Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay about The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

How does domestic violence between parents and parental figures affect the children who witness it? This is a question often asked by Sociologists and Psychologists alike. There have been studies that prove that children who witness domestic inter-parental violence experience mental health problems, issues with gender roles, substance abuse, the committing of crimes and suicide/suicide attempts later in their lives. This paper will explore all five of these effects of domestic violence on children and show that there is evidence of a clear relationship in which increasing parental violence is associated with increasing outcome risks (Fergusson Horwood, 1998, p.8). When a child witnesses domestic abuse it can have many different†¦show more content†¦(Brescoll Graham-Bermann, 2000, p.2). Another mental health problem that children who have witnessed domestic violence experience is adjustment problems. There appears to be a wide spread belief that children who witness violence between their parents are at a greater risk of later adjustment difficulties that may include behavior problems (Fergusson Horwood, 1998, p.3). Young people reporting high levels of exposure to inter-parental violence had elevated rates of adjustment problems by age eighteen (Fergusson Horwood, 1998, p.1). It is suggested that there are elevated rates of behavioral, emotional, and other problems in children exposed to inter-parental violence (Fergusson Horwood, 1998, p.3). There seems little doubt that children reared in homes characterized by inter-parental violence were at greater risk of later adjustment difficulties as young adults (Fergusson Horwood, 199 8, p.11). It is quite apparent that there is a link between the witnessing of domestic violence and the mental health problems of the children who witness it. Another common effect on children who witness domestic violence is that they have severe gender role issues. Clearly, children exposed to the abuse of their mothers are at risk for learning deleterious patterns of social behavior and for developing distorted expectations about the appropriate roles of men and women in the family (Brescoll Graham-Bermann, 2000, p.2). Therefore, children exposedShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Domestic Violence on Children1529 Words   |  7 PagesProject: The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Trudy Root Kaplan University CM107-11 Children are negatively impacted by the surrounding of domestic violence in multiple ways, in which need to be identified. The audience that needs to be aware of domestic abuse’s effects on children is adults that care for children; such as pediatricians, teachers, counselors, and parents. The issue that needs to be addressed is the negative effects on children involved in a domestic violence situationRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children1387 Words   |  6 Pages Literature Review: The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children By Taralyn Dean SW 8570 March 11, 2015 Introduction Today this paper will be exploring the affects of intimate partner domestic violence and how this impacts the children. The children of theses situations are the bystanders of these physical and emotional events. This paper will review in depth what other professionals are saying about the children of the domestic violence relationships and also the findings andRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesIn a similar study by Ybarra, Wilkens, Lieberman (2007) the goal was to determine if domestic violence leads to functioning shortfalls, and what its effects it has on a child’s behavioral and cognitive functioning. In homes where domestic violence happens, young children are more likely to witness violence than older children. It was hypothesized that children who witnessed violence at home had lower verbal capabilities, and would display greater internalizing and externalizing behaviors. ParticipantsRead MoreEffect of Domestic Violence on Children692 Words   |  3 PagesASSIGNMENT 1 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ID: S99003183; URIAM ROBATI ABSTRACT Domestic Violence has a great effect on children. Domestic violence also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse or child abuse is recognized as a pattern of abusive behavior by one or both partners especially those in marriage. This coercive behavior is used against another person to obtain power and control over the other party in a relationship. Domestic violence takes many forms such as physical violence which includesRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Children1445 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is domestic Violence? Domestic Violence is described as violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner. Many children end up being the victims to seeing domestic violence in the home which is very unhealthy to their development. Some children may development resentment toward both parents- one for not leaving and the other for causing the abuse. Depression, aggressive behavior, emotional distress and suicide depending on the severityRead MoreEffects of Domestic Violence on Children1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe biggest victims of domestic violence are the littlest. The home is a suppose to be a safe and secure environment for children with loving