The Ideal Bureaucracy Essay Example

The Ideal Bureaucracy Paper Max Weber was a German sociologist who studied a variety of human interaction and developed a number of social theories. One of the highlights of his career work was his ideal bureaucracy theory, to which he defined bureaucracy as having certain characteristics that make up the bureaucratic entity. According to Max Weber, the authority in ideal bureaucracy revolves around legal competence and functions according to these criteria: 1) they are personally free and subject only to their impersonal official obligations; 2) they are organized in clearly defined hierarchy of offices; 3) each office has clearly defined competence; 4) there is free selection; 5) candidates are selected based on technical qualifications; 6) they are remunerated by fixed salaries; 7) the office is the primary occupation; 8) there is system of promotion; 9) the official works independently and without appropriation of his position; and 10) the official is subject to strict and systematic discipline and control in the conduct of the office. We will write a custom essay sample on The Ideal Bureaucracy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Ideal Bureaucracy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Ideal Bureaucracy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He also posited that, if given the chance, the monocratic variety of bureaucracy is capable of attaining the highest degree of efficiency and would be the most rational known means of carrying out the imperative control over human beings. The primary source of the superiority of bureaucratic administration lies in the role of technical knowledge. He also likened that bureaucratic apparatus should be independent and possess there own means of subsistence. Like in the case of war, if the bureaucratic machinery is technically efficient, it will continue to function normally just as it had for the previous legal government. This model of ideal bureaucratic organization can be summarized to possess the following characteristics: 1) Management by rules. A bureaucracy follows a consistent set of rules that control the functions of the organization. 2) Division of labor. Authority and responsibility are clearly defined and officially sanctioned. 3) Formal hierarchical structure. An organization is organized into a hierarchy of authority and follows a clear chain of command. 4) Personnel hired on grounds of technical competence. Appointment to a position within the organization is made on the grounds of technical competence. 5) Managers are salaried officials. 6) Written documents. Written documents ensure that there is continuity of the organization’s policies and procedures. Given the ideal picture of how a bureaucracy should function, this model offers a stable and hierarchical model for an organization. The term bureaucracy may have gained negative connotation but some of its criteria still applies in modern organization. Firstly, the employment based on technical qualifications should be upheld, both in public and private sectors, if efficiency is highly valued. If employees hired posses the specific characteristics demanded by the job, it is most likely that a function will be properly carried out. Aided with an evaluation based on particular performance standard, it will provide an objective goal to perform as much as possible. Currently, both private and private organizations used the performance-based incentives as a way of motivating employees to excel and give beyond the minimum requirements of their positions. Secondly, the characteristic of being purposely impersonal also has positive implication. By treating co-employees and customers equally, individual differences may be lessened, leading to rendering of services without the biases. If such action is demanded from each employee, equal treatment may be given to all regardless of social classes. Thirdly, the concept of written rules and decisions is still applicable even in a highly evolving business and organizational environment. Documentation is one of the requirements in quality management systems, such as ISO 9000 family of standards, to ensure that they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders. Decisions are documented to serve as guide of actions, which can be used by the managers in initially assessing a problem. Though no two situations are the same, documentation is a way of tracing the different parts of an operation, which even a newly hired member of an organization can use to guide how a job should be done. Bureaucracy is often associated with delay and inefficiency. Some theorists argued that Weber’s model may have worked during his time but considered obsolete now. In the words of Dwight Waldo, â€Å"Why would an instrument (bureaucracy) designed to be impersonal and calculating be expected to be effective in delivery sympathy and compassion?† Indeed some points in the given model were criticized by many theorists. Firstly, the top-down and centralized authority is considered too slow and unresponsive to the world of rapid change, technological revolution, global competition and demanding customers. By strictly adhering to the hierarchy of authorities, timely resolution of conflicts or addressing a simple matter may be difficult. The employee may choose not to do anything to resolve a problem, on the basis that it is beyond his or her jurisdiction, to avoid conflict with the manager who may have different views. Secondly, the government sector is now venturing into entrepreneurism through its public-private partnership efforts. The spirit of flexibility is required which emphasizes â€Å"getting a job done†, by considering whatever is at hand rather than looking at the strict rules on â€Å"how a job should be done†. Aside from cost, time is another consideration of efficiency. The centralization of authorities and rigid hierarchy may make it difficult to attain time efficient decisions. Thirdly, most organizations in private and public sectors benchmark on teamwork in attaining its goal. Weber’s model of a knowledge-equipped yet isolated worker, whose primary concern should be confined within his/her explicit functions, would find it very difficult to adjust in multi-tasking environment. Managers who follow strict hierarchy in giving decisions may also find it difficult to accept or consider suggestions coming from the rank-in-file, however sharp those suggestions are. Bureaucracy is of great importance in carrying out the ideals of a government. Its people are one of the important factors of translating government programs to actual services. An efficient and well-disciplined bureaucracy may also translate to good governance. Max Weber’s ideal bureaucracy may be considered outdated in certain aspects but it still possessed some relevant considerations. Bureaucratic competence would assure the citizenry that only equipped individuals hold important positions, especially those that would be affecting a large number of people. Bureaucratic neutrality is still also highly valued. Neutrality does not necessarily depersonalize the government, rather, it values equal treatment and unbiased distribution of government services, regardless of social classes. Affected by various factors, our culture change and evolve. Our concept now of how our government should be may differ after a while. In the same way, our ideals of how our bureaucracy should be may also change in the future. Nevertheless, the Filipino bureaucracy, as partner of our government, must aspire competence and efficiency in carrying its tasks. Reforms may come in different names. Trials may beset our country, but a well-disciplined and competent bureaucracy will always be a plus-factor to any regime of government.

The Difference Between Extrapolation and Interpolation

The Difference Between Extrapolation and Interpolation Extrapolation and interpolation are both used to estimate hypothetical values for a variable based on other observations. There are a variety of interpolation and extrapolation methods based on the overall trend that is observed in the data. These two methods have names that are very similar.  We will examine the differences between them. Prefixes To tell the difference between extrapolation and interpolation, we need to look at the prefixes â€Å"extra† and â€Å"inter.† The prefix â€Å"extra† means â€Å"outside† or â€Å"in addition to.† The prefix â€Å"inter† means â€Å"in between† or â€Å"among.† Just knowing these meanings (from their originals in Latin) goes a long way to distinguish between the two methods. The Setting For both methods, we assume a few things. We have identified an independent variable and a dependent variable. Through sampling or a collection of data, we have a number of pairings of these variables. We also assume that we have formulated a model for our data. This may be a least squares line of best fit, or it could be some other type of curve that approximates our data. In any case, we have a function that relates the independent variable to the dependent variable. The goal is not just the model for its own sake, we typically want to use our model for prediction. More specifically, given an independent variable, what will the predicted value of the corresponding dependent variable be? The value that we enter for our independent variable will determine whether we are working with extrapolation or interpolation. Interpolation We could use our function to predict the value of the dependent variable for an independent variable that is in the midst of our data. In this case, we are performing interpolation. Suppose that data with x between 0 and 10 is used to produce a regression line y 2x 5. We can use this line of best fit to estimate the y value corresponding to x 6. Simply plug this value into our equation and we see that y 2(6) 5 17. Because our x value is among the range of values used to make the line of best fit, this is an example of interpolation. Extrapolation We could use our function to predict the value of the dependent variable for an independent variable that is outside the range of our data. In this case, we are performing extrapolation. Suppose as before that data with x between 0 and 10 is used to produce a regression line y 2x 5. We can use this line of best fit to estimate the y value corresponding to x 20. Simply plug this value into our equation and we see that y 2(20) 5 45. Because our x value is not among the range of values used to make the line of best fit, this is an example of extrapolation. Caution Of the two methods, interpolation is preferred. This is because we have a greater likelihood of obtaining a valid estimate. When we use extrapolation, we are making the assumption that our observed trend continues for values of x outside the range we used to form our model. This may not be the case, and so we must be very careful when using extrapolation techniques.

