How to Choose Best Suitable KPIs for Your Business

How to Choose Best Suitable KPIs for Your Business Every organization across the globe works with certain goals or purposes in mind. In order to evaluate the activities that are being performed in pursuit of these goals, businesses need measurable indicators that are known as Key Performance Indicators or KPIs. There are many types of KPIs that differ based on the goals of the business, requirements, and other factors. But they prove effective only if chosen carefully. So how can an organization choose the right KPIs for itself? © Shutterstock.com | TrueffelpixIn this article, you will learn 1) what KPIs are, 2) the  features of KPIs, 3) the importance of KPIs, and 4) how to choose the right KPIs.WHAT ARE KPIs?A Key Performance Indicator (KPI), or simply a performance indicator, is a performance measurement tool that helps in the assessment of the success or effectiveness of an act performed by a company. KPIs help to define and then measure the progress made toward a certain goal. KPIs are not only used to evaluate the overall performance of a business but also the separate performances of departments. The indicators that are useful for assessing the progress of the sales department may differ from the indicators used for evaluating the marketing success, and so on.Businesses need regular evaluation of their activities to identify potential areas of improvement, and this is the reason why performance indicators are linked to performance improvement methods. A KPI can thus also be defined as a group of quan tifiable measures used to gauge scope for improvement of an individual, an activity or the business as a whole. Since KPIs are directly linked to the success of the operational and strategic goals of a company, every business must first identify both these goals and then select the KPIs that best reflect these objectives. As an example, if the main goal for a real estate company is to achieve the quickest growth in the industry, then the KPI must be the measure of the yearly growth of revenue.Categorization of IndicatorsPerformance indicators are often divided into four main types that fall into two broad categories:Result indicators/key result indicators RIs or KRIs form that group of indicators that demonstrate that several measures are a sum of more than a team’s input. These specific measures help to evaluate the combination of the performance of the teams but cannot be used for solving problems or making improvements. This is so because, in such a case, it may not be possibl e to find out which team is responsible for the underperformance.Performance indicators/key performance indicators PIs or KPIs are a group of measures which can be associated with a single team or a bunch of teams that work toward a common goal in collaboration with one another. These measures help to identify the team that is responsible for performance or non-performance so that the management can identify the teams that may be underperforming and resolve the problem areas.FEATURES OF A GOOD KPIIn order for a KPI to be effective, it must have certain characteristic features. Some of these features are listed as follows:Relevant and high impact A good metric is one which has a solid impact and is relevant for your business.Understandable / Simple and important (shared) Every employee working for your business must be able to understand the KPI and why it is important. It must be simple to use and breakable into understandable segments.Balanced The KPI must be balanced in the se nse that it must fulfill both short-term and long-term needs for your business.Timely The KPI must be measured in a timely manner, like weekly, daily or monthlyNon-financial Another characteristic of a KPI is that it must be not be financial or measured in any kind of currency.BENEFITS OF KPIsKPI is a tool that enables businesses to measure their progress as far as moving toward goals and achieving success is concerned. Any business that does not have an idea of its own strengths and weaknesses may not be able to devise plans for further improvement and may not be able to guarantee constant success. The following are some of the points of importance of KPIs.Quantifiable results KPIs are tools that provide you with measurable and quantifiable results. This is why actions can be taken on the results produced through them. This enables you to create corrective strategies for reaching business goals and also improve areas that need polishing.Enhancement in performance KPIs help to i dentify employees and sectors that are performing well and also those that are performing poorly. They can thus be used by the management to channel resources in such a way that the performance can be enhanced.Individual performance incentives KPIs can also help to improve individual performances of employees since the information offered by them encourages employees to work harder. What happens is that teams or individuals are offered incentives to improve their KPIs, and for this to be done, KPIs have to be quantifiable and clear.Boosting sales Another benefit of KPIs is that they can help boost sales tremendously. Companies that have set objectives for their sales team to achieve often set rewards for those employees who meet their individual goals the fastest. This increases the level of competition between the sales executives and hence helps your business boost overall productivity.Increase in efficiency When your business uses KPIs for assessing growth and success, it ofte n gives your employees measurable goals to achieve. When an employee has a clear idea of what to achieve, he may direct his actions specifically to meet the goals and hence an improvement in the overall efficiency is obtained.Better decision-making KPIs help to reduce the doubt or uncertainty by providing a clear path to move upon. This enables better