Using the Balanced Scorecard at the United States Postal Service free essay sample

In response to the key issues for discussion question one; let’s first start out by defining what the USPS strategic goal areas of interest are. The â€Å"Voice of the Employee (VOE)† was one of the first strategic areas of focus deemed most important due to the past workplace violence at the post office. The VOE placed the emphasis on providing safety and security in the workplace and improving employee relations. Our stated in our text, â€Å"Researchers have repeatedly demonstrated that when service worker satisfaction is high, customer satisfaction is high, and that when job satisfaction is low, customer satisfaction is low. (Evans Lindsay, 2011) Utilizing the balanced scorecard approach, the USPS gauged the VOE by measuring safety based on the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employee satisfaction was measured by employee surveys which were conducted annually but could be traced on a monthly basis by each unit. The USPS realized that it must improve employee satisfaction in order to improve its internal processes. We will write a custom essay sample on Using the Balanced Scorecard at the United States Postal Service or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This was accomplished by providing training and growing their employees professionally. The second element of the balanced score card was the â€Å"Voice of the Business (VOB)† which focused on the â€Å"Breakthrough Productivity Initiative†. The VOB was separated into two areas which were represented by a measurement in productivity and another in revenue generation. These areas were good indicators of whether internal processes were improving which would have been a direct result of improved employee satisfaction. Lastly, the â€Å"Voice of the Customer (VOC)† was considered. The VOC focused on providing timely and reliable delivery. In order to track this strategy a set of delivery service measurements systems were created. The VOC is a term used to describe the in-depth process of capturing a customers expectations, preferences and aversions. The USPS strategy was alignment of the three strategies which would lead to the voices of the customer and the employee dictating what the voice of the business would be. By achieving customer satisfaction, they could expect the desired financial outcome which in the case of the USPS is to provide sufficient revenue to support their mission of universal delivery service. In response to question two of the key issues for discussion, the USPS could increase its customer satisfaction by reviewing its customer satisfaction at individual Post Offices. I often dread going to the post office as my experience has been one of long lines and poor customer service. As with any other measurement, one should ask the following questions: What is the nature of the business? What do the customers need and want? How do you we get employees committed to the vision? How do you get the organization committed to the employees? These questions are addressed at the organizational level but I do not believe they are addressed at the local office level. It would be beneficial to obtain the answers to these questions and then create a local customer satisfaction survey. Based on these results, you can possibly come up with new processes that would reduce the queue time and improve customer service. You could set up a system that would gauge customer service by whether or not the customer is greeted within a set amount of time when entering the facility. You could also encourage eye contact and a positive attitude by making employees greet customers with a smile. Positive eye contact could be encouraged by making the employees annotate the customer’s eye color. It may also be beneficial to have the delivery man/ women to actually hand deliver say one out of every twenty pieces of mail so as to personalize the service that they are rendering. This personalization will go a long way in improving customer satisfaction. Lastly we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the balanced scorecard (BSC) approach. The balanced scorecard approach was developed in order to aide organizations in measuring performance and strategies that are not normally measured in the traditional way that financial assets are measured. A great advantage of the BSC is the ability to measure not only the financial but also the non-financial measures. According to the BMA Group Pty Ltd. , the strategic management system aides in accomplishing critical management processes like (The BMA Group, 2004): †¢Clarify and gain consensus about vision and strategy Communicate strategic objective, performance measures and drivers at all levels †¢Link strategic objective to targets and annual budgets †¢Identify and launch strategic initiatives †¢Enhance periodic systematic strategic reviews †¢Obtain feedback to learn about and improve strategy Another advantage is that it ensures that by taking in the four different aspects, that the senior managements are taking a more balanced view about the performan ce of the organization. It also ensures that the short, medium and long-term views are managed in a perpetual and cohesive manner. It also aligns the top level strategies with those of middle management ensuring that they are clearly connected and appropriately focused. The BSC if properly created will ensure that the organization’s performance reporting system is focused on the things that will give it the competitive advantage both in the short and long term and by realizing value for its stakeholders. Some disadvantages include the fact that the BSC is not a quick fix and requires a considerable amount of time and effort as well as financial investment to develop it. Each BSC must be custom fit for an organization and cannot be compared â€Å"apples to apples† against another organization BSC. In order for the BSC approach to work, you will need support from everyone in the organization in order for it to work making strategy everyone’s job. Bibliography Evans, J. R. , Lindsay, W. M. (2011). Managing for Quality and Performance Excellence. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. The BMA Group. (2004). Balanced scorecard background and key performance measures. Retrieved October 10, 2004, from The BMA Group Pty Ltd Online: http://www. bma. com. au/4/bsc_background. asp

