Acca F1 Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Leadership, management and supervision Chapter learning objectives Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to: * define the term leadership * define the term management * define the term supervision * explain the difference between a leader and a manager distinguish between the role of the manager and the role of a supervisor * explain the classical approach to management using theories of  Fayol and Taylor * explain the main duties of a manager according to  Fayol * outline the relevance of classical approach to modern data practices * explain the nature of the human relations school aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"  Mayo * describe the modern school of management with reference to the theories of  Mintzberg  and  Drucker * describe the three managerial roles as per work of  H Mintzberg * explain what is meant by authority * explain what is meant by the term responsibility identify the main sources of authority * explain the relationship between authority and respon sibility * explain the situational approach to leadership using  Adair's  theory * explain the contingency approach using  Fiedler's  leadership theory * explain the differences between transactional and transformational leadership referring to the  Bennis  theory * describe the phases of the change process referring to  Kotter  theory * explain the  Heifetz  leadership theory * explain the five scores on the  Blake  and  Mouton  managerial grid * outline the usefulness of the Blake and Mouton grid describe the four leadership styles as per  Ashridge.1 Introduction 1. 1 Leadership Abasic definition of a leader is ‘someone who  exercises  influence overother people'. This can be expanded into a more complex definition:'Leadership is an interpersonal influence directed toward theachievement of a goal or goals'. * Interpersonal aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" between people. * Influence aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the power to affect others. * Goal aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" something that we need/want to achieve. Leadership is a conscious activity and is concerned with settinggoals and inspiring people to provide commitment to achieve theorganisation's goals. . 2 Managers Allmanagers have in common the  overall  aim of getting things done,delegating to other people rather than doing everything themselves. Management can be defined as ‘the effective use and co-ordinationof resources such as capital, plant, materials and labour to achievedefined objectives with maximum efficiency'. A leader can be a manager, but a manager is not necessarily aleader. If a manager is able to influence people to achieve the goals ofthe organisation, without using formal authority to do so, then themanager is demonstrating leadership.Illustration 1 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Differences between managers and leaders The manager administers; the leader innovates. The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust. The manager has his eye on the bottom line; the leader has his eye on the horizon. 1. 3 Supervision The supervisor is part of the management team. * The supervisor is a person given authority for planning and controlling the work of their group, but all they can delegate to the group is the work itself. * A supervisor, therefore, is a type of manager whose main role is to ensure that specified tasks are performed correctly and efficiently by a defined group of people. In general, supervisors will also be doing operations work and giving advice to others to help solve problems. If the more senior manager is absent, the supervisor will take over the role. Illustration 2 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" The role of a supervisor Supervisors divide their time between supervisory duties and adetailed task. For example a supervisor in  purchasing  may also regularlycomplete some clerical work like raising purchase orders. Managers must ensure that supervisors understand organisationalobjectives and communicate the power and limits of the supervisor'sauthority.Supervis ion is an important part of the task and process ofmanagement. The role of the supervisor requires direct contact with and responsibility for the work of others. * The supervisor is the interface between the management and the workforce. * Front line aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" resolving problems first hand where the work is done, and often having to resolve problems quickly. * They often need to have direct knowledge of  employment  legislation. * Often have responsibility for negotiation and industrial relations within the department. * Management tasks and operational work to perform. Day-to-day detailed internal information (manager aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" medium-term internal and external information). Test your understanding 1 Briefly explain in general terms the responsibilities of a supervisor.2 Theories of management 2. 1 The classical school Both  Taylor and Fayol  shared the belief that individualsmust subordinate themselves to the needs of the organisation. In returnthe organisation was obliged to provide job security and goodremuneration. * Taylor and Fayol  believed in ‘one best way', the optimum way to: * organise the firm * do the individual job emphasis on the task to be done rather that the person doing it. * some of the main features of their approach were as follows: * belief in one controlling central authority * specialisation of tasks * fair pay and good working conditions, decided by management * clear lines of command. Illustration 3 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Theories and management Scientific thinking on motivation in the workplace included a belief that reward for effort was a key consideration. Test your understanding 2 Which of the following statements best describes the classical approach to management? A  No one best approach.B  Communication should be encouraged. C  One best approach. D  An employee is considered an input to the organisational system. Fayol  argued that management may be split into five broadsareas: forecasting and planning, organisation, command, co-ordinationand control. Expandable text – Fayol's rules of managerial conduct Fayol  applied 14 rules of managerial conduct. These are: * Division of work  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" to improve practice and familiarity and become specialised. * Authority  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the right to give orders, linked with responsibility. * Discipline  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" respect in accordance with the agreement between the firm and its employees. Unity of command  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" each subordinate answerable to only one superior. * Unity of direction  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" only a single head and plan for a set of activities. * Subordination to the general interest  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the general good prevails over individual or sectional interests.* Remuneration  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" should be fair to both the recipient and the firm. * Centralisation  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" inevitable in organisations, but the degree should be appropriate. * Scalar chain  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" graduated lines of authority should exist from the top to the bottom of the organisation. * Order  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" workers and materials should be in their prescribed place. * Equity  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" combining clemency with justice. Tenure of personnel  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" adequate time for settling into jobs should be allowed. * Initiative  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" should be encouraged within the boundaries of authority and discipline. * Esprit de corps  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" harmony and teamwork should be encouraged in the organisation. Fayol  believed that a manager obtained the best performancefrom his workforce by leadership qualities, by his knowledge of thebusiness and his workers, and by his ability to instil a sense ofmission. Test your understanding 3 Which of the following are elements of management as identified by  Fayol. AControl. BMotivation. CCommunication. DCompromise.The implications of  Taylor's  scientific management are as follows: * Workers should be set high ta rgets, but should be well rewarded for achieving them. * Working methods should be analysed ‘scientifically', including the timing of work. * Management should plan and control all the workers' efforts, leaving little discretion for individual control over working methods. While there may be areas where these principles are still relevant,most modern theorists would argue that a more progressive approach isneeded where: * It is recognised that there is not always a ‘best' way of doing a particular job. Employees can often have considerable insight into a job and can make important suggestions for improvements. * Many workers can be motivated by other methods than tight control and financial reward. These issues are discussed in more details later in this chapter. Illustration 4 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Theories of management The classical approach is still being utilised today since this isthe principle applied in most call centres: targets are set for thenumber of calls to be ta ken in a predetermined time period and reward isbased on the achievement of the target. Test your understanding 4Which one of the following statements is closest to the beliefs of the classical school? AEmphasis on social groups. BEmphasis on the task to be done rather than the person doing it. CEmphasis on the person rather than the task. DEmphasis on encouraging people to reach their full potential. 2. 2 The human relations school Research carried out by  Mayo  at the General ElectricCompany in Chicago concluded that group relationships andmanagement-worker communication were far more important in determiningemployee behaviour than were physical conditions (e. . lighting andnoise) and the working practices imposed by management. Also, wagelevels were not the dominant motivating factor for most workers. Further research established the following propositions of the human relations school.* Employee behaviour depends primarily on the social and organisational circumstances of wo rk. * Leadership style, group cohesion and job satisfaction are major determinants of the outputs of the working group. * Employees work better if they are given a wide range of tasks to complete. Standards set internally by a working group influence employee attitudes and perspectives more than standards set by management. The usefulness of the human relations approach The school explicitly recognised the role of interpersonalrelations in determining workplace behaviour, and it demonstrated thatfactors other than pay can motivate workers. However, the approachpossibly overestimates the commitment, motivation and desire toparticipate in decision making of many employees. Test your understanding 5 Which one of the following statements is closest to the beliefs of the human relations school?AEmphasis on social groups. BEmphasis on the task to be done rather than the person doing it. CEmphasis on one best approach. DEmphasis on hierarchy of management. 2. 3 Modern writers Contributions made by modern writers on management include: * Contingency approach (‘no one best approach')  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" contingency theorists do not ignore the lessons learnt from earlier theorists, but adapt them to suit particular circumstances. * Behaviouralism  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" concerned with the personal adjustment of the individual within the work organisation and the effects of group relationships and leadership styles. Systems theory  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" expresses a manger's role as being a co-ordinator of the elements of a system, of which people are only one part. Expandable text – systems theory Systems theory takes the view that an organisation is a socialsystem, consisting of individuals who co-operate together within aformal framework, drawing resources from their environment and puttingback into that environment the products they produce or the servicesthey offer: * in doing so the input is converted into the final product or service, hopefully with value being added * an organisation does not exist in a vacuum.It depends on its environment and is part of larger systems, such as society, the economic system and the industry to which it belongs. Examples of the other systems include an information system, production system and a communication system. Drucker  identified five basic operations in the work of a manager. Managers: Expandable text * Set objectives  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" determining what they should be and what the goals in each area should be. They decide what has to be done to reach these objectives and make them effective by communicating them to the people who are going to perform them. Organise  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" analysing the activities, decisions and relations needed. They classify the work, divide it into manageable activities and further divide the activities into manageable jobs. They group the units and jobs, and select people for the management of the units and for the jobs to be done. * Motivate and communicate  aâ⠀š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" making a team out of the people that are responsible for various jobs. * Establish yardsticks  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" by making measurements available, which are focused on the performance of the whole organisation and which, at the same time, focus on the work of the individual and help them to do it.Managers analyse, appraise and interpret performance. * Develop people, including themselves. Mintzberg  identified ten skills which managers need if theyare to develop greater effectiveness, and grouped them together underthree categories, interpersonal, informational and decisional. Test your understanding 6 Is the following statement in line with  Mintzberg's  approach? ‘The manager in the informational role combines being a spokesperson and disseminator with being a monitor of information. ‘ 3 Managerial authority and responsibilityAuthority refers to the relationship between the participants in an organisation. * Authority is the right to give orders and t he power to exact obedience  (Fayol). * Authority is the right to do something, or ask someone else to do it and expect it to be done. * Authority is thus another word for legitimate power. Illustration 5 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Managerial authority and responsibility When analysing the types of authority which a manager or department may have the following terms are often used: * Line authority  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the authority a manger has over a subordinate, down the vertical chain (or line) of command. Staff authority  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is the authority one manager or department may have in giving specialist advice to another manager or department, over which there is no line authority. (HR department advising the accounts manager on interviewing techniques. )* Functional authority  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is a hybrid of line and staff authority, whereby a manager setting policies and procedures for the company as a whole has the authority in certain circumstances, to direct, design or contr ol activities or procedures of another department. (A finance manager has authority to require timely budgetary control reports from other departmental/line managers. Test your understanding 7 If a manager justifies an instruction to a subordinate by saying'because I am your superior' the manager is relying on which of thefollowing bases of authority? AFunctional BStaff CLine Responsibility is the liability of a person to be called to account for his or her actions. * Responsibility expresses the obligation a person has to fulfil a task, which he or she has been given. A person is said to be responsible for a piece of work when he or she is required to ensure that the work is done. * Responsibility is the obligation to use delegated powers. The important point is that managers and supervisors are ultimately responsible