Thursday, December 26, 2019

Level 2 Customer Service Assessment - 4739 Words

Assessment You should use this file to complete your Assessment. * The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk * Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly * When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference Please note that this Assessment document has 12 pages and is made up of 5 Sections. ------------------------------------------------- Section 1 – Understand the factors that affect an organisation and the customer service role 1. Complete the table below with a description of the products and services for at least two commercial organisations, public organisations and third sector organisations.†¦show more content†¦Staff are trained to understand the company’s culture and all services offered so they fully understand their role. | Public organisation | Satisfaction is a primary factor in this sector, but not as concerned with excellence in customer service as the commercial sector. Rather than selling products to make profit they offer services to the community. The quality of and access to an organisation is usually guided by working to customer service charters. Making sure the services offered are satisfactory and beneficial to the community at the right price must be balanced. | Third sector organisation | Often do not have fully trained staff (as many are volunteers) when it comes to customer service skills so sometimes may be a lack of soft skills when it comes to communication an d customer service to service users. More attention is paid to the emphasis on care and support to people. Third sector customer service approach is making sure a good quality service is provided in a helpful, friendly and efficient way | 3. In relation to your current organisation (or one that you are familiar with), outline the role that customer service plays in this organisation and its industry as a whole. Organisation - Tesco Customer service plays a vital role in the running of this organisation. As they have many competitors they try extremely hard to stand out above the rest with their customer service approach. They use the slogan ‘Every little helps’ toShow MoreRelatedStephanie Beck Address Customer Needs Essay example1647 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ASSESSMENT: BSBCUS402B – Address Customer Needs Assessment activity 1 1. What procedures could be implemented in a workplace to identify and analyse customer needs, wants and expectations? To identify customer needs, you should first determine who your potential customers are help you develop a more detailed picture of them and understand how to target them. Your workplace could implement a system where all existing customers are either sent out a survey or given a phone call to determine how satisfiedRead MoreIS3110 U7L1 Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesPerforma BIA assessment and fill in the following chart: Business Function Or Process Business Impact Factor Recovery Time Objective IT Systems/Apps Infrastructure Impacts Internal and external voice communications with customers in real-time Level 3 Less than 24 hours Systems/App Domain Internal and external e-mail communications with customers via store and forward messaging Level 1 Less than 5 hours Systems/App Domain DNS – for internal and external IP communications Level 2 Less than 24Read MoreIlm M3.18943 Words   |  4 PagesILM LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ILM/L3DipLM/0308 Introducing the qualification The ILM Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management has been specially designed for first line managers looking to develop a wide range of management and leadership skills suitable for their role. 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One way that organizations are attempting to overcome the difficulties of learning in today’s workplace is through providing formal training and development programs using online delivery and instructional methodsRead MoreCipd Essay762 Words   |  4 Pages4DEP F301A (LD) CIPD Assessment Activity Template Title of unit/s Developing Yourself as an Effective Learning Development Practitioner Unit No/s 4DEP (LD) Level Foundation Credit value 4 Assessment method Written, Discussion Learning outcomes: 1. Understand the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be an effective LD practitioner. 2. Know how to deliver timely and effective LD services to meet users’ needs. 3. Be able to reflect on own practice and developmentRead MoreQuality Management775 Words   |  4 Pagesit will guide the organization to success. The goal that the organization is looking to accomplish will heavily depend on what quality of service is offered to the customers. Managers, who provide quality service will increase the level of satisfaction to the customers. Businesses aim to provide the highest level of quality service and products to their customers. In this paper the student will compare and contrast two organizations, one in global market and one in the domestic market. The use of qualityRead MoreEssay on IT Risk Management 1694 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction This project will conduct a thorough analysis of such information services desired by customers to design a Web-based system to provide such services and implement the proposed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) web-based solution. †¢ Description of the methodology, new processes, and IT tools and how each of them is used to satisfy the business need. Methodology †¢ Research and identify competitors, management and technology companies that are facing similar problems. †¢ Gather

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Technological Advancements for Mabuhay Airlines - 706 Words