Morality of Zoos Essay Example

Morality of Zoos Paper Almost each and every one of us has grown up with fond childhood memories of visiting the local zoo amongst family and friends. After all, where else can one see animals from all over the world in one place? In the midst of all the fun and enjoyment we have all experienced from zoos, we have failed to take into account the life of the things that we are so excited about seeing there – the animals. Each and every day, the animals enclosed in zoos for human entertainment are exposed to abuse, cruelty, and most importantly stress due to an unnatural living environment, creating a collection of unhappy animals. In this essay, I will also explore other examples of zoos in which animals are used for paid human entertainment such as circuses and aqua parks, where creatures like dolphins are dumped into a small glass pool and forced to perform tricks for merely human satisfaction. This essay will also explore acceptable forms of animal zoos; ones that are used solely for the purpose of breeding and conserving highly endangered species. While it is true that zoos can sometimes be beneficial, and used to aid animals in conservation and breeding, the sad reality is that zoos confine wild animals into tiny, artificial habitats and expose them to great amounts of stress, cruelty and abuse for the purpose of profit and human entertainment. For this reason, modern zoos are immoral and should only be allowed to exist if they are large-scale conservation centers used to aid in the preservation of endangered species. Zoos have become a very hot topic of controversy in today’s world. We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Morality of Zoos specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is common knowledge that zoos are not the natural habitats of animals. Animals around the world are held captive and kidnapped from their natural life for the duration of their lives solely for the purpose of our viewing pleasure. Zoos can be defined as â€Å"public parks, which display animals, primarily for the purposes of recreation or education,† (Jamieson, Dale). The first modern American zoos were created in Philadelphia and Cincinnati in the 1870s. Today in the United States, there are hundreds of zoos that are visited by millions of people every year. Jamieson, Dale). â€Å"Iron-barred concrete-floored cages† and animals behind bars (Millar, Royce, and Cameron Houston) is a typical sight at many popular zoos. They vary from â€Å"roadside menageries run by hucksters, to elaborate zoological parks staffed by trained scientists† (Jamieson, Dale). Other popular forms of zoos are aqua parks and circuses. Aqua parks such as the Sea World amusement park in F lorida (Singer, Peter) are home to many animals such as whales and dolphins, which are held in captivity and forced to perform tricks and shows for public entertainment. Animals in captivity are forced to abandon all their natural characteristics and instincts. â€Å"It is possible to visit zoos and see bored animals pacing back and forth in cages, with nothing to do but wait for the next meal† (Singer, Peter). Regular meal times means that they no longer have the need to hunt for survival. While this may sound like a good thing, there are a few things to take into account. The first is that the zoo animals, all of which are born natural hunters, will no longer be able to survive and fend for themselves if they are released back into the wild (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). The second is the degree of confinement which zoo animals are forced to live under in their small cages and aquariums. To take this idea into perspective, imagine the world’s fastest animal, the cheetah. When it is crammed in a cage, which no matter how large can never compare to the vast size of the wilderness, the cheetah is unable to run at the fast speeds that make it unique. In the long run, confinement will cause the cheetah’s natural running skills to wear away (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). The same principle can be applied to sea animals confined in aqua parks. No tank, no matter how large can come close to meeting the needs of animals who spend their lives in social groups swimming long distances in the ocean† (Singer, Peter). Taking animals out of their natural habitats, transporting them great distances and keeping them in alienated environments in which their liberty is restricted are examples of how animals taken from the wild and confined in zoos are deprived of many things like gathering their own food, developing their own social orders and behaving in ways natural to them (Jamieson, Dale). Studies have shown that the artificial environment of zoos can create intrinsic animal welfare problems such as self-mutilation, feeding disorders, stereotypical behavior like pacing, neck twisting and rocking, reproductive disorders and physiological disorders (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). A lot of the time, it is typical for an animal to experience these without the public noticing. An example of an animal exhibiting this behavior was a polar bear in the Dublin zoo that howed signs of stress and boredom. Locked in a small cage, the polar bear had nothing to do all day but walk from one side of the enclosure to the other, also known as pacing. Eventually, the animal was moved to a much larger home in the Czech Republic (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). This is evidence that while we may think pacing is a normal behaviour for animals in zoos, the truth is that we don’t know any better and what we think is customary is actually very stressful and harmful to the zoo animals. Contrary to popular belief that zoos are very friendly environments, many people don’t know that â€Å"since 1990, 42 people have been killed and 100 others injured by elephants worldwide† (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). A recent article by philosopher Peter Singer in The Guardian provides a clear example of the stress animals are put through. An orca whale named Tilly; acting out of anger of being held captive in a sterile concrete tank at Florida’s SeaWorld grabbed a trainer, pulled her underwater and killed her. Tilly had also been previously involved in two other human deaths at SeaWorld. In addition, one