Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Map Essay Example for Free

Balanced Scorecard and Strategy Map Essay Balanced Scorecard: Part of a system that translates strategy into action. Also, gives a balanced view in four perspectives of how well an organization is driving execution and how successful the results are. The four perspectives in the balanced scorecard and strategy map give executives a more balanced view of their organization. Strategy Map: Represents how an organization will execute its strategy. The Strategy Map shows the objectives needed to execute the strategy and casual links between objectives. It can also be a tool for clear communication and help identify the â€Å"critical few† metrics to monitor strategic execution. Examples: The first of the four aspects contained in the Balanced Scorecard is the Customers. Finding ways to appeal to your customers can be a tough task, but it is one that has to be assessed. For my company, we will have to differentiate between trying to be the broad differentiator or trying to be the low-cost leader. Customer complaints and concerns can also be an issue, so we will want to monitor and record all of those statements to ensure customer satisfaction. In order for us to succeed financially, we have to make sure that we are presenting ourselves well to our shareholders. Do we want to achieve a certain earnings per share or a certain income figure? Our goal this year may be to break even or reach a certain revenue level. Whichever the case may be, we will have to be firm in what we are trying to accomplish. The financial section of the scorecard looks at the company’s financial goals and how they are meeting the goals both currently and in the future. For my company, it will be the most important metric because we want to show our  shareholders the exact progress and growth of the company accurately. Our company will want to continue to grow and have the ability to adapt and improve. In order to do so, we will have to provide detail metrics to track our growth and expansion if there is any. Metrics may include employee retention rates or even the number of training hours for full-time employees. As an organization, it is necessary to adapt to a changing landscape through employee training, learning, and development. With these metrics we can look into the future of the organization, instead of taking a snapshot of how the organization is performing right now. To satisfy our shareholders and customers, we can either sell a large quantity of items at a low price or focus completely on a high quality product that comes at a premium price. Both strategies could be effective, but we will only be able to choose one to fulfill the vision of what we want the company to be in the future. The Strategy Map and Balanced Scorecard go hand in hand and are vital platforms that all companies need to be successful. I like to compare it to the checks and balances system that our government has had in place since its birth. The balanced scorecard monitors finances, performance, growth, and vision while the strategy map makes sure that all of these metrics are organized and focused towards achieving our companies’ goals. References Person, R. (2013). Accelerating Strategic Performace. In Balanced Scorecards Operational Dashboards With Microsoft Excel (2.nd ed., p. 6, 7, 8). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley ;.

History of the Rule of Law

History of the Rule of Law Law Society Rule The question of the purpose of the rule of law and how the boundaries should be drawn between moral judgement and the need to maintain a basic level of order within a society has been asked, over the centuries, by many eminent theorists from the legal, political and philosophical world. Several different opinions have emerged with varying degrees of agreement, with the concept that the rule of law is the law and we must obey it, regardless of how unjust the rules may appear. Although the exact meaning of the rule of law has been interpreted in different ways by the various different theorists, the very basic principle that the rule of law means that no individual is above the law seems to hold in all interpretations. In England, the prime example of the rule of law is the Magna Carter in which King John agreed to abide by the feudal laws and the placing of limits on fees relating to feudal land. What is the Rule of Law? Before considering whether or not the rule of law consists merely of a body of rules or whether there is more to the way in which the rule of law is applied, it is first necessary to consider exactly what is meant by the ‘rule of law’. Dicey was not, in fact, responsible for the birth of the rule of law, but was instrumental in bringing it into the public arena for debate and consideration. He contended that the rule of law was made up of three key principles. Firstly, that an individual has the freedom to act in any way he so wishes without punishment provided it is not in breach of any law. This gives supremacy to the rule of law over any other arbitrary act of power that is not backed in law. Secondly, that no one is above the law meaning that every subject, regardless of stature, can be held accountable to the law and punished in the courts of the land. Thirdly, that the rule of law is based on the collective rights of all individuals. Essentially, this means that the courts will enforce individual rights on a collective basis to all subjects within its jurisdiction. This basic concept has been somewhat extended in recent years, most notably by Lord Bingham in his lecture given on 16 November 2006 to Cambridge University where he put forward eight sub-rules that should be seen as part of the overall rule of law. These were that firstly, the law should be available and understandable to all it governs, based on the premise that if someone is to be governed by a law they should be able to understand it fully. Secondly, that when faced with the decision of liability or accountability, the law should be used without so far as is possible the use of discretion. Thirdly, that the law in the way in which it is applied should be equal and universal to all. He did, however, recognise that at times it would be necessary for some individuals to be treated differently. Fourthly, that any law must provide a basic level of protection for all fundamental human rights, to every subject, regardless of circumstances. Fifthly, where there is a civil dispute that cannot be resolved, the parties should have access to cost effective and efficient means of dealing with the dispute. Sixthly, that all members of government or officers of the government should act in good faith when carrying out their law enforcement duties and should not act outside of their individual powers. Seventhly, that any adjudicative process should be fair and transparent in the way it arrives at decisions. Finally, the state has to consider its obligations to international law when complying with any national rule of law. In essence, the rules laid out by L Bingham are not substantially different from those laid out by Dicey; they are merely more detailed regarding the way in which the laws should be applied. This offers greater guidance on the subject of what an individual should do when faced with a seemingly unjust law. It also gives greater insight into the way in which the rule of law should be viewed, generally, and applied in relation to other political, religious and moral frameworks. Application of the Rule of Law Having understood the basic principles of what the rule of law contains, it is then necessary to move forward to consider how this applies and actually works, in practice, in relation to society as a whole. Again, this area has drawn attention from some of the great legal theorists of all time and has, in some cases, been hotly debated. One of the fundamental ideas laid down by Dicey is that the government has no greater authority in terms of the way in which it is viewed in the courts. The rule of law clearly indicates that the government must have restraints and cannot simply act in any arbitrary way that it pleases. This has been borne out in several court cases including the early case of Entick v Carrington where it was held that the warrant a Home Secretary had issued to enter a privately owned property was against the law