Saturday, January 25, 2020

Conversion Efficiency of Active Energy and Solar Energy Essay -- Solar

Conversion Efficiency of Active Energy and Solar Energy Solar technology already boasts a century of R&D, requires no toxic fuels and relatively little maintenance, is inexhaustible, and, with adequate financial support, is capable of becoming directly competitive with conventional technologies in many locations. These attributes make solar energy one of the most promising sources for many current and future energy needs. As Frank Shuman declared more than 80 years ago, it is "the most rational source of power." The average amount of solar energy arriving on top of the atmosphere is 1,330 watts per square meter. The amount reaching the earth’s surface is 10,000 times more than all commercial energy used annually. Until recently, this energy source has been too diffused and low intensity to capitalize for electricity. Solar energy is a renewable resource and is converted to electrical energy in two ways - using photovoltaic materials which generate an electrical potential when exposed to light or using a thermal process that uses the energy from the sun to heat a working fluid in an electricity generating cycle. Another way of looking at it is as passive and active solar energy. Now you might be wondering what is meant by active and passive, isn’t all transformation of energy active? Passive solar energy relates to systems that are relating to solar radiation and angles to define solar positions which work with heating and cooling systems. To generate the higher temperatures necessary to make steam to generate electricity, the sunlight must be concentrated. Solar thermal technology often uses reflectors, in the form of parabolic concentrators or flat mirrors, to focus the sun's rays onto a water-filled pipe, known as 'abso... ...veloped thin film technology is hydrogenated amorphous silicon. This is the material normally used in consumer applications, although it is used, but less frequently, in power modules. The efficiency of commercial amorphous silicon modules has improved from around 3.5 % in the early 1980's to over 7% currently. The most efficient modules are made with multiple layers of photovoltaic material, for instance three layer amorphous silicon modules with germanium added to two of the layers (a-Si/a-SiGe/a-SiGe) which have a record cell efficiency of 13.5 %. Other types of thin films can be made using polycrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). Today's solar panels are made with silicon. The silicon usually has impurities, which limits its efficiency. Purifying a chemical is too expensive. For that reason, smaller is better.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Scholarly Articles on Leadership