Revamp Your Resume 21 Mistakes to Avoid

Revamp Your Resume 21 Mistakes to Avoid 1. Broad, vague examples of work experienceâ€Å"Essentially,† â€Å"Basically,† â€Å"More or less† = I am trying to hide what my real job was and pretend I had a different job. Use numbers, facts, and measurable results to make the case that you were a productive and engaged employee.2. Listing duties instead of accomplishmentsThink about how to frame your sometimes mundane daily to-dos as achievements: â€Å"Successfully coordinated office staff meetings and payroll,† â€Å"Completed annual reorganization of the medical library on schedule and with innovative twist on the Dewey Decimal system†, etc.3. A watered-down, generic objectiveâ€Å"The opportunity of a lifetime† â€Å"The career that touches the hearts of America† â€Å"Great opportunity in office setting† â€Å"Seeking a desk with chair†If you can’t do better than these, skip the objective.4. A one-size-fits-all vibeI know it’s tempting to try to be the ideal candidate for any and every job that crosses your path, but the truth is it’s a) impossible and b) going to result in a super boring resume. Be your poised, professional self on the page- tailor your experience to the specific responsibilities the job seeks. Don’t try to be all things to all people.5. Incorrect contact informationMake sure your address, phone, and professional email (not skateboarderyahoo@hotmail.com, please) are all up to date and spelled correctly. You don’t want to lose a gig because they had to track you down by carrier pigeon.6. Too much creativityWhat so swirly fonts and elaborate stationary and clip art all have in common? They have no business migrating from your scrapbook to your resume. Keep it clean and sharp and polished. A resume  should not look like an art project.7. Typos and grammatical errorsHave an exceptionally literate friend read your resume. Then turn it upside down and read one line at a time with a ruler- it’s the best way to spot typos once your brain has started skimming from over-exposure.8. Emphasis on irrelevant previous positionsWhen I applied for my first editorial positions, I still had my Build-a-Bear Workshop summer on my resume. It came off immediately after I was hired. It was also buried on the second page right above my exemplary skills with Excel and Powerpoint.9. Excessive personal informationAvoid mentioning political affiliations, religious organizations, or any reference to being a â€Å"bright and hopeful spirit.† You never know what will be read as controversial or inappropriate, and you don’t want to find out by pushing someone’s â€Å"autodelete† button.10. â€Å"References available upon request.†Unless you are Captain Obvious applying for an unnecessary superhero job, this one comes with the territory. Presumably somewhere you have worked before there is at least one living soul who can verify your general fitness fo r employment.11. Salary history and/or salary requirementsIt’s like having dessert at a wedding- wait until it’s offered.12. â€Å"Resume† as the titleYour name should be front and center at the top of your resume, with the job you’re applying for as the optional â€Å"title† beneath your name.13. Your present employer’s letterheadI’ve been trying to decide whether this is tacky or just dumb for 10 minutes.14. More than 2 pagesAn important caveat here is if you’ve been asked to prepare a CV (curriculum vitae), which is most common in academic jobs- if they ask for everything, they want everything. Otherwise, curate and edit it down to 2 pages, max.15. Handwritten notes or correctionsOn my very first job application I was so nervous I kept having to white out my answers to routine questions like â€Å"Why do you want to work at the snack bar†. But then I was 12, and on the swim team, so I had an excuse. You are a grown up and it is 2015. You do not.16. Piling your job-related skills and experience at the bottomThis is really the only thing employers care about. They read everything else to be polite. Put it up top!17. Non-specific keywordsâ€Å"Enthusiastic.† â€Å"Focused.† â€Å"Detail-Oriented.† â€Å"Team Player.†Delete, delete, delete, delete.18. Old and outdated experienceAlways update your skills and your work history as soon as the offer letter is dry; if you’re filling in gaps due to illness or family obligations, see if you can capture the experience you gained from volunteer opportunities to cover time when you would ordinarily have been working.19. Pictures of yourselfI recently read about a Portland Trailblazer’s cheerleading audition. They had to turn in headshots. And their measurements. It was grim. Unless you’re heading to a dance callback, ditch the selfies. Don’t describe your physical characteristics or appearance either.20. Honorable mentionsHigh school certificates, participation ribbons, scholarly awards (unless you’re going for a job with some research components), eating contests, beauty pageants†¦ unless somehow you know for 100% sure it’s relevant, leave it off and stick to the transferable skills.21. Reasons why you left a company or positionThe time to finesse â€Å"I flipped my boss’s desk over and kicked the copier down the stairs† is in your second in-person interview, if you get one (mention your â€Å"uncontainable passion† for your job). On your resume, don’t get defensive or feel like you need to explain your start and stop dates.  Resume Mistakes – 21 Things NOT To Include On Your Resume  Read More at www.medreps.com

Symbolize and meaning of Play Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Symbolize and meaning of Play - Essay Example The Christmas tree, Nora’s fancy dress costume and the Tarantella dance are powerful symbols which enhance the meaning of the play. The Christmas tree is a symbol of Nora herself. Nora presents a faà §ade to the world just like the tree is covered with glittering ornaments. She presents herself as a frivolous, carefree woman, whose husband calls his â€Å"little skylark,† â€Å"little squirrel† and â€Å"little song-bird† (Ibsen, I). She sparkles like the tree. However, the ‘unornamented’ Nora is a woman of great strength of character, who controls her husband, struggles with debt and is willing to sacrifice herself for her family. She is like the Christmas tree which she wants hidden and seen only â€Å"when it is dressed† (Ibsen, I). As the tree appears denuded of ornaments at the start of Act II, it represents the Nora who is stripping away the outer decorations of her own personality to assert her true identity. Nora’s fancy dress costume is another graphic symbol in the drama. She puts on the costume of a Neapolitan fisher-girl, made for her by Helmer. Again, the dress demonstrates Nora’s superficial assumption of the role prescribed for her by her husband and society. Nora is the â€Å"doll-wife† (Ibsen, III) who Helmer dresses. She submissively tells him, â€Å"Torvald, couldnt you take me in hand and decide what I shall go as, and what sort of a dress I shall wear?† (Ibsen, I). As Nora sheds her assumed identity and prepares to reveal her true personality, she tells her husband that she is â€Å"Taking off my fancy dress† (Ibsen, III). The torn dress also signifies the breaking-down of their marriage. The Tarantella dance is a very powerful symbol of Nora’s state of mind. Nora is deeply affected by Helmer’s condemnation of all deception as he says, â€Å"such an atmosphere of lies infects and poisons the whole life of a home. Each breath the children take in such a house is full of the germs of evil†

