New Belgium Brewing Essay Example

New Belgium Brewing: Paper New Belgium Brewing: Environmental and Social Responsibilities New Belgium Brewing Company’s (NBB) mission statement is â€Å"to operate a profitable brewery which is socially, ethically and environmentally responsible, that produces high quality beer true to Belgian brewing styles. † Does New Belgium’s mission statement make an ethical stance for the business? Does it even have any bearing on the products and their beliefs? It seems to when it comes to operating a profitable business and the â€Å"green† way they are doing so and the benefits given to its employees. New Belgium addresses several environmental issues, the first being air pollution. In an effort to â€Å"do their part,† they switched from coal burning power to wind power. NBB were the first brewing company to a make such a bold move. The change to wind power has allowed NBB to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,800 metric tons each year. Another environmental issue addressed by NBB is the reduction of energy costs. To this end, NBB reuses the hot water used to boil its hops and barley. This water is used to provide heat to flooring and loading docks. The hops and barley used in the brewing process do not go to waste either: they are stored and offered â€Å"free of charge† to local live stock farmers to be used as feed. This not only benefits the environment, it adds a sort of feed subsidy to the local farmers thereby helping them lower their feed costs. This can be shown as both an environmental and social benefit to the community. In addition to the environmental items above, NBB also uses sun tubes to provide natural lighting to the plant, again cutting down on energy costs. We will write a custom essay sample on New Belgium Brewing: specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on New Belgium Brewing: specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on New Belgium Brewing: specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Finally, and perhaps the most unconventional, NBB offers each employee, after one year of employment, a bike that can be ridden to work. The last seems more of show of good effort than a true environmental savings. Is NBB being socially responsible for the greater good of its consumers or to increase the bottom line and further market their product within the community; are they â€Å"appearing† concerned or are they genuinely concerned? NBB’s strategic approach to the environmental issues is two-fold. One, it shows the public that even through they are a beer company, which can be ooked at as not being social and environmentally good, they are still concerned. And two, it helps reduce their operating costs. NBB’s social incentives are part of a strategic philanthropy. It is in their best interest to show that NBB is a company that sells alcohol but is still, in the grand scheme of things, a company that believes in giving back to the community. Are they doing be cause it is ethical? They do it because it gives them good press in the community. NBB sells their beer at many of their supported biking events such as â€Å"Best Damn Bike Tour,† a ride for the MS Society. True, the MS Society benefits from this event with the money raised, but is this right? One would have to say yes because they are doing good for society, it is your choice whether you purchase their products or not. One concern around the selling of products during these kinds of social events is does the company have legal responsibility if someone gets drunk and hurt? Another is the â€Å"responsibility factor† of offering alcoholic beverages at events where children are encouraged to participate. Is biking and drinking, which carries stiff penalties in the eyes of the law, the best image to portray to our kids? These are questions we may not be able to answer at this time. Still, the question remains: Is NBB doing all of this – the environmental cleanliness and philanthropic outpouring – because of the values of the company or does NBB do this because it looks good and what that means to the public? Based on the case one would believe it is because it is truly the company’s values. It would be hard for NBB to take any further steps to show they are ethical and socially responsible. It gets to a point where there actions begin to outweigh the actual belief that they would be dong this for society versus economic gain. There’s no doubt that NBB is acting socially responsible in their own eyes and much of the community’s; doing almost everything they can to contribute to society. Although some individuals or groups would argue that a brewing company cannot be socially responsible due to the nature of their product. Ultimately, their â€Å"to do† list will never end, and no matter how much they give back or enhance their operations to be more environmentally friendly, it will never be enough. In essence, some believe the cost of human lives due to irresponsible drinking, will always outweigh the good produced. Although a fair argument, NBB could easily apply Mill’s utility or ‘greatest happiness principle’ to their business and support the notion that â€Å"the morally right action is the one that maximizes aggregate good. † In other words, the happiness that is felt and produced by the organization, employees, non-profits receiving donations, and consumers outweigh the unhappiness felt by a small percentage of society. The alternative for them would be to do nothing, which would be morally wrong and produce unhappiness. The question is, who determines what is best for society and how can you put a price on the cost of a human life lost due to over-indulgence or drunk driving? Furthermore, does NBB continue to focus on their contributions to the environment, to overshadow or reduce the proven facts that alcohol can be an addiction and harmful to some consumers? Speaking of Mill’s utility aspect of the case, does NBB educate other companies about going green? Do they hoard their technology or share it for the benefit of the world? After all, wouldn’t the true â€Å"greater good† be a utopian brewing society where everyone could operate as NBB does and still remain profitable? To that end, NBB has teamed up with the Chicago Climate Exchange to decrease and trade their greenhouse emissions. They must comply with CCX regulations to remain within their legally binding commitment with CCX. 1 NBB is also working with a local Fort Collins company called Solix Biofuels to buy NBB’s CO2 emissions to create a biodiesel fuel from algae. Being socially responsible has multiple benefits for the environment and communities. As mentioned before, one must consider that an alternative would be to do nothing. It would be just as profitable for NBB to brew, package and distribute its beer without and regard for the environment, perhaps even more so. After all, â€Å"being profitable† is a part of the company mission. In the end, it’s important to support businesses such as NBB and recognize them for their efforts. Does it really matter what the motivations behind their actions are? As Mother Theresa’s pilgrimage across the world to help the poor and the sick, no one ever questioned her motives. However, upon further reflection it is clear as to what she was looking to gain from her actions: entry into heaven and a seat with God. Wouldn’t it be fair to argue then that all of the good she accomplished was motivated by selfishness? We assert that it makes no difference why a person or company acts in a socially responsible manner. The important thing is that they do. Another ethical dilemma faced by NBB, in our eyes, pertains to its employee stock option plan. NBB, a privately held company, offers a percentage of ownership, in the form of stock and voting rights, to employees who have worked there for one whole year and beyond. They feel that it will give the employees a feeling of control over decisions being made within the company. NBB believes that if they provide an â€Å"open-book policy† to their employees they will have greater motivation to improve productivity and reduce costs. In the most recent data we were able to find pertaining to this issue, NBB had 32% employee ownership. 3 NBB’s offering stock options to its employees could potentially pose problems within the company. With employee’s having a vote and a vested interest in the company, personal issues could outweigh the best interest of the company. It would be difficult to divorce oneself from the family-like atmosphere NBB fosters. Stockholders make tough decisions each and every day. Items such as downsizing or salary wage freezes would prove difficult for an employee comprised board to vote on, seeing as it negatively affects the employees personally. Hypothetically, let’s say there were newly found health problems related to alcohol consumption. No doubt this would cause big problems for NBB. Or worse yet, perhaps there were another Prohibition, for whatever reason. NBB would have to deal with massive layoffs or downsize to balance out the profit of the company. Some, including NBB, might argue that employee stocks (and voting rights) make the employee more accountable for his or her day-to-day actions as it relates to the bottom line, it is much more so problematic when these types of tough decisions need to be made. What would happen if a drunk driver killed an employee’s family member? Where would the loyalty of the employee lie in that situation? Would the employee continue to work for a company that may or may not have contributed to the death of their relative? Furthermore, what happens to their stocks at that time? While we recognize the ability of any person to refuse a beverage, we have to understand that this does not always happen. It is unfortunate that drunk driving deaths occur, and while we do not blame the brewing companies or alcoholic beverage industry as a whole, one might find it difficult to report to work everyday with such a burden weighing heavy on his or her heart. Remedying this situation is difficult. It seems, on the surface, employee stock options are an incentive to employees working there. But are they really? The corporate culture in place at NBB is one of social responsibility and philanthropy. The Founders and CEO have made it widely known that their priorities lie in focusing their efforts outward. While profitability is nice, and essential, their altruistic missions are paramount. As partial owners of the company, does it bother the employees that $1 from every barrel sold is donated to a local charity instead of being paid in dividends to them as stockholders? This can reach almost $200,000+ a year. With roughly 130 employees, this results in a loss of about $1,500 per year, per employee. Who’s to say whether this amount would be more or less than the employee would give on his or her own in a given year? In a sense, NBB is participating in corporate tithing. Regulatory, self-imposed standards may help deal with this issue. If employees are given options and limitations regarding their stocks, the CEO may be able to circumvent any problems the may arise from having employees with such a large share of the company. If it is made explicitly clear, for example, that employees are not allowed to sell their stocks should they fall on economic hard times, if their vote on company issues counted less than the CEO (1/3 to 3/3) or if employees were not able to access their stock until a longer tenure with the company, the CEO may stand on much stronger footing. Being socially, ethically and environmentally responsible is of utmost importance to New Belgium Brewing Co. Their corporate culture is one in which they foster an environment of family, friends and philanthropy. When one questions NBB’s motivation behind their actions, ultimately the conclusion is a big â€Å"who cares! † With the strides NBB takes to improve the condition of our environment, or at least not make it any worse, and their unbelievable employee loyalty, it is clear that NBB is doing what works for them. They are the profitable, socially, ethically and environmentally responsible company they set out to be. Works Cited 1. www. buyblue. org (CCX cite) 2. www. rockymountainnews. com (solix biofuels cite) 3. 2004, www. buyblue. org

