Natural Science Essay Example for Free

Natural Science Essay The relevance of this test question is to determine which brand of leading paper towels is the best most absorbent. Consumers want to use the product that is most effective at meeting their needs. A more expensive product may actually be more cost effective if you can use less of it than a brand that costs less. Literature Review Many experiments have been conducted to test the strength and absorbency of paper towels. While the steps of the experiment vary from test to test, all of experiments are testing the same two factors; how much water can each paper towel brand absorb and how strong are each of the paper towels. Below I have reviewed the process and results from three experiments that are similar to the one I will be using. In the first experiment, the tester uses five brands of paper towels to test for absorbency, using paper towels of the same size to ensure the accuracy of the results. He draws a two inch circle in the center of a sheet of paper towel from each brand represented and placing the paper towel in an embroidery hoop to maintain stability. He then drops fifteen drops of water into the center of the circle draw on the paper towel, repeating the process for each brand, and measures the amount of time it takes the paper towel to wick the moisture outside of the circle. This test concludes that Bounty has the greatest absorbency. The next experiment tests for both absorbency and strength. As in the first test, several different brands of paper towels were used. In this experiment, to test the absorbency, the tester takes a sheet of each of the towels an inserts it into a glass with two ounces of water and leaves each sit for twenty seconds. After the twenty seconds expired, the tester removed the paper towel from the glass and rang out each paper towel into a measuring cup to see how much water each towel had absorbed. The second part of the experiment is conducted by stretching sheets of each paper towel through an embroidery hoop, placing 25 pennies in the center of the paper towel, and adding water to the towel drop by drop until the pennies fall through. The strongest paper towel in this test was Brawny Brand. The final experiment that I reviewed also tested for absorbency. The theory behind this experiment was the faster that water moves through the towel, the more absorbent it is. The experimenter cut strips from each paper towel, one inch wide and six inches long. A mark is drawn on each paper towel one inch from the end using a waterproof marker. The strip is then held in a glass of water with the bottom inch submerged, timing how long it takes for the water to travel the length of the strip. The process is then repeated for each brand that is being tested. The most absorbent brand in this test was Brawny. Experimental Design A. Steps in Experimental Procedure The absorbency of the towels will be tested by the speed the water moves through the paper towels, the faster the water moves, the more absorbent the towel is. I will be using the following brands of paper towels in my experiment: Brawny, Bounty, Sparkle and Scott. Other supplies necessary to complete the experiment are: a waterproof marker, and a sixteen-ounce glass of water, and a timer that registers tenths of a second. 1. Prepare three samples of paper towel from each brand by cutting strips of each that is 2 inches wide and six inches long. 2. Using a water-proof marker, draw a line across each paper towel one inch from the bottom. 3. Fill a sixteen ounce glass with water and prepare timer. 4. Take the first strip of paper towel and submerge it up to the line in the glass of water while holding it vertical to the glass while starting the timer. 5. Allow the timer to run until the water is absorbed through the paper towel and reaches the end of the towel not submerged. 6. Stop the timer and record the time in tenths of seconds. 7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for all three strips of each brand. B. Reasoning for Choosing my Experimental Design Plan The reason I chose this design for my experiment is because it seemed to be more accurate than other testing methods I found during my literature review and could be performed with items I already had in my home. The experiment where the tester rang out the paper towels and measure the water that they had absorbed is less accurate because there is no guarantee of exerting the same amount of force each time you ring out a towel. There is no way to completely drain the towel of all of the liquid it absorbed. Stretching the paper towel samples across the embroidery frame is sound way to perform the experiment but it would have required the purchase of additional materials. C. Sequence of Events to Collect Quantitative Data I will begin the collection of quantitative data by cutting the paper towel samples from each brand into strips that are one inch wide by six inches long, to ensure that all of the samples will be equal. I will use the same glass of water for each test to ensure the water composition is the same for each test. I have created a spreadsheet in excel with a column listing each of the brands being tested and three columns for the time in tenths of a second to be entered upon completion of the experiment. During the experiment, I will make notes on a tablet of the brand name and the time recorded to be entered into the spreadsheet upon completion of the entire experiment. D. Describe Tools, Technologies, and Measurement Units that are used to Collect the Data To collect the data for this experiment I will use one inch wide by six inch long strips of paper towel from each of the brands being tested, a black water-proof marker to mark the strips of paper towel, an eight ounce glass of water, my hand to hold the strip vertical to the glass once submerged as indicated in the experimental procedure, a timer that measures tenths of a second, and a pad and pencil to record the initial results. Once the experiment is complete I will transfer the results of the experiments to the spreadsheet that I have created using Microsoft Excel. I will also use excel to create the graphic representation of the experiment results. Dependent, Independent and Controlled Variables of the Experiment The independent variable in my paper towel experiment is the one inch by six inch strip of paper towel taken from a roll of each brand of paper towel used in the experiment. The dependent variable in the experiment is the amount of time it takes the water to travel the length of the strip of paper towel measured in tenths of a second. The controlled variables of the experiment are using the same glass of water, same size sample of paper towel, and same timer for each test in the experiment. Threat Reduction to Internal Validity To reduce internal threats to validity I will use the same size piece of each paper towel from each brand for each test to conduct the experiment, marking each piece with a line at exactly one inch from the bottom. I will use the same water sample to ensure the liquid being absorbed by each sample strip is identical; the same timer will be used for each test to ensure the accuracy of the time recorded for each test. I will also monitor my results for outliers in the time required to absorb the water through each test towel to ensure the results are valid for each test. Hypothesis The sample of Bounty paper towels will soak up the water through the length of paper towel faster than the other brands because it is thicker than the other brands being tested. I have arrived at this conclusion because the dual layers of towel that are present in the sample of Bounty create a greater surface to absorb water. The other brands are much thinner and have less thickness to soak up water.

