Inventory Management Systems Essay

In today’s business environment, even many smaller businesses have come to rely on computerized inventory management systems. Automated systems can replace the cost and time consuming processes that were once completed by hand while providing companies with more accurate data. Inventory control is important to ensure control in businesses that handle transactions revolving around consumer goods. Without proper inventory control, a store may run out of stock on an important item. A good inventory control system will alert the retailer when it is time to reorder (www.barcodesinc.com). It will also aid in the prevention of theft and product loss. Overall, a good inventory system will increase the value of your business, satisfy your customers and create more freedom in your life. In this paper, I will describe all the necessary equipment for a low-cost automated inventory system for a small clothing store. I will also explain the costs involved in the creation of the system, describe the ongoing maintenance that will be required and provide a workflow diagram to illustrate how the system will work. An inventory control system that I feel best provides the need of a small clothing store consists of a PC (laptop), backup/recovery and archive device, wireless router, inventory control software, mobile scanning device, and barcode printer. The system shall provide versatility and reliable performance application demands. This system will make tracking inventory simple and intuitive. This system will allow for flexibility to scan and track inventory away from the PC, enabling inventory records to be updated and perform transactions on-the-go. Updates and changes made are instantly shown in the main database, providing real-time visibility of inventory levels. The necessary equipment needed is a PC (laptop), system requirements, (32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 Professional, Windows Visa Premium, Windows XP (SP3) Professional, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB disk, DVD), backup/recovery and archive device, wireless router for mobile device use, inventory control software for tracking point-of-sale purchase, a mobile scanning device that allows for wireless integration of data, and barcode printer for labeling and tracking inventory. The initial cost of the system, includes the purchase of the hardware and software needed to effectively label and track inventory. Required hardware: †¢PC (laptop) (Dell Latitude E6420 (32-bit – 4 GB RAM – Windows 7 – 320 GB disk – Intel CPU – 2.66 GHz CPU – NVIDIA GPU – With DVD Drive – 1280 x 800 – Touchpad) purchased from www.dell.com for $669.00 †¢Backup/recovery and archive device (Dell PowerVault RD1000 – Removable Disk Storage) purchased from www.dell.com for $409.00 †¢Wireless router (Linksys E3200 High Performance Dual Band Router) purchased from www.tigerdirect.com for $149.00 †¢Mobile scanning device (Metrologic ScanPal 2) purchased from www.barcodediscount.com for $503.90 †¢Barcode printer (Zebra LP 2824 Plus) purchased from www.barcodediscount.com for $223.10 Required Software: †¢Inventory software, Microsoft Business Solutions Point of Sale Software (single user license), purchased from www.barcodediscount.com for $12.20 The total cost of the inventory system is $1966.20. This is an extremely affordable solution for a small business. Computer preventive maintenance means the operating system is more likely to be cleaned, fine-tuned and better prepared for the unexpected. If routinely scheduled maintenance tasks are not implemented, computers/servers become infected, tweaked and not ready for whatever happens. While every mishap cannot be avoided, even small efforts made in this area increase a computer operating system’s performance. This is what makes preventative maintenance important (www.ehow.com). Ongoing maintenance of the inventory system includes preventative maintenance as well as vendor supplied updates and patches. Vendor supplied patches are updates from the provider to effectively repair a bug in the system. Vendor supplied updates provide the latest software updates provided by the vendor. Both patches and updates must be applied to the system to function properly. Routine maintenance will be performed every 90 days. Routine maintenance includes: †¢Keeping devices properly patched and configured to reduce risk †¢Device health checks to keep systems up and running †¢Minor configuration changes †¢Running scheduled tasks such as defragmentation and disk cleanup on devices †¢Driver updates †¢Increase computer/server memory as needed †¢Patch, monitor and manage security devices It is extremely important that all hardware and software stay up-to-date and completely integrated. Failing to do so, can give you false data which can result in an overstock or under-stock of supplies and cause the business a loss. Below is a flow chart diagram of each piece of equipment used, along with how to the inventory control system integrates with one another. Companies can build their own custom retail inventory systems based upon their needs. In today’s business environment, it is almost vital that businesses switch to an automated system for inventory management because manual inventory can lead to a number of errors, which will hurt the company in the future. An automated inventory system increase companies’ productivity and sales and gives them a competitive edge against their competition.