What is an Ellipsis

What is an Ellipsis What Is an Ellipsis? Ellipses are punctuation marks that are useful in academic writing, where there is sometimes a need to quote sources at length. This is because ellipses indicate when something has been left out from a quote, helping you to express yourself succinctly. Despite this important role, many people are unsure about how and when to use ellipses. As such, we’ve prepared this guide on how to quote elliptically. Overview: What Is an Ellipsis? As mentioned above, an ellipsis is a punctuation mark indicating an omission from a quotation, typically presented as a set of three periods ( †¦ ). An ellipsis can thus be used to emphasize important points when quoting lengthy passages by omitting excess detail: The popularity of the owl †¦ stems from its design for coping with, and hunting in, the darkness. Enormous frontal eyes stare out from cheek-like facial discs, and they have †¦ highly developed ears: Both are part of the owl’s equipment for homing in on elusive and alert prey. In the above passage, additional details have been removed to focus on two features (â€Å"enormous frontal eyes† and â€Å"highly developed ears†). It is important, however, that the amended text still makes a complete sentence, so read it back to yourself after making any omissions. Presentation The most common version of an ellipsis is the one used in the above passage (i.e., three dots with a space before and after the ellipsis). However, conventions differ depending on the style guide used, so remember to check whether your school specifies a style. Variations you may see include: Three dots with no spaces on either side (e.g., There is something†¦missing here.) Three dots with spaces between them (e.g., There is something . . . missing here.) Three dots enclosed within square brackets (e.g., There is something [†¦] missing here.) Usually, as long as you use a clear and consistent style, the type of ellipses you use will not be a major issue. Informal Writing You may also see ellipses in less formal writing, where they are often used†¦ wait for it†¦ to indicate a dramatic or comic pause! In these cases there will sometimes be no space before the ellipsis. However, there is usually a space afterwards to indicate the end of the pause. Alternatively, if used at the end of a sentence, an ellipsis can indicate a thought or utterance trailing away to nothing without a satisfying†¦

Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim & Webers Contribution to Society Essay

Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim & Webers Contribution to Society - Essay Example As part of understanding how society function as a whole, this report will describe, evaluate and compare specific contribution of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber when it comes to issues related to the society. This research outlines that having a strong interest in analyzing the impact of religion to the entire society, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber are among the prominent sociologists who were known for their unique classical and seminal sociological theories between the later parts of 19th century up to the present time. Since each individual have different assumptions with regards to understanding the human nature in a society where capitalism is progressing, Marx, Durkheim and Weber had unique opinions and suggestions which all contributed in the development of sociology.  The theory of Marx with regards to analyzing the society is similar to an organism in the sense that each part of the human body performs unique function. With this in mind, Marx publicly introduced the concept of labour division within the society as a result of capitalism – a situation whereby the capitalists deal with a group of labourers for the purpose of profit gain and increase in productio n.  Unlike Durkheim and Weber, Marx provided a more valid description and reasons as to why development in the structure of capitalism created serious socio-economic problems in the modern way of living.... capitalism – a situation whereby the capitalists deal with a group of labourers for the purpose of profit gain and increase in production (Hess, Markson and Stein 1989, p. 12). Unlike Durkheim and Weber, Marx provided a more valid description and reasons as to why development in the structure of capitalism created serious socio-economic problems in the modern way of living. As explained by Marx, capitalism could only result to endless exploitation of the poor as a result of the continuous economic expansion within the modern industrial system (Morrison 1995, p. 5; Ritzer 1988, pp. 20 – 23). Marx revealed that capitalists within the society take advantage of the services rendered by the workers in exchange of limited salaries aside from preventing most of the people from being able to acquire their own property. Since the workers in general are being exploited by their employers, Marx revealed that it is not right for workers to assume that the market creates value for t heir services (Marx 2002, pp. 51 – 55). Because of the possible conflict between the labourers and the capitalists, Marx suggested the need to destroy the existing structure of capitalism in order to solve the evolving socio-economic problems in the society. In relation to the perception of Marx with regards to capitalism, Durkheim suggested the strong need for socio-economic reformation as a way to effectively solve the conflicting interests between the capitalists and the labourers (Ritzer 1988, p. 88). Because of the continuous economic development within a society, Durkheim explained the identity of each individual will gradually be destroyed because of the possibility wherein the elite and the capitalists would gain strong control in terms of manipulating the society (Giddens 1971, p. 117).

Chinese martial arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese martial arts - Essay Example Conclusively, these arts have a significant role in the lives of those who practice them. Understanding these important roles has seen the Chinese martial arts become more popular among people of other cultures, which has ultimately led to their adoption across the world and integration into the cultural settings of non-Chinese populations. In particular, they are seemingly centered upon improving the physical strength and adaptability of the individual, enhancing muscular formation and keeping the body fit and flexible. As the influence of the Chinese spreads around the world, Chinese martial arts have found new homes across the many places where the Chinese have settled either temporarily or permanently. The beauty of the martial arts coupled with their health benefits has seen them penetrate the Western culture, where some of the acts are changed to suit the local cultures. However, many more of the martial arts practices have remained in their original form. Several aspects of the Chinese culture and traditions are reflected through martial arts, largely taken loosely in the outside world to be Kung Fu, but which is indeed a misconception of Chinese terms by foreigners. Such attempts to try and interpret the traditional Chinese cultural aspects to more understandable standards for the outside world indicate their growing influence and popularity globally. However, they have remained distinctively unique to the inventors and partly vague to the outside world. As noted by Theeboom and Vertoghen, more cultural aspects of the Chinese are captured by their exercising the martial arts than any onlooker from a non-Chinese community would notice.1 This highlights the fact that understanding the cultural values embedded in Kung Fu requires a vast understanding of the Chinese culture. From here we mark our journey of investigating what martial arts stand for in contemporary China. Translated into its component words, the phrase martial arts in Chinese

