Geology Week 9 questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Geology Week 9 questions - Essay Example In the beginning, the shortages would cause inconveniences. Gas stations would run out of fuel. When gas was available, the prices would be outrageous. Plastic products would become rarer. A change would occur, but not easily. Green powered energy would become the new business. In the end, Americans would produce the energy needed as history has shown. 2. Investigate how geophysicist M. King Hubbert predicted in 1956 that annual U.S. oil production would peak in the early 1970s (the actual peak occurred in 1971). Also, investigate the debate over whether the same predictive technique can be applied to world oil supplies. When do you think world oil production will reach its peak—or has it done so already? Hubbert was a geologist. He predicted that oil would peak. His (Hubbert 1958) rationalization was it took 500 million years for the oil reserve to be formed. The reserve was limited. Oil would peak and then decline depending on usage. He also based his prediction on coal. The figures of coal production, peaking, and finally declining was a basis of part of his prediction. Hubbert (1958) used the following calculations with t standing for time is t=0 at the beginning and at first t equals a finite limit to reserves that are in a specific amount. The t will peak and eventually go back to 0. Using a complicated calculus formula that only a true mathematician could understand, he came up with the following chart: Hubbert was scoffed at for this prediction. Short term people would laugh and say oil would run out far in the future. Hubbert did not base his predication on feelings or emotions, he used a formula. He could prove what he was saying. It is looking like Hubbert was the only smart one that could face reality. 3. Many hydrothermal mineral deposits of copper, gold, silver, and other metals have been found in the countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. Can you offer an explanation for this remarkable concentration? If you were

Garmin's Vivo Activity Tracker Line Term Paper

Garmin's Vivo Activity Tracker Line - Term Paper Example Developing high-quality data in the devices with measurements can give the company an improved accuracy, intelligence and position as a leading expert in terms of fitness and health. The data should comprise both burn and intake to give the ability to track maximizing accurate quality assessment. Thirdly, there is also the aim to appeal and identify unique user segments. As the firm’s market matures, it needs to have value propositions and focused customer agents. The credibility of being a trusted advisor can get achieved by rich connection and understanding with the company’s user base (Kotler & Kevin 54). Fourthly, Garmin will aim at building loyal customers. Creating a great users base community will be the major metric for the company in globalization space. The user base scale will develop more significant data and give great customer sharing that may only expand bolster user trust and loyalty. Fifthly, the company will use a platform technique. To develop a loyal user base and a lasting experience, Garmin will have to create a full end-to-end system that is functionally integrated. It should base on a uniting platform of the customers community and easily allow digital services, apps, accessories, and devices series are working together. Thus, this path can get achieved through organically developing full ecosystem part or rich partnerships. Lastly, following the above objective, Garmin will aim at building strategic partnerships. Being more intimate with customers’ needs meeting them and understanding where they are in fitness and health life. It means developing partnerships and affiliations with trainers, fitness programs, gyms, professional athletes, diet programs, corporate wellness programs, and insurance providers. It will provide an opportunity to broaden and scale user base at a low-cost marketing/sales model (Kotler & Kevin 36). Garmin’s primary target market will

Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Essay Example for Free

Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State Essay This article argues that the first domestic institution in human history was not the family but the matrilineal clan. Engels here follows Lewis H. Morgans thesis as outlined in his major book, Ancient Society. Morgan was an American business lawyer who championed the land rights of Native Americans and became adopted as an honorary member of the Seneca Iroquois tribe. Traditionally, the Iroquois had lived in communal longhouses based on matrilineal descent and matrilocal residence, an arrangement giving women much solidarity and power. When nonhuman primate society and earliest human society, identifying sexual competition and the jealousy of the male as the vital issue that needed to be overcome to allow the emergence of the oldest form of family involving group marriage. Primitive communism was based in the matrilineal clan where women lived with their classificatory sisters – applying the principle that my sister’s child is my child. This kinship solidarity empowered women to take action against uncooperative males. Engels identified the world historic defeat of the female