parents and free from violence. Children need a secure environment where they can come home to when the outside world is unsafe. However, every year there are millions of children who’s homes are not a safe haven. Millions of children are exposed to a parent being violently assaulted. Domestic violence is a prevalent social issue in America today. First, whoRead MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children And Children1541 Words   |  7 Pageslife. Domestic abused affect women and children. Lots of women are more at risk in their own home. Spouse abuses happen when one person in the marriage chooses to control the other party by using fair intimidation physical, emotional abuse. Domestic violence displaced many families because they are trying to get away from their abuser. Abuse can range from physical, mentally, emotional or psychological. One of every 5 woman are said to have experience an abuse from their partner. The effect of DomesticRead MoreEffects of Domestic Violence on Children908 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Domestic Violence on Children by Mary Pelham English 1010-19 5 October 2011 Pelham i Outline I. Effects on younger children A. Feelings of deprivation Read MoreThe Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children963 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Many children witness domestic violence each day. Most times, children witness their mothers being abuse by their fathers, step-fathers, or mother’s boyfriends. According to Couchenour and Chrisman (2011), â€Å"Women and children are at greater risk of being victims of abuse than are men† (p. 131). Witnessing violence or being abused at home has serious effects on children. This article explains the short-term and long-term effects that domestic violence hasRead MoreEffects Of Domestic Violence On Children990 Words   |  4 Pagesexposed to domestic violence at an early age, that child adapts to these adverse circumstance and situations (Holmes, 2013). Therefore, children who are regularly exposed to domestic violence may initially display less aggressive behaviors than children who are never exposed. However, this is due to their fear of being a victim of a physical assault (Holmes, 2013). This finding was interesting because it shows how deeply the children are affe cted by exposure to domestic violence. The children become

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Gender Discrimination And The Field Of Science - 1498 Words

As a student coming from a purely humanities background, the idea that gender discrimination could occur in the field of science as a concept was completely alien to me. However it has come to light that gender discrimination in the field of science is not a myth but in fact a harsh reality for which the reasons remain skewed. As according to Linda S. Dix, it is not an easy matter to assess the magnitude of gender discrimination and how that affects the careers of scientists, both men and women, positively and negatively. Discrimination is often subtle and thus difficult to identify or locate. Due to its subtleness, it makes it difficult to measure since it can be entwined with other forms of particularism like age. As a result researchers have come to rely on indirect rather than direct measures of discrimination which was also propounded by Harriet Zuckerman. Most researchers have come to agree that differences in career attainments between men and women occur as an outcome of gender discrimination. As per research ‘gender’ provides a perspective from which one could examine the biases that exist in the larger society. Some believe that to arrive at a more eloquent understanding of the problems of women in science , one should begin by asking what is the nature of science space that leads to under-representation and marginalisation of women rather than questioning the situation of a woman’s life that makes it difficult for her to pursue science. Thus, that genderShow MoreRelatedDiscrimination Against The Engineering Field1527 Words   |  7 PagesThere is lots of discrimination against in the engineering field. Through my research and judging from the articles that I found, it shows that gender stereotypes is still prevalent in the engineering field. There’s still discrimination against women in the classrooms to the process of employment and carries off to the engineering industry. The discrimination keeps women from wanting to try and be in the STEM field, thinking of the that these fields are only for men. Some areas of science do attract moreRead MoreDiscrimination Of The Science Industry Essay950 Words   |  4 PagesDiscrimination of Women in Science Men have been known to be the gender that dominates in the field of Science. The science industry is something that is perceived to be manly, and not pursued by women. This is an unfortunate assumption of the science industry. The only reason women are not the face of science is because the field is biased. Biased in 2016? Absolutely. Discrimination against women in the workplace is nothing new, especially in the field of science. There has been some change butRead MoreThe Gender Wage Gap : An Old Problem878 Words   |  4 PagesThe Gender Wage Gap: An Old Problem in a Modern World The pay gap between men and women has been a pressing issue that is still at the forefront of many political and everyday discussions. Women are currently about half of the U.S. labor force and are increasingly becoming the breadwinners of