Total And Viable Counts Of Microorganisms Biology Essay

Total And Viable Counts Of Microorganisms Biology Essay The term microorganisms also called microbes refer to small tiny single celled organisms usually not visible to the naked eye. Microorganisms require magnification for proper visualization and resolution of their structure. These involve use of microscopes or magnifying lens with appropriate level of magnification (Tortora, Funke and Case 1995). Microorganisms are found in all living things all over the world i.e. plants and animals. They exist in a variety of habitats. They can live in air, on land or in water both fresh and salty. The three main classes of microorganisms are bacteria, fungi and viruses. Different microorganisms have different effects. Some are harmful while others are beneficial. Pathogenic and spoilage microbes cause diseases and food spoilage respectively thus referred to as harmful microorganisms. We also have others that are needed by living things to survive and they are termed as beneficial microbes (Tortora, Funke and Case 1995). Microbes are classified either by placing them in prokaryote or eukaryote group or by classifying them according to the temperature in their surrounding environment where they are classified as thermophilic microbes (thermophiles), mesophilic microbes (mesophiles) or psychrophilic microbes (psychrophiles). Thermophilic microbes are those microbes that grow well in high temperatures above the human body temperature. Mesophilic microbes are those that grow well in temperatures equal to that of human body while psychrophililic microbes are those that grow well in low temperatures below that of human body (Jaggi 1985). Like any other living organism, microbes reproduce for enhancement of their species. They reproduce by means of either sexual or asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction occurs by mating of a male and a female while asexual reproduction is by cell division either by mitosis, meiosis or binary fission. 3. Counting of microorganisms. Micro-organisms can be counted. They need to be detected first before being counted. There are several techniques involved when counting microbes. One or more of the following techniques may be used when counting microbes. Direct counting techniques can be used. The oldest of these is microscopy which involves magnification of individual cells to become visible to the naked eye. Direct counting techniques do not rely on cell population growth. A more recent of the direct counting techniques involves use of immunofluorescence and epifluorescence adaptations of cell labeling used in conjunction with cytometry. In both technologies, the trigger for a count is derived from single cells (Diaper et al. 1992). We also have culture techniques that rely on growth of microbes to a level where they are visible. This is done under specific conditions of temperature, oxygen, time and nutrients among others. The last technique employed is that of reporter assays which asses the population of microbes through their metabolic activities. The population does not necessarily have to be growing. Examples of such techniques include conductance, colorimetry, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and turbidometry (Bowden 1977). Counting of microorganisms can be done by different methods. In most cases the sample to be counted is first diluted to avoid overwhelming the whole counting procedure. However in some cases, the sample may be too dilute to give the required minimum count to be able to estimate the microbial population of that sample. In such cases, concentration of the sample is carried out. Counting can be done by use of a slide and a cover slip. A drop of the diluted sample is put on the slide with a suitable agent for proper visualization of the sample. It is then covered wit a cover slip and put under a microscope and observed at a suitable magnification. The centre area can be dimensioned with etched grids. The number of microbes in the grids is multiplied by the dilution factor to get the number in the original sample (Black 1996). The Petri dish count is where the sample is diluted to a point where the colonies will be statistically significant to be counted but not so many to overgrow each other. This method takes time for the individual cells to grow into colonies. The colonies counted are multiplied by the dilution factor to get the number in the original sample. The results here are expressed in colony forming units per milliliter i.e. CFU/ML. The time taken for the cells to grow into individual colonies is called the incubation period. Counting of microbes is important as it enables us estimate the microbial population in a variety of products (Breeuwer et al. 1994). 4. Total count. Total count is also termed as standard plate count or colony count. It gives the total number of microbes both viable and non-viable. All cells are counted. These include bacteria, yeasts and moulds. It is usually done by pour plate method. Total count generally requires employment of a microscope. For instance, when determining total microbial count in water by pour plate, a known volume of water is mixed with molten yeast-malt extract agar and given time to solidify. This is done on several plates. One set of plates are incubated at 37Â °C for about 24 hours and the other set of plates are incubated at 20-22Â °C for 3 days. You will find that most bacteria capable of growth in water do so well at 22Â °C than at higher temperatures. While the microbes that grow well at 37Â °C will not grow very well in water. This means that the two types of microorganisms need to be counted differently since they differ in their growth pattern. In this case, carrying out of total count on water is beneficial in several ways (Paulse, Jackson and Khan 2007). It helps to evaluate the efficiency of certain water treatment processes like coagulation, flocculation and disinfection. It also gives an indication of the level of cleanliness of the water distribution system. It can also be used it d etermine the suitability of water supply to firms where food and drinks are prepared on large scale. Total count is achieved either by use of direct or indirect counts. One method of direct count is the use of a haemocytometer. A haemocytometer is a specialized microscope slide important in cell counting. The