Abb Essay Example for Free

Abb Essay As a result the front-line profit center managers’ performance is getting affected. * The conflict between long-term technical development and short-term profits is making the situation worse. As per the Business Area’s concern, the COMSYS project should be given priority over other activities as this project, if successfully implemented, would enhance the operations and efficiency of our relays business across the world. However, the development of the project is affecting the daily activities of the company. The problem spilled-over to the regional transmission performance and thus allocation of funds to the project COMSYS (in this case investing in RD) rises as an important issue to be discussed. * Such an issue increases the difficulty in reaching to a decision. The more time we take in reaching to a conclusion; more will the performance of the company get affected. First of all, we need to ensure that the development of project COMSYS doesn’t affect the operations and performance of the company. Second, we need to allocate suitable resources like funds, workforce etc. or project COMSYS separately. Moreover, from the short-term perspective we need to implement the project as soon as possible as the resources allocated to the project would then be available for daily operations, and from the long-term perspective we would be able to eliminate the compartmentalized framework of the profit centers and thus form a common base of software and hardware. * In the current situation it would be difficult to achieve this goal as the priorities within the organization doesn’t coincide. Project COMSYS is important for long-term development of the organization and, thus, needs sufficient resources for its implementation. I would, therefore, request the committee to take the afore-mentioned points into consideration and carry this discussion forward and helps us to reach to a decision. 2. ABB’s Global Matrix: As mentioned in its annual reports for the year 1988 and 1989, the Chairman(s) has(ve) clearly mentioned about the strategy of â€Å"think global, act local†. Since the merger the ABB group has been following the philosophy of decentralization; its aim to be close to the customer, to have short-lines of communication and decision-making and clearly defined accountability, all are reflected in its matrix structure. The matrix structure was proposed by a 10-person top management so that it enables the group to achieve a balance between its global business focus through its 58 business areas with the market created by the 1300 local companies under the umbrella of several country-based holding companies. The structure focuses on the principles of decentralization and individual accountability with clearly defined responsibilities from business areas heads to regional and front-line profit center managers. The business areas were responsible for carving out strategies while the local companies were responsible for implementing the strategies and achieving the objectives. All the business area heads had additional responsibilities of their national company’s operations. Thus, the overall goal of the top management was to develop managers who can take leadership roles as a result of which â€Å"a self-driven, self-renewing organization† would be formed. One of the main reasons for the success of the matrix structure in ABB was proper communication of the philosophy by the top management to every single employee of the organization. Communicating values to the managers was given priority based on the belief that managers are loyal to values rather than to the company or a particular boss. The core values included quality not only in products but also in the organizational processes and relationships. The management emphasized on dedication to productivity and performance at all levels of the organization. The structure implemented was well in line with the overall strategy of the organization. With rapid acquisitions after the merger ABB grew bigger, spreading its operations throughout the world. The matrix structure, therefore, provided a platform for ABB to absorb the acquired companies and made implementation of its strategies in them easier. One of the important initiatives taken by the top management was to translate the company’s philosophy to specific task requirements for managers at all levels. Throughout the internal restructuring process it was ensured that the organization was not distracted from the market place. Important issues were delegated to teams consisting of front-line managers. The company also had a unique philosophy of resolving of problems wherein the problem, if escalated to the higher level manager, was pushed back to the team to resolve and to reach to a conclusion. This process enabled and enhanced the problem solving capabilities of the managers. In order to implement individual accountability, a transparent reporting system named ABACUS was developed to collect performance data for all the 4500 profit centers in dollar denomination. The business area heads did not stop with just crafting strategies, rather they were personally involved up to some extent in implementing the strategies and policies. The top management, also, was well informed of the daily activities as well as the performance of all its companies. In case any business underperformed, the top management would step in and demand explanation and offer help if needed, thus, giving proper attention to all its businesses. All the above mentioned points explain why ABB was successful with the matrix structures while many could not. Having explained the advantages of the matrix structure, I would like to mention few disadvantages which were prevailing in ABB too. 1. The complex structure with dual hierarchy sometimes leads to confusion and conflicts within the organization resulting in decreased productivity as is visible in case of the COMSYS challenge faced by Don Jans in ABB. . It is sometimes time consuming and delay in taking decision may affect the organization’s performance largely. 