Identifying Risk of Harm to Child

Identifying Risk of Harm to Child Child Protection Scenario What indicators of risk of harm can you identify in the scenario? Georgia appears rather agitated when her brother comes to pick her up Georgia pulls away when her eldest brother Peter goes to pick her up Staff members are noticing that Georgia is seeming withdrawn from activities lately Staff members have noticed that for the past two weeks Georgia has been regressing in toilet training has been wetting her bed every day When having a conversation with Georgia she tells you how she doesn’t like when Peter comes into her room at night when she’s asleep What would you say to Georgia in response to the above conversations? What action would you take based on the scenario? Talk to your director about what you have observed and conversations you have had with Georgia. Keep written documentation on everything you have observed kept in a locked cupboard in the child’s file. Access the Mandatory Reporters Guide and answer the questions and from there it will direct you on what to do next. Always follow the correct steps and remember that best interest of the child is paramount. Protecting a child’s wellbeing is a shared issue between a number of different organisations and individuals. (Council of Australian Governments, 2010) What are the key points to remember in responding to a child’s disclosure (verbal and non-verbal)? When responding to a child’s disclosure keep your facial expressions calm and don’t act shocked. Always listen very closely, getting down to eye level and thank the child for confiding with you. Let the child know that she/he isn’t the first person this has happened to and always talk age appropriately. (Child Wise, 2012). Never ask direct questions and wait for the child to come to you first. Ensure that you don’t pass any of your own personal judgement onto the child and respond in ways that make her feel safe and that you genuinely care about her. (Briggs and Buttrose, n.d, pp. 238-239) According to the policy, outline the steps you would take in response to the situation; The Make Believe Pre-School has a duty of care and obligation to defend the child’s rights to care and protection. The Pre-School must abide by all relevant Child Protection Legislation and must have procedures in place to ensure this and by promoting child protection awareness in the community through support of parents. There are various legislative requirements that the Make Believe Pre-School management committee can use to help them to develop a framework for the protection of children and also to ensure that staff know what needs to be done in relation to child protection. Their Child Protection Policy clearly states that; All staff have the responsibility to report to Department of Community Services (DoCS) for suspected Risk of Significant Harm (RoSH). Observe and document all signs of RoSH and keep in a locked file in the childs folder Report to the authorised supervisor Refer to the MRG to determine what process to follow Ensure children know that they never deserve to be harmed or abused What record keeping and documentation would be necessary in this situation? Take extreme care that all documentation for a child at risk of significant harm is kept confidential and in a locked file under the child’s name. Observe the child closely and document any further conversations always including a clear description, date and time. Any personal opinions or judgement should not be included in documentation. (Farrell and Sheringham, n.d, p. 186). If you have any telephone conversations with outside agencies be sure conversation is on speakerphone with another person present. Consult with your director on a regular basis on the situation of the child and print off any MRG decisions and keep in a confidential folder. Identify the potential ethical concerns. How might you respond to this concern? Who would you seek support from? There is clearly a cultural and family issue in this scenario. There is also a language barrier as an interpreter is needed for the mother. This has the potential for information to be misunderstood and the correct information not to be communicated successfully. The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) encourages diversity and respecting cultures. Georgia belongs to two different cultures, Australian and Chinese and as educators we need to respect the diversity of the child. (DEEWR, 2009, p. 13) We also need to understand the long term concerns for the child and the family, if it is found that Georgia is being abused. The (Early Childhood Australia, 2006) Code of Ethics encourages us to learn as much as we can about the culture, customs, lifestyle and language of our children. The school should express its concerns to the Department of Education’s Children’s Wellbeing Unit or a Family Referral Service (Farrell and Sheringham, n.d, p. 191). We should seek support from the local church which the family attend, other family members, other people in the community who know the family well and a Chinese language interpreter. We must ensure that all information regarding the child remains confidential and any information passed on is on a ‘need to know’ basis. What strategies would you put in place to protect the rights of the child and maintain your professional relationship and duty of care with Georgia and her family? As the (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, 2012), expresses in Standard 2.3, Element 2.3.4, that â€Å"every educator, co-ordinator, family dare care educator assistant and staff member has legal and ethical obligation to act and protect any child who is at risk of abuse or neglect.