Slack’s Transformational Process Model Essay Example

Slack’s Transformational Process Model Essay The transformational process model, developed by Nigel Slack, is a framework for understanding how the inputs of a business (raw materials, finances, or man hours) become the outputs of the business. Output criteria such as tangibility, storability, transportability, customer contact, simultaneity and quality vary depending on the business’s main outputs. The implications of the transformational process model vary depending on whether the business is primarily a provider of goods or services. Examining the case of an automobile manufacturer and an advertising agency allows us to compare and contrast the implications of the Slack transformational process model for providers of goods and of services.The Slack transformational process model is also referred to as the input-output model. The input-output model relies on business being seen as an open system, with the following attributes: receiving inputs, converting inputs to outputs and then discharging the outputs into the envi ronment. Businesses are dependent on the environment, in particular the target market for their product. Businesses are also composed of sub-organizations, which undertake their own activities leading to conversion of inputs to outputs. Because businesses are social systems, it is possible to reorganise them into different shapes. However, the manner of organisation of a business makes a difference in the efficiency of a business’s production process. Problems can arise from other factors, as well. For example, a micro-organisation within the business can cause problems by working toward its own goals rather than keeping the goal of the overall business in mind.Slack’s model concentrates on the operations function of a business, tracing the evolution of the business’s product from inputs to output through a number of stages. There are three main outputs considered in Slack’s model: materials, information and customers. Inputs include people, materials, in formation, financing, and creativity.Many businesses have different organisations that focus on the transformation of inputs into one of these outputs. For example, a business’s manufacturing division may be responsible for materials; the technical writing division may be responsible for information regarding the materials; and the sales organization will be responsible for customers. Organizations have both micro-operations and macro-operations. Macro-operations are considered to be those operations directly involved with the production of a good or service, where micro-operations are activities that contribute to the macro-operation. For example, a sales department would be considered a macro-operation because it directly contributes to the transformation of a good or service, where a human resources department would be considered to be a micro-operation because it supports the macro-operations of the company.Businesses may focus on different types of transformed resources, as well. Some businesses offer pure goods, while some offer only services. Most business offerings are a combination of goods and services, with one aspect taking precedence over the other. Different aspects of goods and services include tangibility, storability, transportability, simultaneity, customer contact and quality. These aspects are expressed in different ways and differing amounts, depending on whether the firm’s offering is primarily a good or a service. Tangibility is a basic property of an output. Is it a physical product, or is it a relationship, a work of art or an application of specialised knowledge? A business with a primary product of a good will place high value on storability and transportability. A service business will value customer contact and simultaneity. All organizations will place a value on quality, whether the product is tangible or intangible; however, a tangible product will have an objective measure of quality, which may not be available fo r an intangible product.One example of a business that produces primarily goods is an automobile manufacturing business. The macro-organisations within an automobile manufacturing business include the manufacturing department, which produces materials (in this case, automobiles); the sales department, which produces customers; engineering and design, who provide specifications to which the production should be completed; and the technical writing department, which produces the owner’s manual and other documentation which is provided with the automobile. Microorganisations within the automobile manufacturer may include a customer support department, which supports the sales department’s efforts by helping to retain customers; a human resources department, which handles the acquisition of human resources; raw materials sourcing agents, who acquire the raw materials required for production; training staff, who prepare human resources for the work; company directors, who s et policy and steer the direction of production; financial and accounting staff; information technology staff; and investors, who provide financing money. These microorganisations support the macroorganisations within the business that perform the production work.An automobile manufacturer’s outputs are primarily tangible products: automobiles, with accompany owner’s manuals and sales support. The main inputs in an automobile manufacturing business include raw materials, people, information, finance, and creativity. Raw materials such as steel, plastic, leather and paint are required in order to create the automobile. People are required to run the machinery, perform handwork, create and test automobile designs and perform other manufacturing tests. Information is required in order for the automobile designs to work properly, as well as to focus creative efforts in order to gain the maximum amount of business it is possible to gain. Finance is required because automobi le manufacturing is an industry that is highly dependent on capital; large amounts of permanent infrastructure such as manufacturing plants, machinery and stocks of raw material, as well as a high amount of human labour which must be paid for, are required to operate efficiently. Creativity is required in order to create and market innovative automobile designs that capture the public’s attention; it is necessary for the automobile manufacturer to interact efficiently with its environment or market.The stages of transformation in the materials portion of an automobile manufacturer’s business are likely to include design and procurement, fabrication, assembly, test and distribution. At each of these stages, the initial inputs are used to create an intermediate output in preparation for the next stage. During the design and procurement stage, raw materials are required and some creativity and human resources are transformed into automobile designs and manufacturing proce sses. These designs and processes, as well as the raw materials, become the input for the next stage of manufacturing, that of fabrication. Parts and pieces of an automobile, such as engines, moulded side panels and steering wheels, are prepared for use in the next stage. Assembly takes the pieces fabricated in the previous stage and creates another output, in this case a completed or nearly complete automobile. The testing stage takes the completed automobile and performs quality checking in order to ensure that the quality criteria are met. The tested automobile is then passed to the distribution stage, where it joins with other outputs of the manufacturer, such as information (owner’s manuals and marketing material) and customers (sales department efforts) for final distribution.The main challenges for an automobile manufacturer include transportability, storability, simultaneity and quality. Automobiles are large