Imagery in Dante’s Inferno

Robert Herrick, an English poet, once said, â€Å"Hell is no other but a soundlesse pit, where no one beame of comfort peeps in it. † Picture any type of Hell with relief, happiness, or even the smallest crack of a smile. There is no place. In fact, one can only think of the complete opposite, whether it is a Hell filled with neglect, pain, disgust, or a never-ending life of horror. This is the place created by Dante Alighieri; The Inferno is exactly the type of Hell where no person would want to be. Even those who acted upon the lightest of sins suffered greatly.While each realm contained a different sinner, the punishment that each were forced to face was cruel, repulsive, and sometimes rather disgusting. Through grieving tears without an exit, unbearably itchy scabs, and a putrid, slushy ground, Dante uses vivid imagery to describe the various realms of Hell. As Dante passes through each realm, he uses organic and visual imagery to describe the sinners’ lives in Hell . When people feel an immense amount of pain, physically or mentally, they usually cry.Those treacherous to their country could not bear to handle their grief. However, as freezing rain and wind whipped their faces, their tears froze in their eyes. Dante used organic imagery to give a clear impression of the suffering these sinners dealt with: â€Å"Their very weeping closes up their eyes; / and the grief that finds no outlet for its tears / turns inward to increase their agonies† (Alighieri XXXIII. 94-96). Dante made it apparent that the sinners’ actions made their bodies filled with grief, a feeling that is painful enough for anyone.However, as if mental pain is not enough, Dante assures the reader that the sinners’ grief was thrown directly back into their bodies since they could not cry. Because of this, the reader cannot picture the sinners’ pain, but actually feel what it would be like to be unable to release grief through tears. In the realm of the alchemists, Dante uses visual imagery to portray their horrific pain. Cursed with leprosy and irritating scabs, the alchemists constantly picked at themselves in hopes of relieving their bleeding, itchy skin. Dante gives a picture perfect example of their torment.It was said that, â€Å"And as they scrubbed and clawed themselves, their nails / drew down the scabs the way a knife scrapes bream / or some other fish with even larger scales† (Alighieri XXIX. 82-84). The impression that Dante gives forces the reader into picturing the sinners drag their dirty nails into their prickly, scabbed skin, so rapidly and intense, that he compares it to a knife grating the scales of a fish. Dante also uses visual imagery to describe the lives of the gluttons. Since the gluttons spent their lives consuming massive amounts of food and drink, they represented themselves as garbage.Therefore, they were treated as such in Hell. The reader is able to visualize the punishment of a glutton throug h Dante’s vivid expression: â€Å"Huge hailstones, dirty water, and black snow / pour from the dismal air to putrefy / the putrid slush that waits for them below† (Alighieri VI. 10-12). The reader can obviously picture the clean ground beneath all of the disgusting dirt, mold, mud, and rancid slush. Dante also puts the image of the rotting gluttons that lie under this filthy mess into the reader’s mind. Each realm contains something different, and Dante clearly proves to give the sense of a different image every time.While every person has a different depiction of Hell, Dante provides fascinating imagery of his portrayal, so the reader can truly experience the same sense as he did. It may seem shocking, but even Dante was surprised to see what he found in each realm. Imagery not only creates a picture, but it also tells a story. When Hell is involved, both are needed to understand the full effect. Through grief, scabs, and garbage, Dante takes the reader on a ho rrifying, yet interesting ride through Hell that no one would ever believe he or she could imagine.

