Quality Management High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quality Management High School - Essay Example Focusing on intangible effects on processes and ways to optimize and reduce their effects. Examination of the way the organization applies the product aimed at improving the product itself and Broadening management concern beyond the product. TQM is mainly concerned with continuous improvement in all work, whether in strategic planning and decision-making or at the supervisory level. It is based in the belief that, mistakes are avoidable and their effects are preventable. It leads to continuously improving results, in all aspects of work, as a result of continuously improving capabilities of workers, processes and technology. TQM is very key to achieving efficiency in the health sector in that it ensures that an organisation maintains a quality standard in all aspects of its business and undertakings. This involves doing things the right and therefore eliminating wastage and losses from the organisations operations. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services, an agency, in the United States government for protecting health and safety of the Americans and other needy people throughout the world. CDC concerns itself with prevention and control of infectious and chronic diseases, injuries or workplace hazards, and environmental problems.

How was Surrealism related to Bohemianism Essay Example for Free

How was Surrealism related to Bohemianism Essay Andre Breton founded in 1924 a cultural movement that uses visual imagery in making artworks. The artworks are usually influenced by Freudianism, a theory started by Seigmund Freud form the field of psychology who dealt with sensual matters in his studies, oral fixation, and other things which are controversial to hear. With everything formed under the subconscious mind. The ancestors of movement were Baudelaire, Rimbaud and Apollinaire, with some advices from an Italian painter Chirico. Through the subconscious, more easily imagined is when someone is asleep, and they believe that the inspiration comes when they dream, and whatever it is in their dreams, they convert into a work of art. Many of the people who constitute the Surrealist movement are from the Dada movement, which critiques conventional aesthetics and the way these conventions are used from literary and art evaluation or appreciation. Usually their artworks are hard to understand because of the different approach and the techniques they use. Bohemianism on the other hand has to come to the level that it already became a religion. Their teachings focus on the impact of an individual to the world, thus giving their believers appreciation of their individuality. The same way with Surrealists, â€Å"Bohemians† do not use the conventional way of literary criticisms. They also dwell in ideology, mythology and religion. Their doctrine involves: 1) saying that each individual is powerful and he should use this power to stand out; 2) implying that life should be lived to the fullest, in our own unique way; 3) that what is more important is our effect when we already died, not while we are still living. These teachings are somewhat deviant from the teachings of almost every religion in the world. Since both Surrealism and Bohemianism separate themselves from the usual, then maybe this is the reason why their teachings are really against what is normal, or what have already been considered as norms. Both groups might have thought that they will shine when they oppose the norms, thus achieving the â€Å"live life to the fullest† concept. The twentieth century saw major changes for French women, what factors were most important to changing gender roles in twentieth-century France? The women of today, on some major parts of the world, already achieved some level of respect, or maybe equal, or maybe even higher in with respect to how men, whom from the very beginning have a total hold. The women of Australia, New Zealand and Finland were given the right to vote in years 1902, 1893 and 1906, respectively. These were the pioneering countries to the idea of giving importance in the right of women to express their political freedom to vote. The attainment of women empowerment in France had been very slow. According to historical evidences, the role of women in France was just sewers of socks for the military men, agents who give first aids to the injured; some were just whores to give satisfaction to the needy troops. Also, believe it or not, they were involved in the manufacture of air crafts. Most of them also worked for paid employment to sustain their families while their husbands attend to their military responsibilities. The turning point of French women’s career was when the same right was given to them. It was in 1944 that the first election involving women voters happened. Their first appearance to elections was in 1945, twice for the same year that involved municipal elections and after 6 months was followed by the parliamentary elections upon the approval of the French Provisional Government. The French Revolution gave way for women to voice out the oppression they undergo during that time. The French women’s movement forty years ago arose. Feminists went to the open due to this movement; this gave them the strength to pursue whatever has already been started. The feeling of being marginalized and mistreated opened the idea for them to â€Å"revolt†. Women even penetrated the politics. They began questioning equality. One of the premises they