† Australia is a part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and as signatories to this, we recognize that every child has the right to protection and never to be hurt by others, also to always have the best interests of the child first (The United Nations, 1989). To maintain a professional relationship and duty of care to Georgia we need to remember to never be judgemental and that Georgia knows she is respected and trusted in the Pre-School. The privacy of Georgia and her family is essential in any discussions regarding Georgia’s safety and wellbeing. If the child is deemed to be RoSH the family may not be informed of the process as it co uld cause risk to the child and it’s their interest which are a priority. As Georgia’s family has a. high status in the community there is potential for disbelief of the proposed sexual abuse. (Briggs and Buttrose, n.d, pp. 238-239). Staff are not allowed to become overly involved or emotional in this situation, follow the correct process, act when you need to and always keep information clearly documented. References Briggs, F. and Buttrose, I. (n.d). Child Protection: The Essential Guide for Teachers Other Professionals Whose Work Involves Children. Australia: JoJo Publishing. Child Wise (2012). Wise up to sexual abuse. Available at: http://childwise.blob.core.windows.net/assets/uploads/files/Online%20Publication/W iseUp_to_Sexual_Abuse_Booklet.pdf (Accessed: 26 March 2015) Council of Australian Governments (2010). Protecting children is Everyone’s Business. Available at : http://www.dss.gov.au/site/default/files/documents/pac_annual_rpt_0.pdf (Accessed: 30 March 2015) Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations (DEEWR) (2009). Belonging, Being Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra: DEEWR Early Childhood Australia (2006). Code of Ethics. Available at http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/code_of_ethics_-brochure_screenweb_2010.pdf (Accessed: 28 March 2015) Farrell, M. and Sheringham, M. (n.d). Protecting Children and Young People: Identify and Respond to Children and Young People at Risk. Australia: TAFE NSW Divisions Resource Distribution Centre. Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) (2012). Guide to the National Quality Standard. Sydney, N.S.W. The United Nations (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx (Accessed: 28 March 2015) M Lyons1 of 5

RNA World Theory: Summary and Analysis

RNA World Theory: Summary and Analysis This essay will explore the principles of the RNA world theory and supports and criticisms for it. It will look at the properties of RNA which make this theory viable and it will also look briefly at alternate competing theories. RNA, which stands for ribonucleic acid, is a polymeric molecule made up of one or more nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a base: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate which can then form chains. Like DNA, RNA has four main structures: primary, which is the basic polypeptide chain. The Secondary structure is a twisted form of the chain into usually an alpha helix and beta sheet. The tertiary structure is a further folded shape and is often unique. This structure determines the function of the protein. Finally the quaternary is the joining together of multiple tertiary subunits to form one large subunit. The discovery of ribozymes supported the RNA World Hypothesis. This is the theory that earlier life forms may have relied solely on RNA to catalyse chemical reactions and store genetic information. This hypothesis was proposed by Carl Woese, Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel in the 1960s, this was decades before the discovery of ribozymes but soon after the double-helical structure of DNA was determined. According to the RNA World Hypothesis, life later evolved to use DNA and proteins due to RNAs instability relative to DNA and its poorer catalytic properties. Gradually, ribozymes became increasingly phased out. A ribozyme, ribonucleic acid enzyme, is an RNA molecule that is capable of performing specific biochemical reactions, similar to the action of protein enzymes. The structure of RNA nucleotides is very similar to that of DNA nucleotides, with the main difference being that the ribose sugar backbone in RNA has a hydroxyl group that DNA does not. Another minor difference is that DNA uses the base thymine in place of uracil. Despite great structural similarities, DNA and RNA play very different roles from one another in modern cells. RNA plays a central role in the pathway from DNA to proteins, known as the Central Dogma of molecular biology. An organisms genetic information is encoded as a linear sequence of bases in the cells DNA. During transcription, an RNA copy of a segment of DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), is made. This strand of RNA can then be read by a ribosome to form a protein. Another major difference between DNA and RNA is that DNA is usually found in a double-stranded form in cells, while RNA is typically found in a single-stranded form. The lack of a paired strand allows RNA to fold into complex, three-dimensional structures. RNA folding is typically mediated by the same type of base-base interactions that are found in DNA, with the difference being that bonds are formed within a single strand in the case of RNA, rather than between two strands, in the case of DNA. The strongest evidence for the RNA World Hypothesis is the fact that the ribosome, a large molecular complex that assembles proteins, is a ribozyme. Although the ribosome is made up of both RNA and protein components, structural and biochemical analyses revealed that the mechanisms for translation is catalysed by RNA, not proteins. This suggests that the use of RNA by early life forms to carry out chemical reactions may have preceded the use of proteins. John Sutherland and his colleagues from the University of Manchester performed and experiment that greatly supports the RNA world hypothesis. He and his team created a ribonucleotide, which is a major part of RNA, from simple chemicals. These chemicals are those though to be present on the early earth, or primordial soup. Donna Blackmond, a chemist at Imperial College London, stated that this is extremely strong evidence for the RNA world. We dont know if these chemical steps reflect what actually happened, but before this work there were large doubts that it could happen at all. Critics of these ideas suggest that other organic molecules, rather than nucleic acids, were the first self-replicating chemicals capable of storing genetic information. According to this idea, these simple hereditary systems were later replaced by nucleic acids during the course of evolution. Electric Spark Generation of amino acids and sugars from the atmosphere. The  Miller-Urey supports this theory. The experiment in 1952 was one  that simulated the conditions thought at the time to be present on the  early Earth, and tested for the occurrence of  the chemical origins of life. Miller took molecules which were believed to represent the major components of the early Earths atmosphere and put them into a closed system. The gases they used were methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), and water (H2O). Next, he ran a continuous electric current through the system, to simulate lightning storms believed to be common on the early earth. Miller observed that as much as 10-15% of the carbon was now in the form of organic compounds. Two percent of the carbon had formed some of the amino acids which are used to make proteins. Millers experiment showed that organic