Types of Variables Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Types of Variables - Research Paper Example This would help render better educational support and employment in the regions that lag in those. Insurance rate can be calculated from the type of job and income. It can either be high insurance for people in private jobs with high income and low insurance for those in private jobs with low income or those in government jobs with a high profile gets highly insured than those with a low profile government job. These probabilities can be calculated from the table. In the perspective of health care and medicine, we can also derive the possible percentage effects of blood pressure on hypertension. Way in which weight is related to body temperature and hypertension can also be obtained by queries. And research on the high probability of non-smokers getting cancer and smokers getting cancer can be made very simple with the operational table that is categorized well. Under the cancer categorization, one can determine curability of the disease that depends on the stages of cancer. If the c ase is in pathological stage, he/she is in the critical zone and is totally helpless. If a non-smoker categorized under clinical stage, there is a high possibility that he can undergo medication for a certain period of time to recover from the disease. It helps the case study for medical researchers easier. The measure of blood pressure can be referred for other medical factors such as diabetes, premature ventricular contractions, etc. The region categorization in a way provides ordinals of people suffering from cancer or high blood pressure in that particular zone which might be due to the environmental effects of that region. Each variable used above is dependent on the remaining variables. Constructing an abstract operational table with these variables helps us predict how certain factors affect the outcome. It makes hypothesis and fuzzy concepts that seem to appear difficult easier.

Psychological Definitions of Abnormal Behavior Essay Example for Free

Psychological Definitions of Abnormal Behavior Essay According to the science of psychology one’s behavior needs to follow a certain criteria in order to be deemed â€Å"normal†. If one’s behavior does not match the criteria, their behavior is seen as undesirable and wrong (requires change). For this physiologists need to be able to view a person’s behavior and be able to tell the difference between normal and abnormal. Whilst defining the â€Å"normality† of ones behavior physiologists need to be careful to remain objective and as free of any bias as possible, furthermore their experiment to determine ones behavior needs to be repeatable and reliable. In order to do this psychologists often consults the characteristics of ideal mental health proposed by Marie Jahoda in 1958. Marie Jahoda proposed 6 different characteristics for ideal mental health after surveying different doctors and psychologists; this is the list she came up with: * Positive self esteem and a strong sense of identity * Personal growth and development * Ability to cope with stressful situations (integration) * Autonomy and independence * Accurate perception of reality * Successful mastery of the environment, particularly relationships. Jahoda argued that if one does not meet these criteria then ones behavior can be deemed abnormal as a result of an existing problem. This in my opinion provides a strong applicable foundation for the determination of ones â€Å"normality† of behavior. However the problem with Jahoda’s ideal mental health scheme is the fact that the results obtained rely solely on the observer’s judgment, therefore presenting a inevitable bias not to mention the fact that no person can truly ever meet all of the suggested criteria. This mean that according to Jahoda every person is abnormal. Another way to look for abnormal behavior for psychologists is to find deviation form the social norm (majority). This is done by observing ones actions in public and seeing how normal it is. For example if you see someone wearing a bikini/swim trunks whilst walking around a supermarket, his or her behavior would be deemed as abnormal. The limitations of observing behavior in this manor lay in the fact that different cultures have different norms. Not to mention the fact that in any given culture norms evolve. What may have once been acceptable in the 80’s is not necessarily acceptable today. Abnormality of one’s behavior can also be monitored by looking at its statistical frequency. Meaning how common ones behavior is when compared to the rest of the public. If one’s behavior is shared by many it is deemed common and therefore â€Å"normal†, however if ones behavior is uncommon or rare, it is deemed abnormal. For example one may say that an individual who has an IQ below or above the average level of IQ in society is abnormal. The problem with this system is the fact that, it does not account for the desirability of the given behavior. In other words this system claims that both low and high IQ’s are an abnormality that need to be treated. Physiologists and others interested in â€Å"normality†, look over at ones behavior to see how well they can function. If one is unable to function adequately they are deemed abnormal. In order to determine how well one functions, psychologists consult Rosenhan and Seligman’s list of characteristics that define abnormality (1989). Rosenhan and Seligman argued that in order to classify someone as â€Å"inadequate in life† they must meet several of the characteristics as a pose to only one. This is their list: * Suffering * Maladaptiveness (danger to self) * Vividness unconventionality (stands out) * Unpredictably loss of control * Irrationality/incomprehensibility * Causes observer discomfort * Violates moral/social standards The possible limitation to Rosenhan and Seligman’s list of characteristics is the fact that â€Å"normal† people engage in activates which are potentially harmful like drinking or smoking, these people are not classed as abnormal. It is very difficult to classify behavior as to date no scheme to do so exists, which is perfect. Physiologists must tread carefully when labeling one with a disorder. Bias will always be present in one form or another, however the results can be deemed reliable if practicing psychologists consult multiple schemes in order to have a better chance of an accurate diagnosis. Bibliography * Class handout â€Å"abnormal?† Mrs campion. * DefiningAbnormality. AS Psychology /. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. http://as-psychology.pbworks.com/w/page/9174252/DefiningAbnormality. * Abnormal Psychology. Abnormal Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. http://www.simplypsychology.org/abnormal-psychology.html.

