Thursday, November 28, 2019

UPS Procurement Strategy Analysis

Executive Summary The following paper is a presentation of procurement strategies as well as procurement tools within a selected organisation in the logistics industry. The paper begins with a detailed profile of the procurement process and function in the organisation as informed by a number of documents on the company obtained through relevant databases over the Internet. The paper also includes an analysis of the research materials in an attempt to establish solutions to some of the challenges in the company’s procurement configuration.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on UPS Procurement Strategy Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The findings of research into the company’s procurement process establish that even though the company has invested in a number of techniques to facilitate the same, several challenges still exist. These challenges include the absence of a clear outline of the p rocurement strategy in the organisation and a detachment of the several units and departments involved in procurement, thus causing delays and inefficiencies. In addition to the above problems, there is an apparent disconnection between customers and the production process, thus causing delays in the final product reaching the intended consumers. This paper covers several sections that allow easy interpretation of the procurement process in the selected organisation. It begins with a background of the organisation with the inclusion of the several changes in its procurement functions. The presentation of a detailed strategy and operations in the firm follows before concluding with the recommendations section. The selected company is United Parcel Services (UPS). Background of UPS UPS was founded in the 1907 and it has grown from its original coverage of the US to cover more than half of the globe courtesy of having services in over 200 countries around the world. With its headquarte rs in Atlanta, the company has been the leader in package delivery with millions of parcels and documents being delivered daily. The company has also grown in revenue over the period it has been in existence and it is listed in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company has presence in all the continents with coverage of almost all the regions of the world. There is also diversification in the company, which allows easy courier and distribution functions in the industry. The major divisions formed since its inception includes the UPS Mail Innovations, UPS TeleService, UPS Aviation, UPS Air Cargo, UPS Capital Corporation, and UPS Professional Services among others. These have constantly changed over the years with the functions remaining within the organisation and addition of others. The company uses its characteristic brown fleet of vehicles and aircrafts to deliver parcels and packages. According to the UPS Supply Chain Solutions (2012, p.9), ‘the company spent billions of dollars in a state-of-the-art tracking system and in the investment of some of the latest technologies in the industry’. The update of its technological capability is also reported to cost it more than the operation of the aircrafts and the courier vehicles.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For a proper analysis of the company’s performance, the operations can be grouped into domestic package that the company runs in the US, International package for its international market, and the non-package sectors. A historical performance index reveals that the organisation has a performance of approximately $24 billion in 2002 revenue for the domestic package: $4.7 billion in international trade and $2.7 billion in revenue for the non-package section. This performance was an improvement in revenue from the previous year’s performance where all the section s recorded lower revenues. However, by the year 2012, the company had grown to a total of US$ 54.1 billion, with an operating income of US$ 1.343 trillion and a net income of US$ 807 million (UPS Supply Chain Solutions 2012). The company has also grown from employment of handful employees to have over 397,000 employees in all the branches worldwide (UPS Annual Report 2012). The company also has over 8.8 million customers worldwide, who are served by the over 70,900 retail outlets in different parts of the world. There are also over 100,000vehicles forming its delivery fleet (UPS Annual Report 2012).Some subsidiaries have also been added to the original components of the organisation. The company has expanded its operations with the domestic market still constituting the largest share of its operations. However, in the recent past, the company has set to strengthen its international presence with the opening of several new branches across the world and introduction of the Internet-ba sed trade. Analysis of UPS’s Procurement Function In the process of procurement, an organisation should ensure that the acquired goods and services are appropriate with the best cost attainable and in the appropriate quantity, location, and time. UPS has a basic procurement process utilised by most organisations, which takes the standard route with the customers being the final recipients of the products and suppliers being at the beginning of the chain. In this section, the main areas of focus in the procurement process for UPS are global sourcing, supplier and collaboration, e- procurement and information, and cost reduction systems. Figure I: UPS: Executive board organisational chartAdvertising We will write a custom coursework sample on UPS Procurement Strategy Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure II: Flow of materials through an organisation Source: (Qrunfleh Tarafdar 2013) Global sourcing Global sourc ing is an important part of any organisation and especially that of the size of UPS. According to Quintens et al. (2006), international purchasing cannot be excluded from any organisation that has the desire to succeed at the international front. UPS has set up effective measures of global sourcing, which contribute to its current state of success globally. Wynstra et al. (2003) posit that there is a need to integrate the purchasing process and product development. Some researchers have suggested that outsourcing leads to negative effects on the performance of a company, but this aspect is dependent on the specific industry (Dabhilkar et al. 2009).Alternatively, if outsourcing is applied with the right initiatives, there is a high probability for positive results. In the case of UPS, global sourcing contributes significantly and the same has grown exponentially over the last decade as domestic competition increases. UPS has also applied strategic purchasing methods in these levels, with global sourcing being a key pillar of the strategies. Paulraja et al. (2006) classify strategic purchasing into three basic levels. The company has managed to integrate the supply activities between the organisation’s customers and the external suppliers who form the largest part of global sourcing in many organisations (Paulraja et al. 2006). UPS recognises the importance of global outsourcing, which has been placed central to its procurement strategy.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As Trautmann et al. (2009, p.205) state, ‘companies engage in global sourcing for a variety of reasons, not just to achieve economies of scale’. Some of the reasons of global outsourcing as recognised in UPS include the sharing of knowledge and the provision of the organisation with the best practices in its engagement with customers (Monczzka et al. 2002). Danese (2013) also stresses the importance of global outsourcing, as it improves the performance of any organisation that is in a position to establish itself in this field. UPS has made clear policies on outsourcing and specifically global sourcing. Through these policies, the company has been in a position to achieve international cooperation and partnerships and the same translating to improved returns and ease in the logistics industry. Supplier and collaboration UPS has collaborated with a number of companies, both in the past and recently, with some examples being companies such as IBM and Oracle. This move has enabled to company to ease its international and local presence with outlets for its services increasing with such partnerships. The collaboration has also seen the company take on the Internet space and diversify its services to the specification of the customers. Researchers have established a relationship between the successes of a company with the collaboration that it can achieve in the industry that it is situated. According to Claycomb and Frankwick (2010, p.256), some of the benefits include ‘information exchange and conflict resolution mechanisms’. However, others have reported negative effects of collaboration between companies with the suggestion that organisations should strive to be specialised in only one sector (Weele 2010). Given the logistics in the industry that UPS is located, collaboration is a significant part of existence and this view has informed the collaboration with suppliers and distributers. Supplier collaboration is also a significant cont ributor to cohesion within an organisation (Daspit et al. 2013; Lysons Farrington 2000), and UPS enjoys the same since its inception. The company has also managed to build trust between it customers and its suppliers with little negative incidents in its procurement process being reported in the period it has been in existence. In a study that examined the effects of trust between organisations in the supply chain, Stuart et al. (2011) proved that basic trust is necessary for effective collaboration. Collaborative networks are also important in the industry and UPS has built a large network in the courier industry where its service can be found in many parts of the world. Relational marketing literature also emphasises on the importance of building collaboration amongst companies (Stanko et al. 2007), and thus UPS has entered into partnerships with key industry players to ensure that competition is reduced and bridges built. Over the past decade, the company has proceeded to acquir e a number of related companies to expand her territories. The culture of organisations is also important to consider, as some of these organisational cultures may influence the outcome of collaboration. Claycomb and Frankwick (2010, p. 252) support this view by stating that some of the important aspects of a partnership in any industry ‘include information exchange and conflict resolution mechanisms’. Some of the issues that have arisen in the procurement process in UPS have emerged from failure of mechanisms set in place to ensure easy flow of information between some of its partners. Despite the support accorded to the supplier collaboration with an organisation, some researchers state that supplier involvement in the process of procurement and product development may be harmful to an organisations performance (Wynstra et al. 2001). The researchers continue to state that few of the organisations have thus ventured in to the involvement of suppliers in their productio n process (Wynstra et al. 2001). Interestingly, UPS has continued to experience growth in the presence of collaboration with its key suppliers over the last century of existence. E- Procurement and information UPS has invested in e-commerce in a number of ways. The company remains the first in the industry to utilise the Internet as a tool in its procurement process after