tackled is marriage, the role of men in the household and the possibility of divorce. Why was the French Army so skeptical of Republicanism during the Nineteenth and twentieth centuries? Republicanism is a political concept with focus on protecting liberty. During the war in France, the issue of liberty erupted even more because of the destabilization that occurred because of the distraction brought about by violence. This was alarming that time when France was really unstable for some periods because of a defeat in war. Who does not want liberty? Everyone desires for one’s freedom. The French Army was so alarmed to after being defeated, given the situations that might erupt when the mind of the people of France currently under the parliamentary regime began elucidating ideas that might lead to their destabilization. Some parts of France might take advantage of the losses the French government had that time. In 1870, the Third Republic emerged as a period of normalization: the healing period. The army was skeptical under this regime, but has finally reached stability. They are confused to what may happen and if they are ready enough to face the consequences. The new regime was fully recognized after the election in the Chamber of Deputies where majority of the votes are in favor of the republican setting. The only mentality of the French army was always about how they will keep the war in favor of them. Maybe because of the losses, personal and as a part of the troops were they not that mentally capable of envisioning what will happen. In the early 20th century France was actually in war with Germany. France was indeed not ready for the battle, thus they cannot entertain an internal conflict anymore. The French army was in the custody of General Marshal Joffre, who was actually of strong belief to the concept of the Third Republic under the presidential leadership of Adolphe Thiers, who first used political monarchy and gradually transformed to the republic. Why was religion such a contentious question in modern French history? In some countries in the world, their government is a separate entity from religion. The Catholicism discourages the interference politics in religion vice versa, because of the said â€Å"dirt† that might penetrate into the minds of the believers. On the other hand, in some part of the globe, some religions do political endorsements that is why some politicians support this kind of group because he knows that it could be of great help in gathering votes. In the same way that they guard their relationship with other religions because any conflict that might arise between them shall take part in the security of their names as political figures. Some people in modern France choose not to get affiliated with any religion, because they think religion is enforcing something to them in line with politics, and in the same manner that they are no longer firm in their religion because they find it political. These theories of them, the exchanges of influences made them to choose no religion at all. In this manner we could see how the French rendered the idea of just being intellectual, by being practical, which could actually make sense for many of them. Some people go to Islam. Theorists say that people doing it are playing-it-safe because Islam is a less â€Å"political religion† than other major religions in France. They say Islam is more practical; they dwell much of preserving their traditions and cultural preferences that minding those of the political matter. A revolution in France in 1848 paved a way for Church-State relations. Liberal Catholicism is historically known to be allied with monarchy, but supported the existing political power that time in the existing regime, which was actually anti-clerical. Although this relationship was developed, the bond did break only for a short period of time. There were actually 3 archbishops from Paris, Bordeaux and Lyons who gave their direct statement to the public mentioning that the religious flag will exist under the shadow of the republican flag. Time came when revolutions arose, people shouting for the separation

Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Essay: In Depth Analysis

In Depth Analysis of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock The five-line interlude ending on "the floors of silent seas" forms an encapsulated version of the remainder of the poem, in which the frustrated effort to establish purposive discourse leads once again to withdrawal downward and inward to a silent world of instinctual being. A return to images of distension and distracting sensuality provokes a final impulse toward violent imposition of the will--"to force the moment to its crisis"--which ends, like previous thoughts of disturbing the universe, in ruthless self-mockery. The image of decapitation parodies the theme of disconnected being and provides for at least a negative definition of the self: "I am no prophet." By this point the tense has quietly shifted from present to past, and the speaker offers a series of prolonged interrogatives on the consequences of action not taken. While its grammatical context ("And would it have been worth it") reduces it to the contemplation of "what might have been"; the language and imagery of this passage enact with renewed intensity the recurring drama of mental conflict: Would it have been worth while, To have bitten off the matter with a smile, To have squeezed the universe into a ball To roll it towards some overwhelming question, To say: "I am Lazarus, come