Reye Syndrome :: essays research papers

Reye Syndrome Reye Syndrome is an extremely rare, non-contagious disease thought to be triggered by aspirin use. The actual origin of the disease is unknown. Reye's Syndrome, occasionally called Reye-Jacobsen's Syndrome, is known to follow any viral infection. Two of the most common viral infections it precedes is influenza, â€Å"the flu†, and chicken pox. A now-familiar warning on bottles of aspirin, most notably Tylenol, is not to give Tylenol to a child who is recovering from the chicken pox, a fever, or any other viral infection. The link between aspirin and Reye's Syndrome and is not fully understood, but all reported cases of Reye's Syndrome include a child who has received aspirin before infection. Symptoms of Reye's Syndrome may often be mistook for a recurrence of the flu, or extreme exhaustion. These symptoms include vomiting, confusion, lack of coordination, distorted balance, irritability, a stupor-like state, and a recent infection from a viral illness. The symptoms often begin with vomiting and progress to a stupor and near comatose state. This disease is often found in young children and infants. Over sixty percent of reported Reye's Syndrome cases occur in children under the age of sixteen, with the majority of these cases being in children under six. Although less than five percent of Reye's Syndrome cases occur in people over the age of sixty, the elderly are often the most severely affected, due to old age and weakening immune systems. Infants, while hindered by their young age, can often fight the infections of Reye Syndrome better, for reasons doctors do not yet fully understand. The severity of Reye's Syndrome is classified on a scale of 1-5, with one and two being the onset of symptoms and four and five being the most severe, with the patient being comatose. With the most severe of Reye's Syndrome cases, internal fluid builds up in the brain and there is irreversible brain damage or even death. While the disease is not often fatal, it is essential to treat the disease early. Reye's Syndrome is not contagious, but the diseases that can lead to, such as the flu, and chicken pox, are highly communicable. The first case of Reye's Syndrome was diagnosed in 1963. Looking back into medical journals, there were many â€Å"mystery illnesses† that had the same symptoms as Reye's Syndrome, but no cases were positively diagnosed as being Reye Syndrome until this date. The definitive tests for this disease are a liver biopsy and blood analysis. The liver biopsy can help determine the presence of fat and lipid formation in the liver. Upon surgical examination, the liver is slightly enlarged, firm, and bright yellow.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 12