investing billions of dollars every year for the last number of decades. The investments into cyberspace and information technology have exceeded the operational costs for the vehicle delivery and the air delivery services. As Qrunfleh and Tarafdarstate (2013) posit, information system in the current century is inseparable from the supply chain and application of the same in any supply chain can boost its performance. The company has a number of uses for e-procurement. Cisco, which is an affiliate company of UPS, is reported to sell approximately 90 percent of its products online with the special requests and speci fications being made the same way (UPS Supply Chain Solutions 2012). The clients are also allowed to easily check the product quality and test it via the same route, thus allowing them to confirm the details of delivery. The clients can now perform transactions at any time of the day and night, and UPS is notified of its product status through the same mode (UPS Supply Chain Solutions 2012). The company then uses the Internet to crosscheck the details of the orders and then due process is followed to the appropriate customers. Another example of the Internet use by UPS to link clients and provide efficient services is that of ScubaToys.com and its interaction with UPS OnLine (UPS Supply Chain Solutions 2012). The company is in a position to deliver the toys in a matter of hours to the rightful customers with shipment to different times only taking a number of days. The companies have managed to use the Internet to link the supply and customers directly, which facilitates trade and p rofitability. The payments for the services are also made electronically and clients can track their orders using a mobile phone software application called UPS Mobile (UPS Supply Chain Solutions 2012). The healthcare sector is a key part of UPS, which forms an integral part of its supply chain. With growing concerns over the safety of the supply chain, UPS has moved to ensure that the industry is safe by initiating measures aimed at temperature control and safety of medical appliances and drugs during transit. The Arizona State University (ASU) is also a beneficiary of the UPS Store, which is a franchise of one of UPS subsidiaries. The institution had a challenge of safely delivering mail to its large body of students before the company simplified the process and used technology for the same. The institution can now keep track of the mail.UPS, through its Customer Solutions section, also offered solutions to the challenge of goods damaged during transit for Plow Hearth. UPS was in a position to develop an economical solution to ensure that Plow Hearth customers were satisfied. They were also in a position to reduce transport costs and increase returns. Greve and Davis (2012) also offer solutions to some of the logistical problems that companies face and they use the model of UPS as an efficient logistical company. Vivo Technology, which is a company dealing in laptop parts, also had challenges with the efficient delivery of the parts to the markets and UPS offered solutions to the company by ensuring improved delivery efficiency. Cost reduction systems UPS has invested in a number of ways to ensure that the costs of doing business are reduced. Proper procurement strategies are some of these measures and the company has managed to stay competitive. As Glock and Hochrein (2011, p.173) state, ‘purchasing organisation is important for the competitive success of the purchasing department and the firm’. UPS has ensured that the purchase of the relevan t services and goods in its line of trade are properly done. One of the measures applied is the use of e-commerce as highlighted above. Another of these measures is the collaborative effort put in place, thus ensuring that it is in a position to attract other likeminded companies towards the goal of efficiency. Anderson and Katz (1998, p. 1) support this assertion by noting that the ‘cost of cutting alone has been a disappointing means of improving profits’. Svahn and Westerlund (2009) also established the use of collaborative networks as another way or reducing costs in the operation of companies. UPS has invested in cheap ways of transporting and delivering documents and parcels, and these methods include bulk shipping and chattered flights. The services have ended up being cheaper and competitive with the resultant goods being affordable. Karjalainen (2011) also states that such means of reducing pricing is the most effective. Recommendations Prioritisation of procur ement process – There are a number of possible recommendations for UPS in its procurement process. The first one is that the company should attempt to redefine its organisational structure to ensure that procurement is made a priority. A representative of the same function should be appointed to handle the department, and this individual should be answerable to the CEO and the Board members only. The strategy will ensure that the procurement process in the company is swift and efficient. Close supplier involvement – UPS should ensure that the suppliers are involved directly in the development of any new services and [products. To this effect, a supplier development team should be formulated, with the functions including quality assurance for the suppliers. Effective supplier interaction will see the company rank among the most successful in the industry. The team should also facilitate knowledge sharing between the suppliers and the company’s clients. This will provide them with the opportunity to interact with the procurement process, increasing returns for the company. Industry Takeover – The company also needs to show more collaborative efforts with the smaller companies in the industry. The other way to ensure collaboration with suppliers is through appropriate service provision where the company offers reduced charges for customers of certain organisations if they use UPS delivery systems. This aspect would increase the volume of trade that the company handles, thus increasing the profitability. One other way that the company has a chance of improving collaboration in the industry between it and other companies is through the promotion of services offered by these partners and engaging in joint product marketing. In the use of e-commerce, the company has demonstrated certain strengths; however, a number of recommendations are plausible. One is that the company should enable full electronic payments for all its customers, as thi s move would allow more accountability and price controls. It would also reduce some of the operational costs incurred through increased staffing to take care of the manual financing still evident in the organisation. The company should also rebrand its website and ensure that customers have access to the various services through the website. Customers should also be in a position to predict the delivery time of products through information provided over the website. UPS should also keep up with technology through investment in the latest communication systems in the market with the creation of more mobile applications to facilitate transactions. In the cost reduction strategy, the company should diversify the products and series that it offers to complement each other to ensure that they are in a position to cut the operational costs. An example is the airline industry that the company invested in, which has allowed it to transport more parcels at a cheaper price. The company shoul d also invest in cheaper transport means for its packages and parcels by investing in cleaner technologies such as the electric propulsion system. In a bid to reduce operational costs, the company could also shift its operations from the United States to areas where there is cheaper labour such as the People’s Republic of China. Reference List Anderson, M Kartz, P 1998, ‘Strategic Sourcing’, International Journal of Logistic  Management, vol. 9 no. 1, pp. 1-53. Claycomb, C Frankwick, G 2010, ‘Buyers’ perspectives of buyer–seller relationship development’, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 39 no.2, pp. 252–263. Dabhilkar, M, Bengtsson, L, Haartman, R Ahlstro, P 2009, ‘Supplier selection or collaboration? Determining factors of performance improvement when outsourcing manufacturing’, Journal of Purchasing Supply Management, vol. 15 no.2, pp.143-153. Danese, P 2013, ‘Supplier Integration and Company Perf ormance: A Configurational view’, Omega, vol. 41 no.6, pp.1029–1041. Daspit, J, Tillman, J, Boyd, N Mckee, V 2013, ‘Cross-functional team effectiveness; An examination of internal team environment, shared leadership, and cohesion’, Team Performance Management, vol. 19 no. 2, pp. 34-56. Glock, C Hochrein, S 2011, ‘Purchasing Organisation and Design: A Literature Review’, Business Research Official Open Access Journal of VHB German  Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 4 no. 2, pp. 149-191. Greve, C Davis, J 2012 Recovering lost profits by improving reverse logistics. Web. Karjalainen, K 2011, ‘Estimating the cost effects of purchasing centralisation—Empirical evidence from framework agreements in the public sector’, Journal of  Purchasing Supply Management, vol. 17 no.3, pp. 87–97. Lysons, K Farrington, B 2000, Purchasing supply chain management, Prentice Hall, New York. Monczzka, M, Handfield, B , Giunipero, C, Patterson, L Waters, D 2002,  Purchasing supply chain management, South-Western Cengage, Cincinnati. Paulraja, A, Chenb, I Flynn, J 2006, ‘Levels of strategic purchasing: Impact on supply integration and performance’, Journal of Purchasing Supply Management,  vol.12 no.2, pp. 107–122. Qrunfleh, S Tarafdar, M 2013, ‘Supply Chain information systems strategy: Impacts on supply chain performance and firm performance’, International Journal of  Production Economics, vol. 147 no. 8, pp. 340–350. Quintens, L, Pauwels, P Matthyssens, P 2006, ‘Global purchasing strategy: Conceptualisation and measurement’, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 35 no.1, pp. 881–891. Stanko, M, Bonner, J Calantone, R 2007, ‘Building commitment in buyer–seller relationships: A tie strength perspective’, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 36 no.1, pp. 1094–1103. Stuart, F, Verville, J Taskin, N 2012, ‘Trust in buyer-supplier relationships supplier competency, interpersonal relationships, and performance outcomes’, Journal of  Enterprise Information Management, vol. 25 no. 4, pp. 392-412. Svahn, S Westerlund, M 2009, ‘Purchasing strategies in supply relationships’,  Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 24 no. 4, pp. 173–181. Trautmann, G, Bals, L Hartmann, E 2009, ‘Global sourcing in integrated network structures: The case of hybrid purchasing organisations’, Journal of International  Management, vol. 15 no.6, pp. 194–208. UPS Annual Report: We shrink the globe 2012. Web. UPS Supply Chain Solutions: Strategic sourcing – building a foundation for success  2012. Web. Weele, A 2010, ‘Value creation and purchasing strategy’, International Trade Forum,  vol. 4 no.1, pp. 34-35. Wynstra, F, Weele, A Weggemann, M 2001, ‘Managing supplier involvement in product development: three critical issues’, European Management Journal, vol. 19 no. 2, pp. 157–167. Wynstra, F, Weele, A Weggemann, M 2003, ‘Exploring purchasing integration in product development’, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 32 no. 1, pp. 69– 83. This coursework on UPS Procurement Strategy Analysis was written and submitted by user Gloria F. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Late for work essays