Mabuhay Airlines (MAL) is a small airline company providing direct flight from Manila, Philippines to all points of the country. Serving the nation for more than two decades, MAL has become one of the most respected airlines with new and modern fleet of aircraft and a route network that serves 29 domestic points. MAL offers a wide arrays of online services such as view Flight Schedule, Book a Flight, Manage Booking, express service (extrack) that track and trace your cargo online and find out what types of cargo we carry for you. Another service that MAL offers is the Charter Services, which is an excellent choice for special events, group tours, corporate and incentive travel or any occasions as we can offer a flexible schedule that fits your requirements and can fly you direct to your destination. With continuous advancement in technology resulting to highly mobile and dynamic computing environment it has changed the trend on how people incorporate internet with their daily businesses, with this, MAL began merging into electronic commerce with the introduction of its Online Booking service that accepts ticket purchases and credit card payments for all flights. A new improved website was also launched to serve the customers needs more quickly and efficiently. However, to assure secure communication over the internet it necessitates modification and configuration of the existing network. Prevention System To strengthen the existing network security and cope up with the

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The Effect of Gasoline Fumes on Plants free essay sample

The Effect of Gasoline Fumes on plants Introduction: This science fair project was conducted to study the effect of gasoline fumes on plants. The testing was done by placing plants beside a gasoline-filled container for different periods of time and temperatures. Hypothesis: Gasoline fumes cause plants to die the longer the exposure to the fumes, the quicker the plants will die. Our second hypothesis is that exposure to fumes, at higher environmental temperatures, will result in quicker death. Gasoline is obtained from petroleum in oil refineries, and used as fuel in combustion engines. It is made of over 250 types of hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons like toluene and benzene are used to increase the octane rating of gasoline. Other additives are also added to improve engine performance and reduce the emission of harmful gasses formed as byproducts of the combustion process. Some hydrocarbons found in gasoline like benzene are carcinogenic. These hydrocarbons escape into the air around us while we are refilling petrol at a gas station. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Gasoline Fumes on Plants or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They also leak from our petrol tanks and the engine exhaust. About 30% to 50% of the hydrocarbons emitted into our atmosphere are released from vehicles. The formation of ozone occurs when hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides or carbon monoxides in the presence of heat and sunlight. The ozone layer protects our planet from ultraviolet rays. However, the ozone found at ground level causes respiratory problems. It also damages plants, reduces farm yields and affects plant health. Materials: The materials required for this science fair project: 4 potted plants of the same size 4 transparent aquariums 4 ceramic bowls 1 liter of gasoline a thermometer 1 black marker pen Procedure 1. For this science fair project, the independent variable is the environmental temperature and the length of exposure time. The dependent variable is the color of the leaves and the survivability of the plants. This is determined by observing the plants for 8 days. The constants (control variables) are the size of the bowls containing the gasoline, the type and am ount of gasoline used and the size of the aquariums. 2. Four potted plants are required for this experiment. They should be kept in a well lit, cool and airy spot in your garden or balcony for several weeks, allowing the plants to adjust and acclimatize to the surrounding environment. The pots are labeled A to D using the marker pen. Gasoline is poured into the 4 ceramic bowls and placed beside the plants. The 4 aquariums are inverted and used to cover the potted plants and bowls. 3. The 4 plants will be tested under the following conditions : a. Pot A – covered with the aquarium and placed at room temperature (24 Â °C) for 3 hours every day b. Pot B – covered with the aquarium and placed at room temperature (24 Â °C) for 6 hours every day . Pot C – covered with the aquarium and placed in the hot sun (34 Â °C) for 3 hours every day d. Pot D – covered with the aquarium and placed in hot sun (34 Â °C) for 6 hours every day 4. After procedure 3 is completed, the aquariums and gasoline bowls are removed and the plants returned to their original environments until the next day. 5. The condition of the plants is checked every day and the observations are recorded in the table given below. Observation It was observed that the plants that were exposed to gasoline fumes for longer periods of time, and at higher temperatures died more quickly. Condition Condition of the Plants Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6Day 7Day 8 3 hours, 24Â °CYYYYOOOX 6 hours, 24Â °CYYOOOXXX 3 hours, 34Â °CYYOOOXXX 6 hours, 34Â °CYOOXXXXX Y Potted plant in good condition, O – leaf turning yellow, X – plant is dead (brown and shriveled) Conclusion: The hypothesis those longer periods of exposure to gasoline fumes, at higher temperatures will result in quicker death of plants. Gasoline contains aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene that are carcinogenic and harmful to living organisms. Therefore, the occurrences of gasoline leaks are a big threat to public health and the environment. Gasoline is also extremely volatile and will evaporate more quickly at higher temperatures. Many safety factors must be taken into consideration to prevent leakage when designing and building gasoline storage tanks and transportation piping. References Gasoline http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Gasoline Environmental effects of ethanol and gasoline http://www. sentex. net/~crfa/ethaenv1. html Avoid evaporating gas http://planetgreen. discovery. com/tech-transport/avoid-evaporating-gas-shade. html

