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MPA at SIPA Columbia University Admission Essay
INSTRUCTIONS:
What role does privilege have in policy making? (200 words maximum)
The concept of deliberative privilege poses a true threat to maintaining public involvement in public policy decision-making. The threat arises from the very nature of privileges themselves. They sacrifice individual interests in the interest of a larger public good. Unfortunately, deliberative privilege sacrifices such interests as ensuring justice for the individual and public participation. However, a way exists to overcome the threats the privilege establishes – characterize criteria as facts and thus discoverable and open to public scrutiny. Just knowing the criteria upon which public administrators base their decisions could give the public confidence in those administrators and their policies.
Write an essay for applying MPA at SIPA Columbia University.
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Top 10 Listening Habits Profile
In communication, there are about ten listening habits, for example, listening to the views of others. I am a good listener. I also do not interrupt the speaker, or finish sentences for them. When the speaker has finished, I can then ask a question to seek clarification.
Preparing to listen: This involves focusing on the speaker and putting other issues out of the mind. Since human mind can easily be affected by other views- I try to concentrate on the message being communicated.
Putting the speaker at ease: this entails ensuring that the speaker is free to give his or her views without interruption. I usually put into consideration the concerns and needs of the speaker. Additionally, I try to nod my head or use other nonverbal communication such as gestures to encourage the speaker to go on. I also maintain eye contact with the speaker rather than staring to demonstrate to him/her that am listening and understand the message.
Removing distractions involve concentrating on the message being said. I do not pick my fingernails or looking out of the window; such acts interrupt listening process while demonstrating to the speaker that one is bored or not interested.
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Empathize by trying to appreciate the speaker’s standpoint. I look at issues from the speaker’s point of view or preconceived thoughts. I am also open minded so as to fully empathize with the speaker. Nonetheless, if the speaker puts across something that I do not agree with, it’s appropriate to wait and counter, however being open-minded to the views of others is vital.
Patience: A pause does not show that the speaker is through. Being and patient and allowing the speaker to finish is importance since it takes the time to formulate what to pass across. I do not interrupt the speaker or finish for them sentences. Keep off personal bias: do not allow an individual’s manner interrupt you from listening. While everyone has a unique way of speaking, some are shy, accents, I concentrate the message rather than delivery methods.
Listening to the tone; volume and tone are necessary to the message being passed. Good speakers use volume and tone for their benefits to ensure that listeners are attentive. Much as speakers use volume and a tone to get the attention of their audience, it enables me to understand the emphasis of the message.
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Listening to ideas instead of words; a good listener should get the entire picture rather than pieces of words. As such, I try to connect pieces of words to understand the speaker’s point of view. I also focus and remove interruptions.
Watching for nonverbal communication; facial expression, gestures are very essential in listening. I do not listen with only my eyes and ears; I also use my eyes to watch for extra information being conveyed through nonverbal communication.
Works Cited
Wood, Julia T. Communication Mosaics: An Introduction to the Field of Communication. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.
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Pathophysiology and Leadership
Introduction
In clinical practice, medical promptness is an essential element of any given organization. The use of methods that integrate cohesiveness, principles, promptness and good communication presents room for inclusive clinical practice. Also, leaders have the power of using different headship skills to help clinicians work synchronously within the organization. Leaders are also the main people in charge of supervising with the ability as well as skills for clinicians when required.
Again, leaders create their capabilities by incorporating the ideas, ethics, and support of their juniors. On the other hand, clinicians require good leaders to help them in decision making related to assessment, planning treatment, good communication and proper practice. Both Psychopathology and Pathophysiology are relevant to psychology. As such, they can be used to show the level of understanding and skills one should possess so as to facilitate efficient organization leadership.
Explain psychopathology and pathophysiology
Psychopathology involves the study of mental disorder and commonly used in describing mental ailments (College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, 2008). On the other hand, Psychopathology can be called psychological illness. Assessing mental disorders based on the psychology or dysfunctional character provides delusional views. It encompasses the inability to effectively function, behaving normal or act by the set standards.
Dysfunction hinders individuals the ability to control their sentiments or even characters. For instance, being hysterically sad can lead to dysfunctional traits. Psychological ailments also entail dysfunctions that are used to demonstrate painful impairment, which hinders people ability to work normally.
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With regards to Pathophysiology, it is an uncharacteristic disordered physiological process associated with an ailment or damage. The pathophysiology involves assessing the progress of the illness in the body, which make the patient look for various treatment approaches.
Additionally, Pathophysiology is widely used by health practitioners to not only treat but also diagnose some ailments (College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, 2008). The manner of carrying out interviews is rather individualized as such it purposes to facilitate the collection of data, engage and motivate patients when it comes to assessing and treating the condition.
Review how these terms relate to behavioral assessment, intervention, and implementation in an organizational setting
In clinical field, psychology is associated with behavior assessment, intervention, and execution within the organization by the nature of the study and the wider practice. Psychology is also a comprehensive are of scientific evaluation that is connected to individual issues and psychological principles involving assessment, hindrance, amelioration and convalescence of mental pain, infirmity, flawed personality while increasing psychosocial health.
Assessment, intervention, and implementation can be used in any given clinical institution, which promotes and practices the physical and psychological health of the larger public. For that reason, it is necessary to put into account particular clinical methods including Assessment involves developing behavior, interests, cognition, emotional and understanding. In this case, many approaches can be used to interrogate clients such as psychometric tests, interviews, and observations. As such, psychologists should be competent in so as to select the best approach (Ellis & Hartley, 2005).
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Diagnosis entails using the appropriate diagnostic method based on the client’s intellectual degree, cognitive capacity, psychological state, and behavior. DSM-IV-TR is a suitable tool to diagnose and assess clients with flawed characters.
Intervention: while many interventions can be applied across the organization, clinical experts need particular understanding to diagnose effectively, develop and executed treatment plan. Moreover, they need the knack to examine the correctness and entirety of planning, conceptualization and implementing the results of the intervention or treatment (Guyatt et al. 2008).
The original assessment allows clinicians to make the right diagnosis, provide relevant information on a treatment plan and assistance to patients and their families.
Discuss how an understanding of these concepts will help the clinical supervisor (leader) in the operation of the organization.
Clinical leaders should have a clear and comprehensive recognition regarding the basis and the manner in which the organization can operate routinely. Additionally, they should recognize the leadership concepts, operation, and facilitation.
