Water Quality Management Issues In DEWA Company Environmental Sciences Essay

Water Quality Management Issues In DEWA Company Environmental Sciences Essay This paper will discuss water quality management issues in a Dubai company called DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority). This is a governmental organization that is in charge of producing and distributing water and electricity to the whole of the Dubai population. Water quality issues were among the concerns of the third UNEP report on the environment. Gordon (1998:1) notes, The Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-3 report) identified a wide spectrum of existing and emerging water issues that need to be addressed if the world is to achieve sustainable development. One of the general issues in water management is the threat of depletion of groundwater due to the rising demands for land for agriculture and for building urban centres. Majority of communities living near water catchment areas such as forests are depleting rather than preserving them. Hydro-development and geothermal projects are another threat to abundance of water sources and the quality of water because they divert it to uses such as irrigation and generation of electricity. Another concern is the threat to quality of water due to pollution by fertilizers, pesticides and factory chemical emissions. Poor quality of water has a negative effect on human, animal and plant populations, and can occur due to natural or artificial factors. One cause of problems in the quality of water is natural chemicals in the air and ground that enter into contact with water sources and pollute them. Another factor, which is also the largest contributor to poor water quality, is human use of chemicals that pollute water bodies in activities such as farming and industrial production. Sources of water pollution can be fixed, such as manufacturing plants, or mobile, for example, farming activities. The first category has pollutants that are very strong while those of the latter group are mild but are extensive in area of coverage. Moreover, it is easier to estimate and alleviate pollution from the first category than the second because the latter affect a wider region. As Ongley (1999:5) observes, Water quality degradation can pose serious threats to public health, agricultural and industrial production, ecological functions, and biodiversity. Water quality problems can arise from high concentration of naturally occurring elements such as arsenic, fluoride, or selenium. But most water quality problems are caused by the discharge of pollutants from human activities. Pollution sources include point sources-specific points of discharge of high-pollutant concentration-and nonpoint sources-low-concentration sources covering a large area. Point source discharges from sewers, wastewater treatment plants, and factories are visible and can be chemically characterized relatively easily. However, substantial loads of pollutants can also enter water bodies from nonpoint sources, such as fertilizer use for agriculture. In the case of the DEWA Company, poor quality of water is likely to result from emissions from point sources rather than nonpoint ones because the firm undertakes the supply of water to the nation. Consequently, the company has facilities set up to clean water before pumping it to consumers. For example, in 2010 the company set up a facility at Jebel Ali to purify water from salty substances. The chemicals used to desalinate the water and purify it may be a threat to its quality. Another possible threat to the quality of water that the firm supplies is likely to be poor hygiene of the storage tanks, distribution pumps and pipes. If management does not ensure that these facilities are clean, contamination of water is likely to occur. If the storage tanks are left bare, contamination of the water contained therein is likely to occur. Moreover, the residue of chemical substances, especially chlorine, used to clean these facilities is likely to pollute the water when in storage or during distribution. In addition, the company can cause pollution of external water masses through emissions from its water treatment facility. At the same time, since it supplies electricity to consumers, generation of this source of energy can cause gas emissions that pollute not only the air but also the water masses nearby. The World Health Organization has set maximum levels for chemicals present in water, especially for human consumption. World Health Organization (1958: 9) Water intended for human consumption must be free from chemical substances and micro-organisms in amounts which would provide a hazard to health is universally accepted. Supplies of drinking-water should not only be safe and free from dangers to health, but should also be as aesthetically attractive as possible. Absence of turbidity, color and disagreeable or detectable tastes and odors is important in water-supplies intended for domestic use. Fluoride levels should not be lower than 0.5 mg/l as this will contribute to dental decay in the population, especially in children. Nitrates, on the other hand, should not exceed 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l. If bacterial organisms of the coliform type are present, this means that