from the dead, Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all." The infinitives in this passage--to have bitten, to have squeezed, to roll--conform to the poem's widespread use of transitive verbs of direct action in expressing the speaker's violent impulse to combat the forces of disorder: to murder and create, to disturb the universe, to spit out all the butt-ends, to force the moment. The poem's ling... ...hich the author has elected to work, may itself evoke other psychic material; and then, lines of poetry may come into being, not from the original impulse, but from a secondary stimulation of the unconscious mind." The mental forces at work in Eliot's description of the poetic process serve as an analogy to the conflicts besetting the speaker in Prufrock. The speaker is a failed poet in terms of his inability to "murder" existing structures in order to "create" anew; be finds it impossible to say what be wants to say. In the "secondary stimulation of the unconscious mind" that occurs at this point, he partly abandons and partly resolves the struggle of form and matter; the integration of the psyche remains at best incomplete. Â   Works Cited Conflicts in Consciousness: T.S. Eliot’s Poetry and Criticism. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1984. Â   Â  

Computer Literacy Essay

Thou shall not vandalize Web pages. Thou shall not shut down Web sites. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s MP3s. FBI agents are spreading a new gospel to parents and teachers, hoping they’ll better educate youths that vandalism in cyberspace can be economically costly and just as criminal as mailbox bashing and graffiti spraying. The Justice Department and the Information Technology Association of America, a trade group, has launched the Cybercitizen Partnership to encourage educators and parents to talk to children in ways that equate computer crimes with old-fashioned wrongdoing. The nascent effort includes a series of seminars around the country for teachers, classroom materials and guides and a Web site to help parents talk to children. â€Å"In a democracy in general, we can’t have the police everywhere,† said Michael Vatis, director of the FBI’s National Infrastructure Protection Center, which guards against computer attacks by terrorists, foreign agents and teen hackers. â€Å"One of the most important ways of reducing crime is trying to teach ethics and morality to our kids. That same principle needs to apply to the cyber world,† he said. Recognizing Virtual Crime Vatis and other FBI agents attended a kickoff seminar, titled the National Conference on Cyber Ethics, last weekend at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. Part of the challenge: Many teens still consider computer mischief harmless. A recent survey found that 48 percent of students in elementary and middle school don’t consider hacking illegal. Gail Chmura, a computer science teacher at Oakton High School in Vienna, Va., makes ethics a constant in her curriculum, teaching kids about topics such as computer law, software piracy and online cheating. She has argued with students who don’t see that stealing from a computer with bad security is as wrong as  stealing from an unlocked house. â€Å"It’s always interesting that they don’t see a connection between the two,† Chmura said. â€Å"They just don’t get it.† The FBI’s Vatis tells students, â€Å"Do you think it would be OK to go spray-paint your neighbor’s house or the grocery store down the street? On a Web site, it’s the same sort of thing. It’s somebody’s storefront or an extension of themselves.† Chmura tries similar messages. For instance, she asks a budding composer how he would feel if his music was stolen and given away online. â€Å"They do sometimes realize that when they’re copying someone’s product, it’s not just that 5 cent disk, but someone’s work that they’re copying,† she said. â€Å"I think they do come to appreciate the fact that it’s somebody’s salary they’re stealing.† Driving Home Consequences Vatis cites a long list of cyber crimes perpetrated by minors, including attacks on defense department computers in 1998 and the February jamming of major Web sites such as Amazon.com and eBay. He tries to drive home the consequences of hacking — including the resources it drains from his center, as law enforcement scrambles to find who is responsible at the outset of an attack. Authorities â€Å"don’t know if it’s a terrorist or a foreign military,† Vatis said. â€Å"It diverts very scarce resources of people who are trying to focus on crime, warfare and terrorism.† And children aren’t the only ones in need of training. College students and parents also are frequently undecided about what crosses an ethical boundary in cyberspace, where anyone can download pirated musical recordings. â€Å"We had some discussion about the legalities of whether you’re sharing something with your friend or burning CDs to sell at your school,† said Deborah Price of Lewisville, N.C., parent of a 14-year-old daughter. â€Å"I’m not real certain about Napster ethics myself.† Price — whose daughter uses Napster, the music-sharing service considered a threat to the recording industry — feels that computer ethics are an important issue. â€Å"I think it should be part of the discussion at the school,† Price said. â€Å"It’s only going to get bigger.† References: ABC News W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 10 FBI Pushes for Cyber Ethics Education By D. Ian Hopper http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=119369

