Lessons from Rs Mcnamara Free Essays

Strolling Along a Familiar Path In Errol Morris’ narrative Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara, we follow the life and times of previous United States Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. The clever piece follows his life from birth during World War I, his prosperity at school, shrewd business vocation at Ford Motor Company, to his contribution in World War II and his disputable political profession during the Kennedy and Johnson presidential terms. We will compose a custom article test on Exercises from Rs Mcnamara or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now Morris features the narrative around these eleven exercises that McNamara goes through during a meeting for the film. As I would like to think a portion of these ‘lessons’ are simply a few assessments of McNamara and some appear to be prodded along by Morris, who is posing the inquiries out of sight. I trust it is through a portion of these exercises that Morris utilizes McNamara’s achievement and disappointments to relate them to current issues, for example, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; and how we appear to step down a natural way. Exercise #5: PROPORTIONALITY SHOULD BE A GUIDELINE IN WAR? â€Å"In request to win a war should you murder 100,000 individuals in a single night, by firebombing or some other way . . . Proportionality ought to be a rule in war. Slaughtering half to 90% of the individuals of 67 Japanese urban communities and afterward besieging them with two atomic bombs isn't corresponding, in the psyches of certain individuals, to the destinations we were attempting to accomplish. † Robert McNamara This remark by McNamara resounded all through the film. I realized that there was some bombarding in Japan however not to this degree. Morris advances one of the most impressive employments of symbolism to dazzle the crowd and bring these losses of life to an entire other level. McNamara angrily refers to a progression of Japanese urban areas that were somewhat or to a great extent decimated and coordinates them to American urban areas of practically identical size, and requests that we envision those U. S. networks comparably desolated. It’s a solid point, graphically upheld by Morris on screen by blazing names and insights at quickening speed. â€Å"In that solitary night, we consumed to death 100,000 Japanese regular people in Tokyo: men, ladies, and kids. McNamara. Through this shock model, I trust Morris was implying the huge sending of troops propelled to battle little powers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Having twenty-5,000 soldiers battling extremist powers comprised of little gatherings of guerrilla groups can be scene in certain eyes as inordinate and poorly proportioned. Exercise #6: GET THE DATA and LESSON #7: BELIEF AND SEEING ARE BOTH OFTEN WRONG. â€Å"At one point, the leader of the boat stated, ‘We’re not sure of the assault. At another point they stated, ‘Yes, we’re completely positive. ‘ And then at last late in the day, Admiral Sharp stated, ‘Yes, we’re certain it occurred. ‘ So I announced this to Johnson, and accordingly there were besieging assaults on focuses in North Vietnam. † McNamara The significant actuality from McNamara is that the heightening of the Vietnam War began dependent on a deceived from a solitary team thinking they had been torpedoed. This appeared to be a not too bad reason to begin bombarding runs, activate troops and convey them in to South East Asia. The equals between these chain of occasions prompting the Vietnam War and the activities taken by the US government in propelling efforts against Afghanistan and Iraq are fundamentally the same as. While the psychological oppressor assaults on 9/11 were a savage impetus to the contention in Afghanistan, it was a secluded assault by a bunch of fear based oppressor. The US turned 9/11 into a strike on Afghanistan holding groups of these fear based oppressors, in the end upsetting the legislature in power. Another comparable exercise wherein McNamara states we ought to â€Å"Get the data,† can be emphatically identified with the US government’s sorry excuse to attack Iraq. The theory that Iraq was making or possessing weapons of mass pulverization (WMD) was to a great extent created trial supported by hypothesis and no quantifiable proof. Since 2003, the US has still not discovered WMDs and have immediately avoided this problem under the carpet while they change their war tune as an activity of opportunity against oppressive Iraqi government. Exercise #8: BE PREPARED TO REEXAMINE YOUR REASONING. ?†Were the individuals who gave the endorsement to utilize Agent Orange: crooks? Is it true that they were carrying out an unspeakable atrocity? Let’s take a gander at the law. Presently what sort of law do we have that says these synthetics are adequate for use in war and these synthetics are most certainly not. We don’t have away from of that sort. I never on the planet would have approved an illicit activity. I’m not so much sure I approved Agent Orange. I don’t recall it however it positively happened, its utilization happened while I was Secretary. † Another one of McNamara’s solid remarks that identify with that there is a result to each move we make and that we should live with that outcome. His activity was extreme, and he needed to settle on some basic choices for the product passage of millions in which he, â€Å"Never had knowing the past in settling on choices at that point. † This, I accept, was Morris’ enormous punch in the mouth to the forces of the George W. Shrub organization and their activities encompassing the intrusion of Iraq. Presently, at the hour of arrival of this narrative the Iraq war was still in the newborn child phases of improvement Morris did not understand how the war would turn out yet left us with a solid explanation that somebody would need to be responsible for beginning an unjustifiable war. I was once told in a secondary school history class that, â€Å"History is composed by the victors. † McNamara summarizes this statement with a splendid think once again into a portion of his activities during World War II â€Å"[General Curtis] LeMay said on the off chance that we had lost the war, we would have been arraigned as war crooks. Also, I think he’s right . . .. What makes it shameless in the event that you lose and not indecent on the off chance that you win? † Morris insinuates through this exercise somebody should reply to these activities and wash the blood off their mind. Would we be able to gain from history? It is safe to say that we are destined to rehash the slip-ups that we’ve made before, over and over? Or then again would we be able to gain from history and from the past? These are some genuine inquiries I trust Morris drives us to ask ourselves. I accept that Morris was attempting to raise likenesses of the past as opposed to really relating the Vietnam War explicitly to the Iraqi War, giving us that we are as yet stepping upon our past mix-ups. On the off chance that we don’t gain from history and the occasions that pass we will be destined to rehash history, again and again. â€Å"Don’t commit a similar error twice†¦one mix-up can demolish a country. † Robert Strange McNamara Step by step instructions to refer to Lessons from Rs Mcnamara, Papers