for the actions of their subordinates; the term ‘accountable' is often used. * It is accountability for the performance of specified duties or the satisfactory achievement of defined company objectives. * Because responsibility is an obligation owed, it cannot be delegated. * No superior can escape responsibility for the activities of subordinates, for it is the supervisor who delegates authority and assigns the duties. Test your understanding 8 Which of the following statements could be a definition of responsibility?ALiability to be called to account. BAccountability for actions. CAn obligation owed. John French and Bertram Raven  identified five sources or bases of power. * Reward  power aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is based on one person having the ability to reward another person for carrying out orders or meeting other requirements. * Coercive  power aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is based on one person's ability to punish another for not meeting requirements, is the negative side of reward power. * Expert  power aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is based on the perception or belief that a person has some relevant expertise or special knowledge that others do not. Refere nt  power aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is based on one person's desire to identify with or imitate another. * Legitimate  power aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the power derived from being in a position of authority within the organisational structure aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" according to the position they hold within the organisation. Illustration 6 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Managerial authority and responsibility If a manager justifies an instruction to a subordinate by saying'because I am a qualified accountant' the manager is relying on which ofthe following bases of power? AReferent BReward CLegitimate DExpert Solution D Test your understanding 9If a manager justifies an instruction to a subordinate by saying'because I am your superior' the manager is relying on which of thefollowing bases of authority? AReferent BReward CLegitimate DExpert In every position authority and responsibility should correspond (principle of correspondence): * Having responsibility without authority  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" supervisor may be held res ponsible for time keeping but does not have the authority to discipline subordinate for poor time-keeping. The supervisor is powerless to achieve the levels upon which his or her performance is being judged.This supervisor is likely to become frustrated, stressed and demotivated. Performance is likely to suffer. Conflict will occur if the supervisor fails the task due to lack of co-operation caused by lack of authority. * Having authority without responsibility  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" personnel department employ an individual but will have no responsibility for the employee; they are in a position of false security. Managers not held accountable for their authority may exercise their authority in an irresponsible way, which may not be to the benefit of the organisation.They may take unacceptable risks, because the consequences of decisions will not rebound on them. The control mechanisms of the organisation depend on accountability. Test your understanding 10 John has just joined a small accounts department. The financialcontroller is taken ill. John has been told that he needs to prepare themanagement accounts and requires information regarding salaries. Thepayroll department are not happy about giving John the informationrequired. What is the underlying cause of the problem? 4 Theories of leadership approaches 4. 1 The action-centred approach (Adair) Adair  suggests that any leader has to strive to achieve three major goals while at the same time maintaining a position as an effective leader. * Adair's action-centred leadership model looks at leadership in relation to the needs of the task, individual and group. Test your understanding 11 The table below includes needs that managers have to action. Suggest whether they are likely to be associated with individual, taskor group needs. 4. 2 The contingency approach (Fiedler) Contingency theory sees effective leadership as being dependenton a number of variable or contingent factors.There is no one right wayto lead that will fit all situations; rather it is necessary to lead ina manner that is appropriate to a particular situation. Fiedler's contingency theory * Fiedler  studied the relationship between style of leadership and effectiveness of the work group. Two styles of leader were identified. Psychologically distant managers (PDMs). * Maintain distance from their subordinates by formalising roles and relationships within the team. * Are withdrawn and reserved in their interpersonal relationships. * Prefer formal communication and consultation methods rather than seek informal opinion. Judge subordinates on the basis of performance and are primarily task-orientated. * Fiedler found that leaders of the most effective work groups actually tend to be PDMs. Psychologically close managers (PCMs) * Do not seek to formalise roles and relationships. * Prefer informal contacts to regular formal staff meetings. * They are more concerned to maintain good human relationships at work to ensure that t asks are carried out efficiently. * Fiedler  concluded that a structured (or psychologically distant) style works best when the situation is either very favourable or very unfavourable to the leader. On the other hand, a supportive (or psychologically close) style works best when the situation is moderately favourable to the leader. * He further suggested that group performance would be contingent upon the appropriate matching of leadership styles and the degree of favourableness of the group situation for the leader. Fiedler  went on to develop his contingency theory in ‘Atheory of leadership effectiveness', in which he argued that theeffectiveness of the workgroup depended on the situation. The leadershipsituation is made up of three key variables: * The relationship between the leader and the group (trust, respect and so on). The extent to which the task is defined and structured. * The power of the leader in relation to the group. Illustration 7 aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Theorie s of leadership approaches Fiedler  suggested that a situation is favourable to theleader when the leader is liked and trusted by the group, the tasks ofthe group are clearly defined and the power of the leader to reward andpunish the team, with organisational backing, is high. Test your understanding 12 The accounts manager holds a departmental meeting every Monday at 10. 00 am. How would  Fiedler  define this manager? 4. 3 Transformational leadership (Bennis)Some of the values used to distinguish between managers and leaders have also been identified as: * Transactional leaders aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" see the relationship with their followers in terms of a trade: they give followers the rewards they want in exchange for service, loyalty and compliance. * Transformational leaders aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" see their role as inspiring and motivating others to work at levels beyond mere compliance. Only transformational leadership is said to be able to change team/organisational cultures and crea te a new direction. Expandable text Bennis  is an influential American author on leadership andchange.He focuses on the need to inspire change rather than imposingit. He identifies five ‘avenues of change': * Dissent and conflict aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" top management impose change by means of their position of power, the result being rancour amongst those affected. * Trust and truth aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" management must gain trust, express their vision clearly, and persuade others to follow. * Cliques and cabals aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" cliques have power, money and resources; cabals have ambition, drive and energy. Unless the cliques can co-opt the cabals, revolution is inevitable. * External events aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" forces of society can impose change, e. . by new government regulation or through overseas competition. * Culture or paradigm shift aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" changing the corporate culture is the most important avenues of change. Test your understanding 13 When organisational change requires a change in structure and/orculture would the organisation require a transformational ortransactional leader? 4. 4 Managing change (Kotter) Kotter  set out the following change approaches to deal with resistance: Test your understanding 14 Training in the use of a new information system is a means of overcoming resistance to change by: AFacilitation and support.BEducation and communication. CParticipation and involvement. DNegotiation and agreement. 4. 5 Leadership to mobilise (Heifetz) Heifetz  argues that the role of the leader is to help people face reality and to mobilise them to make change. Heifetzsuggests that the old approach to leadership was that leaders had theanswers, the vision and then needed to persuade people to sign up forthe change. Heifetz believes that leaders provide direction but do nothave to offer definite answers and should mobilise people to tackle thetough challenges for themselves. Leaders have two choices when resolving a situation: Technical change aà ¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the application of current knowledge, skills and or tools to resolve a situation. * Adaptive change aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" is required when the problem cannot be solved with existing skills and knowledge and requires people to make a shift in their values, expectations, attitudes or habits of behaviour. This is often required to ensure organisational survival. Expandable text Heifetz  suggests four principles for bringing about adaptive change: * Recognition that the change requires an adaptive approach and understanding the values that need to be shifted and the issues that need to be resolved to make the shift possible. Adaptive change causes unhappiness in the people being led; adaptive change requires the right level of stress to be applied: too little stress and people do not appreciate the need for change: too much stress and there will be no ‘buy-in'. * Keep focused on the real issue of realising the change; do not spend too much time on stress-reducing distrac tions. * Ensure the people who need to make the change take responsibility and face the reality of doing the work of change for themselves. Leaders provide the direction, posing well-structured questions, rather than offering definite answers. Leadership styles 5. 1 Blake and Mouton Robert Blake and Jane Mouton  carried out research intomanagerial behaviour and observed two basic dimensions of leadership:concern for production (or task performance) and concern for people. Based on the results of staff questionnaires, managers can then be plotted on  Blake and Mouton's grid. 1. 1 Management impoverished  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this manager only makesminimum effort in either area and will make the smallest possible effortrequired to get the job done. 1. ‘Country Club' management  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this manager is thoughtfuland attentive to the needs of the people, which leads to a comfortablefriendly organisation atmosphere but very little work is actuallyachieved. 9. 1 Task mana gement  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this manager is only concerned with production and arranges work in such a way that people interference is minimised. 5. 5 ‘Middle of the road management'  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this manager is able to balance the task in hand and motivate the people to achieve these tasks. 9. 9 Team management  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" this manager integrates the two areas to foster working together and high production to produce true team leadership.Blake and Mouton's  grid can be used to assess the currentbehavioural style of a manager and then plan appropriate training anddevelopment to enable them to move towards 9. 9. Test your understanding 15 Using the scores shown on the above grid, make suggestions as tohow this particular manager could improve his/her managerial style. 5. 2 Ashridge The research unit at  Ashridge Management  College distinguished four different management styles. Tells (autocratic)  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the manager makes all the decisions and issue s instructions which must be obeyed without question. Strengths: * Quick decisions can be made when required. The most efficient type of leadership for highly-programmed work. Weaknesses: * Communications are one-way, neglecting feedback and potential for upward communication or team member input. * Does not encourage initiative or commitment from subordinates, merely compliance. Sells (persuasive)  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the manager still makes all thedecisions, but believes that team members must be motivated to acceptthem in order to carry them out properly. Strengths: * Team members understand the reason for decisions. * Team members may be more committed. * Team members may be able to function slightly better in the absence of instruction.Weaknesses: * Communications are still largely one-way. * Team members are not necessarily motivated to accept the decision. * It still doesn't encourage initiative or commitment. Consults (participative)  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the manager confers with the team and takes their views into account, although still retains the final say. Strengths: * Involves team members in decisions, encouraging motivation through greater interest and involvement. * Consensus may be reached, enhancing the acceptability of the decision to team members. * The quality of the decision may benefit from the input of those who do the work. * Encourages upward communication.Weaknesses: * May take longer to reach decisions (especially if consensus is sought). * Team member input may not enhance the quality of the decision. * Consultation can be a faA §ade for a basic ‘sells' style. Joins (democratic)  aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the leader and the team members make the decision together on the basis of consensus. Strengths: * Can provide high motivation and commitment from team members. * Empowers a team member to take the initiative (e g. in responding flexibly to customer demands and problems). * Shares other advantages of the ‘consults' style (especi ally where team members can add value). Weaknesses: May undermine the authority of the manager. * May further lengthen the decision-making process. * May reduce the quality of the decision because of the politics of decision making. Test your understanding 16 For each of the statements made by managers listed below, choose an Ashridge leadership style that best describes the statement. Chapter summary Test your understanding answers Test your understanding 1 * Planning the work of the department. * Ensuring by adequate supervision that the work is completed as far as possible according to plan. * Maintaining discipline in the department. * Undertaking the task when required. Having knowledge and ability in all aspects of health, safety and employment legislation that applies to his or her subordinates. Test your understanding 2 C Test your understanding 3 A only Test your understanding 4 B Test your understanding 5 A Test your understanding 6 Yes Test your understanding 7 C Test you r understanding 8 A, B and C Test your understanding 9 C Test your understanding 10 John has been given the responsibility for completing a task but without the authority. Test your understanding 11 Test your understanding 12 Psychologically distant manager. Test your understanding 13Transformational. Test your understanding 14 A Test your understanding 15 The manager illustrated in the above grid is showing good concernfor production (although this can be strengthened further) but is weakin terms of concern for employees. Further investigation would then becarried out to determine why this is the case and in what ways such alack of concern is exhibited. Then rectifying action can be taken. For example: * Attend a training course on people skills and motivation. * Involve staff in more decisions. * Treat staff as valuable assets; adopt an open door policy. Test your understanding 16