Foreign market entry strategies Essay

â€Å"Firms which participate in the business system as partners complement the company and its suppliers, thereby increasing the value to customers†. Explain your understanding of this view and provide examples to reinforce your arguments. For a company, entering new foreign markets may be achieved in a variety of ways. Each of these ways places its unique demands on the company in terms of organizational and financial resources. Most of the times, entering international markets is not a matter of choice but of necessity to remain competitive in new or established markets by meeting the consumer’ needs and values. The decision to go international represents an important commitment, to go into a new line of activity, this being the reason why it should be taken step by step: obtaining information, analyzing them, formulating alternative action plans, (Tookey, 1975) and of course find the right partners that match the company brand image and values. The international business system model is focused on the advantages determined by the internationalisation process and less on the development process of the internationalisation of companies. The main scope obtained by applying the Uppsala Model is predicting the company’s evolution on foreign markets. Two elements are at the basis of the model: the notion of essentiality attributed to the process and the notion of physical distance. The internationalisation of a multinational company takes place step by step, according to the Uppsala Model, which minimises the risks regarding the new market (Johanson; Wiedersheim-Paul, 1975). Therefore, the company is being involved gradually (investments, control and profit), getting to the point of creating a production subsidiary which ensures also the selling of the products on the new market. The stages of the internationalisation process are presented in Appendix 1. The concept of physical distance, the second element the Uppsala Model is based upon determines the companies to select, in a first stage, the neighbour countries in order to reduce the cultural, economical, political differences. According to this approach, the bigger the physical distance, the bigger is the incertitude about the new market and bigger the risks associated to this market. In the view of the globalisation phenomena, there are numerous criticisms about the â€Å"physical distance† notion. Many papers have developed the subject of the company’s internationalisation; a special place holds J. Birkinshaw who analysed the problems regarding the role of the subsidiaries and the evolution of the mandated in the internationalisation process at the multinational’s level. Therefore, Birkinshaw and Hoods (1998) have shown that creating a subsidiary can be explained on the basis of the interactions between the decisions of the mother-company, the initiatives o f the subsidiary and the specific conditions existing on the new market. The model developed by Birkinshaw (1997) is based on three variables: The relation headquarters – subsidiary; the subsidiary’s initiatives and the local environment. Regarding the internationalisation process, the company has more options (see Appendix 2) The first choice is represented by the development of the existing markets and it is being used by companies that are acting on highly competitive markets; the second choice – the company can choose to develop its activity on new markets, similar to the ones they are already acting on – in this case, they are usually choosing to export their products; the third strategy is developing a new line of products similar to the ones they already have and which will be sold on similar markets- in this case the company can choose between strategic alliances: creating a joint venture or licensing. . Management’s involvement in export operations is different, as we talk about passive exporters (when selling abroad is induced by the demand existing on the foreign market, meaning that the business is initiated by the importer) or active exporters (when the operation is initiated by the seller, which has an export strategy and a suitable business plan (Popa, 2006) From the operational point of view, exporters can be indirect exporters(with the participation of trading houses), when it isn’t necessary to create an organizational structure specific to the export activity or direct exporters, which is made by the producer, which is creating services or departments for international business. The determinants of export behaviour are experience and uncertainty effects; behavioural and firm-specific influences and strategic influences. 1. Experience and uncertainty effects Knowledge and learning regarding the exporting activity may be possessed or accumulated by the company in time. Experience has a key role, as firm’s involvement in international markets is most of the time a gradual process. During the early stages of exporting, firms have a more concentrated foreign market focus, while increased involvement in foreign market encourages diversification to a wider range of markets. As a firm’s knowledge of an export market increases, the uncertainty factor diminishes. This knowledge allows the identification of concrete opportunities, as distinct from theoretical that may be apparent from objective knowledge. 