the water has faecal contamination and therefore is not fit for human consumption. Moreover, the water should be free of any taste and smell. The table below presents the acceptable levels in drinking water for other chemical substances. World Health Organization (1958:29) Chemicals affecting portability of water Total solids 500 mg/l 1500 mg/I Colour 5 units 50 units Turbidity 5 units 25 units Taste Unobjectionable Oduor Unobjectionable Iron (Fe) 0.3 mg/l 1.0 mg/l Manganese (Mn) 0.1 mg/l 0.5 mg/l Copper (Cu) 1.0 mg/l l.5 mg/l Zinc (Zn) 5.0 mg/l 15 mg/l Calcium (Ca) 75 mg/l 200 mg/l Magnesium (Mg) 50 mg/l 150 mg/l Sulfate (SO) 200 mg/l 400 mg/l Chloride (Cl) 200 mg/l 600 mg/l pH range 7.0-8.5 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤6.5 or à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ 9.2 Magnesium + sodium sulfate 500 mg/l 1000 mg/l Phenolic substances (as phenol) 0.001 mg/l 0.002 mg/l Burke (2002:1) notes that the main aim of monitoring the quality of water is to ensure its clean and safe supply. Some of the variables to check in order to get an indication of water quality include temperature of the water, alkalinity and acidity, density, amount of salt, gas levels such as oxygen and nitrogen, chemical substances such as nitrate and phosphorous and micro-organisms such as protozoa, among others. One may therefore carry out the process from a physical, chemical or biological perspective or use all of these angles of analysis. However, this process also involves checking the hygiene levels of water bodies in use by many stakeholders and those that offer a habitat for animal and plant populations. Since water is one of the resources in the natural environment, it is susceptible to effects from manufacturing plants that utilize natural resources. These include geothermal plants, quarries where mining takes place and the timber industry that makes use of wood from forests. Monitoring the quality of water therefore involves assessing the impact of such industries on water, water bodies and catchment areas. Another reason for monitoring the quality of water is to check whether a particular type of water mass meets the standards set for it. The standards depend on the use of the water body. These include for water for drinking purposes, leisure, fishing, habitat for wildlife, farming and industrial use. She adds that there exist three main ways of monitoring the quality of water. Burke (2010:1) mentions discrete, mechanical, and automated methods. In the first instance, which is the old way of monitoring water quality, one measures a single aspect. This is done either in the field or in a laboratory. This method is tiring and time-consuming. At the same time, it is subject to the operators bias and judgment when collecting the samples as well as when doing the analysis in a laboratory. The second method involves leaving bottles in a water mass for some time to collect water then taking these to a laboratory. This method reduces the manual effort and time spent collecting samples of water. However, it is subject to bias from laboratory analyses and at the same time, leads to loss of time spent waiting for the bottles to collect water. The third method makes use of devices that will sense the aspect of water quality being tested and these in turn store the information. This method is fast and likely to yield more reliable results than the other two as it does not rely on the subjective judgment of the analyst in a laboratory setup. In the monitoring of water quality, screening methods have become more common than other techniques. This is because they are fast and easy to use due to their advanced technology. Gonzalez, Greenwood, Quevauviller (2009:16) note, Screening methods are often chosen by field operators for rapid and simple measurement of water quality. They are also called alternative methods or emerging tools. There are different types of alternative method such as ready-to-use methods (test kit method), handheld devices (handheld instrument with generally no reagent needed), online sensors (generally in an industrial context) and methods for biological monitoring (such as bio markers, whole-organism tests). To improve the process of monitoring water quality, DEWA has integrated an automated system among its management programs. According to DEWA Company (2009:15), 7-Technologies has entered into agreement with our German system integrator, Cegelec, for the supply of an AQUIS real-time water management system to DEWA in the United Arab Emirates. The AQUIS platform supplied includes all the AQUIS modules: Hydraulic, Water Quality, Surge, Load Forecaster, Leak Detection, GIS and SCADA Interface. The real-time system will provide asset and process performance monitoring and give early warnings of potential operational problems. This will improve planning and design, serviceability, water quality and leakage reduction. For this topic, I choose the automated technique of measuring water quality because it is fast and yields more reliable results. This method makes use of devices capable of sensing the variables under consideration. Since the DEWA Company distributes water for human consumption, it has to ensure that it stores and distributes enough water for the population. DEWA Company (2009:3) DEWA has