decision-making throughout the company and leads your business in the right direction.Alignment of goals It can be difficult for you to keep all the departments and people on the same page as far as moving toward common goals is concerned. But KPIs help to align the goals by dividing complex information into understandable steps.Better budgeting When a business starts using KPIs, it starts setting up reachable goals for itself, which in turn makes way for setting aside a fixed amount of money to be spent in a given time cycle. Thus, KPIs also make way for better budgeting and cutting down on unnecessary costs.CHOOSING THE RIGHT KPIs FOR YOUR BUSINESSThe main purpose of Key Performance Indicators is to drive the performance of your business. KPIs are capable of letting you bring about instantaneous changes to the segments of the business that may be underperforming and also offer crucial information on sales, marketing, finances and productivity. But this is only possible if you take time to select the right KPIs for your firm. Choosing the proper performance indicators is the first step toward quantifiable improvement, and you must consider several things before you do so for your enterprise. The following are some ways in which you can select the perfect KPIs:1. Have a clear business goal in mindSince KPIs help measure progress made toward your business goals, you must have a very clear idea about what you really wish to achieve. Only by setting precise goals for yourself can you define your KPIs. Thus when you set out to define goals for your business, you must focus on hard or solid figures, for example: Bo ost sales by 20% in the next 12 months or Improve conversion rate by 5% in the next 6 months and so on. Besides business goals, you must also set clear goals for teams and individuals as well. This helps your employees work harder to achieve the exact figures in a given time period.2. Select performance indicators that are directly linked to your business goalsYou must choose those performance measures that can offer you insight into the progress made by your business in a given period of time. This progress is always relative to a business goal and hence you must make sure your KPIs are aligned with the goals. For example, if your goal is to improve sales by 20% in the next year, then your KPIs must include conversion rate, daily sales and website traffic, etc. On the other hand if your intention is to increase conversion rate by 5% in the next 6 months, then your KPIs must include daily sales, price trends, and retention rate, etc.In order to choose goal-aligned KPIs, you must ask yourself the following questions:What is the purpose of my business?What is it that I wish to achieve in the next fiscal year?How will I be able to know that I have reached my goals?Is my goal merely money-related?Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to choose the indicators that are of true importance to your business. It is critical to understand that there are plenty of KPIs, but not all may be suitable for your strategic and operational goals.Depending on the area you would like to improve in your business, here are some ideas for KPIs:To evaluate your market:Conversion rateCost per leadMarket shareFootprint in social networkingPage viewsBounce rateMarket growth rateSearch engine rankingsCustomer engagement levelTo understand your customers:Customer complaintsCustomer engagementRetention rateNet promoter scoreProfitability scoreCustomer satisfaction indexTurnover rateTo understand and improve your employees performance:Churn rateAverage tenure of employeesRe venue earned per employeeEngagement level of employeesTraining ROISatisfaction index of employeesSalary competitiveness ratioTo improve financial performance:Net profit marginNet profitRevenue growth rateGross profit marginROIEconomic value addedReturn on assetsReturn on equityWorking capital ratioOperating expense ratioPrice-earnings ratioOperating profit marginTo measure and improve your operational performance:Process waste levelProject cost varianceSix sigma levelEarned value metricTime to marketQuality indexFirst contact resolutionFirst pass yieldEquipment effectivenessRework level3. Select KPIs with mandatory characteristicsWhen selecting KPIs, make sure that they meet certain mandatory characteristic requirements. A description of the most important ones has been provided below.KPIs must be measurable. Key performance Indicators must be measurable and quantifiable. This is the most basic feature that every KPI must have, irrespective of the industry or company in which it is used. If a metric is unable to measure performance or success of an activity or business as a whole, then it doesn’t serve its inherent function and must not be utilized. KPIs must be able to gauge, evaluate and offer solid results.Consider the business’s growth stage. Some metrics may prove to be more important than others, depending upon the growth stage in which your business currently is. If your business is a start-up, then you must choose metrics that are associated with business model validation, whereas if it is in its established stages, then you must select metrics like customer lifetime value and cost per acquisition. The following are the three stages of growth with the corresponding metrics for each:Pre-Product Market Fit This is the start-up stage of a business and KPIs that work at this stage include qualitative feedback and customer interviews.Product Market Fit This is the stage between start-up and established businesses; the KPIs that work here include renew als, monthly recurring revenue and customer satisfaction.Expansion This is the stage where a business has already become well-established. At this stage, the KPIs that work are lifetime value, cost per acquisition and average order size.Consider the industry your business is in and the most appropriate