compounds such as amino acids, which are essential to cellular life, could be made easily under the condi tions that scientists believed to be present on the early earth. Community Clay The first molecules of life might have met on clay, according to an idea elaborated by organic chemist Alexander Graham Cairns-Smith at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. These surfaces might not only have concentrated these organic compounds together, but also helped organize them into patterns much like our genes do now. Chilly Start As the sun was about a third less luminous than it is now. This layer of ice, possibly hundreds of feet thick, might have protected fragile organic compounds in the water below from ultraviolet light and destruction from cosmic impacts. The cold might have also helped these molecules to survive longer, allowing key reactions to happen. Simple Beginnings Instead of developing from complex molecules such as RNA, life might have begun with smaller molecules interacting with each other in cycles of reactions. These might have been contained in simple capsules akin to cell membranes, and over time more complex molecules that performed these reactions better than the smaller ones could have evolved. Panspermia Rocks regularly get blasted off Mars by cosmic impacts, and a number of Martian meteorites have been found on Earth that some researchers have controversially suggested brought microbes over here, potentially making us all Martians originally. Other scientists have even suggested that life might have hitchhiked on comets from other star systems. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that RNA is spontaneously being created and capable of forming pre-cellular life today. While some artificial ribozymes have been created in the laboratory (reviewed in Chen, et al., 2007), there are still significant holes in reproducing an RNA world to support the hypothesis. The ribozymes created artificially lack the abilities to sufficiently process themselves, and there is no evidence of them producing large quantities of advantageous nucleotide sequences. Moreover, no system has ever created cellular life. There is even significant debate among scientists over the conditions and constituents of a prebiotic Earth model.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Essay examples -- Information Te

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. RFID is the use of a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object (Wikipedia.com, 2012). RFID is a type of identification system devices that stored data, identification or location of the products. The RFID tag can be put onto an object and used to track and manage inventory, assets, people, etc. For example, it can be put into cars, computer equipment, books, mobile phones, etc. RFID can be used in a variety of applications such as access the management when there is need to access the office. They need to put their identification card that has their details to make sure they pass the security check. It is more to make sure that only authorized people can enter the premises. The tracking of good can also been done with RFID when the company wants to shipping their product somewhere far away and there are tags on the delivery of goods that enable them to track them whenever the goods being taken to. RFID can also track persons and animals as there are tags that can be put into their bodies or accessories. The police often used them to track bad people or when doing the undercover to protect the officer on duty. Tool collection is the often things that you can see closely related to RFID that we people used in our daily life. The â€Å"Touch n Go† is the perfect example of RFID. RFID is also being used in the machine readable travel documents, which is the machine that reads the passport to confirm the identity of the person before they been given permission to go in and out from one country to another. In airport, RFID is also being used in the baggage tracking logistics where each one of the baggage... ...nline] available from (20 April 2012) Thesmartsense.com (2011) VingCard’s ‘Signature RFID’ [online] available from (20 April 2012) Citeseerx.ist.psu.edu (2005) David Molnar, David Wagner - A Scalable, Delegatable Pseudonym Protocol Enabling Owner Transfer of RFID Tags [online] available from (22 April 2012) Autoidlabs.org (2007) Konidala, Divyan, Kim & Kwangjo - RFID Reader Mutual Authentication Scheme Utilizing Tags [online] available from (22 April 2012) Itlaw.wikia.com (2012) Guidelines for Securing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems [online] available from (22 April 2012) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Essay examples -- Information Te RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. RFID is the use of a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data from a tag attached to an object (Wikipedia.com, 2012). RFID is a type of identification system devices that stored data, identification or location of the products. The RFID tag can be put onto an object and used to track and manage inventory, assets, people, etc. For example, it can be put into cars, computer equipment, books, mobile phones, etc. RFID can be used in a variety of applications such as access the management when there is need to access the office. They need to put their identification card that has their details to make sure they pass the security check. It is more to make sure that only authorized people can enter the premises. The tracking of good can also been done with RFID when the company wants to shipping their product somewhere far away and there are tags on the delivery of goods that enable them to track them whenever the goods being taken to. RFID can also track persons and animals as there are tags that can be put into their bodies or accessories. The police often used them to track bad people or when doing the undercover to protect the officer on duty. Tool collection is the often things that you can see closely related to RFID that we people used in our daily life. The â€Å"Touch n Go† is the perfect example of RFID. RFID is also being used in the machine readable travel documents, which is the machine that reads the passport to confirm the identity of the person before they been given permission to go in and out from one country to another. In airport, RFID is also being used in the baggage tracking logistics where each one of the baggage... ...nline] available from (20 April 2012) Thesmartsense.com (2011) VingCard’s ‘Signature RFID’ [online] available from (20 April 2012) Citeseerx.ist.psu.edu (2005) David Molnar, David Wagner - A Scalable, Delegatable Pseudonym Protocol Enabling Owner Transfer of RFID Tags [online] available from (22 April 2012) Autoidlabs.org (2007) Konidala, Divyan, Kim & Kwangjo - RFID Reader Mutual Authentication Scheme Utilizing Tags [online] available from (22 April 2012) Itlaw.wikia.com (2012) Guidelines for Securing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems [online] available from (22 April 2012)