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The All Inclusive Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse free essay sample

When asked what people fear the most in a national survey, the number one answer was public speaking. I call hogwash. The threat of zombie apocalypse should be the instant answer. I don’t know about other people but I‘ve seen the movies. Humans are one failed attempt at curing cancer away from losing our heads, because zombies eat brains. Nothing in this world should be scarier than facing that prospect. In these dark times of fear and uncertainty, it is always handy to know what to do. As with any other state emergency, the zombie apocalypse is no different; humans must stick to their â€Å"how to† and survive. Obviously, the first (and best) course of action is to prevent the problem altogether. That means no catching rage viruses from monkeys, no messing with human genetics in order to create â€Å"super† soldiers, no attempting to cure cancer by infecting people with viruses that kill cancer and certainly, no contracting of hyper-rabies. We will write a custom essay sample on The All Inclusive Guide to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That’s what we’re working with here folks. Keep zombies from happening, and we won’t need to deal with the problem. Assuming the worst has come to worst you’re now under the threat of brain eating, let us move on to the action plan. Keep a clear head and remember the plan. Nothing spells a quick death faster than panics favorite prey: logic. Always be aware of Clements 2 where the closest weapon shop is. For some it will be their homes. However, many won’t have been so prepared. So grab your car find the nearest gun shop, break in, and take as many weapons and as much ammo as you can safely carry to your car. Then, with all your newfound armaments find the closest grocery store and load up on as much food as you can now fit into your vehicle. Now it’s on to phase two. Unless you are unfortunate enough to be at ground zero when the news hits of the zombie apocalypse, you’ll have access to uninfected people. Once you have completed the above steps it is time to find the people you want to ride out the storm with. Find and form a group of uninfected humans. The leader of the group should be the most knowledgeable on zombie fighting procedure. Then, work together to gather arms, munitions, and food. After this key step is complete, it will be time for phase three. The next, but final and most paramount step is to find a safehouse. This is the place where the group will stay until zombieland is closed. Make it safe and secure, preferably isolated from the zombies; either on an island or a mountain. It’s here that the ground rules must laid out for the rest of oblivion. 1: Always have a lookout. 2: Never go out alone. Don’t trust anyone outside of the group. : When outside, kill zombies and anyone not down with the zombie killing plan. 5: Stay safe follow the rules and live While some people may not believe that the zombie apocalypse is an inevitability. It is however, always prudent to have a plan rather than try and improvise or adapt to a new situation. Thankfully, with this action plan as a guide you have the know-how needed to survive. The zombies will starve to death and you can finally hook Clements 3 up with that woman from 3b and start repopulating the earth. Rejoice and celebrate a zombie free world. Well done.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

An Investigation of the Influence of Organisational Culture on Project Management The WritePass Journal