central part of this slide has etched grids with precisely spaced lines to enable accurate counting. In order to get an accurate count in this method, the cell number should range between 40 to 70 cells in a one mm square. If this requirement is not met, necessary adjustments by either dilution or concentration are done as necessary (Rapposch, Zangerl and Ginzinger 2000). In indirect counts, one method is by use of a colorimeter. As the microorganisms grow with time, they make the agar more and more turbid. This turbidity can be measured by use of a colorimeter where optical density is measured. The greater the optical density the greater the number of microbes (Breeuwer et al. 1995). There is also a measure of dry weight. This method involves centrifugation followed by weighing to get the dry weight. The limitation of this method is that cells are destroyed The other indirect count method involves the use of a coulter counter. A coulter counter is a probe which measures variation in conductivity of a solution as a bacteria passes through a narrow gap (Daley 1979). The advantage of direct and indirect counts is that the process can be automated but the disadvantage is that they can not differentiate dead cells from living ones. 5. Viable count. Viable cont involves counting of colonies produced by only viable cells under favorable growth conditions. This can be accomplished by techniques like pour plating, spread plating and most probable number with an assumption that each and every viable cell gives rise to a pure colony. (Black 1996). In pour plating, the liquid media and the diluted sample are poured together in Petri dishes while still in liquid form and left to solidify. After solidifying, the Petri dishes are incubated at appropriate temperature for the required period of time during which the growth is realized. The plates are then removed and distinct colonies counted and expressed in colony forming units per ml. In spread plating, the media is prepared separately and poured in Petri dishes while still in liquid form. It is then left to solidify. After solidifying, a small known volume from the diluted sample is put to each Petri dish and with the help of a sterilized spreading rod, the sample is evenly spread over the media. The plates are then incubated at an appropriate temperature for a given period during which growth is realized. The plates are then taken for counting of colonies using magnifying lens (Black 1996). Colonies grown in Petri dishes by various methods excluding streaking method may be used to estimate the count of viable microbes since plate counts assume that every colony is founded by a single cell and that the cell must have been alive to grow and form that colony. Problems with plate counts are several. They require a long time of incubation to be able to visualize the colonies. Clumping of cells can lead to undercounting of viable cells. Cases of too many or too few colonies on a plate to accurately estimate viable count are common. Serial dilution is often required to prevent cases of overcrowding of cells. Too few cells require concentration by either centrifugation or filtration. In a case where too few colonies are present then the original culture must be concentrated before determining the plate count. Filtration is a method used to concentrate microorganisms by sieving microbes out of the medium. Centrifugation is also a separation method based on the density. This helps separate the microbes from the medium since both have different densities (Pettipher, Mansell, McKinnon and Cousins 1980). . In serial dilution, increments are made in 1000, 100, or 10. The number of dilutions to be done depends on the concentration of the original solution and the required concentration. The volume of the solution needed is also vital. If small quantities of solutions are needed then greater numbers of dilutions are necessary. Serial dilution allows small aliquots to be diluted instead of unnecessary big volumes of materials. When carrying out serial dilution, a small amount of original sample is removed to another container and its volume adjusted to original volume using a suitable buffer or distilled water e.g. if 1ml of the original solution is taken and 10Â µL removed and put in 990Â µL of media or water then we will have made a 1:100 dilution. If the original solution contained 5 x 106 cells/mL then we now have a concentration of 5 x 104cells/mL because we have divided the concentration by 100 (Pettipher, Mansell, McKinnon and Cousins 1980). Another method of determining approximate viable count is by use of most probable number. This method involves diluting the growth cultures and then growing the dilution cultures in broth tubes. This method is useful where it is beneficial to use broth other than solid media especially for highly motile organisms which are poor in forming colonies. The most probable number method is mostly used when the organism in question is not able to grow on solid agar or in situations where the microorganisms are too few to give reliable measure of population size by the standard plate count method (Black 1996). The advantage of viable count is that the method can be made very sensitive and that one can be able to count subsets of population. However the disadvantage is that sometimes the colony forming units may underestimate the number of cells because of clumping or chains of cells. It is also time consuming as the counts require at least few hours or overnight for incubation (Bowden 1977). Viable count of microbes is mostly applicable in food processing industries mostly dairy and meat processing plants where microbiology is most applicable. It helps in estimation of shelf life of processed food products as well as evaluation of sanitary conditions under which the products were manufactured. The efficiency of certain treatment processes like pasteurization, sterilization and cold storage done during production is also evaluated by viable microbial count. 6. Conclusion. Total and viable counts of microorganisms are important practices in microbiology applicable in fields of medicine, food among others. The main difference between the two is that total count determines the count of all cells both dead and alive while viable count estimate the number of viable or live cells only capable of growing into distinct colonies.