Political Development in Ghana

Presentation In Africa, Ghana has been as one of the spearheading states. Ghana is a nation of a lot of firsts-in-Africa in that it was the main African nation to pick up freedom from its frontier aces. After autonomy Ghana was the principal state to begin one/single gathering rule. Ghana was additionally the principal new African state to experience the ill effects of a progression of military upsets. Ghana was likewise among the primary African states to experience the ill effects of monetary depressions.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on Political Development in Ghana explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was additionally among the principal African countries to define and execute philosophies to assemble its resident towards financial development. At long last, Ghana was the main nation in Africa to do a serene progress from a military standard to regular citizen rule. Since freedom, Ghana was exceptionally seen as the state, which would set be nchmarks for other creating states in Africa. In spite of the fact that Ghana is at present a case of good administration and vote based system, the way to political security has not been smooth. Ghana and its kin have persevered through a great deal of disturbance and political clashes coupled by monetary downturn and ethnic clash. This history has influenced its kin and pioneers in different manners. History of Ghanas Political and established improvement Ghana is overwhelmingly a multi-ethnic state, with the Akan people group shaping about 49% of the absolute populace. Ghanas populace demography is presumably the most significant instrument that has helped it create throughout the years. Since the Akan share a typical language, it has helped encourage a feeling of nationhood. During the pilgrim period, the British utilized aberrant principle over the state of Ghana. This implied conventional boss got responsible to and served the interests of the pioneer aces. In spite of the fac t that, by temperance of this, the conventional boss combined a great deal of intensity, initiative was twisted on the grounds that the conventional estimations of authority, for example, standard checks, responsibility and equity were disintegrated. Before the Second's over World War, there was a great deal of political tumult, which prompted the development of different political associations. Through the endeavors of Kwame Nkrumah, the frontier government consented to established changes. In the mid 1950s the gold coast as Ghana was alluded to, was at last given inward self-administration. At the point when the established improvements occurred in the mid 1950s, Ghana turned into the primary state, in the south of Sahara, to proclaim autonomy. Ghana as a state picked up its autonomy from the British provincial ace in 1957 (Bennett, 1973, p. 665). After autonomy, Ghana confronted different moves going from the need to channel assets from remote organizations to nearby formative is sues, move of responsibility for from unfamiliar to neighborhood proprietorship, and the need to put resources into parts that were seen as dismissed by the colonialists, for example, social administrations and instruction sector.Advertising Looking for article on government? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nkrumahs government considering these difficulties and the proposed arrangement of administration surrendered to pressure and was at last ousted in a military upset in 1966 (Bennett, 1973, p. 667). At the point when Ghana accomplished freedom, there was no outside obligation, however during and after the overthrow it had collected an outer obligation of about $790 million. Nkrumahs perspective on industrialisation being driven and constrained by the state had flopped wretchedly. From this time onwards, Ghana was to experience a progression of strife described by military upsets and non military personnel government rule for in any event three decades (Price, 1984, pp. 173-174). Later in the late 1970s, Richard Jerry Rawlings drove a gathering of low positioning military officials to topple the current military government drove by senior military authorities. This overthrow was exceptional as in the majority of its pioneers were youthful officials. One of its principle objective was to tidy up, the military junta followed individuals and senior military pioneers who supported and profited by defilement court martialed them and later completed executions. Scarcely following four months in office had, Rawlings gave over capacity to another chosen government just to topple it again in another overthrow following two years. Rawlings government balanced the type of administration that mostly preferred ranchers and fare organizations. In spite of the fact that the intensity of degenerate pioneers and government workers may have been dissolved, anyway the principal reasons for support philosophy to politic al control had not yet been managed (Sederberg, 1971, pp. 179-84). In 1992, Ghana passed another constitution, which cleared route for the holding of majority rule decisions under a multi party arrangement of administration. The new constitution was a move back to the presidential framework however modifications were made so pastors could likewise serve all the while as individuals from parliament an arrangement that the prior constitutions had evacuated. This was done to empower collaboration between the official and the governing body and this was educated by a case in which the third republic parliament dismissed a spending plan introduced by the official. After the resurrection of multi-party governmental issues in 1992, Ghana has held fruitful decisions in 