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For instance, good managers are linked to significant medical supervision when it comes to satisfaction, commitment to the organization and retention. Excellent leadership has a perpetual impact on employees regarding curtailing the high turn-over. Frontline workers are critical to a firm, particularly in a medical facility. The management in tandem with receptionists, medical employees and administrators play a vital function in deducing and understanding the required leadership for sustainable reasons.
The medical manager should ensure the entire team recognizes their obligation and approach work-related tasks to the best of their abilities, towards enhancing the smooth running of the establishment. The leadership should engage its employees in establishing a working culture that is ethically sound in a healthcare environment (Ellis & Hartley, 2005). Moreover, these analytical models will help with upholding strong work standards within the organization.
Analyze the role of a leader when clinicians are involved in individual or group assessments.
The management should participate in frontline supervision for medical personnel working with individual and team assessments to leverage any discrepancies (Guyatt et al. 2008). The management has the solemn obligation; to be readily available in case of any eventuality. In addition, the leadership ought to ensure that medical personnel are executing their functions competently and for the benefit of their clients.
Medical practitioners are the mainstay of the operation within the healthcare facility, as such; the management should ensure clinicians observe work ethics and medical practices (Muir Gray, 1997). Being conscious of the transformation within an organization is rather critical for key leaders overseeing medical personnel in individual and group assessment settings.
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Again, the leadership can assist clinicians in the analysis phase of treatment to establish the attributes of a patient; remedial plans that are suitable for the patient and evaluating behavioral information of the patient. Ultimately, the appraisal and remedial planning should culminate to personalized treatment, appropriate patient treatment and ensuring the organization’s mission is realized through better service delivery (Guyatt et al. 2008).
Conclusion
The mental health workers have the responsibility to work relentless for clients and workmates, particularly if they hold leadership positions. Nonetheless, on many occasions, leaders have often been unable to realize the issue of effective communication. Having the understanding to assemble and keep the right team is dominant for consistency.
The leadership mindset towards their employees will depend on the outcome and nature of work (Ellis & Hartley, 2005). In a nutshell, the leader should be effective when it comes to guiding medical personnel within a health care facility to determine competent leadership skills such as servant, transformation and engaging leadership.
References
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia. (2008). Problematic substance use in the workplace: A resource guide for registered nurses. Halifax: Author.
Guyatt, G., Rennie, D., Meade, M. O., & Cook, D. (2008). Users’ guides to the medical literature: Essentials of evidence-based clinical practice, 2nd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Muir Gray, J. A. (1997). Evidence-based medicine: How to make health policy and management decisions. London: Churchill Press.
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Nonverbal Communication
Introduction
Nonverbal communication is where speech is not involved in getting the audience attention or passing the message. In most, cases nonverbal communication is employed to express thoughts, make the message appealing to the audience. Nonverbal communication has a great impact on the social sphere as well as communication (Wood, 2005). Moreover, nonverbal communication controls the relationship, support or substitute verbal communication in certain conditions. Various cultures use nonverbal communication in different ways to express themselves.
How does nonverbal communication express cultural values?
Nonverbal communication is used differently to express cultural values. In the US for instance, Latin Americans use hand gestures to show that they are romantically interested in an individual, and it is typically viewed as solicitation (Wood, 2005). Telling an individual to come among the Latinos the palm is extended downwards while moving the four fingers inward and outward for 3 or four times.
When using public transport, Latino elders hold their hands sideways with the four fingers extended to demonstrate that their pickpocket around. Moreover, across US majority of the ethnicities greet visors personally, but Latinos hug visitors while “besitos” or touching cheeks and kissing nose and lips is used for women visitors.
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How to improve effectiveness in using and interpreting non-verbal communication?
Managing stress
The ability to manage stress in the spur of the moment is the best way to improve nonverbal communication. Stress hampers not only one’s ability to communicate but to misinterpret others and transmit confusing signals (Wood, 2005). To be able to avoid unhealthy reflex behavior patterns, one has to manage stress by way of exercise or meditation. However, it all starts with being conscious of it. Calm down before you proceed with the discussion particularly if you cannot bear with the stress.
Emotional Awareness
The effective way to transmit perfect nonverbal signals lies in recognizing emotions and how they affect you. In the same breadth, it also calls for the recognition of other people’s emotions and the underlying feelings. With this in mind, you can read other people’s emotions with precision and decipher what the unspoken body language connotes (Wood, 2005). Moreover, you can develop honesty and candor in relationships by sending nonverbal signals that correspond to your words. React in ways that demonstrate to others your compassion.
Practice Observing
It takes practice to be able to decipher nonverbal communication. Some people use videotapes to enhance their skills. Eye contact, body posture, and facial expressions are crucial when it comes to non-verbal communication (Wood, 2005). An individual, whose arms are crossed, turns away from you and avoiding eye contact may be holding something back or simply not interested.
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Receive Feedback
Always use the response mechanism to enhance your behavior and the connection between what you communicate, voice quality and gesture (Wood, 2005). The impression you make on others matter as well.
References
Wood, J. T. (2005). Communication Mosaics: an Introduction to the Field of Communication. Belmont, CA: Thomson.
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Web analytical competitor analysis
In this paper, web analytics tools are utilized to carry out a competitor analysis of the competitors of Solstice Sunglass Company. A few competitors of Solstice Sunglass Company are identified and a justification is provided as to why these are the company’s main competitors. On the whole, this essay is a web analytical comparison of the chosen firm with the identified competitors.
Although web analytical tools are crucial in providing intelligence into the company’s digital marketing as well as the performance of the company’s website, there is also the need of understanding the digital marketing presence of the competitors (Perry 2014). It is important to understand web traffic of the competitors as this would provide more ideas for the chosen company’s own digital marketing campaigns (Kent et al. 2011).
It will also show the senior executives the channels which the company might or might not be using properly and allow the company’s managers to see where might be a better location to draw new visitors (Marek 2011; Balogh & Sran 2014).
Even if the company is currently at the top in its industry, remaining on top could be a challenge and therefore keeping an eye on the efforts of the competitors could help the company in staying ahead of the curve (Birmingham 2015). The web analytic tool www.alexa.com is utilized in this web analytical comparison of the websites of the three online stores. Alexa is utilized primarily because it offers the right insights for making smarter decisions (Guckin, Crowley & Couns 2012; Gašević, Dawson & Siemens 2015). Alexa also provides accurate site metrics and tools for comparing the website of Solstice against its competitors (Alexa 2016).