Hemmingway

American Novel 8/04/2013 Q) Hemmingway’s depiction of the condition of man in a society that has been upset by the violence of war, in light of â€Å"The Sun also Rises† and â€Å"A Farewell to Arms†. No American writer is more associated with writing about war in the early 20th century than Ernest Hemingway. He experienced it first hand, wrote dispatches from innumerable frontlines, and used war as a backdrop for many of his most memorable works. Commenting on these experience years later in  Men at War,  Hemingway wrote: â€Å"When you go to war as a boy you have a great illusion of immortality.Other people get killed; not you. . . . Then when you are badly wounded the first time you lose that illusion and you know it can happen to you. After being severely wounded two weeks before my nineteenth birthday I had a bad time until I figured out that nothing could happen to me that had not happened to all men before me. Whatever I had to do men had always done. If they had done it then I could do it too and the best thing was not to worry about it. Many persons whose outward lives do not in the least resemble that of a typical ‘Hemingway’s character’ are still conscious of the dislocation due to war, and of which he has made himself the outstanding fictional spokesmen of our time. Hemingway’s characters are soldiers, sportsman, Prize fighter and his world of fiction swarm with ferrets, drunkards and prostitutes. He is greatly pre-occupied with death and violence. ‘A Farewell to Arms’ shows Hemingway’s ability to create life like character, both male and female, in such a way as to make us feel that we have actually met them.The First World War plays an important role in the novels of Ernest Hemingway. He has depicted all real war experience in his novel. The war led up to a deep distrust of all established institutions and values religions, ideals, society, patriotisms etc. Only concrete expe riences were valued. Thus, Hemingway emphasized the sense and the experience based on them. The Sun also Rises is one of his such novels. It is a story of a few American expatriates who were living in Paris after the War. There were all wounded either physically or psychologically by the war. I got hurt in the war,† I said. â€Å"Oh, that dirty war. † We would probably have gone on and discussed the war and agreed that it was in reality a calamity for civilization, and perhaps would have been better avoided. I was bored enough. Just then from the other room someone called: â€Å"Barnes! I say Barnes! Jacob Barnes! † (3. 9)| The banal discussion of the war that Jake and Georgette narrowly escape is one that’s unsatisfactory and not comprehensive. We get the feeling that there’s a lot more to be said about the war, but nobody knows how to communicate it yet. â€Å"My dear, I am sure Mr.Barnes has seen a lot. Don’t think I don’t think so , sir. I have seen a lot, too. †Ã‚   â€Å"Of course you have, my dear,† Brett said. â€Å"I was only ragging. † â€Å"I have been in seven wars and four revolutions,† the count said. â€Å"Soldiering? † Brett asked. â€Å"Sometimes, my dear. And I have got arrow wounds. Have you ever seen arrow wounds? † (7. 18)| The count’s definition of â€Å"seen a lot† is associated with war – as though war is the only real experience a man can have. The old pre-war values cannot give them the direction that they are looking for and in this lost world they are all lost souls.They drink heavily to quieten their inner distressed voices. Jake Barnes is a casualty of the First World War. He has been made impotent due to his injury and thus is now ‘half the man than he was before. ’ His physical impairment has made it impossible for him to consummate his love and thus this becomes the tragedy of his love for Brett Ashley. Alt hough there is no mention of it in the novel directly, it has been implied in certain scenes. As Brett is not willing to settle for less, Jake is drowned in the ocean of unrequited love.Thus, Jake then becomes a tragic hero, one of the most praised heroes of Hemingway’s books. We see that the war has taken away his masculinity from him leaving him incomplete for life. As Jake’s war doctor remarks on his loss, â€Å"He has given much more than his life. † As the title of the novel makes clear,  A Farewell to Arms  concerns itself primarily with war, namely the process by which Frederic Henry removes himself from it and leaves it behind. The few characters in the novel who actually support the effort—Ettore Moretti and Gino—come across as a dull raggart and a naive youth, respectively. The majority of the characters remain ambivalent about the war, resentful of the terrible destruction it causes, doubtful of the glory it supposedly brings. The no vel offers masterful descriptions of the conflicts senseless brutality and violent chaos. The scene of the Italian army’s retreat remains one of the most profound evocations of War in American Literature. As the neat columns of men begin to crumble so does the soldier’s nerves, minds, and capacity for rational thought and moral judgement.Henry’s shooting of the engineer for refusing to help free the car from the mud shocks the reader for two reasons, first, the violent outburst seems at odds with Henry’s detached character, and secondly, the incident occurs in a setting that robs it of its moral import, the complicity of Henry’s fellow soldiers legitimizes the killing. The murder of the engineer seems justifiable because it is an inevitable by-product of the spiralling violence and disorder of the War.I had seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stockyards at Chicago if nothing was done with the meat except to bury it. There were many words that you could not stand to hear and finally only the names of places had dignity. Certain numbers were the same way and certain dates and these with the names of the places were all you could say and have them mean anything. Abstract words such as glory, honour, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the numbers of roads, the names of rivers, the numbers of regiments and the dates.To Henry, such abstractions as honour, glory, and sacrifice do little to explain or assuage the unbelievable destruction that he sees around him. What matters, he decides, are the names of villages and soldiers, the concrete facts of decimated walls and dead bodies. He believes that in order to discuss the war honestly, one must dismiss artificial concepts and deal with terms grounded in the reality of the war. He tarnishes the romanticized ideal of the military hero by equating the â€Å"sacrifices† of human liv es in war with the slaughter of livestock.He further compares romantic riffs about honor and glory to burying meat in the ground. Nothing can be sustained or nurtured by such pointlessness. Hemingway believed that in this corrupt world it is no longer possible to have a decent, self-respecting and dignified life. It is the end of love, end of human dignity, end of personal relationships and a realisation that man is all alone in the world and he has to fend for himself. It is the realisation that the ultimate reality is nothing but nada, a Spanish word which means ‘nothingness’. â€Å"Nada†, someone said. â€Å"It’s nothing.Drink up. Lift the bottle. † (The Sun Also Rises, chapter15) The Sun Also Rises portrays a few American and British young men whose experiences of the war are qualitatively not different from those of Nick Adams and Jake Barnes and they are lost in a world which they do not understand. Their meaningless wanderings in Paris and la ter in Pamplona are the equivalents of their confused minds which have failed to find any guiding principles in life. Bull-fighting for them becomes a symbol of life in which the matador demonstrates how a man facing death can retain dignity.As a matter of fact it is in the face of danger and confrontation with death that they show courage, so that they can lead a life in which they can respect themselves. There is a vague realisation on the part of these expatriates that they cannot implement the matador’s code in their lives because of the wounds inflicted by the war will take quite some time to heal. In A Farewell to Arms Henry realizes that his idealism which had guided him into the front is meaningless in the face of total destruction symbolized by the war.Whether he performs his duties or not, it does not make any material difference to the unit to which he belongs. The endless round of drinking and brothels is equally futile because he cannot find any object to which h e could align himself and seek some sort of satisfaction that would give some meaning to his life. His love affair with Catherine Barkley is a temporary relief from the inner disquiet and finally with the death of Catherine he is no better off than the dog nosing in the dust bin for something to eat but where there is nothing for him to find.His own wound had also but killed him. This feeling of nada then led to â€Å"the lost generation†. The term lost generation is generally applied to those who had actively participated in the First World War and as a consequence of this realised that life was meaningless. As a result of the domination of machine over man, man had felt that they were extremely helpless. This disillusionment could have taken either the shape of nihilism or a search for enduring values and absolutes. In the mechanised war there was no room whatsoever for the assertion of manhood or courage and bravery.In a famous passage in A Farewell to Arms Hemingway bring s out this disillusionment. In the rain, the words like honour, glory, patriotism seemed obscene to him and what was real were the names of the regiments, streets and towns. The Sun also Rises and A Farewell to Arms celebrate the conditions that led to this disillusionment and how man sought desperately to clutch at straws in this meaningless and valueless world. There is no sentiment whatsoever about the retreat ion A Farewell to Arms or the adventures of Brett Ashley.They are delineated with the realism of a scientist but with the tenderness of an artist. There is a feeling of boredom and disgust with the half-truths and sentiments of the earlier generations. Hemingway has, along with Remarque, revealed the grotesque and the animal nature in man. Worship of instinct instead of rationality became the order of the day. The world that Hemingway has portrayed is unrecognizably part of the modern world. The violence of war is still with us. And added to it is the anxiety and fear of th e cold war that seems to have become part and parcel of the Twentieth Century life.His preoccupation with violence, decay and death may be neurotic but are still part of the twentieth century temper. The lack of morality is with us to stay. There are no religious values that can provide balm to the troubled mind. As Jake Barnes states in The Sun also Rising, â€Å"I’m a rotten Catholic. † In the words of Philip Young, â€Å"It is a hell of a world, and we should protest it. But on the other hand we should be hard-pressed to prove that it is not the one we inhabit†¦ While other writers were watching the side acts, Hemingway’s eyes were from the start focused on the main show. The devout ask for peace in our time but ironically there is no peace in our time. This is the vision that Hemingway presents in his works and it is difficult to refute its authenticity so long as our world is going to be haunted by the fear of a thermo-nuclear war. As Hemingway wrote in A Farewell to arms, â€Å"If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure that it’ll kill you too but there will be no special hurry. † Work Cited: http://onviolence. com/? e=313 http://www. hrmars. com/admin/pics/1043. pdf http://www. amazon. com/Hemingway-War-Ernest/dp/0743243293 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway http://www. archives. gov/publications/prologue/2006/spring/hemingway. html Book: Hemingway on War