Late for work essays I was late for work again, as I walked into my office my boss saw me and told me that if I am late for work any more this month that he is going to have no choice but to lay me off. So as you can tell I was in a very crappy mood. After work I went to the local bar to let off some stress but there was my boss. He was sitting 2 seats away from me at the bar. I knew that if he saw me sitting there that I would here a lecture all night long. So I had a genus idea, I would go to him and say hi, talk to him and I listen to the long lecture about how me being late affects my performance at the office. And slip him some pills in his drink buy a prostitute a prostitute to fuck him while I took pictures. This was the smartest idea I ever thought of. At least I thought it was. When I went to sit next to him he was already very hammered. He told me that I looked great in my penguin costume. I thought to myself this is going to be easy. He went to the bathroom and I saw my chance, I slipped a pil l in his drink. Little did I know some random guy slipped a pill in my drink thinking that the drink belonged to the sexy girl next to me. So we where both fucked up and wasted we went to the office singing songs and yelling random things. It was 12:00 and we were completely without logic. Next thing I know I wake up around a circle of people with my boss shouting More, More in his dreams. The circle of people where all my co-workers. As I got up and walked away some one shouted Well at least he is on time ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Service Request - HR Systems PT.2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Service Request - HR Systems PT.2 - Essay Example They can be a presentation done in the data flow diagrams, DFD and their processes. DFD's design allows increasing level of details with each level where they further divide into sub-process until they reach an indivisible sub process. Service Request system will cater for both the employee of the company and visitors who will be visiting the company website. The process design will have two components in which, one will have employee’s data and can only be accessible by the employees through security details. (Szalapaj, 2005) The second will be open to the visitors and the customer for a service request from the company and those gathering information about the company, its services and products but are not in a state of placing order now. The human resource department will be the general administrator of the system to assign the employee tasks of seeing through the customer request have been the fulfillment. This is the manager’s task who is also an employee of the co mpany. His responsibility includes managing the whole information system, talk with clients, and look into sales, the accounting. Architecture of this service request system application incorporates both server/client and internet/intranet technology. Professionals in Human resource department will access the system to HR on-line through the web-based service and client/server for human resource functions. By up grading of the HRSR application mostly provides pure internet architecture more stable environment for operation. Added advantage for this is allowing the client or service requester access the application without installing since it is on their web browser. The system should have the capability to merge HRM processes and activities with the information technology field. (Rosenblatt, 2011) This is where data programming process involves the system into standardized routines and packages of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. ERP systems software has features of coll ecting information from different applications into one universal database. This is an added advantage since linkage of human resource modules through one database makes the system application both flexible and rigid. Highest level of security is a primary advantage of the upgrading of the application. Service request system should remain as a protected application that they afford to it. Introduction of registering or signing up for the accounts, for the purpose accessing system. The upgrading of the system should result to the collection of any new data and the third party would not be in a position to access any new services. The goal of the system should be to deliver service to the customer and the employee that is more efficient, faster and enhances the credibility of the system. Providing customer and employees, with a mechanism of viewing and updating their own personal information. The goal of service delivery leads to its attainment. The system security administrator will trace system changes to individual system users. Limiting access is a security measure where employees with computerized personnel records do not perform the same functions as their peers. This helps in audit trails and internal security (Accounting: smart Pros: Payroll and security: A Great combination.) The system architecture should have the capability to keep track of the employee information as personal informat