Web analytical competitor analysis
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Chosen company:Solstice Sunglass Boutique
The selected company is Solstice Sunglass Boutique, which is a high-end sunglass specialty chain. It has an extensive range of designer and fashion sunglasses in an upscale and innovative environment (Farney & McHale 2013). The main brands sold at Solstice’s online store www.solsticesunglasses.com include Persol, Ray-Ban, Maui Jim, Versace, Tom Ford, Persol, Burberry, Michael Kors, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Kate Spade and Tory Burch (Solstice Sunglasses 2016).
Solstice offers in excess of 26 brand names and 1,010 pairs to pick from, buyers could try on as many sunglasses as they would like. The main competitors of Solstice include Frames Direct and Sunglass Hut. They are considered Solstice’s main competitors since they offer the same products as Solstice and their marketing and promotion efforts could negatively impact the sales of Solstice’s products.
Relative to other sites as shown in alexa, the website of Solstice is ranked globally at 297,631 and 86,054 in the United States. The table below shows the percentage of visitors by country – that is, audience geography:
Country
Percentage of visitors
Rank in country
United States
57.8 percent
86,054
Canada
1.6 percent
137,030
Britain
2.9 percent
121,491
Regarding how visitors to this website are actually engaged, the bounce rate is 34.2 percent, daily page views per visitor is 3.7 and daily time on this site is 3:05 (Alexa 2016). A total of 17.1 percent of visits to www.solstice.com come from a search engine.
The main keywords from search engines are: solstice 25.36 percent; carrera sunglasses 14.16 percent; Roberto cavalli sunglasses 5.23 percent; sunglass stores 3.71 percent; and sunglasses brands 3.06 percent (Alexa 2016). The upstream websites, or the websites which people visited just prior to visiting this website are as follows: google.com 39.1 percent; amazon.com 4.6 percent; and ray-ban.com 2.8 percent. In total 251 sites are linking in to the site of Solstice (Alexa 2016).
Competitor 1: Frames Direct
At www.framesdirect.com online store, Frames Direct offers a wide selection of sunglasses, designer glasses, prescription sunglasses, and eyeglass frames for both women and men. It offers free shipping. In its promotions, the company offers huge discounts of up to 50 percent off on lenses including free shipping on selected eyeglasses such as Tag Heuer (Shein 2015).
Frames Direct offers many different brands such as Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, Ray Ban, Prada, Maui Jim, Oakley, Gucci, Burberry, Costa, Silhouette among many others (Frames Direct 2016). Frames Direct has its main offices in Austin, Texas.
Web analytical competitor analysis
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In comparison to other websites as shown in the web analytical tool www.alexa.com, the site of Frames Direct is ranked globally at 21,952 and ranked 5,456 in the United States. The following table shows audience geography
Country
Percentage of visitors
Rank in country
India
8.2 percent
32,276
Saudi Arabia
2.7 percent
8,256
United States
61.9 percent
5,456
Canada
3.7 percent
7,030
Britain
3.8 percent
13,491
With regard to how visitors to www.framesdirect.com are engaged, the bounce rate is 36.6 percent, daily page views per visitor is 4.8 and daily time on the website is 4:60 (Alexa 2016). A total of 29.3 percent of visits to www.framesdirect.com come from a search engine. The top keywords from search engines are glasses frames 3.41 percent; prescription sunglasses 2.37 percent; eyeglass frames 2.18 percent; eyeglasses 2.13 percent; and prescription safety glasses 1.96 percent (Alexa 2016).
The upstream websites are google.com 43.3 percent; amazon.com 2.6 percent; yahoo.com 1.9 percent; facebook.com 1.8 percent; and lenscrafters.com 1.5 percent. A total of 687 websites are linking in to the site of Frames Direct. On average, the website framesdirect.com loads in 1.837 seconds, although 58 percent of websites load faster (Alexa 2016).
Competitor 2: Sunglasses Hut International
Sunglass Hut is a global retailer of sunglasses and sunglass accessories. The firm was established in the year 1971 in Miami, Florida but is currently based in Milan, Italy. It is part of the Luxottica Group, the biggest eyewear firm globally (Sunglass Hut, 2016). This company is renowned as a leader in specialty sun retailing (Jackson 2012). Its online store is www.sunglasshut.com. Compared to other websites as depicted in the web analytical tool alexa, the site of Sunglasshut is ranked worldwide at 16,785 and 8,381 in America. The following table shows the percentage of visitors by country – audience geography
Web analytical competitor analysis
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Country
Percentage of visitors
Rank in country
Brazil
6.0 percent
7,753
Saudi Arabia
6.2 percent
2,979
United States
38.3 percent
8,381
South Korea
6.2 percent
3,739
Australia
8.8 percent
2,367
With regard to how visitors to www.sunglasshut.com are engaged, the bounce rate is 25.40 percent, daily page views per visitor is 6.70 and daily time on the website is 5:34 (Alexa 2016). A total of 17.5 percent of visits to www.sunglasshut.com come from a search engine. The top keywords from search engines are: sunglasses 18.87 percent; maui jim 6.84 percent; sunglass hut 5.05 percent; ray ban 4.95 percent; and rayban 4.87 percent (Alexa 2016).
The upstream websites are as follows: google.com 33.8 percent; amazon.com 4.9 percent; yahoo.com 2.0 percent; facebook.com 1.7 percent; and ray-ban.com 1.8 percent. A total of 2,319 websites are linking in to the site of Frames Direct. On average, the website sunglasshut.com loads very slowly in 4.025 seconds, and 90 percent of websites load faster (Alexa, 2016).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper has provided a web analytical comparison of three companies: Solstice Sunglasses which is the chosen firm, and two of its competitors, Sunglass Hut and Frames Direct. Their online stores have been the focus of this essay. The web analytics tool used was Alexa. The findings demonstrate that the online stores of Frames Direct and Sunglass Hut have more traffic, are more popular, and generally have more visitors and conversions than the online store of Solstice Sunglasses.
