Sigmund Freud s Frankenstein - 1299 Words

Sigmund Freud lays out an understanding instances of the definition of the uncanny. It was based on his psychoanalytic work to treat behavioral disorders and he contend that the human’s behavior is affected by their unconscious that was driven by desires, fears, needs and conflict that they are unware of; he explained the definition of the uncanny which is â€Å"the uncanny is that class of the frightening which lead back to what is known of old and long familiar.† One can see the relation of the uncanny to May Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster that was created by the character named Victor Frankenstein was greeted with fear by the people he meets. The monster’s treatment of fear put him under the category of Sigmund Freud’s The Uncanny. we see a point of commonality where the relation of the Freudian theory and Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is implying towards to each other. This implication reveals The Uncanny and Mary Shelley’s Frank enstein to fear itself as it shows the theory of the uncanny and using the counterevidence from the text to reflect critically back to the theory itself. Freud explained the subject of the uncanny in terms of what is freighting and what caused frightening in the quote, â€Å"the subject of the uncanny is a province of this kind. It is undoubtedly related to what is frightening- to what arouses dread and horror, equally certainly, too, the word is not used in a clearly definable sense, so that it tends to coincide with what excites fear in general†Show MoreRelatedSigmund Freud s Frankenstein 1361 Words   |  6 PagesSigmund Freud layed out an understanding instances of the definition of the uncanny. It was based on his psychoanalytic work to treat behavioral disorders. He contended that the human’s behavior is affected by their unconscious that was driven by desires, fears, needs and conflict that they are unware of. He explained the definition of the uncanny which â€Å"the uncanny is that class of the frightening which lead back to what is known of old and long familiar.† One can see the relation of the uncann yRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1411 Words   |  6 Pageswriting structures of the celebrated authors around her time period. She did this by empowering her main character, Victor Frankenstein, with the enlightenment values of individualism and self exploration; only in a very pessimistic and gloomy way. Through careful analysis of quotes from Mary Shelley s frankenstein from a psychoanalytic view we can reveal some of mary Shelley s true motives in how she designed her characters. Psychology is all about finding motives. It’s all about finding out whyRead MoreThe Concept Of Self Identity1360 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of Self-Identity, and the theories that relate to it, are ever-present in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The concept of Self-Identity is a Psychological concept that many famous Psychologists have spent years studying. The main theories of self-identity that relate to the story of Frankenstein are those by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The ideas of Sigmund Freud’s concept of Superego, Id, and Ego are represented by Victor’s father, the creation, and Victor withRead MoreVision And The Act Of Looking1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ocular Spectatorship Vision and the act of looking is an important and recurring theme in many horror films. In early gothic literature, such as in Guy de Maupassant s Le Horla, the author presents vision as definitive and universal proof and stresses the importance of seeing as well as the act of showing gore. As a society, we are routinely told ‘seeing is believing in the wake of any paranormal or supernatural phenomena, placing weight on the tangible. However, as science and technologyRead MoreThe Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1822 Words   |  8 Pagesnovella also strongly suggests that there more that just a moral divide between the two personas, there is an evolutionary divide as well. In the language that Stevenson uses to describe Hyde, shows how deeply he had been influenced by Charles Darwin s theory on the origins of species. Hyde is often described using such words as â€Å"troglodytic† â€Å"dwarfish† and â€Å"hardly human†. Enfield’s when recoun ting his first strange encounter with Mr Hyde attempts describe him to Utterson: He is not easy to describeRead MoreComparison of the Tempest and Forbidden Planet Essay1836 Words   |  8 Pagesdraws on two outside influences, or parentages, to help adapt The Tempest into FP. Both Freudian psychology and the science fiction genre were used to help shape FP. The film draws on Freudian psychology when referring to the Id-monster. It was â€Å"Sigmund Freud’s concept of multipartite mentality of primal id, conscious ego, and moral superego† (Knighten, Para 4) that gave light to the idea of the Id-monster. Freud’s psychology then was an inspiration for the monster in FP because without his influenceRead MoreJudith Butlers Perception of the Female in the Modern Era: Gender Identity and the Act of Becoming in Cindy Shermans History Portraits6698 Words   |  27 Pagesdebatable but the work stands on its own and its meaning is open to interpretation. The portrayal of the self especially of the female self had been under a Freudian assault since Edward Bernays began using sex in advertising (Jones, 2000). Nephew of Sigmund Freud, Bernays realized the untapped potential that sexual innuendo could hold over American audiences everywhere: it could leave on spellbound, virtually obedient to every suggestion that the purveyor of goods wished to proffer. By divorcing the sexRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesraining there, it’s not snowing. Here is an analysis of it in sentential logic: R is the sentence It will rain there. S is the sentence It will snow there. Then the pattern of the above argument is R or S, but not both R and S. R that science is a systematic way of explaining and predicting events. Science is not merely a systematic collection of facts. 135 So, Not-S and that is the form of a valid argument in sentential logic. In this analysis of the argument, the definitions are

Critique Of Kant - 1376 Words

Defining Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason and its Relation to the Science of Metaphysics The understanding itself, in regard to representations and objects, is the paramount focus of Immanuel Kant’s (1724-1804), Critique of Pure Reason (1781/1787). Although there is a manifold of philosophical definitions of what the critique of pure reason is defined as, this essay will assist in alleviating the flux that occurs when comprehending the meaning of Kant’s, Critique of Pure Reason. After reading most of Kant’s critique, in relation to Metaphysics, the critique of pure reason is a way of making that branch of philosophy a true possibility, then an actual science. An argument can be made that one definition formulates a foundation for†¦show more content†¦In order to fully comprehend what a court of justice is, the concept of â€Å"indifferentism,† must be clearly defined. Kant states that indifferentism is, â€Å"the mother of chaos and night in the sciences, but at the same time, also the origin, or at least the prelude, of their incipi ent transformations and enlightenment, when through ill-applies effort they have become obscure, confused, and useless† (A x). Indifference is harming to metaphysics because it allows people to ignore what they naturally compelled to answer about representations, objects, and results. In summary, Kant’s critique of pure reason is a court of justice, which gives humanity the ability to determine and separate the invalid flaws and falsities that are holding is an endless fate, from the valid right rules and principles that help us answer metaphysical inquisitions. After Kant defines the court of justice, he then introduces a new term that helps define a critique of pure reason, a critique of the faculty of reason. Kant offers another important definition in regard to a critique of pure reason in which he uses the term â€Å"a critique of the faculty of reason,† which will be fully defined in order to comprehend the next element of what a critique of pure reason is. Kant defines â€Å"critique of the faculty of reason in general, in respect of all the cognitions after which reason might strive independently of all experience, and hence the decision about the possibility orShow MoreRelatedKant s Critique Of Judgment1128 Words   |  5 PagesAn Excerpt from Kant s Critique of Judgment In the first part Analytic of the beautiful, Kant elucidates the judgment of taste. Kant examines the mechanics in distinguishing whether something is beautiful or not and arrives to the realization that beauty is purely intuitive. The judgment of beauty relies not on cognition and reason but on an entirely different aspect .Then, whether an object is beautiful or not depends on the sensation of pleasure or pain the subject undergoes through exposureRead MoreThe Critique Of Judgement : Immanuel Kant1841 Words   |  8 PagesMartin 4/23/15 Final Essay In 1790, Immanuel Kant created a piece of work known as the Critique of Judgement. In his work, the Critique of Judgement, Immanuel Kant moves his attention to focusing on aesthetics and what truly makes a piece of art beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Up until around the 1780s Immanuel Kant did not particularly worry or concern himself with aesthetics and how that judges an object or piece of art. It was only in the 1780s that Kant started to take an interest in the aestheticRead MoreKant s Critique Of Pure Reason Essay1380 Words   |  6 PagesKant Modern Philosopher Immanuel Kant, was born in Prussia in 1724 and passed away in 1804. Kant wrote the famous book â€Å"A Critique Of Pure Reason† where he mentions and talks about David Hume, and how he himself was awoke from his stubborn beliefs. Many people find Kant’s Theory as a form deontological ethics; where actions of right and wrong. Does not depend on their consequences, but on whether they fulfill our duty and/or obligations. Immanuel Kant emphasized the idea that we have duties andRead MoreSummary On Critique Of Practical Reason By Immanuel Kant1029 Words   |  5 PagesImmanuel Kant developed his own deontological theory in his book, â€Å"Critique of Practical Reason.† He claims from his book that we develop morals from reason only. That characteristics, like being nice, can lead to being despicable. How we can determine what is moral is by thinking logically and rationally. Kant then presents maxims, which are any memorable guides for moral livi ng, which fulfills moral rules. He then develops a theory about means and ends, that humanity is a treated as an end in itselfRead MoreThird Breaking Down His Most Important Philosophies1097 Words   |  5 PagesFoundations of Natural Science 3. Critique of Practical Reason 4. Critique of the Power of Judgment 5. Critique of Pure Reason a. Knowledge b. Metaphysics Topic: Critique of Pure Reason In order to understand Kant’s position, we must first understand the philosophical environment that influenced his thinking. There are two major historical movements in the early modern period of philosophy that had a very large impact on Kant: Empiricism and Rationalism (Kemerling). Kant argues that both the methodRead MoreImmanuel Kant s Philosophy And Philosophy1389 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Paper- Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant was a famous philosopher whose philosophical influences impacted almost every new philosophical idea, theory, concept etc. In a sense, he was considered the central face of contemporary philosophy. Kant spent his whole life in Russia. Starting out as a tutor, to then a professor, he lectured about everything; from geography to obviously philosophy. In his early life, he was raised to emphasize faith and religious feelings over reason and theological principlesRead MoreMorality via Kant and Hegel1712 Words   |  7 Pagesendeavor in which few can be said to have been as influential as Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and his most trenchant critic, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831). Kant’s deontological attempt to unearth this criterion rests on one of the most metaphysical and abstract explanations ever given for the common intuitions of morality (Scruton 2001, 73). With the metaphysical dual-ism claimed by his Transcendental Idealism as his cornerstone, Kant argued that Reason – to him a defining and immutable trait of human natureRead MoreKant : The Father Of Enlightenment1071 Words   |  5 PagesStanford Marquis Essay 2 Kant: The Father of Enlightenment The 18th Century is referred to as the Age of Reason or Enlightenment as it was during this period that reason and individualism was advocated as a means of power. Science and reason were revolutionizing society by challenging the facts deeply rooted in tradition. This new rational way of thinking used logic to arrive at conclusions. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, was one of the primary figures of this era that cultivated reason andRead MoreCritique of Judgement Summary829 Words   |  4 PagesSummary The  Critique of Judgment,  often called the Third Critique, does not have as clear a focus as the first two critiques. In broad outline, Kant sets about examining our faculty of judgment, which leads him down a number of divergent paths. While the  Critique of Judgment  deals with matters related to science and teleology, it is most remembered for what Kant has to say about aesthetics. Kant calls aesthetic judgments â€Å"judgments of taste† and remarks that, though they are based in an individual’sRead MoreSummary of Immanuel Kants Life Essay1100 Words   |  5 Pages Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) spent all of his life in Kà ¶nigsberg, a small German town on the Baltic Sea in East Prussia. (After World War II, Germanys border was pushed west, so Kà ¶nigsberg is now called Kaliningrad and is part of Russia.) At the age of fifty-five, Kant appeared to be a washout. He had taught at Kà ¶nigsberg University for over twenty years, yet had not published any works of significance. During the last twenty-five years of his life, however, Kant left a mark