An Investigation of the Influence of Organisational Culture on Project Management Research Objectives An Investigation of the Influence of Organisational Culture on Project Management Research ObjectivesIntroductionExtra References:Related Research Objectives To explore the link between organisational culture and project management. To evaluate the impact of organisational culture on innovation and project management success. To formulate recommendations on the impact of organisational culture on the management of projects. Introduction This literature review explores the main issues surrounding the influence of organisational culture in the management of projects within the National Health Service and financial institutions (banks). The literature review will also review the available guidelines that assist project managers in tackling the identified issues. To this end, this review will draw on a series of landmark studies in the current body of literature in order to facilitate a structured and critical analysis of the ways in which organisational culture influences project management. Firstly, in order to address this question, the term â€Å"organisational culture† needs to be defined. The enquiry into â€Å"culture† first began at the end nineteenth century (Deshpande and Webster, 1989; Reigle, 2003; Bertho et al., 2001). However, there has been no single, universal definition of organisational culture. Marshall and Marshall (1993) define organisational culture as a melting pot of beliefs, rules, actions, regulations, and attitudes that guide behaviour in an organisational context. In this way, every organisation has its own organisational culture that is formed by its members (Cleland Ireland, 2006). An organisation’s culture can also be formed through the different rites, rituals and the expected patterns of communication and behaviour within the organisation (Mullins, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A more conventional way of defining culture, however, is the procedure by which things are carried out and achieved in a given organisation. For example, Atkinson (1990) offers a definition of organisational culture as a set of underlying processes that influence the way in which work is performed. Researchers such as Kilman et al., (1985) and Sackman (1991) corroborate this view and see culture as â€Å"the way we do things around here†. In this way, every organisational culture carries its own modus operandi tha t has positive and negative aspects. For the purposes of this project, this will be the definition that shall guide the literature review and following study.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Considerable research has suggested a significant influence of organisational culture on project performance, and the subsequent success of organisations (Yazini, 2009; Brown, 2008; Andersen et al., 2009). For example, a number of studies have shown that organisational culture influences specific project organisational culture, such as goal planning, employee commitment to project goals, and the performance of project teams (Stare, 2011). Organisational culture can also exert its influence on organisational processes that include decision-making, design, structure, motivation, job-s atisfaction and management control (Pheysey, 1993). Moreover, organisational culture has also been found to influence the â€Å"sub culture† of a project team as indicated in research by Kerzner (2001) who found that organisational culture can impact the trust, connection and co-operation within a project team. Organisational culture can also critically influence innovation, group effectiveness and achievement, and the overall success of an organisation (Reigle, 2001).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, project management has also been found to play a critical role in an organisation’s success. For example, Tidd and Bessant (2009) found that the commitment level of top management is linked with the innovation of an organisation. Moreover, project management is important in maintaining a balance between a team’s culture and an organisa tional culture. In the current times of economic instability, project management is needed to allow individuals to accomplish their individual goals and aspirations as well as the objectives and goals of a project. Moreover, whilst an organisational culture can change, adapt and evolve over time, individuals are often more resistant to change, especially if organisational changes have not been adequately explained to them and they are ignorant of the benefits to the organisation (Cleland Ireland, 2006). In these cases, a project manager is needed to step in and motivate his/her team so that the change takes place smoothly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Given the importance of both organisational culture and project management on the success of an organisation, a limited amount of research has indirectly drawn links between organisational culture