a policy to maintain bulk storage of potable water equivalent to two days of system peak demand. This implies that it has an extensive reservoir and distribution system, which is not possible to monitor manually on a regular basis. Moreover, the stored water is susceptible to residue of chemical substances such as chlorine and this may affect the quality of water the firm distributes for human consumption. The company therefore requires continually monitoring of the quality of the stored water and the automated technique would be the most appropriate. The technology applicable here would be the online sensing devices that would read the chlorine levels in the tanks as well as the input and output pipes. To monitor water quality in the DEWA Company (2009:5), analyzer stations consisting of transmitters and sensor assemblies for measuring pH, residual chlorine, conductivity and temperature may be installed at specified locations as per DEWAs specifications. The quality of the water that DEWA produces is as follows: DUBAI ELECTRICITY WATER AUTHORITY TRANSMISSION DISTRIBUTION: WATER DIVISION OPERATION DEPT. LABORATORY TYPICAL RANGE OF COMPOSITION OF DEWA WATER ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY 250-800 MICROMHOS/CM pH 7.5-8.5 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS 125.0-400.0 Mg/l CHLORIDE AS CI Mg/l BICARBONATE AS HCO3 50.0-75.0 Mg/l SULPHATE AS SO4 Mg/l NITRATE Mg/l CALCIUM AS Ca 15.0-25.0 Mg/l TOTAL HARDNESS AS CaCO3 50.0-120.0 Mg/l MAGNESIUM AS Mg 2.0-20.0 Mg/l SODIUM AS Na Mg/l FLUORIDE AS F NIL TASTE, COLOUR AND ODOUR UNOBJECTION-ABLE COLIFORM BACTERIA NIL The above table incorporates variables of assessing quality of water from a chemical, physical and biological perspective. From the data, it appears that the DEWA Company produces relatively high quality water. This is because, according to the above table, the water is free from any taste, smell and has no color and is therefore transparent. In addition, it is free from contamination by coliform bacterial organisms, meaning the water has no faecal pollution. However, there is no fluoride present in the water meaning that it is likely to cause dental problems in the consuming population. As the World Health Organization (1958:28-29) notes, If the fluoride concentration in the drinking-water of a community is less than 0.5 mg/l, a high incidence of dental caries is likely to occur. To prevent the development of dental caries in children, a number of communal water-supplies are fluoridated to bring the fluorine concentration to 1.0 mg/l. Moreover, the water is safe for consumption because its nitrate levels do not exceed the World Health Organization directives of 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l. The water pH does not raise concerns since the levels of alkalinity and acidity of the water are within the accepted range. It is therefore possible that there are few land use activities in the areas from which the company sources its water. Consequently, fewer chemical substances such as fertilizers and pesticides wash off into the water sources. In addition, the amount of chloride is also on the lower end of the permissible range, which means that salinity of the water is low. However, the amount of dissolved matter is less than the permissible level therefore the water density is low, but on the other hand, this means that the salinity levels are low. The magnesium, calcium and sulphate contents are also lower than the acceptable minimum, which means that though the water lacks essential components, it has low salinity levels. According to the above table, the water from the DEWA Company is relatively good for consumption because it does not contain toxic substances such as lead or cyanide. The presence of nitrates in the water that the firm supplies is likely to be due to the discharge of treated sewage water while that of sodium is due to the use of this compound to clear chlorine residue. On the other hand, the absence of fluoride in the water may be due to changes in climate in the areas where the company sources its water. The high potential of the water to conduct electricity may be due to the presence of radioactive matter. This is also evident in the presence of hydrocarbons in the water. The salinity of the water is low meaning that there is a higher amount of freshwater than salty water entering into contact with the sources of the DEWA water. Since the amount of dissolved solids in the water is less than 1000mg/l, it appears then that the DEWA water is fresh. It appears that the water is soft because the levels of magnesium and calcium are low. Moreover, the amount of solids dissolved in the water is low indicating that the saline content is also low. According to Statgraphics (2006:1), An important technique used to determine how well a process meets a set of specification limits is called a process capability analysis. A capability analysis is based on a sample of data taken from a process and usually produces: an estimate of the DPMO (defects per million opportunities), one or more capability indices and an estimate of the Sigma Quality Level at which the process operates. From the above table, it appears that the water quality management process at the DEWA Company is capable of meeting the needs of the