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden Essay Example For Students

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden Essay I Never Promised You a Rose GardenI Never Promised You a Rose Garden, by Joanne Greenberg, is a description of a sixteen-year-old girls battle with schizophrenia, which lasts for three years. It is a semi-autobiographical account of the authors experiences in a mental hospital during her own bout with the illness. This novel is written to help fight the stigmatisms and prejudices held against mental illness. Joanne Greenberg was born in Brooklyn in 1932, and is a very respected and award-winning author. Because of her experiences as a Jewish-American and having fought her own battle with schizophrenia, Greenberg wrote I Never Promised You a Rose Garden to help people understand what it is like have to face so much hardship. After her illness was treated, she went on to earn a bachelors degree in anthropology and English. Throughout her life, she has fought for the respect and empathy that individuals suffering from both physical and mental handicaps have been denied. Joanne Greenberg presents her experiences by relating them to Deborah Blau. Deborah Blau, who is very bright and artistically talented, creates an imaginary world she calls the Kingdom of Yr, to use as a defense against the confusing and frightening truths of the real world. When Deborah is five, she has an operation to remove a tumor that causes her to be incontinent. This is a very traumatic experience because a great deal of physical pain and shame comes along with the problems caused by the tumor and resulting surgery. Deborah suffers frequent abuse from her anti-Semitic peers and neighbors during her childhood. When Deborah first creates Yr, it is a sort of haven, but as time goes on, the gods of Yr become Deborahs masters and control her every word and action. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden shows the issue of mental illness from several different viewpoints. During Deborahs three years in the hospital, the reader is provided with a glimpse of mental illness from the patients point of view. Deborahs parents, Esther and Jacob, show the struggle that family members face. This is a conflict between their love for their daughter and their shame of her illness. They blame themselves for what their daughter is facing and they fear what they must do to help her. In spite of this, they manage to gather the courage to get Deborah treatment, and allow it to continue, even though the therapy seems to have no effect for quite some time. These people get help from a brilliant psychiatrist, who is not only strong-willed, but also empathetic towards their situations. Deborahs therapist, Dr. Clara Fried, gradually gains Deborahs trust, because she never forces Deborah to accept her point of view. While she helps Deborah, the doctor, in turn, comforts D eborahs parents. During the course of the three years, Deborah gains the courage to fight her illness, only with Dr. Frieds expertise. Frieds goal is to allow Deborah to have the opportunity to choose between having a life in the reality of Earth, even though it does have many faults and problems, and living in the phantoms of Yr. While she is in the process of fighting her illness, Deborah builds friendships with the other patients in the hospital even though they have a sort of fear of emotional attachment to other people. Even though she still has fears of the Earths reality, Deborah goes on to earn a GED degree, and, eventually, wins her struggle against the illness. This novel does contain some misconceptions about schizophrenia. The way that Deborah is treated in the novel is different from how she would be treated today. Based on what was known in the 1960s, Joanne Greenberg uses the method of therapy as the majority of treatment. Today, schizophrenia is treated mostly with psychiatric drugs. Although this novel uses outdated treatment methods, it does succeed in allowing the reader to see into the mind of a mentally ill person. This novel is very realistic and uses a unique approach to teaching readers about psychology and promoting a more informed approach on life. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is an interesting novel and should be read by anyone who may be curious about the issues it tackles.