Determinism in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand Essay -- Nella Larsen Quicksan

Determinism in Nella Larsen’s Quicksand During the Harlem Renaissance, many literary works concentrated on celebrating African American heritage. However, many other writers also began concentrating on the darker theme of naturalism. Nella Larsen’s Quicksand illustrates many elements of this movement. These include a biological determinism, where man is conceived of as controlled by his primitive animal instincts and a sociological determinism, whereby the weak are destroyed and the strong survive in a world of struggle and chance. Helga Crane, Larsen’s protagonist in Quicksand, illustrates the elements of both biological and sociological determinism in her inability to suppress her natural animal instinct to flee uncomfortable situations, and to comfortably conform in either of her opposing communities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Helga cannot suppress her desire to flee from uncomfortable situations in any city that she lives in. In Naxos, she convinces herself that she is leaving a place that has â€Å"grown into a machine† (4). Although the conforming nature of the institution contributes to Helga’s desire to leave, she is also stirred with â€Å"an overpowering desire for action of some sort† (4). Instead of staying in Naxos and fighting a battle against the institute’s conservative attitudes, Helga chooses to flee an unpleasant reality. This exemplifies the â€Å"fight or flight† animal instinct that is said to control behavior in situations that become overwhelming. Instead of fighting, Helga time and time again chooses to leave what becomes unbearable to her. Once the decision is made to leave Naxos, Helga feels â€Å"like a person who had been for months fighting the devil and then unexpectedly had turned around and agreed to do his bidding† (5). Helga knows deep down that leaving Naxos is wrong, but the instinct to flee is so strong that she is powerless to deny it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In New York, Helga is also consumed by the animal instinct of flight. When Dr. Anderson calls on her after a chance meeting at a nightclub, Helga â€Å"had no intention of running away, but something, some imp of contumacy, drove her from his presence, though she longed to stay† (51). Once again, Helga succumbs to her overwhelming desire to leave an uncomfortable situation. Later she realizes with a â€Å"sense of helplessness and inevitability†¦that the weapon she had chosen had been a boomerang, for she herself had felt... ...at the advice she offers these women is looked upon with contempt. She begins to adapt to her life after Sary Jones advises her to â€Å"make de bes’ of et† but her efforts falter during her next pregnancy (125). Instead of making the best of her life, Helga hands over this responsibility to God which eventually leads to the same feeling of â€Å"dissatisfaction [and] asphyxiation that she felt in Naxos, New York and Copenhagen† (134). After all of her experiences, her inability to conform leads her right back to the same place she started from. It is obvious that Helga Crane will never truly be able to â€Å"fit in† in any society. It is apparent that Nella Larsen’s Quicksand is concerned with the naturalistic element of determinism. Helga Crane illustrates both a biological and sociological determinism in her animal instinct for â€Å"flight† and her inability to conform in any of her environments. Larsen’s ability to integrate these themes into the character of Helga proves that the Quicksand is not only representative of the Harlem Renaissance, but also of the naturalistic movement. Work Cited Larsen, Nella. Quicksand and Passing. Ed. Deborah E. McDowell. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 1986.

News :: essays research papers

Partygoers find renewed meaning in holidays Saturday, December 22 at the Brick Elks Lodge 2152 celebrating the birth of Jesus topped the list of paying homage. Instead of the more popular getting presents and money, the party was payback to the members who volunteer. The party was for Elks children and grandchildren. Food, Entertainment and Santa Clause were available there. The Elks basically help people by donation things such as wheelchairs, canes, and walkers for handicapped kids. They also give food during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last month they even had a party for veterans. All together the Elks are a pretty nice organization of caring people. Bush expected to seek 15 billion more to beef up domestic security Our President George Bush is planning to get 15 billion dollars for his 2003 budget. This money will account for police officers to baggage screening equipment. It may also include new communication equipment so hospitals can react faster if another terrorist attack were to happen. Congress wanted to spend 20 billion for security in its 2002 plan, they even had it approved. Except approximately half of that money was used before the September 11th attacks. After the state of Union Address to Congress in January the president will release his 2003 budget plan. Dress up yogurt without adding fat Yogurts with the labels "nonfat" and "low fat" are all good for you when you want to make some cut backs on what you eat. But you see there are still catches to eating all of these. Yogurt like many other foods doesn't just contain the fruits posted on the cover. Companies add many chemicals and concoctions used to make the yogurt taste better. This is basically like mixing the fruits and then adding 7 teaspoons of sugar. Which can double the calories. They also add sweeteners and even artificial coloring. If you have tried nonfat or low fat yogurts then you know how terrible they taste. There is an alternative of course. What you can do is cut up your own fruits and put them in the yogurt to bring some real flavor back. Which will keep it healthy and make it tasty. Many elderly people taking inappropriate medications A study taken by the Healthcare Research and Quality has come to believe that many elders have taken incorrect medications. Approximately 1/5 of 32 million elderly people who live by themselves used 1 of 33 medicines considered dangerous for the older society.