population. In addition, it appears that the company is capable of providing good quality water for human consumption to its consumers. The strengths of the system include its ability to lower the saline content and the amount of dissolved solids therefore producing water that is fresh. Furthermore, the water does not contain toxic substances such as cyanide, lead, among others, and this implies that it is fit for human consumption. Moreover, there is a balance between the water acid and alkaline levels as the pH is within the acceptable range. The nitrate levels are also within the acceptable range and therefore do not pose a threat to human health. In addition, the water is soft rather than hard due to reduction of magnesium and calcium elements. Another strong point is that the management system has preserved the waters aesthetic quality since there is no odor, color and taste present. Moreover, the water is free from faecal pollution as there is no contamination by bacterial organisms of the coliform nature. According to DEWA Company (2009:7), DEWAs water system consists of a transmission network where pipe diameters range from 550 mm to 1200 mm, and distribution network where pipe diameters range from 100 mm to 450 mm. This means that the company is able to transmit and distribute large amounts of water at any given time due to the large capacity and volume of its transmission system. On the other hand, the water production system has fewer defects than the strengths listed above. The defects include production of water with no fluoride element, which can lead to tooth decay. In addition, the electrical conductivity of the water is very high indicating the possibility of contamination with radioactive matter. However, the strengths of the system of water production outweigh its weaknesses. The indicators of the systems capability to produce good quality water are the variables that the company uses to measure the quality of water. These include lack of taste, smell, color, coliform bacterial organisms that are indicative of faecal pollution, few nitrate, calcium and magnesium contents that are an indication of low salinity levels, normal alkaline and acidity levels, a low amount of dissolved solids and the absence of poisonous substances such as lead and cyanide. In conclusion, it appears then that the company is capable of producing good quality water for the con suming population. Consequently, we can also say that the management system of the DEWA Company in relation to the production and supply of water is one that is effective in terms of ensuring good quality water.

Role of ICE in Tourism Industry

Role of ICE in Tourism Industry The Tourism industry today is highly competitive and generates considerable income for every destination of interest, and has arguably become economically indispensable. In the last decade, the structure and operational aspects of the industry have been undergoing significant changes in an attempt to keep up with Social and Economic developments as a result of the fast dispersal of the Internet and increasing E-Business; all of which have impacted on the demand for tourism products and the manner in which they can be obtained. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is being used in a multitude of overlapping activities within the Tourism sector, ranging from internal organisational functions to external communication between different parts of the industry, as well as facilitating how employees of the industry perform their jobs and how consumers experiences are enhanced. In other words the application of ICT is affecting the entire Tourism Value Chain (Buhalis, 2003). Its fair to say that in light of this, the continuous development of ICT has profound implications in the way the industry managed. With the implementation of new forms of ICT, an innovative type of E-Tourism has emerged that is radically transforming the Tourism industry on a world wide scale; the effects of which are discussed in more detail on the pages that follow. Since the early 1960’s when the first Computer Reservation Systems (CRS) was introduced, which according to Fesenmaier (2000) changed the way Tourism Operators conducted business in the sector; four interrelated eras can been identified (Frangialli, 1998). The Data Processing era in the 1960s; Management Information Systems era in the 1970s; Strategic Information Systems era in the 1980s and the Emerging Network era in the 1990s. Since their introduction many of these systems have been changed from their original appearance, new tools have emerged to take advantage of the benefits introduced by these systems, not least of all the Emerging Network era where the internet has significantly enhanced the operational aspects of the sector in general. It is fair to argue that the Internet has had considerable impact on the application of Tourism management, as people are able to obtain all their travel information and services at home via the Internet. The distribution of travel and tourism products using the Internet has bought about significant cost advantages for providers of Tourism services, and increased customer satisfaction as they provide a full service to their consumers. It is unquestionable, this revolutionary development is accountable for much