Root Cause Analysis free essay sample

Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection A. MARK DOGGETT, HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY  © 2005, ASQ This article provides a framework for analyzing the performance of three popular root cause analysis tools: the cause-and-effect diagram, the interrelationship diagram, and the current reality tree. The literature confirmed that these tools have the capacity to find root causes with varying degrees of accuracy and quality. The literature, however, lacks a means for selecting the appropriate root cause analysis tool based upon objective performance criteria. Some of the important performance characteristics of root cause analysis tools include the ability to find root causes, causal interdependencies, factor relationships, and cause categories. Root cause analysis tools must also promote focus, stimulate discussion, be readable when complete, and have mechanisms for evaluating the integrity of group findings. This analysis found that each tool has advantages and disadvantages, with varying levels of causal yield and selected causal factor integrity. We will write a custom essay sample on Root Cause Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This framework provides decision makers with the knowledge of root cause analysis performance characteristics so they can better understand the underlying assumptions of a recommended solution. Key words: collaboration, decision making, problem solving, quality methods INTRODUCTION Beneath every problem is a cause for that problem. In order to solve a problem one must identify the cause of the problem and take steps to eliminate the cause. If the root cause of a problem is not identified, then one is merely addressing the symptoms and the problem will continue to exist. For this reason, identifying and eliminating root causes of problems is of utmost importance (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000; Dew 1991; Sproull 2001). Tools that help groups and individuals identify potential root causes of problems are known as root cause analysis tools. The cause-and-effect diagram (CED), the interrelationship diagram (ID), and the current reality tree (CRT) are three root cause analysis tools frequently identified in the literature as viable mechanisms for solving problems and making decisions. The literature provides detailed descriptions, recommendations, and instructions for their construction and use. Furthermore, the literature is quite detailed in providing colorful and illustrative examples for each of the tools so they can be quickly learned and applied. In summary, the literature confirms that these three tools are capable of finding potential root causes. Conversely, although there is much information about the individual attributes of these root cause analysis tools, there is little information regarding the performance of these tools relative to each other. Thus, problem solvers and decision makers are likely to select a tool based on convenience rather than on its actual performance characteristics. Thus, the purpose of this article is to explore and synthesize the current literature for a head-to-head performance analysis of the CED, ID, and CRT. The intent is to provide problem solvers with a mechanism that can be used to select the appropriate root cause analysis tool for the specific problem. 34 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection The first section of this article presents an overview and a background of the CED, ID, and CRT. For each tool, there is a brief history, a presentation of various construction techniques, and a summary of the tool’s advantages and disadvantages. The second section reviews published articles that compare these tools. The third section analyzes the literature and provides a conceptual framework with a head-to-head comparison for problem-solving practitioners and decision makers. The final section concludes with implications and recommendations for management. Figure 1 Steps in building a cause-and-effect diagram. Characteristic or effect A. Write the characteristic to be improved. Cause Cause Characteristic or effect Cause Cause AN OVERVIEW OF ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS TOOLS Cause-and-Effect Diagram (CED) The CED was designed to sort the potential causes of a problem while organizing the causal relationships. Professor Kaoru Ishikawa developed this tool in 1943 to explain to a group of engineers at Kawasaki Steel Works how various manufacturing factors could be sorted and interrelated. The original intent of the CED was to solve quality-related problems in products caused by statistical variation, but Ishikawa quickly realized it could be used for solving other types of problems as well. The tool later came into widespread use for quality control throughout Japanese industry (Ishikawa 1982). As its use spread to other countries, it became known as the Ishikawa diagram, or more informally, the â€Å"fishbone† because of its appearance once complete (Arcaro 1997; Moran, Talbot, and Benson 1990; Sproull 2001). Brassard and Ritter (1994, 23) assert that the CED â€Å"enables a team to focus on the content of the problem, not on the history of the problem or differing personal interests of team members. † Andersen and Fagerhaug (2000, 14) write that the CED is â€Å"an easily applied tool used to analyze possible causes to a problem,† while Wilson, Dell, and Anderson (1993, 195) call it a â€Å"highly visual technique which aids the process of defining the elements of a problem or event and determining how it probably occurred. CEDs are drawn primarily to illustrate the possible causes of a particular problem by sorting and relating B. Add the main factor branches. Cause Cause Characteristic or effect  © 2005, ASQ Minor causes Cause Cause C. Add the detailed causal factors as twigs. them using a classification schema. The construction and study of the diagram is intended to stimulate knowledge acquisition and promote discussion, but it can also educate others about a process or problem. The CED encourages data collection by highlighting areas of expertise or by showing where knowledge is lacking. Fredendall et al. (2002, 51) calls the CED process â€Å"an exercise in structured brainstorming. † The logic of the CED is that one cannot act until the relationship between the cause and effect of a problem is known. Consequently, the CED attempts to show related causes so action can be taken. Ishikawa (1982) outlines the following steps for constructing a CED. †¢ Step 1: Decide on the problem to improve or control. †¢ Step 2: Write the problem on the right side and draw an arrow from the left to the right side, as shown in Figure 1(A). Step 3: Write the main factors that may be causing the problem by drawing major branch arrows to the main arrow. Primary causal factors of the problem www. asq. org 35 Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection can be grouped into items with each forming a major branch, as shown in Figure 1(B). †¢ Step 4: For each major branch, detailed causal factors are written as twigs on each major branch of the diagram. On the twi gs, still more detailed causal factors are written to make smaller twigs, as shown in Figure 1(C). Step 5: Ensure all the items that may be causing the problem are included in the diagram. Major cause category branches can be initially identified using the four Ms: material, methods, machines, and manpower, or more correctly, the four Ps: parts (raw materials), procedures, plant (equipment), and people. Categories can also be tailored depending on the problem (Moran, Talbot, and Benson 1990; Scholtes 1988; Sproull 2001). Sometimes measurement or environment is the fifth category. Arcaro (1997) suggests using no more than eight major categories. There are various types of CEDs. The dispersion CED develops groups of probable causes as the main branches. Participants are asked to identify why dispersions (or variations) in the problem occur. The reasons for the dispersions are then drawn as twigs on the branches (Ishikawa 1982; Sproull 2001). The advantage of this method is that breaking down causes into more detail helps organize and relate the factors. The disadvantage is that the final form is highly dependent on the person or group constructing it, and small causes of variation may be overlooked (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000). The process classification CED lists all the process steps on the main arrow. Factors that may affect that particular process step are added as branches or drawn as individual CEDs. This type of diagram is like an assembly line with each process step drawn on the main arrow with detailed branches added. The advantage of this method is that it is easy to understand because it follows the sequence of the process. The disadvantage is that similar causes may appear repeatedly, while causes due to interdependent factors are difficult to illustrate (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000; Ishikawa 1982). The cause enumeration CED simply lists all proposed possible causes of the problem and organizes them according to their relationship to the problem and each other. The advantage of this method is that all proposed causes are listed and solutions are encouraged without confining thinking, with the resulting diagram being quite complete. The disadvantage is that it may be difficult to establish a direct relationship between any given cause and the final effect (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000; Ishikawa 1982). A thoroughly completed CED looks rather complicated with many branches, twigs, and smaller twigs. Conversely, too simple a diagram generally indicates that knowledge of the process or problem is shallow and requires further investigation (Ishikawa 1982). Also, the CED may highlight knowledge gaps through the lack of probable causes on a particular category branch. A drawback to using the CED is that there is no specific mechanism for identifying a particular root cause once complete. One technique is to look on the diagram for causes that appear repeatedly within or across major categories. Selecting a single root cause, however, may prove difficult unless the characteristics of the problem are well known or documented. As a last resort, groups can select a root cause through unstructured group consensus or a structured technique such as multivoting or nominal group technique (Brassard and Ritter 1994). Overall, the advantage of the CED is that it is easy to use, it promotes structure while allowing some creativity, and it works best when the problem is well defined and data driven (Scholtes 1988). The disadvantage of the CED is that it is heavily dependent on detailed knowledge of the problem and it only identifies possible causes (Sproull 2001). Bhote (1988) criticizes the CED as ineffective, saying it is a hit-and-miss process that may take months or years to find root causes because it tends to emphasize opinions and overlook causal interactions. Interrelationship Diagram (ID) The ID, originally known as the relations diagram, was developed by the Society of Quality Control Technique Development in association with the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) in 1976. 36 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection The relations diagram was part of a toolset known as the seven new quality control (7 new QC) tools. It was designed to clarify the intertwined causal relationships of a complex problem in order to identify an appropriate solution. The relations diagram evolved into a problem-solving and decision-making method from management indicator relational analysis, a method for economic planning and engineering. Original relations diagrams analyzed cause-and-effect relationships using complex calculations for each factor (Mizuno 1988). In 1984, GOAL/QPC, an educational consulting company, formed the Statistical Resource Committee to research, review, and redesign its training materials for statistical process control (SPC). The result of the committee’s work is a practitioner’s handbook, The Memory Jogger, which describes the various SPC tools for practitioners and front-line managers. These tools are known as the seven quality control (7QC) tools and include the CED. During the development of the handbook, the authors at GOAL/QPC became aware of the seven new QC tools as proposed and published by Mizuno. After translating a working version of Mizuno’s book, which was not published in English until 1988, the Statistical Resource Committee refined Mizuno’s tools into another toolset called the seven management and planning (7MP) tools. The committee developed the term 7MP to indicate that this was not a â€Å"new† toolset to replace the â€Å"old† QC set of tools, but rather supplement them and more accurately describe their intended application (Brassard 1996). As an outcome, GOAL/QPC published the Memory Jogger Plus+ in 1989, which features the 7MP tools and a variation of Mizuno’s relations diagram called the interrelationship digraph. A digraph is a combination of the words diagram and graph (Moran, Talbot, and Benson 1990). Thus, the terms interrelationship digraph, interrelationship diagram, and relations diagram are generally used interchangeably. The interrelationship diagram â€Å"†¦takes complex, multivariable problems and explores and displays all of the interrelated factors involved. It graphically shows the logical (and often causal) relationships between factors† (Brassard 1996, 5). Andersen and Fagerhaug (2000, 14, 19) state that the ID is â€Å"a tool used to identify logical relationships between different ideas or issues in a complex or confusing situation† and â€Å"borders on being a tool for cause-and-effect nalysis. † Brassard and Ritter (1994) state that the ID allows groups to identify, analyze, and classify the cause-and-effect relationships that exist among all critical issues so that key factors can be part of an effective solution. The intent of the ID is to encourage practitioners to think in multiple directions rather than linearly so that critical issu es can emerge naturally rather than follow personal agendas. The ID assists in systematically surfacing basic assumptions and reasons for those assumptions. In summary, the ID helps identify root causes. The ID uses arrows to show cause-and-effect relationships among a number of potential problem factors. Short sentences or phrases expressing the factor are enclosed in rectangles or ovals. Whether phrases or sentences are used is a group decision, but authors recommend the use of at least a noun and a verb (Brassard 1996; Brassard and Ritter 1994). Arrows drawn between the factors represent a relationship. As a rule, the arrow points from the cause to the effect or from the means to the objective. The arrow, however, may be reversed if it suits the purpose of the analysis (Mizuno 1988). The format of the ID is generally unrestricted with several variants. The centrally converging ID places the major problem in the center with closely related factors arranged around it to indicate a close relationship. The directionally intense ID places the problem to one side of the diagram and arranges the factors according to their cause-and-effect relationships on the other side. The applications format ID can be unrestricted, centrally converging, or directionally