2. Behavioural and firm-specific influences Recent theories of exporting are strongly influenced by the behavioural theory of the firm, which stresses decision-maker characteristics, organizational dynamics and constraints, ignorance and uncertainty as key variables in decision making. Exporting has been described as a development process based on a learning sequence involving six stages Bilkey and Tesar, 1977): Stage 1: the firm is not interested in exporting Stage 2: the firm supplies unsolicited business, doesn’t examine the feasibility of active exporting Stage 3: the firm examines the feasibility of exporting in an active way Stage 4: experimental exports on neighbour countries Stage 5: the firm becomes an experienced exporter Stage 6: the firm explores the feasibility of exporting to additional countries of greater business distance. According to Welch (1982), the export commitment is influenced by four groups of factors (see figure 4): pre-export activities, direct export stimuli, latent influences on the firm and the role of the decision-maker. 3. Strategic influences The opinion among researchers and managers is divided on the issue of the relation between the firm size and export success. Still, the importance of a positive managerial attitude to exporting and the necessity of committing managerial and financial resources to the internationalization process are crucial to the success of the firm, irrespective of size. As a mode of international market entry, strategic alliances allow the firm (Bradley, 2002): †¢ Access to assets not readily available in the market †¢ Access to technology and markets †¢ The smaller firms can have access to technology and new products †¢ The larger firms can have access to markets †¢ Synergetic effects in the partner firms. Choosing the way to enter a foreign market represents an important part of the foreign direct investment strategy. The companies should select the new market, decide upon the types of operations that are about to be developed on these markets and decide the type of entry –green field investments, acquisitions, joint ventures. Choosing the way to enter a foreign market was also explained through cultural and national factors. Many studies have been concerned about this topic: †¢ Kogut and Singh (1988) after researches have concluded that a big cultural distance between the country of origin and the host country have as a result choosing joint ventures or green field investments. †¢ Gatignon and Anderson (1988) have shown that an important socio-cultural distance, measured with the help of the Index developed by Ronen and Shenkar (1985) – goes to the partial propriety right. †¢ Gatignon and Anderson (1988) have concluded that multinational companies avoid having 100% owned subsidiaries in high risk countries. †¢ Cho and Radmanabhan (1995) have shown that companies from Japan are not willing to make acquisitions in developing countries. Choosing the joint venture as a mechanism to enter new markets (especially the developing countries and the ones with centralised economy) is usual ly a second-best option for the companies from developed countries. Still, the companies show through this the major interest for the local market; the participation in the joint-venture could be qualified as a foreign direct investment. Many times, this mechanism represents the only way to be present on a certain market. Licensing in international markets: License is the purchase or sale by contract of product pr process technology, design and marketing expertise (Bradley, 2002). It involves the market contracting of knowledge and know-how. International licensing takes place when a company provides, for a certain fee-royalty, a technology needed by another company in order to operate a business in a foreign market. Licensing of this firm involves one or more of these elements: †¢ a brand name †¢ operations expertise †¢ manufacturing process technology †¢ access to patents †¢ trade secrets. Licensing may be attractive when host countries restrict imports or foreign direct investment, or when the market is small and when the prospects of technology feedback are high. Franchising to enter international markets: Franchising is a derivative of licensing. In franchising a business format is licensed, not a product or a technology. Trademarks, trade names, copyright, designs, patents, trade secrets and know-how may all be involved in different mixtures in the „package† to be licensed. Franchising is a form of marketing and distribution in which the franchisor grants an individual or company, the franchisee, the right to do business in a prescribed manner over a certain period of time, in a specified place (Ayling, 1986). A franchise is, according to International Franchise Association (IFA), the agreement or license between two legally independent parties which gives: †¢ a person or group of people (franchisee) the right to market a product or service using the trademark or trade name of another business (franchisor) †¢ the franchisee the right to market a product or service using the operating methods of the franchisor †¢ t he franchisee the obligation to pay the franchisor fees for These rights †¢ the franchisor has the obligation to provide rights and support to franchisees. Types of Franchises There are two main types of franchises: product distribution and business format. Product distribution franchises simply sell the franchisor’s products and are supplier-dealer relationships. In product distribution franchising, the franchisor licenses its trademark and logo to the franchisees but typically does not provide them with an entire system for running their business. The industries where you most often find this type of franchising are soft drink distributors, automobile