Friday, December 16, 2011

Blog 15: Entrepreneurship

Unfortunately, looking at the comparison of business person and entrepreneur, I believe that I fall under the business person aspect. I worry a lot, so trying to build a new business off of a new idea just seems like it wouldn't work for me. I would need to stick to something that I know would bring in business. Since I do worry so much, time is always a factor. I am an on the go type person who never seems to have time for my family, which I am not proud of. On the rival aspect, I feel that my competitors would be my rivals, but also myself. In my life right now, I try to do better than my competitors (peers), but I also try to do better than what I can do.

If I had the choice of what I could be, it would be an entrepreneur because the life style seems so much more realistic. I would love to own my own, original, business and still have time for my family, while being able to think of new ways that I could improve my business without too much worry.

Overall, I would say that by looking at the comparison of the two, the business person aspect is pretty dead on to what my lifestyle is like. If in the future I have the time and the aspirations to change this, I will by sitting down and analyzing and researching ways of changing the way I look at life.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Blog 5: Professional Development Plan


Professional Development Plan
University of Wisconsin-Stout
2011-2012

Name: Katherine Elizabeth Herting                
                                                                                   
Goals:
  • Graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science with a concentration in Biotechnology and a minor in Chemistry.
  • Continue my education, by moving forward into the Graduate Program and receiving my master’s in biology.
  • Finding an occupation where I am able to live comfortably and happily.
  • Eventually going on to med school or vet school… hopefully
  • Travel and do volunteer work in undeveloped countries, mostly medical help, whether it is for humans or animals.
  • Attend conventions that deal with what I am passionate about or interested in.
Career Issues:
  • Liking/Loving my job
  • Making enough money
  • Job security
  • Having a job that I can learn new things every day and not have the same routine day in and day out. 
 Things to consider that are important to me:
  • Family
  • Location
  • Status
  • Life style
  • Income
  • Stability
Where I want to be in 5 years:
  • Graduated with a Masters in Biology
  • Holding a steady part-time job that actually relates to my career goals.
  • Applying for positions in a laboratory career.

Blog 14: Implementing a Lean Process

Implementing a Lean Process:

  • Transporting
  • Defects
  • Over processing
  • Over production
  • Inventory
  • Motion
  • Waiting
I think that the Lean process that I used the most during my 5S process was the inventory process. I went through my whole care and sorted out what I thought I needed and what I thought I didn't need. I also made sure that the things that were needed were in working order and accessible. The second process that I thought I used most was transporting. I moved a lot of the unnecessary things out of my car and put them in my room.  

Blog 13: Criteria for Evaluation

Post the final criteria and the process you will use to evaluate and rank the members of your team related to the final project.

-Attendance/Participation
-Tasks Accomplished
-Professionalism
-Communication
-Contribution
Whitney Anderson
Annarae Andresen
Ann Engen
Kang Vang
Jacob Pulfer
Steve Zweber
Derek Rubenzer
Andrew Jeske

Blog Post 12: 5S Process

Phases of 5S: My 5S process was for my vehicle.
  • Sorting
    • Straightening or Setting in Order/Stabilize
    • Sweeping or Shining or Cleanliness/Systematic Cleaning
    • Standardizing
    • Sustaining the Discipline or Self-Discipline
    • Safety
    • Security
    • Satisfaction
    I basically live my life in my vehicle, so I thought that this would be a good 5S process project. I live in an actual apartment, but I am constantly in class or heading to work, so I consistently drive. I began my 5S process by finding all of the loose ruble that was on the floor of my car and throwing it away. I then went through all the important papers that were in my car (and probably shouldn't have been there in the first place) and sorted out which ones would be important to stay (insurance papers), and which ones would probably be safest stored in my apartment. From there I went into all of my compartments and emptied them of any trash or accessories I did not need (nerf darts from last year spring break) and then I sorted out my papers and organized them in the compartments that they should be in. My manual was left in my glove compartment along with vehicle records and information. And other papers that I thought were important were stored in the locking compartment between the front seats. After everything was off the floor and seats, I took out all of the floor mats and vacuumed them along with the floor. I also wiped down the seats, steering wheel, and dash board. I cleaned all of the windows and the glass protecting my gauges. I now just have to tell myself that "what ever I bring into the car, has to leave the car if it does not belong.", I also know that my car will be safer when there is nothing in it that can possibly cause harm if and when there would be an accident, and now I have the satisfaction of getting into a nice clean good smelling car! I should use the 5S process more often.