industry practices for KPIs.It is important to know that KPIs differ from company to company and also from industry to industry. Therefore, it is important to consider the industry your business is in while selecting KPIs. The following are some of the suitable KPIs for different industries:B2B Total cost savings, on-time delivery, quality of services/products, availability of inventory and compliance with contract, etc.SaaS Churn, lifetime value, monthly recurring revenue and cost per acquisition, etc.Retail Stock turnover, average customer spend, customer satisfaction, sales per square foot and capital expenditure, etc.E-Commerce Average order value, days and visits to purchase , share or search, conversion rate, visitor loyalty, average order value and task completion rate, etc.Social Media Referral traffic, growth of followers, link click through, volume of publishing and shares, etc.Content marketing Unique visits, bounce rate, click patterns, page views and mobile readership, etc.Online media Unique visitors, time on site, share ratio and page views, etc.Consider workforce as a KPI.If you run a service-based business, then you must consider your workers as a KPI as well. For businesses such as yours, the labor is the biggest area of expense. If you consider it as a performance indicator; you can manage the costs of staff better, thereby boosting overall performance. Thus in order to make crucial decisions, you must create useful labor data and reports in a timely manner. The reports must consist of aspects like realization rate, utilization, and gross profit margin.Identify the target audience and then consider its point of view. It is very importan t for you to identify who your target audience is so that you can base your KPIs accordingly. Once you know who you are targeting, you can consider the customer’s point of view and then choose those metrics that can measure their customer experience and satisfaction levels.4. Consider the consequences of choosing particular KPIs for your businessIt is very important to follow a systematic approach when choosing KPIs. Avoid selecting KPIs without considering the consequences that they can produce. For example, a certain KPI may help you measure the performance of a particular activity but it could indirectly be affecting other aspects of performance and hence must be avoided. A well-planned and researched approach must be followed when shortlisting the performance indicators.5. Keep the list of KPIs concise (avoid unnecessary metrics)Your list of KPIs must be kept short and effective. Having too many metrics can make evaluation of actions complex and may confuse your employees. Mea sure only that data which really matters to your organization and can help you make improvements. Remember that it may take time to narrow down your list of indicators but it will prove worthwhile. The optimal number of KPIs that you must have is about 5â€"9. Anything more than this will make you lose focus on the important variables. Thus, eliminate unnecessary metrics.6. Understand and determine leading and lagging performance indicatorsAnother step to choosing your KPIs is to know and understand the differences between leading and lagging indicators.Lagging indicators these are indicators which measure the overall performance of the business and are backward-focused or trailing in nature. This means that they help to evaluate performance information which has already been captured. Everything you wish to monitor will have lagging indicators, such as number of sick days, returns on investments and even the number of bags moved in a single day, etc.Leading indicators these indica tors are considered as business drivers since they point to the direction in which things are moving. They change quickly and come before an upcoming trend. For every business, identification of leading indicators is important as far as the strategic plans are concerned. They must be chosen carefully and should be unique to your business environment.7. Avoid getting caught up in the number gameThe total number of likes, the number of page visitors, the percentage of increase in signups and other such numbers can really capture you in a net and make it difficult for you to see the larger picture. Your focus must always be on the quality and not the quantity since the most important parts of businesses are often not measurable. It is easy to get caught up in the number game of KPIs but you need to move forward from vanity metrics and concentrate on what really matters. Ask yourself if a slight increase in the ‘Likes’ on your Facebook page would really affect your success.8. Know w here your money is goingAnother point that can help you in selecting the right KPIs for your business is to consider exactly where your money is going. It is a good idea to determine the areas where you are spending your money and then find out if these areas are linked to the goals of your business. Also, see if a KPI can be associated with these goals. The basic idea behind knowing the direction of the flow of money is to be able to choose only those KPIs which can keep a check on your expenses.

Event Planning Business Plan - 1415 Words