and, therefore, the government was guilty of trespass. Theorists from the very early stages have recognised that there is a need for some central rule to control all individuals. Not to have any central law would, almost certainly, result in anarchy. In its earliest format, the need for a rule of law was established by Plato and Aristotle where they recognised the need for at least a degree of rule or there would be complete anarchy within society. Without any form of law or rule the stronger and more cunning would effectively make the most of their position by exploiting the weak. It is almost universally accepted that someone needs to take overall control of a way that maintains democracy and prevents the weak from being exploited. For this central control to work, the power needs to be vested in some political and legislative authority. Aristotle, in particular, recognised the importance of the role of this central figure. He debated at length whether this central control should be the rule of law or rule of men. His eventual conclusion was that a rule of law was necessary and that the central figure had to be in the form of some higher governmental authority. He concluded that a rule of law was essential as laws are produced as a result of reason and thought and not based on pure passion. Moreover, having one individual leader can clearly lead to tyranny or self-serving actions. As the rules need to govern every adult individual, each individual should have a say in how these rules are established. Finally, a rotation of those in charge of the rule of law is desirable to ensure equality throughout. For these reasons, Aristotle concluded that a rule of law, operated in a democratic manner, is essential to ensure that rules are consistent and not arbitrary in the way they are both established and maintained. Encroachment on the Rule of Law Despite the universal recognition that the rule of law is both desirable and essential for the effective operation and governance of society, there have been several encroachments on the traditional rule of law. There is a body of thought that suggests the government has made several moves to encroach on the individual’s liberties. One of the most notable of these is the removal of the right to a trial by jury in certain limited circumstances. In doing so, it is argued that the equality and fairness of the system is lost. Individuals are not judged by their peers but are instead dictated to by a higher authority. Another area that has faced criticism is the way in which the secret service operates and, in particular, the Official Secrets Act and related gagging orders that have been put on certain individuals. Clive Ponting, who was a civil servant during the Falklands War, was gagged and prevented from speaking about the activities of the government, during this time. It is argued that this encroachment on individual liberties, to the extent that it is necessary to protect the greater good, should not be seen as a breaking of the overall essence of the rule of law. Although these governmental powers are seen as overpowering the individual’s rights, it is also argued that these encroachments would not in the normal course of daily activities come into contact with these encroachments. Similarly, it is also argued that governmental bodies such as the secret services are overseen by independent bodies and, therefore, are not able to act in a way that is arbitrary or discriminatory. Based on this, it can be concluded that whilst the rule of law is sometimes bent to accommodate the needs of the public as a whole, it cannot be carried out in an arbitrary way. Further, there are checks and balances in place to make sure that no single body exercises too much power over another. The Role of Customs One element of the rule of law which has to be considered when determining how the rules are established and how general customs should be dealt with in the creation of such laws is that of customary practice. This is particularly difficult as customs vary depending on regions, religions and even social classes and are therefore very difficult to control or legislate to take account of. Nevertheless, it should be noted that customs do not create laws, as such; they are simply used by judges when applying the law, which can at times result in an arbitrary application of customs in relation to the rule of law. In order to be recognised as a law, a custom must meet very stringent tests including the fact that it must have existed since ‘time immemorial’, i.e. it must have been in existence since at least 1189 (in accordance with a statute enacted in 1275). The custom must also be certain in terms of scope and application. The case of Wilson v Willes held the customary right to remove as much turf as was necessary from the manor common land. It was held that this custom was not sufficiently certain to be considered a valid law, as it was not clear what limits there were on the amount of turf. Other requirements include the locality of the custom as customs are only ever applied on a local and not national basis. They must have been consistently exercised and exercised as a right rather than an irregular whim. In short, the recognition of a custom as a legal rule is only applied in extreme circumstances and provided that it does not conflict with an existing law. The Role of Morality As established as early on as Aristotle’s works, the rule of man or general morality cannot be relied upon to provide the basis of legal structure for all individuals. Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes moral behaviour; to allow every individual to follow their own moral code would result in chaos and disorder. Whilst everyone has their own moral standards, most individuals recognise that there is a need for universal laws, even if they do not always fall in line with their own moral judgments. The difficulty comes when there is no apparent overall benefit to the law in question. For example, where the act does not harm another and there is seemingly no common purpose then, under the rule of law, there should be no law preventing such actions. This has been the case with homosexuality which is now not considered to be illegal. There are other activities that are thought of as illegal but not immoral, by some at least, such as driving over the speed limit, smoking marijuana or filing a false tax return. It is clear that although law and morality are interlinked, they are not directly and inextricably thought of as one. Despite this, individuals, on the whole will recognise that there is a need for a legal system and will consider it moral to follow these rules even if they do not fully agree with them. Are Unjust Laws, Laws at all? This differentiation between law and morality leads us to consider the ultimate question of whether the rule of law requires individuals to follow the law, even if it is manifestly unjust. Are individuals in fact obliged not to obey rules that they see as unjust as stated by Martin Luther King when he wrote from his jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, stating ‘one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws’? Where an individual is governed by the rule of law but decides to break one of these laws as he views them as unjust, provided he accepts the resulting responsibility it can be said that he maintains his adherence to the rule of law. The rule of law states that he should be dealt with fairly and expediently and, therefore, spans a much greater remit than simply setting down the laws that must be followed. As stated by Dworkin, simply because the rule seems to be unjust does not give any individual the right to believe that it is a law at all. It does, however, give individuals the right to be dealt with fairly if they choose not to follow such a rule. Conclusions The rule of law is an essential part of any democratic society. A central set of rules that everyone must follow is required to prevent arbitrary rule and, ultimately, total anarchy. Having said this, the rule of law does not simply lay down a set of rules and apply them tyrannically. The rule of law has a much wider scope and considers how the laws should be applied and adapted to deal with societal changes and local customs. It is this overall framework of rules tainted with a degree of political and judicial discretion that makes the rule of law an ongoing success in dealing with the vagaries of human nature. Bibliography Aristotle, Ethics Book V, in K.S. Chukkol, ‘Enforcement of Judgements Against Public Officers and the Institutions and the Rule of Law’, in Ayua (ed.), Law, Justice and the Nigerian Society (NIALS, Lagos 1995) p. 61 David Brink, ‘Legal Positivism and Natural Law Reconsidered’ (1985) The Monist 68 364–387 Ronald Dworkin, Taking Rights Seriously (paperback ed., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1978) John Finnis, Natural Law and Natural Rights (Clarendon Press, Oxford 1980) Lon Fuller, The Morality of Law (revised ed., Yale University Press, New Haven London 1969) Robert George (ed.), Natural Law Theory: Contemporary Essays (Clarendon Press, Oxford 1992) Matthew Kramer, ‘On the Moral Status of the Rule of Law’ (2004) Cambridge Law Journal 63: 65