I'm not sure if it was the fresh air or the flowers Emily had brought me, but I slept soundly that night. The next morning I woke up to bright sunlight in my chambers and, for the first time since Rosalyn's death, didn't bother to drink the concoction Cordelia had left on my nightstand. The smell of cinnamon and eggs floated up from the kitchen, and I heard the snort of the horses as Alfred hitched them outside. For a second, I felt a thrill of possibility and the nascent bud of happiness. â€Å"Stefan!† my father boomed on the other side of the door, rapping three times with his walking stick or riding crop. Just like that, I remembered all that had transpired in the past week, and my malaise returned. I remained silent, hoping he'd simply go away. But instead he swung the door open. He was wearing his riding breeches and carried his black riding crop, a smile on his face and a sprig of a violet flower in his lapel. It was neither pretty nor fragrant; in fact, it looked like one of the herbs Cordelia grew down by the servants' quarters. â€Å"We're going riding,† Father announced as he swung open the shutters. I shaded my eyes against the glare. Was the world always so bright? â€Å"This chamber needs to be cleaned and you, my boy, need sun.† â€Å"But I should really attend to my studies,† I said, gesturing limply to the volume of Macbeth open on my desk. Father took the book and closed it with a definitive clap. â€Å"I need to speak to you and Damon, away from any prying ears.† He glanced suspiciously around the chambers. I followed his gaze but saw nothing except for a collection of dirty dishes that Cordelia hadn't yet cleared. As if on cue, Damon strode into the room, wearing a pair of mustard-colored breeches and his gray Confederate coat. â€Å"Father!† Damon rolled his eyes. â€Å"Don't tell me you're on about that demon nonsense again.† â€Å"It's not nonsense!† Father roared. â€Å"Stefan, I'll see you and your brother at the stable,† he said, turning on his heel and striding out. Damon shook his head, then followed him, leaving me to change. I put on my full riding costume–a gray waistcoat and brown breeches–and sighed, not sure I had enough strength to ride or to endure another marathon bickering session between my father and brother. When I opened the door, I found Damon standing at the bottom of the curved staircase, waiting. â€Å"Feeling better, brother?† Damon asked as we walked out the door and across the lawn together. I nodded, even as I noticed the spot under the willow tree where I'd found Rosalyn. The grass willow tree where I'd found Rosalyn. The grass was long and bright green, and squirrels were darting around the tree's gnarled trunk. Sparrows chirped, and the drooping branches of the weeping willow looked lush and full of promise. There was no sign that anything had been amiss. I breathed a sigh of relief when we reached the stable, inhaling the familiar, loved scent of well- oiled leather and sawdust. â€Å"Hi, girl,† I whispered into Mezzanotte's velvety ear. She whinnied in appreciation. Her coat seemed silky-smooth, even more so than the last time I'd brushed it. â€Å"Sorry I haven't come to visit you, but it looks like my brother's taken good care of you.† â€Å"Actually, Katherine's taken a shine to her. Which is too bad for her own horses.† Damon smiled fondly as he jerked his chin to two coal- black mares in the corner. Indeed, they were stamping their feet and staring at the ground dejectedly, as if to express just how ignored and lonely they were. â€Å"Y ou've been spending quite a bit of time with Katherine,† I said finally. It was a statement, not a question. Of course he had been. Damon always had an ease around women. I knew he knew women, especially after his year in the Confederate army. He'd told me stories about some of the women he'd met in cities like Atlanta and Lexington that had made me blush. Did he know Katherine? â€Å"I have been,† Damon said, swinging his leg over the back of his horse, Jake. He didn't elaborate. â€Å"Ready, boys?† Father called, his horse impatiently stamping its feet. I nodded and fell into stride behind Damon and Father as we headed to the Wickery Bridge, all the way on the other end of the property. We crossed the bridge and continued on into the forest. I blinked in relief. The sunlight had been too bright. I much preferred the dark shadows of the trees. The woods were cool, with wet leaves covering the forest floor, even though there hadn't been a rainstorm recently. The leaves were so thick, you could see only slight patches of blue sky, and occasionally I'd hear the rustle of a raccoon or badger in the underbrush. I tried not to think of the animal noises as coming from the beast that had attacked Rosalyn. We continued riding into the forest until we reached the clearing. Father abruptly stopped and hitched his horse to a birch tree. I obediently hitched Mezzanotte to a tree and glanced around. The clearing was marked by a collection of rocks set up in a rough circle, above which the trees parted to provide a natural window to the sky. I hadn't been there in ages, not since before Damon went away. When we were boys, we used to play illicit card games here with the other fellows in town. Everyone knew the clearing was the place boys came to gamble, girls came to gossip, and everyone came to spill their secrets. If Father really meant to keep our conversation quiet, he'd have been better off taking us to the tavern to talk. â€Å"We're in trouble,† Father said without preamble, glancing up at the sky. I followed his gaze, expecting to see a fast-moving summer storm. Instead, the sky was spotless and blue. I found no solace in this beautiful day. I was still haunted by Rosalyn's lifeless eyes. â€Å"We're not, Father,† Damon said thickly. â€Å"Y ou know who's in trouble? All of the soldiers fighting this godforsaken war for this cause you've made me try to believe in. The problem is the war and your incessant need to find conflict everywhere you turn.† Damon angrily stomped his feet, reminding me so much of Mezzanotte that I stifled the urge to laugh. â€Å"I will not have you talk back to me!† Father said, shaking his fist at Damon. I glanced back and forth at the two of them, as though I were watching a tennis match. Damon towered over Father's sloping shoulders, and for the first time I realized that Father was getting old. Damon put his hands on his hips. â€Å"Then talk. Let's hear what you have to say.† I expected Father to shout, but instead he crossed to one of the rocks, his knees creaking as he bent to sit. â€Å"Y want to know why I left Italy? ou I left it for you. For my future children. I knew I wanted my sons to grow and marry and have children on land I owned and land I loved. And I do love this land, and I will not watch it be destroyed by demons,† Father said, flinging his hands wildly. I stepped back, and Mezzanotte whinnied a long, plaintive note. â€Å"Demons,† he repeated, as if to prove his point. â€Å"Demons?† Damon snorted. â€Å"More like big dogs. Don't you see it's talk like this that will make you lose everything? Y say you want a good life ou for us, but you're always deciding how we'll live that life. Y made me go to war and made Stefan ou get engaged, and now you're making us believe your fairy tales,† Damon yelled in frustration. I glanced at Father guiltily. I didn't want him to know I hadn't loved Rosalyn. But Father didn't look at me. He was too busy glowering at Damon. â€Å"All I wanted was for my boys to have the best. I know what we're facing, and I do not have time for your schoolboy arguments. I am not telling tales right now.† Father glanced back at me, and I forced myself to look into his dark eyes. â€Å"Please understand. There are demons who walk among us. They existed in the old country, too. They walked the same earth, talked like humans. But they wouldn't drink like humans.† â€Å"Well, if they don't drink wine, that would be a blessing, wouldn't it?† Damon asked sarcastically. blessing, wouldn't it?† Damon asked sarcastically. I stiffened. I remembered all the times after Mother had died that Father would drink too much wine or whiskey, lock himself in the study, then mumble late into the night about ghosts or demons. â€Å"Damon!† Father said, his voice even sharper than my brother's. â€Å"I will ignore your impudence. But I will not have you ignore me. Listen to me, Stefan.† Father turned toward me. â€Å"What you saw happen to your young Rosalyn wasn't natural. It wasn't one of Damon's coyotes,† Father said, practically spitting out the word. â€Å"It was un vampiro. They were in the old country, and now they're here,† Father said, screwing up his florid face. â€Å"And they are doing harm. They're feeding on us. And we need to stop it.† â€Å"What do you mean?† I asked nervously, any trace of exhaustion or dizziness gone. All I felt was fear. I thought back to Rosalyn, but this time, instead of remembering her eyes, I remembered the blood on her throat, having flowed from the two precise circles on the side of her neck. I touched my own neck, feeling the pulse of blood beneath my skin. The rush below my fingers sped up as I felt my heart skip a beat. Could Father be †¦ right? â€Å"Father means that he's been spending too much time listening to the church ladies tell their tales. Father, this is a story that would be told to scare a child. And not a very clever one. Everything you're saying is nonsense.† Damon shook his head and angrily stood from his perch on the tree stump. â€Å"I will not sit around and be told ghost stories.† With that, he turned on his gold- buttoned boot and swung his foot up over Jake's back, gazing down at Father, as if daring him to say one more thing. â€Å"Mark my words,† Father said, taking a step closer to me. â€Å"Vampires are among us. They look like us and can live among us, but they are not who we are. They drink blood. It is their elixir of life. They do not have souls, and they never die. They are forever immortal.† The word immortal made me suck in my breath. The wind changed, and the leaves began rustling. I shivered. â€Å"Vampires,† I repeated slowly. I'd heard the word once before, when Damon and I were schoolchildren and used to gather on the Wickery Bridge, trying to scare our friends. One boy had told us of seeing a figure kneeling down in the woods, feasting on the neck of a deer. The boy told us he had screamed and the figure had turned to him with hellred eyes, blood dripping from long, sharp teeth. A vampire, he said with conviction, glancing around the circle to see if he'd impressed any of us. But because he'd been pale and scrawny and not any good at shooting, we'd laughed and mocked him mercilessly. He and his family had moved to Richmond the next year. â€Å"Well, I'd take vampires over an insane father,† Damon said, kicking Jake's flanks and riding off into the sunset. I turned toward Father, expecting an angry tirade. But Father simply shook his head. â€Å"Do you believe me, son?† he asked. I nodded, even though I wasn't sure what I believed. All I knew was that somehow, in the past week, the whole world had changed, and I wasn't sure where I fit in anymore. â€Å"Good.† Father nodded as we rode out of the forest and onto the bridge. â€Å"We must be careful. It seems the war has awakened the vampires. It's as if they can smell blood.† The word blood echoed in my mind as we directed our horses to walk away from the cemetery and toward the shortcut through the fields that would lead to the pond. In the distance, I could see the sun reflecting on the pond's surface. No one would ever imagine this verdant, rolling land as being a place where demons walked. Demons, if they existed at all, belonged in the old country, amid the decrepit churches and castles Father had grown up with. All the words Father said were familiar, but they sounded so strange in the place where he was saying them. Father glanced around as if to make sure no one was hiding in the bushes near the bridge. The horses were walking alongside the graveyard now, the headstones bright and imposing in the now, the headstones bright and imposing in the warm summer light. â€Å"Blood is what they feed on. It gives them power.† â€Å"But then †¦,† I said, as the information whirled in my brain. â€Å"If they are immortal, then how are we to †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Kill them?† Father asked, finishing my thought. He pulled the reins on his horse. â€Å"There are methods. I've been learning. I've heard there's a priest in Richmond who can try to exorcise them, but then people in town know †¦ some things,† he finished. â€Å"Jonathan Gilbert and Sheriff Forbes and I have discussed some preliminary measures.† â€Å"If there's anything I can do †¦,† I offered finally, unsure what to say. â€Å"Of course,† Father said brusquely. â€Å"I expect you to be part of our committee. For starters, I've been talking to Cordelia. She knows her herbs, and she says there's a plant called vervain.† Father's hand fluttered to the flower on his lapel. â€Å"We will come up with a plan. And we will prevail. Because while they may have immortality, we have God on our side. It is kill or be killed. Do you understand me, boy? This is the war you're being drafted to fight.† I nodded, feeling the full weight of the responsibility on my shoulders. Maybe this was what I was meant to be doing: not getting married or going off to war, but fighting an unnatural evil. I met Father's gaze. â€Å"I'll do whatever you want,† I said. â€Å"Anything.† The last thing I saw before I galloped back to the stable was the huge grin on Father's face. â€Å"I knew you would, son. Y are a true Salvatore.†

