can do work on and exchange heat between each other. These laws apply to all systems. K is absolute zero temperature, where molecules do not move The equation of state for an ideal gas: PV = nRT; where n is the number of moles and R is the molar gas constant. A real gas molecule has a shape and a finite size, whereas an ideal gas molecule (imaginary) is a point with no shape and it occupies no space. A real gas molecule interacts with others. An ideal gas molecule reacts totally independent of all others. There are no ideal gas molecules, only real gas molecules. However, as pressure decreases and the temperature increases, real gas molecules act more like ideal gas molecules.Thermodynamic Processes: The expression for the work involved in a volume change of a gas at constant pressure: P? V; w here P is pressure and V is volume According to the law of conservation of energy, energy cannot be created or destroyed. Hence, the first law of thermodynamics basically states that as a gas expands and gets hot, heat must have been added: Q = ? U + W; where ? U is the increase in internal energy, W is the work done by the gas and Q is the amount of heat added to a gas. Examples of changes of state of an ideal gas: Isobaric (Constant pressure contraction) †¢ Isochoric/Isovolumetric (Constant volume increase in temperature) †¢ Isothermal expansion †¢ Adiabatic contraction The Second Law of Thermodynamics: The second law states that it is not possible to convert heat completely into work, implying that thermal energy cannot spontaneously transfer from a region of low temperature to a region of high temperature. Hence, it is about the spreading out of energy. Entropy: †¢ Entropy is used to quantify this second law. †¢ Entropy is expressed by the equation: ?S = Q/T; where ? S is change in entropy and Q/T is the quantity of heat flow into a body at a certain temperature. It is measured in J/ K †¢ The second law in terms of entropy changes states that in any thermodynamic process the total entropy always increases †¢ Even though locally entropy may decrease, the total entropy of a system will always increase. i. e. the stock in a fridge may get colder and the molecules become more ordered, with entropy in the fridge decreasing; however the total entropy of the room will increase and the room will gain heat.

Free Essays on The Starry Night

The Starry Night Anne Sexton poem The Starry Night reflects the Vincent von Gogh’s painting The Starry Night very well. If one was to do a little research into the lives of the writer and the artist they would find that they were kind of in the same path in life when they did these two works. Sexton mood in the poem matches the one in the painting. The two works have a lot in common and that could be because of the creator’s lifestyle. Van Gogh painting â€Å"The Starry Night was completed near the mental asylum of Saint-Remy, 13 months before Van Gogh's death† (online 1) and Sexton were depressed most of the time. Though there is not much information on Van Gogh’s life, we can see form Sexton’s life why she was inspired by this painting. She had tried to commit suicide a number of times because she was obviously not happy with her life. She was searching for comfort and when she could not find it in her parents she found it in her aunt who died later on and that made her more depressed. She was not happy in her marriage and had lots of affairs, and seeing therapist who encouraged her to continuing writhing. During her life she had tried to committed suicide on a number of ocasions and was finally successful in the end. In the poem she is viewing death as a serpent that swallows up the stars, she states that’s how she wants to die, for the life to just be sucked up with no cry. (1401). She was so depressed with life that she, judging from the poem, wants to disappear form everything. She dose not want to exist anymore. Wants to die a quiet and fast death. The painting it self is very depressing, but in a sense it’s kind of restful. The way that its restful is the little houses in the village they seem in a way really cozy and peaceful, while the sky is at war with it self. The one tree that’s there in the front is very dreary and dead and that makes it depressing. The poem is also depressing a peac... Free Essays on The Starry Night Free Essays on The Starry Night The Starry Night Anne Sexton poem The Starry Night reflects the Vincent von Gogh’s painting The Starry Night very well. If one was to do a little research into the lives of the writer and the artist they would find that they were kind of in the same path in life when they did these two works. Sexton mood in the poem matches the one in the painting. The two works have a lot in common and that could be because of the creator’s lifestyle. Van Gogh painting â€Å"The Starry Night was completed near the mental asylum of Saint-Remy, 13 months before Van Gogh's death† (online 1) and Sexton were depressed most of the time. Though there is not much information on Van Gogh’s life, we can see form Sexton’s life why she was inspired by this painting. She had tried to commit suicide a number of times because she was obviously not happy with her life. She was searching for comfort and when she could not find it in her parents she found it in her aunt who died later on and that made her more depressed. She was not happy in her marriage and had lots of affairs, and seeing therapist who encouraged her to continuing writhing. During her life she had tried to committed suicide on a number of ocasions and was finally successful in the end. In the poem she is viewing death as a serpent that swallows up the stars, she states that’s how she wants to die, for the life to just be sucked up with no cry. (1401). She was so depressed with life that she, judging from the poem, wants to disappear form everything. She dose not want to exist anymore. Wants to die a quiet and fast death. The painting it self is very depressing, but in a sense it’s kind of restful. The way that its restful is the little houses in the village they seem in a way really cozy and peaceful, while the sky is at war with it self. The one tree that’s there in the front is very dreary and dead and that makes it depressing. The poem is also depressing a peac...

