Environmental Monitoring Program for Clean Room

Environmental Monitoring Program for Clean Room Bioburden and ETO limits Environmental monitoring program for a class 9 clean room that manufactures enteral feeding sets Abstract A clean room is an internal clean environment that is often used for manufacture or scientific research with a low level of environmental pollutants such as air bourn microbes, dust or chemical vapors. A clean room has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the particles that are permitted per cubic meter and also the size of the particles is specified. A clean room has a special meaning that is defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO). ISO has defined a clean room as a ‘room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled and which is constructed and used in a manner to minimize the introduction, generation and retention of particles inside the room and in which other relevant parameters, e.g temperature, humidity and pressure are controlled as necessary’. Clean rooms are usually supplied with air that has been filtered through high efficiency air filters. This air is then changed a number of times depending on the class and purpose of the clean room. A clean room is built with materials that do not generate particles or outgas airborne chemical contamination and can be cleaned easily. Finally personnel that operate inside the clean room where protective clothing knows as bunny suits to minimize their dispersion of particles and microorganisms. An enteral feeding tube provides a means of maintaining nutritional intake when oral intake is inadequate or when there is restricted access to the gastrointestinal tract, eg owing to obstruction. ETFs are now commonly used for a wide range of clinical conditions and across a wide range of people (Rebecca White, Vicky Bradnam ,Handbook of drug administration via enteral feeding tubes, 2007) .Enteral feeding devices include enteral feeding pumps, pump sets, enteral feeding tubes and kits. Enteral feeding is often used to supply patients with nutrition who cannot consume by swallowing. Patients may not be able to consume by swallowing due to injury or illness such as pancreatitis, cancer and malnutrition. Introduction Cleanrooms are monitored according to two well-known standards, ISO 1644-1 and Federal standard 209E. Federal Standard 209E is the standards that the USA comply with whereas ISO 1644-1 are the standards that are applied internationally. ISO 14644 part 1 has been revised as a new second edition draft international standard ISO/DIS 14644-1.2(2014). ISO 14644-1 is part of a series of documents concerned with cleanrooms and associated subjects. This part of ISO 14644 specifies the classes of air cleanliness in terms of particle concentration in air volume. It also specifies testing methods that are used to determine classification. These include selection of sampling locations and evaluation of class from the data collected. The most significant change in this new set of standards is the use of a more consistent statistical approach to the selection and the number of sample locations and the evaluation of data collected. The statistical confidence is calculated based on the hypergeometri c distribution. Non-Viable Particles-Air Microbial Contamination-Air and Surface Pressure differential Water quality Temperature and Humidity Annex A There are a number of test parameters that ISO state that have to be tested when testing the air in a clean room. These recommended tests are listed in Annex A. Annex A provides the recommended tests and the recommended order in which to carry them out .The parameters are listed as follows. Airflow test, Air pressure difference test, humidity test, temperature test, particle disposition test, installed filter leakage test, Airflow directional test and visualization, Airborne particle test for macro particles, Airborne particle test for ultrafine particles, Electrostatic and ion generator test, Particle deposition test, Recovery test, Containment leak test. A checklist is provided to assist in testing criteria. This check list in encoded Annex A. Annex A also gives a series of recommended tests when sampling. 5. Test report The result of each test should be recorded in a test report and the test report should include the following information: Name and address of the testing organization and the date which the test was carried out. Number and year of publication of this part of ISO 14644. Clear identification of the physical location of the clean room or clean zone tested, and specific designations for coordinates of all sampling locations. Specific designation criteria for the clean room or clean zone, including the ISO classification, the relevant occupancy state and the considered particle size. Details of the test method used and identification of the test instrument and it’s current calibration certificate. Test result, including data reported as specifically required in the clause of Annex B, and a statement regarding compliance. Any other specific requirements defined relevant to the clause of Annex B. A.1 General The test procedures that are used in this part of ISO 14644 may be used for demonstrating compliance with the performance criteria of a user specified installation and for performing periodic testing The choice of tests are usually based on the required level of classification, operational states and the design of installation. Table 1 provides optional tests that are recommended by the international standards organization and table 2 is the bioburded limits provided by ISO for a class 9 cleanroom. Annex B (B.1.1) This test method is a specification of the measurement of airborne particle concentrations with size distributions having a threshold size between 0.1 micrometer and 5 micrometers. Measurements are often made according to three defined occupancy states. These occupancy states are as follows; as-built, at rest and operational. The measurements are made to verify the cleanliness classification in accordance with ISO 14644-1. (B.1.2.1) This part of Annex B is known as B1. The location selection, sampling points, clean zone classification determination and the quality of data required should be in accordance with ISO 14644-1. One of the main aspects of B1 is to provide reference methods. Annex B also provides a risk assessment for the clean room. >/= 0.1 um >/=0.2um >/=0.3um >/=0.5um >/=1um >/=5um (B.1.2.2) Procedure for airborne particle count ISO recommends the installation of a DPC intake at a specified sampling location. In sampling locations where the airflow is not controlled or predictable the inlet of the sample probe should be directed vertically upwards. The transit tube from the sample probe inlet to the DPC sensor must be as short as possible. If samples that are greater than or equal to one micrometer, the transit tube must not exceed the manufactures recommended length and diameter. B3 Airborne particle count for macroparticles The test methods that are described here are for the testing of particles larger than 5 micrometers in diameter. Measurements for macro-particles can be made in any of the three occupancy states of a clean room. These measurements are made in order to determine the concentration of macro-particles. B.3.3 Measurements methods for macroparticles ISO has assigned two general categories for macro-particles, therefore comparable results may not be produced if different measurement methods are used. Therefore correlation between different