3. In such a structure it is difficult to ascertain accountability. The larger the organization, the complex the structure, thus, more difficult is individual accountability. 3. Management roles and responsibilities in ABB and Don Jansâ€℠¢s performance in ABB The management of ABB has been playing a vital role in the post-merger restructuring of ABB. The structure evolved as a pathway for the management to achieve its goal of operating in a global scale. It provides managers the flexibility and autonomy in taking decisions. The management was driven by policies made by the CEO, Percy Barnevik. The frameworks set by Barnevik were well implemented throughout the hierarchy, for example, Barnevik implemented â€Å"7-3 formula† which says that it is better to decide quickly and be right 7 out of 10 times than delaying action in search of a perfect solution. This policy was driven by the principle that the only unacceptable behavior is not doing anything. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly with numerous acquisitions across the world. Nevertheless, the same philosophy, values were implemented in each of its companies. The matrix structure of ABB defined responsibilities for business area heads to work on the strategy whereas the front-line managers were held responsible for the daily operations of the local company. The managers were provided autonomy to the extent that they had control over their company’s balance sheet such that they inherited their results year to year and, thus, the top management had no say in the decisions regarding their company’s operations. This particular autonomy motivated many managers to perform better and better. As ABB was acquiring companies, it became important for ABB to ensure that the acquired companies imbibed the culture and values of ABB. The management took this as a challenge and ensured this by communicating the strategies and goals of the organization to managers from corporate level to business area heads to country level managers. One such regional manager for the relays division in the Coral Springs, Don Jans, who became part of ABB after the acquisition of Westinghouse in early 1989, had well-received the communication from the head of the ABB’s power transmission segment, Goran Lindahl, where he emphasized on the responsibilities of the local companies to implement the plans and achieving positive results. It was not an easy task for Don Jans and his team from Westinghouse to adapt to the culture of ABB, however, he found the management of ABB much supportive and involved as compared to that by Westinghouse’s. When first exposed to the philosophies of ABB, Don Jans found it to be much different than Westinghouse, where the decisions were taken by the top management, unlike ABB where he had the autonomy of taking the decisions. He found ABB to be much more flexible as the decisions were very much delegated and the organization was result oriented, i. e. he top management continuously monitored results of each of its companies, and would interfere only when the results were not satisfactory. Proper communication of the organization’s strategies to the managers was given importance as they were the ones who were responsible for achieving results. For Don Jans this experience was exhilarating, as he mentions once in a meeting where the corporate managers(for relays business) were presenting to his team â€Å"about how the industry was developing, where ABB wanted to be, how it was going to get there, and so on. †. Such meetings were received in a positive manner as they educated his team about the organization. Moreover, the meeting did not end there, the proposals for investing in relays business by his team were given proper attention, which further encouraged Don Jans to provide better performance. The matrix structure provided Don Jans with the flexibility of operations and taking decisions. Due to which the performance of relays business (of which Don Jans was in charge) had improved. With clear communication from the top management, he was aware of what was required to deliver. He used his experience in the industry to invest in a small-scale in microprocessor relays technologies as he had financial resources at his disposal. He used his freedom to improve the product lines of the relays division by broadening the microprocessor technologies experiment to solid state devices, and thus gave ABB a competitive advantage in the market where other players were taking advantage of the technology. Thus, Don Jans tried to improve the performance of the relays division by leaps and bounds by regular investment in newer and better technologies.