sex – the switch from what he called mother-right to father-right – with the onset of farming and pastoralism. This shift from matrilocality to patrilocality manifested itself in mens increased control in the home. Engels wrote: The man took command in the home also. The book begins with an extensive discussion of Ancient Society which describes the major stages of human development as commonly understood in Engels time. In contrast to other contemporary essays on the subject, Engels emphasizes the importance not of primitive psychological development but rather of social relations of power and control over material resources, sometimes related to the d evelopment of new technologies. Morgan, whose account of prehistory Engels largely accepts as given, focuses primarily on the first two stages  of Savagery and Barbarism but only ventures as far as the transition into Civilization. The terms Savagery and Barbarism as used by Morgan were meant to be objective and not terms of derision or disparagement as they might be assumed to be then or now. The Pairing Family, first indications of pairing are found in families where the husband has one primary wife. Inbreeding is practically eradicated by the prevention of a marriage between two family members who were even just remotely related, while relationships also start to approach monogamy. Property and economics begin to play a larger part in the family, as a pairing family had responsibility for the ownership of specific goods and property. Polygamy is still common amongst men, but no longer amongst women since their fidelity would ensure the child’s legitimacy. Women have a superior role in the family as keepers of the household and guardians of legitimacy. The pairing family is the form characteristic of the lower stages of barbarism. However, at this point, when the man died his inheritance was still given to his gens, rather than to his offspring. Engels refers to this economic advantage for men coupled with the womans lack of rights to lay claim to possessions for herself or her children (who became hers after a separation) as the overthrow of mother-right which was the world historical defeat of the female sex. For Engels, ownership of property created the first significant division between men and women in which the woman was inferior. It develops from the pairing family, as we have already shown, during the time of transition from the middle to the higher stage of barbarism. Its final victory is one of the signs of beginning civilization. It is founded on male supremacy for the pronounced purpose of breeding children of indisputable paternal lineage. The latter is required, because these children shall later on inherit the fortune of their father. The monogamous family is distinguished from the pairing family by the far greater durability of wedlock, which can no longer be dissolved at the pleasure of either party. As a rule, it is only the man who can still dissolve it and cast off his wife.

Nurses Role In Communicating Effectively In Clinical Practice

Nurses Role In Communicating Effectively In Clinical Practice The purpose of this essay is to discuss and analyse the nurses role, in relation to communicating effectively in clinical practice. To explore this area fully an example taken from a clinical practice will be outlined, in accordance to the NMC (2008) confidentiality guide lines. To follow after will be how we learn to communicate, what communication is and the potential barriers that prevent effective communication. A nursing module by the name of Egan (SOLER) that has been especially designed to help nurses develop communication skills will be discussed in relation to the clinical practice example. Another nursing module from Roper, Logan and Tierney has also been briefly examined and related back to the clinical practice example. Suitable conclusions will be drawn up to bring this topic to a closure. In accordance to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 2008, the patients name has been changed in order to protect their identity. Alex is a male patient, in his late forties and is currently being treated for on a mental health ward. To communicate with Alex a trusted relationship had to build up first, as he suffers from paranoia schizophrenia. His average day would consist of being huddled into a ball in a small arm chair anxiously aware of everyone and everything around him. I aimed to make sure that I approached Alex in the same manor every shift in order to build up a trust between us, so that i could offer assistance to him if needed. Over the placement period the trusted bond between Alex and I had started to form and he now trusted me enough to help assist him to the dining room to feed him, where as normally the food was brought to him because of his nervousness and anxiety around large groups . In order to communicate effectively you need to understand the aspects involved with communication. The basics start off with oral and written communication skills taught to us from a young age, in order to achieve in life. Oral communication is a constant learning skill throughout life, by observing and practising. The same can be said for written communication. Both communication aspects should equally complement one another, as weak or poor oral/written skills can lead