The Effect Of Globalisation On Health Environmental Sciences Essay

The Effect Of Globalisation On Health Environmental Sciences Essay The increased movement of both goods and people increases opportunities for the spread of disease around the world. There are also concerns about the following: potential public health problems due to market liberalisation, the emergence of new diseases globally and worsening of existing ones due to climate change and governmental oversight over economic policies that can affect spending on healthcare. International cooperation as a result of globalisation has also had a great impact on health practices in many countries including Europe. In this backdrop, as a healthcare management consultant working for an international organisation, you are asked to examine the implications and effects of globalisation on healthcare management. Identify the effects of globalisation on healthcare Globalization can be defined as a network of processes which nations, firms and business and people are getting more interdependent and connected across the global community through the increased and strengthened economic integration, exchange of communication, diffusion of the Western culture and travel as well as migration. We must give ample attention to the processes by which the connectivity and interdependence among nations are happening. Globalization is akin to a new phenomenon where basic human drive comes into action. The history of human kind has evolved through crossing borders, exploring new heights, expanding horizons, trading commodities, conquering territories and assimiliation of culture and social practices. Globalization involves people and their behaviours in a society. Similar to the trade and commerce benefits of globalization, the consequences and effects of globalization to healthcare is being magnified on a larger scale. The effects of globalization on healthcare might include the following: Tourism brings gaps among borders and increases awareness among cultural differences and practices. Global tourism starts to grow and a lot of countries have the liberalization of their airline industries which makes travelling more affordable. According to Sutherst,2004(Sutherst R (2004) Global change and human vulnerability to vector-borne diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev 17: 136à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢173) there are approximately one million international travellers every day and a significant percentage of these people are travelling between developed and developing countries which can facilitate the spread of communicable diseases. With the increasing number of travellers, the possibility of acquiring infections and diseases is greater than those countries who are not that inclined towards global travelling. Globalization can dramatically improve healthcare through the development of policies rooted on equality and allocation of resources for all members of the society especially those ser vices pertaining to health (UNDP, 1999; Ben-David et al., 1999; Cornia, 2001). Globalization can foster protectionist policies, allocate subsidies and preserve livelihoods and rural life by which the European Union frequently advances. The benefits of these are the quality and health of the people. If there is proper funding of health projects, it can result into a healthier citizenry who can function at their best and contribute to the development of the society. Through the process of globalization, healthcare settings are best influenced by the increased universal access to healthcare, legislation regarding exposure to hazardous wastes and environment. The stronger the economy, the better are the facilities for public health, water sanitation, health services and a lot more. Through the globalization, the application and profound recognition of health as a human right are being brought into the consciousness of people from across the globe. People are now more aware of the interdependence and interrelationship of health with the various types of human rights such as cultural, social, political, economic and civil rights. WORD COUNT: 459 Assess the influence of international institutions in healthcare settings The diversity of services in terms of health care has been immensely affected by globalization itself. Developing countries has the ability to attract customers by providing quality healthcare at a lower cost than the counterparts in their own country. Within a short period of time there are a lot of changes by which health and the people are most concerned off. The development of global standards of excellence and quality will also bring forth the rise of processes in the accreditation and licensing of medical and healthcare medical education. Through globalization, the circulation of services and goods are more efficient than before. Specific multilateral agreements between States often serve as a detrimental factor for countries of the developing world. Despite the economic benefits of globalization, there are several effects on the healthcare practices and settings from one country to the other. One of the best indicators in the level of development of a country is health. The reflection by which the resources and wealth of the country are being allocated to, shared equally by the entire population. International institutions can influence the delivery of health care through globalization. However, health itself cannot be assumed as significant similar to that of the basic needs of human. The movements of healthcare professionals, the exodus of the members of the health team are strongly related to the complex cultural, ethical, and human resources issues in their mother land. Thus it is imperative that health professional must promote health as a global human right. International institutions must be prepared before launching headlong into the challenges of globalization, M. Srinivasan,2006 et al. (Visualizing the Future: Technology Competency Development in Clinical Medicine, and Implications for Medical Education Acad Psychiatry, December  1,  2006; 30(6): 480 490.) The health practices being implored can be influenced by foreign relations and policies of a country. It is best that the challenges of globalization shall be faced with much ease and confidence so that there will be no room for errors which will compromise the health of the people. Developed countries are tapping their international institutions to recruit and acquire trained graduates from poorer countries. With the movement of professionals, healthcare settings are improved through the expertise and carative characteristics of people from the poorer countries. These countries are improving their immigration policies to accommodate the influx of various members of the health care team. Healthcare setting in developed countries are influenced by international institutions who are expecting reciprocity in terms of economic and social implications of globalizations. The increased of workers in the health care industry, can facilitate the health of the citizens. WORD COUNT: 434 Evaluate the impact of European Union membership on workplace health practices. Health will not transform how we think about the foreign policies and the health practices we implore. The establishment of the European Common Markets has brought about a lot of changes not only in free movement of goods and capitals but social and cultural aspects of the country. Through the European Union, services and