methods is not possible Collection by filtration or inertial effects, which is then followed by microscopic measurement of the number and size, or measurement of the mass of collected particles. (1). Filter collection and microscopic measurement (B.3.3.2.1) will report macro-particles using particle size based upon the agreed diameter. (2). Cascade impact collector and microscopic measurement will report macro-particles using particle size base upon the microscopists choice of reported particle diameter. (3). Cascade impact collector and weight collector will macro-particles using particle size based upon an aerodynamic diameter. (b). In situ measurement of the concentration and size of macro-particles with a time of flight particle counter or a DPC. (1). DPC measurement will report macro-particles using particle size based upon an equivalent optical diameter. (2). Time of flight particle size measurement (B.3.3.3.3) will report macro-particles using particle size based upon an aerodynamic diameter. B.3.3.3 macro-particle measurement without particle collection B.3.3.3.1 Macro-particles can be measured without collecting particles from the air. This process involves the optical measurement of the particles that are suspended in the air. An air sample is taken through a DPC, which reports either the equivalent optical diameter or the aerodynamic diameter of particles. B.3.3.3.2 Discrete particle counter (DPC) measurement. The procedure is the same as in B.1. DPC does not require sensitivity for detection of particles that are less than 1 micrometer. Care is required in order to ensure that the DPC samples directly from the air at the sample location. If sample tubes are longer than 1 meter to the DPC then they should not be used. The DPC often has a sample flow of 0.00047 m^3/s and should be fitted with an inlet sized for isokinetic sampling in unidirectional flow zones. The DPC should be set facing upwards in areas where non-unidirectional airflow takes place. The DPC size range settings are established so that only macro-particles are detected. B.3.3.3.3 Time of flight particle size measurement The dimensions of macro-particles can be measured by using a device that is known as time of flight apparatus and accelerated through a nozzle into a partial vacuum, where the measurement region is located. Any particles that are in the air sample will accelerate to match the air velocity in the measurement region. It is this relationship between the air velocity and particle velocity at the point of measurement that can be used to determine the aerodynamic diameter of the particle. B.3.4 Procedure for macro-particle count The sample inlet probe must be set up on the selected apparatus. The required air volume must be sampled to collect at least 20 macro-particles at each sample point and make measurements as specified in ISO 14644-1 or ISO 14644-2. The M-discriptor concentration in the selected particle size ranges must be calculated as agreed between customer and supplier, and report the data. B.3.5 Test reports The following information and data should be recorded as described in clause 5. (a). Definition of the particle parameter to which the apparatus responds (b). Type of measurement: classification or test M descriptor determination or monitoring (c). Type designations of each measurement instrument and apparatus used and it’s calibration state. (d). Cleanliness classification of the installation (e). Macro-particle size range(s) and the count for each size range reported (f). Apparatus inlet sample flow rate and flow rate through sensing volume. (g). Sample point locations (h). Sampling schedule plan for classification or sampling protocol plan for testing (I). Occupancy state(s) (j). Stability of macro-particle concentration, if required (k) Other data relevant for measurement.

Foodborne Illness Essay -- Food Illness Health Medical Essays

Foodborne Illness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Food borne illnesses are caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. There are many different disease-causing microbes, or pathogens. In addition, poisonous chemicals, or other harmful substances can cause food borne illnesses if they are present in food. More than two hundred and fifty different food borne illnesses have been described; almost all of these illnesses are infections. They are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be food borne. (Center 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Food safety is an increasingly important public health issue. Governments all over the world are intensifying their efforts to improve food safety. Food borne illnesses are diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food. â€Å"In industrialized countries, the percentage of people suffering from food borne diseases each year has been reported to be up to 30%. In the United States of America, for example, around 76 million cases of food borne diseases, resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, are estimated to occur each year.† (Geneva 2)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most commonly recognized food borne infections are those caused by the bacteria Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli 0157:H7, and by a group of viruses called Calicivirus, also know as the Norwalk viruses. â€Å"Thousands of types of bacteria are naturally present in our environment, but not all bacteria cause disease in humans.† (Schmutz 1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Campylobacter is a bacterial pathogen that causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. It is the commonly identified bacterial cause of diarrhea illness in the world. These bacteria live in the intestines of birds, and most raw poultry meat has the bacteria in it. Eating undercooked chicken or other food that has been contaminated with the juices dripping from raw chicken is the most frequent source of this particular infection.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Salmonella is also a bacterium that is widespread in the intestines of birds, reptiles, and mammals. It can spread to the human species a variety of different ways; through foods or animal origins. Some examples of food involved in outbreaks are eggs, poultry and other meats, raw milk and chocolate. The illnesses it causes are typically fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In people with poor underlying health or weakened immune... ... the time out to inspect the food you are grabbing. Make sure dates are current, the color is normal, the temperature is normal, and it was properly prepared (washed or cooked). A college student could become very sick or even die from a small mistake. Students need to be cautious with their busy lives. Work Cited Archuleta, M. (n.d), Keeping Food Safe. Guide E-508, pp. 1-11, 10/7/2003, www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/e-508.html Bogart, Carol. Kids hospitalized, festival cancelled in wake of E. coli outbreak at Wyandot County Fair. 6 October 2001 http://www.oweb.com/Advertiser-Tribune/text/N100601a.html Center for Disease Control, Food borne illness. 3 September 2003   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.cdc.gov/nicidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm â€Å"FDA Sees Surge In Food Poisoning Dietary changes, imports cause risk.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  San Francisco Chronicle 18 March 2001: A8. Geneva, Sue. Food Safety and Food borne Illness. 25 January 2002   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact237.html Greene, Alan. Food Poisoning. Dr. Greene.com. 7 August 2002 . Schmutz, P.H. Food borne Illness: Prevention Strategies. 2 February 1999   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/HGIC3620.htm