urfews are popular

Youth curfews are popular. In poll after poll, Americans support laws that restrict teenagers' activities during certain hours of the day and night. Youth curfews are also logical. If youngsters are getting into trouble, it makes sense to get them off the streets. Yes because most crimes are usually committed at night.. teens can be used as an easier target for adult predators.. less people to witness things at night Why Curfews Are a Good Thing Kids certainly need their freedom, but how much freedom?Some parents today are so worried about being friends with their kids that they forget hese young folks need guidance and structure in order to survive on their own later in life. There is nothing wrong with setting a curfew for a teen under the age of 18. The overarching goal of a curfew is protection, both of the teens as well as the community itself. According to youthright. org curfews are very effective in protecting minors from hazards such as, â€Å"drunk drivers, drug dealers an d stalkers/rapists that scuffle around the streets at night. Obviously a curfew won't keep a teenager out of trouble during the day time, but that is not their purpose. Curfews for minors play a big role in keeping them out of situations that can lead to them getting into trouble. Teens should have curfews because teenagers get into more trouble without them. Research shows that 59% of teens get in trouble at night rather than during the day. That's more than half, teens will be better having a curfew and not getting in trouble at night. Not only so, but also most teens get into car accidents late at night.There is one chief danger on the road that curfews aim to protect teenagers from and that is drunk drivers. There are thousands of accidents every year involving drunk drivers. It is best that we keep our young and inexperienced drivers off the road during this dangerous time of night. Essentially, with a curfew they won't be out on the roads late at night and they will get into l ess car accidents. Curfews help keep both teens and adults safe. It can be unsafe having teens roaming around without an adult after certain hours.Curfews would keep kids off the streets late at night. If they are home, and not out on the streets, there isn't the temptation to do something risky that will et them into trouble. Also if teens are at home they are safe from the very dangerous threats of drug dealers, talkers, and rapists. This is a very real threat because the naive youth of today are often the targets of these criminals in todays society. Having a curfew in place would significantly cut down on the chances of this happening.Keeping our children safely asleep at home. With curfews in place, the lifespan for our teens would increase. Teens should have curfews because teenagers seem to get into more trouble without them. If they are with friends then they may be empted to do things that are not okay. In the nighttime, it is more likely for teens to go out and cause troub le, or make trouble for themselves. In a group of cities that took a poll, over half agree that a curfew is a good idea and that it is effective if it is followed.The curfew helps keep teens out of trouble because they cannot be out causing trouble for others or themselves. Without a curfew, there would be many more case of crimes involving teens. Keeping kids off the streets would cut down on crimes such as vandalism and destruction ot prope Even though curtews can be ard to enforce, it is important that police officers make sure they are followed. Ninety Percent out of a group of cities interviewed agreed that police officers should enforce curfews.If they do not, the curfew will not be followed and teens can be out at whatever time they want. Having teens out at night can sometime be a bad thing because of the dangers they are susceptible to and the trouble they can more easily get into during the night time. Keeping teens at home during the night can help stop any trouble that i s caused mostly during the night. Although it is sometimes hard for olice officers to make sure curfews are followed, it helps make their Job much easier. Without teens being out at night, not as much trouble is caused.Late night parties are not as much of a worry to police officers or parents of teens. These parties cannot start if teens have a curfew to follow. Ninety three percent of cites interviewed agreed that curfews help stop these kinds of parties from starting. In conclusion more than half of the crimes committed by teenagers take place at night, so curfews would also help cut down on the overall likelihood of teenagers committing crimes. Curfews would also protect others from the dangerous things that teen do at night.Most importantly curfews contribute greatly to keeping teens safe from criminals such as drunk drivers, rapists, and kidnappers. A curfew is, in my mind, the best way for a parent and teen to build trust. The more the teen fallows the curfew the later or mor e lenient the curfew will become. In a good relationship the curfew soon is done away with because the parents know and trust that their child will be safe and know when to come home and when it is the right time to leave said party or friends house.When it comes to rebellious acts and the lot if the parents start early with the curfew then it will become more habitual for the teen. The only really troubling aspect of this is the friends of the teen. If they have a later curfew the teen will be torn between their friends and their parents. The best way to stop this is to ask why the teen what some of their friends have for curfews and negotiate and later time. This makes the teen see the parents and curfew in a more positive light and the parents now know that their teen will be home for sure.