Ethical dilemmas in the workplace Essay

Abstract Business managers must practice ethics in the workplace. Managers are faced with a variety of situations and decisions in which they need to objectively resolve. They must work with individuals from diverse background and differing values and principles. Consider some of the following workplace dilemmas. Explore the online library for scholarly articles on ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Using Microsoft Word, prepare a document that includes the following: Discuss some of the common ethical dilemmas managers face in the workplace. Compare and contrast the ethical dilemmas that managers face to ethical dilemmas employees face in the workplace. Why is it important for managers to build trust, commitment, and effort among stakeholders associated with the firm? What value does it provide to the organization? How does it impact employees? Discuss your thoughts on employee e-mail monitoring in the workplace. Is it ethical? Is it justified? Does whistle-blowing violate company loyalty? S hould an employee blow the whistle if they are aware of wrongdoing? Introduction I think we all have heard about workplace ethics. I think what most people fail to realize is that ethics are ethics. To think that there is a separate definition for workplace ethics is just untrue. Ethics are when we  are faced with the right or wrong choice. A good ethical decision is when we make the right choice even when it may be the harder of the two decisions. There are some golden rules or popular phrases that we may recite just to keep one another on track. Phrases such as treat others as you want to be treated or don’t hurt, steal or lie or my favorite practice what you preach (Curry, 2012). Some of the common Ethical dilemmas in the workplace are: Conducting personal business on company time. I think this occurs because most of our weekday time is spent working. The temptations are too use the time to try and take care of stuff that even a lunch break won’t allow you to accomplish. Some of the that personal business may include doctor’s appointments, reservations, surfing the web or even running a side business for your personal gain. Another area where we may cross the line of ethics in the workplace is taking credit for someone else’s work. If we are tasked as a team but not assigned individual tasks to come up with some result then it may be easy for someone to sit back and take some of the credit. That’s why it’s important to delegate work so that when it comes together as one all can benefit. Another area that we can find ourselves involved in some negative ethical workplace behaviors is when we are harassed or see harassing behav iors in the workplace. Employees often don’t know what to do if they see one of their co-workers harassing another employee, either mentally, sexually or physically. Employees may worry for their jobs if they attempt to report a superior for harassment (Rafner, 2010). By comparison Ethics are the same no matter who you are or what position you hold within a company. The difference is employees shouldn’t have to worry when reporting unethical behaviors and Managers should act on them quickly as well as being professional when they are conducting investigations etc. As a whole Companies are generally expected to provide fair working conditions for their employees in the business environment. Having an employee handbook that outlines both management as well as employees acceptable behaviors in my opinion will leave no doubts of what is acceptable in the workplace (Rafner, 2010). It is important for managers to build trust and commitment amongst its stakeholders because without them there is no business. Management cannot be everywhere so in their absence managers need to be sure the company can and will be ran just as if they were standing next to that employee. What that does is create a sense of self worth and is a motivating factor and a good thing to have. Employees/stakeholders/customers do not like shady practices and often it is a sign of a poorly run business. When issues arise it is important to know that management is committed to a result that is not only is good for business but makes the customer (who is just as much a stakeholder) feel good! To take it one step further it seems in my experience companies that have open door policies seem to be the most caring. Employees really appreciate the chance to be able to voice concerns and not feel like a number. I believe this shows that mangers are committed to the overall well being of not only the s take holders but the image of the company. However, those reviews are mixed when it comes to what powers managers actually have especially when it comes to employee monitoring. An old 2001 CNN poll suggests from a study of human-resources professionals at 722 companies, found 74 percent saying they monitor workers’ Internet use at work; 72 percent said they check on employees’ e-mail; 51 percent said they review phone calls. The workplace privacy survey was conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), with West Group (CNN, 2001). Surely those numbers have risen or at a minimum went unchanged especially since technology as advanced greatly in the last ten years no doubt. I don’t think there is any question that it is perfectly legal for employers to read employee mail especially on employers provided e-mail accounts. Courts in my opinion seem like it would uphold just about any company’s right to monitor an employee’s e-mail especially when there is reason to believe the employee is doing something wrong on company property. At every place I have recently worked there has been a form to sign acknowledging that email isn’t private. Employers also may have â€Å"key logger† software in place that investigates certain buzzwords not only for the protection of the business but its employees and customers as well. To be honest unless its company related this should be a dead issue. You don’t have anything to worry about if you’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just that simple! There are so many  things these days that get judged or talked about at the workplace it’s hard not to wonder or worry. This paper talked about some of the Ethical Dilemma’s in the workplace but what about whistle blowing? What should an employee do? I don’t know if whistle blowing violates company loyalty but it sure would make it an uncomfortable place to be if it occurred often. I would have to think that morale would suffer and the chance of derogatory behaviors would increase. Too much of it you may even see a threat of workplace violence. I don’t think an employee has an obligation of loyalty to a company, even a prima facie one, because companies are not the kind of things that are properly objects of loyalty. I do however feel that loyalty is a real bond between people and should be something that for the sake of the entire group should always be intact. I think that employees are there to work and they shouldn’t have to play police officer however if something someone does would have a negative impact or result in some adverse reaction then I think reporting it would only benefit the group. Not everyone is going to get along and there will always be differences but to report each person every time th ey blink wrong is a vendetta that companies hate to see. I think the Utilitarian approach of greatest good for the greatest numbers has to come to play when blowing the whistle unless of course it’s an ethics violation outlined by the employee handbook or against the everyday code of ethics. Bibliography Larue Tone Hosmer, 2011 The Ethics of Management, A Multidisciplinary Approach Myron Curry, 2012 Ethics in the workplace, retrieved December 21st, 2012 from: http://ezinearticles.com/?Ethics-In-The-Workplace&id=12475 Don Rafner, 2010 Common Ethical Workplace Dilemmas retrieved December 20th , 2012 from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/common-ethical-workplace-dilemmas-748.html CNN , 2001 Monitoring employees: Eyes in the workplace retrieved December 21st, 2012 from: http://articles.cnn.com/2001-01-02/business/surveillence_1_lewis-maltby-national-workrights-institute-monitoring-employees?_s=PM:CAREER