      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

      Blog Post 11: Quality Control

      Laboratory Quality Control:
      • To run a successful laboratory, there are several aspects that need to be considered. For this blog, I used Laboratory Quality Management: A Roadmap, a scientific paper written by Lucia M. Berte. 
        • There are two ways to look at quality management in a clinical laboratory:
          • Medical Laboratory Quality Management
            • Support the technical work.
            • ensuring that the people hired in the lab are knowledgeable and experienced with the work that they are assigned.
          • Technical Work
            • performing pre-analytic activities, analytic activities, and postanalytic activities.
            • The work that is done in the laboratory and how it is done in the laboratory.

      Tuesday, November 29, 2011

      Blog Post 10: Specific Ethic Question

      Ethical Question: Is Physician Assisted Suicide Ethical
      • Against Euthanasia
        • Is physician assisted suicide in the patients best interest. 
        • May lead to involuntary assisted suicide of people who are considered undesirable"Euthanasia weakens society's respect for the sanctity of life" (BBC)
        • Assisted suicide may take away personal rights
      • For Euthanasia
        • Some believe that if the person is in the right state of mind or if they decide it early on in their will, they should be able to decide if they want assisted euthanasia. 
        • Some people believe that they should have the right to choose what is in the best interest for them. A lot of individuals believe that if they have an incurable disease, they should have a doctor choose the best choice for them.
      • What I believe is right:
        • I feel that as individuals, we should have the right to choose whether or not we want assisted euthanasia. For instance, if we can choose to drink, which has proven that alcohol has caused death, we should be able to choose whether or not we want to be in a vegetative state or not. I also believe that if you would be able to put in in your will legally, it should be right and should be followed through.
      Reference:
      "Ethics: Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide" (2011) BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/

      Blog Post 9: Project Title, Issue, and Action Plan

      Project Title:
      • The Wood Project: Environmentally Friendly Phenolic Resin Based Wood Treatment
      Issues
      • What is the product made of?
      • Is it 100% environmentally friendly?
      • How is it different from other environmentally safe wood treatments?
      • Is it user friendly?
      • What is the cost of a product like this?
      • Can it be disposed of or recycled?
      • Why would we even want another product like this anyway?
      • How long will the treatment last and how often will you have to reapply it?
      • How will it look and will it have a variation in color? How will it smell? Can it be shiny or will it just absorb into the wood?
      • How does the product work?
      Action Plan:
      • Read article on Joe Stark, the creator of the product.
      • Meet with Mr. Stark personally and ask him questions about his product. 
      • Compare and contrast other products similar to Mr. Stark's product.
      • Research the chemicals used in the product.
      • Go to leading stores that sell these kinds of products and compare which ones sell the best and why.
      • Design a survey to create a consumer report. 
      • Calculate Pricing.
      • Compile information collected.
      • Create a brochure that Mr. Stark could at some point in the future use for his product.

      Blog Post 8:Ethical Question

      "Is it ethical for a physician to accept Wild tickets from a pharmaceutical rep to take her family to the game?"

      • No I do not believe that it is ethical for the physician to accept Wild tickets from the rep because the rep is basically bribing the physician to keep buying his/her product. The rep is providing a poor reason to the physician to keep buying the product he is representing. 

      Monday, November 14, 2011

      Blog Post 7: General Ethics

      USA Medical Code of Ethics
      AMA (American Medical Association) Medical Ethical Codes for the USA:
      http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics.page
      ____________________________________________________________________________________

      India Medical Code of Ethics
      http://www.mciindia.org/rules-and-regulation/Code%20of%20Medical%20Ethics%20Regulations.pdf
      ____________________________________________________________________________________

      China Medical Code of Ethics
      http://www.temple.edu/lawschool/phrhcs/conference/chinamedethics.pdf
      ____________________________________________________________________________________

      Thailand Medical Code of Ethics
      http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0016/001631/163168e.pdf
      ____________________________________________________________________________________

      Saudia Arabia Medical Code of Ethics
      http://www.ispub.com/journal/the-internet-journal-of-law-healthcare-and-ethics/volume-4-number-2/medical-laws-and-ethics-of-babylon-as-read-in-hammurabi-s-code-history.html
      ____________________________________________________________________________________

      Israel Medical Code of Ethics
      http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Milestones.pdf

      Sunday, November 13, 2011

      Blog Post 6: Diversity

      Diversity
      Diversity is very important in every aspect and it is also very important to me. If there was no diversity, everything would be the same and everyone would expect the same from everyone else. As long as we have diversity, we can learn from each other and learn to become better educated and build better personalities. Diversity is what changed the world, it brought us together. I know that having diversity in my career in the future will allow me to learn new skills that are not typically taught where I was taught. It will also give me the chance to meet new people and learn how they perceive themselves to me and how they perceive me. 