American Agriculture Essay

American agriculture through the change of technology, government policy and economic had show an increase decline, politically, industrially, and economically, in the period 1865-1900. The period was categorized as a time of Republican laissez-faire governments that favored big business. Technology was making massive strides but mostly in urban manufacturing. The technological improvements that were made available were sold to the farmers at outrageous prices and shipped at high freight rates. Economically, the prices of agriculture were decreasing with that many farmers found themselves in a condition worst than living. Although famers were represented somewhat in government, these pro-agriculture politicians could not defeated the power of urban industry and big business. Although it was the famers who contributed for the country and harvest the substances on which the urban class relied upon, the farmers were becoming the forgotten people of America. Because of the political, ind ustrial, and economic challenges that the farmers were forced to face, American agriculture suffered during the late 19th century. Technologically, the United States was growing at a rapid rate. Advancements began to centralize industries and make life easier for the working class. Railroads were replacing canals and trails and soon, had spread across the entire nation, expanding the national market and making any part of the country accessible. From 1870-1890, the number of railroads increased enormously and the number of railroads with major land grants grew as well (Document B). This may have appeared as a positive gain for farmers on paper but in reality, the railroad hurt the farmers. While this new means of transportation allowed farmers to expand even further and ship their harvest or cattle faster to more markets. Money hungry railroad tycoons such as Leland Stanford, and others controlled the main railroads. The freight rates were outrageous and many farmers lost out on a sizable amount of money throughout the process. After the cost of shipping, taxes, low buying prices, and the cost of equipment, the farmers were left with little profit. The technological advancements made favored the farmer because it made it easier to farm but often times farmers could not afford the tools, because it was too expensive. During a wheat harvest, instead of using a mechanical harvester, possibility motorized, a farmer was reduced to  using a team of horses, many times there are 30 horses used to pull the harvest (Document D). Although technology was booming during the era, the advancements did not help the farmers. The positive gain looked good on paper but not in reality, which is often characterized during the era most infamously, coined by Mark Twain as the Gilded Age. The government policy at the time was laissez-faire; Republicans were in office, favored the large industries and big business. As a result, the farmers were not well represented in Washington or helped back home. Not much progress was made but when it was, advances were limited. In Illinois, the people were able to gain a small victory when the Supreme Court allowed Illinois legislature to pass a law limiting freight rate (Document C). Those making progress were usually part of the populist movement, a pre-agricultural party that favored the rights of farmers. Organizations were established such as the Grangers and Farmer’s Alliance, which allowed farmers with goals and belief to organize and unite. Leader such as Mary Elizabeth Lease presented to the people that the government had lied to the people and deceived them. She supported her argument through glamming facts such as price reduction and claims of overproduction (Document G). The government had problems dealing with the Indian problem and stalled the settlement of agricultural regions for Americans (Document I). One of the most heated debates was the decision between gold and silver standard. The Republican wanted to flood the economy and inflate with silver to support the farmers and miners out west. William Jennings Bryan argued that the country relied on farmers and that without them the country was doomed. He argued that the country should support the farmers because they provide for the nation. He made a ‘cross of gold’ speech that, if cities were burned down with the farms, life will again survive like miracles, but if farms were burned down, leaving the cities then the cities will only be a ruined (Document J). The Republicans did not do much to help the economy or farmers because of the laissez faire attitude and thus, not only led to the downfall of the farmers but of the nation because of Presidents such as Rutherford B. Hayes and U lysses Grant. Economically, the farmers were crushed pepper, and robbed. The farmers  could not obtain the sliver standard they wanted to finance themselves and were being held down by big business and the pro-wealthy Republicans. As farmers produced more and more to make the highest possible amount of money, the price of the crop dropped and led to overproduction (Document A). They violated the law of supply and demand and suffered. If the farmer did succeed, he would have to give up practically allot of to the railroads, government, or any other players involved in the industry. In some cases, contracts were signed, practically signing away half of the farmer with hardly anything (Document E). The farmers were left cripple and stuck in vicious cycle. The crop and cattle can be shipped to markets far away, usually Chicago, and the transit fare increased as distance increased (Document F). The farmers are often left poor, out of work and starving. The weather takes their crop and if not the weat her, the scheming businessmen. They are left with a loss of dignity, hope and broken spirits (Document H). In the end, those that provided for the nation end up being crushed by the giant people they held feed. Economically, the farmers have their hands tried. During the Gilded Age, 1865-1900, American suffered from a non –existent government and big business and corporations, the farmers endured some of the worst hardship as a result. The American agriculture greatly declined and politically, economically, and industrially, were crushed and left in a hopeless, vicious cycle.

Society in the USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Society in the USA - Essay Example But in as much as I don't want to make a drastic change, I have to awaken them in the reality that I have to move. We have to move forward. The kids are growing. They will not be forever children. College is so expensive. Betty Friedan's "Feminine Mystique" has reawakened me and my feminine will for power, but also to save my family from poverty and deprivation. The woman has equal rights and responsibilities as the man. She is there to help, not to be a slave to her husband. Her diploma and the years she spent to earn it must not be a mere decoration, to be forgotten by the passing of time. She must leave a mark for herself and her family who equally needs her support and guidance. I can not forever stay idle at home and see this growing family go hungry, or depend entirely on a salesman's income. There are times I have to find ways to make ends meet, when my husband is not able to meet his quota. We have to work together, hand in hand we can fight poverty. If there are opportunities of a job for a housewife like me, I can start. I can start a small business, even if I stay at home. I have wonderful ideas inside me that can turn little things into income. My husband must not be forever a slave to his chauvinistic mind that he is superior, above every woman, or that his decision and ideas will prevail. This is America, forever free for everyone, including a woman. To mTo my daughter: be strong, finish college, and don't be just a subordinate to your husband. Being a woman does not mean staying at home after college. Responsibility at home must be shared between a husband and wife. And this must be talked about. An open dialogue, an open communication between the couple is a good beginning. Shared responsibility leads to progress in the family. Mutual understanding and goal setting are co-equal, just as the wife is co-equal with her husband. The man is the head of the family but the woman must not be left behind. His decision is also a shared decision, co-equal with hers. To my son: be a good example. Follow your father's footsteps, if you want to. But set your goals, and don't leave the woman behind. She is as human as you are. Respect her just as you respect me. Build a home, secure your family - with a woman who will not be a slave at home, but who will go with you to be strong builders of a home and nation. A nation's economy is also the responsibility of people and families. 2. Dr. Laura Schlessinger and her "New Traditionalism" Dr. Laura Schlessinger's books, ideas and philosophies simply tell us something: go back to the basics. This is what she has been telling the world in her "new traditionalism" concept of inter-personal relationships, in the home and family, caring for children and husbands. In fact, she says, "women have the power to control the quality of their lives with their men" and that is taking good care of them, and not just nag and nag them, and be "workhorses" that they are now, forgetting their role inside the home. The traditional way of caring is the husband goes to his job, while the wife stays at home, taking care of the kitchen and the children. Dr. Laura teaches a new approach by not really going back to the old times of the wife staying at home and the