The Great Depression of the 1930's Research Paper

The Great Depression of the 1930's - Research Paper Example The depression not only resulted in loss of jobs, but also resulted in psychological crisis which was attributed to loss of income and property, and the resultant sense of gloom which was endured by the country during those tragic years. Such events put the government and the Federal Reserve under great pressure to safeguard the rapidly deteriorating economy from worsening further and eliminate the social and commercial crisis faced by its people (Campbell, 2008). The exact reasons which led to the great depression are highly complicated in nature, and have been the subject of various debates among historians. Initially during the beginning of 1920s, the nation’s economy was relatively strong and consumer-oriented, with a booming automobile and consumer goods industry which produced products in large numbers to cater to the wide market. This could be substantiated with the presence of large companies such as General Motors and General Electric, which were not only successful i n the consumer goods market but also a major source of investments in the New York Stock Exchange along with other financial markets. The stock markets and financial institutions prospered greatly during those years, which led to a huge investment in those sectors, leading to an unprecedented rise in stock prices. The government concern increased, with the increase in stock prices, and the Federal Reserve along with the government began to introduce and develop policy measures to control the rising stock prices. Such measures taken by the government and the Federal Reserve paved way for the impending crash of the stock market, which began during October 1929. Although historians so far, have failed to pinpoint one single event which led to the collapse of the stock markets, and the resultant economic downturn that followed, resulting in billions of dollars worth of loss, large scale unemployment, failure of banks, and years of economic and social unrest. Timeline history of the peri od Year Events 1929 Feb 2 Federal Reserve Bank bans bank loans for margin trades June 15 - August Agricultural Marketing Act passed, Economic expansion peaks Sept, 3 Stock prices peak Oct 24, Oct 29 Black Thursday, sales of stocks was recorded at an all time high of 12,895,000, and 16,410,000 respectively resulting in a record forty points drop in the New York Times index Nov 13 Stock prices record a new low 1930 October Unemployment rises, Committee for unemployment relief formed Dec 2 Government funds a $150 million public works program. By the end of 1930, nearly 1350 banks suspend their operations 1931 Official report suggests that nearly 4-5 million people were unemployed Oct 16 New York Federal Bank increases its discount rate from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent Oct 23 New York Federal Bank once again increases its discount rate from 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent Dec 11 New York Bank collapses. By the end of the year nearly 2293 banks shut down Lack of economic safeguards During the depression there was large scale unemployment, various banking and other financial institutions failed and had to shut down, and there was a sharp decline in the GNP leading to disastrous outcomes. Such widespread and negative repercussions were mainly as a result of lack

Job Offset in a CNC Milling Machine

Job Offset in a CNC Milling Machine (a) Introduction 3.1 This narrative is based on my final year project, completed as a part of my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering (Anna University affiliated) Tamil Nadu, India. The project on Job offset in a CNC milling machine was carried out at Tractors and Farm Equipment Private Limited (TAFE), Tamil Nadu, India and was performed between the months of Jan, 2014 to April, 2014. (b) Background The final year project is a mandatory unit for the bachelor of engineering degree which has to be completed in a group of four as a part of the curriculum. I did this along with three others who were with me during the last semester of my degree. During the course of the project, I presented several presentations and seminars according to the guidelines of Anna University. The project was done in order to reduce the defects during production at Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE). With increasing competition in all fields and industries, the market demands zero defect products. In order to facilitate this, I implemented the poka-yoke scheme to reduce the production defects by using simple cost effective techniques. In a machine cell, the quality of machining should be inspected after each machining. After every machining, the quality of product gets reduced due to the formation of the burr which further leads to an offset in the next job. This offset causes the quality loss in machining and hence the product dimensions have a slight deviation from the actual dimension. The nature of my work was to design a pneumatic system which alerts the machine operator if an offset was detected. The project was supervised under Mr. Manoj Kumar Roy, the assistant professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering at Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering. I also did extensive literature research on total quality management techniques and came up with this poka-yoke strategy for mistake proofing to prevent defects. Some of the core principle duties of this project incorporated the following: During the course of the project, I attended meetings with my project coordinator and my team mates to discuss the progress of our project. I also coordinated several formal and informal group meeting with my group members to discuss on any problems encountered during the course of the project. I presented seminars and reports as a part of my bachelors degree curriculum. I referred to a number of papers to collect information on the poka-yoke scheme. I performed a plant quality analysis to analyze the number of product defects in a particular year. I prepared a report on the observations made by each member of the team. (c) Personal Engineering Activity The ever increasing production demands for a zero defect product quality. This has given rise to various techniques for quality management. Among different techniques, I selected the poka-yoke technique which is a Japanese improvement strategy for mistake-proofing to prevent defects from arising during production processes. I selected this technique because of its simplicity and efficiency in a cost efficient manner. I performed an analysis to determine the major causes of defects in order to device ways to reduce or eliminate them. I found that, the errors are often due to the misunderstanding, incorrect identification, could be good intentions but improperly implemented such as processing errors, error in setting up the work piece, assembly omissions, a wrong part was included, wrong work piece, errors in preparation of tools, equipment maintenance errors, operational errors, dimensional errors, fixtures, blades. etc. All these errors was prevented by the application of the poka-yoke technique. I prepared a flow chart (figure 1) for the methodology to be followed for mistake proofing. I referred to a number of papers to learn more about the concept of poka-yoke. I found out that poka-yoke can be classified into three types as shutdown poka-yoke, warning poka-yoke and control poka-yoke. I analyzed the sales profile of the company for its various products: transmission casing, front axle line, centre housing line and differential casing line. Figure 1: Methodology of mistake proofing I applied the poka-yoke technique for the elimination of errors in a CNC milling, drilling and boring machines. A milling machine is a fully computer controlled vertical mill with the spindle moving vertically along the Z axis. The first equipment that I designed for the elimination of errors in the CNC milling machine was the pneumatic air filter. Figure 2: Pneumatic air filter In the compressed air system, hard particles tends to damage the equipment and piping. The result is damage to the system and more particles are generated. The pneumatic air filter helps eliminate these impurities. The next equipment which I suggested for the machine was the mist collector. The mist collector works on mechanism of inertial impaction, interception and Brownian diffusion. I also included the use of an air pressure regulator which is a valve that automatically cuts off the flow of a liquid or gas at a certain pressure. I designed an air micro switch which is a switching device used for detecting the displacement of work piece and is kept on a machine while machining. It applies the principle of air micrometers, and can detect the seating of the objects without contact. It is designed in such a way to work in any harsh conditions, so that it can be placed inside the drilling machine. The back pressure that is received from the sensed components was allowed to hit a diaphragm which then deforms to give the pressure output. If the pressure received was large enough to move the air switch upwards, it closed the circuit and hence the operator could be alerted. However, the output current that was produced by the sensor was very low and hence to amplify the output signal, I placed a PNP transistor inside the sensor. The transistor amplifies the current and sends it to the output. Figure 3: Circuit diagram and specification of PNP transistor Similarly, pneumatic coupler, pneumatic manifold, rest pad and relay circuits were also added. Figure 4: Schematic of the components used in the machine The project was mainly intended to alert the machine operator if a job was not seated correctly on the CNC machine. The clamps that hold the job in the CNC milling machine would not work unless the proper seating takes place. The minimal gap allowed was 10 microns. Beyond that the relay switches off the clamping circuit. The shut off valve cuts off the pneumatic circuit in case of any emergencies. The mist separator was used to absorb the moisture content present in the air. The purpose of air filter was to remove the impurities present in the air which could cause damage to the machine during operation. The air pressure is regulated by the regulator passing through the air filter. This prevents damage to the machine. The air micro switch acts as the sensor. If the pressure that was received from the device was not sufficient enough, then the clamping circuit would be disengaged. Pneumatic coupler connects the air supply with the pneumatic manifold. The purpose of the manifold was to divide the supply of air to multiple channels. Rest pads or Butt pads are the provisions provided on the machine for the job to be seated. The main objective of this project was to provide mistake proofing to a CNC machine. I was able to execute this by making changes to the existing horizontal milling machine. I analyzed the defective product after the implementation of the project. The implementation of the project leads to the decrease in rejection of the machined products by 3% and have considerably increased the production rate. Finally, a master report was submitted to our department head. I also underwent an oral viva voce examination where I had to present my part of the project briefly and answered questions about various aspects of the project. (d) Summary This project in my engineering career helped me comprehend valuable principles of working together as a team and presented me the opportunity to understand and implement my theoretical knowledge into practice. I understood the importance of working as team and the need to step up as a leader when necessary. I gained profound knowledge in total quality management, seminars and presentations which boosted my confidence during the course of the project. The project was completed in time and well within budget. It also provided me a great exposure with company personnel and I benefitted a great deal from the interactions with company superiors.