5 Awesome Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills

5 Awesome Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills 5 Awesome Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills If you are moving into your first shared apartment, you’re probably worried about paying the bills. And since we are now into fall, you’re probably already thinking about turning the heating on. Here are some great ways for you and your housemates to save money! 1) Shrink Wrap Your Windows Did you know that shrink wrap makes an excellent substitute for extra window panes? If you are stuck with single glazed windows, you’ll know that the heat leaks out! Try taping shrink wrap to the window panes: you’ll be amazed at how much warmer your room feels! 2) Get Some Snakes! OK, real snakes probably won’t heat up your house much, especially since they are cold blooded. However, stuffed snakes laid at the bottom of doors, will! Try using the leg of an old pair of pantyhose and stuff it with rags. Put it at the bottom of your door and you have yourself a free draft excluder. For extra cuteness, add some googly eyes and a smile. 3) Line Your Curtains You’re probably thinking that this is the sort of thing your grandmother would do. But there’s a reason for that: it works! Add a fleecy lining to your curtain for extra insulation. 4) Reflect that Radiation! A sheet of aluminum foil behind a radiator reflects the heat waves back into the room, instead of letting it be absorbed into the wall. Bet you never thought foil could keep you warm, right? 5) Warm Up With Rice! Anyone who has ever tried studying with cold feet will know that it’s not a great experience. Sew up some raw rice in a rectangle of cloth to make yourself a microwaveable rice pillow. It uses a lot less energy than a hot water bottle (kettles are super energy intensive) and is ready in seconds. What are you waiting for? Get busy and make your home a warm and cozy study nest for the winter!

Tumour markers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tumour markers - Essay Example Therefore, it is important to understand that it is the quantity and not just the presence of these compounds that must be considered in assessing the clinical use of tumour markers. Tumour markers are usually proteins (structural proteins and enzymes), cell-surface carbohydrate antigens, cellular receptors, and genes, which are detected in tissue, urine, and blood samples. Markers can be specific for a certain type of cancer, while there are markers that are common for different cancer types. Some markers also show increased concentration in the tissues and body fluids even in the absence of cancers. Due to this, tumour markers by alone should not be used in to diagnose cancer. In an ideal situation, screening and early diagnosis of cancer are the major goals for using tumour markers. To be able to do this, a marker must be highly specific for a certain cancer. It must not come up with too many false positive results that could lead to unnecessary and expensive follow-up tests, not to mention the psychological effects that come with the possibility of having cancer. Markers levels should be elevated enough, and ideally can be used to screen asymptomatic individuals, meaning that they can be used to detect cancer early. However, because markers are present in low concentrations in the body, screening for asymptomatic individuals is only recommended for those who have a genetic predisposition towards getting cancer. Currently, only the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) has been recommended and approved for general screening of prostate cancer in men over 50. A positive screening result for PSA is still not an indication of cancer, and PSA screening should be d one in conjunction with a digital rectal examination of the prostate gland for diagnostic purposes. Markers are used to identify the local source of metastasized cancers, and could therefore aid in making a correct diagnosis. The recurrence of cancer can be checked by testing the levels of a