their families yet some statistics show that they still make about 77% less than men. This number is even lower when it comes to women of color in the workforce (Women’s Bureau U.S. Department of Labor).Read MoreIts A Patriarchal World Analysis1550 Words   |  7 PagesIt’s a Patriarchal World: An Analysis of the Differences in Success Based on Gender Discrimination Globally   Ã‚  Ã‚   Privilege is a word that may be used in a plethora of contexts, one of the least common, however, is the privilege of education and success. Privilege can be defined as an advantage that a person or group holds. A common ideology is that education is a crucial necessity for a successful life, and it can be the deciding factor in one’s attainment of a great career. This ideology is astoundingRead More Women and Technolgy - The Gender Gap in Computer Science Essay1719 Words   |  7 PagesTechnolgy - The Gender Gap in Computer Science Abstract: This paper reviews the gender gap that exists in computer science. By analyzing the probable causes of the divide, solutions may be developed and possibilities of minimizing the gap increase. Although the general public’s efforts toward shrinking the divide subsist, modern society must change its views of women before the technological world can fully appreciate women’s talents. A gender gap undeniably exists in the field of computer scienceRead MoreWhy Engineering And Technology ( E T ) Industries Have Such A Low Representation Of Women1464 Words   |  6 Pageswomen. The topic has often reached top academic researchers who try to find the root-cause and hope to blur the gender lines. Studies have shown that the proportion of women to men in STEM fields is extremely low, despite receiving more help than their male counterparts. One article states, â€Å"Among the top 100 US universities, only 8.8-15.8% of tenure-track positions in many math-intensive fields (combined across ranks) are held by women, and female full professors number less than 10%† (SI Text, Si).Read MoreEssay on Gender Equity in Education1632 Words   |  7 PagesGender Equity in Education Gender equity issues in mathematics and science have been the focus of many educators and researchers for years. Women have often been denied an equal education in math and science for many reasons. Parents and teachers must realize this fact and change their habits wherever necessary. Girls must be given the same opportunity as boys from the beginning, particularly in math and science where girls tend to lag behind. First of all, the term gender equityRead MoreThe Issues Within Public Education Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagesintervention, the latest reforms, as well as unequal gender bias. Gender bias in education is typically thought of the fact that girls are pushed toward classes that are humanities based, while the boys are pushed to take classes that are science and math driven. This then leads into the fact that women make less money than men, so something must be unequal, whether it is education or gender rights, or both. This paper will examine the gender gap in K-12 education, which includes stereotyping andRead MoreGender Inequality Within The Workplace1379 Words   |  6 Pages  Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal differences. There is a natural difference also in the relative p hysical strengths of the sexes. In the workplace Income disparities linked to job stratification Wage discrimination exists when workers are equally qualified and perform the same work butRead MoreEssay On STEM Major1587 Words   |  7 Pagesis a curriculum based on integrated and applied approach on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These four disciplines are based on a cohesive real world approach to learning. Although United States leads in STEM education, only 16% of high school students’ graduates are interested in a STEM Career. Out of these 23% are females who will take STEM majors in the University which is a very low number compared to other fields of study such as Law and Biology. As a result of this, the Obama

Monday, December 9, 2019

Kfc Research free essay sample

I started my research in one of the most popular fast food restaurant which is KFC and it’s located in Tesco Nilai, Seremban. That day, I reached there around one o’clock in the afternoon and going to have my lunch at KFC also. I used to be there in afternoon as most of the customers or crowd will be there due to the lunch value in KFC. Tesco KFC was crowded and occupied with people as it was peak hours for lunch and most of them are workers from nearby shop lots in Tesco. When I’m having my meal, I started to investigate and observe the actual performance of all the employees including manager or others staff in order to determine the type of classical approach that we are going to discuss in this report. I will spend around 3 hours there in order to make an accurate observation for this report. We will write a custom essay sample on Kfc Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Tesco KFC is just on our left hand side when we step into the front door of Tesco Nilai. This branch is considering a little bit smaller than other branches of KFC. In my observation, there were 5 counters placed in order to serve customers for order and payment. However, there was a huge crowd lining in front of it to make their orders. Some of them are queuing patiently while others may be annoyed because the queue was too long due to the limited counters are