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Managing High Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Managing High Performance - Essay Example It argues against the rigidities of autocracy. This style of management is successful in the sense that it does not demoralize employees and involves them in management, giving them an opportunity to be managers of themselves. Decision making is a crucial action in management and it encompasses influencing the direction that an organization takes in its business pursuits. Decision making processes can either be centralized or decentralized (Rao, 2008). Centralization of decision making leaves a few individuals with the responsibility of making crucial decisions that affect the operations of the firm. Decentralization of decision making process delegates decision making responsibilities to other employees including junior employees. The article Shared or unshared consensus decision in macaques? (Sueur, & Petit, 2008) emphasizes on decentralized decision making. This mode of making decisions is effective in terms of time and cost saving. It minimizes bureaucratic procedures and thus successfully efficient. Management styles can also be presented as formal or informal. The mode of management style adopted under this principle depends on the leadership interests of the firm. Informal management styles fail to accustom to specific procedures of conducting business within and without the firm. The article Cooperative behavior cascades in human social networks (Fowler & Christakis, 2010) promote formal management style. It minimizes employee redundancies and promotes result-oriented management and leadership. Employee inefficiencies and ineffectiveness prior to the operations of the firm are minimized or alleviated altogether. All the three aspects highlighted above in management and decision making processes relate to employee management in different contexts of working environments. The underlying difference is the management and

Monday, November 18, 2019

Statement of purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Statement of purpose - Essay Example This will add onto my competence as a member of the society because the family is the basic unit of the society. Clinically, my pursuit of this program is meant to advance my knowledge of health assessment. Prior studies and internships have underscored to me the need to have the highest level of competence in examining a patient’s medical issue in order to pick on the most suitable intervention that addresses that issue. Additionally, I seek to advance my knowledge of research methods in nursing because I reckon that as a registered nurse, I have a responsibility to generate knowledge, share it with other nurses and contribute to the overall growth and development of the profession of nursing (Codina 266). I seek to pursue this program with an interest of augmenting the skills of identifying and utilizing best practices in my work as a committed registered nurse. The other interest I have in pursuing in this program is to acquire knowledge of managing acute and chronic illnesses. I developed this interest after witnessing how disruptive the effects of such illnesses are to the family. A sizeable portion of scarce family resources goes to the care of chronically ill family members. Besides this economic impact, caregivers of the chronically who lack strong defences can develop depression. My endeavour is to use the knowledge I will get from this course to devise affordable and accessible interventions that can help address the economic, social and psychological toll that acute and chronic illnesses have on both patients and their families (Codina 262). It would be fulfilling to me to see families living happily without being put down by the sickness of one of the members. My value and high esteem for the family unit is one of the things that justify my fitness for the Family Nurse Practitioner program. The clinical hours I have handled in the previous educational levels and in my internships have

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Factors Affecting Call Centre Employees Motivation