Essay --

There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society. Essay -- There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society.

Starbucks Weakness

Starbucks, as we all know, are one of the globally popular companies, but like everything else, it has its own weaknesses. Here I will suggest some solutions to help solve the problems faced in their inventory management processes. Starbucks follows the EOQ model, which involves heavy calculations and predictions. Without the formulas and some basic information about the demands from customers, the cost of placing orders, and other variables, the calculation of the EOQ model will not be able to reach its optimal potential. From this, collecting the accurate information for the calculations is vital, the company has to acquire reliable and timely sources. Conveying surveys, searching data online from sources like Google Analytics about the spending behavior, and carrying out research are among the ways to collect vital info from current and potential customers. By doing this, it can help determine the annual demand of the company, which can help solve or at least ease on the uncertainties of demand. Having skilled or experienced employees/ staff is also crucial as they are considered by some are the most valuable assets of a company, which they experience customer feedback firsthand. These ‘customer feedback’ are useful to further improve the customer of said company. Listening to employee feedbacks can also help to execute certain operations, selling products to customers, and how to do things better (Vos 2013, p. 1). Other than that, having good employees that takes charge of the calculation, for example the calculation of the EOQ model, are vital because they are needed to calculate the best possible figures of ordering. Through this, it can help narrow down the EOQ model predictions. Also, they can help predict through experience without completely relying on the calculations. Calculation based on the EOQ model also requires constant set of data. For example, the demand for the year has to be known (which has been covered on the second paragraph on accurate data collection), the cost of ordering has to be same throughout the year and also the lead time must not fluctuate and remains consistent. Having a good supplier can help solve the consistency of ordering cost and also constant lead time (Ready Ratios, 2013). A good supplier will be able to achieve expected results, offering good quality of products and delivering goods on time are among some of the benefits of having a good supplier. Building a good relationship with the supplier will get you more benefits, such as priority as a valued customer, competitiveness (in terms of pricing, quality, reliability ahead of the competition, in this case, Starbucks, is facing), innovation and also product development (Bob Reiss, 2010). Other than that, having good material handling can also help cope with the unpredictable usages or the uncertainties of demand. By having good material handling, the company can improve the efficiency of the production this will save time and indirectly save labor cost as productions run faster. It can also maximize space utilization by storing materials in the way it should, it also can reduce cost by saving on inventory carrying cost which is not properly handled. All of this are necessary to make sure if something goes wrong in the calculation, the loss can hopefully be covered by the savings in material handling, making the loss easier to swallow. Having good transport of goods is also beneficial by having shorter lead time and at the same time transporting more goods are both time and cost saving. Furthermore, keeping a contingency plan at the ready can also help the company in case of unpredictable situations happening, such as natural disasters, shortage of raw materials usually hits us by surprise. So, to keep the company on their toes, to be ready to face emergencies such as this, the company can either keep additional safety stocks, or have another backup supplier from another region to provide with the supplies just to counter the sudden changes and to prevent stock outs to happen. Other than that, the appropriate application of the contingency plan can showcase how the company can utilize and prove to others that the company can manage themselves well, inviting more investors to join in the company. Moreover, advancement of technology plays a part in the inventory management of Starbucks. They can use it to keep track of their inventory much faster and efficient. This allows them to keep track and keep updated with how many units they have. With this said, they can improve their inventory flow and also quickly order materials that are needed for fear that miscalculation happens in the EOQ model which leads to surplus or shortage of materials, with the help of inventory management system (IMS) that Starbucks uses, they can further improve their services and provide better quality products. To wrap things up, to have a successful company, one needs to have more than a capable workforce, it needs to have a blend of luck and some daring decisions to start up something new. For instance, Starbucks Corp. which was founded by a few teachers and their friends, and with a simple idea of a company selling overpriced coffee with decent atmosphere. Who could’ve thought that it could be this successful? References 1. Bob Reiss. (2010).  Build a Good Relationship With Suppliers.  Available: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/205868. Last accessed 15th June 2013. 2. Readyratios.com. 2013.  Economic Order Quantity Model (EOQ). [online] Available at: http://www.readyratios.com/reference/analysis/economic_order_quantity_model_eoq.html [Accessed: 16 Jun 2013]. 3. Vos, L. 2013.  People: The Most Important Asset of Any Company. [e-book] Georgia: p. 1. Available through: Georgia SBDC http://www.georgiasbdc.org/pdfs/vos09.pdf [Accessed: 16 Jun 2013].