persons are free to move. The principles of free movement can be applied in the health care industry as well. The members of the health sector have the following changes in terms of the influence of the European Union: Through the membership with EU they can allow the free incorporation and inclusion of health care providers and professionals as well as the cross-border delivery of health care services. Since the year 1970, the European Union (EU) has passed a myriad of regulations regarding health practices. One of the regulations is to reinforce the mutual recognition of nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare professionals in terms of their qualifications. Through this, the Member States will recognize the professionals who hail from among the members of the European Union which is considered to be an indispensable precondition for the non-restrictive movement of services. Thus , in reference to the establishment of the European job market for the members of the health care team, it has not led to the extensive migration among the member of the European Union (EU). The accession of the Eastern and Central European countries to the European Union( EU)did hot stirred an alarm of brain drain. Brain drain is the major concern among authorities due to the imminent depletion of healthcare professionals to the better off countries located in the Northern and Western Europe. The numerous potential effects of the European Union (EU) on the social protection systems in the applicant countries due to the variations and differences between the type of health care systems among the 25 Member States. A lot of authorities are expecting mass exodus of professionals from the accession countries. Free movement of health care professionals and occupations has not paved the way into the expected transnational migration among the Member states of the European Union. The language barrier is one of the major reasons why the health care sector deal on a personal level and are quite sensitive about it. There are countries in Europe where English is not widely spoken. Thus, it will be very difficult to administer and render health care services. WORD COUNT: 411 WORD COUNT: 1314 Question 2 You are employed by Sahara Oil Company based in Qatar as their Occupational Health expert. The company produces and refines oil; it also explores gas deposits. There has not been a recent review of the environmental effects of the companys operations. You have responsibilities for the environmental health issues of Sahara Oils operations in Qatar. As well, one important responsibility you have been given is to be conversant with the impact of environmental legislation, directives and guidance and the processes that organisations need to adopt in order to provide health protection to the employees of the company, their families and the members of the local community who are affected by Sahara Oils operations in Qatar. Identify the economics of adopting a policy of environmental awareness in heath care settings. All of the above lead to improved QOL and increased life expectancy. However, all this come with a cost to human health and the environment. Effects on health: Such activities and their impact on the environment have serious effects on health of communities,, esp. Chdns health. However, there is uncertainty of the effects of such activities or technologies on health as there is no scientific evidence that directly links such activities to disease causation. E.g., there is still ongoing debate about the scientific evvidence linking greenhouse gases to global warming. Governments inaction is because they fear that taking action would affect trade. E.g. taking action to prevent bon-fossil fuels :-charcoal and oil burning- in order to reduce CO2 emission into the atmosphere by developing nations i.e., China and India would collapse their industries and economy. However, the economic cost of technological development on the environment and human health is higly significant. The Precautionary Principle states that in the case of serious or irreversible threats to the health of humans or the ecosystem, acknowledged scientific uncertainty should not be used as a reason to postpone preventive measures. The concept of a universal precautionary principle apparently has its origins in early German and Swedish thinking about environmental policy, particularly the need for policymakers to practice foresight in order to prevent long-range environmental problems. The concept was included in the Amsterdam Treatyan important step toward establishment of the European Unionbut the concept was left undefined and was applied only to environmental policy. In the past 20 years, there have been numerous references to precaution in various international treaties, statements of advocacy groups, and academic writings, but the significance of the principle in international law remains uncertain. The EIB considers the need for applying the precautionary principle when there is a risk that a project may cause significant and irreversible damage to the environment. In such cases, measures should be taken by the promoter to avoid in the first place and if a feasible alternative is not available to reduce that risk to an acceptable degree. Assess the actions that need to be taken by organisations to maintain the environment. Pollution of the aquatic environment occurs from many different sources including from oil refineries. Oil refinery effluents contain many different chemicals at different concentrations including ammonia, sulphides, phenol and hydrocarbons. The exact composition cannot however be generalised as it depends on the refinery and which units are in operation at any specific time. It is therefore difficult to predict what effects the effluent may have on the environment. Toxicity tests have shown that most refinery effluents are toxic but to varying extents. Some species are more sensitive and the toxicity may vary throughout the life cycle. Sublethal tests have found that not only can the effluents be lethal but also they can often have sublethal effects on growth and reproduction. Field studies have shown that oil refinery effluents often have an impact on the fauna, which is usually restricted to the area close to the outfall. The extent of the effect is dependent on the effluent compo sition, the outfalls position and the state of the recipient environment. It is possible to detect two effects that oil refinery effluent has on the environment. Firstly it has a toxic effect close to the outfall, which is seen by the absence of all or most species. Secondly there is an enrichment effect which can be distinguished as a peak in the abundance or biomass. These effects are not limited to just oil refinery effluents, which make it difficult to distinguish the effects an oil refinery effluent has from other pollution sources. The discharge from oil refineries has reduced in quantity and toxicity over recent decades, allowing many impacted environments in estuaries and coasts to make a substantial recovery. Specify the measures that exist to improve workplace health and safety practices When oil refineries do not practice workplace safety, it can result in numerous problems. These problems can force a refinery to trim production or shut down completely. For example, dozens of oil refineries were shut down in 2007 due to fires, leaks, spills and power failures. Crude Oil Pre-treatment (Desalting) Fire Prevention and Protection: The potential exists for a fire due to a leak or release of crude oil from heaters in the crude desalting unit. Low boiling point components of crude may also be released if a leak occurs. Safety: Inadequate desalting can cause fouling of heater tubes and heat exchangers throughout the refinery. Fouling restricts product flow and heat transfer and leads to failures due to increased pressures and temperatures. Corrosion, which occurs due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, naphthenic (organic) acids, and other contaminants in the crude oil, also causes equipment failure. Neutralized salts (ammonium chlorides and sulfides), when moistened by condensed water, can cause corrosion. Overpressuring the unit is another potential hazard that causes failures. Health: Because this is a closed process, there is little potential for exposure to crude oil unless a leak or release occurs. Where elevated operating temperatures are used when desalting sour crudes, hydrogen sulfide will be present. There is the possibility of exposure to ammonia, dry chemical demulsifiers, caustics, and/or acids during this operation. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Depending on the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals used, the wastewater will contain varying amounts of chlorides, sulfides, bicarbonates, ammonia, hydrocarbons, phenol, and suspended solids. If diatomaceous earth is used in filtration, exposures should be minimized or controlled. Diatomaceous earth can contain silica in very fine particle size, making this a potential respiratory hazard. Crude Oil Distillation (Fractionation) Fire Prevention and Protection: Even though these are closed processes, heaters and exchangers in the atmospheric and vacuum distillation units could provide a source of ignition, and the potential for a fire exists should a leak or release occur. Safety: An excursion in pressure, temperature, or liquid levels may occur if automatic control devices fail. Control of temperature, pressure, and reflux within operating parameters is needed to prevent thermal cracking within the distillation towers. Relief systems should be provided for overpressure and operations monitored to prevent crude from entering the reformer charge. The sections of the process susceptible to corrosion include (but may not be limited to) preheat exchanger (hydrogen chloride (HCl) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)), preheat furnace and bottoms exchanger (H2S and sulfur compounds), atmospheric tower and vacuum furnace (H2S, sulfur compounds, and organic acids), vacuum tower (H2S and organic acids), and overhead (H2S, HCl, and water). Where sour crudes are processed, severe corrosion can occur in furnace tubing and in both atmospheric and vacuum towers where metal temperatures exceed 450 ° F. Wet H2S also will cause cracks in steel. When processing high-nitrogen crudes, nitrogen oxides can form in the flue gases of furnaces. Nitrogen oxides are corrosive to steel when cooled to low temperatures in the presence of water. Chemicals are used to control corrosion by hydrochloric acid produced in distillation units. Ammonia may be injected into the overhead stream prior to initial condensation and/or an alkaline solution may be carefully injected into the hot crude oil feed. If sufficient wash-water is not injected, deposits of ammonium chloride can form and cause serious corrosion. Crude feedstock may contain appreciable amounts of water in suspension which can separate during startup and, along with water remaining in the tower from steam purging, settle in the bottom of the tower. This water can be heated to the boiling point and create an instantaneous vaporization explosion upon contact with the oil in the unit. Health: Atmospheric and vacuum distillation are closed processes and exposures are expected to be minimal. When sour (high-sulfur) crudes are processed, there is potential for exposure to hydrogen sulfide in the preheat exchanger and furnace, tower flash zone and overhead system, vacuum furnace and tower, and bottoms exchanger. Hydrogen chloride may be present in the preheat exchanger, tower top zones, and overheads. Wastewater may contain water-soluble sulfides in high concentrations and other water-soluble compounds such as ammonia, chlorides, phenol, mercaptans, etc., depending upon the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat and noise, and during sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Solvent Extraction and Dewaxing Fire Prevention and Protection: Solvent treatment is essentially a closed process and, although operating pressures are relatively low, the potential exists for fire from a leak or spill contacting a source of ignition such as the drier or extraction heater. In solvent dewaxing, disruption of the vacuum will create a potential fire hazard by allowing air to enter the unit. Health: Because solvent extraction is a closed process, exposures are expected to be minimal under normal operating conditions. However, there is a potential for exposure to extraction solvents such as phenol, furfural, glycols, methyl ethyl ketone, amines, and other process chemicals. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as noise and heat, and during repair, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Thermal Cracking Fire Protection and Prevention: Because thermal cracking is a closed process, the primary potential for fire is from leaks or releases of liquids, gases, or vapors reaching an ignition source such as a heater. The potential for fire is present in coking operations due to vapor or product leaks. Should coking temperatures get out of control, an exothermic reaction could occur within the coker. Safety: In thermal cracking when sour crudes are processed, corrosion can occur where metal temperatures are between 450 ° and 900 ° F. Above 900 ° F coke forms a protective layer on the metal. The furnace, soaking drums, lower part of the tower, and high-temperature exchangers are usually subject to corrosion. Hydrogen sulfide corrosion in coking can also occur when temperatures are not properly controlled above 900 ° F. Continuous thermal changes can lead to bulging and cracking of coke drum shells. In coking, temperature control must often be held within a 10 °-20 ° F range, as high temperatures will produce coke that is too hard to cut out of the drum. Conversely, temperatures that are too low will result in a high asphaltic-content slurry. Water or steam injection may be used to prevent buildup of coke in delayed coker furnace tubes. Water must be completely drained from the coker, so as not to cause an explosion upon recharging with hot coke. Provisions for alternate means of egress from the working platform on top of coke drums are important in the event of an emergency. Health: The potential exists for exposure to hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, and trace polynuclear aromatics (PNAs) associated with coking operations. When coke is moved as a slurry, oxygen depletion may occur within confined spaces such as storage silos, since wet carbon will adsorb oxygen. Wastewater may be highly alkaline and contain oil, sulfides, ammonia, and/or phenol. The potential exists in the coking process for exposure to burns when handling hot coke or in the event of a steam-line leak, or from steam, hot water, hot coke, or hot slurry that may be expelled when opening cokers. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat and noise, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. (Note: coke produced from petroleum is a different product from that generated in the steel-industry coking process.) Fire Prevention and Protection: The potential exists for a fire due to a leak or release of crude oil from heaters in the crude desalting unit. Low boiling point components of crude may also be released if a leak occurs. Safety: Inadequate desalting can cause fouling of heater tubes and heat exchangers throughout the refinery. Fouling restricts product flow and heat transfer and leads to failures due to increased pressures and temperatures. Corrosion, which occurs due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, naphthenic (organic) acids, and other contaminants in the crude oil, also causes equipment failure. Neutralized salts (ammonium chlorides and sulfides), when moistened by condensed water, can cause corrosion. Overpressuring the unit is another potential hazard that causes failures. Health: Because this is a closed process, there is little potential for exposure to crude oil unless a leak or release occurs. Where elevated operating temperatures are used when desalting sour crudes, hydrogen sulfide will be present. There is the possibility of exposure to ammonia, dry chemical demulsifiers, caustics, and/or acids during this operation. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Depending on the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals used, the wastewater will contain varying amounts of chlorides, sulfides, bicarbonates, ammonia, hydrocarbons, phenol, and suspended solids. If diatomaceous earth is used in filtration, exposures should be minimized or controlled. Diatomaceous earth can contain silica in very fine particle size, making this a potential respiratory hazard. ( Word count :1300 ) Question 3 You have been appointed consultant to a pharmaceutical company in Mumbai that sources clinical trial contracts from abroad, especially the United States of America and western Europe. Because of its international operations, the work force of the company is also varied with employees from various countries around the world. You are asked to explore the issues that affect the companys operations in the current economic environment when implementing healthcare management practices. Analyse the responsibilities of organisations in improving work place health and safety. The following are recommended practical activities that executives can do at each stage of their personal journey to understanding the value of diversity. 1. Discovery. Executives must become aware of the need to view racial and ethnic diversity as a significant strategic issue. They should thoroughly read this timely study and review many of the excellent references outlined at the end of the study. 2. Assessment. Executives must determine where their organizations are on the road to capitalizing on racial and ethnic diversity. The Tables in the article present a series of best practices against which an organization can benchmark its responsiveness to diversity practices. Another useful exercise during the assessment stage would be to determine what data their organizations have access to regarding the diversity of the population of the community they serve, their organizations patient demographics, and their organizations workforce. A scarcer and more diverse workforce. As a result, healthcare organizations (HCOs) must develop policies and practices aimed at recruiting, retaining, and managing a diverse workforce and must meet the demands of a more diverse patient population by providing culturally appropriate care and improving access to care for racial/ethnic minorities. Ultimately, the goal of managing diversity is to enhance workforce and customer satisfaction, to improve communication among members of the workforce, and to further improve organizational performance. Research on diversity management practices in HCOs is scarce, providing few guidelines for practitioners. This study attempted to close that gap. Results show that hospitals in Pennsylvania have been relatively inactive with employing diversity management practices, and equal employment requirements are the main driver of diversity management policy. The number and scope of diversity management practices used were not influenced by organizational or market characteristics. The results suggest that hospitals need to adopt diversity management practices for their workforces and need to pay particular attention to marketing and service planning activities that meet the needs of a diverse patient population. Diversity has become a crucial subject in the field of management as organizations pay increased attention to major demographic shifts in the U.S. population. As of 1999, 28 percent of the U.S. population was a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, and it is projected that by 2030, 40 percent of the U.S. population will be members of a racial or ethnic minority group (U.S. Census Bureau 1999). These changes are resulting in an increasingly diverse labor pool and customer base. Policymakers are also being more attentive to racial/ethnic disparities in access to care and health status. While such disparities are well documented, relatively less is known about the underlying causes for the disparities. Researchers have examined financial barriers, racism and discrimination, and patient preferences as potential sources of these disparities (Williams and Rucker 2000). To respond to the demographic shifts of the workforce and patient population and address racial/ethnic disparities in access and outcomes of care, healthcare organizations (HCOs) will need to become culturally competent organizations. Cultural competency has been defined as an ongoing commitment or institutionalization of appropriate practice and policies for diverse populations (Brach and Fraser 2000). While cultural competence is the goal, diversity management is the process leading to culturally competent organizations. Diversity management is .a strategically driven process whose emphasis is on building skills and creating policies that will address the changing demographics of the workforce and patient populations (Svehla 1994). Diversity management and leadership practices are known to enhance workforce and customer satisfaction, to improve communication among members of the workforce, and to further improve organizational performance (Cox 1994; Dreachslin 1996). However, only some organizations choose to respond to workforce and customer demographics by initiating diversity management practices and becoming diversity leaders (Dreachslin 1999). Others resist, making only those changes necessary to comply with affirmative action guidelines. A recent survey on career attainment among healthcare executives across different races/ethnicities confirms that much improvement is still needed in the cultural and diversity climates of HCOs (De Anda et al. 1998). Research examining diversity management practices in HCOs is scarce. To date, only three prior studies have examined diversity management practices in HCOs-one using case study methodology (Muller and Haase 1994) and two others using survey methodology (Motwani, Hodge, and Crampton 1995; Wallace, Ermer, and Motshabi 1996). These studies have focused on human resources issues in diversity management. Each of the three studies found that relatively few hospitals had implemented diversity management programs even when hospitals considered diversity management an important organizational issue. Furthermore, Muller and Haase (1994) found that all hospitals in their study fitted the pluralistic profile in which they were not actively managing diversity but employing diversity management policies and programs that were primarily compliance-oriented strategies. Compare organisational approaches to ensuring positive policies of work place diversity. Cultural diversity in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, it is the expeditious thing to do. It ensures responsiveness and responsiveness is synonymous with survival. Diversity in the workplace is important because of its contribution to organization decisionmaking, effectiveness, and responsiveness. Those from diverse populations have experiences, insights, approaches, and values from which can come many different perspectives on and alternative approaches to problems, and knowledge about consequences of each alternative. From a leadership position (for example, an executive, managerial, and/or supervisory position), suggestions and recommendations of such alternatives and

Andy Warhol Essay -- essays research papers

The attitude of Warhol only confused society more. Instead of hiding his association with commercial art as other artists did, drawing and dividing the line between it and real art, he erased the line. â€Å"The Pop artists did images that anybody walking down Broadway could recognize in a split second.†(Warhol) Pop artist figures competed in that art market where images and auras, no just objects, are offered for consumption. Warhol has never objected to this state of affairs, which he did so much to reveal – and indeed, to push to new extremes of sophistication. Warhol introduced society to a new kind of art that is now being recognized as real art, he pushed to boundaries and so called standards to the traditional ways. Warhol’s first major display of pushing the boundaries was in 1948 at an art show given by the Pittsburgh Associated Artists his painting that he submitted was titled The Broad Gave Me My Face but I Can Pick My Own Nose, one judge thought it was excellent and another thought it was vulgar and coarse. It hung in the ‘reject’ section but drew a huge crowd of admiring students. From that he felt that he was ready to take on the art scene in New York. Warhol’s approach to the modern way of art was mass production of everyday items. He was very successful as a commercial artist but was not considered a ‘real’ artist. Andy wanted his art to look impersonal and mechanical. He discovered the use of silkscreen and how it produced slight mistakes and unevenness in his re...