Heritage of music. Bla Bartk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Heritage of music. Bla Bartk - Essay Example Bela Bartok’s amazing accomplishments are in part due to the biographical elements of his life, as well as to his own creative energy. The biographical elements include the times and places of his growth and development, as well as the people who influenced him. His individual creativity can only be attributed to that unexplainable factor that accounts for artistic genius. Together these elements combined to make one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century. Bela Bartok was born in the town of Nagyszentimiklos in Hungary in 1881 (Sadie and Tyrrell 132). Being a product of Eastern Europe at this time in history meant that he would experience a lot of political and economic instability during his life. Adding to this social and political insecurity, the death of his father in 1881 caused his mother to move to what became the Ukraine and then Slovakia (Raeburn and Kendall 248). The changing borders of these Eastern European countries together with the physical a nd economic unsteadiness of his family kept Bartok’s world in flux as he was growing up. It must have seemed as though the ground continued to move beneath him. It is possible that this lack of stability could have contributed to his development as an artist, that the music inside of him was a constant that was not present in his outside world. Although the unpredictable circumstances of his childhood may have been a factor in Bartok’s artistic development, his early musical accomplishments indicate that he must have had innate talent as well. Also, his mother gave piano lessons, so he grew up listening to her teach and play. At the age of eleven he gave his first public performance, which included some original compositions. During his teen years, Bartok continued to advance in his performance level and began composing chamber music, a skill he learned by reading musical scores. At the age of eighteen, he entered the Budapest Academy of Music, where he became influenc ed by other composers and their musical styles. He studied piano with teacher who was a student of Franz Liszt, from whom he drew what Taruskin called a â€Å"self-conscious image† (373). Perhaps this meant that he was developing a style which was his and his alone. Richard Strauss’s â€Å"Also Sprach Zarathustra† inspired him to think outside the borders of conventional music, and pieces by Debussy introduced him to the tone poem (Taruskin 349). This combination led to his first major work, Kossuth, which was composed in 1903 and performed in 1904. The central figure of this symphonic poem is Lajos Kossuth, who was a hero in the Hungarian revolution. Embodying Bartok’s youthful patriotism, Kossuth gained even more popularity because of the political tension between Hungary and Austria at that time. Hungarians in the German army were demanding the same representation among the commanding ranks and wanted the Hungarian language to be spoken and recognized as equal to German (Taruskin 373). Kossuth was â€Å"a kind of narrative of the 1848-1849 revolution, in which the Austrians are represented by a grotesque distortion of Haydn’s famous imperial anthem (‘Gott, erhalte Franz den Kaiser’), and Kossuth (by extension, the Hungarians) by a melody in the noblest magyar nota style† (Taruski 374), magyar nota meaning Old Hungarian song. Also while at the Academy, at about the same time that he discovered Strauss’s and Debussy’s music and adapted the genre and style of the tone poem to his own innovative compositions, Bartok met the composer Zoltan Kodaly, with whom he became a lifelong friend. Kodaly’s influence on Bartok was to introduce him to the music of the common people. Together they travelled the countryside collecting Slovak songs from the local peasants. These activities along with the popularity of Kossuth led him to become somewhat of a national hero, and his music came to represent what was Hungarian. According to Taruskin, â€Å"‘haughty accompanying rhythms,† â€Å"dotted pairs on every downbeat,†

US Airline Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

US Airline Industry - Essay Example Southwest first expanded to the East Coast in 1993, with service to Baltimore-Washington International Airport. In 1994, the company acquired Morris Air, a Salt Lake City, Utah based airline. That same year, Southwest launched several programs to cut costs. A ticket less system reduced travel agents commissions, and Southwest began to use an in-house reservation system. By 1997, Southwest Airlines served cities in all parts of the continental United States. This same year, Southwest formed an alliance with Icelandair. This agreement enabled Southwest passengers to connect from several United States cities to Europe through Icelandairs Baltimore hub. The company completed its first non-stop transcontinental flight in 1998, thus establishing Southwest as a formidable domestic competitor. In this paper potential areas of improvement, and how Southwest Airlines can gain its own advantage in the industry will be discussed. Southwest ranked number one in on-time performance for several years according to [The Department of Transportations Air Travel Consumer Report]" (Goh, 2007, 103). This punctuality can be attributed the companys ticket less system and no-frills approach to air travel. The ticket less system reduces costs for both consumers and Southwest. Travel agents and ticket brokers are eliminated from the ticketing process. This also minimizes the lengthy check-in processes by eliminating physical transactions between customer service representatives and the consumer. All that is required is a reservation number and a form of identification to receive a reusable boarding pass, which enables the customer to board quickly. Southwests no-frill approach reduces preparation time by eliminating the time required for three optional services. The first service to be bypassed is the meal distribution by flight attendants. Southwest does not serve meals on any flight regardless of duration. This severely reduces the time required of planes while sitting

Englishness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Englishness - Essay Example Lamming continues that Englishness is often defined in its colonizing and expanding terms, as an instrument to demonstrate superiority and class division. Laclau (1985) sees the social differentiation also as geographical one - England and the colonized territories -West Indies, Africa, Australia. The geographical places also create ambiguity in the religious sphere, because if you are different on the bases on religious beliefs, historical background, social class, than one can not be included in the "Englishness" shared by the natives. . Lamming (1984) remarks that there is a linguistic barrier too - well-spoken English versus the broken English. Englishness appeared as an ideology as early as 18th, transforming itself into a modern phenomenon separating colonized people from the industrialized society and well-taught Christians from elite class. The distinguished English attitude establishes boundaries between the white race and the others described as savages and primitive (James 1984). Consequently, the very skin color empowers the people to incorporate certain English attitudes towards the different ones, adding more features into the differentiation. In this way the white people disempower the colonized subject, disparaging both his culture and his human status. Lamming (1984) gives an example of the English writer embodying the Englishness and the West Indian writer which can not be grasped as intelligent and thoughtful as the English one. In this sense otherness is seen "part of his historic contract, the English critic accepts-for what else can he do-the privilege so natural and so free of being the child and product and voice of a colonizing civilization (Lamming 30)." The Englishness doctrine leads to hegemony and postcolonial supremacy (James 1984). Englishness lay paternity claims over the different cultures and renders invisibility so as to minimize their influential contribution to the variety of cultures that Englishness must include. Eagleton (1976) in his chapter 'Ideology and literary form" includes a definition of "ideology" and how the literary form of it has brought it to disarray. "In English literary culture of the past century, the ideological basis of organic form is peculiarly visible, as a progressively impoverished bourgeois liberalism attempts to integrate more ambitious and affective ideological modes (Eagleton 161)."Macherey (2006) in his most pivotal literary theory focuses his attention both on the reader and on the writer. Macherey's (2006) statement is that the very act of reading produces numerous interpretations and meanings in the different readers, which are beyond the control of the writer. Generating a new branch of post-structuralist theory Macherey (2006) argues that contemporary literature announces the death of the author, because it evokes all kinds of interpretations into its reader. Macherey (2006) compares the critical viewpoint of the reader with psychological analyses which aim to discover the hidden meaning behind the text. The text plays on the unconscious of the readers. In his short story "A Sahib's War" Kipling uses the device of the "imperfectly-informed narrator". The story is set during the Second Boer War and is told through Sikh soldier's point of view. Although he reports everything that is happening around

Emergency assignment for the subject Supply Chain Management. Writer Essay

Emergency assignment for the subject Supply Chain Management. Writer MUST be ON TIME. Writer also needs to send me references files which you used. Writer nee - Essay Example Some of the books will be Supply Chain Management: In theory and Practice, by Birgit Dam Jespersen and Tage Skjtt-Larsen, as well as another book called Supply Chain Management: Concepts and Cases, by Rahul V Altekar. While the first book discusses the basics that form the conception of supply chain management, the second book discusses various cases that help demonstrate the elements of this concept in a better way. Further, the journal articles will focus on the work produced by the Supply Chain Management Professionals, so as to gain an insight into this area of operational significance in the organisation. These journal articles will include Coordinated Supply Chain Management by D. J Thomas and P. M Griffin, for the European Journal of Operational Research. Apart from such articles, there will be a strong focus on Internet sources like www.bettermanagement.com which describes various strategies as well as business policies that support systems like supply chain management and knowledge management. Texan Foods is a company founded and based in Texas, near Amarillo. Born in the year 1941, this company has grown from strength to strength to consolidate its standing as one of the best gourmet chain which specialises in grocery products. Their line of products includes croissants, English muffins as well as exotic sandwich breads, buns and other baked goods like tortillas. Besides being a household name by the mid 90s with ample support from a former oil businessman, R.L (Buddy) Howlett, who was its founder and a successful entrepreneur, this company had come to employ a major supplier who went by name of Valley. (Autry, 2005)2 As a big manufacturing company, it has been demonstrated that Texan has a very poor system of supply chain management as far as its model of collaboration, planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR), is concerned. To start with, let us describe the exact nuances of supply chain management, in context of the CPFR model. Supply chain management (SCM) may be defined as that sphere of activities that takes place in context of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations. These operations or activities, in turn, are connected with the management of the supply chain so as to effectively cater to the requirements of the customer and gain complete satisfaction of the same through a focus on optimum ulisation of resources. (Atlekar, 2005)3 In this regard, supply chain management deals with all activities pertaining to the mobilisation, storage as well as an account of the semi finished and finished products that are of value to the end user. (Hugos, 2005)4 In this context, various scholars have also refered to this form and area of management as logistics as it connects the quantitative areas of assessment with the qualitative goal achievement progress of the organisation. These areas have been assessed in Texan, through inputs from two officials who are connected with the operational realities of the supply chain management system followed at Texan. Chapter 1.2: Problem Areas In this regard, Texan

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing - Essay Example Marketers have to pay close attention to different aspects of marketing both in real and digital marketing techniques; therefore their key responsibility is to develop an integrated linkage between the psychological images of product portrayed through various marketing techniques. In summary, customer should be provided with a realistic view of the product through marketing, so that he does not feel betrayed while utilizing the product for the first time, thus nullifying the possibility of overpromising. 2.0 Literature Review However, this concept is ill-defined according to the present literature of marketing (Cornelisson, 2003), so more empirical study is warranted for concerning this important topic. IMC is reported to have a positive impact on the brand image of the product (Reid, Luxton, & Movondo, 2005), through this technique products can be advertised worldwide in minimal financial implications. Another study is of the view that marketing combines, historical evidence, presen t development and future implications of a product upon customer’s quality of life. But conventional advertisement methodologies were not able to communicate these aspects of the product (Finne & Gronroos, 2009). Therefore, the promotional activities focused on the present development of the product, in this way customer could not relate the past, present and future with the product, this caused the impact of marketing to drop in the past. However, the availability of electronic media, such as internet streaming video technology, provides a ground for marketers to integrate the three times of a product in front of customers and prospects. IMC is also believed to be highly flexible in nature and could be used to market wide range of products and services. (Luck & Moffatt, 2009). Hence this method for marketing is based on the concept of highlighting abstractive qualities of the product, such as good looks in case of clothing and ease of access for a website. The phenomenon und er study is also designed to build customer linkages on personal level, because advertisements appear touchy and very moving on internet and social sites (Smith, 2010). Thus help in building a customer base for a product. But at the same time the product which is advertised through IMC, must be available in the market, so that customer could be facilitated while making purchase decision. Advertisers are compelled to use various marketing channels to cater for various types of customers; however the intactness of message’s meaningfulness is a significant challenge for business professionals (Zavrsnik & Jerman). IMC is vastly accepted in the advertising of hotels and other services (Comm, Saura, & Rijeci, 2009) . This paper turns its focus towards analyzing the famous cases of implementing IMC in a real world setting by The See-board Energy and Ice hotel AB. These organizations belong to very different businesses, but the applicability of IMC could be highlighted by the analysi s of these two campaigns. First of all, this