Free Essays on Loren D. Everton-- WWII Flying Ace

Loren D. Everton A pilot from VMF-212 who saw early service with -223, 'Doc' Everton had been flying for 12 years, since the age of 17. Because of his flying and leadership skills, Col. Bauer sent him with the other seven -212 pilots that went with -223 to Guadalcanal on August 20, 1942. As they came in, Captain Everton was struck by the deceiving beauty of the Island, and how inviting-looking green meadows could really be soggy marshes. The Marines already on the ground welcomed the fliers as saviors. "It looked so damn good to see something American circling in the sky," one of them said. Nonetheless, while Everton was busy with getting his tail wheels changed, from hard carrier types to softer ones better suited to grass strips, someone made off with his food supplies. He was directed to a coconut grove and to set up his campsite with captured a Japanese tent, blanket, and bedding. The only tent he could find had a roof, but no sides. That night the Battle of Tenaru started, and Doc was up all nig ht with a .45 in one hand and a helmet in the other. It might have been the next morning when Captain Smith came by holding a map, explaining that the Japs were landing and that Everton was to lead a flight of Wildcats to investigate and "make his own judgement about strafing or returning." They flew out and found the Jap landing craft on the wooded shore. They shot them up with the concentrated firepower of their six .50 caliber machine guns. The effect was wonderful and terrible, as the heavy slugs literally tore the soldiers apart. Everton and his three other planes strafed the men and the boats until the Marine Raiders finished the battle and "there were no more targets available." It was an ideal demonstration of the power of ground and air forces in cooperation. On August 26, the detached pilots of -212 scored six kills, three of them going to Doc Everton. Everton, Smith, Lt. Corry, and Tex Hamilton intercepted a flight of e... Free Essays on Loren D. Everton-- WWII Flying Ace Free Essays on Loren D. Everton WWII Flying Ace Loren D. Everton A pilot from VMF-212 who saw early service with -223, 'Doc' Everton had been flying for 12 years, since the age of 17. Because of his flying and leadership skills, Col. Bauer sent him with the other seven -212 pilots that went with -223 to Guadalcanal on August 20, 1942. As they came in, Captain Everton was struck by the deceiving beauty of the Island, and how inviting-looking green meadows could really be soggy marshes. The Marines already on the ground welcomed the fliers as saviors. "It looked so damn good to see something American circling in the sky," one of them said. Nonetheless, while Everton was busy with getting his tail wheels changed, from hard carrier types to softer ones better suited to grass strips, someone made off with his food supplies. He was directed to a coconut grove and to set up his campsite with captured a Japanese tent, blanket, and bedding. The only tent he could find had a roof, but no sides. That night the Battle of Tenaru started, and Doc was up all nig ht with a .45 in one hand and a helmet in the other. It might have been the next morning when Captain Smith came by holding a map, explaining that the Japs were landing and that Everton was to lead a flight of Wildcats to investigate and "make his own judgement about strafing or returning." They flew out and found the Jap landing craft on the wooded shore. They shot them up with the concentrated firepower of their six .50 caliber machine guns. The effect was wonderful and terrible, as the heavy slugs literally tore the soldiers apart. Everton and his three other planes strafed the men and the boats until the Marine Raiders finished the battle and "there were no more targets available." It was an ideal demonstration of the power of ground and air forces in cooperation. On August 26, the detached pilots of -212 scored six kills, three of them going to Doc Everton. Everton, Smith, Lt. Corry, and Tex Hamilton intercepted a flight of e...

How (and When) to Complete the Square 5 Simple Steps

How (and When) to Complete the Square 5 Simple Steps SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips It’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll see quadratic equations on the SAT and ACT. But they can be tricky to tackle, especially since there are multiple methods you can use to solve them. In this article, we’re going to walk through using one specific method- completing the square- to solve a quadratic equation. In fact, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions for how to complete the square using the completing the square formula. By the end, you should have a better understanding of how and when to use this mathematical strategy! Ready to learn more? Then let’s jump in! Engineers use quadratic equations to design roller coasters! What Is a Quadratic Equation? In order to understand how to complete the square, you first have to know how to identify a quadratic equation. That’s because completing the square only applies to quadratic equations! In math, a quadratic equation is any equation that has the following formula: $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ In this equation, $x$ represents an unknown number and $a$ cannot be 0. (If $a$ is 0, then the equation is linear, not quadratic!) Quadratic equations have all sorts of real-world applications becausethey're used to calculate parabolas, or arcs. Construction projects like bridges use the quadratic equation to calculate the arc of the structure, and even roller coasters use quadratics to design adrenaline-pumping tracks. Quadratics even fuel popular video games like Angry Birds, where the arc of each bird is calculated using the quadratic formula! So now that you know why quadratic equations are important, let’s look at one of the most common methods of solving them: completing the square. What Is Completing The Square and When Do You Use It? There are actually four ways to solve a quadratic equation: taking the square root, factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic formula. Unfortunately, taking the square root and factoring only work in certain situations. For example, let’s look at the following quadratic equation: $x^2 + 6x = -2$ Solving a quadratic equation by taking the square root involves taking the square root of each side of the equation. Because this equation contains a non-squared $\bi x$ (in $\bo6\bi x$), that technique won’t work. Factoring, on the other hand, involves breaking the quadratic equation into two linear equations that are both equal to zero. Unfortunately, trying to factor this equation doesn’t result in two linear equations! Both the quadratic formula and completing the square will let you solve any quadratic equation. (In this post, we’re specifically focusing on completing the square.) When you complete the square, you change the equation so that the left side of the equation is a perfect square trinomial. That’s just a fancy way of saying that completing the square is a technique that transforms your quadratic equation from an equation that can’t be factored into one that can. Completing the square applies to even the trickiest quadratic equations, which you’ll see as we work through the example below. Your Step-By-Step Guide for How to Complete the Square Now that we’ve determined that our formula can only be solved by completing the square, let’s look at our example formula again: $x^2 + 6x = -2$ Step 1: Figure Out What’s Missing When you look at the equation above, you can see that it doesn’t quite fit the quadratic equation format ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$). The number that should go in the $c$ spot, which is also known as the constant, is missing. So from a logical perspective, the equation actually looks like this: $x^2 + 6x +$ __?__ $= -2$ In order to solve this equation, we first need to figure out what number goes into the blank to make the left side of the equation a perfect square. (This missing number is called the constant.) By doing that, we’ll be able to factor the equation like normal. Step 2: Use the Completing the Square Formula But at this point, we have no idea what number needs to go in that blank. In order to figure that out, we need to apply the completing the square formula, which is: $x^2 + 2ax + a^2$ In this case, the $a$ in this equation is the constant, or the number that needs to go in the blank in our quadratic formula above. Step 3: Apply the Completing the Square Formula to Find the Constant As long as the coefficient, or number, in front of the $\bi x^\bo2$ is 1, you can quickly and easily use the completing the square formula to solve for $\bi a$. To do this, you take the middle number, also known as the linear coefficient, and set it equal to $2ax$. Here’s what that would look like for our sample formula: $6x = 2ax$ This equation is basically asking what number (this is $\bi a$) multiplied by 2 will give us 6. Now that you know your equation, solving for $a$ is simple: divide each side of the equation by $2x$! So let’s see what that looks like: $$6x = 2ax$$ Divide each side by $\bo2x$: $${6x}/{2x} = {2ax}/{2x}$$ Result: $3 = a$ Look at that! We now know that $\bi a =\bo3$! But we’re not quite done with the completing the square formula yet. In order to determine what the missing constant is, we need to plug our solution for $a$ back into the completing the square formula ($x^2 + 2ax + a^2$). Whatever the result is for $\bi a^\bo2$ is the constant that we’ll plug back into our first equation ($x^2+ 6x +$ __?__ $= -2$). So let’s take a look: $x^2+ 2ax + a^2$ where $a = 3$ Add $\bi a$ into the equation: $x^2 + 2(3)x + 3^2$ Put in simplest terms: $x^2 + 6x + 9$ So now we know that our constant is 9. Now it's time to plug in some numbers! Step 4: Plug the Constant Into the Original Formula Now that you know the constant, it’s time to put it into the blank in our original formula. Once you do that, the equation will look like this: Original formula: $x^2 + 6x +$ __?__ $= -2$ Formula with constant:$x^2 + 6x + 9 = -2 + 9$ Put in simplest terms: $x^2+ 6x + 9 = 7$ You might be wondering why we’re adding 9 to the right side of the equation. Well, remember: in math, you can never do something to one side of an equation without doing it to the other side, too. So because we’re adding 9 to our equation to make it a perfect square, we also have to add 9 to the right side of the equation to keep things balanced. If you forget to add the new constant to the right side of the equation, you won’t get the right answer! Step 5: Factor the Equation We’ve already done a lot of work, and there’s still a little more to go. Now it’s time for us to solve the quadratic equation by figuring out what x could be. But now that we’ve turned the left side of our equation into a perfect square, all we have to do is factor like normal. Completed quadratic formula: $x^2 + 6x + 9 = 7$ Factor left side of the equation: $(x + 3)^2 = 7$ Take the square root: $√{(x + 3)^2}= √7$ Subtract 3: $x =  ±Ã¢Ë†Å¡7 - 3$ Final solutions: $x =√{7} - 3$ and $x =√{-7} - 3$ What If There’s a Coefficient in Front of $x^2$? The step-by-step guide we gave you above only works if there’s no coefficient, or number, in front of $x^2$. If there is a coefficient, you have to eliminate it. Once you do that, you can solve the quadratic equation through the method we outlined above. So how do you remove the coefficient? Actually, it’s not as hard as it sounds. To show you how, let’s look at a new quadratic equation: $2x^2- 12x = -8$ How to Factor Out the 2 n order to remove the 2, you’ll need to divide both sides of the equation by 2. It’s really that simple! So let’s take a look at how that works: Original formula: $2x^2- 12x = -8$Divide everything by 2: $x^2- 6x = -4$ By doing this, you’ve made the coefficient in front of the $x^2$ into 1, so now you can solve the equation by completing the square like we did above. Additional Completing the Square Resources We know that completing the square can be tricky, which is why we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you if you’re still having trouble with how to complete the square. More Sample Problems As you already know, practice makes perfect. That’s why it’s important to work as many quadratic equations as you need to in order to feel comfortable solving these types of problems. Luckily for you, completing the square can be used to solve any quadratic equation, so as long as the practice questions are quadratics, you can use them! One great resource for this is Lamar University’s quadratic equation page, which has a variety of sample problems as well as answers. Another good resource for quadratic equation practice is Math Is Fun’s webpage. If you scroll to the bottom, they have quadratic equation practice questions broken up into categories by difficulty. Completing the Square Tutorial Videos If you’re a visual learner, you might find it easier to watch someone solve quadratic equations instead. Khan Academy has an excellent video series on solving quadratic equations, including one video dedicated to showing you how to complete the square. YouTube also has some great resources, including this video on completing the square and this video that shows you how to tackle more advanced quadratic equations. Completing the Square Calculator If you want to check your work, there are some completing the square calculators available online. It can be a good way to make sure you’re working problems correctly if you don’t have an answer guide. But be forewarned: relying on a tool like this won’t help you retain the information! Make sure you’re putting in the hard work to learn how to complete the square so you aren’t blindsided by these types of questions on test day. Now What? Working with quadratic equations is just one element of algebra you’ll need to master before taking the SAT and ACT. A good place to start is mastering systems of equations, which will help you brush up on your fundamental algebra skills, too. One of the most helpful math study tools is a chart of useful mathematical equations. Luckily for you, we have a master list of the 31 formulas you must know to conquer the ACT. If you think you need a more comprehensive study tool, test prep books are one way to go. Here’s a list of our favorite SAT Math prep books that will help set you on the path to success.