Internship Final Paper Essay

Introduction Getting an internship can help students to find out what they want to do with their future careers. (â€Å"Internship.†) As a fashion student, I was always interested in the publication or magazine industry and I now want to have a career in the department of a fashion magazine. Seeking a writing-related internship in the fashion industry will fulfill my interests. It was very fortunate for me to come across Retail Assembly as they were searching for intern. They were looking for an intern to support their products with smart content focused on global retail innovation, growth and strategy as well as trend forecast. I am glad that I had found a internship that offers a challenge and was a perfect match for my career goal. When I started to study my master degree in fashion and got to know more about the fashion industry, I realized that there were a variety of interesting jobs. Fashion buyers and trend forecasters are some of them. In the retail industry, a buyer is an individual who selects what items will be stocked in a store, based on the predictions about what will be popular with shoppers. (Loxley) Retail buyers usually work closely with designers and their designated sales representatives and attend trade fairs, wholesale showrooms and fashion shows to observe trends. As for trend forecasters, the goal is to identify a trend years before it comes to fruition, and to break down the context of that trend for those who don’t have time to travel the world searching for inspiration. (Scully & Cobb 43) These two jobs might be seen as â€Å"fancy jobs† which include a lot of traveling and shopping around the world. In fact, scouring cultural events, fashion shows, trade shows, and design er showrooms in search of the â€Å"Next Big Thing† must have some degree of difficluty reality. I was interested in both careers of buyers and trend forecasters and I wanted to explore these two jobs during in my summer internship. Retail Assembly is an agency of consultants and E-learning for fashion and retial business. They offer counsels and courses such as buying, marketing, and branding for any business starter. (â€Å"Retail â€Å") To fulfill the content of their product, they needed someone who could tell interesting stories about their clients. It was a great experience to work with Retail Assembly because not only did I have the chance to understand the business side of fashion, I also get to improve on my creative writing skills. This summer internship helped me to build up my resume and enriched my knowledge of retail business. History of Retail Assembly As the namesake, Retail Assembly is a group of top educational and retail professionals gathered together, developing fundamental online courses and news for the industry.(â€Å"Who†) Retail Assembly is the latest source of education for those who are seeking a career in fashion, and those who are looking to supplement their knowledge in the fashion and business field. The website offers a selection of courses and workshops, from Fashion Buying, Branding and marketing to Product Development and Retail Math. (Bajaja 55) Catering to busy schedules, the courses are taught through online approaches by professionals who are currently active in fashion and creative businesses. The keynote of Retail Assembly is that self-learning is a lifestyle and the courses are very flexible to access at anytime and anywhere. Jennifer Pilkington, a graduate from Ryerson’s fashion marketing program, launched Retail Assembly in 2007 after years spent marketing and fashion buying for big companies in Canada. Jennifer has had a career in buying and product development that spans from luxury to sports. She has worked for Canada’s greatest retailers in the country’s best cities – Aritzia in Vancouver, Holt Renfrew in Toronto, and Garage in Montreal. (â€Å"People†) She wasn’t always interested in fashion but she was always interested in design, colour and shape. During her second year of fashion student at Ryerson, she obtained an internship at Holt Renfrew. It was an eye-opening experience when she started to work at their corporate offices. There was so much passion injected into fashion by much intelligence. The concept of merging E-learning with current and update industry news was born after Jennifer Pilkington left her buying job at the Bay. (Bajaja 54) She felt frustrated and wanted to give her team a good opportunity to learn on the job and progress. There was a lot going on in terms of learning really niche things. Jennifer found that textbooks were always a little bit stale, not really current or reflective of the marketplace. It was really important to consider time constraints and flexibility for a working person whom had left the school life. The people who are