Critical Appraisal Report Essay Example for Free

Critical Appraisal Report Essay 1. INTRODUTION This report will cover logistics and RD section from the simulation, where I will be stating theories of logistics, and logistic transportation concepts, and analyzing my understanding for research and development. I will be stating out my decision for logistics and RD section in the simulation as well, and point out the reasons why I have made the decisions. 2. CONSIDERATION OF RELEVANT THEORIES CONCEPT 2.1 Logistics: According to Grund Vartdal, logistics is â€Å"the process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow and storage of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods, services and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer Requirements’ Council of Logistics Management† (Grund Vartdal, 2000). It is a part of value chain activity, planed, implemented and controlled in order to meet customers’ needs for goods, services and related information, it is a combination of transport, storage, handling, packaging, distribution processing, distribution, information processing and other basic functions. Logistic Management has four major characters, firstly, to achieve customer satisfaction as the first target, secondly, optimize the enterprise as a whole as the purpose, thirdly, information-centric, fourthly, value efficiency and effectiveness. 2.2 Logistics and Transportation: There are several classifications for logistics and transportation. Road transport: Mainly use gas trucks and other vehicles, road transport is responsible for close and small quantities of cargo, also where water transport and rail transport difficult to play their advantages. Road transport has several advantages such as strong flexibility, road construction period is short, low investment, easy to fit in local conditions and less demanding for facilities stations. It is also able to take the door-to-door transport form, without having to transfer or repeat loading and unloading. Rail transport: Mainly responsible for long-distance, large amounts of cargo, where it has no water transport conditions in the region, almost all bulk goods are rely on the railway transport. It has several advantages such as fast speed, not limited by natural conditions, large carrying capacity and low transport cost, though it is inflexible and can only be achieved in the fixed line transport, need other means of transports’ cooperation and convergence. Water transport: Mainly bearing torque, long-distance transport in river and costal sea. There are costal transport generally use in small vessels, offshore transport depending on medium-sized and small-sized vessels, ocean transport in use of large volume of large vessels, and inland waterway transport. Water transport is able to transport forhigh-volume, long-distance and low-cost, though it has obvious drawbacks such as influenced by port, water level, season and climate. Air transport: Mainly in use of aircrafts for high value, and has the affordability of a strong freight goods such as expensive equipments, spare parts, high-end products, etc., also, some urgent need materials due to its high cost. Its main advantages are fastest speed, do not have terrain restrictions, where rail or cars cannot reach, it can rely on air transport, hence it is significance. Pipeline transport: Mainly in use for gas, liquid and powered solids. 2.3 Research and Development According to OECD factbook, RD refers to â€Å"creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new application.† (OECD factbook, 2008). It reflects the technological strength and core competitiveness. A country’s RD level reflects its political and economical strengths, an enterprise’s RD level reflects its competitiveness. Research and development is the process of innovation into mold. Product innovation and technological innovation are the core of innovation, a company’s research and development generally refers to product development and technology research and development. RD and technology development are closely related. Emerging technologies can always bring new products, RD tend to correspond to the product or focus on product innovation, and new product ideas need new technologi es to achieve, they have very close relationship. 3. INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION This round for in-house development is 21,360K USD for Tech 1, and 21,362 for Tech 2, where money needed for new features are 71,240K USD for Tech 1, and 71,243K USD for Tech 2. As there are several plants in Asia and Europe, there will be one addition feature for Tech 1, and three addition features for Tech 2. The priorities from USA are Asia coming after Europe coming after USA, the priorities from Asia is USA coming after Europe coming after China as the civil war in Olistan has brought up the oil price, thus the logistic transportation would cost more, whereas the transportation cost is 29 USD/unit from USA to Asia and from Asia to USA, 13 USD/unit from USA/Europe, and 9 USD/unit from Asia to Europe. The in-house and contract manufacturing in USA are 5,082K USD for Tech 1 and 3,863K USD for Tech 2, while the in-house and contract manufacturing in Asia are 550K USD for Tech 1 and 1,245K USD for Tech 2, where they both allocated full capacity. For USA market, there are 1,392K units manufactured in USA for Tech 1 and 1,026K units for Tech 2. For Asian market, there are 1980K units manucatured in USA for Tech 1 and 615K units for Tech 2, 550K units manufactured in Asia for Tech 1 and 1,245K untis for Tech 2. For Europe market, there are 1,709K units manufactured in USA for Tech 1 and 2,222K units for Tech 2. Moreover, the average logistics per sold product is 16.9 USD in Asia, and 13.1 USD in Europe. According to the logistics theory, it suggests that if the products run out of supply, we will need to transfer the products to those regions where have higher profit. In this case for Round 3, oil price goes up, so we have decided to have Europe as the interlink station prior than Asia. 4. CONCLUSION To sum up, our group has gained 17.44% market share for this round, in order to achieve more market share, and gaining more shareholder return, we will need to focus more on the strategies selected in order to plan and implement more effectively. There are a lot we will need to improve in future rounds. 5. REFERENCE Cesim simulation Market Conditions [online] Available from http://gc4.cesim.com/dss/gc/MarketConditionsPage [7th Aug 2011] What is Logistics, available from CULC Managing International Trade Unit 7 Knowledgecast page 5. Research Development [online] Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_and_development [8th Aug 2011]