Right to Education Act Essay Example for Free

Right to Education Act Essay What is the act about? * Every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to free and compulsory education. This is stated as per the 86th Constitution Amendment Act added Article 21A. The right to education act seeks to give effect to this amendment * The government schools shall provide free education to all the children and the schools will be managed by school management committees (SMC). Private schools shall admit at least 25% of the children in their schools without any fee. * The National Commission for Elementary Education shall be constituted tomonitor all aspects of elementary education including quality.| | - History The present Act has its history in the drafting of the Indian constitution at the time of Independence[5] but are more specifically to the Constitutional Amendment that included the Article 21A in the Indian constitution making Education a fundamental Right. This amendment, however, specified the need for a legislation to describe the mode of implementation of the same which necessitated the drafting of a separate Education Bill. The rough draft of the bill was composed in year 2005. It received much opposition due to its mandatory provision to provide 25% reservation for disadvantaged children in private schools. The sub-committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education which prepared the draft Bill held this provision as a significant prerequisite for creating a democratic and egalitarian society. Indian Law commission had initially proposed 50% reservation for disadvantaged students in private schools. Provisions Of The Act * Children to be admitted to ‘age- appropriate’ class and they have the right to receive ‘special training’ to come at par with other children. * Ensure ‘good quality’ elementary education. * Aided and private schools: 25% reservation for weaker disadvantaged children. * Ensure that children from weaker and disadvantaged group are not discriminated against * Schools to get reimbursement for this expenditure. * Govt. may provide free pre-school education. * 25% reservation for weaker/ disadvantaged children applies here as well. * No capitation fee/ screening procedure for child or parents. * No child can be held back or expelled from school * No physical punishment/ mental harassment of children   * Teachers: Minimum qualifications needed. Assess learning ability of each child and regularly meet parents * School Management Committee-   * with 3/4th parents/ guardians Half the members should be women Why is the act significant and what does it mean for India? The passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 marks a historic moment for the children of India. This Act serves as a building block to ensure that every child has his or herright (as an entitlement) to get a quality elementary education, and that the State, with the help of families and communities, fulfils this obligation. Few countries in the world have such a national provision to ensure both free and child-centred, child-friendly education. What is ‘Free and Compulsory Elementary Education’? All children between the ages of 6 and 14 shall have the right to free and compulsory elementary education at a neighborhood school. There is no direct (school fees) or indirect cost (uniforms, textbooks, mid-day meals, transportation) to be borne by the child or the parents to obtainelementary education. The government will provide schooling free-of-cost until a child’s elementary education is completed. What is the role envisaged for the community and parents to ensure RTE? The landmark passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 marks a historic moment for the children of India. For the first time in India’s history, children will be guaranteed their right toquality elementary education by the state with the help of families and communities. Few countries in the world have such a national provision to ensure child-centered, child-friendly education to help all children develop to their fullest potential. There were an estimated eight million six to 14 year-olds in India out-of-school in 2009. The world cannot reach its goal to have every child complete primary school by 2015 without India. Schools shall constitute School Management Committees (SMCs) comprising local authority officials, parents, guardians and teachers. The SMCs shall form School Development Plans and monitor the utilization of government grants and the whole school environment. RTE also mandates the inclusion of 50 per cent women and parents of children from disadvantaged groups in SMCs. Such community participation will be crucial to ensuring a child friendly â€Å"whole school† environment through separate toilet facilities for girls and boys and adequate attention to health, water, sanitation and hygiene issues. How does RTE promote Child-Friendly Schools? All schools must comply with infrastructure and teacher norms for an effective learning environment. Two trained teachers will be provided for every sixty students at the primary level. Teachers are required to attend school regularly and punctually, complete curriculum instruction, assess learning abilities and hold regular parent-teacher meetings. The number of teachers shall be based on the number of students rather than by grade. The state shall ensure adequate support to teachers leading to improved learning outcomes of children. The community and civil society will have an important role to play in collaboration with the SMCs to ensure school quality with equity. The state will provide the policy framework and create an enabling environment to ensure RTE becomes a reality for every child. How will RTE be financed and implemented in India? Central and state governments shall share financial responsibility for RTE. The central government shall prepare estimates of expenditures. State governments will be provided a percentage of these costs. The central government may request the Finance Commission to consider providing additional resources to a state in order to carry out the provisions of RTE. The state government shall be responsible for providing the remaining funds needed to implement. There will be a funding gap which needs to be supported by partners from civil society, development agencies, corporate organisations and citizens of the country. What are the key issues for achieving RTE? The RTE Act will be in force from 1 April. Draft Model Rules have been shared with states, which are required to formulate their state rules and have them notified as early as possible. RTE provides a ripe platform to reach the unreached, with specific provisions for disadvantaged groups, such as child labourers, migrant children, children with special needs, or those who have a â€Å"disadvantage owing to social, cultural economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factor.† RTE focuses on the quality of teaching and learning, which requires accelerated efforts and substantial reforms: * Creative and sustained initiatives are crucial to train more than one million new and untrained teachers within the next five years and to reinforce the skills ofin-service teachers to ensure child-friendly education. * Families and communities also have a large role to play to ensure child-friendly education for each and every one of the estimated 190 million girls and boys inIndia who should be in elementary school today. * Disparities must be eliminated to assure quality with equity. Investing inpreschool is a key strategy in meeting goals. * Bringing eight million out-of-school children into classes at the age appropriate level with the support to stay in school and succeed poses a major challenge necessitating flexible, innovative approaches. What is the mechanism available if RTE is violated? The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights shall review the safeguards for rights provided under this Act, investigate complaints and have the powers of a civil court in trying cases. States should constitute a State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) or the Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) within six months of 1 April. Any person wishing to file a grievance must submit a written complaint to the local authority. Appeals will be decided by the SCPCR/REPA. Prosecution f offences requires the sanction of an officer authorised by the appropriate government. Substantial efforts are essential to eliminate disparities and ensure quality with equity. UNICEF will play an instrumental role in bringing together relevant stakeholders from government, civil society, teachers’ organizations, media and the celebrity world. UNICEF will mobilize partners to raise public awareness and provide a call toaction. Policy and programme design/implementation will focus on improving the access and quality education based on what works to improve results for children. UNICEF will also work with partners to strengthen national and state level monitoring bodies on RTE. Implementation * Financial Stats * Total budget alloted in next five years : 171,000 crores * Central to state sharing ratio : 65:35 * For nothern Eastern States:90:10 * However, in mid 2010, this figure was upgraded to Rs. 231,000 and the center agreed to raise its share to 68%. Market the Act * Objectively, This is a valuable product by the govt which is important to those who are not aware of it and in spite available at free of cost, they are not informed about the actual use of it. So, a strong and relevant Marketing channel is required to spread the awareness about the Act. * For this , Companies, majorly FMCG and corporate can be approached to spread awareness about the RTE through their products and other social acts. * A small portion of amount around .5% can be used to do In-house and outsource the marketing process through marketing companies. Marketing Strategies * Both Push and Pull strategy can be adapted to market about the Act. * For pull strategy, we can arrange camps in remote villages, arrange gatherings through local bodies, coordinate with NGOs to spread the Idea, use digital media and advertisement, celebrities to aware about the program. * For push strategy, adopt stringent policies like taken by China that 3rd children will not be given social rights to prevent population growth. On the same lines, Policies are needed to be enforced. * We can implement like No parent will get a job in say NREGA IF they are not sending children to school. Moreover, we can take help from Aadhar project that nobody will get privileges like subsidised food given by govt if they are not following as per act. * Organizational Hierarchy * * Like Lokpal bill, There should be a separate authority like Supreme court which is there to supervise the implementation of the act. * Bring PPP into the picture and hire well-experienced executives as mr Nandan Nilekani is chosen for adhar project. * There should be top down management from central to state level to district level to effectively look at the complete view of Implementation. * Operations * Outsourcing can be done for various process like surveying the actual no. of children illiterate, region wise density, no. of teachers, their performance and other statistics important for Analysing. * There should be a proper channel of reporting, which can be done with the help of IT from root level to top management to have a clear view of Execution. Role Of ICT * ICT-Challenges * Power deficit * PC availability per student * Updating the library * Maintenance of ICT hardware * Upgrading of software * Poor network connectivity in rural areas Conclusion * This is indeed a very Ambitious plan .So ,It needs a cooperation from all the stakeholders parents, teachers, children, Government and all the citizens to come up and take this Initiative as very crucial for Inclusive growth of India.