Tesco Information Systems

Tesco Information System Name of Student: Robert Onyango Course Instructor: Mr. Bonoko Course: Date of Submission Introduction This paper is generally about information systems in an organisation. To illustrate this further, the author will specifically look at Tesco, an organisation of choice. This paper intends to highlight a specific information system––management information systems––and explore it thoroughly using the various analytical models in relation to Tesco. The illustrations will draw from various related information system schematics and draw examples of how the organization in question – Tesco – has put them into use. Description of the Organization (Tesco) Founded in the year 1919 in London, Tesco is a grocery and merchandising retail chain. The organisation is without a doubt the largest retailer in Britain by local and global market shares and sales. The organisation originally dealt with foodstuff, but they have since ventured into other circles, for example, financial services, software, internet services, clothing, car and health insurance, and consumer electronics. Tesco appears on the London Stock Exchange and it also headlines the FTSE 100 Index. As at 23rd December 2011,the organization had bagged an astounding ? 31. 3Â  billion in terms of the Market Capitalisation and consequently ranked the 14th-biggest organization on London’s Stock Exchange. Looking at the competition in the retail industry, it is very important for organisations to establish operational strategies that are efficient. Information System (IS) covers a complex sample of Information Technologies and the professionals who apply the fastidious technology in he sustenance of an assortment of organisational functions (Williamson, Harrison, and Jordan 2004, 376). Structure of Management Information System This kind of information system––MIS––entails information technology application to managerial and organisational needs. It constitutes determining the type of information technology to be beneficial to organisation and development and application of business solutions in relation to it (Seilheimer 2000; Walsham 1993). The strong point of this kind of information system is that in combines the business understanding with information system and technology knowledge to help an organisation––Tesco––compete successfully or restructure on-going operations. [pic] Fig. 2. The Role of MIS in Tesco Source: Tesco Annual Report, 2010. Professionals who are conversant with this type of IS use their backgrounds that are business based in working with users and managers to recommend and pinpoint technological improvements that may be beneficial to an organisation. Their work is to codify, analyse, design, implement, and manage modern telecommunications, business, and many other computerised information systems. Moreover, traditional processing systems are maintained. Professionals in this discipline are also assigned the duty of dealing with exhilarating growth technologies, for example, the design and management of telecommunications systems, e-business, using and developing server systems for the consumer, data warehousing and database development, and finally, developing web-based technologies for other applications in business inclusive of electronic commerce (Trinder, 2007). MIS is the primary source of information required to keep an organisation running effectively and efficiently. This kind of IS has three main resources: information, technology, and people, although in recent times, data, procedures, hardware, and software (programs) have since been added to that list. Management information systems stand out from the rest of the pack as they are employed in the analysis an organisation’s operational activities. In the spheres of academics, the term usually refers to the set of information methods of management linked to the automation or propping peoples’ ability to make decisions, for example, expert systems, executive information systems, and decision support system. Before the in-depth investigation into Tesco, it is important to highlight the various management information systems available as most of these systems specialise in exact industrial and commercial segments, structure of management, or features of the project, and Tesco is no different. At the top of the food chain is the management information system, which comes up with reports that are preset and have standard schedules founded on summarised data that was retrieved from the organisation’s transaction processing systems to operational level and middle management for information of semi-structured and structured decision setbacks and also classify them. The second are the marketing information systems (MIS) purposefully for management of marketing elements of the organisation. Thirdly, there is the executive information system (EIS), which is a reporting instrument that gives hasty access to recapitulated reports stemming from all echelons in the organisation and is usually a host to operations, accounting, and human resources departments. Decision support system (DSS) is the fourth typology. These are computer applications utilised by the middle management in the anthology of information from vast source ranges to catalyse making of decisions and solving of problems. Last is the office automation system (OAS), which is meant to aid productivity and communication via eradicating log jams and automating the flow of work. This typology can be put to practice at all and any echelon of management (Cronholm and Goldkuhl 2003). How IMS Supports Tesco’s Organizational activities For market success, an organisation has to be efficient in its customer service. To get to this goal, Tesco saw it necessary to boost its efficiency pertaining to the customers by processing their orders from its compound conduits. Moreover, the firm had to place a maintenance limit to its cost. Information systems have developed into a vital feature in running an organisation, considering it is an impetus to the organisation’s supply chain (Stapleton and Murphy 2003). Furthermore, it gives an arena for the amalgamation of the whole organisation into a single block. Following the rapid innovations of technology, information systems are growing by the day. The end result is the emergence of various information systems that have already been stated above. In a calculated move aimed at elevation of its competitiveness, Tesco has integrated a transaction processing system (TPS) into its supply chain (Friedlos 2007), which has been made possible via the development of Tesco Direct (Tesco 2009). The invention is assisting clients to place orders of non-edible stuff that the organisation is dealing with before ensuring that the goods are delivered to clients’ residences. The organisation has since introduced an official webpage, and this has amplified the efficiency of this service (Amatya 2005, 5). Individuals were definitely enjoying a comfortable process of consumption thanks to Tesco direct products. The major challenge that the organisation faced while implementing this policy is that they had to ensure customer satisfaction by making sure their expectations were met. This cannot be disputed as it can be confirmed that Tesco has managed to supply high-quality products to its consumers via its Tesco. com service and eventually deeming it as reliable to customers. Besides, guaranteeing that the new product will propel the organisation’s retail operations was one of Tesco’s objectives. Before scrutinizing Tesco’s application of management