intense, but adds additional structure based on factors such as organizational configuration, processes, or systems. The ID may use either quantitative or qualitative formats. In the qualitative format, the factors are simply connected to each other and the root cause is identified based on intuitive understanding. In the quantitative format, numeric identifiers are used to determine the strength of relations between factors and the root cause is identified based on the numeric value (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000). www. asq. org 37 Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection Figure 2 Example of an interrelationship diagram. IN OUT 6 1 IN OUT 0 1 Pay levels Scheduled appointments IN OUT 2 2 Emergency appointments IN OUT 0 3 Equipment quality and availability IN OUT 1 3 Support functions availability Health professional availability IN OUT 1 5 IN OUT 3 1 Administrative workload IN OUT 4 1 Changes in scheduled appointments Mizuno (1988) recommends the following when creating a relations diagram: †¢ Step 1: Collect information from a variety of sources. †¢ Step 2: Use concise phrases or sentences as opposed to isolated words. †¢ Step 3: Draw diagrams only after group consensus is reached. †¢ Step 4: Rewrite diagrams several times to identify and separate critical items. Step 5: Do not be distracted by intermediate factors that do not directly influence the root causes. Mizuno recommends asking why questions to surface true cause-and-effect relationships and to slow the process so participants can critically evaluate, revise, examine, or discard factors. Andersen and Fagerhaug (2000) write that the first step for using an ID is to determine and label the factors, then place th em on an easel or whiteboard in a circular shape and assess the relationship of each factor on other factors using arrows. After all relationships have been assessed, count the number of arrows pointing into or out of each factor. A factor with more â€Å"out† arrows than â€Å"in† arrows is a cause, while a factor with more â€Å"in† arrows than â€Å"out† arrows is an effect. The causal factors form the starting point for analysis. Figure 2 shows an example of an unrestricted quantitative interrelationship diagram. A variant of the ID is the ID matrix, which places all the factors on the first column and row of a matrix. This format creates a more orderly display and prevents the tool from becoming too chaotic when there are many factors. The strength and direction of the relationships can be represented through arrows, numbers, or other symbols placed in the cells of the matrix. Brassard (1996) and Brassard and Ritter (1994) argue that users become careless with 38 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ  © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection large, complicated diagrams, so the ID matrix is a good technique to force participants to pay attention to each factor in a more systematic fashion. A particular concern of the ID is that it does not have a mechanism for evaluating the integrity of the selected root cause. In using the quantitative or qualitative method, practitioners must be able to assess the validity of their choices and the strength of the factor relationships. Some users may simply count the number of arrows and select a root cause without thoroughly analyzing or testing their assumptions about the problem. Overall, the ID’s strength is that it is a structured approach that provides for the analysis of complex relationships using a nonlinear approach. The disadvantage is that it may rely too heavily on the subjective judgments about factor relationships and can become quite complex or hard to read (Andersen and Fagerhaug 2000). basis for understanding complex systems (Dettmer 1997). Schragenheim (1998, 19-20) writes, â€Å"The current reality tree depicts the current state of an organization with the objective of identifying a root cause†¦. † Scheinkopf (1999, 144) states that the CRT â€Å"is used to pinpoint a core driver—a common cause for many effect s. † The CRT assumes that all systems are subject to interdependencies among the factor components. Therefore, related causes must be identified and isolated before they can be addressed. Like the other tools, the CRT uses entities and arrows to describe a system. Entities are statements within some kind of geometric figure, usually a rectangle with smooth or sharp corners. An entity is expressed as a complete statement that conveys an idea. An entity can be a cause, an effect, or both (Dettmer 1997). Arrows in the CRT signify a sufficiency relationship between the entities. Sufficiency implies that the cause is, in fact, enough to create the effect. Entities that do not meet the sufficiency criteria are not connected. The relationship between two entities is read as an â€Å"if-then† statement such as, â€Å"If [cause statement ntity], then [effect statement entity]† (Dettmer 1997; Scheinkopf 1999). In addition, the CRT uses a unique symbol, the oval or ellipse, to show relationships between interdependent causes. The literature distinguishes between interrelationship and interdependency using sufficient cause logic such that effects due to interdependency are attributed to multiple and related causal factors. Because the CRT is based on sufficiency, there may be cases where one cause is not sufficient by itself to create the proposed effect. Thus, the ellipse shows that multiple causes are required for the produced effect. These causes are contributive in nature such that they must all be present for the effect to take place. If one of the interdependent causes is removed, the effect will disappear. Relationships that contain an ellipse are read as, â€Å"If [first contributing cause entity] and [second contributing cause entity], then [effect entity]. † Figure 3 shows an example of a CRT. The CRT also allows for looping conventions that either positively or negatively amplify the effect. In this situation, an arrow is drawn from the last entity back to one of the earlier causes. If the original core cause Current Reality Tree (CRT) Goldratt (1990, 3) promotes the idea that the factors of problems are interdependent and result from a few core (root) causes. Goldratt asserts, â€Å"We grossly underestimate the power of our intuition. † Intuitively, most people know how to solve problems, but are unable to because they have no method of focusing their intuition. Without a means to focus, people will do the opposite of what they really believe and will â€Å"†¦play a lot of games with numbers and words. † Goldratt expands on the idea of problem solving through focused intuition in the book It’s Not Luck (Goldratt 1994), which introduces the CRT. The CRT is one of five thinking process (TP) tools, a toolset that Goldratt developed for implementing the theory of constraints (TOC). The CRT addresses problems by relating multiple factors rather than isolated events. Its purpose is to help practitioners find the links between symptomatic factors, called undesirable effects (UDEs), of the core problem. The CRT was designed to show the current state of reality as it exists in a system. It reflects the most probable chain of cause-and-effect factors that contribute to a specific set of circumstances and creates www. asq. org 39 Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection Figure 3 Example of a current reality tree. Operators do not use standard practices Operators view standard practices as a tool for inexperienced and incompetent operators Company does not enforce the use of standard practices Competent and experienced operators do not need standard practices Operators want to be viewed as experienced and competent Some standard practices are incorrect Some operations do not have standard practices Standard practices are not updated regularly The company does not have a defined system for creating and updating standard practices  © 2005, ASQ Standardization of practices is not a company value creates a negative reinforcing loop, but can be changed to a positive, the entire system will be reinforced with a desirable effect (Dettmer 1997). Although constructed from the top, starting with effects, then working down to causes, the CRT is read from bottom to top using â€Å"if-then† statements. The arrows lead from the cause upward (Gattiker and Boyd 1999). The procedure for constructing a CRT was first described by Goldratt (1994) via narrative format in the book It’s Not Luck. Cox and Spencer (1998) later outline the paraphrased procedure: 1. List between five and 10 problems or UDEs related to the situation. 2. Test each UDE for clarity and search for a causal relationship between any two UDEs. 3. Determine which UDE is the cause and which is the effect. 4. Test the relationship using categories of legitimate reservation (CLRs). (These are rules for evaluating assumptions and logic and are described later. ) 5. Continue the process of connecting the UDEs using â€Å"if-then† logic until all the UDEs are connected. 6. Sometimes the cause by itself may not seem to be enough to create the effect. Additional dependent causes can be shown using the â€Å"and† connector. . Logical relationships can be strengthened using words like some, few, many, frequently, and sometimes. This process continues as entities are added downward and chained together. At some point no other causes can be established or connected to the tree. The construction is complete when all UDEs are connected to very few root causes, which do n ot have preceding causal entities (Cox et al. 1998; Dettmer 1997). The final step in the construction of the CRT is to review all the connections and test the logic of the diagram. Branches that do not connect to UDEs can be pruned or separated for later analysis. The assumptions and logic of the CRT are evaluated using rules called CLRs. These rules ensure rigor in 40 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection the CRT process and are the criteria for verifying, validating, and agreeing upon the connections between factors. They are also used to facilitate discussion, communicate disagreement, reduce animosity, and foster collaboration (Scheinkopf 1999). The CLRs consist of six tests or proofs: clarity, entity existence, causality existence, cause insufficiency, additional cause, and predicted effect (Dettmer 1997). Clarity, causality existence, and entity existence are the first level of reservation and are used to clarify meaning and question relationships or the existence of entities. The second level of reservation includes cause insufficiency, additional cause, and predicted effect. They are secondary because they are used when questions remain after addressing first-level reservations. Second-level reservations look for missing or additional causes and additional or invalid effects (Dettmer 1997; Scheinkopf 1999). Variations are the use of the CRT to identify business constraints as part of TOC or to persuade others to take a particular course of action (Cox et al. 1998; Goldratt 1990; Lepore and Cohen 1999; Smith 2000). When used as a persuasion tool, it is known as the communication CRT. When used to identify business constraints, it becomes one of the five TP tools used in the TOC process (Scheinkopf 1999). A particular concern of the CRT is its complexity of construction and rigorous logic system. Practitioners may find the application of the CRT too difficult or time consuming. Conversely, the strength of the CRT is the rigor of the CLR mechanism that encourages attention to detail, ongoing evaluation, and integrity of output. First, the physical layout of the tools is different. The CED is horizontal and reads from left to right, while the CRT is vertical and reads from bottom to top. Second, the CED does not easily show systematic causes of an effect, while the CRT shows â€Å"if-then† logic more precisely. Third, practitioners may find the strict application of the CRT logic intimidating and resent having to phrase their suggestions or objections as CLRs. Consequently, most people view the CED as easier because it requires less training and is quicker to construct. Fourth, the CED does not quickly identify the root cause of the problem, while the CRT is structured so that it visually points to it, which then leads more precisely to finding a potential permanent solution (Fredendall et al. 2002). Pasquarella, Mitchell, and Suerken (1997) present a detailed comparison of the tools in a three-part proceedings article, with each author writing a section. Suerken does not compare the tools, but recommends using the TP tools, including the CRT, in educational settings. Pasquarella’s section compares the TP tools to 10 quality control tools (adding three more tools to the 7QC tools), including the CED. Pasquarella also compares the TP tools to the 7MP tools, including the ID. In comparing both sets of tools to the TP tools, Pasquarella comes to three conclusions. First, organizational managers will choose simple methods when confronted with too many tools or if they perceive a tool as too complex. Thus, most managers will choose the CED because it fits their perception of a simple analysis tool. Second, simple methods are heavily influenced by the emotions of the people using them. Conversely, complicated methods require a degree of expertise and facilitation. Therefore, managers will again choose the CED despite its subjective nature because they are reluctant to assign groups complex methods. Third, most tools do not address systemwide problems unless they can be integrated and rigorously applied. In other words, most tools cannot be used in isolation to solve larger systemic problems. Consequently, organization managers tend to use simple tools that do not solve systematic problems. Pasquarella claims the TP tools superior for the following reasons: PREVIOUS COMPARISONS OF THE TOOLS Fredendall et al. (2002), in a comparison of the CED with the CRT, declare that they use much of the same causal logic and can be used in tandem. For example, a group may use the CED to brainstorm possible causes and then use the CED output to develop a list of UDEs for the CRT. There are, however, some critical differences between the two approaches. www. asq. org 41 Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection 1. They are logical, simple, and there are less of them to consider. 