The Journal of Social Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Journal of Social Psychology - Essay Example Also, people are more likely to notice consistent feedback more than inconsistent feedback and to interpret ambiguous feedback as consistent with their own self-conceptions. However, sometimes people receive self-inconsistent feedback. According to Self-Verification Theory (Swann 1987, as cited by Collins and Stukas), people are likely to reject such feedback. Nevertheless, there are some situations in which self-change is promoted and self-inconsistent feedback is meant to be taken seriously and scrutinized. In particular, the therapeutic clinic is a context for such change, which is often set in motion by the delivery of self-inconsistent feedback. However, Self-Verification Theory had already demonstrated that people in need of therapeutic change (e.g., depressed people) may show a preference for negative (self-consistent) feedback over positive (self-inconsistent) feedback. Indeed, in the setting of therapy, clients may be more willing to accept self-inconsistent feedback, althou gh other factors--such as therapists' statuses and clients' attitudes toward therapy--may moderate acceptance. This is why Collins and Stukas (2006) tried to study the effects of experimentally manipulated personality feedback that they--in the guise of therapists--e-mailed to participants on the degree of their acceptance of the feedback. Consistent with Self-Verification Theory (Swann, 1987), participants accepted feedback that was consistent with their self-views more readily than they did feedback that was inconsistent with their self-views. What they did was to randomly assign participants in receiving self-inconsistent or self-consistent feedback, and they simply returned their evaluations of the feedback to us by e-mail. Collins and Stukas (June 2006) hypothesized that (a) participants would be more willing to accept self-consistent feedback than self-inconsistent feedback, (b) participants would be more willing to accept self-inconsistent feedback from a high-status therapist than from a low-status therapist, and (c) participants with positive attitudes toward therapy would be more w illing to accept self-inconsistent feedback than would participants with negative attitudes toward therapy. Although Collins and Stukas (June, 2006) obtained results that are consistent with past researches, the thing is that they chose a very minimal operationalization of the therapeutic context, one that allowed us to manipulate both therapist status and feedback without concern for the potential influence of other variables that are normally found in this setting (e.g., dynamics of an actual interaction, appearance of the therapist and therapist's office, actual psychopathology of the clients). They also used a very short measure to assess participants' self-concepts. This reductionistic approach worked well from both a practical standpoint and an ethical one, but doing research in the real setting might prove more difficult. This research from Collins and Stukas (June 2006) might be helpful in terms of the modern methodologies used in this study. We could use similar approach in determining Self-Feedbacks by electronic mail to our respondents. Schmitt, D.P. and Allik, J. (2005, October). Simultaneous Administration of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in 53 Nations: Exploring the Universal and Culture-Specific Features of Global Self-Esteem, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 89(4): 623-642. In Schmitt and Allik's study

Focus paper for ASIA History Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Focus paper for ASIA History - Case Study Example Apart from big games like seasons which are not on a regular basis, the manager should appreciate all games coming up for Storm. This will create the starting fan following, the initial image required to bring stimulating games for Storm in the near future (Word Press). Spending on resources is not important as the Coaching tactics are. Players should be developed both mentally and physically in order to bring passion and will in their matches. This is what football lovers want to see in any football game as they pay for the quality and not for a boring drag match that is full of sponsors and nothing more (Word Press). Manager should communicate tough teams and decide hard matches for the Storm. Playing an opponent which is challenging is what creates hype in the game. It is recommended that manager organize quality games instead of searching sponsors for drag matches (Word Press). Flaherty, Stewart. "What Impact Do Soccer Coaches Have on Kids?" 26 July 2011. www.livestrong.com. 31 January 2013 . Word Press. "30 Ways To Improve Your Soccer Clubs Community ." 19 June 2012. www.soccerspeakusa.wordpress.com. 31 January 2013