Business Plan Executive Summary Extravaganza is a full service company that provides complete party planning services for weddings, bridal shower, baby showers, Sweet 16 and anniversaries. Our staff is experienced and dedicated professionals with many years of party planning experience. Extravaganza listens to the customers’ needs and works with them to create the event of their dreams. We want every detail of their event to be both a pleasurable and a memorable experience. Therefore we offer a host of packages and services specifically tailored to the needs of each person. Our goal is to satisfy ever customer’s needs and let them realize that there can be a stress-free affordable way to plan a party. 2. The Business Summary†¦show more content†¦Also by using all our contacts and resources in the area, that we have relationships with, we save the customer money. Since there are not many party planning companies in Jersey City it will make it easier for us to get most of the business in the area. Extravaganza is in a unique position of competition. We compete against other event planners that are probably much larger, hotels that have their own space for the event and people who just do it on their own. The hotels have an advantage and that is that they already have a staff in house, they are able to provide many services in one location. But the downfall is that they have so much going on that errors are bound to happen. Also it can be very costly. Other event planners have an advantage because they have been in the industry much longer and probably have more clients. People who decide to it on their own can manage the cost of the event and add personal touches to the party. The only thing is that it is very time consuming and they might not have the resources needed when it comes to pricing, service, etc†¦ Marketing Plan To have a successful marketing strategy we will look at our competitors and see how it works for them and see if there are ways to improve it to benefit us. We need to see where their weakness lies and try not to follow the same pattern. There are many ways to advertise and promote our business such as:  · Web  · Trade Shows  ·Show MoreRelatedEvent Planning Business Plan Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesBusiness Plan Executive Summary Extravaganza is a full service company that provides complete party planning services for weddings, bridal shower, baby showers, Sweet 16 and anniversaries. Our staff is experienced and dedicated professionals with many years of party planning experience. Extravaganza listens to the customers’ needs and works with them to create the event of their dreams. 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Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus Essay example - 1364 Words

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many body systems including the following: joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. Lupus occurs more frequently in women than in men. There are four different types of Lupus that exist. They are Systemic lupus erythematosus, Discoid lupus erythematosus, Drug-induced erythematosus, and Neonatal lupus. The most common and most serious type is Systemic lupus erythematosus. Previously the outlook for people with lupus was grim, but diagnosis and treatment of lupus has improved quite a bit. With proper treatment, most people can lead happy and active lives. This†¦show more content†¦Lupus is a very complex disease that requires knowledge and awareness on the part of the doctor and good communication from the patient. There is no single test that can determine if a person has lupus. Several laboratory tests can help a doctor confirm the diagnosis of SLE or rule out other causes for the person’s symptoms. The ANA (antinuclear antibody) test is commonly used. This test looks for antibodies that react against the components of the nucleus of the body’s cells. The doctor can also order a biopsy of the kidney’s or the skin if those body parts are affected. The doctor can also order a test for anticardiolipin antibodies. If the person is found to have these than they are at an increased risk for blood clotting and there is an increased risk of miscarriages for pregnant women. Other testing that may be done is a complete blood count, urinalysis, blood chemistries, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate test (a test that measures inflammation). In order for a doctor to diagnose you with SLE, you must have 4 out of 11 typical signs of the disease. SLE may alter the results of the following tests: Antithyroglobulin antibody, Antithyroid microsomal antib ody, Complement components (C3 and C4), Coombs’ test-direct, Cryoglobulins, ESR, Kidney function blood tests, Liver function blood tests and Rheumatoid factor. (Makeover, 1997) There are no two cases of SLE that are like. Symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly. The symptoms may be mildShow MoreRelated Lupus Essay1079 Words   |  5 Pages Lupus Definition of the Disease Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. quot;In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. †# Myth/Reality StatementsRead MoreA Woman Doing Life : Notes From A Prison For Women1320 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE). Upon her arrival to Fluvanna George reported to the medical staff that she had SLE but it was never written on her medical profile until she had a freak accident. While in the shower George lupus symptoms attacked her and she fell and injured herself in the shower. When she was seen by the prison s doctor they did not believe she had lupus because the doctor declared that only African Americans can get lupus. George s medical case still

Tutorial answers Free Essays