Factors Affecting Call Centre Employees Motivation Many people are currently working in call centres and much more are expected to work in them in the near future. Motivation of these call centre employees is of utmost importance so as to refrain them from leaving their work. Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation is to dredge out the factors that affect the motivation of the employees working in call centres and to contribute to research in the area of motivation among call centre employees. Method: The method that will be used is through questionnaires, where employees will be able to complete a set of questions which will specifically address the subject of Motivation amongst the workers. Benefits of the study: This study will be of great benefit as it responds to the call for more investigation into the factors that de-motivate call centre workers to perform. It will further be of importance to call centre managers who, through considering this study will be able to rethink their approaches to productivity, particularly on how they could better motivate their staff to achieve higher output. INTRODUCTION Almost all consumers have had experience with call centres (Anton, 2000; Dean, 2002). Why are they essential? Call centres are strategically important to many organisations because they are often the major customer interface, and they can provide a service-based competitive edge using high volume, low cost delivery via telephones (Callaghan and Thompson, 2001). Call centres are a growing part of the service industry in many countries and a substantial amount of call centre jobs have been created in this sector in recent years (Baumgartner, Good, Udris, 2002; Holman, 2003; Moltzen Van Dick, 2002; Wegge, Van Dick, Fisher, West, Dawson, 2006). Researchers already recognised that service work, that is, work in call centres was stressful according to a study carried out by Donovan in 1920. The conflicting demands for both quality and quantity, and the emotional nature of customer interactions all contribute to the strain that call centre workers experience (Varca, 2006). Moreover, scho lars have shown that call centre workers are under great pressure to meet their productivity goals at the same time as delivering quality customer service (Deery et al., 2002; Kinnie et al., 2000; Singh, 2000). As a result, call centre work carries with it high levels of employee stress. Consequently, the call centre employees need to be constantly motivated so as they demonstrate keenness and enthusiasm for their work. Motivation is simply the process of arousing and sustaining goal-directed behavior (Nelson Quick, 1997). One of the managers primary tasks is to motivate people in the organization to perform at high levels (Moorhead Griffin, 1992). The Hawthorne Studies conducted by Elton Mayo from 1927 to 1932 showed that views of how managers behave were a vital aspect of motivation and improved performance. This study brought to light the fact that peoples psychological and social needs have to be taken into account to make them feel important and thus motivate them to work. In addition, the work of Maslow in 1943 provided a major impetus to employee motivation since he put forward a theoretical framework of individual personality development and motivation based on a hierarchy of human needs. Likewise, Herzberg and McGregor also developed theories of motivation . Herzberg was of view that to motivate workers to give their best, proper attention must be given to a different set of factors, the motivation or growth factors. Additionally, McGregor argued that the style of management adopted is a function of the managers attitudes towards human nature and behaviour at work. He put forward two suppositions called Theory X and Theory Y which are based on popular assumptions about work and people. The ingredients of motivation lie within the employees themselves. So, managers should have the knack to motivate their de-motivated employees since, as mentioned above, employees at call centres face a lot of ordeals. Moreover, organizations are made of their individual members. The individual is a central feature in any workplace whether acting isolation or in a group, in response to the expectations of the organization. Where the needs of the individual and the demands of the organisation are incompatible, it can result in frustration and conflict. So, managers have as main aim to keep the motivation of their employees at a high level so as to achieve desired results and performance. PROBLEM STATEMENT Call centres are facing a major problem these days, namely absenteeism which can have a large impact service quality. Due to this problem, there is fewer staff to handle customer interactions, wait queues tend to swell and call centre employees are under high work pressure. This tends to impact directly on their morale and similar behaviour may be fostered in those left to carry the can. Call centre work is very monotonous due to highly repetitive nature of the job. Thus, call centres run the risk of the employees easily losing enthusiasm and becoming demoralised. Moreover, call centres provide limited career opportunities and they risk losing their best people if they cannot provide adequate career prospects. Talented employees lose interest in their work; they become de-motivated and stop working towards the high standards they set up before. Additionally, call centre employees have to work in night shifts which pose a problem to them. Employees, mainly the female staff fear workin g at night for security reasons. Social life is almost inexistent for them, since they work all the time. They also face problems such as inconvenient postures due to computer work and high noise level. It can thus be deduced that the work of these persons is not so simple and very demanding. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study has as aims to determine the factors which affect the motivation of call centre employees. Its objectives are to acknowledge the problems faced by call centre staff so that the managers of call centres take necessary incentives to motivate their staff. This will help create a better working environment in which each employee will thrive. Besides, this study will benefit to the learning population who may be doing research on this particular topic. METHODOLOGY There are two types of data that can be collected, namely primary data or secondary data. Secondary data is data which exists already and which has been produced by some other person. It is known as secondary research because the person using it is the secondary user of the data. Primary data, on the other hand, refers to the process of generating and collecting original data from the intended operation for an organisation. It is the organisation which determines precisely and accurately what information is needed and from whom it is needed. It then sets about acquiring the data. Primary data sources are obtained by using one or more of the following techniques such as observation, surveys, experiments and questionnaires. To proceed with the study, primary data will be used, namely questionnaires. A questionnaire is a tool used by to deliver questions to respondents and then noting down their answers. Three types of information can be collected while using questionnaires. Fact: data such as demographic information, age, gender and so on. Opinion: beliefs, attitudes, feelings and knowledge. Motive: knowing peoples reasons for a particular belief or action. Questionnaires will be used since they will help to compare results as all the employees of call centres will be asked the same set of questions logically related to the problem under study, that is, factors affecting motivation. Thus, their responses can be added meaningfully. At around 150 questionnaires will be distributed to the employees. Firstly, the method of sampling used will be convenience sampling. Convenience sampling will enable me to give the questionnaires to any person whom I know, who will in turn give them to other colleagues to be filled in. Cluster sampling will also help me distribute the questionnaires. This consists of drawing up a list of clusters that together comprise the whole population and then selecting a sample of clusters (by using simple random sampling). The call centre employee population is conveniently divided into groups. For example, there are employees doing morning shifts and those doing night shifts. So, questionnaires will be given to these two groups accordingly. BENEFITS OF THE RESEARCH There are several benefits of the research. Firstly, this research may be used as a tool for managers to motivate their staff. Managers, as well as employers, will get a glimpse of the factors affecting the performance of the employees and through this; they will be able to implement several measures to encourage them to work. For example, it could be found that employees value getting access to training and development programs (Shah and Bandi, 2003). Having access to vocational training is perceived as a real job enrichment and benefit, so the organisation would highly benefit from it. Furthermore, through this study, the employment rate could increase. Since managers would be aware of how to attract and motivate their staff, more and more persons would be eager to join the call centre industry. As a result, the rate of unemployment will decrease, hence benefiting to the Government and the society as well. Amongst these target audiences, that is the managers and the Government, the re is also the learning population which will get benefit from it. Students may use this study as a means to acquire more knowledge on call centre industry or even use the data to carry on with their projects. WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ACTIVITIES ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Research Proposal ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Introduction ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Collecting research articles ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Meet employees ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Literature review ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Define research objectives ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Design questionnaire ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Write research design ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Conduct the survey ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Analyse data ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Write recommendation ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Write abstract ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Write conclusion and reference ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Finalise and submit dissertation ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   GANTT CHART The Gantt chart (time plan) shows the number of weeks taken to complete the dissertation. This research is extended on duration of 15 weeks. BUDGET ANALYSIS LIST OF EXPENDITURES ESTIMATED COST/Rs ÂÂ  Stationery ÂÂ  200 Printing of questionnaires 500 Transport 1000 Internet 800 Telephone bills 500 Other unexpected expenses 2000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   TOTAL 5000 While conducting the research, several direct and indirect costs need to be taken into account. Expenses such as printing and photocopying of questionnaires and transport need to be catered for. Moreover, a budget is also being allowed for unexpected expenses which may crop up in the course of the research.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Margaret Atwood use of Language and Narrative Technique in The Handmaid