What are the differences between the Indian religion and Catholicism? :: social issues

What are the differences between the Indian religion and Catholicism? When the settlers first came to America they were meet by the Indians. Once the settlers were able to make it on there own, they no longer needed Indian help. Then they began to try to change the ways of the Indian. One of the aspects that the settlers spent much time on trying to change of the Indians was there religion. One of the main religions that the Indians were forced to try to convert to was that of Cathoilism. Many attempts were made to change the Indians ways and convert them, but to understand why they were trying to convert them one should know the differences between the religions of that of the Indians and of the Catholics. One of the biggest differences is that of individual interpretation by that of the Indians. Compared to the structured ways of the Catholics. There is first the two different types of ceremonies that go on in the two religions. In Catholicism you have the weekly event of going to mass. Every Sunday a practicing Catholic is supposed to go to mass. Next to repent for ones sins you may go to penance or also known as reconciliation. Those are the main ceremonies that you have for Catholicism. In the Indian religion you have the Sweats. When Professor Anderson came to class to speak of the Crow Indians, he spoke of the different sweats that he had been invited to take part in. It seemed very interesting that he, a white man, was able to take part in a ritual that has been around for hundreds of years in the Indian religion. When he talked about them he spoke of the welcomes that he received from the Indians. He said that every sweat was different, none being the same. Everyone asks for a different thing, hence is the individual interpretation. In Catholicism you have the same ceremonies year in and year out. Next there is the major difference in scriptures that are read. In Catholicism there is one book, I am sure that we all have heard of it, the Bible. In Catholicism it is made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is made up of scriptures before the coming of Jesus. The New Testament is made up of scriptures written up after the coming of Jesus.