If the system already exists, different scenarios can be tried using he model before tests being carried out on the real system. Alternatively if the system does not exist, the model can be used to help decide on the final design of a system. Often there are constraints on the design that need to be investigated e. We will write a custom essay sample on Tutorial answers or any similar topic only for you Order Now G. Constraints on cost, space, etc. Modification to systems once they exist can be expensive hence it is important to try and get design of systems ‘right-first-time’ and this is where modeling and simulation can be useful engineering tools. Example: see lecture notes weekly under section Why is modeling important ?. 2 See notes 3. Components of system Inputs Outputs States Environment Tank Valve Pipes Inlet Flows of A and B Liquid level Level change in tank Upstream of inlet to tank and downstream of outlet valve 4. See notes 5. See notes 6. Bookwork (as coursework 1) TUTORIAL ANSWERS 2 El . A proportional relationship for a component is here considered to be an unchanging relationship (and is often referred to in modeling terms as a constitutive or physical relationship). These are the natural physical laws which the individual components of the system obey e. G. For an electrical system, the relationship between voltage and current and in the special case of an ideal resistor – Ohm’s Law FRR. I E. Kerchiefs Current Law : algebraic summation of all currents flowing into a junction of a network is zero. Kerchiefs Voltage Law: algebraic summation of all voltages acting around a loop of a circuit is zero. Examples – see section 2. 2. Of lecture notes. E. The impedance of an element is its voltage:current ratio. Multiple Choice: Electrical Systems El(b) E(C) Problems: Electrical Systems El . 3. 3 0, Ohm’s Law is obeyed since the resistance is constant as the voltage varies Q. 40 A E. IV E. (a) 4. 4 0 (b) 16 (c) 4. 4 E. (a) 0. 68 V (b) 0. 47 V (c) 0. 34 V E. (a) 0. 2 V, 205 ma (b) 1. 03 V, 52 ma (c) 1. 16 V, 193 ma E. = 30/84 v = 0. 357*12 volts = 4. Volts E. VI = 366/191 = 1. 92 V, TUTORIAL ANSWERS 3 MI . (I) spring f = xx= k(XSL -xx) where x is the displacement (or extension) and k is the proportionality constant called the spring constant with units of force/displacement e. . N/m. Damper f = BE k(FL – vi) where v is the velocity and B is the proportionality constant called a viscous friction coefficient or constant. Its dimension is force/velocity e. G. NSA/m. MM. See lecture notes. The force balance law demands that (a the acceleration). Analogies: This is analogous to Kerchiefs voltage law, particularly if one treats the inertia acceleration as an equivalent force. Note: In order to model a mechanical system, the usual practice is to form a free body diagram around each inertia (mass) component. One will then end up with a set of simultaneous differential equations, the solution of which dictates the dynamics and constitutes the system model. In the case where there are no mass components, then ensure a force balance at selected points in the system. That is the net force acting on any point must be zero, I. E. Multiple Choice: Mechanical Systems MI . G) MM. (a,b) Problems: Mechanical Systems MI. O. AN MM. 0. 05 arms Question/ Variable (NSA/m) 812 834 Biota I 2 1217 24/19= 1 . 263 4 15/8 60/47 = 1 . 276 Questions: Thermal and Fluid Systems TFH . A system is said to be in equilibrium when its behavior is steady I. E its output and inputs are unchanging. For the liquid level system with an inlet and outlet flow, this corresponds to the inlet and outlet flows being the same. Multiple Choice: Thermal and Fluid Systems TFH. (b) TFH. (c) Problems: Thermal and Fluid Systems TFH . The flow cannot be assumed to be laminar as the proportionality constant is not inner as the flow increases through the pipe I. E. I/R resistance (Pa. s/mm) 3 TUTORIAL ANSWERS 4 IQ . Methods that can be used to determine the gradient of the straight line at t=2 sec are: (I) plot a graph and determine where t=2 or (it) differentiate x(t) with respect to t and substitute t=2. Q. (a) Q. See lecture notes Q. Completing the table gives: Electrical Component Equation Mechanical Component Rotational Component Inductor Inertia Rotating inertia Resistor Damper Capacitor Spring Torsion’s spring Q. (a) Using free body diagram on the mass-damper system of Fig. 5. 1, the mass and ampere can be considered to be in parallel. Force balance gives: where: Hence: (b) Similarly for the spring-damper system of Fig. 5. 2 Force balance gives: where: , (c) For the rotational pulley of Fig. 5. 3, a torque balance is required: Torque balance gives:and where:, , Q. (a) For a resistor and capacitor in series of Fig. 6. 1 Apply Kerchiefs Voltage Law gives: (b) For a resistor and inductor in series of Fig. 6. 2 where: , , (c) For a 5 resistors and a capacitor system of Fig. 6. 3, observe that this is nearly the same system as shown in Tutorial Sheet 2 Problem E but with the addition of the opacity. Hence: where: with and Hence as in Qua. : Q. Q. Material balance on tank: rate of change of mass floodwater = mass flow in – mass flow out assume constant density 0 and area: Given: , A = 7 mm, R = 0. 14 her/mm and Sin = 100 mm/her substituting gives: Tutorial Answers 5, 6 IQ Bookwork straight from notes: Ask in a tutorial if stuck and/or use MENTAL to generate solutions and check against you work. E. G. For 1st of these t=alliances(O,2,100); ext=subs(x,t); fugue(l reset Q: Throughout Q assume a model of the form Steady-state is 0. 6. Initial value is -1. Rise is given as 1. . 63% of rise is given by which implies x(t) has this value at about t=O. 25 sec and therefore T=O. 25, Steady-state is 30. Initial value is 2. Rise is given as 28. 63% of rise is given by 0. 63*28=17. 64 which implies x(t)=19. 64. X(t) has this value at about t=5 sec and therefore T=5, k=30. Steady-state is 50. Initial value is 20. Rise is given as 30. 63% of rise is given by 0. 63*30=18. 9 which implies x(t)=38. 9. X(t) has this value at about t=50 sec and therefore T=50, k=50. Q: Maximum current is at t=O and given as V/R: Therefore R=V/I = 5/0. 004 = mashes. Time constant is given by ARC, so T=ms implies that C=. 005/1250 = 4 micro. Q: Parameters give a time constant of cosec so after 30 sec aircraft at 95% of steady-state land speed. 1 MPH is the same as mutterer pH or (1609/3600)m/s MPH is the same as mom/s Steady-state is given as f/B. Therefore min f required is BIB [ scaled by (11. 95) to be precise]. Q: Model is Bad/dot +xx=f or (B/k) DXL/dot +x =f/k Desired time constant is about 0. Sec, therefore (B/k)=O. 8 so k=NON/m Steady-state displacement is given as (1 /k)f = 0. 