      Diversity Statements from 5 Companies

      Smithfield
      Customers
      Smithfield Foods is always seeking new markets for its products. We continually strive to reach out to a diverse customer base, and produce good food that will be enjoyed by families across the globe. Our new initiatives include product development, marketing and advertising with diverse media outlets, sponsorships and forming successful partnerships with key influences.

      Johnson & Johnson
      Our People & Diversity
      People and values are our greatest assets. We know that every invention, every product, and every breakthrough we’ve brought to human health and well-being has been powered by people. Not ordinary people, though, but people whose personal values drive them to make a difference in the world. We believe the shared values embodied in Our Credo help us attract and keep the most talented values-driven people in the world.

      Diversity is a central part of the cultures across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. It’s a key to our people’s passion for improving the health and well-being of people the world over. Further, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply rooted in the values instilled by Our Credo and is exemplified in a number of our companies’ programs and activities.

      We recognize that differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and background bring richness to our work environments. Such differences help us connect better with the health needs of people in communities around the world.

      We believe that attracting, developing and retaining a base of employees that reflects the diversity of our customers is essential to our success. We also believe success hinges on relationships with diverse professional and patient organizations, civic groups and suppliers.

      Babcock & Wilcox Company
      The Babcock & Wilcox Company supports diversity and is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity.
      With that in mind, the company has established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color religion, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or veteran status.

      Spectrum Brands
      The Executive Management of Spectrum Brands, Inc. is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action as set forth in Spectrum Brands’ policy.
      It is the responsibility of all managers and supervisors to ensure that all personnel actions, including recruiting, employment, work assignments, advancement opportunities, promotions, training, compensation, benefits, leaves of absence, educational refunds, social and recreational programs, etc. are administered in accordance with Spectrum Brands’ Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and Affirmative Action Plans and without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, citizenship or veteran status.
      In support of our policy, Spectrum Brands has developed affirmative action plans and procedures for minorities and women, for individuals with disabilities, and special disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era. The Equal Opportunity Officer for Spectrum Brands is Joseph Wickham, Vice President, Corporate HR. He is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the effectiveness of the Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Programs. These plans are available for review during normal business hours in local Human Resources departments.
      A fundamental element of Spectrum Brands’ policy is to ensure that all employees work together in an atmosphere fostering mutual respect and promoting a harmonious, productive workplace free of harassment, intimidation or any form of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, citizenship or veteran status. All employees are encouraged to bring any question or concern related to this matter to their immediate supervisor, local manager or Human Resources representative.
      Any employee filing a complaint can expect Spectrum Brands to conduct a complete, confidential investigation and to be informed of the results. Spectrum Brands will not permit or tolerate any form of retaliation against an employee filing a complaint. If the investigation reveals reasonable evidence that Spectrum Brands’ equal employment opportunity Policy or Affirmative action Plans have been violated, appropriate action to eliminate future violations will be taken.

      All Spectrum Brands employees are expected to support our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and Affirmative Action Programs both to ensure legal compliance and to provide a work environment consistent with Spectrum Brands’ values.

      American General Life and Accident
      American General Life and Accident has a proud heritage of achievement. At AGLA, we have an abiding commitment to diversity and strive to appreciate the differences among us. By creating a climate that promotes understanding within diverse populations, we benefit not only as individuals, but also as a company.
      At AGLA we seek to provide an environment that enables all employees to reach their full potential, and in doing so, maximize our business strategies. Our society is ever-changing. The demographics of the workplace, and those that we provide services to, continues to change rapidly. These changes can mean substantial benefits for our company. Inclusion of individuals from different backgrounds and beliefs brings unique perspective to the business challenges facing our enterprise. Greater diversity enhances our ability to innovate and maintain a competitive edge.
      AGLA’s commitment to diversity recognizes the value of our differences. At the heart of our diversity strategy is a set of values and, as with other values and principles, these must consistently be at work in all that we do.
      The AGLA community must examine ourselves and make decisions that will encourage inclusiveness in governance and address the needs of our internal and external constituencies. In doing so we can achieve great things.

      Blog Post 4: Carbon Dioxide Paper Evaluation

      Is The Paper Legitimate Now?