Special Needs Inclusion Education Program Essay

Special Needs Inclusion Education Program - Essay Example This idea of inclusion is more viable than the use of seclusion or putting the children with disabilities in self-contained classrooms. A self-contained classroom setting proposes that children with disabilities are separated from the rest; according to Banduras social learning theory will not help the child develop cognitively and behaviourally. A self-contained classroom setting that groups children with disabilities from the rest makes them feel as social outcasts. This will have a negative cognitive development to the child, and he/she shall develop little or no social skill to interact and learn with the rest of the population (Turnbull, 2010). The other theory that supports the use of inclusion in the classroom setting is observational learning theory. As the name of the theory suggests, the child learns in the classroom mainly through observation methods. Since the children are included in the classroom setting with the rest of the children with no disabilities, they can obser ve them and learn. From this observation, they develop behaviour and learn from experience. As the theory suggests, most of the children with disabilities feel the need to adapt to their environment and function well. Through inclusion in the classroom, they see and hear what their peers are doing, and try to emulate it, and this is important as they develop communication and social skills fast enough to interact, and learn in the classroom setting (Weir, 1999). The use of self-contained classrooms in educating children with disabilities would also hinder the observational development of a child. Since the children are set up on their own, they lack the opportunity to... This essay stresses that inclusion provides children with special needs the opportunity to both interact and learn with the mainstream population who do not have disabilities. Inclusion is a trend, which made major progression in the late 80s and early 90s, which concluded that that general education is the best choice for all students. The role of inclusion for children with disabilities is rationalized by use of several learning theories. The use of self-contained classrooms in educating children with disabilities would also hinder the observational development of a child. Since the children are set up on their own, they lack the opportunity to observe what their peers are doing and undergoing. This shall mean that they depend upon their own mind, teacher and fellow children with disabilities to develop social skill and learn. The inclusion method presents several advantages to both the child and the educator, when it is effectively applied taking all the students requirements in a learning environment. This report makes a conclusion that through the inclusion method, several children with disabilities have developed the need skills to be successful members of society. Some children with disabilities have developed strong mental and behaviour capabilities to get higher academic grades as compared to their friends. The inclusion methods creates a feeling of oneness and togetherness to the children with disabilities, and through the learning theories outlined in the paper, make them productive members of society.

Critically evaluate, in relation to the common law duty of care, the Essay - 8

Critically evaluate, in relation to the common law duty of care, the liability of employers for references. How, if at all, does - Essay Example These include defamation, invasion of privacy, retaliation and negligent referral or breach of duty to warn (Flanders & Clegg, 2006 p.8). This paper critically evaluates the liability of employers for references, in relation to the common law duty of care. In addition, the paper examines how the liability of a university such as the University of Sussex deters regarding references given to potential employers in respect to current or former students. As mentioned earlier, there are four sources of liability arising from the provision of employment references to prospective employers. It is necessary to critically examine each one of them. Defamation arising from the common law In common law, defamation refer to any communication that tends to harm the reputation of another with the aim of lowering them in the estimation of the community or preventing third persons from associating with them. In determining whether a communication is defamatory or non-defamatory, the applicable test a t common law is how the subject of the communication interpreted the communication (Deakin & Morris, 2005 p. 56). There are compensatory and punitive damages available for a successful defamation claim. This depends on the level of malice towards the defamed party. Thus, punitive damages may be available in instances where the communication was made with express malice or actual malice. There are two major defenses to defamation claims: truth and privilege. Truth is an absolute defense to defamation claims. In order to establish truth defense, an employer must affirmatively prove that the information or statement given was truthful. In this case, the plaintiff is not necessarily required to prove that statement or information was false. The most commonly used defense is that of privilege. In this regard, it is argued that the employer has a particular privilege in making the defamatory statement. Thus, the defense of privilege provides that an employer is immune from liability from making defamatory communication. Further, there are two types of privilege: absolute privilege and conditional privilege. When an employer has an absolute privilege regarding their comment about former employees it implies that the employer has complete protection irrespective of the motive of communication. Thus, this privilege does not apply in employment reference situation (Wedderburn, 2002 p.19). More often than not, absolute privilege applies to communication made by judicial officers, legislators during legislative proceedings, as well as communication made by some government officials. On the other hand, conditional privilege provides protection based on the employer’s motivation. Thus, it applies to those people who have legitimate common interest with the recipient of the communication. For instance, a conditional privilege may be used to protect the employer when the information is given to business partners, fellow shareholders, fellow corporate officers and other professional interests. Based on this, employers have a duty of care to protect those they have legitimate common interest from risk that could be posed by employing such Privacy implication of employment information As a source of liability arising from the provision of employment references to prospective employers, privacy implication of employee information is meant to prevent the disclosure of information regarding their privacy. Through this, it is evident that employers have a duty of care to safeguard the private information regar