Human Evolution Essay -- Biology Papers

Human Evolution Human evolution is the biological and cultural development of humans. A human is any member of the species Homo sapiens, meaning "wise man." Since at least the Upper Paleolithic era, some 40,000 years ago, every human society has devised a creation myth to explain how humans came to be. Creation myths are based on cultural beliefs that have been adopted as a legitimate explanation by a society as to where we came from. The science of paleoanthropology, which also tries to create a narrative about how humans came to be, is deeply technical. Paleoantropology is the science of the evolution of humans, and it is the base of all research in that field. Humans have undergone many different changes during the last hundred million years, and it is the paleoanthropologist's job to identify and explain these changes. In this research paper I will examine: human physical traits that define their species, human origins from pre-humans to modern humans, major discoveries and the history of human evolution, and what the future may hold as far as evolution for the human species. Homo sapiens are the only living representative of the family Hominidae. The Hominidae, or hominids are a group of upright walking primates with relatively large brains. So all humans are hominids, but not all hominids could be called human. Next all humans are primates. The mammalian order of primates includes about 180 species of prosimians (lemur like animals), monkeys, apes, and ourselves. Primates are unusual mammals for they have evolved such distinctive traits as highly developed binocular vision, mobile fingers and toes with flat nails instead of claws, a shortened snout with a reduced sense of smell, and large brains relative to body siz... ...hat the species is "going somewhere" under natural selection and then describe how most successful species are stable through their geological lifetimes. Furthermore, given the relative pace of cultural change and lack of isolation of human populations, there is little chance for a new different human species. Modern understanding of human evolution rests on known fossils, but the picture is far from complete. Only future fossil discoveries will enable scientists to fill many of the blanks in the present picture of human evolution. Employing sophisticated technological devices as well as the accumulated knowledge of the patterns of geological deposition, anthropologists are now able to pinpoint the most promising locations for fossil hunting more accurately. In the years ahead this will result in an enormous increase in the understanding of human biological history.

Analyse the cash flow problems a business might experience Essay

In this assignment I will be analysing that a business might experience if their sales figures turn out to be lower than the ones that they have expected or predicted. 1.1 problems of cash flow forecast Problem 1 Cash flow forecasts are something really important for a business and something that is a part of a business plan. A cash flow forecast is a plan for the future it will tell you whenever the costs are going to be raised over the year. It can also tell you what the business revenue is going to be and what the business performance for the following year is. Problem 2 From what I can see on Ricky’s cash flow is that he is relying on that one loan which is his capital that he begins with too and that is  £17,500 from the first month which is January. Bank loans are great for starting a business but that does not mean that they can not let you down in this case a bank loan can fail Rick because if the bank loan gets delayed or no longer available then this is a big problem for Rick because he cannot do anything best way to explain this would be he would not be able to pay for the truck which is  £20,000 and not only the truck that would not be paid for but the sales cost would not be covered. His total payments only for the beginning of year which is the month January his total payments are  £22,475 with this type of problems or should I say impacts that can happen there is no way that his business would survive. Problem 3 Another critical problem that can occur from that cash flow is if the sales figure is lower than the actual sales figure. For example the sales figure that has been predicted by Ricky is  £60,000 but let’s say that he actually gets  £40,000 as his total figure for his sales. This is a major problem simply because what he as predicted to get for his sales has not been met and  £40,000 worth of sales would not be enough to keep his business running regularly. Costs for everything would not be covered just because of this problem which again is very crucial for the business and of course loss  would occur there is no way that Rick would make any profit due to this problem. In addition the business would have to start the new month with a loss and again this is just because the total sales are low this would yet again mean that he cannot cover the costs for that month and he would have a greater loss that he would not allow him to recover fast enough for the next month in order for his business to be still up and working. Problem 4 Looking at Rick’s cash flow forecast I can see that there can be another problem that can occur and this problem is to do with his expenses and that is if his expenses turn out to be lower to what the actual expenses appear to be this can cause him not only a problem but a failure to his business because his expenses are  £71,750 and lets say for example they actually come out to be 81,950 this is where the big problem will occur because his expenses are higher and this would lead to Rick not being able to cover for the next year. Plus if the expenses go up in any month of the year this would decrease the chance of Rick gaining any type of profit and the balance would be different for the next month by all means this would affect the profit and balance within the business. 1.2 recommendations and solutions to the problems Solution to problem 1 Possible solution that Rick has for his bank loan problems is that he can either make sure to use his own savings that he has saved through out the years and that’s if he has saved any money in his savings account but probably the best and I would say most common way to get the money you need is if you ask friends to get you a loan or someone from the family to lend you money. He could also decide to get a small over draft which would keep his business running. Yet again lest not forget an overdraft has its disadvantage and that is when it come to paying back that over draft the interest rate would be high so he would have to think of a way to pay that off and it would not be an easy task for Ricky. Of course Ricky has the option of selling his own assets but that is just an option that could be left for last. In general I would recommend for Ricky to get a loan from his family or friends because in my opinion that is the best possible decision and the best possible way from h im to get his business up and running. Solution to problem 2 For the second problem there is a solution but this would have to be done correctly by Ricky and the solution is advertisement IF any type of business is looking to increase their sales the best way possible is to make sure to advertise their services a lot and reason being is to make sure that they let their customers know what they have to offer. Yet again we have to look at this