2. The TP tools capitalize on intuition and emotion without skewing the process because the CLRs force rigor into the process. . Each TP tool is clearly identified for a specific function so it can be used as a stand-alone application as well as collectively for systematic problems. As a result, Pasquarella declares that the TP tools (and the CRT) produce the best results because they are more robust, powerful, and intuitive than the other tools. Mitchell’s section reports the results of a qual itative study that measured the effectiveness of the CED, the ID matrix, and the CRT. Mitchell asked students from an advanced quality management course to find the root cause of an airline transport accident. The students applied each of the three root cause analysis tools and then drew comparisons. Mitchell’s students found that the CRT pinpointed a root cause of the airline accident while the CED did not. Mitchell does not indicate whether the students found a root cause using the ID matrix, but he states that the matrix was a good tool for keeping the group organized and focused. Mitchell’s students also reported that the CRT was the only tool that displayed interdependencies between causes. While the ID matrix showed interrelationships, it did not show whether the effect resulted from multiple related causes. The CRT was the only tool to show both interrelationships and intermediate factors. Both the CED and the CRT were effective in grouping cause categories. Mitchell reports that the CRT created more discussion than the CED, but did not compare the ID matrix. All three tools were deemed effective for focusing problem-solving activity. In terms of the process, Mitchell’s students found the CED easiest and least time consuming, followed by the CRT and ID matrix. In this study, the ID matrix required extra process time to clarify and correct incomplete relationships after initial construction. Mitchell’s students rated the CRT highest for readability because the root cause was easy to locate at the bottom of the diagram. The ID matrix was rated second for readability, as it was easier to read at a glance, and the CED was most the difficult to read. Mitchell’s students concluded that the CRT was the best of the three tools because it was able to pinpoint root causes while identifying causal interdependencies. The common weakness of the CED and ID was their inability to identify causal interdependencies. Mitchell offers the opinion that a clear understanding of causal interdependency is critical to successful problem-solving efforts. Without this understanding, overlooked negative effects will creep back into a system and create recurrent problems that will eventually need attention. Using a repeated measures design with several sections of students from team building and leadership courses, Doggett (2004) found statistically significant differences between the tools with regard to perceptions of usability (F (1. 881, 74) = 9. 156, p . 001) that was driven primarily by ease or difficulty of use. Large effect sizes (1. 15 and 1. 18) between the CRT and the other tools indicated that the CRT was perceived as more difficult. In terms of identifying cause categories, the CED was perceived better than either the ID or CRT (F (2, 74) = 7. 839, p = . 001). None of the students, however, perceived any differences between the tools with regard to finding root causes, identifying factor relationships, or developing group discussion and contribution. In terms of the process, the CRT was the most time consuming, with the ID and CED taking the same amount of time on average. Of greater interest in Doggett’s study was an apparent incongruence between the statistical perceptions of participants and the quality of the tool outputs. While participants perceived few differences between the tools, the characteristics of the tool outputs varied greatly. The technical accuracy of both the CED and the ID were high, whereas the technical accuracy of the CRT was mixed. Students using the CED were seldom able to identify a specific root cause, however, the students using the ID found root causes more often. Because the students using the CED could not identify specific root causes, the integrity and reasonableness of their selections also suffered. While the ID groups found a root cause most of the time, the integrity and reasonableness of their root causes was mixed. In contrast, CRT groups identified a root cause most of the time with 42 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection high integrity more than half the time. In addition, the CRT groups were able to do this using fewer factors and relationships than the other tools. Doggett postulates that the incongruence between perceptions and actual performance is due to the nature of group dynamics that tends to avoid creating tension. Because the students were involved in the complexity of building the CRT, they did not take the time to assess or reflect on the meaning of their outputs. Their reflection was impaired by the emotionally laden group process. Thus, students perceived the tension generated by the CRT as an added degree of difficulty. Although the majority of the CRT groups were uncomfortable during the process, the quality of their outputs was better. Table 1 Head-to-head comparison of root cause analysis tools. Performance criteria Ability to find a specific root cause Ability to find reasonable root cause Ability to show systematic causes of effect Shows causal interdependency Identifies factor relationships Shows intermediate factors Identifies cause categories Stimulates dialogue and discussion CED No No No No No No Yes ? Yes No Low High High High High Low Many ID Yes Mixed No No Yes No No ? Yes No Low Medium High ? High Low ? CRT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Yes Yes High Low Low ? Low  © 2005, ASQ SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE The literature indicates that the CED is an easy-to-use tool for developing and classifying root cause categories. It assumes the existence of enough knowledge to be able to isolate and identify probable root causes, but the identified causes may not be specific or reasonable. The CED has the potential to highlight information that is lacking or inadequate through the lack of identified causes in certain categories; however, it does not identify relationships between factors, has no formal mechanism for selecting and evaluating root causes, and may be influenced by group bias. The literature indicates that the ID is an easy-to-use tool to help clarify intertwined relationships between multiple factors, although the factors may not be causal. The ID is used to identify, analyze, and classify possible relationships among critical issues using a nonlinear structured method. Authors view the ID as a borderline tool for cause-and-effect analysis because of its mixed performance in identifying root causes. The ID does not have a mechanism for evaluating the integrity of the output, and may rely too heavily on subjective judgments of factor relationships. The literature indicates that the CRT is a complex tool for pinpointing root causes and identifying causal interdependencies. The CRT builds chains of cause and effect, starting with effects, to guide the verbalization of intuition in a logical fashion leading to the identification of a core problem. Khaimovich (1999, 53) writes, Focuses activities Has mechanism for testing logic Construction process time Construction accuracy required Extent of subjective influence on output Amount of problem knowledge required Ease of use Overall readability Number of factors to analyze relative to the problem High Few â€Å"Experts (tool practitioners) rarely look for root causes moving from symptoms backwards along possible causal links. † In this respect, the CRT is unique. Of the three root cause tools, the CRT is the only method that has a mechanism for testing logic. Groups may find the logic and construction rules of the CRT intimidating, difficult, and time consuming. While it is not clear that all of the tools stimulate dialogue and discussion, the CRT provides opportunities for groups to dialogue using the CLRs. A synthesis of the literature reviewed in this article is shown in Table 1. If the reviewed literature does not specifically address a performance criterion for the specific tool, it is not indicated. www. asq. org 43 Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection CONCLUSION Most of the literature describes the three tools independently. Only three studies compare the CED, ID, and CRT to each other. Two of the studies are qualitative and one study is mixed. Problem solvers and decision makers continue to have little data regarding the actual effectiveness of root cause analysis tools. Thus, it appears that there is an opportunity to gain a better understanding the ability of these tools to find actual root causes — the most important characteristic of a root cause analysis tool. There are also the relational and causal factors that exist around or close to the problem. If managers use tools that find causal relationships and categories close to where the problem resides, they can focus improvement efforts more precisely and accurately in areas of greatest potential. Alternatively, root cause analysis tools must also have the characteristics to promote collaboration, stimulate discussion, be readable or understandable, and have mechanisms for evaluating integrity. The influence of group dynamics on process outcomes is a common theme in research but beyond the scope of this article. Self-motivated groups can probably overcome many root cause analysis tool limitations. Conversely, a dysfunctional group is probably not capable of producing good results using even the best root cause analysis tool. Teams that use dialogue and discussion effectively within a supportive context might overcome the restrictions of a mediocre tool, but even the best analytical tool cannot turn a mediocre team into a great problem-solving group. The limitation of this type of research is the inability to isolate aptitude-treatment interactions. If managers use tools that effectively focus effort on finding root causes rather than conflicting personalities, they unleash the capability of the organization to learn and address systemwide issues. The implications for management are that effective problem solving requires the identification of specific and reasonable root causes. Several methods exist for identifying root causes, but their effectiveness is dependant on the rigorous application of the group and the integrity of the selected root cause. If the selected root cause is trustworthy, it produces a clear managerial decision for an action. Each analysis tool has distinguishing characteristics that can potentially affect group output. Therefore, reliable decision making requires that managers have a working knowledge of root cause analysis tools, their processes, and their likely outcomes. The complexities of modern business require approaches that are more sophisticated. A popular view is that if enough minds are put to the task, an answer to the problem will be found. Bhote (1988) criticizes unstructured processes because they put too much emphasis on opinions, take too long, and don’t produce lasting results. Leaders need to establish standards and policies for problem-solving training, and group facilitation and practice using structured root cause analysis tools. The alternative is to continue to assume that existing efforts will somehow produce different results. Assuming that groups can work together on a problem without a tool, standard, and method for critical evaluation is a policy doomed to fail. REFERENCES Andersen, B. , and T. Fagerhaug. 2000. Root cause analysis: Simplified tools and techniques. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press. Arcaro, J. S. 1997. TQM facilitator’s guide. Boca Raton, Fla. : St. Lucie Press. Bhote, K. R. 1988. World class quality: Design of experiments made easier, more cost effective than SPC. New York: AMA. Brassard, M. , and D. Ritter. 994. The memory jogger II: A pocket guide of tools for continuous improvement and effective planning. Salem, N. H. : GOAL/QPC. Brassard, M. 1996. The memory jogger plus+: Featuring the seven management and planning tools. Salem, N. H. : GOAL/QPC. Cox, J. F. III, R. H. Draman, L. H. Boyd, and M. S. Spencer. 1998. A cause and effect approach to analyzing performance measures: Part 2 — internal plant operations. Production and Inventory Management Journal, 39, no. 4:25-33. Cox, J. F. III, and M. S. Spencer. 1998. The constraints management handbook. Boca Raton, Fla. : St. Lucie Press. Dettmer, H. W. 1997. Goldratt’s theory of constraints. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press. Dew, J. R. 1991. In search of the root cause. Quality Progress 24, no. 3:97-107. 44 QMJ VOL. 12, NO. 4/ © 2005, ASQ Root Cause Analysis: A Framework for Tool Selection Doggett, A. M. 2004. A statistical comparison of three root cause analysis tools. Journal of Industrial Technology 20, no. 2. Fredendall, L. D. , J. W. Patterson, C. Lenhartz, and B. C. Mitchell. 2002. What should be changed? Quality Progress 35, no. 1:50-59. Gattiker, T. F. , and L. H. Boyd. 1999. A cause-and-effect approach to analyzing continuous improvement at an electronics manufacturing facility. Production and Inventory Management Journal 40 no. 2:26-31. Goldratt, E. M. 1990. What is this thing called theory of constraints and how should it be implemented? New York: North River Press. Goldratt, E. M. 1994. It’s not luck. Great Barrington, Mass. : North River Press. Ishikawa, K. 1982. Guide to quality control, second edition. Tokyo: Asian Productivity Organization. Khaimovich, L. 1999. Toward a truly dynamic theory of problemsolving group effectiveness: Cognitive and emotional processes during the root cause analysis performed by a business process re-engineering team. Ph. D. diss. University of Pittsburgh. Abstract in Dissertation Abstracts International 60:04B: 1915. Lepore, D. , and O. Cohen. 1999. Deming and Goldratt: The theory of constraints and the system of profound knowledge. Great Barrington, Mass. : North River Press. Mizuno, S. , ed. 1988. Management for quality improvement: The seven new QC tools. Cambridge: Productivity Press. Moran, J. W. , R. P. Talbot, and R. M. Benson. 1990. A guide to graphical problem-solving processes. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press. Pasquarella, M. , B. Mitchell, and K. Suerken. 1997. A comparison on thinking processes and total quality management tools. 997 APICS constraints management proceedings: Make common sense a common practice. Falls Church, Va. : APICS. Scheinkopf, L. J. 1999. Thinking for a change: Putting the TOC thinking processes to use. Boca Raton, Fla. : St. Lucie Press. Scholtes, P. 1988. The team handbook: How to use teams to improve quality. Madison, Wis. : Joiner. Schragenheim, E. 1998. Management dilemmas: The theory of constraints approach to problem identification and solutions. Boca Raton, Fla. : St. Lucie Press. Smith, D. 2000. The measurement nightmare: How the theory of constraints can resolve conflicting strategies, policies, and measures. Boca Raton, Fla. : St. Lucie Press. Sproull, B. 2001. Process problem solving: A guide for maintenance and operations teams. Portland: Productivity Press. Wilson, P. F. , L. D. Dell, and G. F. Anderson. 1993. Root cause analysis: A tool for total quality management. Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press. BIOGRAPHY Mark Doggett is the chair of the Department of Industrial Technology at Humboldt State University. He is currently working to revitalize the study of technology on his campus and improve the technological literacy of the local community. His interests are quality management practices, lean manufacturing, theory of constraints, and systems thinking. He has also performed research in various decision-making and problem-solving strategies used by students, managers, and policy makers. His areas of expertise include leadership, process management, and manufacturing technology with more than 20 years of experience in business and industr y. Doggett received his doctorate at Colorado State University in interdisciplinary studies and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Industrial Technology. He can be reached by e-mail at Mark. [emailprotected] edu. www. asq. org 45