of Tilly’s offspring, which was sold to an amusement park in Spain, also killed a trainer. There have also been many other instances of orcas involved in deaths (Singer, Peter). â€Å"We will never know exactly what was going on in Tilly’s mind, but we do know that he has been in captivity since he was about two years old – he was captured of the east coast of Iceland in 1983. Orcas are social mammals, and he would have been living with his mother and other relatives in a pod. It is reasonable to suppose that the sudden separation was traumatic for Tilly† (Singer, Peter). It has been argued that circuses, especially those on the road, are even worse places for animals. Their living conditions are said to be â€Å"deplorable† (Singer, Peter), particularly in travelling circuses where animal cages have to be extremely small in order to be able to go on the road. Furthermore, circuses have been known to be brutal because â€Å"training animals to perform tricks often involves starvation and cruelty. Undercover investigations have repeatedly shown animals being beaten and given electric shocks† (Singer, Peter). Countries such as Austria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Israel, India and Sweden have banned or severely restricted the use of wild animals in circuses (Singer, Peter). The conditions animals are exposed to in circus environments clearly lead to the intrinsic welfare problems described earlier. An example of this was seen in Brazil, where â€Å"a movement to ban wild animals from circuses stared after hungry lions managed to grab and devour a small boy† (Singer, Peter). The most common benefits of zoos are amusement, education, and the preservation of species. Amusement was certainly an important reason for the establishment of the early zoos, and it remains an important function of contemporary zoos as well† (Jamieson, Dale). The fact remains that most people visit zoos in order to be entertained. Unfortunately, zoos must provide amusement to the public in order to stay profitable. Even though entertaining the public is viewed as a very important function of zoos, it cannot be justified as a reason to keep wild animals imprisoned and held in captivity. The second reason for having zoos is education. The idea that education is a big part of having zoos is â€Å"part of the commercial entertainment industry† (Singer, Peter). â€Å"The most important lesson they teach impressionable young minds is that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity for human amusement† (Singer, Peter). This is the exact opposite of the attitudes we should be embedding in the young minds of children. Of course some learning takes place in zoos. However, the very lessons being learned about the physical and mental states of animals being held captive are certainly not beneficial, and should not require animals to be held captive. Furthermore, similar educational experiences can be achieved through films and lectures. Documentaries such as The Life of Animals and The Blue Planet are known to be very educational and can in fact provide a better understanding of animals in their true, natural habitats. Observing animals in their natural surroundings will also allow for a better understanding of survival tactics, hunting, and the food chain, all of which are abandoned as soon as a wild animal is brought into a zoo. The final reason for having zoos is that they preserve soon-to-be extinct species, and put breeding programs in place to re-populate the species. There are several problems associated with zoo breeding programs. As previously mentioned, captive animals have very different traits than the ones of surviving animals in the wild. The lack of genetic diversity among the captive animals can create an enormous problem in breeding; more particularly it conflicts with Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. Perhaps the biggest problem with zoo breeding programs is that they created unwanted animals. In certain species, only a few males can service an entire herd of animals in reproduction. All the extra males are unnecessary to zoos and become a financial burden (Jamieson, Dale). â€Å"Some of these animals are sold and wind up in the hands of individuals and institutions which lack proper facilities† (Jamieson, Dale). Others end up shot and killed by hunters and poachers in private camps. â€Å"Ninety-five percent of animals that are kept in zoos aren’t endangered† (Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation). With preservation of soon-to-be extinct species also comes the debate whether it really is better for animals to live in the artificial environments that we create for them, as opposed to becoming extinct. Is it really better to confine a few hapless Mountain Gorillas in a zoo than to permit the species to become extinct? † (Jamieson, Dale). The answer to this question may be obvious to many, however, in doing this, are we not using the animals as â€Å"vehicles for their genes†? (Jamieson, Dale). In preserving extinct species, we are e ssentially creating a new species that can only survive in artificial zoo habitats. Even if the above-mentioned problems were non-existent, the current system of zoos does not provide a suitable environment for the preservation of endangered species. The reason for this is that of the little breeding programs that zoos offer, they only breed animals that are not endangered. â€Å"Many of the major breeding programs are run in special facilities which have been established for that purpose. They are often located in remote places, far from the attention of zoo-goers† (Jamieson, Dale). For example, the Bronx Zoo operates its Rare Animal Survival Centre far away on St. Catherine’s Island off the coast of Georgia. In conclusion, taking animals out of the wild and placing them in captivity in zoos affects their welfare and causes the animals unnecessary stress and anger. This disruption of their natural lifestyle has caused many animals to fatally injure or kill humans in an attempt to release some of the anger caused by their confinement in small, artificial habitats. Even though it is true that zoos provide amusement and entertainment, education, even though animals are not in their natural environment and learning may be distorted, and small-scale preservation, the above-mentioned reasons for having a zoo do not outweigh the detrimental affects captivity has on a wild animal. Under no circumstance should the amusement and entertainment of humans be a eason to put animals through stress and deprive them of their natural skills and environment. Even though some may believe that soon are beneficial for education, they are overlooking the fact that animals held captive in zoos are not in their natural habitats; therefore they do not behave as they normally would in the wild, making learning biased. Finally, even though it is a controversial topic, I b elieve preservation should be the only reason to keep animals captive. However, this cannot be done in the zoos we have established today. Preservation of endangered species can only be done in large-scale off-shore reserves, which are far away from the public and allow the animals to roam more freely and practice their natural skills. Works Cited Animal Cruelty Zoos. Vegan Peace. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. veganpeace. com/animal_cruelty/zoos. htm. BBC Ethics Animal Ethics: Animals for Entertainment. BBC. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. bbc. co. uk/ethics/animals/using/entertainment_1. shtml. Birth, Accident Of. Mortality as Morality. Microkhan by Brendan I. Koerner. 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. lt;http://www. microkhan. com/2009/08/14/mortality-as-morality/. Jamieson, Dale. Against Zoos. The Animal Rights Library. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www. animal-rights-library. com/texts-m/jamieson01. htm. Kuehn, Bridget M. Is It Ethical to Keep Animals in Zoos? December 1, 2002. American Veterinary Medical Association. 1 Dec. 2002. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. http://www. avma. org/onlnews/javma/dec02/021201d. asp. Millar, Royce, and Cameron Houston. Animal Rights and Wrongs In Depth Theage. com. au. The Age Business, World Breaking News | Melbourne, Australia. The Age, 19 Jan. 008. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. http://www. theage. com. au/news/in-depth/animal-rights-and-wrongs/2008/01/18/1200620207184. html? page=fullpage. Singer, Peter. Let Wild Animals Be Wild | Peter Singer | Comment Is Free | Guardian. co. uk. Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian | The Guardian. 8 Mar. 2010. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www. guardian. co. uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/mar/08/wild-animals-captivity-seaworld-orca. Zoos: Imprisonment or Preservation? The Whyville Times. 4 July 2003. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://j. whyville. net/smmk/whytimes/article? id=2941.

My persuasive speech against underage drinking Essays

My persuasive speech against underage drinking Essays My persuasive speech against underage drinking Paper My persuasive speech against underage drinking Paper Essay Topic: Persuasive Attention students: By a show of hands how many people in this classroom are under the age of 21? As you look around the classroom you will see that quite a few of you are under this age. Now think to yourself, even though you are under the age of 21, does it mean that no one in this classroom has ever tried alcohol? According to Professor Frankenberg from the alcohol concerns department alcohol is the most serious problem facing teenagers. We are all students at college and most likely gone to one party with alcohol. Today Im here to convince you to think twice about picking up that next bottle of alcohol. Lets begin by talking about why teenagers should not have alcohol. * Firstly, a main point is underage drinking is illegal in Britain. * The way the police act to teenager drinking and driving is absolutely zero. * Most parents who find out that their child has been drinking the parents dont know how to deal with it. * Underage drinking is a crime. Now that I have explained why teens should not have alcohol, I will explain to all of you why teens are not responsible enough to drink. * Teenagers are not responsible enough to drink. * When people drink they lose control, and when underage people drink it is even worse. So the more you drink the more control you lose. Ok. Just Imagine this situation of your best friend driving home from your house one night. And on the way home, your friend meets some person who decided to drink too much and your friend and the other driver crash head on. The underage drunk driver survives, while your best friend is killed. So what happened to the drunk drivers judgement? It is in his 15 empty beer cans at the party that he blames. Officer Dean Wilson, director of the National Organization has calculated that every 15 minutes someone in England dies as the result of an alcohol related traffic collision. Now that I have explained why teenagers are not responsible to drink because of lack Of judgment, I will explain how alcohol is harmful to your health. * Alcohol is harmful to your health. * Anyone who drinks has the chance of seriously hurting his or her body. This can happen in several ways. * Alcohol is a drug that can cause: liver damage, cancer, heart damage or even death. * Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk to deliver a child with fatal alcohol syndrome. * Looks/appearance It is said that people who drink on a regular basis tend to look older faster. So just think drinking alcohol may seem cool when you are 18 and want to look 21 but what happens when you turn 30 and look like your 50. How good is it then? As John hills the speaker for the charity Alcohol dangers said: that the public should work together and enforce the dangers of alcohol to the teenagers in the world. Young bodies are just not made for drinking alcohol. Now that I have gone over all of my points lets go back over what weve learned today. First we talked about why teenagers should not have alcohol, then we discussed why teenagers are not responsible enough to drink, and finally we discussed how alcohol is harmful to your health. I taught you to learn all that you can about underage drinking and think about what I have said to you today. I also urge you to tell others about the effects of alcohol. Now I will end this speech with a question that I would like for all of you to think about, Is being accepted into a group, and just copying others to fit in worth the risks that are in effect after the first sip of alcohol? Is it really worth it?