From the outset of 'The Handmaids Tale' the reader is placed in an unknown world, where the rights and freedom of women have been taken away. We follow the narrative journey of a handmaid, named Offred. Throughout the first 15 Chapters we are provided with information, as narrated by Offred, with glimpses of her past life and her journey to the life she is now facing. These glimpses are not logical in their sequencing or chronological in the narration, therefore creating a feeling of disorientation among readers, a feeling matching that experienced by those living in this society. This also provokes many questions in the reader’s mind along with creating tension and expectation as to the nature of the procreation which we have come to understand is the function of the handmaids. Although the reader is made aware of the structure and methods of control within Gilead, none of the information provided can begin to prepare the reader for the way in which 'The Ceremony' is undertaken. We are first provided with hints as to what is required of the handmaids at the beginning of the dystopia, with the mention of the Red Centre. A place where shockingly a process of conditioning is undertaken with armed guards around the fences and the women in charge carrying electric pods, suggesting it is a controlled place, but also raises the question as to why such methods of control are required. The shocking fact that the women have to lip read, again reveals to the reader how strict and controlled this society is along with providing the feeling of fear the handmaids must be experiencing. There is also a monthly visit to the gynecologist, but on the occasion described, this routine check is made rather sinister with the doctor offerin... ...o watch is shocking whilst â€Å"as an effigy† makes the reader wonder whether Serena maybe feeling like the person on top of a tomb, dead. Offred once again reveals her fair handedness, â€Å"Which of us is it worse for, her or me?† This represents Offred to be a strong person, as following such a scenario, she isn’t thinking of herself alone, she is thinking about the feelings of the wife. It isn’t until the next section the reader comes to realise Ofred's true feelings towards the Ceremony, 'I want to steal something.' This reveals to the reader, Ofred needs to feel as though she does have some kind of power over her life, and with the scene with Nick shows how she longs to be appreciated for who she is instead of just being a sex object, this again results in sympathy for Offred and what the other handmaids must feel like in a situation such as this.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Hello My Name Is Andrea

Don't drop from six to fire-day delivery; go the other way' (Source A). Adding new services to the postal service can increase numbers of clients and also money. Some may think the USPS will lose money but answer this question, â€Å"who would want poor mail service? † no one, that is why USPS should ass effort to improve experience for the customers. â€Å"It seems counterintuitive to add service when you're losing money, but people have less that in the system precisely because of spotty service†(Source A).Including finer service will increase new clients and money. Canceling delivery days on Saturdays is thought to be a good strategy to save money for the USPS. â€Å"Eliminating Saturday mail delivery would save $40 billion over a decade† (Source F). This sentence displays that improving mail services with strategic procedures will boost up financially the USPS. Mimi don't need a full service post office every few blocks in New York, for example. Some centers could be for letters only, others for packages.That way you cut down on staff size and service required to and from each. † USPS not hiring people is a good strategy to save money while still delivering mail to its members. Great strategies will help USPS own budget while having satisfying the customers. Instead of cutting back service and losing money, USPS updating new guidelines will increase mail services. Eliminating mail on certain days will save money and at the same time deliver great service to the customer.