1996, 2000 to date (Williams, et al, 2009, pp. 102-114). Political and financial improvement With the coming of the new constitution, Ghana moved from military guideline to a presidential arrangement of administration. The wr iters of the new constitution administration were against the severe detachment of forces between the official and the lawmaking body, subsequently took into account the arrangement of the president delegating a few clergymen from the authoritative assembly.Advertising We will compose a custom article test on Political Development in Ghana explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was in response to the third republic parliament, which dismissed the proposed financial plan, which was later alluded to as authoritative obstructionism. The creators were mindful so as not to restore the nation to the occasions of the third republic yet then again, they would not like to return to the Westminster parliamentary framework, which was prior engendered by the Nkrumah government. This empowered the president to pick a lion's share of pastors from parliament and some from the private segment, which guaranteed that he got the necessary ethnic parity in his bureau. The president had the capacity to select pastors from districts or zones that his ideological group didn't have a solid hang on and henceforth had no individuals from parliament to name priests. These strategies underlined on both a national enthusiasm for a solid administration and a helpful lawmaking body with accentuation on the need of the bureau to be ethnically adjusted (Botchway, 1972, pp. 81-88). In the wake of moving to established vote based system numerous advancement help accomplices grumbled about the moderate pace of monetary changes as legislators and not technocrats were currently taking significant choices. Parliament, which was for the most part ruled by Rawlings party, couldn't pass an oil charge bill and battled against common help changes in 1993. Rawlings organization is likewise credited with the beginning of the National Institutional Renewal Program, which was ordered, with the undertaking of improving and empowering great arrangement improvement, open segment the board and formation of a proper pay and reviewing framework. Later on the next year, an endeavor to force esteem included expense was pulled back after monstrous clamor and restriction from the general population and resistance groups. In any case, the progression of state possessed undertakings was hurried and the absolute most beneficial state associations sold raising more income than was really envisioned (Armstrong, 1996, pp. 72-78). During 1994, the legislature set out on a procedure to define a national improvement approach structure that should have been broadly known as the Ghana â€vision 2020. The primary feature of this strategy record were improvement of farming, manageable macroeconomic condition, advancement of human asset, empowering business and neediness destruction, with the fundamental objective being to continue a financial development pace of 8% GDP.Advertising Searching for article on government? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More During the 1996 general decisions, most gatherings came out with different financial pronouncements to challenge the occupant, with different resistance pioneers promising to finish the vision 2020. Resistance groups to the fight against disagreeable changes made by the Rawlings government, for example, cost sharing and cost-recuperation in wellbeing and instruction division, promising to better the government assistance of the residents. The development of autonomous print and electronic media after the 1992 submission, and the established arrangement that state possessed media ought to give equivalent inclusion of the decision gathering and restriction rallies, made the crusade energizing. In spite of the fact that Rawlings party won the vote the restriction lead by John Kufuor had the option to heavy weapons specialist 40% of the all out vote and caught 66 parliamentary seats (Evans-Anfom, 2003, pp. 431-433). It was anyway exhibited during the 1996 races that during rivalry for vo tes that legislature is now and again compelled to forfeit reasonable large scale financial administration and monetary strategy judiciousness for the brief increase of political mileage. This is prove by inability to pass the oil charge law and dispatching of unbudgeted ventures. This political race additionally uncovered that there was a tremendous inclination of the populace to cast a ballot as provincial and ethnic alliances, which has come to turn into the standard in ensuing decisions. After the decisions and politicking was over the changes were re-lighted as parliament passed the oil charge law, VAT was presented, autonomous controller

MPA-DP Spotlight Urban Mobility Master Class and the Summer Field Placement COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

MPA-DP Spotlight Urban Mobility Master Class and the Summer Field Placement COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The MPA in Development Practice program has some distinct educational opportunities for students. Here we highlight two of them: 1. Master Class: Urban Mobility On Saturday November 9th, six generations of MDP students came to attend Paloma Ruiz’s, Principal Executive of Transport Infrastructure for the CAF MasterClass. Paloma (MDP’13 alumni) focused on the importance of urban mobility development in reaching overall inclusive and sustainable development. During the master class Paloma presented real-life policy cases from Colombia, Ecuador, China, the US, and Europe for attendants’ better understanding of how well planned transport infrastructure projects can reinforce institutional capacity and general improvements to people’s quality of life. The Urban Mobility Master Class. 2. Ryo Ogura MPA-DP 20 and his Summer Placement experience Ryo Ogura (MPA-DP’20) spent his summer placement at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing, China, a newly established multilateral development bank focusing on sustainable infrastructure investment. As an intern in the Office of Treasurer, he worked on robotic process automation to improve operation efficiency, long-term cash flow forecasting model building. Ryo Ogura MPA-DP 20 with colleague Jonathan Poon MPA-DP 16 at AIIB. Learn more about the  MPA-DP Program: Instagram:  columbiasipa_mpadp Twitter: @ColumbiaMPADP LinkedIn Facebook

Results Of My Calculations Were Surprising And Also Eye...