from Ricky’s perspective what I would recommend for him to do is whenever he decides to advertise the best thing to do is to make sure he keeps his prices low because first of all this would give him an opportunity to show people what his business has to offer and second of all he would not have to pay a great amount of money to get his services advertised. Solution to problem 3 Another solution to his second problem would be if Ricky uses appropriate pricing such as low prices on the services he has to offer. That due to the fact that he is just starting his business it is not very known to people that are regular customers to other businesses and low pricing is the only way that he would gain customers. In addition this relates to his advertisement solution because if he advertises that his services are on low prices people would have more interest into going to see what Ricky’s business has to offer. I would also recommend for him to put his prices up only if his business is succeeding with the sales then he would be able to increase sales even more by doing this. Solution to problem 4 Solution to Ricky’s final problem would be for him to make sure that he monitors his expenses and by doing that he would be able to control them. What I would recommend for Ricky to do is to keep budgets this would help him to keep the costs in those fixed budgets by doing this Ricky would not overspend and he would keep the very most important thing in the cash flow chart low and that is his payments figure. The way that he can stay within his fixed budget is by doing this. For example his budget is  £80 000 and as we know his forecasted total expenses are  £71 750 he would be left out with  £8250 which he can use for next year to either to expand the business or to  improve on some things that the business needs and he can make the budget lower for next year. Another solution to his final problem is to find new suppliers or the best way is to make sure he buys his tools that he needs at a lower price. This would help him and his business so much it will actually make his business run fluently at the begging because that is what he wants so by him keeping the tool price low and this would mean that his costs are low too then at the end he is left with his expenses which will be low too and this could mean that they can match the figure that he has predicted on his cash flow forecast. 1.3 Conclusion In conclusion I have learnt that whenever you want to start a new business you would not only have to make a cash flow forecast but you would most defiantly have to predict the problems that might occur and how would you as a business man stand up to these problems and solve them and you would also have to know how to make sure these problems never occur in order for your business to be running smoothly.

Film: a Form of Literature and Understanding It

Film: A Form of Literature and Understanding It The purpose of literature not only describes reality but also adds to it. It’s not merely a depiction of reality; it is rather a value-addition. Literary works are interpretations of the thinking patterns and social standards established in society. They are portrayals of the different aspects of everyday life. Literary works serve as a provision for thought and a boost for imagination and creativity. Reading and understanding literature can help someone understand life better. They help a person take a closer look at the different sides of life. In many ways, it can change one's perspective towards life. There are different forms of literature, like film. Film can be considered a form of literature. Literature is about telling a story and entertaining its readers. Film is the exact same way; it tells a story and entertains us throughout it. In film and literature they often relate to someone in some way. They can give lessons in life, and can have an influence on our behavior. This is because we often find ourselves trying to associate with what we see and search for similarities between these characters and ourselves. They can develop our progress to consider things morally. For example a movie with an anti-war theme can make a person rethink what war should be just because they portrayed the film in a particular way. This starts with reading what the film has to offer in terms of what it’s trying to portray. When trying to study what the film has to offer, it’s not just about what the movie is about and who is acting, but rather in what way the film is presented to you. There are five key elements to reading and analyzing film. These five key elements are the narrative, staging, cinematography, editing and sound. We will be analyzing the film Troy. In some films such as Troy there is narration in the beginning of the film as well as the ending of the film. It starts like this with Odysseus saying, â€Å"Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity and so we ask ourselves: Will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved. † This foreshadows what the film is going to be about. It sets the mood for the film which you know is going to be about war and the legacy of the heroes who fought in the battle of Troy. The film ends with Odysseus narrating again. He says, â€Å"If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Hector, tamer of horses. Let them say I lived in the time of Achilles. † This just sums up how epic the film was in terms of showing the significance of the war and heroes. It makes you wonder about if Hector and Achilles were really that great. Staging consists of the setting, space, lighting, acting and choreography, and costume and make-up. The setting is very realistic in terms of the time period of which it supposedly happened. It’s very symbolic to the film because it creates the imagery during that time. Every scene you see brings a sense of awe because it’s so realistic in terms of getting everything right with the costumes, the make-up and props used. The atmosphere and lighting of the film are very clear and natural. The acting was amazing and it definitely made the film more believable and the strong acting could manipulate sympathies towards the characters. It created suspense and complexity within the acting such as the battle scenes and emotional scenes. For example when Hector and Achilles face off, you don’t want either of them to die but someone has to. Hector has a wife and newborn baby while Achilles is out of vengeance and avenging his cousin’s death, creating complex emotions for the viewer. Cinematography was rather frustrating in Troy. In some scenes of the movie it looks much sharper than others. The other was the zooming; to me it was just too much and didn’t match some particular parts of the story. Like when Hector opens the doors of the city to face Achilles, it didn’t really make sense in this film. It just made it look way more dramatic than it needed to be. The editing done in the film had lots of cuts throughout the film especially the battle scenes, but they are necessary. The music of this film makes the story more dramatic to look at. The music is very on key with how they portray the scenes and characters in the movie. It creates a more epic effect with the music. The foundation of the important concepts to understand the movie Troy better are noticeable. From the sound to the staging and acting it makes the story more dramatic. It creates an artistic view to the film because of what it’s trying to portray based off the narration from Odysseus.