Humans & ability Essay

Humans’ most important ability is our ability to communicate through spoken language. The ability of humans to speak makes us stand out in the animal kingdom, according to many philosophers and scientists. It is just natural for humans to desire to know how we developed the ability of using language in communicating. This paper focuses on how the human language evolved. Through the comparative studies of the apes with the human language, it provided information to humans when the necessity for the language structure was developed. INTRODUCTION Study of Primates Communication Abilities. Since the ‘homo sapiens’ have been considered as the human’s cousin, the language of the apes have been studied. Some believes that the human language evolved earlier than them. The American Sign Language or ASL has been taught to a number of apes. Different approaches were also used from 1970s for some species of apes to be trained and taught disciplines of communication. Comparison of the Primate and Human Communication Abilities. Human children’s development of their language was compared to the studies made on different forms of primates. It was evident on human children that their development comes slowly as they grow older. Children in the earliest age start with a single word utterance. At fifteen months old of a child, utterance of two words comes easier. Protosyntatic structures in the language development of children come next with longer word utterances. At this stage, noun phrases were observed in the language structure too. This kind of language development on children is comparatively the same with many primates studied from 1970s to present. CONCLUSION The ability of primates to communicate with protolanguage may be a sign that apes can actually understand, learn, and communicate. However, in many instances where primates were trained and disciplined, it is also important to consider that none of the subjects were able to be taught to verbally speak. Moreover, primate language studies have never showed any language exhibitions from the primates in the wild. The protolanguage development on the human children may be a similarity on both but the primates lack the gestural complex in humans. Therefore, this comparison shows that the humans have the natural linguistic ability and the primates do not. WORKS CITED William O’Grady, et al. (1997). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction, 5th edition. New York : Adison Wesley Longman. Pg. 586. Savage-Rumbaugh, S. , Shanker, S. , & Taylor, T. (1998). Apes, Language and the Human Mind. New York: Oxford University Press. Deacon, T. W. (1989). The Neural Circuitry Underlying Primate Calls and Human Language. Human evolution, 4, 367-401.

Different Laws essays

Different Laws essays Through the spans of time and all throughout the world there have been people making the decision to do what they believe is right, knowing it has its repercussions. As I read the two pieces of literature assigned I can see a similarity in the two main characters, Antigony from the play Antigony, and Sarty for the story Barn Burning. Both characters have to make a decision and accept the consequences that follow, but it is the difference in the way that the authors illustrate how the charters go about making that decision that I find intriguing. The two pieces of work, Antigony and Barn Burning, tell us that the main characters feel that they have to do something they believe in, in order to feel a since of peace within. In Antigony, Antigonys brothers are killed and one is buried, but the other is forbidden to be touched, or for anyone to mourn for him. Antigony does not believe that it is fair that her brother cannot have a proper burial, so that his soul cannot descend into the afterlife. The decision that Antigony has to make is whether or not to bury her brother. Much like Antigony, Sarty has a decision to make. Sartys father is a barnburner and is going to burn down a barn without warning the owner. Sarty has to decide whether he should go and tell the barn owner, or to keep his mouth shut and stand by his family. In both works the decision is to stick with your blood, or to portray your blood. This is where the differences in the two stories come into play. Antigony decides to stick with her blood and bury h! er brother so that his soul can descend into the afterlife. Sarty, however, decides to go against his blood and tell the barn owner that his father is going to burn down his barn. They say Blood is thicker than water, but should Sarty does not stand by his blood when he feels that his father is doing something wrong? Antigony believes that she has the obligation to stick wit ...