The results of my calculations were surprising and also eye opening. I calculated that with all of the clothes, books, school supplies, technology, medical and personal supplies, and random items around my dorm that it cost $9,334 to buy everything in my dorm. If a person who got paid a salary at the poverty level, which is $1.25$, it would take them 7467.2 days or 20.458 years to make enough money to buy everything in my little dorm room. These numbers are very shocking and disturbing at the same time. Coming from an upper middle class family, buying the items I needed for college wasn’t cheap, however, because of the financial stability and amount of capital my parents make, the cost of college was manageable. For people in other countries, purchasing the clothes, technology, books and school supplies, would take them over 20 years of their salary to afford. The common cliche saying college students say is, â€Å"I’m a college student, I m not rich†. While com pared to the super wealthy in America, yes, college students are poor. Many college students get jobs to pay for student loans, food, and other items that are both items of want and need. In many countries around the world, many people make $1.25 or less per day. They are working long, strenuous and arduous hours just to afford enough for survival and to keep their families safe. College students capital versus a person in poverty’s capital are quite polarized where a college student owns and has a plethora more amountShow MoreRelatedDysfunctions Of A Team, Results, And Recommendations Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages 7 Dysfunctions of a Team Survey, Results, and Recommendations Kim J. Hebel University of Central Arkansas Abstract A 10-12 PLC team was surveyed on their personal beliefs about how their team functions. The survey results were calculated and evaluated using Lencioni?s (2002) five Dysfunctions of a Team. Although this is a particularly close-knit team a Lack of AccountabilityRead MoreFederated Science Fund2886 Words   |  12 Pagesallocated? Offers: opening-offer and counter-offer, as well as progression of offers? How was information exchanged? Were there pivotal turning points?) Yet again, I felt that I was placed in the weakest position in the negotiation, which would be that of United Industries. I knew, beforehand, that it would be a multi-party negotiation, and that the other two companies had the best option, if they decided form a consortium among themselves. This was the worst thing possible, from my perspective, andRead More The Dangers of Teen Sleep Deprivation: Benefits of Adopting Later Start Times for High Schools3298 Words   |  14 Pagesrole-call in his morning history class: a positively lethargic group of students, comically struggling to stay awake. As the teacher monotonously pronounces each name on the attendance list, one student gives a deadpan stare, mouth slightly agape and eyes drooping, while another student can’t beat the fatigue and sleeps with his head on his desk as a trickle of drool escapes his mouth. While this comic scene takes place on a Hollywood set, it is not far removed from many classroom situations acrossR ead MoreQuestions On Online Hotel Management Essay7516 Words   |  31 Pagesit would not have been plausible without the kind boost and help of everybody, including my protectors, educators, family and my companions. I would love to take this chance to devote my affirmation of gratefulness to the additional striking advisors and givers of this venture report. An exceptional much obliged for Mr. Saud Altaf for his steady backing and support to my undertaking. He compassionate read my task and offered precious point by point advices on linguistic use, organizing and the substanceRead MoreImpact of Promotional Strategies on Consumer Buying Behaviors: a Case of Hollister Co18263 Words   |  74 Pagesconfirmed that, this dissertation is a product of my own work and is not the result of anything done in collaboration. I agree that this dissertation may be available for referencing and photocopying, at the discretion of university. Signature........................................ Name: NOWSHAD MOURIN SHAWON. Date: 14/09/2012 NOWSHAD MOURIN SHAWON L0044SZSZ1010 Page i Acknowledgements: I would like to take opportunity to thank my supervisor Ellie Semsar for her kind supervisionRead MoreDollar to Fall as World Currency12311 Words   |  50 PagesWARNING: What you are about to see is controversial, and may be offensive to some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Hello. My name is Porter Stansberry. A little over ten years ago I founded Stansberry Associates Investment Research. It has become one of the largest and most recognized investment research companies in the world, serving hundreds of thousands of subscribers in more than 120 countries. You may know of our firm because of the work we did over the last severalRead MoreEssay on 16 Day Coursebook BOWS27896 Words   |  112 PagesStocks Chapter 19 - Everything Else Scanning 101 Journaling Brokers News Sources/ Blogs Using Our Platforms Additional Charts Chapter 1 – Introduction I started trading in my first year of college. After placing my first trade in Exodus Communications, I was hooked. It was all I thought about and wanted to study. As I was learning my craft I had many ups and downs. I had times where I had large amounts of money in the bank and then days later it could all be gone. Such is the life of a 19 year old traderRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesmaking artificial distinctions between what is acceptable