Fast Food Feast †Mcdonald’s Versus Whataburger Essay

Operation and Supply chain management (OSCM) is one of the foundations that successful businesses count on to provide a competitive advantage within their industry. The goal of OSCM is to develop and maintain a system that effectively and efficiently manages the flow of raw material resources into useful end products for consumer use (Chase, 2006). In the fast food industry this process takes center stage in maintaining competitive pricing. A review of the production process in two national chains, Whataburger and McDonald’s, showcases each chain’s approaches to OSCM. Observed Production Processes McDonald’s restaurant places its focus on quick turnaround times for efficiency and cost savings. McDonald’s mission statement is â€Å"to be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat. By lowering the unit cost per item and establishing a customer flow process that increases the volume of units sold, McDonald’s can maintain its dollar menu items and low prices (McDonald’s, 2012). The production process of McDonald’s is straightforward and all McDonalds follow the same process with employee training via videos on customer service and the food prep process. The restaurant makes use of sophisticated technology and prepackaged pre-cut produce to reduce prep times. Each shift has certain cleaning tasks to complete to maintain the food prep area and safety standards. (McDonald’s, 2012). Whataburger The focus at Whataburger is on freshness and a burger it takes two hands to hold. The mission statement is the same as it originally was: to serve a burger so big that it took two hands to hold and so good that with one bite customers would say, â€Å"What a burger! ’’(Whataburger 2012). Whataburger uses the latest technology but preserves the importance of the customer and made to order food. Identify the customer expectations for the service and product McDonalds The customer expectations for McDonalds are based on speedy service and good prices. The fast food chain has a value menu with items for one dollar during all meal times. Customers expect quick delivery of their meal whether they drive through or dine inside. Whataburger Whataburger patrons expect a big burger that is made just for them when they order it. While time of delivery does matter, the experience is more about getting a large burger just the way they want it. Consumers where are not as concerned about a dollar menu. Seven Major Questions How are in-store orders taken? The McDonald’s fast food chain has multiple cashiers where orders are placed face to face and entered via computerized cash registers. The cashiers transmit the orders electronically to a screen in the food prep area, with in store orders are identified from drive through orders. Once the order has been completed, the cashier clears that order when the customer is handed the food. Whataburger also uses electronic screens in the food prep area that receive the order information from the cashier at the counter. Orders are numbered and the customer is given a number to place on his or her table. Whataburger actually has an intermediate server who delivers the finished order to dine in patrons at their tables and offers condiments for their meal. Are the hamburgers prepared to order, or are they prepared ahead of time and delivered from a storage bin? McDonald’s hamburgers are frozen patties to ensure consistency of size and appearance. McDonald’s cooks the patties in batches and place them in temperature controlled warmer bins. Each bins holds one batch and a timer is placed per bin to regulate times according to OSHA standards (McDonald’s, 2012). During peak times, a set quantity of burgers are prepared and prepackaged ahead of time and placed on a temperature regulated delivery rack. Whataburger hamburgers are never cooked until they are ordered. The burgers are made from 100% American beef that has never been frozen (Whataburger, 2012).. How are special orders handled? Since McDonalds does prepare ahead of time, special orders are called over head as well as placed in the computerized order entry system via the cash register. Special stickers are applied to the outside of the burger wrapping to identify special orders as items are placed in the delivery rack. At Whataburger, all orders are special orders. All customers are asked what they want on their burger when they order. Whataburger will take phone orders ahead of time for large groups (such as buses of students) and have them ready when the group arrives. How are the hamburgers cooked? McDonald’s hamburgers are frozen patties to ensure consistency of size and appearance (McDonald’s, 2012). McDonald’s cooks the patties in batches and place them in temperature controlled warmer bins. Each bin holds one batch and a timer is placed per bin to regulate times according to OSHA standards. During peak times, a set quantity of burgers are prepared and prepackaged ahead of time and placed on a temperature regulated delivery rack. Whataburger hamburgers are cooked on a grill top. While the burger is cooking, the bun is toasted alongside it on the grill. How are the hamburgers assembled? At McDonald’s, patties are removed from the warmer bins and assembled according to direction per type of burger or per customer order. The vegetables are already cut up prior to assembly. The total time it takes to prepare a McDonald’s hamburger, from the freezer to the customer’s hands, is about a minute and a half (McDonald’s, 2012). Whataburger burgers are never assembled ahead of time. All vegetables are purchased fresh and cut up often throughout all shifts. The cook places the meat on the grilled bun and passes it to the assembler who adds the vegetables and quickly delivers the food to the server to carry to the table if it is a dine-in order. Is a microwave oven used in the process? McDonald’s previously used a microwave to heat up cheese burgers, but that practice was discontinued about three years ago. They do have a customized pie heater that is based on the microwave; it’s designed specifically to heat the fried Cherry and Apple pies (McDonald’s, 2012). Whataburger does not use a microwave in food preparation. How are other items such as French fries and drinks handled? McDonald’s cooks French fries in batches according to volume using an 80% guideline that states 80% of the customers will order a large size fry. McDonald’s French fries take 2. 5 minutes to cook, thus they have to move fast to maintain the output of fries to keep with the volume of hamburgers (McDonald’s, 2012). The lobby fountain drink stations are self-service. The McDonald’s drive through system is fast and efficient. As each drive through order is keyed, the automated drink dispenser drops the correct size cup into the holder and rotates it through the process of ice and then to the correct fountain drink and fills within one half inch to the lip of the cup. The finished drink slides to the side and the cashier places the tops. Whataburger serves fries that are cooked fresh in a quick fryer in small batches. The fries are never cooked in the same oil with fish or meat products. The soft drinks at Whataburger are self service inside. On to go orders at the window, the cashier fills the drink and places the lid on. State your opinion concerning the process effectiveness, efficiency, and measurements McDonald’s basically serves a market concerned with speed of service and a lower price. As such, the organization has developed some processes to turn out food in under three minutes. The value menu of items for one dollar is also a popular item. McDonald’s operates efficiently, but consumers generally frequent the place based on convenience and speed over quality. McDonald’s measures success largely on the time it takes to deliver food orders. Quality does not seem to be the main concern. Whataburger strives to deliver large quality burgers and food items that are prepared fresh when they are ordered. The service can be a bit slow, but the end product is an old fashioned burger made to order. The processes used are generally effective because the goal is different from the sheer speed desired by McDonalds. Suggestions for improvement McDonald’s and Whataburger do a good job based on the audiences they serve. McDonald’s succeeds because it can turn out inexpensive food quickly. One area that could improve is the automatic drink dispenser used for drive through service. Different flavors of drinks are dispensed through the same line. Some residual flavor from the previous drink shows up in the next one dispensed. Fruity drinks leave a strange taste in colas or lemon lime drinks particularly. Whataburger still treats every order like a special order and starts preparation only after the order is placed. As a result, service may be too slow for hurried consumers. The chain could probably speed up service without compromising quality by adding staff at peak times. Conclusion Organizations of all kinds rely on operations supply chain management to meet the needs of the consumer. An effective and efficient system of delivering raw materials and/or finished goods to the consumer is necessary in all industries to ensure that the business is successful. Whether the business is a sole proprietorship or a mega giant such as Walmart, it must utilize operations and supply chain management to remain profitable and achieve the goals of the organization. References Operations Management for Competitive Advantage (11th ed. ) Richard B. Chase, F. Robert Jacobs, and Nicholas J. AquilanoMcGraw-Hill, 2006 New York, NY McDonalds (2012). Company Information. Retrieved from http://www. mcdonalds. com/ Company Mission. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. aboutmcdonalds. com/mcd/our_company/mission_and_values. html Whataburger. (2012). Retrieved from http://www. whataburger. com.