of the technological developments at the heart of the industry today (Poon, 1993) which has evolved as a result of the Network era, identified above, and has led to further developments in the form of Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce). Keen and Macintosh (2001) stress that M-Commerce is marking the start of a fifth era of innovation and will continue to extend the way Tourism organisations conduct business. Moreover, according to Keen and Macintosh (2001), those who adopt new ICT and those who manage partner relationships more dynamically, will expand their market share even further by taking advantage of new developments. Just as CRS changed the way Travel Operators conducted their business, technologies, such as WiFi and WiMax [same as Wi-Fi only on much larger scale] are now changing the way Operators communicate with consumers. Academics such as Kalakota, (2001) suggest that Wi-Fi and M-Commerce, are key technological developments with wide-ranging benefits to the tourism industry. Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity and in simple terms means that computers, peripherals and connectivity to the Internet no longer need to be connected physically, creating a completely wire free system. The benefits of such a system include the costs of setting up are reduced as cabling is expensive, disruptive and not always possible. Wi-Fi allows wider networks, because it does not need to be limited to those machines which are physically linked, fostering greater mobility as people are no-longer restricted to working only at their desks. As a result of these reasons, the cost of creating Wi-Fi networks in places like coffee shops for example are low, which has lead to the creation of many new â€Å"Wi-Fi hotspots† encouraging visitors to linger and spend more on refreshments for example. Hotels are also taking advantage of the benefits and offering Wi-Fi services to all its guests at next to nothing. Furthermore, the implications for major visitor attractions are equally exciting. For example visitors to museums could use along their own Wi-Fi enabled device and access the museum website in their own language and obtain information on exhibits and so on. Service providers are building nationwide networks of Wi-Fi hotspots that can be accessed for a fee, and it is this partner relationship within the Tourist sector which needs to be managed more dynamically, and Tourism organisations need to nurture this relationship in order to provide the services consumers are expecting. A key example of this partner relationship can be witnessed at Heathrow Terminal 1, Paddington station, selected Hilton Hotels, as well as many pubs, as examples of Organisations who have paired up with Wi-Fi service providers, and taking advantage of this Technology. According to Aramberri (2001), these developments have changed the way Tourism Organisations operate, as these developments have led to consumers demanding more services, and changed the end to end process that restricted the services provided by organisations before the Network Era. In other words new ICT has both facilitated more demanding consumers, but also enabled Operators to heighten the travelling experience. Thus, in order to compete for market share Travel operators need to find new and innovative ways in applying ICT to the services they are offering. A key example of this can be illustrated with location-based services (LBS) which refers to information services accessible through a mobile handset, based on geographical location. According to Kpper, (2005) Tourism is among the first industries taking advantage of LBS, despite some doubt concerning the compatibility of some devices, with regards to operating systems, data formats, and limitations in user interfaces. In other words at present there is no generic LBS that could run on any device. In addition with regards to the application of ICT across the industry, it is now faced with a number of challenges. The Internet allows consumers to obtain information concerning their choices, it is still difficult to judge the credibility of this information, and in the absence of sufficient regulation, consumers still are concerned with the risks. Furthermore, there are still some areas in the Tourism industry that are not actively involved in the utilisation of ICT, and one the key developments through the eras identified above has been the complete utilisation of that system across the entire sector, and there is a risk given the pace of technological development that some aspects of the industry may get left behind. This would reduce the competitiveness of the industry and remove one of the key drivers for change within the sector. In summary ICT, particularly in the form of M-Commerce as a result of Wi-Fi enabled services has had profound implications for the operation of the tourism industry in three main areas. Firstly it has radically altered the way in which information is transmitted throughout the industry. Hence, it changes and challenges the way in which Tourism services are delivered and requires that Operators find new ways to satisfy tourists’ needs and that the needs are satisfied on demand. Secondly, the use of ICT is driven by the development of complex demands, as well as by the rapid expansion