Critical analysis of Inescapably Me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critical analysis of Inescapably Me - Essay Example The title of the poem is in sync with the context of the poem as it hints about the action that takes place in the poem i.e. his desire to find escape and solace either in the form of death or in this life by winning his beloved’s affection. The poem is depicted in free verse which means that it does not follow a definitive rhyme pattern and the words are not rhythmic in their flow yet the readers observe an inherent rhythm and flow of the poet’s thoughts. It can be perceived that the poet’s style of writing follows the phenomenon of stream of consciousness i.e. one thought triggers a completely different or new thought. For example he starts off from talking about a clerk in a coffin shop in Hong Kong, which reminds him of a death or loss he has recently suffered, ultimately reminding him of his beloved Ley and his deeply ingrained feelings of love and care for her. Chan’s style of writing or the diction of the poem is very simple yet deep in meaning. By using easy language he encapsulates essence of meaning projecting the importance of love in an individual’s life which has the power of either making an individual the luckiest man alive or the unluckiest one depending on that person’s circumstances and fate. 2.2. ... Furthermore this life is a test where success or failure has the same result however love acts as a potion to make life seem more beautiful and enjoyable. The reference to the â€Å"coffin shop† as well as the last line of the poem where he says, â€Å"before Quentin buys those lead weights like shoes and throws himself off a bridge† (lines 29-30) both depict death. In the former’s case writer reflects on death as a natural process where eventually every individual is going to die. However towards the end the later lines can be perceived as a threat or a desire to die in order to end Quentin’s suffering and pain because otherwise this life is a living hell for him, from which he is unable to escape as the title also hints upon this reality i.e. â€Å"Inescapably Me†. The poet makes use of a variety of colors which adds an element of beauty to the context of the poem. Some of the colors which he uses in the poem include yellow, orange, peach and the checkered floor†. The yellow color symbolizes deterioration or sterility. While orange and peach are the colors of hope and prosperity however death engulfs the individual before he could relish in the bliss of contentment and happiness. The reference to Black and White color can be interpreted as the poets understanding of this transitory life where life is an amalgamation of good and bad happiness and sorrows and as he says in the poem as well that, â€Å"the rice wine poured on to the black-and-white checkered floor. Someone will mop it up later† (line 18) eventually everything comes to an end. 2.3. Allusions Chan in his poem refers to two literary allusions that is â€Å"Le Ballon Rouge† (Line 25) and â€Å"Achilles Heel† (line 10). â€Å"Le Ballon Rouge† is an

Anthrax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anthrax - Essay Example tistics indicating that the number of affected decreased from 130 estimated cases in 1990s to less than two cases in the 21sts century (Cdc.gov, 2014). Treatment and preventive measures are available to those affected by the bacteria with earlier detection techniques available at the medical centers. The need to threaten or weaken a particular nation has led to the use of biological weapons, attack hard to prevent to its nature. Bioterrorism refers to the use biological weapons to induce harm over a person or group of people. The similarity between a bioterrorism and biologic warfare is the agent used whereas the major difference being the intention of using a particular biological agent (Ivanova et al., 2003). The agents considered in carrying out a bioterrorist attack are classified according to their pathogenicity. Anthrax, a disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, is mostly used, and several hoaxes of this bacterium have been reported in the United States (Saffer, 2004). When selecting an effective bioterrorism agent, perpetrators consider several factors that will make it easier for the desired goal to be achieved effectively. The agent selected should possess the ability to cause morbidity, mortality, or illness with difficult diagnosis and treatment. Accessibility, stability, and reproducibility are other factors that are carefully analyzed for consideration of an agent. The agent should be easy to find which was simpler before the federal regulations illegalized the sale of specific pathogenic organisms by biological supply companies. Reproducibility aids in ensuring that enough quantity to carry out an attack on a certain number of people is attainable (Saffer, 2004). Stability maintenance at different environmental conditions that it may be subjected to during the attack is vital especially in moving from one place to another and during dispersal. Dispersion aids in ensuring that the targeted group of people is exposed to the agent. Several