5 Compound-Word Corrections

5 Compound-Word Corrections 5 Compound-Word Corrections 5 Compound-Word Corrections By Mark Nichol Writers sometimes confuse a two-word phrase for a closed compound noun consisting of those two words, or vice versa. Here are five cases in which a noun phrase or a verb phrase was mistaken for a compound word or the other way around. 1. â€Å"Eating McDonald’s food everyday for four weeks turned this filmmaker into a bloated, depressed wreck.† Everyday is an adjective (â€Å"It’s not an everyday occurrence†). â€Å"Every day† is a phrase consisting of an adjective and a noun (â€Å"That’s not something you see every day†). In this sentence, the usage is adjective-plus-noun: â€Å"Eating McDonald’s food every day for four weeks turned this filmmaker into a bloated, depressed wreck.† 2. â€Å"Seen as both godsend and a major let down, it remains the city’s artistic center.† â€Å"Let down,† consisting of a verb and an adverb, is employed in such sentences as â€Å"He was let down.† As a closed compound, it’s a noun: â€Å"That’s a real letdown.† In this sentence, it should be in noun form: â€Å"Seen as both godsend and a major letdown, it remains the city’s artistic center.† 3. â€Å"Resistance from the state legislature could doom the governor-elect’s promise to rollback the hike.† A rollback is a thing (â€Å"The rollback proposal failed in committee†); to roll back is to perform an action (â€Å"The state will roll back the price hike†). This sentence refers to an action, not a thing, so the compound must be changed to a verb phrase: â€Å"Resistance from the state legislature could doom the governor-elect’s promise to roll back the hike.† 4. â€Å"California gave a record $100 million loan to bailout schools.† As in the previous example, what is in context an action is styled as a noun. The sentence should read, â€Å"California gave a record $100 million loan to bail out schools.† Better yet, close the sentence with the preposition: â€Å"California gave a record $100 million loan to bail schools out.† 5. â€Å"International organizations continue their pull out as rebels attack a train.† If the sentence read that the organizations continued to pull out, the two-word verb phrase would be correct. But pulling out is an action, so it’s a pullout: â€Å"International organizations continue their pullout as rebels attack a train.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Exquisite AdjectivesCapitalization Rules for Names of Historical Periods and MovementsAdvance vs. Advanced

Natural Rights and How They Relate to U.S. Independence

Natural Rights and How They Relate to U.S. Independence When the authors of the U.S. Declaration of Independence spoke of all people being endowed with â€Å"unalienable Rights,† such as â€Å"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,† they were confirming their belief in the existence of â€Å"natural rights.† In modern society, every individual has two types of rights: Natural rights and legal rights. Natural rights are rights granted to all people by nature or God that cannot be denied or restricted by any government or individual. Natural rights are often said to be granted to people by â€Å"natural law.†Legal rights are rights granted by governments or legal systems. As such, they can also be modified, restricted or repealed. In the United States, legal rights are granted by the legislative bodies of the federal, state and local governments. The concept of a natural law establishing the existence of specific natural rights first appeared in ancient Greek philosophy and was referred to by Roman philosopher Cicero. It was later referred to in the Bible and further developed during the Middle Ages. Natural rights were cited during the Age of Enlightenment to oppose Absolutism - the divine right of kings. Today, some philosophers and political scientists contend that human rights are synonymous with natural rights. Others prefer to keep the terms separate in order to avoid the mistaken association of the aspects of human rights not typically applied to natural rights. For example, natural rights are considered to be beyond the powers of human governments to deny or protect. Jefferson, Locke, Natural Rights, and Independence. In drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson justified demanding independence by citing several examples of ways in which England’s King George III had refused to recognize the natural rights of American colonists. Even with fighting between colonists and British troops already taking place on American soil, most members of Congress still hoped for a peaceful agreement with their motherland. In the first two paragraphs of that fateful document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, Jefferson revealed his idea of natural rights in the often-quoted phrases, â€Å"all men are created equal,† â€Å"inalienable rights,† and â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.† Educated during the Age of Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, Jefferson adopted the beliefs of philosophers who used reason and science to explain human behavior. Like those thinkers, Jefferson believed universal adherence to the â€Å"laws of nature† to be the key to advancing humanity. Many historians agree that Jefferson drew most of his beliefs in the importance of natural rights he expressed in the Declaration of Independence from the Second Treatise of Government, written by renowned English philosopher John Locke in 1689, as England’s own Glorious Revolution was overthrowing the reign of King James II. The assertion is hard to deny because, in his paper, Locke wrote that all people are born with certain, God-given â€Å"inalienable† natural rights that governments can neither grant nor revoke, including â€Å"life, liberty, and property.† Locke also argued that along with land and belongings, â€Å"property† included the individual’s â€Å"self,† which included well being or happiness. Locke also believed that it was the single most important duty of governments to protect the God-given natural rights of their citizens. In return, Locke expected those citizens to follow the legal laws enacted by the government. Should the government break this â€Å"contract† with its citizens by enacting â€Å"a long train of abuses,† the citizens had the right to abolish and replace that government. By listing the â€Å"long train of abuses† committed by King George III against American colonists in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson used Locke’s theory to justify the American Revolution. â€Å"We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.† – The Declaration of Independence. Natural Rights in a Time of Slavery? â€Å"All Men Are Created Equal† As by far the best-known phrase in the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"All Men Are Created Equal,† is often said to summarize both the reason for revolution, as well as the theory of natural rights. But with slavery being practiced throughout the American Colonies in 1776, did Jefferson – a life-long slave owner himself – really believe the immortal words he had written? Some of Jefferson’s fellow slave-owning separatists justified the obvious contradiction by explaining that only â€Å"civilized† people had natural rights, thus excluding slaves from eligibility. As for Jefferson, history shows that he had long believed the slave trade was morally wrong and attempted to denounce it in the Declaration of Independence. â€Å"He (King George) has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither,† he wrote in a draft of the document. However, Jefferson’s anti-slavery statement was removed from the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson later blamed the removal of his statement on influential delegates who represented merchants who were at the time dependent on the Transatlantic slave trade for their livelihoods. Other delegates may have feared the possible loss of their financial support for the expected Revolutionary War. Despite the fact that he continued to keep most of his slaves for years after the Revolution, many historians agree that Jefferson sided with Scottish philosopher, Francis Hutcheson, who had written, â€Å"Nature makes none masters, none slaves,† in expressing his belief that all people are born as moral equals. On the other hand, Jefferson had expressed his fear that suddenly freeing all of the slaves might result in a bitter race war ending in the virtual extermination of the former slaves. While slavery would persist in the United States until the end of the Civil War 89 years after issuance of the Declaration of Independence, many of the human equality and rights promised in the document continued to be denied to African Americans, other minorities, and women for years. Even today, for many Americans, the true meaning of equality and its related application of natural rights in areas such as racial profiling, gay rights, and gender-based discrimination remain an issue.