to disagreements between individuals, poor documentation, and waste of time for resources. Whilst mastering the art of effective oral communication other factors now come into play such as, using open and closed questions to enhance a conversation and also the facilitators/barriers to communication. As well as being able to speak and write correctly, other learning functions are also taught from a young age by observing others, and are also included in our constant learning curve through life, these include listenin g, understanding, becoming self aware and to the ability to maintain confidentiality . Without these important extra factors no further improvement personally or professionally would be able to happen. If unable to listen and understand oral communication/commands catastrophic consequences could occur, especially in the field of nursing. Effective communication is needed in order to understand the individuals viewpoint on their illness and to strive for empathy. The nurses job does not only involve looking after the physical demands of the patient, but also to try and build up a therapeutic relationship between them. Oral communication consists mainly of two divisions called verbal and non verbal, from which they both strand off and explore the various different characteristics between them. Verbal communication pays close attention to the accents, pitch, tone, volume, speed and context. (Arnold, 2001, p.41) Referring back to the clinical example above, before I started to communicate with Alex I politely asked him what language he spoke or preferred to use, Alex stated that English was his only language. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) states that, You must make arrangements to meet peoples language and communication needs. (NMC code 2008, p.3) Communication was one of the barriers that affected Alex so therefore effective verbal communication was extremely important to my patient in order for him to maintain his social interaction skills and memory processing (Mason and Whitehead 2003) By approaching Alex frequently throughout each shift I tried to maintain as much social interaction as possible to help him overcome his timid social skills and to keep some sort of normality to his daily living on the ward. Communicating with Alex would often be a one way conversation due to the lack of response when communicating with him; some qualified health care professionals would spend less time with him, for the feeling of being ignored. When actually socialising with the patients is a therapeutic activity and can help with the healing process. Mason and Whitehead states that, Thus, nursing can be viewed as a social action and also as a form of therapy in itself. I tried to speak to Alex in a way that I hoped would reassure to him that I brought no harm, by slowing down my speech and speaking quieter and softer than normal. The purpose in doing so was that speaking in a lower tone to Alex proved to be more effective and calming for him, which overall provided a better response in conversation. If you were to suddenly ask Alex a question, without thinking about your self-awareness and interpersonal skills first, it would startle him and sometimes cause an outburst of unsettlement. Whilst trying to keep sentences short and simple for easier understanding, to further the conversion I made a conscious effort to ask open questions that would prompt more of an answer other than yes or no. The reason in doing so was to try and assist with Alexs social skills and build up his autonomy confidence. Questions such as what visitors have you had today or who got you out of bed this morning would help to establish a small conversion whilst trying to set up building blocks to further the conversation. To start a conversation off with one of the following words who, what, when, where, why and how, help to approach an open ended question and to also address specific symptoms. (Sheldon L.K, 2009.) While non verbal communication looks more at the paralinguistics such as, body language and movements, facial expressions, proximity, eye contact and posture. (Arnold, 2001, p.41) Referring back to the clinical example above, non verbal communication needed just as much attention because Alex would sit with his knees pulled in tightly to his chest, with his arms wrapped around them and his head bowed down. By displaying these closed gestures, Alex was indicating his need for self protection, and that he was feeling vulnerable. In order to open up his body language and communicate with Alex small and gestures had to be used such as, trying to maintain eye contact throughout lets you establish a connection and initiates communication whether it be verbal or non verbal, it also helps to engage with your patient and help with attentiveness. (Gupta, 2008) Before I sat down or made an approach, I made sure that I informed Alex what I was going to do. Uys and Middleton suggest, When moving towards the patient, inform him/her verbally of what your actions mean. By pulling up a chair to sit next to Alex decreasing the proximity between us i tried to show warmth, care and understanding, by placing my arm slowly and gently on his arm of the chair, instead of standing over him and coming across as superior. (Boyer,J.M 1992) Proximity between Alex and I would