information systems, it is helpful to understand its role, which is data conversion from external and internal sources into information that can be utilised in effective decision making in light of planning, organizing, and directing the activities linking them with responsibility. Tesco has several information systems, some of which they utilise on a day-to-day basis to make operational decisions. Others are also used in coming up with strategic and tactical decisions. Performance and Order Management System In addressing these challenges, the organisation resorted to developing a system of processing the orders placed by customers. This was bent on hastening the processing speed of such orders. The ever escalating customer base of the organisation prompted the need for a more efficient system of processing orders. Considering that Tesco was pitting the development against a time frame, the organisation had put in double efforts to beat their deadline. A team comprising of ten engineers was therefore assembled, and after working in-house for six months, the project was done. Tesco also had to do outsourcing from IVIS group and Microsoft Gold Certified. Eventually, this saw the birth of order management system (OMS) (Tesco 2009). Decision making model Tesco is a worldwide organisation whose IT organisation is basically managed from India and the United Kingdom. This is a major hindrance to ease of decision making as most of the persons involved and the stakeholders cannot come together to table and discuss strategies and policies, and this could be only pinned on the time factor. Mike Yorweth, who is the Chief Architect, organised a worldwide meeting using Cisco TelePresence, and the purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm; all the members agreed on the organisation’s use of a global IT strategy. Later, Yorweth stated that the TelePresence had enabled the meeting to take place in three hours, whereas the absence of the TelePresence technology would have resulted in the organisation’s managers waiting another six months to proceed with a face-to-face meeting. Yorweth also confessed to the TelePresence, enabling the members to come to an understanding faster than in the meetings that had proceeded Decision making is one of the basic sub-branches of organisational models. In management of an organisation of Tesco’s calibre, there exists two types of decision making: structured and unstructured. The former is usually routine and repetitive, and standard methods are used while dealing with them. On the other hand, the latter need evaluation, insight, and judgement. Important decisions usually exist in Tesco, considering its wide customer base, and sadly, there exists on preset measures in cracking them. CIPSODAR; decision-making and communication models It should be highlighted that making abstract and unstructured decision is a procedure that is assigned a given time frame following gathering of information from relevant sources. Tesco managers, especially the middle ones, go through a series of steps before coming up with a concrete decision. The first step is usually acknowledgement and acceptance that a problem exists. A good information system will point the managerial team in the right direction by providing all sorts of information needed and also underlines where there lays a problem following evaluation of the organisation, which is readily available online with the introduction of modern technological innovations. At this echelon, Tesco’s policy of exception reporting is vital. This is to say that only situations that require to be addressed immediately are reported. For example, a drastic increase or decrease in sales in comparison with a similar time frame at a previous year, consumers with outstanding balances, and staff resigning in big numbers. The second step is to check out all the possible solutions. In-depth analysis is usually handy at this juncture, and much information is also needed. Tools that can model the impact of various solutions like price variations and salary increments, such as the spread sheet, may be required. It automatically follows that the third stage is choosing a decision and consequently implementation of the solution. In some cases, it requires the formation of a new information system biased towards management to keep an eye on the solution progress. [pic] Fig 2. The Decision Making Process in Tesco Source: Tesco Annual Report, 2010. Decision making is not a smooth process as many a people may assume, especially when dealing with a global organisation such as Tesco. Occasionally, one has to take steps backwards when it is evident that the decision is not applicable and is bound to backfire. This may be also brought about by discovery of helpful new information that offers better alternatives. Conversely, structured decisions are straightforward as Tesco’s information systems provide the correct information, and a manager would have to be a goof if they made the wrong decision(s). How the System Produces the Required Information Web interface was the tool designed to cover online processes (Shneiderman 1998). The OMS processes the order right after they are sorted. This begets an increase in flexibility, something that can assist the organisation to replace the system online while they have removed it for maintenance. A number of channels that could be either online or offline send orders that are received by the system in order for it to be operational (Larson and Davis 2003). Tesco has several warehouses within it that make use of the OMS; therefore, employees have an easy time monitoring and managing processes of the workflow as the system automatically makes it available for them. Technology model Hardware and Software in Use The software that was used by the organisation is BizTalk Server 2006 to put into operation the OMS development, which was a sub-channel to Tesco Direct. This particular program gives an organisation the capability to merge various systems, resulting in an efficient process of business (Chappell 2005, 3). This boosts circulation of information between factions where vast software ranges come into play. The software’s ability to be interpretable is solely responsible for this. A good example is highlighting the ability of Tesco to use its former Tesco. com in communicating despite the fact that it was using Microsoft SQL server version in 2005. Moreover, the efficiency of processing the orders is amplified, considering that the software is able to support a variety of data formats. The health and activity tracking system is also used effectively by the OMS system. The former refines debugging and monitoring of the processes and applications besides keeping a track on performance statistics on every system components. Plus, the slipups that may possibly arise from the process of procurement are resolved after being recognised by the HAT. The system reliability is also refined in the process. Subsequently, the BizTalk server is also made manageable by the OMS. Tesco’s communication with the varied applications of the warehouse utilised by the suppliers of the organisation is improved by the server, both externally and internally. Tesco’s direct service has comfortably integrated the OMS. Four computer servers that are installed with Windows Server 2003 operating system are employed to make certain the operation of the implemented OMS. Conversely, the databases are managed by the SQL server version 2005. Performance – Positive Aspects Tesco’s retail procedures have been thoroughly refined, courtesy of the ordering