available. Later, manager came suddenly and he started to give command to the employees. He was standing behind the counter and guiding the female employees to serve the customers. After that, he walked into the kitchen and checked over all the machines. Few minutes later, he started to divide works for all the male employees whose are working inside the kitchen and the female employees are standing at the counter to serve customers. Based on Henri Fayol’s principle of management, division of work are applied in this case. This principle presented work specialization as the best way to use the human resources of the organization. All the employees focus on their own work and perform the best results. Besides that, Unity of Command also applied in the aforesaid case. All the employees are leaded by the manager and obeyed to the instructions of the manager. However, there are some improvements for the service of Tesco KFC. First and foremost, the service in KFC is lacked of efficiency and takes times to make an order. Based on my observation, it took an average 6 minutes for a customer to make their orders, payments, and take away their foods. It takes a long times and easily caused a long queue during the peak period especially lunch hours. Based on Henri Fayol’s principles of management, manager used to be initiative to give any command or take actions. In this case, manager has to make sure that more counters are available in order to serve their customers with more efficiency and effective. Besides that, some of the employees in Tesco KFC are busying on their own staff especially SMS and chatting around. During the peak hours, I can easily see that there were few workers of Tesco KFC standing in the corner pressing their phone and chat with each other. There were only limited workers serving in the only two counters and that’s the main reason caused a long queue in KFC. Based on Henri Fayol’s principles of management, discipline plays an important role in this case. All the workers should be disciple to do their own works and follow the instructions of the manager as well. If the principle of discipline can be applied well, customers no need to waste their time to queue. Also, all the works can be done easily, more efficiency, and more effective. Last but not least, some of the workers especially female workers who are working in front of the counters will show their frustrated and annoyed feeling when they were serving the customers. This is because that they started to feel boring and tired on their works. This problem has to be solved as the feeling of customers will be affected if the employees served with poor services. Based on Henri Fayol’s principles of management, Espirit De Corps principle used to be applied in this case. Manager responsible to general good feelings among the employees and try their best to motivate them in order to come out with best performances. As a conclusion, Henri Fayol’s principle of management considers as a relevant guide and plays an important role to product managing staff. Besides that, this principle also contributed to boost the growth of an organization and have a great impact on managing a business. Hence, this principle is applied on Tesco KFC and creates a better managing system in order to provide better service with more efficient and effective.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Performance Metrics Essay Example

Performance Metrics Essay What are the ways you can measure how successful your Six Sigma project has been in improving quality or decreasing the number of defects? Before we go into the metrics and definitions, let’s say what â€Å"defects† and â€Å"defective† mean. Something has a defect if the result or outcome of a process is not what is expected. Something went wrong. The product may still be usable: a car with chipped paint can still be driven. So some engineers use â€Å"defective† to mean a product which is not usable. Oops, we forgot to put an engine in that car: well, that’s a defective car because it can’t be driven.However, for the purpose of quality control, â€Å"defective† simply means â€Å"contains a defect,† whether that defect is cosmetic or whether it actually affects the function of the part as intended. (So just be careful to make sure you are on the same page in terms of your definition as those you are communicating to). There ca n be different types of defects in a single part based on different causes. B. Performance Metrics–Definitions Here is a list of the Performance Metrics which are spelled out and then given an acronym if one is commonly used. The description is given of what this metric means. Performance Metric| Description| 1. | Percentage Defective| What percentage of parts contain one or more defects? | 2. | Parts per Million (PPM)| What is the average number of defective parts per million? This is the same figure in metric 1 above of â€Å"percentage defective† multiplied by 1,000,000. | 3. | Defects per Unit (DPU)| What is the average number of defects per unit? | 4. | Defects per Opportunity (DPO)| What is the average number of defects per opportunity? (where opportunity = number of different ways a defect can occur in a single part| 5. Defects per million Opportunities (DPMO)| The same figure in metric 3 above of defects per opportunity multiplied by 1,000,000| 6. | Rolled thro ughput yield (RTY)| The yield stated as a percentage of the number of parts that go through a multi-stage process without a defect. | 7. | Process