differ from day to day, sitting close to him in a chair may be ok some days and on others you would need to allow significant body space. By judging his non verbal communication such as facial expressions and eye contact, you consciously knew the distance he would appreciate. (Uys and Middleton, 2004) To offer assistance to Alex and prepare him for moving off his security setting and into the dining room for food, I would verbally and non-verbally explain to Alex what the plan was and how we were going to get to the dining room. I would point to specific points in the day room and explain it would only take three steps or five steps to the next point, to try and encourage movement. Whilst pointing around the room I would show my palms instead of pointing my index finger. The reason for showing my palms was that pointing at something can be misinterpreted as an attack, whereas a palm is more open and patient, ready for encouraging small movement at a time. Showing points in the room to where we would walk to first, would make the journey to the dining room seem less intimidating and also not to cause any additional anxiety for him, as some restless and panicky patients need reassurance about the availability of support (Uys and Middleton, 2004) Other days small gestures would be all it took for Alex to open up his body language, such as keeping a happy, wide eyed expression around him, showing that i was still available if he wanted some reassurance. The work of Egan (1986) has been drawn upon extensively by nurses as the basis for active listening, as this skill is a fundamental aspect required by nurses to provide adequate care, and by suggesting that non verbal skills can demonstrate to the patients that you are listening to what he or she is saying. The frame work is labelled by the name of SOLER, and is an acronym from the word squarely. It encourages the nurse to sit squarely facing your patient so that you may engage them fully; this was especially helpful when talking to Alex as it showed I was willing to communicate with him. It also mentions about adopting an open posture to show encouraging and facilitates patient expression. Alex displayed closed off gestures, by implying openness I tried to facilitate effective communication whilst also being aware of my own body language, posture and movement. To lean slightly forward showing attention and interest was not always a good position to hold, as being so close to Alex wo uld slightly unnerve him and make him feel intimidated. Soler also suggests maintaining good eye contact, which again shows interest. In relation to Alex maintaining good eye contact was vital for encouragement and progress when assisting to the dining room, by showing a wide eye, happy expression I aimed for encouragement and reassurance. The last part of Soler, Egan argues that it is imperative not to fidget and to feel at ease and relaxed (Stretch, 2007) again this part played an important factor when assisting Alex to the dining room. There are also many barriers that prevent effective communication between the nurse and patients such as, stereotyping. Nurses must try and refrain from culturally stereotyping patients, and should consult patients regarding values, beliefs, preferences and cultural identification first. (Boyer.J,M, 1992) Other barriers include perceptions, prejudgements, environmental factors and nurses avoiding subjects or rapidly changing the subject if the nurse feels uncomfortable within a nurse/patient situation. The reason for distancing themselves was to avoid exploring an area that could actually do more harm than good to the patient. Over time this procedure has been reviewed and communication is now seen as a vital aspect for improved better care and a more therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. (Walsh and Crumbie, 2007) Roper, Logan and Tierney collaborated to refine the Roper models (1980) as a way of introducing beginning students to think about nursing practice. It has been used extensively within the United Kingdom as a frame work for nursing care, practice, teaching and learning. The module is divided up into two sections, the module of living including the sixteen activities of living (ALS) and the module for nursing including twelve further activities of living that came into action after a lengthy debate in 1996. Starting off with the module of living Roper et al categorized this section into three groups, essential looks at the physical demands of daily living, increase quality of living pays close attention to the social aspect of daily living, and mortality looks at the dying stage of life. The next twelve activities of living are related to particular human needs and have biological basis to them, whereas the sixteen activities of daily living have social and cultural determinants. (Aggleton and Chalmers, 1986) (Holland et al, 2003) The focus of the theory model is aimed at efficient nurse/patient communication in order to achieve a positive living outcome for the patient. It shows empathy, non judgement and respect to the patients needs by recognising that, people require nursing episodically and that minimal disruption to a persons lifestyle should be maintained. As mentioned previously with Alex, communication with him on the ward was to try and keep some sort of normality to his daily living, whilst being looked after. Roper, Logan and Tierney states that, Alternative strategies should be carried out on an informed basis and not simply in accordance with past precedent. (Aggleton and Chalmers, 1986, P.31) One of the new strategies tried with Alex was to assist him to the dining room for food, rather than bringing the food to him where he felt secure in his chair. The purpose in doing so was to encourage and seek responsibility for self-care, to promote dignity and to raise Alexs self esteem. Conclusion

