Balanced Scorecard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Balanced Scorecard - Essay Example Through this process the organization is able to balance its priorities, allocate the available resources for maximization of the profits of the organization and generate realistic business plans. Over the years several research studies have been conducted in this field of the management science, and models like Balanced Scorecard has been developed which are basically designed for helping the organizations in their drive towards being more competitive in achieving their goals. This paper brings out an evaluation of Balanced Scorecard model as applied to a public sector organisation together with the implementation of the system as well as its operation and usefulness. With a view to measuring a firm's activities in terms of its vision and strategies and to give the manager's a comprehensive view of the performance of a business, a concept which is described as Balanced Scorecard was introduced by Robert S. Kaplan and David Norton in the year 1992. There have been several studies conducted on the subject of Balanced Scorecard to develop the concept adaptable to the changing circumstances and needs of the organizations. "The Balanced Scorecard method of Kaplan and Norton is a strategic approach and performance management system that enables the organ... The four perspectives are: 1. Financial perspective encompassing the implementation of a corporate database for processing the information in a centralized and automated way. 2. Customer perspective focusing on customer needs and customer satisfaction 3. Business process perspective by designing metrics to show the performance of the organization with strategic management processes, mission-oriented processes and support processes 4. Learning and growth perspective including employee training and corporate cultural attitudes related to both individual and corporate self improvement. (Kaplan & Norton 1996) For each of the perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard four things are required to be monitored and respective scores studied. Objectives: The overall objectives of the organization need to be studied and properly scored. The objectives may relate to the profitability, marketing or capacity utilization etc. Measures: Once the objectives are established the next logical step is to identify the proper tools and parameters and define them to measure the organisational's performance towards achieving these objectives. For example the growth in the net margin or the sales in a particular region may well act as the measurement parameters. Targets: When the measurement parameters are established suitable targets need to be evolved to transform the organizational objectives into reality. Achieving a reduction in the manufacturing cost to the extent of 5% annually may be fixed as a target. Initiatives: Proper initiatives in the form of projects of programmes need to be developed as a support for achieving the set targets. If the targets are supported by initiatives, it may not be possible for the organization to achieve its

Problems Facing Breeder Reactors as a Future Energy Source Essay

Breeder Reactors: A Foreseeable Option? Abstract: Fission of nuclear particles has the potential to produce massive amounts of energy and electricity to help mankind. Breeder reactors bring forth modern technology at its finest; mankind is becoming more and more creative to make reactors which can be optimally efficient and cost-effective at the same time. By being able to harness plutonium-239 with a blanket of uranium and start chain reactions consistently, breeders seem to be a viable option to help produce electricity for a bigger population. However, maintenance and operation costs are big problems to deal with, and these are some of the ramifications that factors into the decision of realizing if breeders could potentially be our next alternative energy source. Introduction: Non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels have been used up by society on a daily basis and have forced the world to find a new, clean energy source. The rising price of oil and the constant emission of carbon dioxide are proof that in the future our lives will be much harder to live. One answer to this problem is nuclear power, which has shown its efficiency during the times of World War II but has not been used commercially due to the challenges of dealing with nuclear waste and proliferation. In today?s modern era, nuclear power has been used in liquid metal fast breeder reactors, reactors that use uranium-238 to produce plutonium-239. Historical Background: Nuclear energy was first achieved through Enrico Fermi?s experiment of nuclear fission where he and his team shot neutrons towards uranium atoms, which confirmed Albert Einstein?s theory of relativity that mass could be converted into energy. The first nuclear reactor was built by... ... 2008 . 11. "Plutonium for Everybody." Plutonium obtained from nuclear waste can be used. 28 July 2008 . 12. Gagnon, Steve, ed. "Jefferson Lab." It's Elemental. 28 July 2008 13. "JAEA R&D Review." Ideal Fuel Cladding Materials for Fast Breeder Reactor Irradiated at Highest Temperature in the World. 28 July 2008 http://http://jolisfukyu.tokai-sc.jaea.go.jp/fukyu/mirai-en/2007/1_2.html 14. "Plutonium End Game." Chapter 2: A Brief History of Commercial Plutonium. Jan. 2001. 28 July 2008 . 15. www.cameco.com/common/pdfs/media_gateway/factsheets_publications/nuclear_facts-canada.pdf) 16. http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/plutonium.htm0