working in the industry come from great PR firms, advertising and social media companies as well as high academic background. (Tiu) They either provided the content or input. Every single course was designed by the contributions of multiple people. This ensured that each course reflected the scope of the industry. By bringing in a lot of people who have worked in the industry to look at each and every course, the content of the news was unbiased and fully structured. Moreover, Retail As sembly has people come from boutiques and also corporate levels who are currently working in the industry. It creates space for new instructors to come in and contribute. Internship Learning Goal As contributors for the blog of Retail Asembly, interns have to offer latest Canadian retail & fashion news and an in depth analysis of business model and marketing strategy, which are related to the main courses provided by Retail Assembly. I am also incharge of the colour forecast, style analysis, beauty trend and China scoop. To reach the goal of being a brand content intern, I have to create headlines, crawl news feeds, suggest and write stories to blog, suggest or develop and edit campaign written content. Furthermore, I need to contribute to the broader content and social media strategies as well as contribute to the media monitoring report. I have also touched on the topic in marketing strategy of luxury and high street brands. For example, the shifting guidance of LVMH and Coach, as well as H&M’s move on sustainability and celebreity collaboration. Additionally, I had a full-scale discussion of how different brands, including Celine, J Crew, and Gap are using colour blocking as their main design concept. Colour forecasting is a global career that focuses on upcoming colour trends.(Scully & Cobb ) A fashion forecaster predicts the colors, fabrics and styles that will be presented on the runway and in the stores for the upcoming seasons. The predicted concept or theme can applies to all levels of the fashion industry including haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass market, and street wear. The purpose of forecasting trend is to attract consumers, help retail businesses and designers to sell their brands. (Orrell) I have contributed several stories that focused on my interest in colour forecast, style and trend analysis, as well as beauty industry. I had finished a couple of runway reviews, such as the Spring/Summer 2014 Bridal Fashion week in New York and Spring/Summer 2014 Menswear. I also dedicated a colour forecast for Spring/Summer 2014 and made a full mood board for our clients. I believe that the best fashion show is on the street, so doing street style analysis is one of my passions. It can be really inspiring to see how people mix and match their personal style creatively. Weather it is in Paris, London, New York, Milan or any other zmazing cities, photographers are there capturing the best style. For designers and the magazine editors, the photographs are the tool to help dictate the trends. For the photographers and the models, it is art and expression. For the regular man/women form the street, it is a door to the fantast fashion – a world of glamour and excietment. Street style photography had managed to bridge the gap between the normal real world and the dizzing world of fashion. To analyze street style was a great oppertunity to examine fashion not only from the trend perspective, but also from a social and economical angle of how style transits from one to the next. As someone who has a background in pharmaceutical and fragrance, I couldn not help but notice that beauty trends are getting more attention than usual. Fragrances and cosmetics are usually the main entry point for luxury brands, which is why controlling the beauty product’s communication and marketing strategy is key.( â€Å"Burberrys†) It is not rare that the luxury brand want to put their hand on the fragrance and cosmetics business because they are the primary tool for attracting aspirational consumers. I had a closer look at Burberry’s move on fragrance and the development of Sephora, a fast-growning fragrance and cosmetic retailer. I also explored issues relating to China, taking a stance on how fashion industry has invested in Asia market. China is bursting into the luxury retail world. The power of the Chinese consumer is growing. To succeed in the global market, companies need to capture the hearts of the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. ( Bi et al. 253) With a proliferation of news on Chinese luxury consumers at home and abroad, I try to offer the best angle to some of the most relevant content on luxury brands and Chinese consumer preferences. For example, the influence of the New Chinese first Lady and ASOS’s advanced in Asia. Researching in consumer behaviors, I had hoped to find headline-worthy news and the lastest insights behind the red flag. Learning Value During this internship, I have imporved my fashion editorial and creative writing. I have also expanded my knowledge of retail business, the importance of net working and team work, as well as the asset of visial communication. I published a large amount of fashion editorials and trend reports independently. These are my proudest references to my work and