Produce a report elaborating on the key strategic and operational Case Study

Produce a report elaborating on the key strategic and operational issues faced by the operations manager(s) in SPICE VILLAGE RES - Case Study Example In addition, the problems of the case will be addressed and recommendations will be also provided. Finally the report will conclude highlighting the important findings of the study. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Customers 5 Markets Supplied 5 Market-Order Winners and Order Qualifiers 6 PART II 8 Manufacturing Process and Service Delivery 9 Infrastructure to manage the delivery System 9 Conclusion 10 Bibliography 11 Introduction Spice Village is a Pakistani restaurant which is located in Upper Tooting Road in London. The restaurant is considered as one of the most authentic Tandoori restaurants of UK. The restaurant was opened in the year 2004 and has its branches in Southall and Tooting (Spicevillageltd, n.d. (a)). Initially, the restaurant was operated from a small shop, but the rising popularity and demand of the customers has allowed the company to expand its branches in 2008. It is known for offering unique dining experiences to the consumers. Some of the noteworthy dishes of Spice Village are Kebabs, Nihari, Chops, Biriyanis, Karahi and few other dishes from fish. Apart from these dishes, the restaurant also sells chicken dishes, vegetable dishes, soft drinks and deserts, and some other special dishes. From the time of its inception, the company has witnessed tremendous successes. Based on high success rate, the company has also carried out expansions to the other parts of London. The particular area where the restaurant is situated comprises many other restaurants. Spice Villages has almost 25 competitors. Nevertheless, Spice Village is the largest among the existing players of the market in which it operates. With stylish and elegant setting and astonishing store ambience, the company has been able to attract many customers. It has a seating capacity of 220, which acts as a competitive advantage to the firm (Spicevillageltd, n.d. (b)). Spice Village has also achieved various other credentials to its name. For example, the restaurant has won Tiffin Cup award and was also declared as ‘the top nosh† restaurant by The Guardian (Khan, n.d.). Such achievements and good market reputation have helped the company gain substantial market share. The next half of the report will shed light on the strategic context of the company. PART I Customers Spice Village sells a wide range of products to the customers. The primary rationale behind adopting a differentiation strategy is to cater to a large customer base. The special dishes include Kebabs, Nihari, Chops, Biriyanis, Karahi and dishes made of fish. In addition, the restaurant also sells chicken dishes, vegetable dishes, soft drinks and deserts, and some other special customized menus. Thus, from the strategy it is clear that the company tries to cater to a diversified group of customer. Nonetheless, as the menu is basically Pakistani, the restaurant mainly targets Pakistani population and other Asians. The company does not prefer catering to the Chinese, Scandinavians and Afri can customers for some specified reasons. For example, the Chinese people are not targeted as the employees, and the owners of the restaurants do not understand the Chinese language. On the other hand, the restaurant owners think that Scandinavians eat extremely slow and can block the places of other potential customers. Finally, regarding the Africans, the restaurant owner perceives that Africans want the food to be served as soon as possible and cheap. The restaurant also does not sell any sort of alcoholic products, which restricts them to