and what is not. He also has contributed widely to the accounting literature, taking forward the British tradition of economic theorizing in financial accounting as well as being a constant source of creative thinking in the management accounting field. Michael has also contributed in a number of different institutional arenas: the academic, of course, but also those of the profession and the wider public sphere. Ever helpful to regulatorsRead Moreâ€Å"Consumer Buying Behavior of Consumer Durables in a Hypermarket for Hypercity9842 Words   |  40 Pagesextend sincere thanks to Mr. Vikram Laud, (Store Operations Manager, HyperCITY, Thane) my Industry advisor, for his time, advice, and encouragement. I would like to express my gratitude to the HyperCITY Retail (India) Ltd. for giving me this op portunity to work and learn in the organization. This project would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of everyone here. I would like to thank my institute ITM including the Director, Dr. Ganesh Raja, the Dean, Dr. Adhikari andRead MoreStrategy Safari by Mintzberg71628 Words   |  287 Pagesthe field of strategic management needs to be opened up, not closed down; it needs reconciliation among its many different tendencies, not the isolation of each. To enrich the experience of this safari, we hope to follow up with a Guidebook. We have also prepared an Instructor s Manual to facilitate the use of this rather unconventional book in the classroom. We owe many thank-yous. Bob Wallace of The Free Press must be especially singled out. In the musical chairs world of publishing these x

Essay about Metamorphosis of Celie in Alice Walkers...

The Metamorphosis of Celie in The Color Purple For people to be equal they need a chance to become equal by self-discovering themselves. As we are growing older during our childhood we depend on our environment, parents, and peers to create our self-image. Within our environment we are always trying to develop new insights in order to identify, clarify, connect and account for our beliefs. Even the underlying cause of dysfunctional relationships lies in crucial events in our life experience. The environment in which one is raised and developed will have a large affect on the individual. Most of the people that succeed in life come from stable families, in well positioned environments. While those that are not fortunate enough†¦show more content†¦. .a mans world(Klosowski 4). As a result of Celies environment she never gets a fair opportunity to self-discover until she gets away from her surroundings. The society in which she lived forced her to act the way she did. Walker shows Celie as part of a community which shares struggles, and women are oppressed by men. In this society, The white man destroyed the black man, the black man destroyed the woman( Klosowski 5). Celie is dominated and abused by the majority of the male figure in the novel including her stepfather. Her stepfather was a major influence in her life. Her stepfather raped her, causing the birth of two children whom he gave away to an old friend. The second man in her life, her husband, abused her not only physically by beating her but he also abused her verbally by calling her names. These two men left her subdued and passive. She became emotionally dead with this suppression of her personality of who she was. she was just a person who cooked and cleaned and took care of the children without any consideration given to her. She is uneducated because her father took her out off school as a result of her pregnancies. Celie is raised in an environment where she wasnt allow to have a mind of her own because her father dominated and controlled all her actions. For example, Celie writes letters to God because she has been warned by herShow MoreRelated Metamorphosis of Celie in Alice Walkers Color Purple Essay1091 Words   |  5 Pages Metamorphosis of Celie in The Color Purplenbsp;nbsp; In the book The Color Purple (1982) by Alice Walker, the main character Celie develops from an abused, shy and browbeaten teenage girl into a strong, mature and self-confident woman. This metamorphisis is due to five major factors: Celie observes other successful women, she receives love and appreciation, changes in Celie’s view of God, Celie’s maturation and a bit of luck. As Celie is brought up, her father sexually molests her overRead More Compare racial and cultural struggles in Alice Walker’s The Color2850 Words   |  12 Pagesracial and cultural struggles in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple as well as Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. In African-American texts, blacks are seen as struggling with the patriarchal worlds they live in order to achieve a sense of Self and Identity. The texts I have chosen illustrate the hazards of Western religion, Rape, Patriarchal Dominance and Colonial notions of white supremacy; an intend to show how the protagonists of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple as well as Toni Morrison’s The

Operations Research Questions Free Essays