Midterm Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Midterm Exam - Essay Example It led to a hostile response to certain policies and the intent reaction against the reform enthusiasm of the Progressive Era. Diplomats and Politicians argued in reference to the peace treaties and the entry of America in the League of Nations, which at the point did not work due to the isolationist opinion that had dominated (Norton 623). On the other hand, the progressive era in America was dominated by reforms in politics and social activism. Its main agenda was to purify the government by bringing to light those political figures that were involved in major corruption. Through this era, there were major reforms in the government, finance, industry and other areas. For example, there was the ‘nineteenth Amendment of 1920 that guaranteed female suffrage a reform that was essential in ensuring that enough votes had been consolidated from them especially then that women had been allowed to vote in all the 48 states. (Norton 624) Essentially, around 1919, there were chief strik es in the meatpacking and steel industries and large –scale race riots that were witnessed in Chicago and other cities. Wall streets had terrorist attacks, which culminated to fears of radicals and terrorists. For example, the community of German and the Irish Catholic community were disappointed in the foreign policy that had been brought up by the democratic president Wilson leading to a critical weakening of his political position especially after he was said to have suffered from a severe stroke. Thus, it was evident that the presidential elections came as a referendum that was meant to go against the progressive era, which basically fought for the right on most of the citizens in America (Norton 625). In 1920 many Americans were exhausted of war, and the constant attempts to have reforms including the passing of moral legislation. It is at about this time that Harding came up with a policy of returning things to normalcy, which he attempted to capitalize on so as to curb the feelings of the populist. Essay Two Explain in detail the differences between President Franklin Roosevelt’s First and Second Newdeals. What did each focus on and why or why not do you feel they were successful? During the campaigns for the presidency, Franklin .D. Roosevelt promised the people of the United States of America ‘New Deal’ due to the economic depression that was witnessed. Hence, there was a dire need to end the depression as the most important political issue. As soon as he was voted in as a democrat Roosevelt, a former governor of the New York had two deals (Norton 745). The first new deal was the reverse of the financial system of America, institute relief programs, as well as, the crisis that had been witnessed in agriculture and industry. Essentially, the Democratic Party under the leadership of Roosevelt provided relief food for the poor, and gave a balance to the traditional policies of the federal budget, supported the gold standard and led to the reduction of the size of the government. This new deal was successful because it gave direct payment to the poor and unemployed, and there was the revival of manufacturing which contributed to the end of the depression (Norton 746). The second new deal was dominated by the continuation of the

How does buy a cup of coffee from starbucks affect to the environment Dissertation - 1

How does buy a cup of coffee from starbucks affect to the environment - Dissertation Example â€Å"Of all problems associated with continued rapid population growth , garbage and waste disposal may be among the most visible Poston,2010pg .372) .Only element which reduced expenditure for management on Municipal Solid Waste is food expenditure which only customer had control on. The main aim of this study was to recognize the challenging factors that contributed to the increase in the waste disposed across the cities of US. However a precise outcome was unavailable because of vague and ambiguous information acquired. As a conclusion it can be mentioned that, the solution to waste reduction rest solely with the customers and government, as their awareness only can truly influence Starbucks in becoming an eco -friendly coffee chain in future. Work Cited Poston, D.L. (2010). Population and society: an introduction to demography. Cambridge University Press

General Engineering Principles and Systems Theory

General Engineering Principles and Systems Theory Engineering and Socio-technical Philosophies Developing information systems is a creative effort which requires insight and judgement skills. There are two common approaches which are ‘Engineering’ and ‘Socio-technical’ used in systems development. Each of these approaches is explained below and a summary of the comparison is given afterwards. Engineering has been significant in creating a fundamental approach for development of information systems and with a driving concern of developing a complex technical system. Inefficiencies in systems development process often results into problematic technical systems, attempts to improve on the situation have drawn majorly on general engineering principles and systems theory. Systems engineering, which emphasizes studying total systems without their isolated components and systems analysis are rooted in the systems theory, they proceed to achieve a task systematically and produce the best system (Avgerou Cornford 1993). They are said to be corresponding to the traditional life cycle which has often been criticized not to be appropriate when dealing with unclear requirements but systems analysis has developed to lay more emphasis on efforts for examining the problem area and agreeing on requirements for a satisfactory system as opposed to an optimal solution (ibid). The engineering approach has grown stronger over time taking the form of different specialized