Causes of stress and its solution

The circumstances that cause stress are called stressors. Stressors vary in severity and duration . For example the responsibility of caring for a sick parent may be an ongoing source of major stress , whereas getting stuck in a traffic Jam mat cause mild short term stress . Some events such as death of a loved one are stressful for everyone . But in other situations ,individuals may respond differently to the same event.Stressors can be classified into 3 general categories: l)catastrophic stress )MaJor life changes 3)Daily hassles In addition simply thinking about unpleasant past events or anticipating unpleasant future events can cause stress for many people. 1)Catastrophe: Is a sudden , often, life threatening calamity or disaster that pushes people to do outer limits of their coping capability example earthquakes ,tornadoes ,fires ,floods and hurricanes as well as wars ,torture ,automobile accidents , violent physical attacks and sexual assaults .They often continue to affect the individuals mental health long after the event has taken place. 2)MaJor life changes: The most stressful events for adults involve major life changes such as death of a spouse ,family member ,divorce , imprisonment ,loosing ones Job and major personal disability or illness . The most stressful events for adolescents are death ,imprisonment or divorce of parents ,personal disability or illness .Getting married is a positive experience but planning the wedding ,deciding whom to invite ,and dealing with family members may be stressful for the couples. 3)Daily hassles: Much of the stress in our lives results from having to deal with daily hassles ertaining to our Jobs ,personal relationships and everyday living circumstance . Many people experience the same hassles everyday example living in a noisy neighbourhood ,commuting with heavy traffic ,disliking ones fellow workers ,worrying about money , waiting in a long line and misplacing or losing things .

Cross Culture

Introduction: Introduction Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individuals and/or organizations so that an understanding response results. Simply we can say, Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more person. The transmission of the sender’s ideas to the receiver and the receiver’s feedback or reaction to the sender constitute the communication cycle. SENDERRECEIVER InputOutput [pic] Feedback Brain drain Brain drain Brain drain Fig- 01: Communication Cycle Culture is an idea in the field of management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) of an organization. Culture is a complex concept. In other words, culture is central to what we see, how we make sense of what we see, and how we express ourselves. Objective of the Report: The Primary Objective of this report is to analysis of cross cultural communication in IBM. The report has accumulated information to know about company’s cross cultural communication, to find out its positive and productive communication in their organization and does the work effectively. Methodology: Sources of data: †¢ Secondary Data: All the data and information are collected from secondary sources. Cross-Cultural Communication: The success of a business depends on its ability to communicate. Communication serves as the medium for instruction, assessment, interpersonal relationships, group interactions and all other interaction that takes place in business. With globalization, business is no longer constrained within the boundaries of a single country. Large business organizations have corporate offices in different parts of the world. They need to communicate in order to promote coordination. Also in multinational companies people from different parts of the world are employed. The way an individual communicates, is influenced by his or her culture. Hence in today’s increasing global economy, it is important for managers and employees at all levels to understand, appreciate, and manage the impact of cross-cultural communication in the workplace. As our world grows, expands and becomes increasingly more interconnected by various technological advances, the need for effective communication among various cultures is increasing. People from different backgrounds tend to perceive information differently. Hence, misinterpretation of information can lead to conflict. Cross cultural communication is of great importance through out the world. Though in our country, due to the lack of cultural diversity, cross cultural communication is not treated with that much importance. But still with the advancement of technology we have to interact with businesspeople in faraway countries and for this we need know about effective techniques of cross cultural communication Definition of Cross-Cultural Communication: To understand cross cultural communication first we need to know what culture is. Culture refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that shape the way we understand the world. Cross-cultural communication looks at how people, from differing cultural backgrounds, endeavor to communicate. It is more frequently referred to as Intercultural communication. (Ramsey, 1999). Culture refers to all the knowledge and values shared by a society. The word culture is often considered in terms of nationality or one's country of origin. Other more specific distinguishing characteristics of culture are region, orientation, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation and preference, age, marital and parental status. Another approach to understanding the concept of culture involves the beliefs, values and norms that exist to guide an individual's behaviors in solving common problems. Culture is the acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior (Porter, 1991). Culture is the shared customs, beliefs, and social structures that make up a society, including languages, rules, myths, family patterns, and political systems. (Boone et al. 1997). Cross cultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual processing tool with which people from different cultures create shared meanings (Berko et al. , 1997). When we speak to someone with whom we share little or no cultural bond, it is referred to as cross cultural communication. Our need to communicate across culture can be very beneficial personally and professionally. Within an intercultural setting, nonverbal and verbal communications are both prevalent in emphasizing the differences in cultures. The way we act and the things we say determine whether or not we belong in a certain culture. Nonverbal communication systems provide information about the meaning associated with the use of space, time, touch and gestures. They help to define the boundaries between the members and nonmembers of a culture (Hofstede, 1991). Hence, Cross Cultural Communication is the communication that takes place among people from different cultures. Cross cultural communication does not only mean face to face communication it includes all forms of written and oral communication. History of Cross-Cultural Communication: The need for Cross-Cultural communication was felt with the spread of global commerce. It is very tough to get the specific date when cross-cultural communication started. Initial