Pace University DigitalCommons@Pace Faculty Working Papers Lubin School of Business 11-1-1999 The Mystery of Linear Programming Explained: Second Edition Jack Yurkiewicz Pace University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons. pace. edu/lubinfaculty_workingpapers Recommended Citation Yurkiewicz, Jack, â€Å"The Mystery of Linear Programming Explained: Second Edition† (1999). We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Research Questions or any similar topic only for you Order Now Faculty Working Papers. Paper 21. http://digitalcommons. pace. edu/lubinfaculty_workingpapers/21 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Lubin School of Business at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Working Papers by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact rracelis@pace. edu. WORKING PAPERS No. 191 November 1999 The Mystery of Linear Programming Explained: Second Edition by Jack Yurkewicz, Ph. D. Professor of Management Science and Director of the Advanced Professional Certificate Program Lubin School of Business Pace University THE MYSTERY OF LINEAR PROGRAMMING EXPLAINEDSECOND EDITION As Recounted by John H. Watson, M. D. Edited by Jack Yurkiewicz, Ph. D. Jack Yurkiewicz is Professor of Management Science and Director of the Advanced Professional Certificate Program at the Lubin School of Business, Pace University. Introduction INTRODUCTION I hadn’t seen my old friend and companion, Sir Sherlock Holmes (he had been knighted by the Queen and insisted that this appellation be used) in several months. Feeling that I had slighted him, I rang him up and told him I would be stopping by the next day to see how his new business venture was progressing. Holmes was truly glad to hear my voice and urged that we have lunch together. While he hinted that his firm, of which he was the sole employee, was doing well, he did indeed wish to discuss a business proposition with me. Needless to say, I was intrigued. I won’t bother to bore you, dear reader, with some of our mundane conversation the next day save to say that I found Holmes to be moodier than ever. The great detective had long ago become bored with crime solving, claiming there was little challenge in solving many of the violent crimes that seemed so prevalent in our society. The firm that he started provided consulting service to corporations, in which he would use his mental abilities to help managers solve their business-related problems. Holmes explained to me that he enjoyed the challenge of his new endeavors but was finding it increasingly difficult to converse with these â€Å"business types,† as he called them. He just didn’t have the patience to explain his findings to them, for he found them curiously dull. Holmes went on to say that he had no doubt that this fact was the cause of the country’s lack of success in the international business environment. I didn’t want to say it, but I thought to myself that the fault might not be solely with the business managers he was dealing with, but partially with him, for I myself frequently found him short-tempered and impatient, even during his ordinary conversations with me. In any case, his proposition to me was simple. Holmes: Listen, Watson, I just can’t bear the thought of explaining to these so-called â€Å"leaders† how they should be running their firms. They come to me with some specific problem, usually ill-defined, and then expect me to come up with a solution. I have found that getting the solution is fairly trivial, but I have the dickens of a time trying to explain it to them! You have a solid head on your shoulders, old fellow. Suppose you became my partner. Your only job would be to explain to them the solution that I propose, for I fear that my patience is not as long as yours is. Watson: The thought intrigues me, for I have been cutting back on my practice lately and do find myself available with more free time. What procedures do you use to get your results? Holmes: Mostly a branch of mathematics called â€Å"operations research,† which incidentally has its roots in this country during the Second World War. I collect the data, enter it on a computer I have in my study, and in almost an instant, I get the results. Watson: Well, I am afraid that tears it, Holmes. I don’t know the first thing about operations research and thus could not possibly explain it to others. I did try to learn the subject several years back. I bought a college textbook on the subject and spent several frustrating days trying to learn linear programming. The subject seemed understandable enough, but I became hopelessly 1 The Mystery of Linear Program Explained lost on the mechanics of the simplex algorithm. I was working with equations and performing what the author called â€Å"elementary row operations. † Believe me, there was nothing elementary about it. After three days I threw the book down in disgust and came to the conclusion that only masochists or the temporarily insane would ever try to fathom such a subject. Holmes: I fear you overestimate the subject’s complexity, but the point is irrelevant. No one really does these things by hand anymore, and so it was just your poor fortune to buy a book that was obsolete. All is now done with the aid of the computer. In fact, I am using a program called Solver, which is a part of Excel which is unusually easy to use and powerful. I will explain the computer output to you, along with its ramifications, and then you in turn will explain it to the manager in question. It really is quite simple, and if I may say, also lucrative. The more Holmes spoke, the more interested I became. His power of persuasion was truly formidable, and in the end, against much misgiving on my part, I agreed to enter into this venture on a trial basis. Holmes was satisfied with my decision and proposed that we start immediately with a problem that he had completed the other day that he was due to report on the following week. HOLMES DESCRIBES THE CASE Holmes: The Maximus Computer Company (MCC) has four basic computers it sells to students and small business people. The first, called the Starter, is a