Individuality in Sula

Individuality in Sula Free Online Research Papers Individuals are often living a routine-based life, living their lives day to day without showing their true color because society represses individuality. In Sula, by Toni Morrison, Nel is also repressed as an individual and is never allowed to show to the Bottom community who she really is. She became an individual only when she was with Sula, her best friend. Through events such as facing bullies, the need for individuality, and the sex scandals, Sula is viewed as a negative force in the community, but she becomes a positive force in Nel’s life by helping her realize who she is and what she can become. Sula became a positive force in Nel’s life at a very young age. When they both were twelve years old, Nel was bullied by three Irish boys on her way home from school and since then, had started taking a longer path to go home. Sula, unable to see her scared friend not stand up to the bullies, decided to take the situation upon her. One day, Sula suggested going home from the shortest route and they were once again confronted by the bullies. When the boys started harassing them, Sula pulled out a knife and slate and cut off the end of her own finger. She said, â€Å"If I can do that to myself, what you suppose I’ll do to you?† (55). Sula took it upon herself to help her friend Nel through the crisis she was facing. This made Sula a positive force not only because she gained courage to do what was right and helped her friend, she also gave Nel the courage to stand up for herself. Although self-harm is portrayed negatively, Sula displayed it in a positive way. When Sula realized her need for individuality and freedom, she tried to bring Nel to realize the same thing: life is not about doing what society expects you to do; it’s about doing what you want to do. When she came back after ten years, she fought with Eva about her individuality. Sula said, â€Å"I don’t want to make nobody else. I want to make myself†¦ Whatever’s burning in me is mine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (92-93). From this statement, Sula makes it known that she is in fact her own individual, her own person. Nel realizes that after Sula’s return, every aspect of life is more valuable and enjoyable. She even states that Sula â€Å"never competed; she simply helped others define themselves† (95). From this statement, Nel regards Sula as a positive force in her life. Nel realized who she was and what she was to become with the help of her friend. Without her, Nel never would have found her true identity. Sex scandals are viewed negatively by the entire Bottom community, including Nel. Throughout the book, Sula is seen as a radical individual and this is evident when she sleeps with Nel’s husband, Jude. Although Nel realizes the deep bond she shares with Sula, she cannot bring herself to forgive the woman who slept with her husband. Nel sees that Sula only lives for herself, while Nel lives for her husband and children. She eventually broke away from Sula, saying that â€Å"greater than her friendship was this new feeling of being needed by someone who saw her singly† (84). Sula, hurt by this statement and trying one last time to rekindle individuality within Nel, had sex with Jude. Although Nel realized this many years after Sula had died, Sula was a positive force in her life when she slept with Jude because it opened her eyes to the fact that it was Nel that distanced herself from her friend. Even though what Sula did caused her much pain, it gave Nel the time to re alize what was most important in her life. How people see others is only a matter of their perspective. The residents of the Bottom saw Sula as a negative force in their lives because of the way she acted, such as committing adultery. But one person saw her as a positive force, her best friend Nel. In the end, even after she had lost her best friend, Sula continued to make a positive impact in Nel’s life. Morrison, Toni. Sula. New York: Plume, 1996. Print. Quote â€Å"Although it was she alone who saw this magic, she did not wonder at it. She knew it was all due to Sula’s return to the Bottom. It was like getting the use of an eye back, having a cataract removed. Her old friend had come home. Sula. Who made her laugh, who made her see old things with new eyes, in whose presence she felt clever, gentle a little raunchy. Sula, whose past she had lived through and with whom the present was a constant sharing of perceptions.† (Sula, 95) Research Papers on Individuality in SulaHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Spring and AutumnWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThree Concepts of PsychodynamicLifes What IfsAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Free Essays on Rockefeller And Standard Oil... Rags To Riches... Greed Posing As Philanthropy