Application Of Microcontroller In Instrumentation Information Technology Essay

Application Of Microcontroller In Instrumentation Information Technology Essay A  microcontroller  is a small computer on a single  integrated circuit  consisting internally of a relatively simple CPU,  clock, timers, I/O ports, and memory. Program memory in form of   NOR flash  or   ROM  is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers are designed for small or dedicated applications. Thus, in contrast to the  microprocessors  used in   personal computers  and other high-performance or general purpose applications, simplicity is emphasized. Some microcontrollers may use four-bit words and operate at  clock rate  frequencies as low as 4  kHz as this is adequate for many typical applications, enabling low power consumption. They will generally have the ability to retain functionality while waiting for an event such as a button press or other interrupt; power consumption while sleeping (CPU clock and most peripherals off) may be just nano watts, making many of them well suited for long la sting battery applications. Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices, such as automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office machines, appliances, power tools, and toys. By reducing the size and cost compared to a design that uses a separate microprocessor, memory, and input/output devices, microcontrollers make it economical to digitally control even more devices and processes. Mixed signal microcontrollers are common, integrating analog components needed to control non-digital electronic systems. INTRODUCTION Embedded design A microcontroller can be considered a self-contained system with a processor, memory and peripherals and can be used with an  embedded system.  The majority of microcontrollers in use today are embedded in other machinery, such as automobiles, telephones, appliances, and peripherals for computer systems. These are called  embedded systems. While some embedded systems are very sophisticated, many have minimal requirements for memory and program length, with no operating system, and low software complexity. Programs Microcontroller programs must fit in the available on-chip program memory, since it would be costly to provide a system with external, expandable, memory. Compilers and assembler are used to turn high-level language and assembler language codes into a compact  machine code  for storage in the microcontrollers memory. Depending on the device, the program memory may be permanent, read-only memory that can only be programmed at the factory, or program memory may be field-alterable flash or erasable read-only memory. Other microcontroller features Many embedded systems need to read sensors that produce analog signals. This is the purpose of the  analog-to-digital converter  (ADC). Since processors are built to interpret and process digital data, i.e. 1s and 0s, they wont be able to do anything with the analog signals that may be sent to it by a device. So the analog to digital converter is used to convert the incoming data into a form that the processor can recognize. A less common feature on some microcontrollers is a  digital-to-analog converter  (DAC) that allows the processor to output analog signals or voltage levels. Time Processing Unit  (TPU) is a sophisticated timer. In addition to counting down, the TPU can detect input events, generate output events, and perform other useful operations. A dedicated  Pulse Width Modulation  (PWM) block makes it possible for the CPU to control power converters,  resistive  loads,  motors, etc., without using lots of CPU resources in tight timer  loops. Higher integration In contrast to general-purpose CPUs, micro-controllers may not implement an external address or data bus as they integrate RAM and non-volatile memory on the same chip as the CPU. Using fewer pins, the chip can be placed in a much smaller, cheaper package. A micro-controller is a single  integrated circuit, commonly with the following features central processing unit   ranging from small and simple 4-bit  processors to complex 32- or 64-bit processors discrete input and output bits, allowing control or detection of the logic state of an individual package pin. APPLICATION OF MICROCONTROLLER IN INSTRUMENTATION LIST OF MICROCONTROLLER BASED PROJECTS 1. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED METRO TRAIN PROTOTYPE USING LCD: The project shows resemblance as you are travelling in metro train. It will display three stations at LCD and a stepper motor to rotate clock or anti-clock wise. 2. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED VOTING MACHINE: The voting system for four candidates with memory backup to restore the results to be viewed with password. Now-a-days Electronic voting machines are being used effectively. The confidence of the voter in its flawless working is gradually building up and these machines are thus becoming quite popular throughout the country. Features of the electronic voting machine include avoidance of invalid votes and reduction of counting time and the consequent expenditure incurred on manpower deployment. By using the Microcontroller the voting machine can be built up easily and it will make simple to operate. 3. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED TEXT EDITOR CUM MOVING MESSAGE DISPLAY: The project comprises 30 keys to edit any message in English. One can restore the message in memory IC. The 16 characters at a time can be view in running mode. 4. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED FULL FUNCTION STEPPER MOTOR CONTROLLER: The project will operate the stepper motor in almost all modes viz. clock, anti -clock, speed and frequency control with time duration for both directions. 5. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER CUM MOTOR PROTECTOR: It can indicate the level and control the water pump at top level filling. The present concept implements controlling of pump which pumps water from the sump (underground tank) to the overhead tank, using 8951 microcontroller. The control panel, i.e. the main control unit of the system which consists of the primary control switches, pump indicator, siren and level indicators. The visual example of how switches And the indicators can be placed as shown the figure below. 6. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED SIMPLE STEPPER MOTOR CONTROLLER: A simple stepper motor controller circuit with direction change only. A stepper motor (or step motor) is a brushless, synchronous electric motor that can divide a full rotation into a large number of steps. The motors position can be controlled precisely without any feedback mechanism (see Open-loop controller), as long as the motor is carefully sized to the application. Stepper motors are similar to switched reluctance motors (which are very large stepping motors with a reduced pole count, and generally are closed-loop commutated.) 7. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED AUTO GEAR SHIFTING SYSTEM: The circuit shows the demo of auto shifting of gears using stepper motor with the change in speed of vehicle. One can change the speed of DC motor as actual vehicle running wheel. Motorcycle is widely used around the world and particularly in Pakistan. The gear shifting system of the motorcycle is conventionally manual. This paper covers development of an indigenous automatic gear shifting/changing system for the standard motorcycle. By this system the manual mechanical gear-shifting system will remain unchanged because an additional electro-mechanical system is placed on the vehicle to shift the gear and for automatic controlling the clutch. So the system has both the options manual as well as automatic. This system uses low-cost microcontrollers to make the accurate decision for shifting the gear up and down by observing the speed, and it controls the clutch transmission where necessary. The complete hardware and software has been tested and the functioning of the automatic gear sh ifting system is verified. This system is flexible and can be used with any motorcycle manufactured in Pakistan ranging from 50cc to 200cc. 8. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED AUTO SPEED LIMITER WITH AUTO BREAKING: The project is to read the rpm of an automobile and according to that it limits the speed as Speed Governor. One can change the speed with variable control. This Project can be used with the three phase Induction motors. The circuit will take the full control of the motor and it will protect the motor from several faults such us over voltage and under voltage and the circuit will switch on the motor under safety conditions. The circuit was fully controlled by the microcontroller and the microcontroller wills continuously monitors the voltages of the three phases and if the voltage goes abnormal then it will switch off the motor until they are normal. All the conditions are displayed it over the LCD display. In our project we are using the popular 8 bit microcontroller AT89S52. It is a 40 pin microcontroller. 9. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED FASTEST FINGER FIRST: Useful for Quiz games, dumb charades. It displays the player no. along with the beep for seven players. 10. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED TEMPERATURE METER: It will display the room temperature on LCD and one can set the desired value to indicate the alarm or control at a desired temperature. It uses an ADC to interface with LM-35 sensor. 11. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED INFRARED REMOTE CONTROLLED SWITCH BOARD: One can operate (on/off) four electrical devices with TV remote synchronized with circuit independently. 12. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED RANK DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR RACE QUIZ COMPETITION WITH LCD: It can resolve the time difference (may be few milliseconds) and indicate the correct ranking between the individuals denoted A to H 13. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED AUTO SPEED LIMITER/GOVERNER WITH AUTO BREAKING: The project is to read the rpm of a automobile and according to that it limits the speed as Speed Governor. One can change the speed with variable control. 14. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED LINE FOLLOWER ROBOT: A Robotic car that follows the black line at the floor area based on IR sensors with transmitters and receivers. 15. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED YES MASTER FOLLOWER: A robotic car that follows his master who is sending an IR transmission always. 16. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED VOLTAGE/ POWER FACTOR / FREQUENCY METER: The project checks the electrical input factors as multifunction meter. 17. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C51 BASED RFID ATTENDENCE MONITOR: The project will show the names of person who had pressed the RFID key on LCD. One can use DATA encoder/decoder circuit. 18. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED FREQUENCY COUNTER USING LCD: The project will check the unknown frequency input up to 200 KHz. And display at LCD. 19. TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL TRAFFIC MAN: It can actually control traffic with lights and humanoid robot police man rotating in all directions with hand movements for stop and go actions. This is a project comprises two stepper motors to perform the action. 20. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED IR WIRELESS FREQUENCY COUNTER: The project will check the unknown frequency input up to 200KHz. Coming from an IR source and display at LCD. 21. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED COUNTDOWN TIMER: The project performs the countdown operation for up to -99 minutes with two seven segments display showing actual time left to activate or de-activate the connected relay. 22. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED TEMPERATURE INDICATOR: The temperature of room can be displayed at LCD using a sensitive device DS 1621. 23. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED ALARM CLOCK: The unit display the time in Hr. Min. and one can set the alarm also for a desired time at Seven segment display. 24. MICROCONTROLLER AT-89C2051 BASED VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER CUM ODOMETER: The project comprises a dc motor speed controller circuit with reed sensor. It is being detected by this and displays the same at LCD in form of speed KmHr. and also display the distance covered by the vehicle. DETAIL OF SOME APPLICATION Microcontroller based Electronic Governor and Control System of a Mini-hydro Power Plant:- This project is absolute requirement to develop small-scale power plants. The idea is described in the introduction. Then there are some details about the functionality of the system. That is described in both user aspect and technical aspect. The idea will lead to fully automated power plants with remote access, while it is lower cost. Some attractive future development proposals will be at the end of the technical details. INTRODUCTION In brief our project is an Microcontroller based Electronic Governor Control System for Mini Hydro Power Plant. The courses of selecting this project were the expanding the features of the presently available mechanical governor systems and improve the remote controllability of the system in user-friendly manner. In this invention we selected specific mini hydro plant to consideration because of several limitations. The governor of a mini-hydro power plant considers as a heart of the system. It controls the output power and makes the generator frequency up to the grid frequency by utilizing the available water supply to the turbine. Those operations are achieved by controlling the gate valves of the turbine. Almost all the turbine units use this method of control and it comprises of a mechanical actuator and electrical control device to give the desired command signals to the actuator to open or close valves appropriately. Commercially available electronic governors are very expensive. It is very difficult to find a suitable commercial product for a particular power plant and not easy to tune them to reach the best operating condition. Therefore our main focus was to implement an electronic governor system for a user specific circumstance. So the initial stage, we studied the entire control system of a mini-hydro power plant that is situated at Niriella. Then we decided to develop this electronic governor system using newly promoted micro-controller technology. Other than the basic governor operations we impl emented several new features. To interact with the micro-controller some of the electronic devices were re-implemented. BASIC OPERATION Although its called an Electronic governor control system, it consists of some plant automating functions as well. All those functions can be categorized as follows. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Starting and shutting down sequences of the plant. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Frequency controlling until the generator is synchronized with the national grid. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Manual and automatic control of the power output. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Quick safety actions in fatal faulty conditions. FUNCTIONAL UNITS The entire system is an integration of several functional units. The system software controls those units. 1. Generator Frequency Counter 2. Grid Frequency Counter 3. Water Level Sensor 4. Valve Position Sensor 5. Stepper Motor Driver 6. Emergency Circuit Breaker unit 7. Main Board LCD interfacing with Microcontrollers Introduction The most commonly used Character based LCDs are based on Hitachis HD44780 controller. In this we will discuss about character based LCDs, their interfacing with various microcontrollers, various interfaces (8-bit/4-bit), programming, special stuff and tricks you can do with these simple looking LCDs which can give a new look to your application. Pin Description The most commonly used LCDs found in the market today are 1 Line, 2 Line or 4 Line LCDs which have only 1 controller and support at most of 80 charachers, whereas LCDs supporting more than 80 characters .Most LCDs with 1 controller has 14 Pins and LCDs with 2 controller has 16 Pins (two pins are extra in both for back-light LED connections). Keypad circuit diagram Usually these days you will find single controller LCD modules are used more in the market. So in the tutorial we will discuss more about the single controller LCD, the operation and everything else is same for the double controller too. Lets take a look at the basic information which is there in every LCD. LCD Initialization Before using the LCD for display purpose, LCD has to be initialized either by the internal reset circuit or sending set of commands to initialize the LCD. It is the user who has to decide whether an LCD has to be initialized by instructions or by internal reset circuit. We will discuss both ways of initialization one by one. Initialization by instructions Initializing LCD with instructions is really simple. Given below is a flowchart that describes the step to follow, to initialize the LCD. LCD initialization flow chart Figure 8: Flow chart for LCD initialization As you can see from the flow chart, the LCD is initialized in the following sequence 1) Send command 0x30 Using 8-bit interface 2) Delay 20ms 3) Send command 0x30 8-bit interface 4) Delay 20ms 5) Send command 0x30 8-bit interface 6)Delay 20ms 7) Send Function set see Table 4 for more information 8)Display Clear command 9) Set entry mode command explained below The first 3 commands are usually not required but are recommended when you are using 4-bit interface. So you can program the LCD starting from step 7 when working with 8-bit interface. Programming example for LCD Initialization CODE: LCD_data equ P2      LCD Data port LCD_D7    equ P2.7   LCD D7/Busy Flag LCD_rs    equ P1.0   LCD Register Select LCD_rw    equ P1.1   LCD Read/Write LCD_en    equ P1.2   LCD Enable LCD_init:               mov    LCD_data,#38H   Function set: 2 Line, 8-bit, 57 dots               clr    LCD_rs                           clr    LCD_rw            We are writing in instruction register               setb   LCD_en                        clr    LCD_en               acall LCD_busy      Wait for LCD to process the command               mov    LCD_data,#0FH   Display on, Curson blinking command               clr    LCD_rs                           clr    LCD_rw            We are writing in instruction register               setb   LCD_en                        clr    LCD_en               acall LCD_busy          Wait for LCD to process the command               mov    LCD_data,#01H   Clear LCD               clr    LCD_rs                           clr    LCD_rw            We are writing in instruction register               setb   LCD_en                        clr    LCD_en               acall LCD_busy         Wait for LCD to process the command               mov    LCD_data,#06H   Entry mode, auto increment with no shift               clr    LCD_rs             Selected command register               clr    LCD_rw            We are writing in instruction register               setb   LCD_en                        clr    LCD_en               acall LCD_busy    Wait for LCD to process the command               ret                            Digital Countdown Timer (AT89C2051) A simple count-down LED timer that counts in minutes and seconds. Three buttons below the LED provide control of the unit, allowing you set the desired countdown time in minutes and seconds and a start/stop button. Completion of the countdown is indicated by an alarm that starts when the countdown has finished and the display reads zero. The alarm is stopped by pressing the start/stop button. Circuit diagram:- count AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKER AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKER starts following the SUN right from dawn, throughout the day, till evening, and starts all over again from dawn next day. On cloudy weathers, it remains still and catches the SUN again as it slips out of clouds. It does all this automatically, employs cheap and inexpensive components, and is very accurate. Let us see how it does all this. There are three Electronic Modules to be explained. First one is the HORIZONTAL SENSOR MODULE. It employs the timer 555 in the MONOSTABLE MODE. PIN 2(Trigger Pin of 555) is hooked up with a VOLTAGE DIVIDER NETWORK (PLEASE see FIGURE 2). PIN 4(Reset) is hooked up with ANOTHER VOLTAGE DIVIDER NETWORK.   Fig 1: Block diagram of the tracker following the sun all through  Fig 1: Block diagram of the tracker following the sun all through fig 4: Stepper motor control board  Fig: Stepper motor control board I have only shown the Horizontal Motor Control Circuit. The Vertical One uses a similar Decade Counter, NPN Transistors, and Diodes (to encounter BACK EMF of Power Transistors due to Fast Switching). I chose for a Steep Angle of 2 Degrees for the Unipolar Steppers. They are driven in a Normal 4 Step Sequence, first coil A is energised simultaneously with coil B, then coil C with coil D. Thus the Motors rotate by 2 degrees each time. The Charging Interval is almost in synchronism with the steps/second speed of the motors, to avoid false triggering. STEPPER MOTOR Introduction This section will explain you everything that you need to know about stepper motors. Stepper motors can be used in various areas of your microcontroller projects such as making robots, robotic arm, automatic door lock system etc. This tutorial will explain you construction of stepper motors, basic principal, different controlling types (Half step and Full step), Interfacing Techniques (using L293D or ULN2003) and programming your microcontroller in C and assembly to control stepper motor. Unipolar stepper motor The unipolar stepper motor has five or six wires and four coils (actually two coils divided by centre connections on each coil). The centre connections of the coils are tied together and used as the power connection. They are called unipolar steppers because power always comes in on this one pole. Bipolar stepper motor The bipolar stepper motor usually has four wires coming out of it. Unlike unipolar steppers, bipolar steppers have no common centre connection. They have two independent sets of coils instead. You can distinguish them from unipolar steppers by measuring the resistance between the wires. You should find two pairs of wires with equal resistance. If youve got the leads of your meter connected to two wires that are not connected (i.e. not attached to the same coil), you should see infinite resistance (or no continuity). As already said, we will talk mostly on Unipolar stepper motors which is most common type of stepper motor available in the market. A simple example of 6 lead step motor is given below and in 5 lead step motor wire 5 and 6 are joined together to make 1 wire as common. Unipolar stepper motor coils Working of Stepper Motor Now lets discuss the operation principal of a stepper motor. When we energize a coil of Stepper motor, the shaft of stepper motor (which is actually a permanent magnet) align itself according to poles of energized coil. So when motor coils are energized in a particular sequence, motor shaft tend to align itself according to pole of coils and hence rotates. A small example of energizing operation is given below. working principal of stepper motor You can see in the example, when coil A is energized, A north-south polarity is generated at A+A as shown in the figure above and magnetic shaft automatically align itself according to the poles generated. When the next coil is energized the shaft again aligns itself and takes a step. Hence , the working principal. working principal of stepper motor We have seen that to make the stepper motor work, we need to energize coil in a sequence. The explanation and generation of the sequence is explained in the next section of the tutorial. Stepper Motor interfacing with Microcontrollers: Programming Stepper motor Programming Full step Sequence I am assuming that stepper motor is connected at Port 1.0 to Port 1.3. Adjusting the delay will increase or decrease the speed of the motor. Here just for demonstration i have taken some delay, you can change it as you want.    org 0H stepper equ P1 main:             mov stepper, #0CH             acall delay             mov stepper, #06H             acall delay             mov stepper, #03H             acall delay             mov stepper, #09H             acall delay             sjmp main delay:             mov r7,#4 wait2:             mov r6,#0FFH wait1:             mov r5,#0FFH wait:             djnz r5,wait             djnz r6,wait1             djnz r7,wait2             ret             end The working of the above code can be seen in the demo animation below. unipolar stepper motor in full step sequence Programming Half step Sequence Assembly Programming: Here also the main routine changes rest everything remains same. CODE: main:             mov stepper, #08H             acall delay             mov stepper, #0CH             acall delay             mov stepper, #04H             acall delay             mov stepper, #06H             acall delay             mov stepper, #02H             acall delay             mov stepper, #03H             acall delay             mov stepper, #01H             acall delay             mov stepper, #09H             acall delay             sjmp main The working of the above code can be seen in the demo animation below. unipolar stepper motor in half step sequence Water level indicator cum controller Water level indicator is which pumps water from the sump (unrepresented concept implements controlling of pump reground tank) to the overhead tank, using 8951 microcontroller. The control panel i.e. the main control unit of the system which consists of the primary control switches, pump indicator, siren and level indicators. The visual example of how switches. And the indicators can be placed as shown the figure below. Front view of the model Front view of the model In the figure shown above there are total of nine LEDs, four of which indicates the water level in the tank, another four indicates the water level in the sump and one LED indicates whether the pump is ON/OFF. It also consists of three switches. 1. Switch 1 is the main power switch which is used to activate the system. 2. Switch 2 is used to select whether to operate the pump in AUTO or MANUAL mode. 3. Switch 3 comes to picture only when the system is operated in MANUAL mode. It controls the direct activation of the pump. Description: This system is built around an 8951 microcontroller and the circuit diagram is as given below. Circuit diagram of Water level indicator cum controller As you can see in the above diagram, port 0 is exclusively used as an input port which takes the information regarding the water level in the sump as well as in the overhead tank. Port 1 is used as output port which is connected to the indicator that indicates the water level in both the tanks. Port 2 is used as in/out port, it takes the input from switch 2 and switches 3 and gives the output which is connected to pump indicator, siren and the relay which controls the switching of the pump. Working of the system: There are two modes of working for the system 1. Manual mode 2. Auto mode Manual mode: When the system is active and in manual mode, it only indicates the water levels in the tanks and it doesnt control any working of the pump. To activate the pump in manual mode switch 3 is used. In this mode the operator should manually control the working of the pump. As in case if the tank is full, operator should switch of the pump which is not the case when compared to auto mode. Auto mode: When the system is active and in auto mode, it only indicates the water levels in the tanks and it controls the working of the pump. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This is the easiest way to make the Host Computer to pin connection. The next step is actually using this connection to download programs to the internal memory and to receive debug information through the IC. Microcontrollers are used in automatically controlled products and devices, such as automobile engine control systems, implantable medical devices, remote controls, office machines, appliances, power tools, and toys. By reducing the size and cost compared to a design that uses a separate microprocessor, memory, and input/output devices, microcontrollers make it economical to digitally control even more devices and processes. Mixed signal microcontrollers are common, integrating analog components needed to control non-digital electronic systems.