basic, â€Å"no-frills† computer. It has most of the amenities that a new user or a buyer on a strict budget could want, including CDROM with sound, an entry-level processor, a small hard disk, a modem for Internet access, and a 15-inch monitor. The second model, called the Midrange, is for more demanding users. This model offers a faster processor, larger hard disk, more RAM, a DVD player, and a 17-inch monitor. The third model, the Super, provides just about all the computing power a user could want. It offers even more RAM, a very fast processor, a large hard disk, a DVD player with hardware decoder, and a 17-inch monitor. All but the most demanding users would be very happy with the Super. However, for those who want the very â€Å"best,† the company offers the Extreme which offers a state-of-the-art processor, a huge hard disk, the best multimedia package (the latest generation DVD ROM with a five-piece speaker system), a CD re-writable drive, a 19inch monitor, etc. Thus, while the company offers only four models, it feels there is enough flexibility to cover most of the target computer audience. It is a small start-up company and management knows it has to compete against the heavily entrenched products from Dell, IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Gateway. The company philosophy is to ship computers with brandknown components and offer superior service, all at a cost to consumers that is lower than the competition’s. Watson: Well, Holmes, I believe I know about the philosophy of the company and its immediate goals. Can you please tell me more about the four models of computers we offer? 2 How the Operation Works Holmes: As I said, Maximus makes four models with different levels of features, all with the same customer support. They believe that whatever the sophistication of the machine, customer support should be â€Å"top notch† and not deteriorate with the price. In the long run, that will generate customer good will and promote their growth in the market. Watson: I agree whole-heartedly. Tell me a bit more about the computers themselves. HOW THE OPERATION WORKS Holmes: As you probably know, the computer industry is currently very competitive, and profit margins are low for each model. The net profit on a Starter is $50, for a Midrange it is $120, for a Super it is $250, and for an Extreme it is $300. These figures already take into account material, labor, depreciation, taxes, shipping, etc. In other words, these are the net profits to the company for each computer sold. Watson: Eventually we can delve into how these values are determined and perhaps how we can increase them, but for now, let’s assume that they are sacrosanct. What else can you tell me about the operation? Holmes: Management has, what they call â€Å"three operations† that make a computer. They call the first operation manufacture. This includes taking the customer’s phone call and determining which computer and options he or she wants and getting that information to the management of the production staff. They in turn will get the necessary components and make them available to the workers on the assembly line. The second operation is referred to as assembly, where the workers on the assembly line actually put together the computer, according the specifications of the customer’s order. These are skilled workers who take pride in their work, and even though they work on an assembly line, they do not have an â€Å"assembly line mentality,† for they believe they are making custom products for specific customers. The last operation is called inspection. Here we install the software, run various diagnostic tests, and generally check out and pack up the computer before we send it to the customer. Watson: I see. operations? Do you have approximate time figures on how long it takes to do these Holmes: It is a function of the computer. However, they have been doing this for some time now and so the time values do not vary all that much from machine to machine. Thus, for instance, for a Starter, we can assume 0. 1 hours for manufacture, 0. 2 hours for assembly, and 0. 1 hours for inspection. Our units are always in hours,I hope that doesn’t confuse you. Watson: Not at all. Actually, I’m used to minutes and so I am making mental transformations, but since the â€Å"company units† are always measured in hours, I will use those also. Tell me the corresponding values for the other computers. 3 The Mystery of Linear Programming Explained Holmes: For a Midrange, we use 0. 2 hours to manufacture, 0. 5 hours to assemble, and 0. 2 hours for inspection. Each Super requires 0. 7 hours to manufacture, 0. 25 hours to assemble, and 0. 3 hours inspection and testing. Finally, the Extreme gets 0. 8 hours to manufacture, 0. 2 hours to assemble, and 0. 