Web analytical competitor analysis
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Balogh, L, & Sran, B 2014, ‘Exploring Models for Teaching the Use of Web Analytics Tools in an Undergraduate Course’, Proceedings For The Northeast Region Decision Sciences Institute (NEDSI), p. 595, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Birmingham, A 2015, ‘Chapter 4: Web analytics – More than Google Analytics’, B&T Magazine, 64, 2812, pp. 012-016, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Farney, T, & McHale, N 2013, ‘Introducing Google Analytics for Libraries’, Library Technology Reports, 49, 4, pp. 5-8, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Gašević, D, Dawson, S, & Siemens, G 2015, ‘Let’s not forget: Learning analytics are about learning’, Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 59, 1, pp. 64-71, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Guckin, C, Crowley, N, & Couns, D 2012, ‘Using Google Analytics to Evaluate the Impact of the CyberTraining Project’, Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 15, 11, pp. 625-629, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Jackson, S 2012, Cult Of Analytics : Driving Online Marketing Strategies Using Web Analytics, Amsterdam: Routledge, eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Kent, M, Carr, B, Husted, R, & Pop, R 2011, ‘Learning web analytics: A tool for strategic communication’, Public Relations Review, 37, 5, pp. 536-543, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Marek, K 2011, ‘Chapter 2: Getting to Know Web Analytics’, Library Technology Reports, 47, 5, pp. 11-16, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Nakatani, K, & Chuang, T 2011, ‘A web analytics tool selection method: an analytical hierarchy process approach’, Internet Research, 21, 2, pp. 171-186, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
Perry, PM 2014, ‘Is your web site pulling its load. (cover story)’, Labtalk, 42, 23F, pp. 20-25, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 24 January 2016.
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Cultural Practices and Social Boundaries
Introduction
Culture as determined by different literatures is the shared values, norms, traditions, history, customs and institutions within a group of individuals. The understanding of culture therefore aids in determining the manner in which we interpret several elements within the environment. This is under the consideration of the fact that culture has the capacity to shape the way we see and function within the world (Heizmann, 2015).
Additionally, culture is also known to shape the personal, group attitudes and a value including the perceptions of the way we see what works and what does not. This paper therefore seeks to establish the manner in which cultural practices play a role in the reproduction of class boundaries in the society.
Attitudes towards My Education as Held by Family and Friends
Like any other parents, it is essential to determine the fact that my parents have always taken the aspect of education so serious. My father in particular has always held to the view that the only key to survival in this current society is through education, a factor that I may consider as true considering the fact that the contemporary society has evolved in this era (Heizmann, 2015).
In as much as my parents and friends hold a positive view of education, they also believe in the fact that each and every individual has some considerable limitations in respect to studying. My parents in this case would want me and my siblings to develop a positive attitude towards education but on the same hand consider our limits and not overwork ourselves.
Cultural Practices and Social Boundaries
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Additionally, my parents also believe in the fact that the success and failure of an individual lies in their attainment of education and is determined by the choice of an individual. In their view, success stands at the achievement of educational goals. When in completed my secondary school, my goal was to get to one of the prominent Universities in my area. When in achieved this goal, they considered this a success and celebrated my achievements.
Ways in which the Attitudes and Perspectives of Family Reflect Social Class
According to Harris (2009), social class remains an essential source of belief, behaviors and values in the society. Individuals within the society are taught the values on social classes through the associations with their families, neighbors and friends. Attitudes towards education therefore provide a good example in the manner in which it creates differences between different classes (pp. 187). People who belong to the lower class have a perception that education is less valuable as compared to members of the middle class.
Cultural Practices and Social Boundaries
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I have therefore grown up to believe that I have the social responsibility of becoming a corporate figure. I have therefore dedicated to putting extra effort in education with the aim of achieving my goals and turning out as a successful individual in the community. The elements of persistence and commitment have been my major strength in my career path, a factor that has helped me in the achievement of these goals.
My parents have therefore played a role in shaping my views about education, an element that has molded my social class. I therefore believe that these perspectives have an influence in my future class position considering the fact that this culture has been diffused into me by my parents.
Conclusion
Culture as determined by this study and different literatures is the shared values, norms, traditions, history, customs and institutions within a group of individuals. The understanding of culture therefore aids in understanding the manner in which we interpret several elements within the environment (Harris, 2009). This paper therefore provides a validated view in the fact that culture has the capacity to shape the manner in which we see and function within the world.
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References
Heizmann, H. (2015). Working across Cultural Spheres: The Knowledge Sharing Practices of Boundary spanners in a Global Insurance Firm. Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 7(1), 1-17. doi:10.5130/ccs.v7i1.4245
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Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma
By the ethical issues surrounding the medical procedure of embryo harvesting and freezing. An interview was conducted. The interviewee was a friend, her name Tina. During the interview, I asked some relevant questions about the topic at hand. In return, the interview did her utmost best to answer the questions accordingly regarding her world view or philosophical perspective. Below is the summary of the interview integrating the interviewee’s personal philosophy in relations to the answer she provided.
The central theme of the interview was, “is embryo harvesting and other related or similar procedures that induce artificial procreation ethical?” The opening question for the interview was merely similar to the theme. Tina answered that there is no moral ground for creating human beings artificially, which is far away from the natural order of life. It was evident that the interviewee did not hold true the statements to support the given medical procedures.
She said while answering the second question that these statements were just a mere excuse to justify the medical license and legality given to these acts that surpass the laws of nature. In no time or place will it ever be correct to harvest a deceased person’s semen or ova to continue with the siring of an offspring outside the natural order of doing things (Williams, 2011).
Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma
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The interview provided significant information that gave quite some insight into Tina’s philosophy about the world. Essentially, it is prudent to conclude that Tina believed that there is a given order in life that has kept the world sustainable as it is. The sustainability in the sense that nature works in conjunction with the balance of life. Every day people die. Others without heirs to their names. If most people in the world took to embryo harvesting and freezing.
Then the balance of nature will have been disrupted and the control of the world’s population. Thus, sooner or later planet earth would not be able to support the increasing population that is not under the balance of nature. Hence, the natural order or balance of life would be disrupted while doom keeps pending. The conclusion is that there are no moral grounds that justify such medical procedures. There is just that point or border that cannot be crossed when it comes to nature.
References
Williams, D. D. (2011). Over my dead body: the legal nightmare and medical phenomenon of posthumous conception through postmortem sperm retrieval. Campbell L. Rev., 34, 181.
Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma
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Becoming an Informed Voter
Introduction
The 3rd congressional district in the state of Marylandconsists of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and other considerable parts of the independent city of Baltimore. Currently, Maryland’s 3rd congressional district is represented by a Democratic John Sarbanes. Some of the landmarks in this district include the Maryland Science Centre, Annapolis, Fort McHenry and the state’s capital.
Three previous individuals to represent Maryland in the US Senate include the former representative of the 3rd district such as the retired senator Paul Sabarnes, current senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin. The 3rd district’s gerrymandering resulted from the support for a Democratic candidate in the 2000 and 2010 consensus. In 2012, the 3rd district was the least congressional district across the US (Barone and Cohen, 2013).