sigma| The sigma level associated with either the DPMO or PPM level found in metric 2 or 5 above. | 8. | Cost of poor quality| The cost of defects: either internal (rework/scrap) or external (warranty/product)| C. Performance metrics–Discussion and examples 1. Percentage Defective This is defined as the Total number of defective parts)/(Total number of parts) X 100 So if there are 1,000 parts and 10 of those are defective, the percentage of defective parts is (10/1000) X 100 = 1% 2. PPM Same as the ratio defined in metric 1, but multiplied by 1,000,000. For the example given above, 1 out of 100 parts are defective means that 10,000 out of 1,000,000 will be defective so the PPM = 10,000. NOTE: The PPM only tells you whether or not there exists one or more defects. To get a clear picture on how many defects there are (since each unit can have multiple defects), you need to go to metrics 3, 4, and 5. . Defects per Unit Here the AVERAGE number of defects per unit is calculated, which means you have to categorize the units into how many defects they have from 0, 1, 2, up to the maximum number. Take the following chart, which shows how many units out of 100 total have 0, 1, 2, etc. , defects all the way to the maximum of 5. Defects| 0| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| # of Units| 70| 20| 5| 4| 9| 1| The average number of defects is DPU = [Sum of all (D * U)]/100 = [(0 * 70) + (1 * 20) + (2 * 5) + (3 * 4) + (4 * 9) + (5 * 1)]/100 = 47/100 = 0. 47 4. Defects per OpportunityHow many ways are there for a defect to occur in a unit? This is called a defect â€Å"opportunity†, which is akin to a â€Å"failure mode†. Let’s take the previous example in metric 3. Assume that each unit can have a defect occur in one of 6 possible ways. Then the number of opportunities for a defect in each unit is 6. Then DPO = DPU/O = 0. 4 7/6 = 0. 078333 5. Defects per Million Opportunities This is EXACTLY analogous to the difference between the Percentage Defective and the PPM, metrics 1 and 2, in that you get this by taking metric 4, the Defects per Opportunity, and multiplying by 1,000,000.So using the above example in metric 3: DPMO = DPO * 1,000,000 = 0. 078333 * 1,000,000 = 78,333 6. Rolled through Yield This takes the percentage of units that pass through several subprocesses of an entire process without a defect. The number of units without a defect is equal to the number of units that enter a process minus the number of defective units. Let the number of units that enter a process be P. The number of defective units is D. Then the first-pass yield for each subprocess or FPY is equal to (P – D)/P. One you get each FPY for each subprocess, you multiply them altogether.If the yields of 4 subprocesses are 0. 994, 0. 987, 0. 951 and 0. 990, then the RTY = (0. 994)(0. 987)(0. 951)(0. 990) = 0. 924 or 92. 4% . 7. Process Sigma What is a Six Sigma process? It is the output of process that has a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1, with an upper specification limit (USL) and lower specification limit (LSL) set at +3 and -3, respectively. However, there is also the matter of the 1. 5-sigma shift which occurs over the long term. The result is the following two charts, one without and one with the 1. 5-sigma shift. Performance Measurement Metrics for SuccessPerformance measurement metrics are critical for a successful supply chain management. Let’s assume that your company has implemented an advanced supply chain planning and execution system with logistics and other related systems. You’ve improved demand management and strengthened partnerships in your supply base. The company has also redesigned and changed all key business processes for conversion from â€Å"push† to â€Å"pull† lean manufacturing. Key suppliers and customers are beginning to sign on for col laborative participation in the supply chain process.In and of itself, just implementing these changes represents some major steps toward a high-speed lean supply chain. Currently, the right performance metrics for gauging everyone’s performance and level of improvement are essential to supply chain management’s success. Ineffective performance measurement will never reveal what really needs adjustment in your business and externally in the supply chain. Performance improvement, effective collaboration with suppliers and customers to streamline the supply chain is an iterative process. This means that how you measure that performance is a critical and continual process.Many manufacturing companies continue to evaluate their performance and make adjustments by focusing on financial data that looks to the past rather than the future. Why Conventional Measurements Fail In the traditional monthly operations review, senior management spends an inordinate amount of time disc ussing the financial results for the previous month or quarter. In addition, there is usually a lengthy review of the budget versus actual expenditures. What’s more, managers at different levels are expected to answer questions about variances and shortfalls, even though many such explanations end up being pure guesswork.Traditionally, monthly operations reviews rarely result in systematically changing the company’s future performance because the operations review process does not connect and coordinate strategy with operations and achieve lasting cost improvement results. These meetings actually encourage managers to modify their activities so that management will not grill them next month. Paradoxically, the