Strategic and organization Change at Black & Decker Essay

Strategic and organization Change at Black & Decker - Essay Example The purpose of this report, is to pursue the question as to why did it take Black and Decker two decades to effect a change in strategy and structure. Black and Decker have been primarily known for power tools .It has been one of the older multinationals initially with operations in Canada and Britain. The company has two well known brands, the Black and Decker Consumer Power tools, and Professional power tools. . Black and Decker have been selling in 100 nations. Revenue has gone in excess of $5 billion, more than half of which the company has been able to generate outside the United States. The company has grown rapidly, and has also been able to make name and create monopoly Share in the consumer and professional power tools market. This monopoly has been based on the handheld power tools. Black and Decker have also significantly grown in the international markets. The company has been able to achieve this by setting up wholly owned subsidiaries. The company has 23wholly owned subsidiaries in foreign nations and two joint ventures. Black and Decker during its rapid growth phases, and also during its international expansion peri od, have functioned with 'decentralized' form of organization. Each subsidiary has been given considerable autonomy to run its own business. But it is then observed that in the mid 1980's competition emerges in the form of 'Nakita','Panasonic' and Bosch. The Black and Decker's monopoly beg... Factories have closed down. Particularly, in Europe. Globalisation remains a key strategy for Black and Decker. This is highlighted in their Annual Report in 1985. Also in 1985 the company made sound progress. The company have been designing and marketing products for the worldwide market instead of just the regional ones. Design Centers, created by Black and Decker have promised to deliver more global products in the future. Because of these design centers, Black and Decker has cut on the number of R&D's it had. Major decisions regarding where to produce have all been made in the corporate head quarters. The autonomy of the factories also has been decreasing significantly. The national subsidiary is still maintained a fair degree of autonomy.The Black and Decker companies have been competing each other. Black and Decker have recently announced a restructure initiative. The Effectiveness of Black and Decker's decentralized, rationale, management style during the earlier years of growth in power tools market is most evident by the fact that their revenue had an excess of $5billion , they were expanding well nationally and internationally . By , setting up of wholly owned subsidiaries , giving them considerable amount of autonomy , accepting and realizing , that globalisation was upcoming , they needed to be apart of this and so they setup design centres . In order, to achieve the targets, of producing global products in the future. Looking at the not so effective side of this sort of decentralized Organization. We then observe, in the long run, as competition rose, Black and Decker started eroding from the market. The two very famous, brands had to see tough competition on hands. The factories were closed down, particularly in Europe. National subsidiaries on