      Credibility:
      • This paper has been published 4 times in the last 14 years.
      • The most recent publication was in 2007 in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.
      • Since the most recent publication, it has been cited 77 different times. 
      • Cites publication from credible sources, such as;
        • Nature
        • Science
        • Global Change Biology
          • ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the list of most-cited journals in climate change research respectively. 
        • Center for Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
          • A non-profit organization whose mission is to "disseminate factual reports and sound commentary on new developments in the world-wide scientific quest to determine the climatic and biological consequences of the ongoing rise in the air's CO2 content". 
        • Several Studies have found similar correlations between climate and solar activity (all are cited within this paper)
      Other Factors:
      • Though the paper does cite sources as seen in the previous slide for data and measurements, this paper did not really have any of its own research. 
      • The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine along with the National Academy of Sciences signed a petition stating that there is no such thin as Human Induce CO2 increases.
      ___________________________________________________________________________________

      Strength and Weaknesses of this Paper:
      • With our presentation personally, it was very difficult for us to review and decide if the paper was legitimate. First off, we didn't agree that the paper was correct and we also thought that the paper was poorly written. The only real strength that we had with this paper was the resources that they got their information from. The disagreeing groups, in my opinion, had a much easier time with this paper because of all the faults of this paper. It was easier to find faults in this paper that to find believable facts. 
      Group Management:
      • Like with all types of group work, no group is at it's peak of perfection, but I believe that our group did very well at managing time and workload with everyone in the group. One of the aspects of this work that could have went better was the group itself having more flexibility to meet with each other.
      Ethical Conditions with Position
      • I was in a group that had to agree with the paper. I found it very difficult and nearly impossible to agree with this paper. First off, I could barely read through the paper without becoming confused about what the authors were trying to explain. I also did not agree with their argument. So having to agree with this paper was extremely difficult, and in the end, i stated reasons why they could be legitimate, but over all I wasn't convinced. 
      Did the Class Make the Proper Decision When Considering the Broader Impacts of the Global Warming/Climate Change Debate?
      • This is a yes and no. There were several students who agreed that global warming/climate change was happening today, there were also several who did not agree. The class did come to an overall agreement that people do effect the earth with the way they live their lives, such as; the types of cars they drive, how much electricity they use, landfill usage, who recycles etc...
      "What we do in the US, soon will not matter."
      • I'm not entirely sure if I have this saying correct, but to me, this statement means that because of the technological advances in the US, everything people can do, we have basically created something that can reverse it. This statement also means, that the US is already so damaged that there isn't any possible way to fix it because it would take too long, and most people would continue what they had done in the past anyway. For example, recycling has been promoted to save the earth, and many people did begin to recycle, but there are still many of us who don't recycle habitually.
      "What we do as individuals matters."
      • What we do as individuals matters mean that an individual person can do one good thing and though it may not make a large impact on a larger problem, it still matters that they did what they did. A perfect example of this would be bullying. When people see another individual getting bullied, they typically don't interject, but if one person interrupts that situation, that difference means a lot, especially if others see it. Not only does it help the victim of bullying, but it can also satisfy the person stopping the bully. As for the bully, it would probably show them that what they are doing is wrong and that not everyone thinks that it is okay or fun to do.

      Tuesday, October 4, 2011

      Blog Post 2: Presentaton on Penny Weights

      How much does a penny way when you pick it up off the side walk?
      • It all depends on the year of the penny. If the penny was produced before 1793 (which you would not likely find) it would weigh 13.43 grams. If the penny was made after 1793, but before 1908, it would have weighed 3.11 grams. If the penny was produced after 1908 to now, the penny would weigh 2.5 grams. Now these would be weights of pennies that are untarnished and untouched by human hands. The older the penny, the more damaged and worn it would be, so the less it would weigh. Human hands can also change the weight due to oil residue left over from touching the penny, adding more weight to the penny.
      I believe our team didn't win because we really didn't do any scientific research with a penny. Other teams weighed pennies, did chemical experiments, and had a more scientific approach to their presentation.

      Sunday, September 18, 2011

      Blog Post 3: Establish Criteria for Evaluating Scientific Papers

      When evaluating scientific papers, certain criteria should be used:
      • Is the paper written clearly and concise?
      • Does the paper list its objectives?
      • Does the paper clearly describe the methods and procedures used? 
      • Does the paper use reliable references?

      Monday, September 12, 2011

      Blog Post 1: PDP Ideas

      A Personal Development Plan should contain information about the person making the PDP, the things that they have accomplished; such as educational background, work history, and major accomplishments. It should also show achieved goals and future goals to accomplish. What makes the person compassionate and proactive to meet their goals. It should also include a descriptive plan on how they may accomplish their goals.