Consequently, the 3rd district is among the 61 districts that elected a representative to the first US Congress. It was initially included Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Anne Arundel. In 1792, the district was moved to comprise eastern half of Fredrick, Montgomery and Maryland counties (Pedersen, 2001).
Again, in 1853, the 3rd district was redrawn to include Baltimore County apart from western and northern regions of the county and a third of the eastern part of Baltimore city. In the 1860 census, Maryland was cut to about five congressional districts while the 3rd congressional district was extended to include areas of the Baltimore, which were not part of the district before 1863 (Pedersen, 2001).
Becoming an Informed Voter
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What is the recent political history of your district and state?
The recent political history of the 3rd congressional district is the most gerrymandered not only in Maryland but also across the US. The 3rd congressional district and Maryland the assembly is especially aggressive as well as creative. The assembly has been able to shift the majority of black electorates from Al Wynn’s majority-minority fourth district into eighth district, to expel the Republican representative.
Again, in 2012 the Maryland’s assembly removed the current.Roscoe Bartlett by cutting his district into a half while merging it to a prosperous, democratic neighborhood near D.C, which made Bartlett lose by about twenty, points (Barone and Cohen, 2013). Currently, the Democrats control 7 out of 8 House seats.
As a matter of fact, gerrymander issue has been exaggerated; Marylanders still uphold the law and voted for Barack. The 3rd district under John Sarbanes includes metro regions of D.C; Annapolis and Baltimore are the ugliest and least compact across the United States. Much as Sarbanes was not likely to lose the race, the recent amendments offered him a position to get hold of the rich Democrats from the county of Montgomery- likely supporters of the future senatorial campaign. Some Democrats were not happy with such a move that was as a result of Donna Edwards., a black congresswoman.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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How did your representative and senator come to power? (Thoroughly describe their backgrounds.)
John Sarbanes sought the Democratic nomination for the third district following a decade incumbent Ben Cardin, who forfeit the seat to run for the senatorial position of John Sarbanes’s father, Paul Sarbanes. The primary campaign involved Paula Hollinger the state senator, Peter Beilenson the former Baltimore City Health Commissioner and Oz Bengur the former Maryland Democratic Party Treasurer.
During the September 2006 nominations, John Sarbanes won with approximately 31.9% votes (Barone and Cohen, 2013). In the general election, his Republican rival was John White, the Annapolis, and marketing executive. Nevertheless, Maryland’s 3rd district is mainly democratic from 1927 and some expected that Sarbanes to experience challenges in the elections.
Furthermore, some allege that Sarbanes won the election following the popularity of his father, Paul Sarbanes, who was the representative of the 3rd district from 1971-1977. During November 2006 elections Sarbanes worn with about 64 percent, the White gained 34% votes while Charles Curtis McPeek the Libertarian got 2 percent. Sarbanes has been reelected four times without practical opposition.
Campaign funds
John Sarbanes campaign income in 2008 was about USD 1,012,936 and spend about USD 799,506 (Barone and Cohen, 2013). His chief supporter was Veneble LL6; USD 38,854, a place he spent 18 years (1989-2006) for his legal career, which represents non-profit health care facilities providing quality care to Marylanders. Other supporters were Chesapeake Partners Management, Johns Hopkins University, Carpenters & Joiners Union. The main industries that contributed funds to Sarbanes campaign are interest groups, lawyers, health, labor and real estate.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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How have they voted in recent presidential and congressional elections?
Maryland’s 3rd congressional district held elections in November 2014 for US general elections. John Sarbanes, a Democrat, defeated his opponent Charles Long a Republican with 128,594 votes or 59.6 percent. Sarbanes also won the Democratic primary against his challenger Mathew Molyett. On the other hand, Charles Long won the Republic nominations against Thomas Harris and Michael Jackson.
Moreover, in 2012 presidential election Barrack Obama, a Democratic candidate garnered majority votes in Maryland’s 3rd congressional district; he won with 49.39 percent against Mitt Romney with 49.31%. The state of Maryland is among the 21 states associated with the mixed primary structure. The parties have the right to elect who can vote in the primary and close the process to all electorates apart from those registered under their party.
Does your district have a long tradition of supporting one party or has it been changing in recent years?
Political parties
The Democratic and Republican parties are central political parties commanding huge following in Maryland and especially the 3rd district. Towards the Civil War, the Democratic Party drew a significant part of their ability from eastern shores and their enemies from Whigs, who were common across Baltimore. The collapse of the Whigs led to the rise of the Native American party, which viewpoint on anti-immigrant and anti-Catholics attracted Marylanders as they believed that their wellbeing was vulnerable to Roman Catholics immigrants.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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Maryland was the only state to vote for the presidential candidate of the American Native party. Nevertheless, declined remarkably and Maryland started to support the Democratic Party, electing John Breckinridge, the secessionist. In the 1970s corruption and peddling afflicted the main parties and in 1973 Spiro T. Agnew, a Republican and the Vice President of US during that period was accused taking money from individuals engaged in business dealings in the state especially when they were in Baltimore County and Maryland’s governor.
In 2000, the majority of Marylanders supported the Democratic party, for example, 57% voted for Al Gore a Democrat, 40% for the Republican George Bush and three percent to Ralph Nader, the Green, party candidate. Two years later, John Kerry a Democratic challenger won 55.7% votes against Bush with 44.6 percent in 1994, governor election was a major race in the history of Maryland, Democrats won and reelected in 1998 and 2002 Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. a Republican was elected.
In 2000 and 2004, both Sarbanes and Mikulski, from Democratic Party got re-election. As of 2004, approximately 3,105,000 voters were registered, of which 58% were Democrats, 20% Republicans and 12 percent independent members. Additionally, the congressional delegation comprised of 6 and 2 democrats and republicans respectively.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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How do the interest groups (ADA, ACLU, ACU, CC or FRC) rate your representative and senator?
Interest Group
Some interest groups periodically publish congressional scores to assess the representatives as well as senators position on particular issues. These scorecards are mainly obtained from determining the manner in which member voted to how the group could have voted on a given legislation and provide a score to demonstrate how vote match up(Mitchell, 2007). This means interest groups rate representatives and senators in the way they vote.
Common awareness groups consist of the American Conservative Union (ACU) and Americans for Democratic Action. They stem from the conservative and progressive wings respectively. These groups give the score of 8 and the mean of every senator. Nevertheless, the scores are not independent. In most cases, senators who get a good score from ADA are likely to score poorly from ACU and vice versa(Mitchell, 2007).