and project management. For example, Shore (2008) hypothesised that the way in which projects a re carried out is deeply influenced by both the project leader, but also the way in which the organisation performs its work. Schein (1991) also suggested that individuals within an organisation cannot create a new organisational culture, but can contribute to its evolution over time. Consequently, an organisation can learn to embrace a completely different modus operandi and adopt a novel way of doing things. However, these kinds of transformations demand high degrees of tolerance and acceptance of change. These changes also often require organisations to be open to deviating from traditional norms and operating in flexible and adaptive ways. In such cases, the role of effective project management is essential, as it is needed to equip others with skill-sets in which they can face changes in the organisational culture. Similarly, Mullins (2007) noted that every organisational culture differs from one region to another, and therefore, the project management must be formulated in suc h a way that it is able to adjust to these changes and explore opportunities for development.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, for an organisation to be successful in the management of projects, the project team culture must hold values, principles, procedures and management philosophies that are in line with the organisation’s culture (Cleland Ireland, 2006). In other words, there must be equality within the organisational culture. Cultural equality ensures that the management of projects is consistent with the organisational culture that supports a project’s advancement and success. However, this consistency will not exist unless senior managers are able to develop and communicate a vision that effective project management is important, worth doing, and actively supports the use of resources to accomplish project objectives, (Cleland Ireland, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the aforementioned strong links between organisational culture and project management, some researchers have modified the definition of organisational culture to be a reflection of management authority (Cartwright, 1999). In other words, this definition proposes that an organisational culture that is widely accepted, can help employees alig n themselves with their organisation, internalise the organisation’s beliefs as their own and motivate employees to achieve the organisation’s objectives (Cartwright, 1999).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This research therefore, begs the central question of whether organisational culture impacts the management of projects.   In line with this question, research by Pinto (2010) has revealed four different ways in which organisational culture can influence project management. Firstly, culture impacts the ways in which teams and departments communicate and interact with each other when faced with tasks and goals. Secondly, organisational culture influences the attitudes that employees hold towards project goals. Thirdly, culture affects the planning that takes place in preparation for a project. Finally, culture impacts the ways in which managers evaluate project team performance and a project’s success. Using this research as a grounding framew ork, the current study addresses the paucity of research on the impact of organisational culture on project management and aims to delve further into an understanding of the different ways in which culture exerts its impact using an inductive approach. The findings may, in turn, make significant theoretical and applied contributions. In the former case, the research will provide support for a previously under-studied topic. In the latter case, a greater emphasis on project managers in relation to the organisational culture may challenge the â€Å"not invented-here† mind-set (Tidd Bessant, 2009) in which organisations resist change and fail to see the potential of new ideas and inventions. By understanding the relationship between organisational culture and project management, this research will point to the mechanisms such as training of the necessary staff and effective communication that will accommodate changes and bring about enthusiasm, commitment and a sense of involve ment for all employees and managers (Tidd Bessant, 2009). Extra References: Andersen, E. S., Grude, K. V., Haug, T. (2004). Goal directed project management: effective techniques and strategies. London: Konan Page. Brown, C. J. (2008). A Comprehensive Organisational Model for the Effective Management of Project Management. South African Journal of Business Management, 39(3), 1-10. Kerzner, H. (2001). Strategic Planning for Project Management: Using a Project Management Maturity Model. New York: John Wiley Sons. Pinto, J. K. (2010). Project Management: Achieving Competitive Advantage. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Radio Waves Help Us Understand the Universe