Scholarly Articles 1 by EDD 9100 CRN 35455 Leadership Seminar Nova Southeastern University February 4, 2012 Scholarly Articles 1 According to the authors of this article (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009), principals need to concentrate on the development of skills and behaviors in order to be successful in motivating, leading, and changing the direction of a school. The successful principal understands that there exists a fine balance of caring for others and the need to accomplish specific tasks (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).The following areas are targeted in this article: the need to become an effective consultant, the need to become a mediator and consensus builder, the need to become an individual that values relationships and to step back and reconnect on a regular basis to their core beliefs and values (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). Interwoven through all areas is the need to realize that it takes time to develop the skills needed, experience being the best teacher of what works (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).The underlying theme throughout the article is one of a need for open communication combined with a balanced and caring attitude towards staff. On the topic of becoming an effective consultant within their school it is pointed out that principals need to be less directive and more collaborative in their push towards improvement and the use of best practice in the classroom (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). It is of rimary importance that they possess the ability to listen to the stakeholders and assist in the translation of concerns into practice (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). In order to be able to effectively fill the role of consultant within their school principals need to possess a reasonable level of understanding of educational pedagogy and curriculum; and possess a skill set combining the ability to problem solve, actively listen, and su pport (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).In terms of becoming a mediator and consensus builder the authors detailed the need for principals to possess relational leadership skills in order to be able to both facilitate groups and coach others on staff in the ability to facilitate their own groups, and stressed that the key to this is the ability to effectively participate in conflict resolution (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).The authors suggested that conflict is part and parcel of school reform and that in addition to being able to deal effectively with conflict the successful principal needs to develop the ability for bringing about consensus within the group, noting that interpersonal and intrapersonal skills were as much or more important than knowledge (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).In the area of relationships it was noted that principals that are most effective are those that place high value on people and relationships and th at when this exists as a core part of the belief system of the principal it is noticeable and is communicated to staff in both subtle and explicit ways (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). According to the authors this sense of value comes through in all of the dealings that the principal has with stakeholders (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).It shows in body language, expression, communication, tone and innumerable other subtle signals that help to set the tone of the school’s culture (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). Key to this being successfully implemented is for the principal to consciously think through a personal rationale that balances responsibilities and relationships (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). Principals need to occasionally stepping back to reconnect to their core values in order to maintain the balance needed to effectively lead (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).It was noted that in all areas of the development process is the need to understand that these skills and beliefs come about over time. The truly effective principal is able uses past experiences to help hone and define these skills and beliefs to bring about change, growth and effective overall leadership (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). The effective principal never stops learning from these day to day and year to year experiences and continues to hone and refine based upon them (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009).In the writer’s opinion it would greatly assist in the growth, development, morale and overall job satisfaction for the organization if the current leadership of which the writer is a member, were to possess the skills and beliefs noted in the article. This would most likely require training, coaching or the reassignment or hiring of new personnel for leadership positions in order to develop the capacity to exhibit a balance between the valuing of indi viduals and relationships, the need to and responsibilities of the position, and the skill set of effective collaboration, mediation, and consensus building.A leadership team that operates following these principals fosters a sense of openness, consistency and fairness among stakeholders (Donaldson, Marnik, Mackenzie, & Ackerman, 2009). When this exists, staff feels secure. When staff feels secure it becomes more willing to step out and suggest or embrace change for the growth, development, and betterment of the organization. References Donaldson,G. , Marnik, G. , Mackenzie, S. , & Ackerman, R. (2009). What makes or breaks a principal. Educational Leadership, 67 (2), 8-14.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Strategic Review - 1527 Words

As the new VP of Marketing at Clipboard Tablet Co., it is my duty to both analyze the results of the previous VP, and offer my own analysis on product performance for the X5, X6, and X7 tablets. Specifically, I will focus on the products themselves, their life cycles, and how they stack up in terms of price and performance. A financial review of each product will be undertaken as well, focusing on sales, costs, profitability, prices, and unit margins. I will then conduct a market review which will cover subjects ranging from new sales, previous sales, and market saturation. Finally, I will propose an alternate strategy, specifically in terms of pricing and RD allocations. Initial observations indicate the previous VP of Marketing,†¦show more content†¦Just as with other products like Apple or even Lamborghini, in the eyes of the consumer expensive means exclusive and therefore ‘cool.’ Yet another way we can cut costs for the X6, and this was already alluded to, is to reduce RD significantly. I propose it be moved down to 15%. This will account for some software and potential hardware upgrades that will be anticipated since the product has only been at market for two years. The X7 deserves the most attention however. First, such a new product deserves much more RD allocated to it. Therefore, I propose the remaining 75% of our RD budget be focused on the construction of the X7 to its fullest degree. Market research indicates customers care about both price and performance with this model, and we therefore must focus our efforts to that cause. Especially considering financial and marketing info shows the X7 has gotten off to such a slow start. Initial sales are somewhat healthy for a new product, 165,586; but total costs have yet to be turned into real profit (down -73%). And though we will see costs rise with more RD resources dedicated to getting the X7 off the ground and competitive, I believe these will be sunk costs as profits will reflect the quality nature of the product. I would expect to see the X7 perform just as well or even better than the X5. This is evidenced by the greatShow MoreRelatedA Review On Strategic Processes1302 Words   |   6 Pagesprodigious decisions primarily categorize as strategic with their formulation amalgamations of art, science and a smattering of other intangible elements. Undoubtedly, they ought to warrant extraordinary care and thorough investigation going forward, including possible exit strategies. However, time and again, the human equation proves otherwise and omits that which seems so indispensable in the inexorable drive for an expeditious remedy. 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