When 4 progressive and four conservative groups are used, then each senator will score 50%, which is not interesting. To address this issue, it is appropriate to use progressive groups, since a legislator with a high rating is rather prospective, that is, they support every progressive project, and he becomes a liberal thinker (Barone & Cohen, 2013). On the contrary, a conservative senator has a low ranking, as such, against all ongoing projects.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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Table 1: Interest Group Ratings
State
Senator
ACLU
ADA
CDF
LCV
NAACP
NARAL
PTA
SEIU
Mean
Maryland
Paul Sarbanes
78
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
97
Maryland
Ben Cardin
78
90
89
85
95
100
100
100
92
Political background Maryland and Senator Ben Cardin
Maryland is one of the first thirteen colonies that joined the Union in 1788, and it has taken part in all the 57 presidential elections. Furthermore, Maryland has been mainly “blue” state following the introduction of contemporary political parties during the period of Civil war. From 1960, Maryland has been voting for Republicans in the landslide such as Nixon in 1972, Reagan in 1984 and Bush in 1988. In 2012, Obama easily defeated Romney. On politics, there are two Marylands. The Democratic Maryland is multiracial and includes all socioeconomic groups stretching to parts of Washington and Baltimore metropolitan regions (Sheckels, 2006).
The second part is the Republican Maryland that is primarily rural, dominated by white community and conservative. It includes Maryland Tidewater and western counties of Maryland. The early 21st-century Republican Party Maryland is not similar to the previous one, which was progressive compared to social and fiscally conservative Democrats.
Modern Republican candidates demonstrate policy standpoints of the party such as protection of property rights, Anti-tax, anti-government and anti-abortion. Republicans opposition to the dominance of democratic is not only deep-seated but also the degree of politics generated by this problem is intense compared to the present day history of Maryland.
Becoming an Informed Voter
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Cardin joined politics while in law schools and served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 -1968. In 1986, when Barbara Mikulski, a US representative, declared to view for the senatorial seat; Cardin joined the race in the House of Representative and was victorious by a decisivemargin. He served from 1987 to 2007, an era he became well known for his efforts in social works such as health as well as other initiatives (Mitchell, 2007).
Cardin is known for his support for child welfare, the bill to expand child programs, health benefits and high tax credits for children. In 2005, when Senator Paul Sabres announced his retirement, Cardin joined the race, he was successfully in the tight contested Democratic primary and defeated his challenger Michael Steel a Republican. In 2007, Cardin assumed office and set the record straight as a liberalist (Mitchell, 2007).
He was considerably interested in the environment, enforced a law to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay while seeking to reinforce standards of clean water. Also, he is an active foreign policy fun and became a member of Foreign Relations in the Senate committee.
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Introduction
The supply chain is concerned with fusing several elements of the industrial processes. This includes not just the fabrication and delivery of products to clients, but also ensures the quality standards are not compromised. It also encompasses taking minimal timespan to manufacture and deliver goods without comprising market demands for quality. At the core of the market economy lays spirited competition, which demands the cost reduction in a bid to streamline expenditure. With this in mind, almost every company is looking to enhance their operations with more efficient supply chains (SC).
Thus, the supply chain in tandem with the global logistics works proficiently with the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system (Blanchard, 2007). While the supply chain is mainly associated with the movement of raw materials, fabrication, production and delivery, the ERP system happens to structure information supply chains employ for efficient operations and companies can only risk running into a problem in the absence of this technology. In short, the success of supply chain management is dependent on technology.
Although the supply chain outlives the internet technology, it only through the use of web-based application and communication that the supply chain can reach its fullest. Ultimately, technology helps SCM in global logistical companies to enhance safety delivery of products, boost profits and control wastes based on three fundamental principles; time, cost and quality. This paper discusses the role of technology in the successful supply chain in connection with global logistics or supply chain management.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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Technology
In logistics, technology is used to predict varying conditions as well as requirements to respond to unexpected costs. Technology is helping companies ensure that their operations are successful. In this case, they can meet the needs of their clients. This has provided the organization with the opportunity to work collaboratively with their customers. While it is complex to establish these partnerships, modern technology helps organizations to create practical and frequently updates plans, predict, and assess demand details, deliveries, and orders.
This technology is essential for incorporating planning process that subsequently assists planners to use up-to-date information on inventory, sales, and production. In fact, this helps them in meeting the requirements and increases the capacity to satisfy demand while ensuring the effectiveness of supply chain (Blanchard, 2007).
The well-organized automation network provides the flow of SKU pallets efficiently while connecting all pieces seamlessly. Moreover, the solution is unique in a way that it synchronizes and dictates that number of products required to be loaded in the mini-load and the sequences the distribution of cartons to the palletizer.
This helps organizations to measure precisely and minimize product damages, meaning that is meeting its clients’ needs. Moreover, it has presented the organization with the opportunity for considerable logistic effectiveness leading to proper usage of trailer cubes and make stores well-organized (Krajewski & Ritzman, 2005).
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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Technology is helping firms to leverage demand and supply by developing practical business processes. Proper supply chain schedules entail creating recurrent business systems to deal with exceptions. Proper planning is also elementary for the firm’s production regarding streamlining the supply chain’s activities. The S&OP technology plays a fundamental role in the running and management of the supply chain (Krajewski & Ritzman, 2005). With technology, supply chains are better placed to handle the unexpected issues that may result from inadequate supply, unpredictable demand, and production disruptions.
Nonetheless, the firm can produce various sizes and variety of products in a consistent matrix. This way, organizations can be in a position to save time and financial resources. Moreover, technology has helped firms to combine effectively volume of sales and operations roles. Therefore, to reach a collective agreement, technology is important in making sure that all the organizations departments work in a synch.
The manufacturing, sales or purchasing departments could not perform with an edition of ambiguity as such; technology offers firms with an edition of certainty (Quayle, 2006). Below are some of the technologies used by logistical companies along the supply chain:
TechnologicaL innovation used in SCM
RFID
Several companies consider radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as a useful tool in securing supply chain because it can be incorporated in the supply chain to help increase the efficiency of the entire process. Regarding locating, tracking logistics enhancing movement of a product or controlling inventory, RFID is important. Improves supply chain processes by increasing productivity as well as considerably increases traceability. Because RFID technology can monitor objects, provide it with the opportunity to help companies with a real-time visibility of distinct products (Closs et al. 2008).