John D Rockefeller began as a humble oil business book-keeper in Cleveland, Ohio and in just seven years rose to control a tenth of the entire US oil industry. In the late 19th century the oil industry was a free-for-all, the law of the jungle ruled. Rockefeller used this 'individual freedom' to pursue several extremely successful, if deceitful tactics to accumulate capital. He would create new oil related companies such as engineering and pipeline firms that seemed to be independent operators. Rockefeller and his close colleagues secretly controlled the firms and gave Standard Oil of California, Rockefeller's main oil company, hidden rebates. Another tactic was to buy up a competing oil company, again secretly. Officials from this company could then be used very effectively to spy on, and give advanced warning of, deals being hatched by his real competitors. Probably the most effective secret deals done by Rockefeller and his partners were with the railroads. These 'in harmony' deals meant those refineries and oil traders not 'in harmony' with standard would find that railroads would refuse point blank to move their oil, whatever the price. Oil, of course, is free at source, so once the investment in refining and extraction plant has been made the only really important cost was transportation. Rockefeller's secret railroad rebates on the transportation of his oil kept his competitors guessing for years. None of them could understand how he kept pump prices so low. They were all bemused that Standard Oil had being growing at such a rate. How he managed to persuade the railroads to give him rebates and keep the deals secret is still not clear. Allun Nevins has produced an official biography ¹ of the Rockefeller empire but even he cannot help but question its morality. Of a railroad contract signed on 17 October 1877 he says, "The commission was excessive for the services performed. It was ethically indefensible." "Tod... Free Essays on Rockefeller And Standard Oil... Rags To Riches... Greed Posing As Philanthropy Free Essays on Rockefeller And Standard Oil... Rags To Riches... Greed Posing As Philanthropy John D Rockefeller began as a humble oil business book-keeper in Cleveland, Ohio and in just seven years rose to control a tenth of the entire US oil industry. In the late 19th century the oil industry was a free-for-all, the law of the jungle ruled. Rockefeller used this 'individual freedom' to pursue several extremely successful, if deceitful tactics to accumulate capital. He would create new oil related companies such as engineering and pipeline firms that seemed to be independent operators. Rockefeller and his close colleagues secretly controlled the firms and gave Standard Oil of California, Rockefeller's main oil company, hidden rebates. Another tactic was to buy up a competing oil company, again secretly. Officials from this company could then be used very effectively to spy on, and give advanced warning of, deals being hatched by his real competitors. Probably the most effective secret deals done by Rockefeller and his partners were with the railroads. These 'in harmony' deals meant those refineries and oil traders not 'in harmony' with standard would find that railroads would refuse point blank to move their oil, whatever the price. Oil, of course, is free at source, so once the investment in refining and extraction plant has been made the only really important cost was transportation. Rockefeller's secret railroad rebates on the transportation of his oil kept his competitors guessing for years. None of them could understand how he kept pump prices so low. They were all bemused that Standard Oil had being growing at such a rate. How he managed to persuade the railroads to give him rebates and keep the deals secret is still not clear. Allun Nevins has produced an official biography ¹ of the Rockefeller empire but even he cannot help but question its morality. Of a railroad contract signed on 17 October 1877 he says, "The commission was excessive for the services performed. It was ethically indefensible." "Tod...

Credit Crunch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Credit Crunch - Essay Example Credit crunch can be thwarted by sound efforts on the part of the people who brought this credit crisis about in entirety. This would mean that these people are asked to do things against the norms which have already made the rounds in the last year or so. There is a need to address the issues that the credit crunch has brought with it since these have magnanimous effects on the world, and not just financial institutions alone. The economic climate all over the world has changed and that too in a very negative way. The manner in which states have been able to change the behaviors of the people from a futuristic angle comes directly under the aegis of moral hazards. The solution for the same is to bail out the banks so that these could avoid the short term issues and problems and hence benefit the common man. There must be stop gap solutions so that people do not suffer on the same count, however little was done to address the issues that plagued the life of commoners. The financial companies have a responsibility to meet the needs of the people and to regulate the banking sector and the government cannot be allowed to have its own under such extreme circumstances (Pettinger 2008). The credit crunch came about because banks made loans of serious amounts and had little respect for the proposition of repaying. The mortgage loans were increased since a number of different ways were devised and hence these stra tegies did not benefit the common man when the credit crunch came down quickly. The homeowners are now at a severe risk of mortgage defaults and hence they cannot fathom something sane to happen within their respective ranks. The entire financial system of the world has suffered due to the steps undertaken by the people who are at the helm of affairs within these financial institutions. The consumers for mortgage have suffered on the same count, if not less. The sales pitches given by mortgage people were very aggressive and this led

Sexual Orientation, poverty, and homophobia Research Paper

Sexual Orientation, poverty, and homophobia - Research Paper Example Homophobia refers to a hostile social ideology towards gay or homosexuality. Homophobia is a negative feeling and attitude of people towards the homosexual community, relations and behaviour that eventually contributes towards discriminating and violent experience faced by many gays, lesbian and bisexual people. Homophobia is widely practiced in many societies due to which there are some very serious problems faced by the people with homosexual alignment because they always face the fear of social opposition after being identified as gay. The lives of these people are strongly affected from homophobia (Cozza, 2003). Social scientists and analysts frequently discuss the issue of homophobia and its impacts upon people and society. It is commonly believed that homophobia bounds people into rigid gender based roles where their creativity and self-expression rights are badly destroyed. Blumenfeld (1992) explains that homophobia often inhibits gay and bisexual people to develop self-identity and due to intense social pressure, they have to spend their lives under stress, and that affects their mental condition. The fictional character of Ennis Del Mar in the movie Brokeback Mountain is an important and prominent example of depiction of homophobia through the cinematic expressions and characterization (Stacy, 2007). The character reflects the problems and troubles encountered by a person in homosexual relation and his efforts to keep his relations hidden from people. It indicates the social pressure upon people to hide or discontinue their homosexual relations due to the fear as homophobia makes it impossible for the societies to accept homosexuality. The typical Wyoming society of Ennis represents the typical society and thinking style of the people observed everywhere. Like Ennis’s town, the people in different societies reject and oppose