and sophistication of new products, such as the development of LBS, which as a result has enhanced the need for a wider network of Operators to include other businesses which traditionally do not form part of the Tourism sector such as service providers and mobile handset producers. Finally ICT has gone some way to bridge the distance between consumers and suppliers. It changes the best operational practices in the industry and enables innovative Operators to take advantage of the emerging tools and get closer to consumers. In conclusion ICT is a strategic tool used to enhance profitability and competitiveness of the Tourism sector and the future destination and competitiveness of the sector depends upon the successful implementation and management of this fifth technological era. References Abowd, G. D., et al. (1997): Cyberguide: A mobile context-aware tour guide, ACM Wireless Networks, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 421-433. Aramberri, J. (2001): The host should get lost: paradigms in tourism theory, Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 738-761. Buhalis, D., 2003, eTourism: Information Technology for strategic tourism management, Pearson. Fesenmaier, D., et al., Eds. (2000): Information and communication technologies in tourism, Springer. Fodness, D. and B. Murry (1997): Tourist information search, Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 503-523. Guerley, W. (2000), â€Å"Making Sense of the Wireless Web†, Fortune, August 15. Available at: www.fortune.com Kalakota, R., and Robinson, M. (2001), M-Business: The Race to Mobility. New York: McGraw-Hill. Keen, P., and Mackintosh, R. (2001), The Freedom Economy: Gaining the M-commerce Edge in the Era of the Wireless Internet. Berkeley, CA: Osborne/McGraw-Hill. Kpper, A (2005), Location-Based Services: Fundamentals and Operation: Fundamentals and Application. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 2nd Edition Laudon, K., Traver, C., 2002, eCommerce: Business, technology, society, Addison Wesley, Boston. Moore, K., et al. (1995): Behavioural conceptualization of tourism and leisure, Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 67-85. Snepenger, D. J., et al. (1990): Information search strategies by destination-naive tourists, Journal of Travel Research, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 13-16. Tribe, J. (1999): Economics of Leisure and Tourism, Butterworth-Heinemann, London. V.K. (2002), Global M-commerce – Business Opportunities for Wireless Data Services; in World Market Series

Cyber-Communism: The New Threat in the New Millennium :: social issues

Cyber-Communism: The New Threat in the New Millennium My expedition into cyber-communism began when I read Brock Meeks' "Hackers Stumble Toward Legitimacy"[1]. The article addressed a recent hackers' convention. Interestingly, the keynote speaker was Eric Boucher[2] (alias Jello Biafra[3]), a rock star with no technical background. Numerous questions ensue. Who is Eric Boucher (alias Jello Biafra)? What does he believe? More importantly, why schedule someone with no technical background to speak at a hackers' convention? Addressing his beliefs, his proposed Green Party platform[4] is not inconsistent with the "Manifesto of Libertarian Communism"[5]. This answer produces a more troubling question. Was his speech against corporate America mere socialist babbling or was his speech part of something more sinister, a subversive cyber-communist movement? I am not the first to see possible communist subversion of the digerati[6]. Corey Winesett's "Are Linux Users Really Communists?"[7] questions the nature of the relationship, if any, between open source and communism. Scott Billings' "Heresy and Communism"[8] ponders that the Linux community's knee-jerk reaction to negative opinions about Linux could be the result of being "under the [communists'] spell." Before I can evaluate cyber-communism's merits, I must define communism's true nature and communism's real threat to America. Communism Revisited Theoretical communism and practical communism have long been held as different political sociologies. Despite Marx's call for the working class to revolt, the communist revolution's leaders always ascend from the intelligentsia. John Stormer's "None Dare Call It Treason" supports this fact saying: "Fidel Castro was a product, not of the cane fields of Cuba, but of the halls of Havana University." "Joseph Stalin was not a simple peasant rebelling at the oppression of the Czar. He became a communist while studying for the priesthood in a Russian Orthodox seminary." "The membership of the first Communist spy ring uncovered in the U.S. Government was not spawned in the sweat shops of New York's lower east side or the tenant farms of the South. [The conspirators] came to high government posts from Harvard Law School." Communism's fallacy is the belief in everyone's benevolence; yet, human nature proves otherwise. Communism cannot create a perfect society with imperfect people. Hence, to direct Utopia, communism produces a totalitarian government over the less-perfect people, ruled by the perfect people - communists. Thus, communism's true nature creates a controlling government in the name of a better world. Not every supporter needs be a knowing conspirator.