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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RFID can be integrated with global positioning systems that assist companies to collect all the required product information such as manufacturing and expiry dates; product descriptions; delivery time and location of producers. In this case, RFID presents an extraordinary level of visibility in the supply chain that can be attained with bar codes. For example, in retail industries where inaccuracy is the primary problem, RFID allows for increasing and guaranteeing sufficient visibility.
Because RFID has advanced automation procedure, closed loop monitoring and tracking capacity, it presents supply chain process with clarity. This is necessary to assist companies in the identification of mixed pallets without having to unpack. This technology can support a high degree of checking and managing automated goods. This capability is important for companies’ warehouses since it reduces the time required for the management of products and errors throughout operations such as counting products, cross docking, and clearance.
Moreover, RFID provides a unique identification characterized by greater information capacity. This presents organizations with the capability to ensure excellence record keeping as well as recovery ability. For example in medical industry, the technology is utilized to keep track of medical appliances, in casinos, it is employed to game chips and in flower companies to bloom seeds (Closs et al. 2008)
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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Transportation Management System (TMS) technology
TMS is a reliable way of enhancing efficiency in route, mode, and carrier of a shipment. This is true, considering the definition of a TMS as software whose purpose is to manage an organization’s transportation operations (Alan, 2006).
One of the most noticeable methods of determining an efficient choice of transporting goods is weight. Nevertheless, this is not widely used technique considering that there are many factors involved in transportation. Customer needs are always an important priority, and there are internal company policies to consider as well. With the entrance of a TMS, it becomes so easy to meet a conglomeration of demands regarding business requirements; customer needs strategies, and so on.
Strategic planning, as this role is called, is one of the categories of new types of TMSs (Alan, 2006). These systems simply use their optimizing and planning tools to analyze all the options and choose the most efficient option for transport. In case rates have already been negotiated, this transportation system comes in handy in the automatic selection of carriers. As Alan M. notes, transportation management tools improve the efficiency of getting answers to supply chain configuration in the top level of management (2006).
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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When it comes to visibility of logistics, the TMS is miles ahead of the conventional methods of fax and email. The old methods are not only labor-intensive and inefficient but also very prone to errors that can cost the company dearly. This can be addressed through a reliable TMS. With this approach, it is possible to connect an unlimited number of shipment businesses and customers.
This is a collaborative tactical planning method, whereby companies cut costs by enjoining their transportation commitments and processes (Alan, 2006). Freight payment is probably one of the riskiest activities of a shipment process. It is usually tough to ascertain the correctness of a charge on an invoice without wasting time. In most cases, the business may end up paying more for the process.
All this changes when a company adopts the strategic sourcing tools of a TMS. As such, advanced instruments in this category, which are quite helpful transportation spending analysis (Alan M., 2006). Unlike the conventional method where invoices are a headache, the TMS may be designed to notify the shipper every time the bill exceeds a specified amount. Through this tool, TMS introduces a lot of efficiency in costing and reporting.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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When a company management hears about a TMS package for the first time, they may deem it too expensive to implement. However, a company does not have to go the sophisticated way to benefit from new TMS tools. A small-sized shipper may use the services of a simple hosted offering from a vendor and do just fine (Alan, 2006). The days of fax, emails and spreadsheets for logistics are on the blink of an end. The efficiency introduced by TMSs is too good to ignore.
How TMS increases efficiency in logistics
Increasing operational expenditure and capacity limits encourage organizations to use transportation management systems. This is because transportation management systems concentrate on tools that fulfill regular tactical demands. Unlike other applications that focus on a particular set of issues, TMS tools gather, integrate information regarding current transport activities, sourcing, predicting and scheduling the supply chain process (Krajewski & Ritzman, 2005).
In logistics, technology is used to predict varying conditions as well as requirements to respond to unexpected costs. To effectively work, this technique needs a tight connection between transport scheduling and implementation.
TMS tools are important in increasing the efficiency of logistics. To ensure logistics efficiency is enhanced these tools can be used in different areas including;
Strategic planning; in this case the TMS tools respond to issues such as methods of matching warehouses with the requirements of the clients as well as the location of suppliers. Also, the tools allow organizations to model procedures, facilities, shipping, inventory, vendor, and client needs to top-level strategic issues regarding the arrangement of the supply chain.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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In strategic sourcing, TMS tools play a crucial role in minimizing freight and administration expenses, reduce the number of carriers and enhance the performance of shippers and compliance by making sure that the organizations employ the appropriate mix of transporters. Because these tools are advanced they allow organizations to assess transport costs, predict changes, choose shipper to bid procedure, mechanize multi-round consultations, assess bids and load data on transport management systems.
In tactical planning, TMS uses simulations to provide responses to issues such as if at a new client will require extra shipment capacity on a particular route. As, such the tools have the ability to collect information about historical orders, delivery and apply any adjustments to develop a real shipment activity in a given time frame. With regards to two-way tactical planning, TMS help organizations find suitable techniques of reducing expenses by connecting transport procedure and dedications across many firms.
Moreover, in operational transportation scheduling, TMS utilizes inbound, outbound and transfer orders to produce transport schedules which comprise of modes, selection of carriers and pickup periods. These tools have the ability to model a variety of operational restrictions (including client lead times), asset restrictions (requirements for refrigerated carriers) or door-to-door limitations. These are vital in systematically assessing more combinations for shipping schedule alternatives compared to an organization conducting it manually. Subsequently, they help organizations to schedule accurately, minimize the number of consignments and distance covered, and reduce the use of premium shipment channels.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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TMS can reduce costs, increase delivery and inventory reductions. This way, transport management system provides organizations with a chance to fully use technology since most of them are located in regions where shippers, systems, and prices change always. On the other hand, TMS is like a vehicle that ensures that prices are accurate, constraints are practical, and other dynamic features are sustained and regularly restructured. This helps to guarantee continuous enhancements (Field, 2006).
Since TMS leads to increased productivity, it assists organizations to manage order delivery and sizes. TMS is designed in a way that it provides stand-alone solutions that help in maintaining fleet and parcel shipping. In this manner, it helps organizations to manage shipping activities effectively (Upton & Harpal, 2007). Furthermore, TMS can assist in controlling transport processes and reduce transport related spending in different ways including;
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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Improve processing through the use advanced TMS, which helps in controlling operation expenses whereby carrier selection, shipment scheduling are automated. This leads to increased productivity and centralizing all transportation functions at the system level.