disciplines, the best known to be software engineering. The aim of software engineering is to change semi-structured development practices to a systematic process which is effective, controllable and able to improve software quality. Despite its significance, applicability to IS development has been limited because a fully formal process of development as it depicts has been seen by most to be impractical or undesirable for IS development. It has been said to be impractical because of lack of formal theories to describe organisational behaviour and ‘formal models to capture the richness of the application domains’ (Avgerou Cornford 1993:146). Several efforts have been made to include methods which support human creativity and user participation, some of these are use of DFDs and Prototyping. Overall, though software engineering has responded to the requirements of human aspect of systems development, ‘its perspective is still that of the efficient development of a technical product’ (Avgerou Cornford 1993:147). Some other forms of the engineering approach which are aimed at improving certain aspects of system development are Knowledge engineering and Human-computer interaction†¦their approach is still that of engineering a technical system (Avgerou Cornford 1993). Socio-technical, as another approach to system development, has been defined by Coakes (2002:5) as ‘ †¦ [exploring] the relationships and interrelationships between the social and technical parts of any system’ and is controlled by social change and human communication theories (Avgerou Cornford 1993). It sees IS development process as an intervention to improve communication between people and how tasks are carried out in an organisation. As opposed to Engineering, IS is seen as involving people and not isolated technical constructs (Tatnall 2003; Avgerou Cornford 1993). Its goal is to develop a system with which people can carry out their tasks effectively and achieve satisfaction and personal development (Avgerou Cornford 1993). Laudon and Laudon (2006:28) mention that: In a socio-technical perspective, the performance of a system is optimized when both the technology and the organisation mutually adjust to one another until a satisfactory fit is obtained. The socio-technical approach in IS development expresses a combination of practical, ethical and theoretical concerns. The main practical concern being that IT-based systems often fail to bring the required benefits even though they are well designed due to the fact that ‘the social dynamics of [an] organisation †¦ may override the intended performance of the technical system’ (Avgerou Cornford 1993: 151). This approach seeks to address issues such as resistance to change towards a new IS in organisations by focusing on the human requirements and social dynamics all through the process of development. The ethical concern is of the notion that workers should also gain from the benefits the new technology provides in their workplace in order to promote work environment that is satisfactory (Avgerou Cornford 1993; Coakes 2003). Some of the most widely known demonstrations of this approach are Participation and Job design. It is suggested that not only should users be the source of requirements specification but also deeply involved in the process of development and ‘achieving effective participation has proved a non- trivial matter in practice†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Avgerou Cornford 1993:154). Land and Hirschheim (1983:155) identify different categories of users who might be affected by a new system directly or indirectly and also differentiate between two participation types which are ‘participation in decision making about the project’ and ‘participation in the actual analysis and design’. The first could be consultative only while the second might be consultative, representative or consensus (ibid.). As mentioned earlier, there are difficulties to having user participation (Cavaye 1995) but should only serve as obstacles to overcome and not arguments in opposition to wider invol vement in IS development (Avgerou Cornford 1993). Job design, another form of this approach, ‘leads the development process towards restructuring the work environment where a new information system would be used and aimed at providing satisfactory work conditions for the employees’ (Avgerou Cornford 1993). Mumford and Weir (1979) contribute to this aspect by introducing the ETHICS methodology. Having discussed each of these, a summary of the comparison is drawn (figure 1.0). It is necessary to point out the implications of these approaches on the whole process of IS development as they are used as a basis for systems development. Engineering as a hard systems approach, has dominated in computer systems development and results into a system that is technically perfect but faced with resistance from the users and could be ignored eventually (Platt Warwick 1995). This is due to certain assumptions this approach makes (Curtis Graham 2008) such as: Engineering perspective applies in all case and solutions should be mathematically/logically based. Attention to the social or organisational aspects of the system not essential. Emphasis on linear problem solving. An example is the case of Wessex Area Health (Clarke Lehaney 2000). On the otherhand, the socio-technical approach helps to consider both the social and technical aspects of a system (Laudon Laudon 2006), arguing that ‘the social and technical systems†¦cannot be designed independently of each other’ (Curtis Graham 2005:581) so with its emphasis on user participation, user acceptance can be achieved thereby resulting into a success (Avison Fitzgerald 2003; Coakes 2003), for example, as proved by the case of Bill payment system (Fisher 2003), the failure and later success of London Ambulance service (Clarke Lehaney 2000; Grant et al 2010). Avison and Fitzgerald (1995) also