modifications they institute in their units are often counterproductive to the company’s real strategy. Why? Because the managers are seeking to satisfy standards that fail to incorporate all of the real drivers of business success.Business process improve ment is sacrificed because the performance measurement system does not work effectively. For example, a purchasing manager may get his or her purchase price variance (PPV) in line with what the operations review team wants but possibly at the disconnected cost of shortages in materials and problems with quality. Strongly customer-focused metrics often do not figure in these traditional monthly financially-orientated reviews. And the common focus on plant utilization, production efficiency, and overhead absorption rewards behavior that has little to do with customer satisfaction.Performance Measurement Counter Productivity In fact, performance measurement systems can have everything to do with counterproductive actions such as building up inventory or controlling purchase price variance with vendors to satisfy ineffective management accounting methods. Here are some of the telltale symptoms of a management that focuses on the wrong metrics. * Engineering continues to design products that are not designed with a lean supply chain in mind. * Accounting is focused on historical, myopic measures that emphasize sub-process performance optimization without considering the performance of the entire process. Sales is encouraged to focus heavily on booking orders without regard for what product mix was planned to be sold and produced or for what margins will be realized. * Plant management is totally focused on shipping dollars, efficiency, utilization, and overhead absorption metrics that run counter to reducing cycle time and increasing customer satisfaction. Without properly focused and balanced performance measures you won’t see process and functional performance as it really could be. Instead, you will likely see process and functional performance as you think they are.That can lead you to make decisions that are less than optimal from the point of view of the whole business. Revising Performance Measurement to Match Strategy Any complete strategic plan must specify goals, strategic objectives, actions, and the final performance measures by which management and stockholders will gauge success. Top management’s performance can usually be measured by sales volume, market share, cash flow, profit, ROI, dividends, and, if publicly held, market value. Operating management, however, is often disconnected from the strategic plan.As a result, business processes and activities under the control of operations are not affected in the ways that will make the company more profitable or give it more market share. This misalignment of performance measurement between strategy and process performance in operations is often poorly understood. It certainly does not receive the priority it should from top management. The critical success factors management defines at the strategic level must be transferred to the operations level measures and clearly linked to business process performance (see Figure PM-1).Successfully linking the real drivers of o verall business performance at the operations level is a prerequisite for effective performance measurement. A primary purpose of measurement is to assess performance levels and to analyze what is happening and where. The most beneficial aspect of performance measurement, however, is pinpointing problem areas and focusing attention on actions that will have the best impact on overall business performance. Without good performance measurements, it is easy for companies to fall into a very common trap: Employees keep busy with all kinds of activities but achieve few of the desired results.Effective performance measurement is the compass that guides management toward meaningful results at the process level, results that will tie in directly with the company’s goals. Wrong Measures Cause Havoc It is very difficult to improve something that you fail to measure properly. The pressure to focus energy on activities that really matter must come from the highest levels of the manufactu ring enterprise. Top management may well know about the need for making improvements, but unless the right performance factors are measured and rewarded, nothing usually changes.Today’s world-class manufacturers are continually tracking process performance factors that ultimately impact business success, such as order-to-delivery cycle time, throughput, inventory levels, quality, operating expenses, and customer satisfaction. Inappropriate measures often lead managers to respond to situations incorrectly and to reinforce undesirable behavior. For example, if manufacturing’s goal is to focus on maximum overhead absorption, the result is often a bloated inventory and decreased customer service.Measuring and driving toward a singular metric, such as purchase price variance or labor efficiency, often leads to higher overall costs that are invisible to traditional accounting methods. Getting a low price on material is important, but ensuring an uninterrupted supply of neede d material to maintain the production schedule and meet customer deadlines is more important. Just think about the real cost of material shortages. The best purchased material value is a result of price, quality, and fast on-time delivery. Keeping an entire organization focused on the right objectives