TMS provides the ability to process automatically orders as well as an optimally select cost-effective transport mode. Orders can be optimized at reasonable rates, reinforce plans that help in reducing transportation costs. This involves consolidating LTL delivery into multi-truck via inbound and outbound carriers. By continuously linking processes transport costs are reduced unlike managing each shipment.
TMS provides the capacity to reduce rates and increase quality through main shipper program. In this manner, guidelines for carriers can easily be transmitted assisting transporters to classify quality issues with ease and take necessary measures.
Not all shippers require TMS; rather organizations should begin understanding the importance of sophistication. A company with moderate shipment needs may simply go for a simplified hosted provision or provision from suppliers instead of using a complex transport system (Field, 2006).
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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VAS and Cross-Docking in supply chain
The advents of Value added Systems (VAS) have necessitated many companies to put in place distribution channels. In most warehouses, VAS plays an integral role in not just picking goods but also in processing items. Thus, VAS makes it possible for various distribution hubs to underpin store needs. Approximately 40 percent of received goods can be cross-docked to minimize stock levels in the delivery centers (Forger, 2005).
Warehouse control system entails the harmonization processes. For instance, it ensures proper management of incoming goods, storage, and distribution. Warehouse control systems enhance the usage of stored catalog by way of synchronized data. With the help of Wide Local Area Network (WLAN) or RFID, logistical companies can ensure on-time delivery of goods.
Technological advancement is responsible for shared obligations in modern firms (Lysons and Farrington, 2006). This shows firms dedication to supplying chain. Since the clients have varying needs, and the market is competitive, it is important for companies to use technology to reduce costs while enhancing productivity.
Wal-Mart Case Study
In its unrelenting quest for low customer prices, Wal-Mart incorporated technology that made it pioneer the way stores track inventory and replenish their shelves, hence enabling the company to lower costs. The technology works by Wal-Mart’s supply chain (Closs et al. 2008). The company runs the largest information and technical system of any private establishment globally.
The highly sophisticated technology enables Wal-Mart to project demand, track and predict inventory levels, develops highly efficient transportation routes and manages client support and service response logistics. For instance, Wal-Mart uses Universal Product Code, where information at the store level is stored and immediately collected and evaluated.
The company runs a satellite communication system known as Retail Link, which is connected to a vast Bentonville repository. By way of a global cable system, Retail Link is associated to reviewers who predict purveyor demands to the supplier network that display real mode sales from cash inventories and Wal-Mart’s distribution hubs.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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With technology, purveyors and manufacturers along the chain have the ability to harmonize their demand estimates under a joint planning, forecasting and replenishment pattern (Closs et al. 2008). Again, every link in the chain is integrated through technology that entails a central database, store point of sale applications and a satellite system. Wal-Mart’s strategy is implicit of the regular, informal collaboration among stores, distribution hubs and suppliers with less centralized control.
Moreover, technology allows the firm’s supply chain to track clientele sales and demand. This enables customers to pull products to stores as opposed to having the company push goods on shelves. Wal-Mart uses RFID to track pallets of goods on transit along the chain from any location. This is done not just by Wal-Mart but suppliers as well. With smart tags, employees can determine which products ought to be replaced to ensure consistent stocking of shelves. This also allows the inventory to be carefully monitored.
Some expected innovations in the area of technology used in SCM
Collectively, the SCM processes bring about novelty in businesses by way of coordination and integration of tasks along the chain to enhance the design, improvement, and distribution of solutions. Innovation in this context can be comprehended as notable improvements in goods and procedures and services in the market. SCM processes involve the cooperation and IT integration of global logistical companies with clients.
Shared processes include strategies formulated between suppliers and clients, regarding tailor making goods or determining and assessing market patterns, for mass-production products, and considering innovative in production lines, using new raw materials and integration of software (Kaminski, Oliveira, and Lopes, 2008). The internet infrastructure has been a major revolution in the modern business world. Most SCM roles executed within and from without the firm by people in the chain take advantage of this platform.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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Technological adoption in SCM creates value that allows for the evolution of pertinent competitive benefits by enhancing the association of suppliers and clients. Technology enhances not just the collaboration of activities, but also the sharing of new ideas and information for the development and delivery of solutions. The main challenge of the SCM activities is the assimilation of the company with customers and the purveyors.
Collaboration with suppliers is a cost-benefit; moreover, service delivery to the customer is an essential attribute for the success of the SC. Customers also contribute to the success of this process when they work together with the company in creating goods and services that meet their needs. IT in SCM is employed to ensure collaboration between firms and their suppliers and clients. The major argument is that a synchronized development of processes along the supply chain is essential to guarantee the flow of data within and across various domains underpinned by technology (Kaminski, Oliveira, and Lopes, 2008).
Conclusion
Technology is the engine that drives supply chain, particularly global logistical firms. The demands of the market economy warrant every firm to have the best technology in a bid to enhance the quality of products, cut down costs and reduce the amount of time taken to manufacture goods. TMS, for instance, is used to increase efficiency; on the other hand, VAS and Cross-Docking in the supply chain are used to improve the management of product movement and delivery. The paper demonstrated that technology is a game changer. This has been evident with how Wal-Mart improves productivity and efficiency across the supply chain by the use of smart tags and RFID technology.
The Role of Technology in Supply Chain Management
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References
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Blanchard D. (2007). Supply Chain Management: Best Practices. John Willey and Sons, Inc. Hoboken: New Jersey.
Closs, David, Cheri Speier, Judith Whipple, M. Douglas Voss (2008) A Framework for Protecting your Supply Chain, Logistics Management (2002) Highland Ranch: Vol.47, Iss. 9; pg. 45, 1.
Field, A. M., (2006). One platform, many uses. Journal of Commerce, New York August 21.
Forger, Gary (2005). “Kirkland’s New Home,” Modern Materials Handling (Warehousing Management Edition), Boston Vol 60, Iss. 4: pg 22.
KAMINSKI, P. C., Oliveira, A. C., Lopes, T. M. (2008). Knowledge transfer in product development processes: a case study in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the metal mechanic sector from São Paulo, Brazil, Technovation, 28, 29-36.
Krajewski, Lee J.; Ritzman, Larry P. 2005. Operations Management: Processes and Value Chains. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Lysons, K., and Farrington, B., 2006, Management Chain for Purchase and Supply, US, FT. Quayle, M., 2006, The Strategies in Management, Hershey, Idea Group Inc, p. 366.
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Upton, H & Harpal S. (2007) Balanced S&OP: Sunsweet Growers’ Story, Supply Chain Management Review. New York: Vol.11. Issues 2; pg 51.
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