5 hours for inspection. As I said, these numbers really don’t vary all that much from machine to machine, but as you can see, they do differ from model to model. Watson: Very well. What about your resources? How many people, or should I say, how many people-hours are available to do those three operations? Holmes: I agree with you that we should talk in terms of people-hours. I have been using the term â€Å"man-hours† for many years and if I lapse into that gender-specific term, please forgive me. To avoid offending you, I will just use the word â€Å"hours† from now on, but I hope you know I mean â€Å"people-hours† when I say it. Watson: Have no fear on my account, Holmes. My sensibilities will not be hurt if you use the older term â€Å"man-hours. What numbers do you have? Holmes: On a daily basis, management informed me that the company has 250 hours available for manufacture, 350 hours available for assembly, and 150 hours to do the inspection and testing. Watson: I presume that with all this information, we can proceed to model the problem as a linear program. Holmes: Indeed, Watson. As I intimated earlier, we can solve linear programs with Excel. Excel comes with an add-on package called Solver that is easy to use and yet powerful enough to solve most mathematical programming problems. All we have to do is make a spreadsheet model of the problem and Solver will do the rest. Watson: Well, that certainly is good news. I use Excel and I have made many models. But how do you make a linear program model in Excel? MODELING THE PROBLEM IN EXCEL Holmes: Have a look at the Excel spreadsheet model here on my computer, Watson. It is imperative that you first learn how to model a problem in a spreadsheet. Once you master this skill, we can then proceed to discuss how Solver can be used to get the answer for us. Cells B1, C1, D1, and E1 give the labels of our computers, which in linear programming terminology are called decision variables. We want the values of these variables to appear in cells B2, C2, D2, and E2. Excel’s Solver will call these cells the changing cells. We put the per-unit profit of each computer into cells B4 through D4. These numbers are traditionally called the objective function coefficients. We must enter a formula into cell I2 (which we labeled as the Profit in cell I1) that will give the net profit for all the computer’s made. 4 Modeling the Program in Excel A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 B Starter 0 50 0. 1 0. 2 0. 1 C Midrange 0 120 0. 2 0. 5 0. 2 D Super 0 250 0. 7 0. 25 0. 3 E Extreme 0 300 F G H I Profit 0 max manufacture assembly inspection Available 0. 8 250 0. 2 350 0. 5 150 Used Slack 0 250 0 350 0 150 Watson: I know how to do that. We would type in cell I2 the formula: =B2*B4 + C2*C4 + D2*D4 + E2*E4 Algebraically, we are saying, with this formula: 50(Starters) + 120(Midrange) + 250(Super) + 300(Extreme) Of course, the value in cell I2 is zero because we have zero values for the number of computers made in cells B2 through E2. Holmes: Well done, Watson! You should know that there is a shortcut to this rather tedious formula. Excel has the built-in function, SUMPRODUCT, which will save us much typing. That is, in cell I2 we can simply type: =SUMPRODUCT(B2:E2,B4:E4) That says: multiply the values in cells B2 through E2 by the corresponding values in the cells B4 through E4 respectively, and then add up the results. That gives us the same result as your formula. However, it is easier to input, since we need just type in the =sumproduct, highlight the ranges, and type the parentheses. The result is our total profit, which Solver calls the target cell. Watson: I suspect that we will be using that sumproduct function again. Tell me about the other items I see in your spreadsheet. Holmes: Our model is incomplete. We need to specify the constraints. These account for the technological, economic, or other limitations of the system, and restrict the values of the decision variables to some feasible set. We have three constraints in our problem: manufacturing, assembly, and inspection. Our manufacturing constraint is: 0. 1(Starter) + 0. 2(Midrange) + 0. 7(Super) + 0. 8(Extreme) How to cite Operations Research Questions, Essays

Robinsin Crusoe Essays - Fiction, English-language Films

Robinsin Crusoe A book review of Daniel Defoe's: Robinson Crusoe Robinson Crusoe is an imaginary story about a merchant-adventure marooned on a desert island off the northern coast of South America. Daniel Defoe wrote this novel in 1719.He based the story partly on the experiences of a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, but defoe's realistic account of Crusoe's like is much more interesting, and has become one of the most popular books in English. The book explains how Crusoe cleverly manages to make himself at home while he lives on the island. From my point of view the unique part that connects at this point in the story is that after living alone for 26 years, Crusoe rescues a man from cannibals. He calls the man Friday because he met him on that day. Friday becomes Crusoe's trusted friend and servant. The term, man Friday has come to mean any trusted servant. Finally after 28 years, Crusoe and Friday board a passing ship and are taken to England. Robinson Crusoe is a lively, exciting book that sweep the reader away in to amazing world. Although the English of the book is old fashion, I recommend it from the bottom of my heart! A Close: (fill out the blanks with one or two words) ROBINSON CRUSOE Robinson Crusoe has always been one of the popular novels in the English language. I believe that the to the fact above is that Robinson Crusoe is one of the realistic novels that were ever published. During the novel plot develops, describes events and scenes in great detail and them seem very alive. The fate of has held a special fascination for me. As I watch Crusoe struggle to survive alone on a Island , I pot myself in his place and wonder how long I would have lived in such harsh . Could I, like Crusoe, have begun to build anew life for myself? Or would hunger and the terrible loneliness have destroyed all hope in my , and driven me towards madness? As human being that enjoyed all his from comfortableness and luxuriousness, found this novel intriguer. Some say that in situations people discovers in themselves internal strength that they knew about before. After reading this book I that it truth. Book Reports