The Benchmarking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Benchmarking - Research Paper Example Among the many quality tools being used, benchmarking is the tool or approach â€Å"that is accelerating among many firms that have adopted the total quality management (TQM) philosophy.† (â€Å"Benchmarking†, n. d.). Benchmarking helps the organizations to find the correct solutions by following the best practices of other organizations. That is, by evaluating the best or even the relevant practices of the other organizations that operate in their organizational sector or in other sectors, and which has faced similar challenges and situations, a particular organization can find their own solutions. This approach is being followed by many real organizations, and many of them are getting sizable benefits, although there some limitations to it. This paper focusing on the quality tool of Benchmarking will discuss its historical background, working principles, main benefits, and limitations, even while elaborating about its application by case studying two organizations, Xe rox and Southwest Airlines. Although, benchmarking, as the term and as an approach, is being used in various organizational sectors from Information technology to various technologically advanced sectors, it seems ironic that it could have been originated from the manual labor-centric shoemaking industry. That is, in earlier times, cobblers would place a client’s foot on a â€Å"bench† and â€Å"mark† it out to make the pattern for the shoes, and also to measure the sizes, and â€Å"this pattern became a reference point for the cobbler and helped ensure a better fit.† (Ohab, 2011). From those beginnings, this practice of checking the best practices of others, and replicating it was carried out by various people and organizations throughout the 20th century, irrespective of the sectors. For example, Henry Ford created the assembly line in his car manufacturing units, â€Å"after taking the tour of a Chicago slaughterhouse and watching carcasses hung on hooks mounted on a monorail mo ve from one workstation to another†.

Media Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media Studies - Essay Example The weakness of this, however, is that it may sideline other important issues which deserve attention (Gilbert, 3). It may also alter how the public views certain matters, like matters of little importance into a very important issue while those genuinely important may be ignored (Gilbert, 3). Through the powerful media, scandals may also have an effect on how the public puts their trust on the government, which may produce confusion, insecurity or even a revolt (Gilbert, 3). Scandals may also become the basis for a country’s democracy, but may still depend on different factors including the culture of a country (Gilbert, 9). The treatment of the public on issues concerning â€Å"money, power and sex† may vary for different cultures or change in time (Gilbert, 9). For instance, the sexual scandal previously involving the President, was not noticeable before not because of deficient media information but more into delineating that which is public and private (Gilbert, 9) . This perception however waned and became a significant issue on people (Gilbert, 9). One way on how groups are presented in a biased way through the media is in photography for instance. Stereotyping is common especially if a group is of color or some ethnic group, creating either an affirmative or a negative image (Public Broadcasting Service, 1). Photographers involved in photojournalism take into consideration the significance of managing an image and the representation it makes to other people but nevertheless show some bias especially if the audience is white or not belonging to such ethnicity or race (Public Broadcasting Service, 1). The source of a certain story presented by the media can also reflect some bias as to the political perspective (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, 1). Media may rely on the government, established think tank, corporate sources