Cause and Consequences of urbanization in Scotland Essay

This essay will explore relevant cause and consequences of urbanisation in Scotland from 1700-1860. A dictionary-defined term would be â€Å"the social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban.†(1. 30/08/2005). Scotland went through huge political and economical changes from the 1700’s onwards. The country went from being a rural, agricultural society with an estimated population of 1.2 million in 1755, to being urbanised, with the population rising to over 2.6 million in 1841(Lenman, p281, 2001). This figure is what makes the urbanisation of Scotland so interesting. What were the main factors that caused the population to grow so rapidly? The expansion of population over such a short period and the social changes that occurred with this. The great Agrarian and Industrial revolutions had a major part’s to play in the urbanisation of Scotland and this essay will show some enlightenment on why it was so profoundly noticeable in Scotland. Another point that will be investigated is the consequences of urbanisation, how the country ultimately became a modern capitalised country from its rural beginnings. Before and up until 1750, Scotland was very much a feudalistic country. Lords rented tenants enough land for them to produce food to survive. In return, the tenant would have to labour the Lord’s land as well as his own. The Landlord would reap the benefits, the tenant would survive, and as the majority of the people depended on the land as their lively-hood, it was a means to survival. As Devine states,_† In 1750 only one Scot in eight lived in a town (population of 4000 or over) and there was only four towns with more than 10000 inhabitants†_ (Devine, 1999, p125). This shows the enormity of Scots who were living in rural communities, with the main labour being in agriculture, weaving and fishing. The changes to agriculture began with those known as the improvers, whose main outlook was to modernise the way the land was cultivated. As the population of the country began to accelerate quickly, the improvers were looking to produce mass food instead of the old way of cultivation. During the period between 1790-1840 new farming equipment was introduced and the land that was formally cultivated  using the â€Å"infield-outfield and rug and furrow method† was improved by enclosing the land into fields making it more productive for crops and for livestock Crop rotations were also introduced which was making use of the land at all times. The introduction of single tenant farming as opposed to ferm-touns meant the beginning of the clearances, as well as agricultural tools becoming more efficient. The introduction of threshing machines reduced manual labour and â€Å"the Small’s plough – a two horse plough replaced the Scot’s plough which required a team of oxen and horses† (Devine, 1998, p138). These new ideas did create more food but they also left people homeless and jobless, as there was less labour needed, which left people no choice but to move on into the towns and cities where industry had began creating jobs. The growth of the towns and cities were intricately linked with the agrarian revolution as the mass population relied on the land for the food it produced. The other main point that Devine makes is that as the agricultural market started to accelerate, the need for exchange centres that provided legal, commerce and financial facilities for the rural communities became more prominent, so several towns including Perth, Ayr and Dumfries became the provider of these services. This again contributed to expansion of towns, as people were required to work and live in the towns to facilitate these positions (Devine 1998, p32) Therefore, we can gather that three major changes occurred at the same time and they contributed towards urbanisation in Scotland: The agrarian revolution along with the population growth, and the expansion of the manufacturing industry. As T.M Devine States, _Urbanisation could not have taken place without a substantial increase in food production to sustain the needs of those who did not cultivate their own food supplies. At the same time, agrarian productivity had to improve in order to release a growing proportion of the population for non-agricultural tasks in towns and cities._ (Devine, 1998, p32) Along with theses changes the manufacturing industry began to grow rapidly. Scotland was a major player in the transatlantic trading industry and due to its geographical position, it was booming in the tobacco trade and it would go on to prosper in cotton and linen too. Scotland’s Geographical position at this time was very important as it is situated between the Atlantic and Europe, which meant trading from one to the other, was very successful. The two major factor’s of the Industrial Revolution were, the textile industry and the productivity of the steam engine, which was revolutionised by James Watt in 1769 (Watt James online, 2005). Textiles factories and coalmines could produce more goods and they did not need to be near a water source in order to run. Due to this, the larger towns and cities began to grow rapidly. _Greenock in 1700 had a population of 2000 and by 1831 it had rose to 27500._ _Glasgow went from 31700 to 147000._ _Paisley went from 6800 to 47000._ _Kilmarnock went from 4400 to 12700_ _Falkirk went from 3900 to 11500. All within the time period from 1740-1850 (Devine 1998, p35)_ The population growth over the short period is the most significant point here as this is what made urbanisation in Scotland different. There are many different factors that affected the population growth but some are more significant than others are. Irish Immigration was very prominent and the migration of people from the rural areas had a major impact. For example:_† The majority of the migrants were young adults more concentrated in the marriageable and childbearing age groups than were the native inhabitants. High Migration because of its age composition was therefore likely to fuel natural increase in the urban areas_†.(Devine 1998,p41) At the same time the  highlanders were leaving the land either through force as the lord’s applied the new cultivation techniques to the land or through choice. The majority chose to immigrate to America; this did not affect the population growth as many Irish migrants were coming to Scotland looking for employment in the bo oming industries. â€Å"_Urbanisation meant more jobs, a wider diversity of social contacts and infinitely greater colour and excitement in the lives of the masses_† (Devine 1998 p43) Mortality rates demonstrate their huge impact on population growth too. It has been suggested that lower death rates, through natural immunity to disease highly contributed to urbanisation, as in the early 1800’s the death rate had fallen to 25 per 1000. This suggests that natural immunity and high levels of unemployment accelerated the population growth (Devine, 1998, p48). The effect of industrialisation was economically good for the country, but with it came poverty. The majority of the working class lived in overcrowded housing areas known as slums with no sanitation, and were rife with disease. As Devine argues, during periods of industrial recession when employment had slumped, there were also periods of disease epidemic. These began in 1817-1820(Typhoid), 1826-27(Typhoid) and in 1830-1832, a cholera epidemic that wiped out 10000 people. Periods of recession run parallel, the first being 1816-1818, 1825 and then 1836 (Devine, 1999, p168). In 1839, Death rates rose to 29 per 1000. People were forced to live in abominable living conditions with huge sanitations problems, the towns and cities could not cope with the urban growth and disease was the outcome. Overcrowded, sub-divided housing was a problematic issue in all the major Towns and Cities, especially in Glasgow. _†I did not believe until I visited Glasgow, that so large an amount of filt h, crime, misery and disease existed in one spot in any one civilised country† (_Butt J, 1987 p41-42). People were customised to living in filthy dark, damp squalid conditions amongst disease. As the periods of recession were leaving thousands out of work in a state of poverty, the poor law amendment act was passed in 1845, which replaced the old poor relief laws of the parishes taking responsibly for the  poor. The new law allowed a claim to be made under supervision of a board of examiners, it came in the form of indoor relief, which would be admission to a poorhouse if subject had lost the ability to work, and outdoor relief, which was for short-term illness, and this may have been in the form of payment or medicine. It could be argued that the industrial revolution was the birth of the working class and capitalism in this country. Those who owned the factories and docks made a great profit and a middle class lifestyle was adopted. This could be said to be the division of the classes, with the help of the industrial revolution, people developed a â€Å"working† class or â €Å"middle† class attitude, In conclusion, the evidence points out that several major factors occurred that accelerated the urban growth of the nation. The Agrarian revolution started the mass migrating and the industrial revolution provided the work force in order for capitalism to evolve. The consequences of urbanisation were overwhelming, yes the economy did thrive, but at what cost to the working class people, death, disease and misery.