Friday, November 8, 2019

s House

The Tarantella: Nora’s Dance of Death The ‘Incurable Disease’ in â€Å"A Doll’s House† Imagery and symbolism is a major and running theme in Ibsen’s play, â€Å"A Doll’s House.† In the third act, when Nora’s crisis is coming to a head, the black shawl, the dark lighting, her sense of inevitability and doom, the tarantella, all combine to make the play a nightmare descending into â€Å"incurable† disease and disaster for the heroine, Nora. She believes that she is a moral incurable, and in the end becomes the hero of the play, the only one willing to admit there is a problem, and to change it. She changes it the only way possible, that is, by leaving altogether the comfortable â€Å"Doll’s House† she has built and maintained for so long. Nora’s house reflects society and the way women were raised and trained, as â€Å"modern† women (at the time the play was written). Her upbringing, and her father’s faults, have combined to make her into a person with a hidden and ‘incurable’ disease: ignorance. Nora has been trained to get her way by manipulating men and using her charms to get what she needs. She has not been shown another way, as is a symptom of society’s treatment of women at that time. Nora discovers through her experiences that she must leave the situation and â€Å"find herself.† She must find her human side, and learn new, more honorable ways to survive and thrive in the man’s world she lives in. She must find self-respect. Nora’s humiliating ways of achieving her means have been dictated by her narrow view of the world. In the beginning of the play, she believes that her moral code, that of love and family, should be respected and even admired by outsiders. When she realizes that this is not the way the law views things, and even her husband would not approve, she becomes desperate to cover up her (now realized) terrible mistake. But when she made those mistakes, they were, in her ... 's House Free Essays on The Doll\'s House The Tarantella: Nora’s Dance of Death The ‘Incurable Disease’ in â€Å"A Doll’s House† Imagery and symbolism is a major and running theme in Ibsen’s play, â€Å"A Doll’s House.† In the third act, when Nora’s crisis is coming to a head, the black shawl, the dark lighting, her sense of inevitability and doom, the tarantella, all combine to make the play a nightmare descending into â€Å"incurable† disease and disaster for the heroine, Nora. She believes that she is a moral incurable, and in the end becomes the hero of the play, the only one willing to admit there is a problem, and to change it. She changes it the only way possible, that is, by leaving altogether the comfortable â€Å"Doll’s House† she has built and maintained for so long. Nora’s house reflects society and the way women were raised and trained, as â€Å"modern† women (at the time the play was written). Her upbringing, and her father’s faults, have combined to make her into a person with a hidden and ‘incurable’ disease: ignorance. Nora has been trained to get her way by manipulating men and using her charms to get what she needs. She has not been shown another way, as is a symptom of society’s treatment of women at that time. Nora discovers through her experiences that she must leave the situation and â€Å"find herself.† She must find her human side, and learn new, more honorable ways to survive and thrive in the man’s world she lives in. She must find self-respect. Nora’s humiliating ways of achieving her means have been dictated by her narrow view of the world. In the beginning of the play, she believes that her moral code, that of love and family, should be respected and even admired by outsiders. When she realizes that this is not the way the law views things, and even her husband would not approve, she becomes desperate to cover up her (now realized) terrible mistake. But when she made those mistakes, they were, in her ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

SB2C Helldiver - Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

SB2C Helldiver - Curtiss SB2C Helldiver SB2C Helldiver - Specifications: General Length: 36 ft. 9 in. Wingspan: 49 ft. 9 in. Height: 14 ft. 9 in. Wing Area: 422 sq. ft. Empty Weight: 10,114 lbs. Loaded Weight: 13,674 lbs. Crew: 2 Number Built: 7,140 Performance Power Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Wright R-2600 radial engine, 1,900 hp Range: 1,200 miles Max Speed: 294 mph Ceiling: 25,000 ft Armament Guns: 2 Ãâ€" 20 mm (.79 in) cannon in the wings, 2 Ãâ€" 0.30 in M1919 Browning machine guns in rear cockpit Bombs/Torpedo: Internal bay - 2,000 lbs. of bombs or 1 Mark 13 torpedo, Underwing Hard Points - 2 x 500 lb. bombs SB2C Helldiver - Design Development: In 1938, the US Navys Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) circulated a request for proposals for a for a next-generation dive bomber to replace the new SBD Dauntless. Though the SBD had yet to enter service, BuAer sought an aircraft with greater speed, range, and payload. In addition, it was to be powered by the new Wright R-2600 Cyclone engine, possess an internal bomb bay, and be of a size that two of the aircraft could fit on a carriers elevator. While six companies submitted entries, BuAer selected Curtiss design as the winner in May 1939. Designated the SB2C Helldiver, the design immediately began showing problems. Early wind tunnel testing in February 1940 found the SB2C to have an excessive stall speed and poor longitudinal stability. While efforts to fix the stall speed included increasing the size of the wings, the latter issue presented greater problems and was a result of BuAers request that two aircraft be able to fit on an elevator. This limited the length of the aircraft despite the fact it was to have more power and a greater internal volume than its predecessor. The result of these increases, without an increase in length, was instability. As the aircraft could not be lengthened, the only solution was to enlarge its vertical tail, which was done twice during development. One prototype was constructed and first flew on December 18, 1940. Built in a conventional fashion, the aircraft possessed a semi-monocoque fuselage and two-spar, four-section wings. The initial armament consisted of two .50 cal. machine guns mounted in the cowling as well as one in each wing. This was supplemented by twin .30 cal. machine guns on a flexible mounting for the radio operator. The internal bomb bay could carry a single 1,000 lb. bomb, two 500 lb. bombs, or a torpedo. SB2C Helldiver - Problems Persist: Following the initial flight, problems remained with the design as bugs were found in the Cyclone engines and the SB2C showed instability at high speed. After a crash in February, flight testing continued through the fall until December 21 when the right wing and stabilizer gave out during a dive test. The crash effectively grounded the type for six months as the problems were addressed and the first production aircraft built. When the first SB2C-1 flew on June 30, 1942, it incorporated a variety of changes which increased its weight by nearly 3,000 lbs. and reduced its speed by 40 mph. SB2C Helldiver - Production Nightmares: Though unhappy with this drop in performance, BuAer was too committed to the program to pull out and was forced to push ahead. This was partly due to an earlier insistence that the aircraft be mass-produced to anticipate wartime needs. As a result, Curtiss had received orders for 4,000 aircraft before the first production type flew. With the first production aircraft emerging from their Columbus, OH plant, Curtiss found a series of problems with the SB2C. These generated so many fixes that a second assembly line was built to immediately modify newly built aircraft to the latest standard. Moving through three modification schemes, Curtiss was not able to incorporate all of the changes into the main assembly line until 600 SB2Cs were built. In addition to the fixes, other alterations to the SB2C series included the removal of the .50 machine guns in the wings (the cowl guns had been removed earlier) and replacing them with 20mm cannon. Production of the -1 series ended in spring 1944 with the switch to the -3. The Helldiver was built in variants through -5 with key changes being the use of a more powerful engine, four-bladed propeller, and the addition of wing racks for eight 5 in. rockets. SB2C Helldiver - Operational History: The reputation of the SB2C was well known before the type began arriving in late 1943. As a result, many front-line units actively resisted giving up their SBDs for the new aircraft. Due to its reputation and appearance, the Helldiver quickly earned the nicknames Son of a Bitch 2nd Class, Big-Tailed Beast, and just Beast. Among the issues put forward by crews in regard to the SB2C-1 was that it was underpowered, poorly built, possessed a faulty electrical system, and required extensive maintenance. First deployed with VB-17 aboard USS Bunker Hill, the type entered combat on November 11, 1943 during raids on Rabaul. It was not until spring 1944 that the Helldiver began to arrive in larger numbers. Seeing combat during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the type had a mixed showing as many were forced to ditch during the long return flight after dark. Despite this loss of aircraft, it sped the arrival of improved SB2C-3s. Becoming the US Navys principal dive bomber, the SB2C saw action during the remainder of the conflicts battles in the Pacific including Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Helldivers also took part in attacks on the Japanese mainland. As later variants of the aircraft improved, many pilots came to have a grudging respect for the SB2C citing its ability to sustain heavy damage and remain aloft, its large payload, and longer range. Despite its early problems, the SB2C proved an effective combat aircraft and may have been the best dive bomber flown by the US Navy. The type was also the last designed for the US Navy as actions late in the war increasingly showed that fighters equipped with bombs and rockets were as effective as dedicated dive bombers and did not require air superiority. In the years after World War II, the Helldiver was retained as the US Navys prime attack aircraft and inherited the torpedo bombing role previously filled by the Grumman TBF Avenger. The type continued to fly until it was finally replaced by the Douglas A-1 Skyraider in 1949. SB2C Helldiver - Other Users: Watching the success of the German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka during the early days of World War II, the US Army Air Corps began looking for a dive bomber. Rather than seek a new design, the USAAC turned to existing types then in use with the US Navy. Ordering a quantity of SBDs under the designation A-24 Banshee, they also made plans to purchase a large number of modified SB2C-1s under the name A-25 Shrike. Between late 1942 and early 1944 900 Shrikes were built. Having re-assessed their needs based on combat in Europe, the US Army Air Forces found these aircraft were not needed and turned many back to the US Marine Corps while some were retained for secondary roles. The Helldiver was also flown by the Royal Navy, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and Thailand. French and Thai SB2Cs saw action against the Viet Minh during the First Indochina War while Greek Helldivers were used to attack Communist insurgents in the late 1940s. The last nation to use the aircraft was Italy which retired their Helldivers in 1959. Selected Sources Ace Pilot: SB2C HelldiverMilitary Factory: SB2C Helldiver Warbird Alley: SB2C Helldiver