dealers and gas stations. Some familiar product distribution franchises include: Pepsi, Exxon, Ford Motor Company. Although product distribution franchising represents the largest percentage of total retail sales, most franchises available today are business format opportunities. Business format franchises, on the other hand, not only use a franchisor’s product, service and trademark, but also the complete method to conduct the business itself, such as the marketing plan and operations manuals. Business format franchises are the most common type of franchise. The United States, today reported that the 10 most popular franchising opportunities are in these industries: fast food, retail, service, automotive, restaurants, maintenance, building and construction, retail—food, business services, lodging. The many advantages and disadvantages of owning a franchise should be carefully evaluated before deciding to purchase one. Throughout all these different foreign market entry strategies, by understanding every characteristic detailed we can conclude that partnership can be at the core of international marketing decisions and enable possibilities of internationalisation. Partnerships can be structured in various ways depending on their purpose. Wholly foreign-owned enterprises, non-equity/contractual/co-operative strategic alliances, equity strategic alliances/joint ventures, and franchises, are basic types of formal partnerships. There are numerous other types of informal partnerships including; joint marketing & promotion, joint selling or distribution, technology licensing, R & D contracts, design collaboration, production agreements, and other synergies. Consequently, the ideal partner in a business partnership is one that has resources, skills and assets and values which complement the company. The partnership has to work financially and contractually, but it is also essential that a partner’s areas of strength and weakness are known and that an assessment is made of what actions would be needed to achieve an appropriate level of operational fit between the cultures of the two organisations. To meet the market needs effectively and in a sustained way, the business partnership must be based on a systematic and transparent agreement between the client and the partners (common values). That agreement provides the basis for a partnership deal and has to be sufficiently strong to engage the sustained commitment of both parties but also sufficiently flexible to enable the partnership to be responsive to changes in market needs and conditions. Being at the forefront partners are an extension of the company capability, image and valu es perceived by the consumer, therefore, complement the company by increasing the value to customers. For instance, Sony is an international and reputed company for its high standards range of TVs. Today, within the UK market, Sony position itself as a seller of durable and high end products by practicing a selective distribution. Their products are mostly found at Sony Centres (Sony own shop) or PC Currys World, exclusive partner (distributor) chosen by Sony well known in the market and sharing similar values such as expertise in the audiovisual area or guarantee of quality products and services. It reflects well a relevant and consistent image of the values conveyed by both organisations to the customers.

Free Essays on The Life Of A Firefighter

The Life of a Firefighter Firefighting is a trade that is as virtually as old as civilization. Whether it be through the old bucket line techniques, or the modern tactics used with machinery and highly trained individuals, it has always been a necessary part of our society. Firefighters are often applauded for their sacrifice and we often conjure up heroic images of these men when we think about them. But what does it really take to be a firefighter, what does a firefighter have to endure on a daily basis, and what kind of commitments and sacrifices does a firemen have to make? Firefighters are a select few who have the determination, courage, and selflessness to always be on the call to save another life in whatever way possible. Anyone can apply to be a firefighter simply by visiting your local fire station and picking up an application. However just applying does not guarantee that the applicant will be accepted; the fire department looks at the qualifications and former experience of applicants and selection can be pretty competitive. Volunteering in the community and a solid education are strong points that will increase an individuals chance of being accepted (Williams 91). Once an applicant applies and is accepted into the fire department they are sent off to the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy’s job is to take fresh recruits and transform them into highly skilled firefighters who know absolutely everything they need to know to become the best and safest firefighters that they can be. Training starts first thing in the morning and finishes at around six in the evening, five days a week for twelve weeks. Every morning trainees run a mile and a half, do sit-ups, pull-ups, and all sorts of other workouts. Once they are done with there physical training they then clean up and go into the classroom to learn the fundamentals of fighting fire; then they have the opportunity to go ... Free Essays on The Life Of A Firefighter Free Essays on The Life Of A Firefighter The Life of a Firefighter Firefighting is a trade that is as virtually as old as civilization. Whether it be through the