Improving The Supply Chain Performance Of Blood Services - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2625 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Blood Banking services is one of the most important operations worldwide. The blood banking service provides the resources for transfusion needed in every medical intervention, whether in peacetime or during war. This paper observes the process of blood banking supply chain, starting with the upstream suppliers of raw material (blood) and down to the downstream consumers of products (hospitals). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Improving The Supply Chain Performance Of Blood Services" essay for you Create order In the first part of this paper we present an overview of the supply chain of blood banking, and review the relevant research and literature regarding supply chain management of blood banking. In the second part, we select two areas of the supply chain and select key performance indicators (KPIs) that observe the quality of the supply chain of blood banking, from an aspect of service quality and cost control. We set the current levels of these KPIs with relevant information if it is readily available or by extrapolation from historical data where the current levels are unavailable. In the third part, we propose changes to the supply chain to improve the areas of review. These improvements will be indicated by changes in the selected KPIs. Analysis of supply chain performance Corporate Overview Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is the national non-profit organization created to manage the blood supply throughout Canada outside Quebec. Canadian Blood Services operates 41 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually (Canadian Blood Services, 2009; British Columbia Ministry of Health Services, 2002). The main products of CBS are Red Blood Cells, Plasma protein products, Platelets and Plasma for transfusion. In 2008 CBS collected 915,858 units of whole blood from 425,000 donors. CBS services provides blood supply services for a population approximately 26,201,377 (Statistics Canada, 2010). Blood Banking Process Overview of CBS The overall process of blood supply is the following: a given geographic region is serviced by a regional blood center (RBC) and smaller community blood centers (CBCs). These are responsible for providing blood products to hospitals. To achieve this, the Blood Centers must plan donor collection at planned locations. Donors are invited to donate blood to donor clinics. To reach a wider donor population, mobile collection units (specialized vehicles) are sent to sites where there are no fixed donor clinics (Pierskalla, 2004.). Depending on the requirements for blood products, the whole blood are collected into appropriate bags are used when drawing blood. The collected whole blood is sent to a CBC or RBC for processing. There, it is tested for viruses and diseases, and final components are prepared from the whole blood. The components are placed into inventory for shipments to hospitals based on their blood product requirements. CBS operates only 41 permanent collection sites/RBC. The supply of blood products is then distributed to hospital blood centers, without community blood centers. The blood products are highly perishable, with shelf life from 5 to 35 days. If a particular component exceeds its maximum shelf life, it must be destroyed. This process is presented on the following figure. Current target of meeting demand is 95% of hospital demand nine months out of twelve. Literature review (Keal and Hebert, 2010) conclude that blood banks must reorganize their mindset and adopt KPIs on a daily basis. Naturally, financial, operations and executive levels may be interested in a different set of indicators. Blood banks need to perform analysis with a much greater frequency then currently performed to become more elastic to demand and changing environment. As a first step, a blood bank needs to identify which issues it needs to address when implementing KPIs. (Jennings, 1973)- Cooperation between is successful in outdate and shortage management is a good choice. Common inventory policy between blood centers reduce the numnber of outdates and shortages by 72% in a 20 blood center cluster, and by 64% for a 5 blood center cluster. Simple threshold transfer policy reduce the numnber of outdates and shortages by 61% in a 20 blood center cluster, and by 54% for a 5 blood center cluster. This operates on a Outdate / Shortage ratio of 1.0 (equal number of shortages and outda tes). Simple treshold transfer is much more efficient in transport logistics and costs, as well as information support systems. (Prastacos, 1984) Blood collection is through organized collections, invited donors and walk in donors. No donor should be returned. This variance in collection environemnt dictates very careful selection of Optimal component processing policies to achieve optimal supply of proposed products. Donors react positively to positive reinforcement (rewards, altruism, health checks). The positive reinforcement is a key conclusion of the research of (Oswalt, 1977). (Hemmelmayr et al., 2009)- Discusses that a Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) control for blood products can be extremely efficient, including scenarios of multiple products. (Jones, 2003) Changes to regulation and public events can cause a significant dip in donations and cause blood product shortages. These can be localized, and impact the different regions differently, thus testing the elastic ity of the system. Donors react positively to positive reinforcement (rewards, altruism, health checks).The blood donor pool needs to be further researched, since significant number of potential donors are untapped. (Katsaliaki and Brailsford, 2007) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" performs a computer simulation model of the blood banking environment end-to-end and concludes that there are room for changes that will improve the overall system state. These