initiatives in cross-cultural communication were taken in different countries in different time period. One of the pioneers of the computer industry, IBM started cross cultural communication in 1953. It was introduced by the CEO of that time Thomas J. Watson Jnr. According to Thomas it was the policy of IBM to hire talented people regardless of race, color and background. During 1978-83, the Dutch cultural anthropologist Geert Hofstede conducted detailed interviews with hundreds of IBM employees in 53 countries. Through standard statistical analysis of fairly large data sets, he was able to determine patterns of similarities and differences among the replies. In the year 1991, Geert Hofstede undertook the first global studies on how a specific business culture, at the time one of the most widely distributed companies, interacted with the local cultures of some 39 different countries. Another professional development initiative is IBM’s Shade of blues – a more in-depth program for managers who are engaged in cross-cultural business interactions or have multicultural teams. Recent Research on Cross-Cultural Communication: As people from different cultural groups take on the exciting challenge of working together, cultural values sometimes conflict. We can misunderstand each other, and react in ways that can hinder what are otherwise promising partnerships. Oftentimes, we aren't aware that culture is acting upon us. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we have cultural values or assumptions that are different from others. One of the major barriers in business communication is cultural diversity. Many communication researchers are trying to find out new and effective ways to improve cross cultural communication. In many cases patients face problems with both translation difficulties and not being able to see the type clearly. As a result they are sometimes unable to take their prescriptions correctly. Many of the pharmaceuticals around the world have been trying to solve this problem. Recently they have come up with a tool which can print instructions for taking medicine in 11 different languages on the prescription bottle labels. Patients no longer have to depend on translation from a friend or relative to make sure they are taking their prescriptions correctly. The languages include English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Polish, Russian or Portuguese. The tool is also equipped to print a 20- point type versus the typical smaller type, for those patients who prefer larger printed labels on the bottle labels to easily identify their medicines and how to take them. On July 6, 2005 Mark Nash, an American entrepreneur created a cross-cultural website created especially for non-resident Indians and offshore call center personnel (Nash, 2005). The website www. intro2america. om was designed to provide information about American culture. It was also designed to provide information to call center personnel who speak with Americans on a daily basis as part of their job responsibilities. The site is designed to make the transition to American lifestyle easier and reduce the difficulties & misunderstandings upon first moving to the States. The site provides useful information, which is related specifically to cross-cultural types of issues. Moving from an Asian culture to a Western culture can be challenging. The site was designed for the specific purpose of easing the transition to American way of life, for those who are moving to the United States (See Appendix for the sample of the website). To serve customers from diversified cultures, they have taken a great deal of effort and time to analyze what their customers around the globe want. To achieve this they are trying to understand their customer’s behavior, cultural and spending patterns when they fly with Malaysia Airlines. The airliner has successfully catered to the demands of wide variety global customers around the world. Application in the work place: IBM, the leading business organization in computer sector, has a huge diverse workforce from the very beginning. They have concentration to manage the cross cultural communication among these employees. Here we have selected IBM’s Australia branch to present as an example of cross cultural environment where employees are working together with their cultural differences. IBM has developed their cross-cultural program based on the legal requirements of Anti- Discrimination Act & Racial Discrimination Act and corporate values. IBM’s policies on cultural diversity are based on years of corporate experience. It is a long-held view that by valuing diversity, it uncovers new perspectives, taps different knowledge and experience and generates innovative ideas, suggestions and methods. Three pillars that are in place to make up IBM’s diversity strategy are: †¢ Creating a work/life balance: Their strategy is to find the average working age of general Australians through statistical findings and fix age limit for average Australians. †¢ Advancement of women: They think women should contribute more to the workplace. So, they encourage participation of women. †¢ Integration of people with a disability: IBM authority thinks that they have a social responsibility for physically and mentally disable people. The authority always tries to create some opportunity of employment for those people. IBM’s most effective diversity programs combine ‘push and pull’ strategies. They have made good headway through company-led, top down practices such as formalized training or policies like floating cultural holidays. However, IBM’s progress comes about through the contributions by individuals who are passionate about diversity issue. Aside from IBM’s diversity team within human resources, three other groups within IBM have formally identified roles in the implementation of the company’s overall diversity strategy. These are IBM’s Diversity Council, diversity contact officers and diversity champions. The Diversity Council The main objective of the IBM’s Diversity Council, is to ensure that the contribution of employees from different background is properly encouraged and valued. Its key objectives are to enhance employee awareness, increase management awareness, and encourage the effective use of IBM’s diverse workforce. This is achieved through personal commitment, regular communication, by gaining support for the program from other IBM managers and influencing decision making. Under the guidance of the Diversity Council, a series of cultural diversity employee roundtables have been held to gather more face-to-face feedback and ideas from staff. These meetings have generated many practical ideas for increasing awareness of cultural diversity within IBM. Professional development IBM has a professional development program. The objective of this program is to ensure that the employees within the organization can identify and remove psychological barriers of diverse workforce and communicate effectively. The main focuses of this program are: †¢ Understanding the cultural bias of each team member and their impact on mutualperceptions. †¢ Determine the reasons why certain behaviors and communication styles fail in somecultures. †¢ Identifying approaches to address cultural gaps that could lead to misunderstandings. †¢ Handling issues about team decision-making, giving or receiving feedback and conflict resolution. Findings: IBM, One of the pioneers of the computer industry started cross cultural communication in 1953. †¢ They think