How Radio Waves Help Us Understand the Universe Humans perceive the universe using visible light that we can see with our eyes. Yet, theres more to the cosmos than what we see using the visible light that streams from stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. These objects and events in the universe also give off other forms of radiation, including radio emissions. Those natural signals fill in an important part of the cosmic of how and why objects in the universe behave as they do. Tech Talk: Radio Waves in Astronomy Radio waves are electromagnetic waves (light), but we cant see them. They have wavelengths between 1 millimeter (one-thousandth of a meter) and 100 kilometers (one kilometer is equal to one thousand meters). In terms of frequency, this is equivalent to 300 Gigahertz (one Gigahertz is equal to one billion Hertz) and 3 kilohertz. A Hertz (abbreviated as Hz) is a commonly used unit of frequency measurement. One Hertz is equal to one cycle of frequency. So, a 1-Hz signal is one cycle per second. Most cosmic objects emit signals at hundreds to billions of cycles per second. People often confuse radio emissions with something that people can hear. Thats largely because we use radios for communication and entertainment. But, humans do not hear radio frequencies from cosmic objects. Our ears can sense frequencies from 20 Hz to 16,000 Hz (16 KHz). Most cosmic objects emit at Megahertz frequencies, which is much higher than the ear hears. This is why radio astronomy (along with x-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared) is often thought to reveal an invisible universe that we can neither see nor hear. Sources of Radio Waves in the Universe Radio waves usually are emitted by energetic objects and activities in the universe. The   Sun is the closest source of radio emissions beyond Earth. Jupiter also emits radio waves, as do events occurring at Saturn. One of the most powerful sources of radio emission outside of the solar system, and beyond the Milky Way  galaxy, comes from active galaxies (AGN). These dynamic objects are powered by supermassive black holes at their cores. Additionally, these black hole engines will create massive jets of material that glow brightly with radio emissions. These can often outshine the entire galaxy in radio frequencies. Pulsars, or rotating neutron stars, are also strong sources of radio waves. These strong, compact objects are created when massive stars die as  supernovae. Theyre  second only to black holes in terms of ultimate density. With powerful magnetic fields and fast rotation rates, these objects emit a broad spectrum of  radiation, and they are particularly bright in radio. Like supermassive black holes, powerful radio jets are created, emanating from the magnetic poles or the spinning neutron star. Many pulsars are referred to as radio pulsars because of their strong radio emission. In fact, data from the  Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope  showed evidence of a new breed of pulsars that appears strongest in gamma-rays instead of the more common radio. The process of their creation remains the same, but their emissions tell us more about the energy involved in each type of object.   Supernova remnants themselves can be particularly strong emitters of radio waves. The Crab Nebula is famous for its radio signals that alerted astronomer Jocelyn Bell to its existence.   Radio Astronomy Radio astronomy is the study of objects and processes in space that emit radio frequencies. Every source detected to date is a naturally occurring one. The emissions are picked up here on Earth by  radio telescopes. These are large instruments, as it is necessary for the detector area to be larger than the detectable wavelengths. Since radio waves can be larger than a meter (sometimes much larger), the scopes are typically in excess of several meters (sometimes 30 feet across or more). Some wavelengths can be as large as a mountain, and so astronomers have built extended arrays of radio telescopes.   The larger the collection area is, compared to the wave size, the better the angular resolution a radio telescope has. (Angular resolution is a measure of how close two small objects can be before they are indistinguishable.) Radio Interferometry Since radio waves can have very long wavelengths, standard radio telescopes need to be very large in order to obtain any sort of precision. But since building stadium size radio telescopes can be cost prohibitive (especially if you want them to have any steering capability at all), another technique is needed to achieve the desired results. Developed in the mid-1940s, radio interferometry aims to achieve the kind of angular resolution that would come from incredibly large dishes without the expense. Astronomers achieve this  by using multiple detectors in parallel with each other. Each one studies the same object at the same time as the others. Working together, these telescopes effectively act like one giant telescope the size of the whole group of detectors together. For example, the Very Large Baseline Array has detectors 8,000 miles apart. Ideally, an array of many radio telescopes at different separation distances would work together to optimize the effective size of the collection area as well improve the resolution of the instrument. With the creation of advanced communication and timing technologies, it has become possible to use telescopes that exist at great distances from each other (from various points around the globe and even in orbit around  the Earth). Known as Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), this technique significantly improves the capabilities of individual radio telescopes and allows researchers to probe some of the most dynamic objects in the  universe. Radios Relationship to Microwave Radiation The radio wave band also overlaps with the microwave band (1 millimeter to 1 meter). In fact, what is commonly called  radio astronomy, is really microwave astronomy, although some radio instruments do detect wavelengths much beyond 1 meter. This is a source of confusion as some publications will list the microwave band and radio bands separately, while others will simply use the term radio to include both the classical radio band and the microwave band. Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Operational Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Operational Research - Essay Example The numerous techniques of operations research include mathematical optimization, statistical analysis and mathematical simulation. Because of their capability to assist in decision making, operations research techniques are more often employed in manufacturing companies. These techniques have been employed to determine the most suitable places to locate new facilities such as a factory or a warehouse, identifying appropriate development paths for sections of the telecommunications. One of the most applied operations research techniques is linear programming. The use of linear programming was first proposed in 1951 to institute least-cost mixtures of livestock rations and food stuffs. This linear program reduces the expense of the mixture while some identified levels of nutritional necessities symbolize the model’s constraints. Additionally, in 1954, linear programming was proposed as a way of solving crop rotation problems (Hayashi, 2007: 21). In this case, the objective func tion symbolizes the gross margin linked to the cropping pattern while constraints link to the accessibility of capital such as land, machinery, and working capital. The idea of the use of linear programming has been used extensively in planning and managing agricultural resources on a farm. Extension of linear programming engross binary and integer platforms for applications in which it is not reasonable to allocate incessant values to the decision variables, for instance, the number of tractors and labour workers. The inter-temporality essential to many agricultural resolutions, particularly those entailing perennial crops, has necessitated the use of multi-period models. Risk and uncertainty calls for methods such as dynamic programming, Markov chains and Monte Carlo Simulation (Cheema, 2005: 43). Brazil is a huge producer of sugarcane, alcohol fuel and sugar. In order to keep the production