changes include changes in stock planning, management of inventory Key Performance Indicators, KPI ´s, are indicators showing what needs to be done in an internal operative perspective. These KPI ´s focus on the parts of an organisations performance that are the most critical to success, both for present time and future. A good KPI affects a number of critical success factors. It also affects other KPI ´s in a positive manner. Parmenter (2007, page 3) Due to Neely et al (2000), each company has to map their way to s uccess through identifying a number of key factors in the process When implementing KPIs, it is of utmost importance that goal measures for every KPI are defined. Shahin and Mahbod (2007) claim that SMART goal setting is a commonly used set of criteria of how to set goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Sensitive. The service level is the ability for the company to secure delivery to its customers. When calculating the safety stock the service level is used. (Mattsson, 2004, page 160) decrease the holding stock to 4 days, the introduction of two routine deliveries in working hours to better manage orders from the NBS and grouped transport to hospitals, a more insensitive ad-hoc ordering point for RBCs to 35% of the optimal stock level, the reduction of the total crossmatch release period (before and after transfusion) to 1 day, the increase of the transfusion to crossmatch ratio to 70%, either through stricter compliance with the recom mended ordering system leading to more accurate orders placed by doctors, or by applyingm ultiple-crossmatchingte chniques, strict adherence of the hospital blood bank when cross-matching units to a FIFO order for units coming from the Centre and LIFO for the unused, returned units from the other wards. In other words, compliance with a FIFO order accordingt o the collection/productiond ate of the unit Analysis of Key Performance Indicators of Procurement The main challenge in the procurement process for blood banks is the supply of the source of all blood products à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" donors who can vary since donors are volunteers. The supply is further impacted by the list of viruses and diseases that the donations need to be screened for before the products can be used for transfusions (Pierskalla, 2004.). All collected whole blood and blood products are stored in special containers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" bags that differ depending on the product they contain. A defective batch of containers delivered from the manufacturer will cause a recall and destruction of an entire batch of collected WBC or entire batches of products. The CBS procurement KPIs that will be investigated are: Percent of RBC shipped vs whole blood collected à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" This KPI will measure the ratio of of red blood cells shipped to the whole blood collected. From the collected blood, there can be discards due to a variety of reasons (quality control, t est results, post-donation information, equipment problems, process non-conformances). This ratio indicates the quality of blood collection and processing. CBS has an average of 79% ratio of this KPI over a 3 year period (Canadian Blood Services, 2009). Number of Blood product recalls per 10,000 collections à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" This KPI measures the number of blood product recalls once they have been distributed to the hospitals that need to be recalled due to errors, accidents and post-donation information, for every 10,000 blood collections. This ratio is important to since it influences the overall customer satisfaction, and causes costs for the reverse logistics. CBS had the worst recall ratio in 2008, with significant decrease in 2009 (Canadian Blood Services, 2009). Number of Whole blood donors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" A very straightforward KPI, which tracks the number of persons that donated whole blood à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" the upstream suppliers. This KPI needs to be closely fo llowed, since a declining number of donors indicate a very real risk of blood and product shortages since the upstream supply is reducing. CBS historical data for this KPI indicates a varying trend in the past 3 years (Canadian Blood Services, 2009). Number of Units of whole blood collected vs Number of Whole blood donors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" This KPI presents the prolificacy of each donor during the year. The average waiting period between donations for a donor is 70 days. This means that at most, a single donor can make 5 donations per year. CBS has this KPI at a very constant 2.17 over the 3 year period (Canadian Blood Services, 2009). Number of blood containers defective per 10,000 units collected- Since the blood procurement process is extremely dependent on the correct and good quality containers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"bags. Therefore, a KPI is needed to identify the amount of defective containers, and properly manage the supplier relationship with the suppliers of these contai ners. CBS has seen the most defective bags are noted in 2008, with a declining trend in 2009. Analysis of Key Performance Indicators of Inventory Management As (Jennings, 1973) concludes, three of the most important measures in inventory management in any blood bank are shortage, outdating and cost. We will review the following KPIs in the CBS model: Number of component indate discards over components produced à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" The discarded components from inventory within their shelf life are part of the total loss of stock. Recalls for any reasons, as well as defective containers cause indate discards. But indate discards from inventory reduces available inventory, and can impact the carefully planned balance of procurement, stock and distribution. CBS has a trend of reduction of indate discards in stock, which is