04, and therefore f=AN is required. Tutorial Answers 7 1 . Find the Lovelace transform of the following signals: Students should use MENTAL to check their working here, e. G. Ray the command: 2. Use partial fractions, a lookup table and inverse Lovelace to find the underlying signals with the following transforms. Students should use MAT to check their working, e. G. 3. What is the final value for signals with the following transforms? Use the Pit but note that: (I) there is no final value if the signal is divergent which is the case for 5th (obvious from negative sign) and (it) for convergent signals, the final value must be zero if there is no integrator. Hence only 2nd and 6th have a non-zero values which must be 4 and 0. 5 respectively. 4. Which of the following transforms has the fastest settling time? What are the settling times to within 5% of steady-state? Time constants are negative inverses of poles. One can estimate time to 5% error as approximately three times slowest time constant (exact for 1st order but no strict generalization when many poles due to uncertainty about partial fractions). Time constant is the negative inverse of the pole. So pole at -0. 25 gives T=4, etc. 5. Sketch the poles and zeros of the following transforms on an Regard diagram. By marking the LAP and RAP clearly, hence determine which represent stable and unstable behavior. Students should use MENTAL to check their working for his, for example, doing 4th as follows will produce a fugue with poles marked in Y and zeros in ‘o’: Systems are stable if and only if all the poles are in the LAP – the origin is counted as being in the LAP. The positions of the zeros do not affect stability. Tutorial Answers 8 1 . The inverse Lovelace transform of a transfer function is called the â€Å"impulse response function†. If a system has an impulse response function given by g(t) t(l-sin(t)). Compute its transfer function, G(s). 2. Use Lovelace methods to solve the following ODE equations. 3. Give examples of type O, type 1 and type 2 systems. Has does this affect the expected behavior? Bookwork 4. Which of the following transforms for 1st order ODES has the highest gain? What are the gains? What are the time constants? Determine and sketch the step responses for each of these. Gains are 4, 3, 1. 5 and 1. 125 respectively. Time constants are 4, 0. 2, 1. 25, 0. 5 respectively. As these are 1st order, sketching step response follows same procedures as tutorial 5,6. Tutorial Answers 9, 10 1 . Bookwork – read some control text books to broaden your views on the uses and potential of control. 2. This is also straight from the notes but your understanding will also be improved by some wider reading. Don’t Just stick to your main discipline, but look at examples from chemical, aerospace, automotive, medical, electrical, biological, etc. 3. Straightforward application of the Pit. 2nd set has an integrator and hence the offset is known to be zero. Otherwise, use formula. Confirm this with MENTAL, I. E. Plot is seen to settle at 0. 52 4. The 1st part is taken direct from the lecture slides so not repeated here. The closed-loop time constant and rise time are: Time constant +AKA), closed-loop game = AKA/(I+AKA), where A=4/5, -r=o. 2 Hence 0. 2/(1 +K/5)O. 8 which gives K 4+3. K or 0. K4 or K5. Confirm this using MENTAL, ii. Use G=TFH(4,[1 %% plot in a figure It is clear that the time closed loop pole polynomial is (s+ [1 +AKA]/T) and hence the pole is in the LAP for all positive K which implies closed-loop stability. Discussion of large K is bookwork – read some text books. 5. This question is designed to make a student think and experiment. To meet specifications, the closed-loop is given as Clearly the steady-state gain is unity as expected so the offset requirement is met. The closed-loop poles are determined from the roots of the denominator and we want the poles to be to the left of -2. 5 ‘e. (s+2. 5) is equivalent to (0. As+1). Both roots can be placed at 2. 5 if In the future students will recognize that lower values of K will give a slower pole and higher values of K will give rise to oscillation. 6. Standard question. Form closed-loop transfer function and find characteristic polynomial for all 3 cases. You will need to do the partial fractions for all 3 and sketch, but you can use MENTAL to check your answers. E. G form the three closed-loop transfer functions and then type feedback(GO,GO,GO) to see all 3 together. N.B.: 63 is seem 2 content. Clearly Just proportional is fastest, but gives a large offset. GIG is smooth (2 real poles) ND no offset. But poles are well spaced so this is conservative. 63 has similar response time to GIG (same slowest time constant), but has complex poles and thus oscillation. Conclusion, PI is best! Typical exam type question outline answer a) Let the internal temperature be given as T degrees. The rate of heat supplied is given as: The heat loss OHIO(T+50) Hence the temperature is given by: In steady-state we desire T=20 which implies that b) If the external temperature drops by 10 degrees, then the model becomes: which implies the new steady-state temperature will be 6 degrees! The time constant is clearly 1000 sec. Students should sketch a graph showing the temperature moving from 20 to 6 with the appropriate time constant. ) If the heat input from the passengers is increased, the model becomes In the case, the change in temperature is negligible which suggests that for this scenario the key factor is the external temperature and heaters rather than any heat coming from the passengers. D) Clearly the open-loop choice of voltage does not maintain the temperature correctly in general and so some control is needed. It is known that the correct steady-stat e can only be achieved in the presence of uncertainty if integral action is included. The steady-state error too change in desired temperature is given by because K(O) is infinite, irrespective of changes in the gain of G or disturbances such as changes in external temperature! Students should first put the equations for the model and integral control law into Lovelace transforms about the steady-state: Hence The closed-loop transfer function is given as Students should validate that the time constants are reasonable and that the closed- loop is stable! The time constants are given from the roots of the closed-loop denominator. Students should note that these are similar to the original time constant and thus satisfactory. How to cite Tutorial answers, Papers