Get Fit With the Grizzlies Essay -- Article Review, Childhood Obesity

The article I chose to analyze is titled Get Fit With the Grizzlies: A Community-School-Home Initiative to Fight Childhood Obesity, which focused on social and physical health related determinants in their strategy to confront childhood obesity and promote change. The research done by C. Irwin, R. Irwin, Miller, Somes, and Richey (2010) in regards to the development of a community health promotion program has similarities to various aspects of the nutrition group’s video and components of their health promotional program structure. As previously noted, social and physical determinants to health aided in the process of development and helped determine societal needs, as depicted by this group’s population of interest. The population that the nutrition group used, involved 9-10 year old boys, who were already in a pre-established group who shared common interest i.e. cub scouts, were learning about nutrition in other areas of their life, parents actively participated and were present, presentation provided to them in a familiar environment i.e. cub scout meeting, and were motivated to participate in this program by earning a pin. Similarly, as found in Irwin, et al. (2010), participants in their program included relatively the same age group, specifically 9-11 year old children from Memphis City Schools in TN, where 11 elementary schools were randomly selected out of 110 to participate in this program and parents involvement at home was required at times. The dissemination of information in the video appeared to be very age appropriate and used similar supplemental tools such as the US Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid and incorporated physical activities. Interestingly enough, both programs used basketball within their progr... ...r week, after school NutriActive program with kindergarten and first graders. This study’s results indicated that a short, vigorous program such as NutriActive’s, can produce significant and sustainable improvements in motor skills and fitness levels of young children. The nutrition group’s program, especially the interactive components would likely be a great fit for this population, the content may need to be changed slightly to make it more age appropriate but the overall message and delivery would useful. It’s important to point out that the nutrition group, the Holcomb et al. study, and Matvienko et al. study all use of a client centered approach, and a common theme is apparent with respect to enabling individuals participating in these programs to foster feelings of competence, which contribute to their overall sense of well-being and satisfaction in life.

Ethical Theory Comparison

Ethics are a part of everyday life. Dependent on the individuals focus, ethics can be a core value or a term used when needed. This comparison will assist with understanding the morality of individual decisions or choices based on the ethical system inherited. Virtue based theories centers on good character behavior, a type of human growth that forms good decision making and control of bad habits. Virtue also creates a format that eliminates moral conflict over time. An individual with strong virtue ethics will make decisions naturally.Correct moral decisions require correct motives. Utilitarianism concentrates on the right and wrong of the end result. It includes the interest of others as well as personal interest. To understand what moral is under this theory simply judge the good and bad of a situation. Unlike deontological ethics, this eliminates the thought of others and creates the image of selfishness. This theory does not set well with common religious followers. (Voytinsky, 2011). Deontological ethics focus on the reason why we do or act. This practice would allow rules to be broken as long as the moral duty is protected.Pain and pleasure will not satisfy action under the theory. Obligations are written in stone. The moral principle is maintained regardless of consequential occurrence. Deontological ethics are common among religious practices. (Cline, 2013). I joined the military at twenty on with strong Christian ties. A recruiter convinced me that my job was non-combative. My worry, of course, was not to harm or kill another human being. Saudi Arabia told a different story.I was faced with; shooting to kill to protect myself and my comrades, or honoring commandments. My religious beliefs would have put me in military prison. I would have also become a target among my peers. I was forced to accept the utilitarianism approach in order to survive and return home to my family.The scope of all things ethical may become slightly misunderstood due to the mo rality of each individual. Strong beliefs or a sound knowledge of what’s right to you may create the conflict of a life time. Understanding these  differences describe in this writing will help to understand the complete picture. Each ethical theory has its value in life. Being aware will allow us to facilitate conflict, conversations, or debates with proper knowledge of which ethical value is used, discussed, or misunderstood.

Argumentative Essay on Retirement Age

Retirement Age: When? The situation concerning the retirement age is very different in different parts of the world. Some people at the age of 70 or 80 are still in working process, they are taking care of their families, countries and business companies. The situation with the other people is different. They are fit and have good health but, in accordance with the national law regulations they have to retire much earlier. Below I’d like to discuss the dilemma concerning whether people have to have the right to work as many years as they want OR they should be retired at the fixed age. First of all we will talk about those people who would like to work as long as they need. There are actually several forcible arguments which to satisfy their needs. To begin with, it is necessary to say that there are older employers who possess profound knowledge and rich experience which is precious for the business process and it will be a huge loss if such people will be forced to retire. The other good point if that the older employers are more loyal and they have more willing to put company policies into practice in contrast to the younger employers. One of the most important things about the retirement of older people is the way our society treats them. The thing is that once you made someone to retire at the age of 60 or 65, it means you do not value the contribution of these people into the life of the society. However, to allow people to work as long as they need is not always that good. Age cannot guarantee good abilities. For example, some younger employers may have much more experience and cleverness than the older people who have spent almost the whole their life working in one and the same are. The other point is that many people having an opportunity to work as long as they are willing to will continue to work because they simply didn’t plan anything else for their life. Thus, company won’t be provided with new ideas that young employers can offer. One more point lies in the fact that older people need to be provided with the guarantee of generous pensions in order to have an opportunity to enjoy the freedom they got. Nowadays there is