Cultural Incomprehension between Europeans and Native Americans in the Essay

Cultural Incomprehension between Europeans and Native Americans in the Colonial Context - Essay Example It is usual for European explorers to use casually terms like "wilderness" and "unknown" to describe homelands of native people. In fact, these regions were the real milieu of Native American homes with their adjoining gardens and hunting lands. The journey of the Europeans and their entourage, bearing the massive inventory of the expedition could not have completed the mission without the co-operation and support of the natives. It is highly doubtful whether they would have survived in the rugged and hostile terrain without heavily relaying on the expertise of the natives for whom it was their home. The wealth of vital topographic knowledge about rivers, streams, hills, and passages might have been invaluable logistic support on their itinerary. Though they co-operated both Europeans and the natives may not have understood the full implications of the unfolding drama. There are plethoras of motives that goad explorers to brave the tumultuous waves of perilous oceans, to confront the dusty heat waves of the desert and to scale the precipitous cliffs. Nevertheless, social historians have narrowed down the motives of the men to the inordinate craving for gold, God and glory. Those who went for the mundane lure of wealth may not have much reflected on the experience of their contact with the alien people. However, the missionaries who went out to save souls might have been shocked at the sight of natives whose ways were totally unacceptable. They dumped the natives as heathens: The attitudes of BFM missionaries toward American Indian manifestations of heathenism were thus unremittingly ethnocentric. These Presbyterians could see nothing worth preserving in the rich and varied Indian cultures they entered (Coleman 80). Many Europeans failed to grasp the close link between health, environmental concerns and cosmology. As Kupperman observed such concept was also prevalent in England and France. (Kupperman 2000). It is somewhat surprising as medical theories in many European societies then, also took into consideration the relation between morality and well being and sometimes attributed illness to witchcraft While the attitude of the early missionaries were one of disgust at the sight of the savage practices of the natives, early diplomat-explorer could experience a sense of kinship with the savage chiefs. George Percy speaks of his first sight of a Powhatan werowance in 1607 as follows:His body was painted all with Crimson, with a chaine of Beads about his necke, his face painted blew, besprinkled with silver Ore as wee thought, his eares all behung with fine Copper or Gold, he entertained us in so modest a proud fashion, as though he had beene a Prince of Civil government, holding his countenance without laughter or any such ill behavior. (Bragdon 38) Kupperman (Kupperman 2000,63) has pointed out, Percy, himself a nobleman understood the nobility of the native but was unwilling to give much importance to his political stature. The range of the Indians was mainly in their land and their interaction with other cultures was minimal. The Europeans on the other hand with their spirit of expansion and lure for gold and

Econ final exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Econ final exam - Essay Example The price of alternative good, Y (PY) while the consumers income remains constant From the budget constraint PL1, the optimal use is at point e1 whereby the end user buys OX1 units of commodity X and OY1 units of product Y. The optimal consumption combination is located on a lower indifference curve U1. In the event that the price of commodity X falls, the buyer will tend to buy more of the good, budget constraint hence becomes flatter. The optimal consumption is now at point e2, whereby one buys OX2 units of X and OY2 units of Y. The consumer’s total utility, therefore, increases with the decrease in the price of the good with the optimal consumption combination at the indifference curve U2. This measures changes in buyer’s optimal consumption combination as a result of changes in the price of one commodity, say the price of good X (PX), which is an inferior good. The price of another good, say good Y (PY) and consumers income remaining constant. A market is a collection of consumers and producers, where consumers determine the demand and producers control the supply. In a competitive market, it is best understood in proper economic theory, where they depend on the numbers of both buyers and sellers available. In a market where the numbers of sellers drop to only two sellers, the economy is referred to as a duopoly market the price of the goods will fall below the optimal level. This is as a result of the tag war between the organization and sellers in the market. The sellers will try to win the available customers by providing a conducive price. (Jean 1991) A market with a single seller and multiple buyers is a monopoly. The prices in such kind of a market tend to rise above the optimal price of the commodity due the forces of demand and supply of the goods. With many buyers competing for a single commodity, the seller tend to

Virginia Henderson Essay Example for Free

Virginia Henderson Essay Virginia Avenel Henderson, the fifth child of Lucy Abbot Henderson and Daniel B. Henderson’s eight children and a descendant of a chain of scholars and educators was born in Kansas City, Missouri in November 30, 1897. She was known for her contribution as an American nurse, author, theorist and a researcher. Henderson started her early education with her aunts, her sister and at his Uncle Charles Abbott’s community school for boys at Virginia. She proceeded to the Washington, D. C. based Army School of Nursing and later pursued her M. A. degree in nursing education at Columbia University teachers college where she become part of the â€Å"Columbia school† of nursing theory (Barnard, 1990, 15). Henderson’s nursing career began in 1921, at Henry Street Visiting Nurse Association, New York and two years in the profession she proceeded to the Visiting Nurse Association, Washington, D. C. where she practiced for one year until 1924. In the same year Norfolk Protestant Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia, offered Henderson a chance to work as a Supervisor and Clinical instructor in the Outpatient department until 1930. It was here where Henderson took an active role in the state nurses association She proceeded on to join the Teachers College, Columbia University in New York as an instructor and Associate Professor, a career she served competently till 1948. Henderson burning desire for the profession did not end there, in 1953; she joined the Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut, as a Research Associate and the year 1971 saw Henderson become a research associate with Research Associate Emeritus (Reniers, 1941, 89). During her nursing career, Henderson made some national and international achievements that made her to be identified as the quintessential nurse of the twentieth century. She became the recipient of the Virginia Historical Nurse Leader award and a Member of the American nurses Association Hall of fame while at Norfolk Protestant school of Nursing as a full –time nursing instructor She is also respected for proposing the plan for creating districts in the Graduate Nurses association of Virginia currently know as Virginia Nurses’ association and advocating for the psychiatric nursing to be included in the curriculum. She has served in the committees that came up with the course at Eastern state Hospital based in Williamsburg, Virginia in the year 1929. It was in June, 1985 that Henderson was awarded with the first Christianne Reimann Prize by the international Council of nurses and in 1988 she won the Virginia Historical Nurse Leadership award as well as recognition by the Virginia nurses association as one if the fifty-one pioneer nurses in Virginia in 2000. The Library of Sigma Theta Tau International was also named in her honor and she was bestowed with honorary degrees from some thirteen (Reiners, 1941, 96). Henderson has been famed for authoring the her nursing definition â€Å"the nurse has the unique obligation of helping the person who is either sick or well, to perform the activities that contribute to health as well as its recovery â€Å"till a peaceful death† which he was in a position to perform without aid if he was having the required strength, knowledge or the will to do it†. She has been referred to as the â€Å"first lady of nursing† as well as the â€Å"first international true nurse†. This is mainly because of her contribution to the nursing profession where her writing, presentations and research work as well as her contact with nurses made some profound effects to the profession and impact on the care recipients by nurses all over the world (Barnard, 1990, 24). During her teaching career at Teacher College, Columbia University, Henderson was remembered for her outstanding character that attracted so many students from all over the world to study with her. Most nurses in the U. S got the chance to study with her while at their home schools after her revision of Bertha Harmer’s book Textbook of the Principles and practice of Nursing was in wide use. Henderson while in Yale contributed to publication of Nursing Research a Survey and Assessment that was in collaboration with Leo Simonds. In addition to these she directed four volumes Nursing Studies Index, twelve years project that has been used intensively for reference over the years. Nature of Nursing, another Henderson’s book that was published in 1966, elaborated her notion on the essence of nursing which later had a lot of influence to those who went through it. At 75, she focused on the international teaching as well as speaking, enabling another generation to gain from contact with this quintessential nurse of the twentieth century. She described Nursing role to be related to the needs of the patient but not to the general nursing theory. Her work is useful and widely adapted by many nurses all over the world because it is believed to be practical and based on the experience of the profession. Henderson died at the age of 98, at the Connecticut Hospice and was laid down in her family plot of the churchyard, St.Stephen’s church, forest, Bedford County in Virginia (Power, 1998, 35). Work Cited: Barnard F. Hollinger, Outside the Magic Circle: the Autobiography of Virginia Henderson, Alabama, University of Alabama Press, 1990, pp. 15, 24. Power Trace, Lee’s Miserables: Life in the army of Northern Virginia from the Wilderness to Appomattox, Carolina, University of North Carolina press, 1998, pp. 35. Reniers Perceval, the springs of Virginia: Life, love and Death at the Waters, Carolina, University of North Carolina Press, 1941, pp. 89, 96.