The First Day :: Personal Narrative Essays

The First Day      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was a bright sunny day, the sky was a soft shade of blue and there was a slight breeze in the air. I stepped out of my moms red shiny CRX as she said ‘Good Luck' to me. I forced up a weak smile as I shoved the door, and it made a woosh noise as it closed. I took a deep breathe and started walking towards the man entrance. I thought to myself, ‘Why does the school have all the buildings seperated?'      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I slowly walked forward as I started looking at all the other kids, most were in groups and all talking laughing and smiling. I felt very small, like I was an alien who had just landed on planet Earth. I thought to myself, ‘I should be at home, with my friends talking and laughing'. But I wasn't,   I was in Rocklin, California. Id moved here at the begging of August. And I'd hated it ever since. But I was willing to give Rocklin a shot, even though ever kid I'd met in town so far had said ‘Rocklin is the worst school'. As I walked forward with the white scrunched up piece of paper that told me my classes, I tried to look like I fit in. As I looked around for my class, I noticed I was on the wrong side of the building. ‘At least I know where the main building is,' I said to myself.   The main building looked bright and cheery, like the sun.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I trudged over to the main building trying not to look at anyone,   the pavement looked really white. When I got to the main building I walked up to a Miss Kerby, sitting behind a desk and asked her if she could tell me where this building was. Instead I felt like I had just been arrested for murder. I was bombarded with about 5 questions all at once. I answered them all, and with a negative tone she told me ‘I cant help you, you need your mom to go sign these'. I felt shocked and a huge amount of anger mounting up inside me. I walked straight out of the building. I didn't need to get crap from some lady when I was trying to get used to a state that I had never been too. I walked home and slammed the front door shut, and screamed at the top of my lungs ‘I hate it here, I am moving back to Illinois with my dad!' And ran upstairs to my room, slammed The First Day :: Personal Narrative Essays The First Day      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It was a bright sunny day, the sky was a soft shade of blue and there was a slight breeze in the air. I stepped out of my moms red shiny CRX as she said ‘Good Luck' to me. I forced up a weak smile as I shoved the door, and it made a woosh noise as it closed. I took a deep breathe and started walking towards the man entrance. I thought to myself, ‘Why does the school have all the buildings seperated?'      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I slowly walked forward as I started looking at all the other kids, most were in groups and all talking laughing and smiling. I felt very small, like I was an alien who had just landed on planet Earth. I thought to myself, ‘I should be at home, with my friends talking and laughing'. But I wasn't,   I was in Rocklin, California. Id moved here at the begging of August. And I'd hated it ever since. But I was willing to give Rocklin a shot, even though ever kid I'd met in town so far had said ‘Rocklin is the worst school'. As I walked forward with the white scrunched up piece of paper that told me my classes, I tried to look like I fit in. As I looked around for my class, I noticed I was on the wrong side of the building. ‘At least I know where the main building is,' I said to myself.   The main building looked bright and cheery, like the sun.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I trudged over to the main building trying not to look at anyone,   the pavement looked really white. When I got to the main building I walked up to a Miss Kerby, sitting behind a desk and asked her if she could tell me where this building was. Instead I felt like I had just been arrested for murder. I was bombarded with about 5 questions all at once. I answered them all, and with a negative tone she told me ‘I cant help you, you need your mom to go sign these'. I felt shocked and a huge amount of anger mounting up inside me. I walked straight out of the building. I didn't need to get crap from some lady when I was trying to get used to a state that I had never been too. I walked home and slammed the front door shut, and screamed at the top of my lungs ‘I hate it here, I am moving back to Illinois with my dad!' And ran upstairs to my room, slammed

Sweet Diamond Dust :: essays research papers