Gillette Marketing Plan Essay -- Business Marketing Analysis Managemen

Gillette Marketing Plan Gillette's $9.2 billion global business began on September, 1901 by the name of "American Safety Razor Company. In 1902 it was names Gillette Safety Razor Company. The Gillette Company today is the global market leader in nearly a dozen major consumer products categories, principally in the grooming, alkaline battery and oral care businesses. It is the largest known company for producing razors and other shaving products. The five different business units Gillette focuses on are Blades & Razors, Duracell, Oral Care, Braun and Personal care. This project deals with the production of a disposable razor with incorporated gel. Gillette is the largest well known company for producing razors. The company receives the greatest profits from that operation. Gillette sells products in over 200 countries and has approximately 28,700 employees, 70& from which are outside of the US. Manufacturers operate at 31 facilities in 14 countries and 40% of sales come from NEW products for 11 consecutive y ears. The Gillette Company's Vision is to build Total Brand Value by innovating to deliver consumer value and customer leadership faster, better and more completely than their competition. This Vision is supported by two fundamental principles that provide the foundation for all of our activities: Organizational Excellence and Core Values. Organizational Excellence is accomplished by superior and continually improving performance in every area and at every level of the organization. Gillette's performance should be guided by a clear and concise strategic statement for each business unit. Excellence requires hiring, developing and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest caliber. The three core values that define the ... ...ategic direction of the company of holding the leadership position n the grooming market. Also, this strategy will fit with Gillette's major, sustainable, competitive advantage of being an industry innovator (3). Manufacturing the "Sensor 3 Gel" will add value to the organization, as it will reposition the Gillette Company as the undisputable industry leader. The "disposable razor" target market will be male population across the world. In 2002 more than 1.7 billion men over 15 years old removed hair daily with over 80% using a blade and a razor (2). These numbers show that there is a large market for razors worldwide. The "disposable razor" will first be manufactured with a regular shave gel to appeal to a large group of men. But in the long run, new and more focused groups will be targeted. Different shaving gels for different type of skins will be introduced.

How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism Essay -- Expos

How to Escape from American Consumerism and Materialism We all know we live in a highly materialistic culture in which conspicuous consumption governs much of our lives. We strive to acquire goods which will define us to ourselves and to others and somehow satisfy our human need to justify existence. At the end of the day, we also all know that there’s a trap built into the system: the more you consume, the more you are pressed to consume more because whatever satisfaction possession of things brings us is always fleeting thus driving us further and further down the material path of life seeking nirvana around the next corner at the mall. Many modern philosophers have pondered this question, often giving rise to scathing critiques of consumerism as shallow; the product of a decadent and decaying culture. This is where most people turn away, not because they reject what the philosophers say, but precisely because they know it to be at least partially accurate and this is unbearable. It’s unbearable because while we know the meaning of life can’t be reduced to a new SUV, we don’t know what on earth we would replace consumerism with if we were to abandon it as the bedrock of our daily lives. What would we do with our time? Why would we work overtime? Why would we get up in the morning? I don’t propose here to rehash the arguments about why consumerism is evil, but I would like to propose some solutions to the conundrum of modern living: how to find satisfaction through consuming differently and thoughtfully. 1. Value what you have The first step is to look around your space and start to appreciate the sheer number of labour-hours that are invested in the things that you already own. Imagine having to make them you... ... you to pause at least for a moment†¦ Consuming for its own sake is indeed a great temptation, but like all others it can be overcome. This doesn’t require a twelve-step program to wean us permanently from the habit, afterall it’s only human. It does require that we acknowledge what makes having things satisfying: social relations with other people. If we recognize our links to others through the products they make and we consume, and if we assume the responsibility that comes with that recognition, we can consume less, consume differently and garner much more satisfaction from the act. We need to ignore the spin doctors and their promises of eternal happiness or salvation and realize that we are the authors of our own happiness and that happiness cannot be branded, packaged or sold by the pound. Step down from the gerbil wheel and take a moment to think about it.