consistent with the increasing percentage of delivery of products to collected blood units. Number of outdated components to total components in inventory à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Since blood products are extremely perishable, there is no opportunity to keep a stock of blood products for any long period of time unless the y are cryofrozen (out of scope of this paper). The outdated components are the stock of products that have not been used before their shelf life has passed. This KPI is crucial in tracking the expiry of products (and conversely money) due to poor planning. CBS is reducing the outdated products and bringing it to 2.5% at an annual level. Cost per blood product unit shipped à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Since everything is about cost reduction or customer support, this ratio is crucial for cost management. Every step in the blood banking process is very expensive, and the tracking of this KPI is important for top management, as well as the logistics manager. As can be seen in the diagram, this KPI for CBS is showing increasing costs (Canadian Blood Services, 2009; British Columbia Ministry of Health Services, 2002) Percent of Order fill rate, by blood product type à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" This KPI directly tracks the downstream supply chain service quality. The percent of order fill rate is in e ssence the achieved service level for each type of product. total blood requests, by type of blood product (red blood cells, platelets etc.). CBS sees a reduction of the service level for order fulfillment in the 3 year period (Canadian Blood Services, 2009). Proposed Changes for Improving Performance After reviewing the KPIs of the two processes of interest, certain trends are identified that need to be analyzed and remedial action be taken. Each of these KPIs will require a logistic effort. Procurement The procurement process of Blood Banking supply chain was observed through 5 KPIs and it was identified that 3 are indicating positive trend. The other 2 KPIs are indicating negative trends that need to be treat: Increasing units of whole blood collected per donor, which indicates reduced motivation of the supply sources. The positive donor motivation should be returned only through positive reinforcement. (Prastacos, 1984; Oswalt, 1977). In logistics terms this would mean more equipment, human resources, marketing material and constant communication with donor relationship teams to provide necessary resources. Number of blood containers defective is widely varying. Most organisations monitor their suppliers to make sure that they continue to give satisfactory service. This is called supplier rating or vendor rating (Waters, 2003) Multiple suppliers and very frequent tracking of this KPI (weekly level) (Keal and Hebert, 2010) so proper remedial action can be taken . FIFO/LIFO Inventory Management The inventory management process of Blood Banking supply chain was observed through 4 KPIs. While 2 KPIs indicate good trends and successful operation, the other 2 indicate serious issues that need to be remedied. The main actions that need to be taken from the investigated KPIs are: Increasing order fill rate. The following diagram presents the overall service level of CBS for order fill rate. It can be concluded that the overall service level (product of service levels of the three products) is steadily declining. The safety stock needs to be increased on all three products to include (Ballou, 2004; Waters, 2003) Trans-Shipment for grouped Stock Centers (Jennings, 1973) and re-use of returned indate products (Katsaliaki and Brailsford, 2007) Vendor Managed Inventory for hospitals (Hemmelmayr et al., 2009) Controlling cost per blood product unit. There is a consistent trend of increasing cost of blood product unit. The cost breakdown in Appendix C shows that the maj or cost elements are the blood collections and distribution, consisting of 50% of all costs (excluding administration). Since the best positions for cost reduction are at the point of contact between supply chain partners (Waters, 2003), these exact points should be investigated for cost reduction. Conclusion Blood Banking is operating the supply of a key component of life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" blood and bood products. It is considered a crucial service for any country, and is even treated as a big business in some countries. The logistical issues of blood banking are many on every level, since blood banking must achieve very fast delivery of products, and any stock-outs may mean loss of human life. This is further Through adoption of KPI tracking throughout the processes of blood banking, a blood service like Canadian Blood Services (CBS) can achieve a very quick reaction time to adverse indications of deficiencies in the process. The procurement process has logistical issues that need to be followed by the logistician in the area of donor treatment, which is an activity that will be performed in coordination with Marketing. A more pressing issue is the management and tracking of quality of blood containers and their suppliers, since a faulty series of containers will cause produ ct recalls, stock-outs and financial losses. The inventory management process as a first priority must focus on achieving an much better overall service level of order fill rate than the current one. The service level needs to be increased by a higher safety stock, but since only increasing the safety stock is costly, a trans-shipment of products between centers need to be performed. Also, this service level can be improved by agreeing on a Vendor Managed Inventory with the hospitals. The other issue is cost of blood product management, through optimizing the process which requires most logistics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" blood collections. An optimized process of blood collections which can reduce costs of that process by 10% will show significant improvement of the cost of blood product.