and moving in the right direction is no easy task.Of course, what managers think their superiors consider important, based on the formal or informal measurement system, determines what is going to get done. For example, if something like cycle time gets only lip service from top management, then cycle time essentially becomes a secondary issue. If your company has conflicting performance measures, your managers are certain to have differing values and directions, many of which will be disconnected from your company’s strategy. Without uniform expectations, it is virtually impossible to keep an organization marching toward the same goals.This, by itself, makes reevaluating how yo u measure business processes and functional performance a very high priority. Introduction Performance measurement is an important cornerstone of the contracts between the University of California and the U. S. Department of Energy for the operation of its laboratories. Performance metrics should be constructed to encourage performance improvement, effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriate levels of internal controls. They should incorporate best practices related to the performance being measured and cost/risk/benefit analysis, where appropriate.The Department of Energy has promulgated a set of Total Quality Management guidelines that indicate that performance metrics should lead to a quantitative assessment of gains in: * Customer Satisfaction | * Organizational Performance | * Workforce Excellence | The key elements of the performance metrics to these guidelines should address: * Alignment with Organizational Mission | * Cost Reduction and/or Avoidance | * Meeting DOE Requiremen ts | * Quality of Product | * Cycle Time Reduction | * Meeting Commitments | * Timely Delivery | * Customer Satisfaction | |The Process The first step in developing performance metrics is to involve the people who are responsible for the work to be measured because they are the most knowledgeable about the work. Once these people are identified and involved, it is necessary to: 1. Identify critical work processes and customer requirements. 2. Identify critical results desired and align them to customer requirements. 3. Develop measurements for the critical work processes or critical results. 4. Establish performance goals, standards, or benchmarks.The establishment of performance goals can best be specified when they are defined within three primary levels: Objectives: Broad, general areas of review. These generally reflect the end goals based on the mission of a function. Criteria: Specific areas of accomplishment that satisfy major divisions of responsibility within a function. Me asures: Metrics designed to drive improvement and characterize progress made under each criteria. These are specific quantifiable goals based on individual expected work outputs.The SMART test is frequently used to provide a quick reference to determine the quality of a particular performance metric: S = Specific: clear and focused to avoid misinterpretation. Should include measure assumptions and definitions and be easily interpreted. M = Measurable: can be quantified and compared to other data. It should allow for meaningful statistical analysis. Avoid yes/no measures except in limited cases, such as start-up or systems-in-place situations. A = Attainable: achievable, reasonable, and credible under conditions expected.R = Realistic: fits into the organizations constraints and is cost-effective. T = Timely: doable within the time frame given. Types of Metrics Quality performance metrics allow for the collection of meaningful data for trending and analysis of rate-of-change over tim e. Examples are: * Trending against known standards: the standards may come from either internal or external sources and may include benchmarks. | * Trending with standards to be established: usually this type of metric is used in conjunction with establishing a baseline. * Milestones achieved. | Yes/No metrics are used in certain situations usually involving establishing trends, baselines, or targets, or in start-up cases. Because there is no valid calibration of the level of performance for this type of measure, the should be used sparingly.Examples are: * Establish/implement a system. | * Reporting achieved (without analyses). | * System is in place (without regard to effectiveness). | * Threshold achieved (arbitrary standards). | * Analysis performed (without criteria). | Determining the Quality of Metrics The following questions serve as a checklist to determine the quality of the performance metrics that have been defined. 1. Is the metric objectively measurable? 2. Does the m etric include a clear statement of the end results expected? 3. Does the metric support customer requirements, including compliance issues where appropriate? 4. Does the metric focus on effectiveness and/or efficiency of the system being measured? 5. Does the metric allow for meaningful trend or statistical analysis? . Have appropriate industry or other external stands been applied? 7. Does the metric include milestones and/or indicators to express qualitative criteria? 8. Are the metrics challenging but at the same time attainable? 9. Are assumptions and definitions specified for what constitutes satisfactory performance? 10. Have those who are responsible for the performance being measured been fully involved in the development of this metric? 11. Has the metric been mutually agreed upon by you and your customers?