old bucket line techniques, or the modern tactics used with machinery and highly trained individuals, it has always been a necessary part of our society. Firefighters are often applauded for their sacrifice and we often conjure up heroic images of these men when we think about them. But what does it really take to be a firefighter, what does a firefighter have to endure on a daily basis, and what kind of commitments and sacrifices does a firemen have to make? Firefighters are a select few who have the determination, courage, and selflessness to always be on the call to save another life in whatever way possible. Anyone can apply to be a firefighter simply by visiting your local fire station and picking up an application. However just applying does not guarantee that the applicant will be accepted; the fire department looks at the qualifications and former experience of applicants and selection can be pretty competitive. Volunteering in the community and a solid education are strong points that will increase an individuals chance of being accepted (Williams 91). Once an applicant applies and is accepted into the fire department they are sent off to the Fire Academy. The Fire Academy’s job is to take fresh recruits and transform them into highly skilled firefighters who know absolutely everything they need to know to become the best and safest firefighters that they can be. Training starts first thing in the morning and finishes at around six in the evening, five days a week for twelve weeks. Every morning trainees run a mile and a half, do sit-ups, pull-ups, and all sorts of other workouts. Once they are done with there physical training they then clean up and go into the classroom to learn the fundamentals of fighting fire; then they have the opportunity to go ...

How to Plan a Game Development Project

How to Plan a Game Development Project One of the most complicated aspects of game development is planning. Some would argue that small indie projects don’t need this step; they simply need to work on the project until it’s done. This is far from true. Initial Planning The design framework laid at the project’s origin will determine the course for the entire project’s development. Its important to remember at this step that nothing is set in stone, but you should attempt to be as accurate as possible. Feature List First, analyze the design document and determine the game’s requirements. Then, split out each requirement into a list of features that will be needed to implement the requirement. Breaking Down the Tasks Take each feature and work with your leads in each area (art, animation, programming, sound, level design, etc) to break it down into tasks for each department (a group or person, depending on the size of your team). Assigning Tasks The lead of each group should then create initial time requirement estimates for each task and assign them to team members. After this is complete, the lead should work with the team to ensure that the estimates are correct and reasonable. Dependencies The project manager then must take all the task estimates and place them into a project management software package, either Microsoft Project or Excel (the two long-time industry standards) or any of the newer choices available for agile project management. Once the tasks are added, the project manager must look at the tasks and match dependencies between teams to ensure that the timing of creating a feature doesn’t have impossible relationships that prevent it from being completed within necessary time frames. For example, to fully implement a racing game, you wouldnt schedule the coding of tire durability before the completion of the physics system. You would have no framework to base the tire code upon. Scheduling This is where things get particularly complicated, but where the need for project management in the first place becomes more apparent. The project manager assigns estimated start and completion dates for each task. In traditional project planning, you end up with a cascading â€Å"waterfall† view, which shows the timeline for completion of the project and the dependencies that link the tasks. Its critical to remember to factor in slippage, employee sick time, unexpected delays on features, etc. This is a time-consuming step, but it will quickly give you an idea of exactly how much time the project will take to complete. What to Do With the Data By looking at this project plan, you can determine if a feature is going to be costly in time (and, therefore, money) and make decisions about whether the feature is necessary for the game to succeed. You might decide that delaying a feature to update- or even a sequel- makes more sense. Also, tracking how long you’ve worked on a feature is useful in determining if its time to either try a new technique to solve the problem or cut the feature for the good of the project. Milestones A frequent use of project planning involves the creation of milestones. Milestones indicate when a certain element of functionality, a time period of working on the project, or a percentage of the tasks has been completed. For internal project tracking, milestones are useful for planning purposes and for giving the team specific goals to aim for. When working with a publisher, milestones frequently determine how and when the developing studio is paid. Final Notes Project planning is regarded by many as a nuisance, but youll almost always find that developers who plan projects well in advance and hit their milestones are the ones who succeed in the long run.