Film Critique What Makes A Good Mystery - 1750 Words

Film Critique Introduction What makes a good Mystery? What has to happen for the suspense of the mystery to be affective? Should there be an exciting twist within the suspense of the movie for the mystery to take place? Is it the unknown of the storyline that makes the mystery compelling and exciting? Where there are dark places, law breaker, and a twisted plot with some uncertainty are typical sign of a mystery film. The suspense of the story draw you in and the twisted surprising conclusions leave you speechless. A mystery film typically takes place in a dark setting in crime ridden areas. There is usually a serious crime that is unsolved or a suspect on the loose as a passionate, determined detective or officer looking to solve it in†¦show more content†¦Other cast members were Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postlethwaite, Kevin Pollak, and Chazz Palminteri; the movie was released on February 16, 1995. Furthermore the film has a bunch twist and turns that leads to the movie’s final sc ene; which no one sees it coming. Five criminals set out on a heist that didn’t go according to plan, and ended up in a police station being interrogated. However, the only surviving person left to tell the story of what actually happen was Verbal, the guy with the disability. He walks with a limp, he doesn’t have full mobility with his arm, and sometimes he has problems expressing himself or putting his words together; which makes him seem as if he is incapable of committing this caliber of a crime. Throughout the movie Verbal suggest that Keyser Soze, who is a mystery character to Dave Kujan the U.S custom agent. As a result, Dave Kujan thinks that Verbal is lying and Keyser Soze is his co-conspirator. However, Verbal paints this picture that Keyser Soze is this scary, terrifying monster that all the criminals are afraid of and he is the master mind behind all the killings. 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DoubtsUncertainties in Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing free essay sample

Love, hate, fair and foul are tightly entwined around the core of drama. Although they are extreme opposite, they blur together to create the perfect partnership, which allows characters to appear different to their internal feelings. Whether it’s through the ‘barbed banter’ of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ or the ‘saucy doubts and fears’ of Macbeth, Shakespeare presents scenarios where central characters place their credence where they should have agnosticism and their doubts where they should act with surety. Shakespeare clearly presents Beatrice and Benedick rooted in animosity towards one another. They frequently express their certainty of this; for example when Benedick labels Beatrice as ‘Lady Disdain’, so she retaliates by naming him as ‘pernicious’. Shakespeare shows conflict between two complicated characters in a transparent way through their ‘merry war’ of derision, which often descents into a brawl of weaponly words like ‘you are a rare parrot-teacher’ – the pomposity of which camouflages their raw doubts and uncertainties. â€Å"He lent me it a while, and I gave him use for it. A double heart for his single one. † In this quotation, it appears that Beatrice has peeled away her malicious mask to reveal a small insight into her past with Benedick. ‘He lent me it awhile’, referring to his heart, suggests the two shared a romantic history, which may have met a bitter end. ‘Lent’ has connotations with a temporary agreement rather than a relationship, which implies Beatrice believes Benedick’s love for her was faux. This is further backed up by ‘a double heart for his single one’, which insinuates that Beatrice loved him twice as much as he did her. The quotation is infused with a sense of regret, and could lead one to believe that their romantic occurrence caused Beatrice to be hardened with an impenetrable shell that impedes any feeling of love, and her philosophy that she ‘would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than have a man swear he loves me’. If this extract was to be spoken in performance, it would present the actress with a rare opportunity to portray Beatrice’s hidden vulnerable, uncertain side, allowing her character to be looked upon from a different viewpoint. It is in Acts 2 and 3 when Beatrice and Benedick are duped into thinking the other has feelings of ‘enraged affection’ towards them, so we see responses riddled with doubts and uncertainty in an unaccustomed way for each character. â€Å"Is’t possible? Sits the wind in that corner? † Shakespeare reveals Benedick’s doubts as he questions the situation, pondering whether what he is hearing could possibly true. It is unsurprising that he feels so uncertain, having recently been told ‘nobody marks you’ and called a ‘disease’ by Beatrice herself. As Leonato, Claudio and Don Pedro continue to use false words in order to mislead him, Benedick attempts to persuade himself it’s true – ‘I should think this a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence. ’ Shakespeare presents Benedick weighing up the situation: that it must be a trick, yet Leonato (Beatrice’s uncle) speaks it, so there must be an essence of truth. He also adds that ‘knavery’ or wicked deceit, could not be presented in such a manner, as it is too cruel for the theme of affection. Beatrice also experiences very similar thoughts. â€Å"What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? † The first question Beatrice asks herself alludes to the old superstition that a persons ears burn when he is being spoken of. As realisation of Benedick’s feelings dawns upon her, Beatrice is filled with thoughts of doubt as it is incomprehensible for her to think that he could feel anything more than scorn towards her. The speed at which