Sustainable Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainable Operations Management - Essay Example Its main focus is on the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes involved in value creation for sustainable development and growth. The term sustainability aims at keeping a balance between the human needs and prevention of the ecosystems on which our future generation depends. In specific, it refers to the exploitation of resources with the orientation of technological changes and minimal environmental damage to the present as well as future needs. The adoption of sustainable development theory is at an ever growing pace with the increased awareness of eco-friendly environment and analysis has indicated that since after the introduction of UN Agenda 21 (Moore, pp. 20-28, 2008), things seem to accelerate significantly in this area. In order to compete with the global market, businesses are paying more attention towards the environmental consequences of their products or services. They have realized the importance of operations strategy to support the company’s objectives and corporate goals. This trend has transformed the nature of operations to green product design, triple bottom line reporting and close-loop supply chains (Lippmann, pp. 1-9, 1999). The involvement of operations management is present from strategic to tactical and operational levels. Its activities include â€Å"site location, layout and structure, inventory management, traffic and materials handling, equipment selection and maintenance, designing technology supply chains, etc† (Metz, 1998). In this regard, this paper will focus on the issues companies confront while developing their policies regarding sustainable development (Moore, pp. 29-33, 2008) in the area of supply chain management. Supply Chain Management The term supply chain interchangeably used as ‘demand chain’ or ‘value chain’ refers to the voluntary commitments made by the companies to manage better relations with the suppliers (Metz, 1998). It manages in three different directions: t he information flow in all the departments, the funds flow and the materials flow to the concerned places. As the aim of this assignment is to identify and discuss some of the key issues faced by the companies in the development of a sustainable supply chain policy, it has been an observation that companies have realized that the value they provide to their customers in the form of a product or service is not enough to survive in this competitive world (Webb, pp. 1-5, 2000). There is a constant need to address and resolve the sustainability issues throughout the supply chain. â€Å"Some of the most popular and important approaches to SCM includes collaborative planning, outsourcing, customers-suppliers partnership and ISC (integrated supply chain) design† (OECD, 1999). In specific, there are three dimensions on the basis of which a sustainable supply chain policy is developed. Particularly, UN Agenda 21 (Moore, pp. 29-33, 2008) divided the dimensions in two categories: social and economic. However, this paper has identified environmental, social, and ethical concerns that directly affect the performance and image of the company. Environmental Issues: a) the use of natural resources b) gas emissions c) waste management concerns d) harmful substances e) energy consumption f) deforestation g) global warming h) ozone depletion i) Nuclear radiation. Social Issues: a) Role and responsibility of the company towards the social

Eminent Domain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eminent Domain - Essay Example You are flustered, angry, dumbfounded, and at your wits' end! Why me! Don't I have the right to do what I like with my own property No, you don't! Not when you are up against eminent domain. The state government has enough powers under eminent domain to take over your property, pay you a 'just compensation' and raze your house to the ground and start with their redevelopment plans. (Karen Sudol) condominium, bigger business, hotel or retailer by which the exchequer stands to generate higher tax revenue, then the property in question comes within the purview of the statutory criteria for 'blight' in New Jersey for redevelopment and for the greater good of the public. Or if someone owns a farm or if the place was recently flooded, the government enjoys the right to seize the property to preserve open space and alleviate damages caused by natural disasters. There is little that the property owner could do other than go to the court. And the litigation can drag on for years! The government seizes the property after paying 'just compensation' which according to the disadvantaged owners is anything but just. The only ones happy are politically-connected developers who have everything to gain by eminent domain. The hapless property owner in New Jersey has almost nothing to fall back on by way of legal recourse. (Stop Eminent Domain Abuse). Nobody would have believed t... Suddenly, the azure, scenic location of the New Jersey waterfront are being consigned to the cutting and crashing sounds of monstrous, razing bulldozers. Thirty two blocks of homes and businesses have been condemned as areas deserving redevelopment plan for private purposes. The new landscape under the redevelopment plan will see condominiums, big retailers, hotels, golf courses, and the likes. While the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of eminent domain, the local residents, particularly the elderly who have spent their lifetime in the nostalgic precinct have reason to worry. And Ashbury Park is being keenly watched because nowhere else has eminent domain been arbitrarily pushed down the throat with such high-handed expression of legal enforcement. (Greetings from Ashbury Park) Need for Eminent Domain Sure, not everyone is complaining. A good number seeing the positive side, or just because they could not care less, have consented. The fence sitters did not see any point in fighting a protracted court battle, did not see any merits in fighting the battle even if they ultimately won it. The determined bid by politicians and developers was enough to deter any such prospect. At any rate, not everything envisioned in eminent domain looked bad. The area did look like it needed cleaning up a bit anyway. Then there are old, derelict houses infested with rats and are in fit or unfit enough condition to be demolished right away. Children and the elderly have quite often found themselves bitten by these rodents and it was unsafe particularly in the dark. The flip side of eminent domain is its commitment to preserve open space and redevelop with