The Crucible do we admire Hale Essay Example

The Crucible do we admire Hale Paper Reverend Hale is trying to help, and he tries to dispel the notion that the conditions of the two girls Betty and Ruth are caused by witchcraft, but fails to do so as the town is aware of what is going on. Then he eventually spills the beans and spreads fear in that the Devil is loose in Salem. In Act 2 when Hale goes to the Proctors house to privately talk to them, the stage directions say he had a drawn and slightly guilty air giving the impression that he no longer has the atmosphere and dominance around him. He gets slightly worried when a good man as proctor could not recall the 10 commandments later saying no crack in a fortress may be accounted small meaning that even small insignificant mistakes or problems cant just be ignored. As I have said, this book is based around the events over 315 years ago in Salem, Massachusetts. In act 3 the witch trials begin and this reminds us of those that occurred in 1692. They are very similar to what happens in the crucible and the characters are also similar, for example Giles Corey was pressed to death for not revealing the name of a person wanted, and this too happened in real life with the same character and also rev john hale of Beverley and Tituba the negro slave were too there in real life, as were some of the other characters. Miller has also used the characteristics of some of these characters too. Another similarity between this play and history is the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible do we admire Hale specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible do we admire Hale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible do we admire Hale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Formed in 1934, the HUAC was formed to investigate communist issues such as Nazi Propaganda and other propaganda issues as part of the United States House of Representatives. How is the crucible at all relevant to this? Well, Danforth is similar to the HUAC as he sees himself as superior to people of Salem and in the courtroom, just like how the HUAC felt about themselves, and both believe that their judgement is always the correct one. This is shown by Danforths very controlling manner in the courtroom for example this is a clear attack upon the court as he emits power and rule over John Proctor. The second similarity is that the HUAC can be easily seen as corrupted and this corruption is just like the court in the play as the courts judge Danforth wants to convict as many people as he can in Salem for his own gain. Although this isnt fair and just, this high number of convictions will make him look good and he could be promoted, noticed, moved to head judge, or something of a similar field. An example of this is when Danforth says do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature? Here he is being self admiring and trying to show off how good a judge he thinks he is and also shows that he is very proud that he has jailed so many people. In act 3 and 4, we realize how selfish Parris can be. At every opportunity possible, he accuses and disputes any people who may pose a threat to him and his position in the town and the church. Even in the courtroom Parris displays this sort of behaviour calling out that attacks are being made on the court and tries to create a bias feeling towards people in a negative manner. However, into act 4 Hale does the opposite and goes against the court to try and help bring justice. Now we really admire Hale and despise Parris even more. He is trying to help Proctor now as he is a truthful man and knows that proctor is innocent. He wants justice to come out of the case and wants proctor to sign the confession so that he will live. In act 4, Parris realises what he is doing is wrong, and begins to change. Like Hale, be begins to turn to the side of the accused, and wants proctor to live. However, this is no act of kindness, this change comes about as the mood of the town worsens and focuses on him. So, he is doing it for the good of himself and he realises that if Proctor was to be hung, he could lose his position as minister and even be thrown out of Salem. This makes us despise Parris further. However, if it were for the reason that he has turned to a kind and truthful man who wanted to stop it from happening we would admire him. Another thing to despise Parris is the very pathetic and selfish action at the end of act 4 before Proctor is to be hung, where Parris offers him some cider; If you desire a cup of cider, Mr Proctor, I am sure I-. He does not finish as he sees Proctor giving him an icy stare. To do this, especially when you are the man who is responsible for his hanging, is just outrageous! Parris, throughout the play, can only be described as selfish, heartless, small minded and self motivated a sort of man who no one would want to know or associate with, and especially for someone like this to be a Minister! Despisable. Rev Hale, throughout the play, has feelings for people and only wants to help and do the right thing. He knows whats right and wrong and unlike Parris, does what is right for other people and not whats best for him. A man you would want to know, a man with the true personality of a Reverend, admirable.