she accepts what she is hearing could signify that there may still have been some underlying feelings for Benedick hidden beneath their ‘skirmish of wit’, and that secretly she had been withholding for the moment when she could justify to herself that it is not a crime for her to have feelings towards him – ‘Benedick, love on. I will requite thee’. Beatrice’s emotions have experienced a drastic change since Act 1 Scene 1, where she is noted as insulting Benedick’s appearance by saying ‘Scratching could not make it worse, and ‘twere such a face as yours were’. Judging by this, it seems almost impossible to think she could feel any remotely benevolent feelings towards him, but further analysis into the play suggests the opposite. In act 1 Scene 1, Beatrice says ‘I know you of old’, which proposes the idea that there has been a history between the two, unknown to the reader. When Beatrice and Benedick finally profess their love for each other in Act 4, Shakespeare continues the sprinkling of doubts and uncertainties through his convoluted use of syntax, repetition of negative ideas and paradox. ‘I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is that not strange? ’ In Act 4 Scene 1, Beatrice and Benedick are left in private, which gives them the opportunity to reveal their feelings for one another. The addition of the question at the end of the quotation denotes that Benedick has realised the enormity of what he has just stated, so therefore questions Beatrice and labels it as strange to make it seem less significant, as he still has feelings of doubt over his new emotions. Benedick is eager to know what Beatrice really thinks of him, much like in Act 2 Scene 1 at the Masked Ball, where he questions ‘I pray you, what is he? ’ in hope of uncovering a deep feeling that Beatrice holds for him, only to be labelled a ‘dull fool’. ‘It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you. But believe me not, and yet I lie not: I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. ’ This medley of contradictory phrases portray Beatrice’s continuing doubt and reluctance to admit her love for Benedick†¦. ++(public scene) It is clear that Shakespeare is not presenting us with characters who are content with their thoughts, making their capricious behaviour a medium for their wavering between certainty and doubt – ‘quotes’, and as a result produces characters who are troubled in their behaviour and outlook, struggling between the distinction of love and hate. **linking Para** Macbeth makes the transition from ‘peerless kinsman’ to ‘dead butcher’ as he becomes his own worst enemy, tormenting himself with his own harrowing thoughts of doubt, uncertainty and sheer guilt, as he fails to asunder between right and wrong, described by the witches as ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’. The tale is a tragedy of ambition studied through the prism of temptation. As such, it stands as a starkly humanistic morality play, more observing of Macbeth’s evil than editorialising upon it. â€Å"Is this a dagger I see before me? The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. † The ‘daggers’ appearance can be viewed ambiguously; is it an omen that Macbeth should proceed, or is it a final warning of his conscience? Macbeths dismissal of the dagger later in the speech (‘a dagger of the mind, a false creation’) would suggest that he’s trying to make himself believe that it’s a good sign, as a bloodied dagger seems self explanatory before Macbeth was due to commit murder. In the whole speech, Shakespeare foreshadows the toll that Duncan’s murder will exact upon the conspirators. For now, the appearance of a bloody dagger in the air unsettles Macbeth, filling him with uncertainty. Even he doesn’t know whether the dagger is real, or is simply a figment of his guilty imagination. It is, however, certainly a harbinger of bloodier visions to come, for both him and Lady Macbeth – ‘Out damned spot! ’ and ‘Avaunt, and quit my sight, let the earth hide thee! ’. As Macbeth fears, the murder of Duncan is not a deed that will be ‘done, when ‘tis done’. The last vestiges of the ‘honourable’ Macbeth wither at the end of this soliloquy ‘Whiles I threat, he lives: Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives’. It is a fleeting match between Macbeth’s ambition and revulsion. The bell ultimately tolls for Macbeth as it does for Duncan; the dagger of the mind is as potent a killer as the dagger Macbeth wields in murder. Towards the end of Act 3 Scene 4 after the disastrous banquet, Macbeth and his wife are left alone in private where Macbeth enters a mysterious personal world of evil and contemplates the consequences of his actions. â€Å"It will have blood they say: blood will have blood. † Blood having blood is a continuous system. In this quotation, Macbeth is implying that killing is likely to become a habit and his guilt will not grind to a halt. They will both be continuous actions. Shakespeare uses the power of three by repeating the word ‘blood’ which gives it great emphasis, and makes it apparent just how much blood has been shed at Macbeth’s hands. This is the first line spoken by Macbeth after the forced exit of the banquet guests, which shows the dramatic contrast between his public front and his private character, tortured by his own troubles. Continuing the theme of blood, Shakespeare later paints the image of Macbeth wading through a river of blood – ‘I am in blood, stepped in so far that should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er. ’ The quotation displays Macbeth’s distorted justification behind his despicable actions, temporarily masking his doubts and guilt over what he has committed. His reasoning is that it would be just as ‘tedious’ to refrain from any brutal deeds that he may as well just continue. Shakespeare uses the metaphor ‘wade’, which conjures