Analysis of NCLB and IDEA 2004 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of NCLB and IDEA 2004 - Research Paper Example Schools that fail to meet the AYP objectives for two or more years are categorized as the institutions â€Å"in need of improvement†. Schools under this category may face various consequences (Thomas, Brian, J., Caroline, & Helen, 2010). The NCLB plan demands states to base tests on academic standards and start examining students in Math and reading in grades 3 through 8, on an annually basis. Furthermore, students should receive such tests at least once in grades 10 through 12. The most recent guideline recommends 100% proficiency in Mathematics and reading. NCLB argues that each child must test on grade level in Math and reading. Furthermore, NCLB authorizes school districts to hire educators designated as â€Å"highly qualified† to teach major academic subjects in Title 1 plan. Lastly, the accountability section demands states to describe their strategies for closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students including the disadvantaged ones attain academic p roficiency (Beekman, 2009). IDEA 2004 targets building equity, responsibility and excellence in education for individuals with disabilities. The plan demands special education teachers to be highly qualified. Furthermore, the plan guides that all students with disabilities should participate in state or district testing in alternate examination (Beekman, 2009). IDEA also states that short-term goals and standards with the exception of the category under alternate assessment should be placed in a temporary alternative setting for involvement in violence, weapons and drugs. In summary, IDEA guides that administrators and policy makers should run customized systems that accord special attention to students with disabilities. The NCLB and IDEA provisions generate a serious controversy because they involve various sensitive aspects. Some scholars believe that the provisions provided by these plans are important for developing better education systems. However, critical observations argue that some provisions are vague and unattainable. For example, critics emphasize that the idea of 100% participation is unachievable because of the challenges associated with the disabled students. Furthermore, the idea of hiring â€Å"highly qualified† teachers may be unrealistic because students’ performance is not entirely dependent on teacher’s competence (McCaffrey, 2004). NCLB and IDEA provisions are likely to affect my activities in the classroom. This is because; my actions must fall within the provisions’ guidelines. It is apparent that as a special education teacher, I have a major duty of ensuring successful implementation of NCLB and IDEA proposals. Often, attaining the plans’ objectives may be challenging because of the great gap between regular students and students with disabilities. However, being a special education teacher, I must devise strategies for handling all controversial concerns within my classroom (Thomas, Brian, J., Car oline, & Helen, 2010). Initially, NCLB and IDEA provisions oblige me into presenting high degrees of professionalism and competence when handling my students. This highlights that with the presence of the plans’ guidelines, the special education teacher career is likely to be a sensitive duty. For example, a provision of the NCBL plan emphasizes the need of hiring â€Å"highly qualified† teachers. This means that I should present commitment towards conforming to the standards of the

International Business of McDonald's Research Paper

International Business of McDonald's - Research Paper Example McDonald’s Thailand is trying to promote their products based on price, but the bottom line is that it is trying to create an appeal to the public based on taste and revealing of new product offerings that would be highly applicable in Thailand market (McDonalds Thailand, 2012). In addition, it simply tries to promote not only the products but the company itself. In its website, the marketing proposition ‘Welcome to McDonald’s like you’ve never seen it before’ implies that it simply is trying to promote the company in general through creating an impression of an innovation of product offerings. The website simply tries to promote the company and its products in a way that the customer should create an impression that there is something new to look forward to. In other words, McDonald’s Thailand is simply creating a need for its product offerings by simply initiating a move that would link innovation or product differentiation. McDonald’ s Turkey on the other hand specifically is focusing on offering products that would guarantee high value for nutrition (McDonald’s Turkey, 2012). ... As this case, it would be noted that McDonald’s simply combined the original trademark of the company and in addition it enhances its image by understanding the prevailing market trend. Considering that it is becoming obvious that McDonald’s simply tries to create highly nutritious product offerings, there is a significant market move that it is also creating marketing effort to improve and enhance the image of its company. In other words, just like how McDonald’s Thailand promotes its company, the same general move is established in its branch in Turkey. This means that generally, the two international branches of McDonald’s so far are trying to adhere to their marketing strategy by establishing a strong company brand recall. So far, this is a specific and general marketing effort that is common to them. However, unlike McDonald’s Thailand, the branch in Turkey simply would not only establish promotion based on price and taste, but most significant ly on something new with strong emphasis on nutrition, which is the same case that applies in the UK. McDonald’s UK on the other hand also promotes its product offerings with strong consideration on nutrition and dietary-related matters (McDonald’s UK, 2012). In fact, the company’s website reveals that it seeks to inform the public with the right nutrition that could be achieved out from its product offerings. Furthermore, McDonald’s UK is also specific on how they acquired the raw materials used in their product offerings. This means that the consumers in this country are becoming more sophisticated by simply being able to understand what they exactly want or need. However, this could also be probably the result of constant education regarding dietary requirements that McDonald’s UK is trying to