Mosquito Control With Birds and Other Natural Predators

Mosquito Control With Birds and Other Natural Predators When the topic of  mosquito control is discussed, thrown into the mix is usually a fervent argument for installing purple martin houses and bat houses. Stores that cater to bird enthusiasts often tout the purple martin houses as the best solution for keeping your yard mosquito free. Bats, which may not be the most beloved of mammals, are defended with the claim that they consume hundreds of mosquitoes per hour. The truth of the matter is that neither purple martins nor bats provide any significant measure of mosquito control. While both eat mosquitoes, the insect makes up a very tiny portion of their diets. Other animals might have an upper hand on mosquito control, particularly in the fish, other insect, and amphibian classes. Mosquito Munchies For bats and birds, mosquitoes are more like a passing snack. Multiple studies of wild bats have consistently shown that mosquitoes consist of less than 1 percent of their diet. In purple martins, the percentage of mosquitoes in their diet is slightly higher- about 3 percent, at most. The reason is simple. The payoff is small. A bird or a bat that feeds on insects must invest considerable energy in flying around and must catch the bugs in mid-air. Birds and bats are usually seeking the biggest caloric bang for their buck. Given the choice between a mosquito morsel, a hardy beetle, or a mouthful of moth, the mosquito hardly makes the top-10 list. An Efficient Mosquito Natural Predator Gambusia affinis, also known as the mosquitofish, is an American fish that is utilized by some mosquito control districts across the country as a very effective predator of mosquito larvae. As far as natural predators go, the mosquitofish is by far the most efficient natural predator of mosquitoes. The mosquitofish is a voracious predator. In certain studies, mosquitofish have been shown to consume up to 167 percent of their body weight in invertebrate prey, including mosquito larvae, per day. Mosquitofish, as well as small predatory fish such as guppies, can be quite useful in the reduction of mosquito larvae given the right conditions. Other Mosquito Consumers The closely related  dragonflies and damselflies  are natural predators of mosquitoes but do not consume enough mosquitoes to cause a significant impact on the wild mosquito population. Dragonflies are often referred to as mosquito hawks for an unsubstantiated claim of being able to kill thousands of mosquitoes. One thing that does make the dragonfly a better predator than most is that, in the aquatic larval stage, one of their food sources is mosquito larvae. Dragonfly larvae can sometimes live up to six years in this stage. During this phase of life, dragonflies do the most damage to mosquito populations. Frogs, toads, and their young tadpoles are often touted as excellent for mosquito control. In reality, while they do consume their fair share, it is not enough to seriously put a dent in vast mosquito populations. When frogs and toads do consume mosquitoes, it is usually after they have transformed from tadpole to adult.

Tropical Rainforests Are Natures Medicine Cabinet

Tropical Rainforests Are Nature's Medicine Cabinet Tropical rainforests, which account for only seven percent of the world’s total land mass, harbor as much as half of all known varieties of plants. Experts say that just a four-square-mile area of rainforest may contain as many as 1,500 different types of flowering plants and 750 species of trees, all which have evolved specialized survival mechanisms over the millennia that mankind is just starting to learn how to appropriate for its own purposes. Rainforests Are a Rich Source of Medicines Scattered pockets of native peoples around the world have known about the healing properties of rainforest plants for centuries and perhaps longer. But only since World War II has the modern world begun to take notice, and scores of drug companies today work in tandem with conservationists, native groups, and various governments to find and catalog rainforest plants for their medicinal value, and synthesize their bio-active compounds. Rainforest Plants Produce Life-Saving Medicines Some 120 prescription drugs sold worldwide today are derived directly from rainforest plants. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, more than twos abound. Ingredients obtained and synthesized from a now-extinct periwinkle plant found only in Madagascar (until deforestation wiped it out) have increased the chances of survival for children with leukemia from 20 percent to 80 percent. Some of the compounds in rainforest plants are also used to treat malaria, heart disease, bronchitis, hypertension, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, arthritis, glaucoma, dysentery, and tuberculosis, among other health problems. Many commercially available anesthetics, enzymes, hormones, laxatives, cough mixtures, antibiotics, and antiseptics are also derived from rainforest plants and herbs. Stumbling Blocks Despite these success stories, less than one percent of the plants in the world’s tropical rainforests have even been tested for their medicinal properties. Environmentalists and health care advocates alike are keen to protect the world’s remaining rainforests as storehouses for the medicines of the future. Fueled by this urgency, pharmaceutical companies have entered agreements with tropical countries promising protection against exclusive bioprospection rights. Unfortunately, these agreements didnt last, and enthusiasm waned.  In some countries, bureaucracy, permits, and access became prohibitively expensive. In addition, new technologies allowed to use powerful combinatorial chemistry techniques to find active molecules without having to slog through the mud in some faraway jungle. As a result, the exploratory search for pharmaceuticals in rainforests dwindled for a while. But the technological advancements which favored synthetic, lab-developed meds are now helping botanical prospectors once again, and a few daring pharmaceutical companies are back in the jungles looking for the next big drug.   The Challenge of Preserving Valuable Rainforests But saving tropical rainforests is no easy task, as poverty-stricken native people try to eke out a living off the lands and many governments throughout the world’s equatorial regions, out of economic desperation as well as greed, allow destructive cattle ranching, farming, and logging. As rainforest turns to farm, ranch and clear-cut, some 137 rainforest-dwelling species- plants and animals alike- go extinct every single day, according to noted Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson. Conservationists worry that as rainforest species disappear, so will many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. How You Can Help Save Rainforests You can do your part to help save rainforests around the world by following and supporting the work of such organizations as Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Action Network, Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E. Edited by Frederic Beaudry.