women should contribute more to the workplace. So, they encourage participation of women. †¢ IBM authority thinks that they have a social responsibility for physically and mentally disable people. The authority always tries to create some opportunit y of employment for thosepeople. Recommendations: Considering research and the case of IBM, we have some recommendation here which will decrease discrimination and increase production by making the flow of cross-cultural communication fluent. Those recommendations are as follows: ? IBM should compare their policy for cross cultural communication with others, so that they can get some new ideas to implement in their organization. It will help them to update existing policies as well. ? Not only the HR department of IBM, but also all other employees of the organization should be involved in the process of making cross cultural communication easier. It will help the whole organization to become a good team. ? Training and raising awareness can improve mentality of the employees towards others. They will learn to respect and honor others differences. Place people from different cultures as team leaders. If diverse employees get opportunity to work and share success they will be highly motivated. Discrimination will be dissolved from them and the communication process will work freely. ? A good idea can be to focus different segments one after another so that every segment can achieve expected mentality. This process will form unity and emotion among the employees of the organization. Discrimination will be terminated and the total organization will work as one body. ? Each program introduced in the organization should honor the basic values of the organization. Every program should ensure that none of the employees are discriminated in terms of race, national origin or religion. Conclusion: From the above research we have seen that cultural communication plays a vital role for effective communication for companies around the globe. In our country due to the lack of cultural diversity we do not have to face the problems related to intercultural communication. Many of the successful companies having corporate offices have been able to coordinate their activities through out the world through the successful implementation of cross cultural communication. One of the fore runners in this sector is definitely IBM. IBM has independent division to come up with new policies and strategies to improve cross cultural communication in the workplace. Reference: Boone, L. E. , Kurtz, D. L. , & Block, Judy R. (1997). Contemporary Business Communication (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentince-Hall. 67. Ramsey, James (1999). Available: http://encyclopedia. localcolorart. com/encyclopedia/Cross-cultural_communication/ (July, 17 2005). Carbaugh, D, (1990). Cultural Communication and Intercultural Contact. New York: Pergamon Press. 19. Berko, R. , Rosengeld, L. , & Samovar, L. (1997). Connecting: A Culture Sensitive Approach to Intercultural Communication. Fort Worth, Texas: Harcourt Brace. 121. Porter, R. , and Samovar, L. (1991). Communication Between Cultures. Belmont:NTC Publishing Group. 273. Payne, C. (2001). Culture and Communication. Available: http://www2. mhc. ab. ca/users/cpayne/portfolio/cultcomm/default. htm (July, 29 2005). Appendix [pic] A sample website dedicated to understanding cross-cultural types of issues. [pic] ———————– Idea Letter, Fax, Phone call, E-mail etc. Idea Cross Culture Introduction: Introduction Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individuals and/or organizations so that an understanding response results. Simply we can say, Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more person. The transmission of the sender’s ideas to the receiver and the receiver’s feedback or reaction to the sender constitute the communication cycle. SENDERRECEIVER InputOutput [pic] Feedback Brain drain Brain drain Brain drain Fig- 01: Communication Cycle Culture is an idea in the field of management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) of an organization. Culture is a complex concept. In other words, culture is central to what we see, how we make sense of what we see, and how we express ourselves. Objective of the Report: The Primary Objective of this report is to analysis of cross cultural communication in IBM. The report has accumulated information to know about company’s cross cultural communication, to find out its positive and productive communication in their organization and does the work effectively. Methodology: Sources of data: †¢ Secondary Data: All the data and information are collected from secondary sources. Cross-Cultural Communication: The success of a business depends on its ability to communicate. Communication serves as the medium for instruction, assessment, interpersonal relationships, group interactions and all other interaction that takes place in business. With globalization, business is no longer constrained within the boundaries of a single country. Large business organizations have corporate offices in different parts of the world. They need to communicate in order to promote coordination. Also in multinational companies people from different parts of the world are employed. The way an individual communicates, is influenced by his or her culture. Hence in today’s increasing global economy, it is important for managers and employees at all levels to understand, appreciate, and manage the impact of cross-cultural communication in the workplace. As our world grows, expands and becomes increasingly more interconnected by various technological advances, the need for effective communication among various cultures is increasing. People from different backgrounds tend to perceive information differently. Hence, misinterpretation of information can lead to conflict. Cross cultural communication is of great importance through out the world. Though in our country, due to the lack of cultural diversity, cross cultural communication is not treated with that much importance. But still with the advancement of technology we have to interact with businesspeople in faraway countries and for this we need know about effective techniques of cross cultural communication Definition of Cross-Cultural Communication: To understand cross cultural communication first we need to know what culture is. Culture refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that shape the way we understand the world. Cross-cultural communication looks at how people, from differing cultural backgrounds, endeavor to communicate. It is more frequently referred to as Intercultural communication. (Ramsey, 1999). Culture refers to all the knowledge and values shared by a society. The word culture is often considered in terms of nationality or one's country of origin. Other more specific distinguishing characteristics of culture are region, orientation, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation and preference, age, marital and parental status. Another approach to understanding the concept of culture involves the beliefs, values and norms that exist to guide an individual's behaviors in solving common problems. Culture is the acquired knowledge people use to interpret experience and generate behavior (Porter, 1991). Culture is the shared customs, beliefs, and social structures that make up a society, including languages, rules, myths, family patterns, and political systems. (Boone et al. 1997). Cross cultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual processing tool with which people from different cultures create shared meanings (Berko et al. , 1997). When we speak to someone with whom we share little or no cultural bond, it is referred to as cross cultural communication. Our need to communicate across culture can be very beneficial personally and professionally. Within an intercultural setting, nonverbal and verbal communications are both prevalent in emphasizing the differences in cultures. The way we act and the things we say determine whether or not we belong in a certain culture. Nonverbal communication systems provide information about the meaning associated with the use of space, time, touch and gestures. They help to define the boundaries between the members and nonmembers of a culture (Hofstede, 1991). Hence, Cross Cultural Communication is the communication that takes place among people from different cultures. Cross cultural communication does not only mean face to face communication it includes all forms of written and oral communication. History of Cross-Cultural Communication: The need for Cross-Cultural communication was felt with the spread of global commerce. It is very tough to get the specific date when cross-cultural communication started. Initial initiatives in cross-cultural communication were taken in different countries in different time period. One of the pioneers of the computer industry, IBM started cross cultural communication in 1953. It was introduced by the CEO of that time Thomas J. Watson Jnr. According to Thomas it was the policy of IBM to hire talented people regardless of race, color and background. During 1978-83, the Dutch cultural anthropologist Geert Hofstede conducted detailed interviews with hundreds of IBM employees in 53 countries. Through standard statistical analysis of fairly large data sets, he was able to determine patterns of similarities and differences among the replies. In the year 1991, Geert Hofstede undertook the first global studies on how a specific business culture, at the time one of the most widely distributed companies, interacted with the local cultures of some 39 different countries. Another professional development initiative is IBM’s Shade of blues – a more in-depth program for managers who are engaged in cross-cultural business interactions or have multicultural teams. Recent Research on Cross-Cultural Communication: As people from different cultural groups take on the exciting challenge of working together, cultural values sometimes conflict. We can misunderstand each other, and react in ways that can hinder what are otherwise promising partnerships. Oftentimes, we aren't aware that culture is acting upon us. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we have cultural values or assumptions that are different from others. One of the major barriers in business communication is cultural diversity. Many communication researchers are trying to find out new and effective ways to improve cross cultural communication. In many cases patients face problems with both translation difficulties and not being able to see the type clearly. As a result they are sometimes unable to take their prescriptions correctly. Many of the pharmaceuticals around the world have been trying to solve this problem. Recently they have come up with a tool which can print instructions for taking medicine in 11 different languages on the prescription bottle labels. Patients no longer have to depend on translation from a friend or relative to make sure they are taking their prescriptions correctly. The languages include English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Polish, Russian or Portuguese. The tool is also equipped to print a 20- point type versus the typical smaller type, for those patients who prefer larger printed labels on the bottle labels to easily identify their medicines and how to take them. On July 6, 2005 Mark Nash, an American entrepreneur created a cross-cultural website created especially for non-resident Indians and offshore call center personnel (Nash, 2005). The website www. intro2america. om was designed to provide information about American culture. It was also designed to provide information to call center personnel who speak with Americans on a daily basis as part of their job responsibilities. The site is designed to make the transition to American lifestyle easier and reduce the difficulties & misunderstandings upon first moving to the States. The site provides useful information, which is related specifically to cross-cultural types of issues. Moving from an Asian culture to a Western culture can be challenging. The site was designed for the specific purpose of easing the transition to American way of life, for those who are moving to the United States (See Appendix for the sample of the website). To serve customers from diversified cultures, they have taken a great deal of effort and time to analyze what their customers around the globe want. To achieve this they are trying to understand their customer’s behavior, cultural and spending patterns when they fly with Malaysia Airlines. The airliner has successfully catered to the demands of wide variety global customers around the world. Application in the work place: IBM, the leading business organization in computer sector, has a huge diverse workforce from the very beginning. They have concentration to manage the cross cultural communication among these employees. Here we have selected IBM’s Australia branch to present as an example of cross cultural environment where employees are working together with their cultural differences. IBM has developed their cross-cultural program based on the legal requirements of Anti- Discrimination Act & Racial Discrimination Act and corporate values. IBM’s policies on cultural diversity are based on years of corporate experience. It is a long-held view that by valuing diversity, it uncovers new perspectives, taps different knowledge and experience and generates innovative ideas, suggestions and methods. Three pillars that are in place to make up IBM’s diversity strategy are: †¢ Creating a work/life balance: Their strategy is to find the average working age of general Australians through statistical findings and fix age limit for average Australians. †¢ Advancement of women: They think women should contribute more to the workplace. So, they encourage participation of women. †¢ Integration of people with a disability: IBM authority thinks that they have a social responsibility for physically and mentally disable people. The authority always tries to create some opportunity of employment for those people. IBM’s most effective diversity programs combine ‘push and pull’ strategies. They have made good headway through company-led, top down practices such as formalized training or policies like floating cultural holidays. However, IBM’s progress comes about through the contributions by individuals who are passionate about diversity issue. Aside from IBM’s diversity team within human resources, three other groups within IBM have formally identified roles in the implementation of the company’s overall diversity strategy. These are IBM’s Diversity Council, diversity contact officers and diversity champions. The Diversity Council The main objective of the IBM’s Diversity Council, is to ensure that the contribution of employees from different background is properly encouraged and valued. Its key objectives are to enhance employee awareness, increase management awareness, and encourage the effective use of IBM’s