Monday, November 4, 2019

Book review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Book review - Essay Example It is noteworthy that advancement in computers has also transformed the communication landscape. Computers are presently being used in information exchange in any form. This has created advancement in information technology globally. This paper appreciates that people comprehend the history of computing differently because some opinions are informed by traces of information available today of what happened in the past while others viewpoints are informed by issues about computers that are of interest today. Therefore, it presents a timeline on the history of computing according to my own understanding. History of Computing: The Timelines The 14th BC – 1800’s – Abacus and the Slide Rule Abacus remains one of the most primitive machines purposefully developed to aid people in computations. The machine has been on use several centuries even after better-designed devices started coming into the market. Around 17th BC a device that worked even in a more interesting wa y to assist in calculations was generated. The Slide Rule worked manually in doing calculations. Its components included a simple ruler and an impermanent piece that had graduations of parallel logarithmic ranges (Turner, 2006). The greater need to make computations even more easy generated more interest among scholars leading to additional innovations. Blaise Pascal another mathematician designed Pascaline. The mechanical calculator, which acted as an adding machine was developed in 1642, further facilitated the creation of Pascal programming language. 1800’s - Difference Engine and Analytical Engine Charles Babbage also developed what was famously called a â€Å"Difference Engine† in 1830’s. However, later it designed another device â€Å"Analytical Engine.† Both of these designs had five important components that have remained key features of modern computers. The Engines had an input device, component that stored numbers to be calculated, a processor that computed numbers, a component that controlled all machines’ tasks, and finally a component to generate processed numbers. Herman Hollerith also developed the first ever device using electricity to compute numbers in 1890’s. 1900 – 1950 – Computing Machines The period between 1900 and 1950 also saw major computing advancements taking place. Howard Aiken in 1932 started working for IBM and developed the Harvard Mark 1 an electromechanical engine that borrowed massively from Babbage’s Analytical Engine. The period around 1939 saw Atanasoff Berry and Clifford Berry of Iowa State University expanded the computing world by creating the first device that worked electronically. The machine used a binary system in calculations and used different components for processing numbers and storage. Further, in 1943, in order to emerge superior during the British war, many vacuum tube computers emerged and were used to disable the German codes; thus, led to en d of the war faster (Black, 2001).   The machines were named Colossus Mark 2. In 1946, John Mauchly and Presper Eckert both expanded the ideas behind Colossus in order to come up with Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, ENIAC that emerged as the world’s all-purpose computer (Black, 2001). John Von Neumann further developed ENIAC to create an Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer, EDVAC that generated computers that are more superior. 1950 – 1970 – Punch Card Technology The computing world welcomed the first computers to be commercially supplied to the markets.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

WESTERN CIVILIZATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WESTERN CIVILIZATION - Essay Example The peasants were made to pay land tax, war tax, and an extraordinary number of dues were imposed on them such as, cloth dues, salt dues, bread dues, while the clergy and the nobility were exempt from paying taxes. Resentment and anger were fuming among the exploited poor peasants. These form the long time social background, which caused French Revolution. The administrative failure in France and her bankruptcy in the later part of the 18th century forced Louis XVI to call a general meeting of the Estates General. But differences ensued among the representatives regarding voting rights. On June 10, 1789 the Third Estate, consisting of the bourgeoisie, the peasants, and the liberal minded representatives from the members of the nobility declared itself the National Assembly. Louis XVI failed to disband the group. On July 14th commoners in Paris stormed the Bastille. French Revolution brought new hope and light to all other European states. As the age-old feudal system was demolished the new age upheld the high ideals of Enlightenment. New institutions came up which were based on reason and justice. Man broke the shackles of superstition, prejudice, oppression and cruelty of a fellow human being. New terms such as freedom, liberty, equality and brotherhood filled the hearts of men. For that generation, human rights came within sight; forces of oppression, tyranny and misery were identified. â€Å"So 1789 stands as the pivotal year- a watershed- in which these forces came to their abrupt and necessary