claim that participation might result in resentment from either analysts or users. Information Systems Development Methodology It is defined as ‘a collection of procedures, tools, and documentation aids which will help the systems developers in their efforts to implement a new information system’ (Avison Fitzgerald 2003:20). There are many methodologies, some of which are ETHICS, SSM, DSDM and they differ from one another mostly in terms of objectives. The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) will be considered in this essay. Philosophical root SSM was introduced by Peter CheckLand with the contributions of other researchers in Lancaster University. They started an action research programme by using hard systems engineering as a framework in unsuitable circumstances whereby problems were not clearly defined but this attempt failed so SSM was introduced as an alternative (Checkland Scholes 1990). The failure led to the rethink of the rudiments of systems thinking (ibid.) and a deep analysis of the basic assumptions behind this and systems development (Fitzgerald et al 2002). It was put forward that ‘systems thinking takes seriously the idea of a whole entity which may exhibit properties as a single whole (‘emergent properties’)’ and there are two complementary traditions within it namely the ‘hard’ tradition which takes the world as systemic and the ‘soft’ tradition that ‘creates the process of enquiry as a system’ (Checkland Scholes 1990:25). Based on this, Checkland and Scholes (1990:25) refer to SSM as: a systemic process of enquiry which also happens to make use of systems model. It thus subsumes the hard approach, which is a special case of it, one arising when there is local agreement on some system to be engineered. They also claim that to have a better understanding of this, the word ‘holon’ should be used surrendering the word ‘system’ to everyday language and avoiding its use as a technical term. SSM uses a specific type of holon which they referred to as Human activity system(HAS), a set of activities that are connected in order to make a purposeful whole, created to meet the core system image requirement(ibid.). The HAS recognizes the importance of people in organisations due to the fact that it is necessary to include people in order to understand the real world (Avison Fitzgerald 2003). Therefore, this methodology is regarded as a soft systems approach which Avison and Fitzgerald (2003) claim that is the most appropriate for understanding difficult problem situations such as those in organisations. SSM really focuses on looking into the organisational issues and ill-structured problems and then suggestion of solutions which may or may not be computer-based (Skid more Eva 2004). Suitability As mentioned earlier, SSM is capable of examining and understanding the complex problem situations of an organisation, for example, its use in Shell and an Acute hospital (Checkland poulter 2006) using a range of techniques as shown in the seven-stage model(Fig 1.1.0 and fig 1.1.1), this makes it suitable to examine the existing issues in AIC limited, a property management company in Nigeria. Though, the methodology does not explain methods for implementing suggested solutions especially those involving a computerised system but it is suggested that it could be used as a front end in SD process then proceed to use a more technical approach which emphasizes design, development and implementation (Avison Fitzgerald 2003; Platt Warwick 1995). Based on this limitation, some others raised the idea of linking SSM to existing structured methodologies and came up with suggestions (Stowel 1985; Prior 1990; Sawyer 1991; Gregory Merali 1992; Miles 1992; Savage Minger 1993), further concern s raised are that should it take the form of grafting SSM to SSD methods or embedding SSD methods in SSM (Miles 1988)? Miles (1988) argues that the grafting method could cause the benefits of the SSM to be lost for instance, SSM obviously supports user involvement from the onset (Mingers 1995). Obviously, SSM has its notable advantages which makes it suitable for the case of AIC but definitely not without its weaknesses. Researches on the use of SSM in practice has been conducted (Mingers Taylor 1992; Brocklesby 1995), some findings in these and the literature generally are as follows: Advantages SSM helps to structure complex problem situations in an organized manner with the aid of specific techniques which makes it a thorough tool to use in cluttered problems (Platt Warwick 1995; Mingers Taylor 1992). The entire cycle of SSM is based on learning and supports user involvement (Mingers 1995). Its approach is holistic by focusing on wholes rather than reductionist (Brocklesby 1995; Camarinha-Matos Afsarmanesh 2008; Mingers Taylor 1992). It guides the user to look for a solution which is more than technical (Skidmore Eva 2004). Disadvantages The processes involved in SSM does not recommend a method of encouraging broad participation especially when it extends towards taking action though it recognizes participation (Jackson 2003; Khosrow-Pour 2009). SSM does not include methods for designing and implementing solution (Avison Fitzgerald 2003; Mingers 1995). The actual way of deriving information and data models from the activities is considered as ‘ad hoc’ due to lack of systematic means of determining information needed(Mingers 1995). SSM only works well with few people involved (Bell Morse 2003), though this favours the case of AIC but it could be time-consuming (Mingers Taylor 1992; Keenan Bustard 2009; Sutherland Morieux 1991) and demands high level of commitment which is usually not easy to achieve (Brocklesby 1995). The Organisation (AIC) AIC is a well recognized company specializing in management of properties. It has 3 branches located in Nigeria, one of them serves as the head office and each of the branches has an operations