an image of someone in a substantial amount of blood, which again emphasises just how much blood Macbeth has spilt and displays his brutal hunger for power and his devotion to gain it. In the film production produced by Roman Polanski, this scene is presented with a red filter over the camera which creates an eerie atmosphere and causes the private conversation to appear even more demonic, along with giving connotations of blood. In Act 3 Scene 4, Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s fears and doubts combined with his determination to retain his power as he plots for the future. â€Å"There the grown serpent lies, the worm that’s fled, hath nature that in time will venom breed† Shakespeare has used an extended metaphor to describe the death of Banquo and the escape of Fleance. Banquo is described as a ‘grown serpent’ which highlights the hypocrisy of Macbeth by moulding an image of Banquo being a snake for the audience. However, the reality is that Banquo is entirely innocent and so Macbeth is presented as a cowardly yet ruthless murderer emphasising the corrupting influence of his ambitions. The metaphor ‘serpent’ also suggests that Macbeth is trying to justify his actions to himself and find an excuse for doing something as disgraceful as killing his closest friend. Although Macbeth must be suffering through abhorrent guilt after arranging for Banquo to be murdered, he continues to use a deranged front which shows his tenacity to retain his throne. He is beginning to suffer the consequences for his actions, and is uneasy as to what the future holds for him.

SEM Vs. SEO Do You Really Know the Difference

As search engines have evolved over the years, content marketing has also had to evolve to be effective. This has led to two terms becoming popular in the marketing industry: search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). Here, we’ll explain the differences between the two, because many people still get them confused. Put simply, SEO uses strategies aimed at increasing the number of website visitors organically by getting a site to appear higher in search engine results pages. SEM includes SEO, advertising, and other techniques. To be clear about the difference between SEO and SEM, let’s look more closely at each term. SEM Vs. SEO: Do You Really Know the Difference? Click To Tweet What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? SEO is the practice of optimizing your website and content in order to naturally increase your visibility and rankings in search engines. It involves the use of high-quality content, relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and useful links. There are two main pillars of SEO: on-site SEO and off-site SEO. On-site SEO consists of: Optimizing metadata, including heading tags, meta descriptions, and alternative text for images. Clear page URLs with suitable keywords. Optimizing page loading times. Well-written copy that uses relevant keywords. Social media integration. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out the latest trends of on-page optimization. Off-site SEO consists of: Building backlinks naturally from quality sites. Social media marketing. Influencer marketing. Optimizing directory listings. Encouraging user reviews. What is Search Engine Marketing (SEM)? SEM is the practice of increasing your website’s visibility on search engines through paid search advertising, social media marketing, and SEO. Through paid search advertising – or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising – you’re essentially buying advertising space on search engine results pages. Google AdWords is the most common pay-per-click service and you can use it to get your ads to appear in search results, paying only for the clicks on your ads. Bing and Yahoo have a similar system. Related: How to Perfect Your PPC Ad Copy The Main Difference Between SEM and SEO It’s wrong to use the terms SEM and SEO interchangeably, because although they’re related, they’re not the same. The main difference between the two is that SEM is more targeted and drives traffic from paid ads, whereas SEO drives traffic from free, organic search results. It's wrong to use the terms SEM and SEO interchangeably, because although they're related, they're not the same. The main difference between the two is that SEM is more targeted and drives traffic from paid ads, whereas SEO drives†¦ Click To Tweet SEM Vs. SEO: Which Tactic is Better? Some marketers consider SEM traffic to be more valuable because it’s more targeted. The theory is that when searchers click on an ad from search results, they’re more likely to convert. If you’re looking for quicker results and you have the budget, paying for PPC ads may make more sense in the short term. It’s also easier to compete for space on search engine results pages against bigger brands. However, if you’re operating on a more limited budget, it’s sensible to invest time in creating content for SEO to steadily increase your organic search rankings. A combination of paid strategies and SEO is often the best way to go. This way, you can adapt your strategies to suit your changing budget and your specific marketing goals. Two Sides of the Same Coin Basically, search engine optimization is part of search engine marketing. They both increase your visibility in search engines. While SEO will help you naturally increase your search engine rankings in the long term, SEM will give you more instant results. It just depends on what you want to achieve. When combined, SEO and SEM will help maximize your online reach and convert more qualified traffic into interested customers. Think of them as being two sides of the same coin. Use a mix of both and monitor the results. If you’re interested in elevating your SEO and SEM efforts, consider hiring a professional SEO writer or a copywriter for your ads.