Chapter IV focuses on the presence of the Americans in Puerto Rico during the early part of the twentieth century and their subsequent development of the sugarcane industry there. During this time, the United States military occupied Puerto Rico. Due to this occupation, the native islanders were affected in numerous ways and were looked down upon by the Americans. The Americans viewed the natives as incompetent and unable to be trusted. Many new American banks were popping up in Guamani that were reluctant to finance island run mills, but were giving money to the American run mills: "A number of powerful banks from the north had recently opened branches in Guamani†¦These banks, however, found no difficulty in financing the new sugar corporations that had recently arrived in town, but mistrusted island initiative" (26). The opening and inauguration of the Snow White Mills, "†¦the ultramodern refining complex the newcomers (Americans) had been building from months on the valley," (28) was of major significance in this chapter. Don Julio was strong-willed and vowed that he would not sell any of his land and "share the same fate" as the other local sugar mills. It was rumored that the Americans had declared a cessation of hostilities in the sugar mills war, and were now willing to aid the criollo hacienda workers. This was his opportunity to mingle and discuss his plans with the owners of Snow White Mills. When Don Julio arrived at the fair grounds, he made his way over to Mr. Durham and Mr. Irving, the president of the mills and the president of the sponsoring bank National City Bank, respectively. These two Americans saw the US victory as a major step towards modernizing for the US and for Puerto Rico: "’Twenty years ago it brought you freedom and order; this times it’s bringing you our nation’s progress. Thanks to that army out there your island is being inaugurated today in to the modern age," (32) said Mr. Durham speaking of the army that was present at the festivities. Don Julio was disturbed and offended by this comment. Mr. Irving said that the progress of the new century belongs to Americans and the progress of the past belongs to the Spanish. Yet again, showing how the Americans look down upon the native peoples. He then proposed his deal to the two Americans; he would sell them some of his cane fields, if they would lend him the money to ‘modernize’ his own mill.

Campbell Management Consulting Case Analysis

Campbell Management Consulting Case Analysis Situation Analysis In the Campbell Management Consulting case, Lauzon Automotive hopes to become more efficient. Central Engineering Manager, Peter Cole, has hired Colin Campbell to conduct a series of studies, beginning with the role of â€Å"tug operator†. The workload carried by the tug operator position has decreased in recent years due to decreases in the amount of waste generated at the plant; however, staff level of the role has remained constant over the same period. Campbell is observing and analyzing the utilization of workers in the position to determine if cutbacks would be beneficial. Campbell is met with hostility, however, on the part of the union workers who fear losing their jobs. In addition to being openly hostile towards Campbell, the workers have opted to participate in a â€Å"work-to-rule† campaign to show their dissatisfaction with the study. The campaign is a strike technique in which workers do the minimum amount of work necessary, or follow the policies and procedures so closely, that productivity is hampered or halted altogether. Since huge losses result from the shutdown of the plant, which could be a result of their work-to-rule campaign, it is wise to avoid its enactment. The root causes of the issues include job design problems, specifically with inflexibility. This narrow description has caused workers to be able to enact the work-to-rule campaign. In addition, general management of the workforce is another concern. Cole, a young manager, needs to get a better grip on the tenured union employees and enforce company policies. Issues with the union also abound; under no circumstances should a consultant be harassed, as Campbell was, by one the Lauzon employees. PROJECT TITLE: | Campbell Management Consulting| Date:| 9/13/2011| | Owner:| Michelle Crawford| Background| | Recommendations| *In 1998, Japanese automakers have 30% share of industry vs. the decreasing 60% share held by North American manufacturers. *Production rates for American automakers had dropped 2-3% in few years leading up to 1998. | | A job analysis and reformation of the job description is required to impede any future attempts at enforcing a work-to-rule or other strike tactic. The measurable will be compliance from the workforce as well as increased efficiency in the tug operator role. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Current Situation| | | *In order to remain competitive, Lauzon Automotive is looking to become more efficient. *Colin Campbell has been hired to diagnose problems and inefficiencies, beginning with the role of â€Å"tug operator†. *The workload carried by the tug loader position had decreased steadily in the past few years due to decreases in waste production, yet staff level of this role remained constant over the same period. The tug operator position is occupied by senior union employees, who are reacting negatively to the study and staging work-to-rule protests. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Plan| | | 1 – Perform job analysis on the tug operator position. Redefine the role so that it includes measurables like timeliness of deliveries as well as safety regulations. Include any duties that may have been previo usly undefined in the description. 2 – Have Peter, and perhaps a more senior employee, meet with union leaders on the hostility issues. A â€Å"no-tolerance† rule on harassment should be implemented – and offenders immediately fired. 3 – During this meeting, Peter should assure the tug operators that their jobs are not at risk. Given that most of them are within one year of retirement, Peter should allow their retirement to naturally reduce the number of workers in the role, and only hire on/promote more tug operators as necessary based on utilization calculations, which will need to include travel time between gondolas. – Peter should explain the reformation in the job description. This will be instrumental not only in preventing work-to-rule protests from employees, but will also aide when training newly hired tug operators, when the time comes. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Goal(s)| | | Effectively manage the number of workers in the tug operator position for maximum efficiencies, without causing unrest amongst the union employees and possibly causing a strike. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Analysis| | | | | | | | Utilization rate of workers per shift (assuming one refuel per shift): 180 (# of gondolas) X 5. 35 m (average service time per sample gondola) = 984. 25 m (total time to service gondolas per shift) 510 m (per shift) – 30 m (lunch) – 60 m (breaks) – 15 m (refuel) = 405 m (per worker per shift) 405 m (per worker per shift) X 5 (workers per shift) = 2025 m (total time workers available) 984. 5 / 2025 = workers operating at 48. 6% capacity. However, it should be noted that Campbell's data is incomplete because it does not include travel time between the gondolas. This would clearly effect the recommendations, so I do not think it would be acceptable for Campbell to consider cutting jobs at this time. Root causes *Job design – too narrow a definition, allowing workers to enact work-to-rule. Management of the workforce: Peter, the young manager, seems to be getting pushed around by the tenured union employees, hampering productivity *Issues with the union: ho stility and unrest that should not be tolerated | | Follow up| | | Meet with union leaders and tug operators again to discuss any issues with the new job description. Enlist their support in providing feedback to enhance the description. They should view the consulting team as their allies. Finally approve new description, and then monitor retirement dates for when to expect an increase in role productivity. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Assumptions and Missing Information The key piece of information that is missing is the travel time between one gondola and the next. Without this data, it is impossible to accurately determine the utilization of tug operators. Problem Definition The key issue in this case is the narrow job design and definition of the tug operator position, allowing for strike tactics. The secondary issue is management of the workforce and issues with the union. Development of Alternatives One alternative would be to continue the study to acquire the data necessary. Campbell could return to the floor and observe the time it takes to travel from one gondola to another, and then complete his utilization rate analysis. Evaluation of Alternatives and Recommendations If Campbell decides to complete his evaluation of the role, it might further damage the relationship between management and the union, causing more unrest and workplace disruption. I would advise against this, especially since the majority of tug operators are planning to retire within one year. In light of this, I recommend that Campbell abandon his study of utilization rate in favor of job analysis on the tug operator position. The job description should then be modified as necessary so that work-to-rule campaigns will no longer be an issue. Campbell should also advise Cole on how to handle his relationship with the union in the future. Implementation Plan The implementation timeline should look as follows: * Perform job analysis on tug operator position. * Redefine the role so that it includes measurables like timeliness of deliveries as well as safety regulations. Include any duties that may have been previously undefined in the description. * Cole should meet with union leaders on hostility issues and address strike concerns. * Assure them that their jobs are safe and that not cooperating with or expressing hostility towards Campbell will not be tolerated. Cole should also explain the changes to the job description and enlist the help of the tug operators for any future developments with it. Conclusion Narrow job descriptions can become host to numerous workplace issues, including strike protests like the one exhibited in this case. Evaluating them, and maintaining a good relationship with the workforce, is crucial to success, efficiency, and sustainability. References Cruji, Colin. Richard Ivey School of Business. (1999) Campbell M anagement Consulting.