are wonderful additions to my portfolio. I truly appreicate that I was given the freedon to offer my own perspective on different affairs that were happening in the industry. It was a really good training process of critical thinking and creative writing. I had also actively did interviews with many talents in the fashion industry, sharing their philosophy of fashion with our readers. Some pieces were very successful because they are different from what the blog had before and brought a fresh air to the content. I was amazed by both the artistry of fashion and the analytical business aspects. I liked that Retail Assembly offered participants different elements and perspectives of the business to stimulate critical thinking and promote life-long learning. I can now constantly probe into the strengths and weaknesses in a business strategy, providing me with greater market awareness. I am also glad to have met Jennifer Pilkington, the founder of the Retail Assembly and Guidiance and Consaltant. She is a senior merchant, also an instructor at Ryerson University, collaborator for the retail buying courses and workshops. Her personality and experience are the best model for me to strive toward my dream job. She makes me believe that fashion has the a side of intelligence. The importance of team work and net working was highlighted during my internship. It is interesting that a team can brainstorm together and stir up a sparkle in a discussion. The Retail Assembly team basically met once a week and discussed the latest fashion and retail news, searching for a good topic for the upcoming week. Interns also networked with each other, which can help one another in the future by sharing job and contact information. Having valuable, experienced contacts is helpful in the future for starting new business or job hunting. Visual communication is strongly emphasized in fashion industry. (Barnard 29 )The design concepts are communicated through visual aid and are described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon, such as illustration, colour, media and electronic resources. For me, the process of analyzing rumway and street style photos, my observation has become even more acute. It was a spectacular training process for eyes on colors and details, such as fabrics, texture or embellishment. Conclusion Internships provide a glimpse into different industries, allowing the interns to see whether they want to work in that field or not. Internships is important becase it allows to gain valuable experience in our areas of career interest. Often, the more experience students have, the stronger they are as the job candidate in the future. To search a position that fit my career goal is crucial. I had excellent exposure to the global industry and learned the importance of great relationships with great people. What I really loved about Retail Assembly is that how well-operated they are. They started from a strong place – a lot of academic- and industry-based research. The number of brilliant people who touch each one is remarkable. An interest in editorial work grew from my love for writing, and as an extension of that, I’ve always had a insatiable curiosity for information, whatever the subject. I enjoy keeping up on the latest developments in culture, art, music, film and fashion. Trend reporting is a way to connect the dots by looking for patterns and shifts in fashion; similar to crafting an academic thesis, but one pertinent to business. Last but not least, this internship has taught me that casual learning has always been a part of our daily lives. The key is to want to know the knowledge instead of rigidly adhering to formalities. The working experience and learning process are â€Å"invisible† but the most valuable asset that we can gain. Taking initiative with passion is a chance to step ahead from other people in fashion industry. Being attentive to everything detail happen around will give you a nice surprise and new thoughts. Work Cited Bajaj, Rahul. â€Å"Retail Assembly† KNOWMAG. July 2013. P54-55 Barnard, Malcolm. Fashion as Communication. London: Routledge, 1996. Print. Bi, Xiaogang, et al. â€Å"Chinese consumer ethnocentrism: A field experiment.† Journal of Consumer Behaviour (May 2012), 11 (3), pg. 252-263 Chang, Wendi. â€Å"Burberrys Move on Fragrance.† Web log post. Retail Assembly. N.p., 29 May 2013. Web. 27 July 2013. Loxley, T. (1996, Jan 04). â€Å"Fashion buyers’ forecast for spring.† The Globe and Mail (1936-Current). â€Å"Internship.† The Economist 27 Feb. 2010: 37EU. Academic One File. Web. 1 Aug. 2013. Orrell, Rita Catinella. â€Å"The Mysterious Art Of Color Forecasting.†Architectural Record 200.11 (2012): 53. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Aug. 2013. â€Å"People : Jennifer Pilkington.† Interview. Weblog post. Retail Assembly. N.p., 25 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Aug. 2013. â€Å"Retail Assembly X KNOWSHOW.† KNOWSHOW-BLOG. KNOWSHOW, 25 June 2013. Web. 28 July 2013. Scully, Kate, and Debra Johnston Cobb. â€Å"Colour Forecasting for Fashion.† London: Laurence King, 2012. Print. Tiu, Valerie. â€Å"THE INSEAM VOL. 71: RETAIL ASSEMBLY — Vancouver Is Awesome.† THE INSEAM VOL. 71: RETAIL ASSEMBLY — Vancouver Is Awesome. Vancouver Is Awesome, 19 June 2013. Web. 04 Aug. 2013.