King Lear A Shakespearean Tragedy Essays - King Lear, Goneril, Fool

King Lear: A Shakespearean Tragedy There has been many different views on the plays of William Shakespeare and definitions of what kind of play they were. The two most popular would be the comedy and the tragedy. King Lear to some people may be a comedy because they believe that the play has been over exaggerated. Others would say King Lear was a tragedy because there is so much suffering and chaos. What makes a Shakespearean play a comedy or a tragedy? King Lear would be a tragedy because it meets all the requirements of a tragedy as defined by Andrew Cecil Bradley. Bradley states that a Shakespearean tragedy must have to be the story of the hero and that there is exceptional suffering and calamity slowly being worn in as well as it being contrasted to happier times. The play also depicts the troubled parts in his life and eventually his death that is instantaneous caused by the suffering and calamity. There is the feeling of fear in the play as well, that makes men see how blind they are not knowing when fortune or something else would be on them. The hero must be of a high status on the chain and the hero also possesses a tragic flaw that initiates the tragedy. The fall of the hero is not felt by him alone but creates a chain reaction which affects everything below him. There must also be the element of chance or accident that influences some point in the play. King Lear meets all of these requirements that has been laid out by Bradley which is the most logical for a definition of a tragedy as compared to the definition of a comedy by G. Wilson Knight. The main character of the play would be King Lear who in terms of Bradley would be the hero and hold the highest position is the social chain. Lear out of Pride and anger has banished Cordelia and split the kingdom in half to the two older sisters, Goneril and Regan. This is Lear's tragic flaw which prevents him to see the true faces of people because his pride and anger overrides his judgement. As we see in the first act, Lear does not listen to Kent's plea to see closer to the true faces of his daughters. Kent has hurt Lear's pride by disobeying his order to stay out of his and Cordelia's way when Lear has already warned him, "The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft." Kent still disobeys Lear and is banished. Because of this flaw, Lear has initiated the tragedy by disturbing the order in the chain of being by dividing the kingdom, banishing his best servant and daughter, and giving up his thrown. Due to this flaw, Lear has given way to the two older daughters to conspire against him. Lear is finally thrown out of his daughters home and left with a fool, a servant and a beggar. This is when Lear realizes the mistake that he has made and suffers the banishment of his two eldest daughters. Lear is caught in a storm and begins to lose his sanity because he can not bear the treatment of his two daughters as well as the error he has made with Cordelia and Kent. Lear also suffers from rest when he is moving all over the place and the thing that breaks him is the death of his youngest daughter Cordelia. This suffering can be contrasted with other happier times like when Lear was still king and when he was not banished by his two daughters. The feeling of fear is when Lear is in the storm raging against the gods, "I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children, you owe me no subscription.", telling them to rage harder since he has not done anything for them and that he didn't deserve what he has received from his two daughters. The fear is how Lear in a short period of time went from king to just a regular peasant and from strong and prideful to weak and unconfident. This shows that men do not hold their own destiny and that even though things may be great now you can be struck down just as fast as was to Lear. The fall of Lear is not just the suffering of one man but the suffering of everyone down the chain. Gloucester loses his status and eyes, Cordelia and Kent

Free Essays on NBA Market Entry To China

Since its inception in 1946, the National Basketball Association has transformed itself from an 11 team league to a global phenomenon that transcends national borders. The league is composed of 29 teams, divided into Eastern and Western conferences, and includes one Canadian team. The league also operates and manages the recently established Women’s National Basketball Association, WNBA, in addition to a six team developmental league, the NBDL. NBA games and programming are shown in 212 countries in 42 different languages. The most recent NBA season featured 67 international players from 33 countries and territories on team rosters, resulting in global media coverage and increasing fan interest from across the globe. The NBA is a recognized leader in global sports with 13 offices located worldwide, and annual sales revenues of over $2 billion. Through NBA Entertainment, the league operates a 24 hour NBA television network, weekly programming, as well as the official websites, NBA.com, WNBA.com, and NBDL.com, which is readily available to fans across the world. Further exhibiting the NBA’s global influence and impact overseas sales account for approximately 30 percent of all NBA merchandise sales. In addition, 51 percent of Internet traffic on the leagues official website, NBA.com, comes from outside the United States. In 1898 basketball was introduced to China by U.S. Christian missionaries in the city of Tianjin, a couple years later after it was invented in the United States. Mainland China’s population is 1.3 billion with 210 million involved in basketball either in coaching, playing, or basketball activities. China has a huge basketball following especially with the younger generation who has a greater