diverse workforce. This is achieved through personal commitment, regular communication, by gaining support for the program from other IBM managers and influencing decision making. Under the guidance of the Diversity Council, a series of cultural diversity employee roundtables have been held to gather more face-to-face feedback and ideas from staff. These meetings have generated many practical ideas for increasing awareness of cultural diversity within IBM. Professional development IBM has a professional development program. The objective of this program is to ensure that the employees within the organization can identify and remove psychological barriers of diverse workforce and communicate effectively. The main focuses of this program are: †¢ Understanding the cultural bias of each team member and their impact on mutualperceptions. †¢ Determine the reasons why certain behaviors and communication styles fail in somecultures. †¢ Identifying approaches to address cultural gaps that could lead to misunderstandings. †¢ Handling issues about team decision-making, giving or receiving feedback and conflict resolution. Findings: IBM, One of the pioneers of the computer industry started cross cultural communication in 1953. †¢ They think women should contribute more to the workplace. So, they encourage participation of women. †¢ IBM authority thinks that they have a social responsibility for physically and mentally disable people. The authority always tries to create some opportunit y of employment for thosepeople. Recommendations: Considering research and the case of IBM, we have some recommendation here which will decrease discrimination and increase production by making the flow of cross-cultural communication fluent. Those recommendations are as follows: ? IBM should compare their policy for cross cultural communication with others, so that they can get some new ideas to implement in their organization. It will help them to update existing policies as well. ? Not only the HR department of IBM, but also all other employees of the organization should be involved in the process of making cross cultural communication easier. It will help the whole organization to become a good team. ? Training and raising awareness can improve mentality of the employees towards others. They will learn to respect and honor others differences. Place people from different cultures as team leaders. If diverse employees get opportunity to work and share success they will be highly motivated. Discrimination will be dissolved from them and the communication process will work freely. ? A good idea can be to focus different segments one after another so that every segment can achieve expected mentality. This process will form unity and emotion among the employees of the organization. Discrimination will be terminated and the total organization will work as one body. ? Each program introduced in the organization should honor the basic values of the organization. Every program should ensure that none of the employees are discriminated in terms of race, national origin or religion. Conclusion: From the above research we have seen that cultural communication plays a vital role for effective communication for companies around the globe. In our country due to the lack of cultural diversity we do not have to face the problems related to intercultural communication. Many of the successful companies having corporate offices have been able to coordinate their activities through out the world through the successful implementation of cross cultural communication. One of the fore runners in this sector is definitely IBM. IBM has independent division to come up with new policies and strategies to improve cross cultural communication in the workplace. Reference: Boone, L. E. , Kurtz, D. L. , & Block, Judy R. (1997). Contemporary Business Communication (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentince-Hall. 67. Ramsey, James (1999). Available: http://encyclopedia. localcolorart. com/encyclopedia/Cross-cultural_communication/ (July, 17 2005). Carbaugh, D, (1990). Cultural Communication and Intercultural Contact. New York: Pergamon Press. 19. Berko, R. , Rosengeld, L. , & Samovar, L. (1997). Connecting: A Culture Sensitive Approach to Intercultural Communication. Fort Worth, Texas: Harcourt Brace. 121. Porter, R. , and Samovar, L. (1991). Communication Between Cultures. Belmont:NTC Publishing Group. 273. Payne, C. (2001). Culture and Communication. Available: http://www2. mhc. ab. ca/users/cpayne/portfolio/cultcomm/default. htm (July, 29 2005). Appendix [pic] A sample website dedicated to understanding cross-cultural types of issues. [pic] ———————– Idea Letter, Fax, Phone call, E-mail etc. Idea

Maos Hundred Flowers Essay Example

Maos Hundred Flowers Essay Example Maos Hundred Flowers Paper Maos Hundred Flowers Paper In 1956 Mao Zedong started a campaign to allow more freedom within his communist regime in China. However in a year the campaign had been cancelled, and replaced by a anti-rightist campaign. Was this just a clever trap to allow Mao to see his critics? Or was it a genuine attempt to allow the Chinese people more freedom? Many historians have argued either way. In 1956 Mao thought it was time to allow more freedom, and allow great expression of thoughts. He intended to allow people to constructively criticises how well communist China was advancing. He made a speech saying how he was extremely pleased with Chinas current state, and hinted he would be allowing intellectuals more freedom. This was very unusual behaviour from Mao, as he was normally against intellectuals. However did he do this for a certain reason? Mao had been so pleased with Chinas state he had sent all the Russian advisers home, as the contract was costing China heavily in resources. However by losing the Russian advisers he needed to allow the Chinese intellectuals to have some more freedom to inspire them to continue the work the Russians were doing beforehand. Stalin died in 1953, and when Nikita Khrushchev came to power he slammed Stalin, and when Mao saw this he could see the same happening to him in China. Therefore to stop this happening Mao allowed criticism within his own party so he did not become like Stalin. This helped make himself less like Stalin too. Another possible reason for Mao to make a genuine to attempt to give more freedom was that he was getting suspicious of a Military Coup. He had used the military in the early stages of his campaign, but after they had sorted out the country they were no longer needed. He needed to give more freedom to stop the military deciding to take power. However there a few potential reasons which show it could be a clever trap. In 1956 there was a nation wide revolt against the Russian communist regime. The Government fell quickly and Russia had to send in troops to regain control. Mao did not want the same happening in China, therefore allowing people to openly criticises the regime he could see the people who could be willing to start an uprising. He mainly expected this to come from the intellectuals of China. When Mao cancelled the Hundred Flowers campaign in 1957, many thought it was a clever trap to allow Mao to find out his enemies within the state, however after studying the evidence, I feel Mao had made a genuine attempt to give more freedom within China. However, when he saw how much people did not agree with his policies, he panicked and removed the Hundred Flowers campaign, and decided to send the opposition to re-education centres.