Effectiveness of Different Leadership Styles - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1561 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Table of Contents Executive report Introduction Rationale and objectives Background Methodology Analysis of the findings Conclusion Reference Works Cited Appendix Executive report This report is done to compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations, explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management, and evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations. The purpose, problems and objectives of the research are outlined in the introduction as well as background information on both businesses. A methodology that explicitly tells how the researcher will go about conducting the research- methods and so on is also included. The research begins here in section two; the findings are analyzed and discussed. The objectives are restated then they are discussed, analyzed and evaluated respectively. A conclusion is also drawn from the whole report mainly giving a reminder of the issues that exist. Harvard style referencing is used to cite where some of the information and knowledge are obtain. Finally, there is an appendix which consists of an organizational chart for CDR . Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Effectiveness of Different Leadership Styles" essay for you Create order Introduction Rationale and objectives The importance of this research includes: Firstly, to afford the researcher the opportunity to assume major roles in leading a project. Secondly, allowing the researcher to assume management and administrative roles in order to attain knowledge, understanding and the skills of these areas. Third, to prepare and coordinate operational plans, display effective self-development and time management skills to satisfy an organizationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s needs The objectives of the research are to: 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations Leadership Background Casa de Regalo is a nationwide partnership gift boutique established in 2009. It is located at Barbican Centre. They have ten dedicated and enthusiastic employees. Due to their unique tailor made products and services C.D.R is considered as the organization that satisfies seasonal giving needs. They specialize in a variety of unique merchandise ranging from specialty cards, flowers, toys and personalized printing services to specialty handcrafted gifts, jewelry, body essentials and customized apparel which are imported from your favorite places over the world. They also offer surprise delivery services. Providing exceptional customer service and customized products that are tailor-made to each customers personal style and also giving them the highest quality merchandises at an affordable price is our mission. We are aimed at making profit. KD consulting is a limited liability company established in 2008. It has twelve dedicated experts. We are a mobile company but our main offic e is located in Montego Bay. Our company provides a variety of services ranging from identify highest-value opportunities to addressing the most critical challenges and transforming enterprises. The trust and confidence in our capabilities that our clients are exposed to, is what differentiates us from other firms as well as our ability to enhance business performance, positively marketing them and ensuring their likelihood of making profit or achieving their goals. CDR is an international organization with the mission of providing expert advice and solutions for clients, therefore assisting small businesses to develop efficient plans for meeting their goals. Our aspiration strives through becoming the best consulting firm there is; providing quality service to all existing and start-up small businesses that seek our guidance. We also aim to be recognized as partner of choice by our clients and being technologically advanced in our fields of expertise while remaining practical and b usiness oriented. Methodology The research is to design a management firm which is hired to assess a small business on behalf of an investor to help the company to explore the links between the organisation structure and culture and how these interact and influence the behaviour of the workforce. In order to assist the company secondary research will be conducted. Secondary data collection is published information that is already available from other sources. The internet will be my main source with its online dictionaries, articles, websites and books. This information collected from the secondary sources is pertinent to the objectives of the research. The researcher also used this type due to the fact that it is Inexpensive, information is easily accessible and immediately available and it will provide essential background to help to clarify or refine the research problem. The information accumulated is credible and is derived from the written work of authoritative individuals such as Jatin Vaid. The research began on February 9th and proceeded to February 26th. Data was collected from several sources from the online sources in order to obtain information related to the United Kingdom (UK) and local business organizations. . Analysis of the findings Compare and contrast different organizational structures and culture The structures There are three main types of structure. Product, matrix and functional Product Division Structure -These are popular among international companies with many products. Products that are similar are grouped under one product heading e.g. Perfumes and Cosmetics, each CEO focusing on a single product segment for its global market. Matrix Division