system. The OMS has brought the following advantages to Tesco: improvement in order processing capacity. The ability of Tesco’s performance pertaining to processing of orders has skyrocketed. As per the latest statistics, Tesco’s reliability in relation to processing orders has shot up to approximately 5,000 orders in an hour. It is without a shred of doubt that the BizTalk Server 2006 is responsible for pulling these strings, proving that it is much more superior to the mainframe-based Tesco. com. Tesco has also experienced reduced hardware costs. This is made possible as the OMS has ensured a massive drop of the cost of the hardware involved in the organisation’s chain of supply. This sprouts from the fact that the OMS is capable of performing processing of orders by using a minute fraction of the server (estimated to be about 20–25 per cent). Consequently, the organisation has been handling huge customer numbers with ease and escalated reliability. What is even more fascinating is that if Tesco decided to broaden its consumer base, they will not have to spend anything on the hardware, i. e. , the server. Moreover, there are very high chances of the organisation further developing its processing of orders. These probabilities stem from the acknowledgement that distributed processing is enhanced by Window Server 2003. Supplier relationship is maintained. This is the third advantage that cannot be overlooked. It is mandatory for any organisation to maintain its flexibility with regards to the replacement of their suppliers within the supply chain so as to not to have an impact on the operation of the organisation (Williamson, Harison, and Jordan 2004). Sundry business developments that have been effected by its partners in business are accommodated by the BizTalk Server used in propping the OMS. The outcome is evidently positive as Tesco is experiencing finesse in communication with their business partners. At this juncture, it is already evident that the integration of BizTalk Server within Tesco’s information system has improved and augmented the reliability with which Tesco is handling processing of orders. Taking into the consideration that the server possesses elements of coupling loosely with the Internet and interoperability, it is safe to make a suggestion of removing the OMS for maintenance without necessarily affecting the purchase activities and processes for the customers. Formal information systems are important to Tesco as they give exact answers to recurrent questions on the screen or via monthly, weekly, or daily reports. High ranking Tesco managers are bound to use new information via a new method of data analysis or by outsourcing the information. The Tesco design management team designed their MIS to have the following characteristics that make it stand out from the rest. It is very elastic, which provides for various methods of data analysis and information evaluation (Remenyi and Sherwood 1999). They have the capacity to prop up a scope of knowledge and skills. They make the managers’ work asier via interpersonal communication with organisation members besides not needing too much concentration as managers are always busy and give them the time to focus on other things. Work is easily interrupted and could be easily resumed at a later time, and finally they ensure managers are out of scope for overload of information. It can therefore b e safely concluded that the system is a success. Analysis of Failure and Success It is general knowledge that management information systems are compound, and in the process of selecting, implementing, and designing them usually require many people, both from within Tesco and outside it. The managerial team charged with the responsibility of making sure the system pulls through ought to have a clear understanding of the system and have a very close relationship with the organisation (Croholm and Goldkuhl 2002). Managers ought to be knowledgeable on the probabilities Offered by the ICT systems are the challenges that they may come across, and they should be able to understand the need of having the necessary measures in place to make sure that the organisation is operating smoothly. Failures A good amount of money is required to ensure that the OMS is operational and maintained despite the fact that it brings alongside many positive attributes. There exists an interrelationship between the implementation and purchase of the system with the cost. For example, if Tesco might be needed to carry out an all-inclusive investigation into the system before it is implemented, outsource of professionals and consultations are mandatory. Moreover, Tesco will have to be carrying out maintenance of the system regularly, and that is considerably costly. Despite Tesco having the cost slip-ups only, there are several others factors that can cause the failure of a management system that they ought to be wary about. The first one is inadequate analysis. This is likely to surface when potential setbacks, particular needs, and limitations are not wholly comprehended prior to the design and selection of a new information system. Another factor is absentia of the management in design. It is very important that all the members and persons intending to gain or benefit from the design should be entirely immersed in its development (Monk, Wright, Haber, and Davenport 1993). Failure of which leads to destruction or collapse of an organisation as information that is of no interest to anyone is provided; worse still, information that cannot be comprehended by anyone may be produced. This also has a negative effect on the managerial team in that they are left waiting for an information system that will never see the day or light. The third factor is placement of emphasis on the computing system. It is rather obvious that this entails choosing the proper hardware and software, especially for modern computers, and this is very crucial to any corporation regardless of its size. Before implementation of a system, it should be noted that measures dealing with both data output and input should be established. The organisation needs to clearly spell out the aims and objectives of the new system. For no reason at all, users may decide to ask for the field population on a database and are fond of asking for reports about the organisations’ management that are never read or are completely useless. Fourth, is the lack of teamwork. An ICT manager needs to be able to integrate all the departments under his/her jurisdiction to operate as one single unit (Naranjo-Gil 2009). Some of the departments under an organisation include marketing, accounts, and dispatch and storage departments. Conclusion When an organisation decides to incorporate the management information system, it is bound to fuel the achievement of being highly competitive (Manning and Raghavan 2006). This is founded on the basis that operations linked to chain management are refined. By using the OMS, Tesco has climbed the charts of market positioning. Moreover, the relationship between Tesco and its suppliers and customers has immensely improved Tesco should consider doing a couple of things to ensure that they reach the peak in working with the OMS. The first one is to conduct a research on whether OMS culminates into shrinkage with regard to operational costs. Secondly, they should undertake research on the market that is continuous to establish the efficiency with which the organisation is effective in its undertakings. Reference List Amatya, L. , 2005. 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