Discovery of a Father

In â€Å"Discovery of a Father† by Sherwood Anderson and â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† by Robert Hayes, Sherwood and the speaker both do not approve of their fathers’ actions but begin to appreciate them later on. In the beginning as young boys, both of the sons are lacking the appreciation for their fathers. In â€Å"Discovery of a Father†, Sherwood does not like the fact that his father is a storyteller and how his father would lie about his nationality and take someone else’s as his own. For example, Sherwood recalls, â€Å"If an Irishman came to our house, right away father would say he was Irish. If it was a Scotchman the same thing happened† (5). Sherwood’s father is also a joker and someone who is absent for long periods of time in their family’s life which Sherwood also dislikes. Sherwood also can not understand how his mother could tolerate it. Similar to Sherwood, the speaker reveals his father’s unlikeable traits. The speaker does not like the fact that his father has an unlikeable temper. He expresses how his father’s temper is caused by his long hours at work and the lack of thankfulness. The speaker spends his boyhood â€Å"fearing the chronic angers of the house† (Hayes 9). So soon each son comes to know that his father actually does love him. Although this dislike for both Sherwood’s and the speaker’s father’s actions occur, they also both experience a paradigm shift when they realize that they have some type of reason to New 2 love their fathers; because their fathers love them. Sherwood’s father demonstrates such love when he takes him swimming in the pond which gives them a chance to connect with one another. Sherwood recalls that â€Å"it was a feeling of closeness†¦It was as though there were only we two in the world† (Anderson 8). Ironically, Sherwood’s father is usually very playful and energized but during that night he becomes completely serious and silent. Then Sherwood relates to his father when he notices that not only his father is a storyteller but he himself is as well. On the other hand, the speaker discovers his father’s love when he is older when he remembers when his father displayed a few acts of kindness to him when the speaker says, â€Å"had driven out the cold/and polished my good shoes well† (Hayden11-12). Therefore the sons in both â€Å"Discovery of a Father’ and â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† each have their eyes open to a love that they thought was not there but always was.

Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues Essay

The â€Å"Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues† simulation explored the factors one must consider when an American corporation enters an international contractual relationship with a foreign business partner. The issues presented are as follows: What are the issues involved in resolving legal disputes in international transactions? The legal issues involved in resolving legal disputes in international transactions are the selection of which set of laws to follow and the forum used for dispute resolution. Specificity used in writing international contracts provides a clear structure for resolving potential legal issues. When defining the set of laws to follow in an agreement, one’s selection must consider the respective laws and regulations of the countries of origin for both companies as well as the involvement of any multi-national organizations such as the World Trade Organization, also known as the WTO. When selecting a forum, one must select between local courts of either business partner or international arbitration, either binding or non-binding. See more:  Perseverance essay What are some practical considerations of taking legal action against a foreign business partner based in another country? Local political climate, impact to future business, length of time for proceedings, and effect on local public goodwill are practical considerations when deciding on whether to take action against a foreign business partner. These factors will decide if the potential financial gain of such a move will outweigh the long term financial, ethical, and legal impact to all parties involved. Additionally, one must consider possible intervention from the American or foreign governments as well as prevailing international organizations. What factors could work against CadMex’s decision to grant sublicensing agreements? Deciding to sublicense the production of CadMex’s drugs creates potential concerns of quality, time, and costs. CadMex must ensure it protects the quality of generic versions of its products by sublicensed manufacturers. Both CadMex and the local companies in companies must review the costs involved with establishing manufacturing in Candore. CadMex has the additional responsibility of factoring the cost of sublicensing to its earnings. Finally, the time needed to establish sublicensing agreements and local manufacturing may be an obstacle to success in this arrangement. When the local customs and laws conflict with the customs and laws of an organization operating abroad, which should prevail? Explain why. Situation dictates whether local customs and laws or the laws and customs of an organization operating abroad will prevail during a conflict. This is due to the potential impact of any legal action to the companies involved, the local population, and the governments of both organizations. In the â€Å"Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues† simulation, CadMex was required to consider local religious practices, the potential impact of a union strike and lawsuit, as well as any potential violation of American labor laws. How would you compare the issues in this simulation to the domestic legal issues discussed in your Week One readings? How should companies resolve domestic and international issues differently? The Week One readings reviewed the advantages and concerns with arbitration compared to litigation as a forum for resolving domestic legal issues in business. When resolving international issues, the laws of both countries affect which forum provides the best resolution, although international arbitration is recommended to avoid bias in local courts or the time and expense involved with litigation in either country. References Apollo Group, Inc. (2004). Addressing International Legal and Ethical Issues . Retrieved October 12, 2013, from University of Phoenix eCampus: https://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/vendors/tata/UBAMSims/business_law1/busine ss_law1_intl_legal_ethical_simulation. html Melvin, S. P. (2011). The Legal Environment of Business: A Managerial Approach: Theory to Practice. . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.