Structure- This tries simultaneously to deal with competing pressures for global integration and local responsiveness. Institutes overlaps among functional and divisional forms. It allows individual groups to share responsibility for new operations and enables them to exchange resources and information more Group willingly. Disadvantages includes: not championing their groupsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ unique needs, therfore eliminate the multiple knowledge (Vaid, 2012). Functional Structure- Specialized jobs are grouped according to traditional business functions. It is suitable for Company with a narrow product line, shari ng similar technology. Highly efficient and assist in maximizing economies of scale The cultures Role Culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" focusses on rules, tasks, procedures and job descriptions Power Culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" power exercised by a one person with not much formal rules; Person Culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the organisation is present for its members to benefit of; Task/Mission Culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" goal based with rewards for achieving mission and goals; 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organizationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business Organizations are set up in specific ways to accomplish different goals, and the structure of an organization can help or hinder its progress toward accomplishing these goals. There are three main types of organizational structure: functional, divisional and matrix structure Culture consists of the shared values of an organization -the beliefs and norms that affect every aspect of work life, from how people greet each other to how major policy decisions are made Types of culture include: power culture, role culture, person culture and task culture. 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behaviour at work The major factors that influence individual behavioral patterns, according to John Ivancevich and Michael Mattson are: demographic factors, ability and skills, perception, attitudes and personality. Demographic factors includes: race, age, sex, socio economic background, education and so on. The importance of studying demographic factors is to assist managers to choose the most fitting candidate for the specific job. Organizations rather persons belonging to a particular socio-economic background- well educated and young. They are believed to perform better than others. Skills and ability: skill according to Cambridge dictionaries is an ability to do an activity or job well especially because you have pra cticed it. Ability is the mental or physical power or skills needed to do something. Ability and skills highly influence individual behavior and performance. Persons tend to perform better in an organization if his skills and abilities are matched with the job. It is the managerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s job to match these skills and abilities off the employee to the job. Perception: a thought, belief, or opinion, often held by many people and based on appearances is referred to as perception (cambridge-dictionaries, n.d.). The study of perception is integral for managers as they need to provide a work environment that is favorable, so that the employees perceive them in most favorable way. If employees perceive it in a positive way they are more likely to perform better. Attitude: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“An attitude is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"a relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards socially significant objects, groups, events or symbolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢ „ ¢ (Hogg, Vaughan 2005, p. 150).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (McLeod, 2009). Attitude is influenced by family, society, culture, organizational factors and peers. Managers in an organization need to create suitable work environments therefore tempting employees to have positive attitudes towards their respective jobs. If employees have positive attitude toward the job they perform better. Personality: the study of individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving (American Psycological Association, n.d.). Factors that influence personality includes: heredity, family, society, culture and situation. Individuals tend to differ in manner while responding to the organizational environment. The most complex aspect of human beings can be regarded as personality. Conclusion Cultural influences and organisational structures can both inform and constrain the strategic development and ultimately the competitiveness of a business in order to maintain competitive advantage and avoid any strategic drift (where organisational factors and culture drive the business rather than the needs of customers and key stakeholders). Their impact should be considered regularly by leaders and senior managers and they should both be critically reviewed. Reference Works Cited cambridge-dictionaries, n.d. Ability. [Online] [Accessed February 2015]. McLeod, S., 2009. Home à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ º Social Psychology à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ º Attitudes. [Online] Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/attitudes.html [Accessed February 2015]. Vaid, J., 2012. Organization structure in international business. [Online] Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/jatinmaims/organization-structure-in-international-business [Accessed February 2015]. Appendix Chart showing organizational structure of Casa de Regalo .