A Man For All Seasons Essays -- essays research papers

The 16th century was a time of political upheaval, a time of conflict and corruption †¦ and a time of heroes? All these elements are visibly present in Bolt’s book, A Man for All Seasons. As I was reading this story I was thinking that it could probably apply to our day and age but that begged the question. Why did Robert Bolt decide to use a 16th century character rather than a present time period character and setting? I believe that Bolt chose this man and his era because there things that he liked abut the man, there was no shortage of conflict and the he was worthy of being a hero. He fits into one of the archetype heroes. These three things I will touch upon in my seminar and I hope that my ideas will prove to be informative and enlightening.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the main reasons that Robert Bolt probably chose 16th century Thomas More as his hero for A Man for all Seasons was that he liked his personality. By that I mean that as Bolt wrote about More, he discovered more and more things that he found admirable about the man. At the outset, Robert Bolt was looking for a person who had a strong idea of who he is because this is what Bolt thinks is necessary to be a hero and this is exactly the type of man that Thomas More is. More saw in himself something that was his only and he was that it was something that allowed him to live life with confidence in himself. Only when he was denied that way of life was he able to accept his fate of death. Robert Bolt comments on this on page 13 of the preface. â€Å"†¦who nevertheless found something in himself without which life was valueless and when that was denied him, he was able to grasp his death.† This shows that Thomas knew that he had a sense of identity that no one else and he knew how important it was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Robert Bolt selected this man, he began to write and realised many more things about Thomas More, which had drawn him to the 16th century character. One of the things that Bolt found out was More’s sense of self. He remarks on this on page 12 of the preface. â€Å"At any rate, Thomas More, as I wrote about him, became for me a man with an adamantine sense of his own self.† Robert Bolt went back to this era long past because of that trait but it was as he wrote about him that he discovered just how strong his sense of identity was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B... ...e me, Alice, that in silence is my safety under the law, but my silence must be absolute, it must extend to you.† (P56) He has found that so long he doesn’t give any indication to his opinion, hey cannot do anything to him legally. â€Å"MORE: There’ll be no trial, they have no case.† (P85) When he is asking his family to leave the country, he knows that he has protected himself to the best of his abilities. He should be safe except for the fact that he is dealing with a corrupt King who considers himself above the law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is there any way to do a play such as this in the 20th century? Evidently, Robert Bolt thought not and after analysing the story further, I have come to realise that he is right. The elements of the story, which were present in the 16th century, are not present in the 20th. There also may have been no one in this century that Robert Bolt liked enough and with the right characteristics. And of course, there is not enough conflict for one man to face as there was in that time. I believe that there are men (And women.) who would be able to face the problems that Thomas More had to face but we can all be thankful that there is no need for it.

Communication Problems Between Teenagers And Adults Essay

From the beginning of time teenagers and adults have always had conflicts with each other. These conflicts occur most of the time because of the lack of communication between the teenager and the adult. The generation gap between the teenager and the adult can play a role in the problems they have communicating. The superior adult has the instinct that whatever the inferior teenager does can lead to bad things, and lectures the teenager about it. Most of the time teenagers have many other sources of advice they can listen to, and it seems that the adult can become the last resort or not a resort at all. The generation gap, the feeling of being inferior and superior, and the other sources of advice can play a big part in the problems teenagers and adults have communicating. Both parties have an equal role in communicating with each other. But the choice comes down to the two willing to take that particular role. The generation gap between teenagers and adults plays a huge part in why they have problems communicating with each other. The adult who had a very different lifestyle and childhood then that of a teenager may have a different view on life. Things unheard of years ago to the adults can now have rational reasoning through the advance of technology. For a teenager to talk to an adult, on a subject that the adult has no idea on can almost become impossible. Still living in the last decade, adults may not correspond with the thinking of today’s youthful teenagers. The age difference between the teenager and the adult plays a huge role in the game of communicating between the two. The superior adult has always had the impulse to contradict the ideas of the inferior teenager, and lecture the teenager on the teenager’s wrongful ways. The more mature adult thinks that he or she has more knowledge than the younger teenager and sees that the teenager may benefit from the lecture. This gives a feeling of uneasiness in the teenager and makes them very irritable. Many verbal conflicts have aroused after the adult has given his or her point of view in the lecture. The adult often times makes the teenager feel inferior to him or her in the lectures. The teenager feeling inferior, who has a lot on his mind, may not express what he or she really  feels to the adult. This state of feeling inferior and superior between the teenager and adult does not help solve the problems they have communicating. Teenagers talk to so many friends about things they have in common with, it makes talking to an adult like taking to a person on the other side of the planet. Teenagers have so many other options on expressing what they think, that it seems very difficult talking to an adult. The teenager could always first go to a close friend of theirs if they had something on their mind. Teenagers going to adults for help can lead to more problems because the two may not agree on the same thing. This example goes the same way with an adult. If an adult has something on his or her mind and has to express it some way, he or she will go to another adult who would have the same ideas on it. The lack of respect they have for one another can explain the problems they have in communication. Problems and conflicts occur all the time among teenagers and adults. The hurdle of communication can sometimes become the hardest obstacle teenagers and adults have to overcome. The trouble of the two communicating can lead to a very tough relationship or lead to no relationship at all between the two. The two must try to have better communication with one another if they want to improve the relationship between them. The leading responsibility for this problem can have something to do with the generation gap of the two, the feeling of inferior and superior, and the abundant sources of advice. One person cannot fight the communication battle alone. With the help of both sides this war on communication can lead to a victory for both teenagers and adults.

Save-A-Lot Case Analysis

In 1977, Bill Moran, was the Vice President of Sales for a food wholesaler in St. Louis. After recognizing how the weak economy had affected his customers during the most competitive time, Bill Moran decided to become a hero. He invested his times and finally developed a retail strategy that would generate an extreme value for his customers by providing limited assortments of SKUs of the most popular items and not every brands out there in the larger traditional supermarket chains.. By doing this over the years, Save-A-Lot has expanded to over 1,300 stores across the United States and are continuing to grow. Save-A-Lot is operates in a foodservice industry that serves as retailers within a niche marketing segmentation. Save-A-Lot target market consists mainly of value seeking and convenience oriented psychographic segment. These consumers usually seek quality products at lower prices. They want valuable low prices like Costco but without the bulk, and a convenience of a mama and papa stores but much bigger, meaning that it is small enough and convenience enough that consumers don’t need to park and walk as far. For this mean, Save-A-Lot’s retailing concept meets the shoppers’ needs and expectation with smaller grocery stores. Within a year, through word-of-mouth advertising, Save-A-Lot spread to 29 locations. — (Save-A-Lot ) The constraints of Save-A-Lot in the foodservice industry comparing to its competitive retailer is that they lack the wide assortment of products to choose from. Another is the friendly customer services that helped customers around the stores or bagged the things the buy. The necessary cut-back is because they aim to offer values to their customers by saving them 40 percent from traditional grocery shopping. Save-A-Lots’ consumers may choose to go elsewhere, but they most likely not find a better saving as they will with Save-A-Lot. Save-A-Lot Food Stores, the nation's leading extreme value, edited assortment grocery chain and the nation's fifth largest grocery banner, operates more than 1,150 value-oriented stores in all types of neighborhoods: urban, rural and suburban, and delivers up to 40 percent of savings compared to conventional grocery stores†Ã¢â‚¬â€(Fintland ) The issue here as mentioned before, they stock much less inventories than other retailers. Comparing to other traditional supermarket chain stores stock approximately 30,000 SKUs vs. Save-A-Lot inventory of only 1,250 SKUs. As a part of the retail format, they carry less items with the same or similar high quality but at a more affordable price. The stocking and pricing are just some of the many things in their retailing format strategy. Aside from that, their main focus is affordability, not some pretty organizing shelves that is why their inventory remains in cardboard boxes that are cut off and stacked onto the shelves. Due to not having to sort-out the inventory, Save-A-Lot are able to cut-back on shelves costs, and creating a relationship with their vendors. With the vendor relation , Save-A-Lot benefits from low prices in returns for free advertisement and shelves spaces. Save-A-Lot does in fact saves a lot since they don’t have the typical numbers of employees compared to traditional stores. Customers pay to bag their own items, or they can just carry out their items with empty cardboard boxes laying around. The last biggest factor that contributes to Save-A-Lot profitability is the location. With their tightly controlled operation expenses, they are able to find inexpensive property to open business.

Essay on Better Loving Through Chemistry

Essay on Better Loving Through Chemistry Essay on Better Loving Through Chemistry Better Loving Through Chemistry According to "Better Loving Through Chemistry" by Natasha singer talks about the information of system how dating sites works. Each dating website gives a person information that a user has to know. For example, their favorite activities, religion, family background and personality values. As a result there will be more than one dating website, therefore sites have many competition. Also, it says that many people who register have to pay money to order to find someone. I believe online dating can be successful. Beauty is not important, it is matter how a person react. One of the author's important points is that "People tend to be adept at heeding that first spark of attraction but may be less dexterous at recognizing the commonalities that are the foundations of good development." Indeed, people tend to look at beauty of user picture first but when it comes to chatting online and meeting them it will be awkward. Similarly, they don’t have an y common interest or personal might be different as a person imagery. As a result, he/she don’t be the right one for soul mate. To able to keep the talking, they should look at their profile and compare his or her interest to their interest. After that, they will able to have a conversation for a long period of time. It is not the matter of looking good, it is matter knowing each other. The most significant thing I have read from this passage is people are willing to pay money for online dating. For instance, The price for online dating at Chemistry.com costs 50 dollars for a month. It is amazes me how people are willing to spend something expensive for online dating. . Imaging that, some people are unable to find a person and continue to looking for a person. To calculate, if a person couldn’t find a person for 5 months they will spend 250 dollars. It express me that Match.com has more than 1