â€Å"western† following. The sports industry that our venture will be competing in is the Professional Sports teams in China; soccer, ping pong, badminton, Canada Basketball Association, or any other U.S. profession... Free Essays on NBA Market Entry To China Free Essays on NBA Market Entry To China Since its inception in 1946, the National Basketball Association has transformed itself from an 11 team league to a global phenomenon that transcends national borders. The league is composed of 29 teams, divided into Eastern and Western conferences, and includes one Canadian team. The league also operates and manages the recently established Women’s National Basketball Association, WNBA, in addition to a six team developmental league, the NBDL. NBA games and programming are shown in 212 countries in 42 different languages. The most recent NBA season featured 67 international players from 33 countries and territories on team rosters, resulting in global media coverage and increasing fan interest from across the globe. The NBA is a recognized leader in global sports with 13 offices located worldwide, and annual sales revenues of over $2 billion. Through NBA Entertainment, the league operates a 24 hour NBA television network, weekly programming, as well as the official websites, NBA.com, WNBA.com, and NBDL.com, which is readily available to fans across the world. Further exhibiting the NBA’s global influence and impact overseas sales account for approximately 30 percent of all NBA merchandise sales. In addition, 51 percent of Internet traffic on the leagues official website, NBA.com, comes from outside the United States. In 1898 basketball was introduced to China by U.S. Christian missionaries in the city of Tianjin, a couple years later after it was invented in the United States. Mainland China’s population is 1.3 billion with 210 million involved in basketball either in coaching, playing, or basketball activities. China has a huge basketball following especially with the younger generation who has a greater â€Å"western† following. The sports industry that our venture will be competing in is the Professional Sports teams in China; soccer, ping pong, badminton, Canada Basketball Association, or any other U.S. profession...

Free will V.S. determism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Free will V.S. determism - Essay Example However, this can have repercussions as individuals following their own free will do not tend to listen to others around them and do as they please. This does not always work out cordially within a society full of different kinds of people because of varying needs that each person has from the other. Most people are under the impression that every individual has their own personal free will according to which they make choices and decisions. However, people often forget to understand that sometimes these choices come from the values and morals that have been imposed upon them as they grow up. In that case, these beliefs are not mapped by their own free will, but are determined in the manner that they are raised. My take on freewill is based upon an individual’s own disposition of which is derived from their possessions, such as possessions of social environment, religion and of family’s general views of life. We all come from families with views on religion or at least of life itself, through these possessions we develop subconscious bias opinions or tendencies, which are the foundation of an individual’s decision making. However, as we get older we become aware of other views or perspectives of life, and can choose to implement them in a way that is conducive to what we want to become. You cannot determine where or how you are born, as that is determined for you, nor can you determine who raises you and what bias views they pass on to you. Nonetheless, as a person gets older they can choose to retain all of the previous convictions passed down to them or can chose to see things in a different manner - though, it will still be from the same mind that has possession of influences that are particular to his or her life, even if they may be subtle. Every man is born under certain circumstances and conditions which remain constant at his birth. He does not have the power to change that certain thing about his life and he has to take whatever co mes his way with regard to that aspect of his life. However, once a person starts to grow up, things start to change for him. He sees different things and experiences different aspects of his life and starts to perceive them according to his will. The will starts to develop at the age of 8-9 and continues till the death of human beings. The will of a human being is developed throughout his life. Once a man is able to see the world from his own eyes, he starts to analyse his life with respect to his personal beliefs rather than the beliefs of other people being imposed on him. Most people are raised believing that their religion is the best one and that they should be happy they do not belong to any other. When a child is born, he is made to undergo certain rituals and rites according to the religion that his family is in. Throughout the course of his life, he is told things and led to believe that his religion is the sole guiding principle that will help him achieve whatever he want s in life. However, very few parents and families provide leverage to the child by making him aware of all the different religions in the world and letting him choose his own faith. In some families, children turn rebellious and begin to adopt a new way of life, by accepting the rites and rituals of a different religion as per their own free will. Every time a person adopts something within him, according to his own beliefs and faith in things, he is taking to free will rather than having his life being determined by