Moreau Surname Meaning and Origin

Moreau is a common surname in France that is found throughout the world, including the U.S. and Canada. Alternate surname spellings for Moreau include  Morreau, Moreaux, Morreaux, Morault, Morrault, Moreault, Moreaud, Morreaud, Morault, Moraud, Morraud, Morot, Morrot, Merau, Maureau, Maure, Moro, and Moreault. Moreau Meaning The Moreau surname originated as a nickname for someone with dark skin. Its  derived from the Old French word more, meaning dark-skinned, which in turn derives from the Phoenician mauharim, meaning eastern.   Where to Find Moreau as a last name can be found in countries all over the world.  Within the borders of France, Moreau is  most common in the Poitou-Charentes region of France, followed by Centre, Pays-de-la-Loire, Limousin, and Bourgogne. The Moreau surname was most commonly found in the northern part of France, as well as in Indre, Vendee,  Deux Sà ¨vres, Loire Atlantique, and Charente Maritime in central France  between 1891 and 1915. This general  distribution held for successive decades, although Moreau was most common in Loire Atlantique between 1966 and 1990. Famous People Named Moreau Famous people with the last name Moreau include Jeanne Moreau, a legendary French actress who appeared in nearly 150 movies, including Jules and Jim and The Bride Wore Black. Auguste Francois Moreau  was a prominent Victorian and Art Nouveau sculptor. Gustave Moreau was a French symbolist painter, and Marguerite Moreau was an American actress. Moreau Family Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Moreau family crest or coat of arms for the Moreau surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   Sources Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Paperback, 2nd edition, Puffin, August 7, 1984. Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Paperback, 1st Edition, Mercat Press, October 1, 2003. France of MOREAU between 1891 and 1915. Geopatryonyme. Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, January 1, 1998. Hanks, Patrick. A Dictionary of Surnames. Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, February 23, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. 1st Edition, Oxford University Press, May 8, 2003. Moreau. Forebears, 2019. Reaney, Percy H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, January 1, 2005, USA. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Paperback, Genealogical Publishing Company, December 8, 2009.