Thomas Hardys Tess Of The Durbervilles Essays - Free Essays

Thomas Hardy's Tess Of The Durbervilles Essays - Free Essays Thomas Hardy's Tess Of The Durbervilles Extremities In Thomas Hardy's Tess of the Durbervilles, Tess worked in two extremely differentiating places. Both Talbothay's and Flintcomb Ash represented a time in her life whether it be favorable or horrid. Both of these spots contributed a deep meaning to the novel. The happiest days of Tess's life were spent on a dairy farm called Talbothay's. It was there that she met Angel Claire, with whom she had desperately fallen in love with and married. Talbothay's was used as a symbol of grandeur in Tess's life. It was there where she found meaning in her life for the first time in the novel and became content with herself. However, it all came to an abrupt end when she married Angel and told him of her affair with her cousin Alex. Angel was devastated and left her to fend for herself. This is when her life got much harder. Through a friend, she got a job working for Flintcomb Ash. It was a physically exhausting job, in which she had utter hatred for. While there she ran into her cousin Alex. This only worsened her terrible state of mind. From then on she longed for the days with Angel at Talbothay's. Talbothay's and Flintcomb Ash differ extremely in their descriptions. Talbothay's was a Utopia in Tess's life. It was depicted with luscious greenery and rolling hills. It was located in the Vale of Froom, which was known for its rich and fertile soil. There nothing could bother tess. Flintcomb Ash was a barren wastelan characterized by misery and pain. It was a cruel place in which Tess spent the worst days of her life. There she found the meaning of true wretchedness, but at the same time began to appreciate her days at Talbothay's. The descriptions Hardy used to depict the two places were central to the meaning of the work. The descriptive writing lets tthe reader not only see both places, but feel them as well. This allows the reader to find apathy for Tess's situation and take pity on her. The contrast made between talbothay's and Flintcomb Ash was used to symbolize the enormous conflict Tess's life dealt with. Through this type of writing the reader begins to see that no matter how bad a person might think they have it, someone else has always got it worse. Bibliography Bloom, Harold. T.S. Eliot. Pennsylvania:Chelsea House Publishers,1999. 60-68. Curley/Kramer, eds. Modern American Literature:Vol. 1. New York:Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1969. 340-341. Perkins, George, ed. Benet's Reader' Encyclopedia of American Literature. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991.300-301.

How Economists Use Total Factor Productivity

How Economists Use Total Factor Productivity Conceptually, total factor productivity refers to how efficiently and intensely inputs are used in the production process.  Total factor productivity (TFP) is sometimes referred to as multi-factor productivity, and, under certain assumptions, can be thought of as a measure of level of technology or knowledge. Formula for TFP Given the macro model: Yt ZtF(Kt,Lt), Total Factor Productivity (TFP) is defined to be Yt/F(Kt,Lt) Likewise, given Yt ZtF(Kt,Lt,Et,Mt), TFP is Yt/F(Kt,Lt,Et,Mt) The Solow residual is a measure of TFP. TFP presumably changes over time. There is disagreement in the literature over the question of whether the Solow residual measures technology shocks. Efforts to change the inputs, like Kt, to adjust for utilization rate and so forth, have the effect of changing the Solow residual and thus the measure of TFP. But the idea of TFP is well defined for each model of this kind. TFP is not necessarily a measure of technology since the TFP could be a function of other things like military spending, or monetary shocks, or the political party in power. Growth in total-factor productivity (TFP) represents output growth not accounted for by the growth in inputs. - Hornstein and Krusell (1996). Effects on TFP Disease, crime, and computer viruses have small negative effects on TFP using almost any measure of K and L, although with absolutely perfect measures of K and L they might disappear. Reason: crime, disease, and computer viruses make people AT WORK less productive.