manager and the owner is the Managing Director of the company. Each branch has 8 to 10 Property agents and 1 or 2 accountants working under the supervision of the operations manager. The property agents act as an intermediary between property owners and seekers so they are responsible for allocating owners properties to seekers and management generally. Data about properties, owners and seekers are presently kept on paper files and each branch has one or two PCs. This business area is fast growing and the company wants to boost their efficiency in customer service delivery. The Managing Director of the company also felt the need for expansion. Some employees think there is need to improve on information handling especially due to the dissatisfaction of some customers (owners) with the mode of operation while some are less concerned and just wish for an increase in salaries. The MD has given his full support for a relevant and quick solution to be implemented in less than a year. Therefore, as an IS analyst, the situation will be further expressed and analysed using different modelling techniques suggested by Heeks and Morgan (2010a) and Heeks and Morgan (2010b). Problem/opportunity: The problem is the ineffective means of keeping records while the opportunity is the need for expansion. Stakeholder analysis Clients: Operations managers, Property owners and Property seekers Actors: Property agents, Accountants Sponsor: Managing director Owner: Branches, Operations managers Champion: Managing director, Operations managers, Property agents Others: IS analyst Problem Statement: An ineffective means of information handling due to paper-based approach. Project Rationale: To support the business expansion and remove all hindrances. Constraints: Environmental Prediction: The system is likely to last long because there are more supporters and expand its coverage if successful. Initial Statement: A system that eliminates the identified possible hindrance to the intended business expansion and supports the company desire to improve service delivery. CATWOE Checklist Root Definition: A system owned by the Managing Director and used by Operations Managers and Property Agents, which maintains proper record that helps in finding available properties for property seekers. The system to function under the financial constraints of the company and achievable in less than a year to assist the planned business expansion. Project Assessment Feasibility: Risk Assessment: This project, being a small one, is not prone to so many risks but a very obvious one that needs enough attention is the lack of IS experience in the organisation history. Others are Management Support and User commitment, the absence of these could result into loss of user acceptance and IS failure eventually. Project priorities: This is the only major project under consideration and crucial to the progress of the company. Analysis of the current system (Rich Picture) Note: A property seeker can purchase or rent a property or do both. Requirements for a solution It is advisable to operate the system within a network other than independently so there is need to set up a network. More PCs are required. Users need to be given adequate training.

Apathy and Addiction in William Gibsons Neuromancer Essay -- Neuroman

Apathy and Addiction in Neuromancer       In the postmodern world of William Gibson's Neuromancer, nature is dead, and the world is run by the logic of the corporate machine. Confronted by a reality that is stark, barren, and metallic, and the hopelessness that this reality engenders, the postmodern protagonist, like Case, often immerses himself or herself in an alternate form of reality that is offered in the form of addiction (to virtual reality or drugs, for example), addictions that are made possible by the same society that makes an escape desirable. Such addictions are logical products of the post-modern capitalist society because they perpetuate the steadfast power of the corporation by allowing would-be dissidents an escape from reality, thereby preventing successful rebellion and maintaining the pervasive societal apathy necessary to allow the corporation to dominate undeterred. Case, as the addictive anti-hero, is a product of this stifling cycle of apathy. Lacking the motivation or drive to insti gate any true change in his reality, he avoids the unpleasant realities of his world by entering into the altered reality of addiction.    In the reality of the postmodern world, where nature is gone and has been replaced by technology, where the world and humankind have become fused with the machine, and the existence of morality and reality are uncertain, it is difficult to find hope for a better existence or motivation to attempt to change one's existence. Addiction then becomes a logical avenue of escape from these bleak circumstances--not affecting reality, but transforming it into something bearable. The addictions that Case turns to allow him to escape from the hard reality of his life th... ...e Fiction, and Some Comics. Hanover, NH: Wesleyan UP, 1994.    Gibson, William. Neuromancer. New York: Ace-Berkeley, 1984. ---. Interview with Larry McCaffrey. Storming the Reality Studio. Larry McCaffrey, ed. Durham, NC: Duke UP, 1992. 263-285.    Grant, Glenn. "Transcendence Through Detournement in William Gibson's Neuromancer." Science Fiction Studies. 17 (1990). 41-49.    Hollinger, Veronica. "Cybernetic Deconstruction." Storming the Reality Studio. Larry McCaffrey, ed. Durham, NC: Duke UP, 1992.    Jameson, Frederick. "Postmodernism, or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism" New Left Review. 146 (July-August 1984) Rpt in Storming the Reality Studio. Larry McCaffrey, ed. Durham, NC: Duke UP, 1992.    Slusser, George. "Literary MTV." Storming the Reality Studio. Larry McCaffrey, ed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Durham, NC: Duke UP, 1992.