and heavy, as well as expensive to produce. The manufacture r must be assured of its logistical optimization in order to avoid outputting too many automobiles and creating a storability problem. Automobile manufacturers also need to ensure their ability to transport their vehicles to their customer base. Vehicles can be transported by lorry in some cases, but often must spend part of their journey on rail, cargo boat or a combination of all three methods of transport before reaching their destination. Simultaneity is vital to an automobile manufacturer; in order for the business to achieve economies of scale, it must be able to produce a large number of outputs at the same time or in quick succession. Quality is measured by comprehensive, objective testing which ensures that each output is up to standards set by the manufacturer and demanded by the business’s environment (both its customers and the regulatory or government rules).Transportability and storability of raw materials is also a concern, because automobile raw materials are often bulky and can sometimes be difficult to source, being subject to their own market pressures which may divert or halt supply of a given material. An entire microorganisation may exist within an automobile manufacturer for supply-chain management and logistics. One way in which American and Japanese automobile manufacturers have attempted to solve transportability and storability problems on both the input and output side of the transformation model is by using just-in-time (JIT) production methods. In the JIT model, suppliers provide raw materials and components to the manufacturer on an as-needed basis, often varying supply daily in order to avoid storing an excess inventory of raw material. In turn, the automobile manufacturer provides automobiles to dealerships in the same way, providing only a short-term supply for storage or in some cases only providing cars after completed sales.An advertising agency is a very different business from an automobile manufacturing business. An advertising agency may provide a small amount of goods, including marketing materials, posters and other promotional material. The outputs of an advertising agency may also be used as inputs in creation of tangible output from another firm, as in the case of development of products bearing advertising logos, mascots or symbols. However, their primary business is intangible and service-based. The major inputs in an advertising agency are people, knowledge and creativity. The major outputs are information and customers.An advertising agency also reacts to its environment differently from an automobile manufacturer. While an automobile manufacturer does pay attention to customer input and gather market information, the main production process involves the automobile manufacturer producing automobiles, and the customer base purchasing automobiles (or not purchasing automobiles, if the manufacturer has not responded appropriately to the information provided). An advertising agency doe s not produce work for public purchase; rather, it produces work on a bespoke basis, with each client driving the creative process and determining what services should be provided by the agency. Because of this, simultaneity is not as important to the advertising agency as it is to the automobile manufacturer; an advertising agency’s outputs are unique, and the agency may produce no more than a few outputs at once, depending on the size of the agency – no economies of scale are possible, so the number of possible outputs are directly related to the amount of input.The advertising agency’s main macroorganisations are its sales department and its creative staff (depending on the size and nature of the agency, this may be divided into several sub-organisations including graphic artists, copywriters and video production specialists as well as other creative workers). Its microorganisations are human resources, directors, and finance departments. Unlike the automobil e manufacturer, the advertising agency does not have a high number of microorganisations devoted to support of logistics or supply chain management, as it has no need for these functions. While the advertising agency has high requirements for the criteria of quality and customer contact, it has almost no requirements for transportability, storability or simultaneity because it does not provide a tangible product that requires these criteria.The stages of transformation an advertising agency’s product goes through are client solicitation, information gathering and the creative process, delivery of the product and account management. Where the automobile manufacturer’s primary output was tangible, and was supported by intangible products from the marketing and sales macroorganisations, the advertising agency’s primary output is almost entirely intangible, with only minor support from a macroorganisation which provides a tangible product (marketing brochures, promo tional materials and so on).Like the automobile manufacturer, each stage in the transformation of an advertising agency’s input provides an intermediate output for use as the next stage’s output. The first stage, that of client solicitation, requires human resources (the account managers) and information of the market and the customers. There may also be an element of creativity in this stage, as the account manager proposes details and new ideas for the new account.The output from the client solicitation stage (finances, information and creativity) is used in the next stage, which is information gathering and the creation of the advertising material required by the contract. This stage makes a far greater use of information and creativity than the previous stage. Information about what the client requires must be joined to knowledge about legal matters such as copyright information, understanding of the client’s market to be able to judge whether the intended i mpact of the proposed campaign is realistic, information about design principles and the given medium the client desires work in (for example, graphic arts, advertising campaign design, commercial production or other techniques required for the client’s requirements). Creativity is required as well, in order to ensure that the impact of the campaign is what was required. While the automobile manufacturer must meet its customer’s requirements for a vehicle, the advertising agency’s job is more complicated; grabbing the attention and imagination of not only current customers, but potential customers, requires attention to detail, knowledge of psychology and cultural trends and artistic creativity. This is the stage at which one of the main outputs of the advertising agency, information, is complete.The output of the creative process is passed to the next stage, that of client delivery. This stage of transformation is closely tied to the next stage, that of custome r retention, both of which are involved with the second major output of the advertising agency, customers. The account manager who completed the first stage, of client solicitation, is likely to be involved in these stages as well. The quality of the information output (the advertising campaign) is judged during this stage of transformation – does the client like it? Does the public like it? Is the client going to come back to the advertising agency for their next campaign or a continuation of this one? These subjective measures of quality are unlike the automobile manufacturer’s objective tests and specifications, as they are completely dependent on the client’s requirements and tastes, as well as the demographic the advertising campaign is to be directed at.Slack’s transformation process model is expressed differently, depending on whether the business’s primary output is a good or a service. For a business that primarily focuses on goods deliver y or tangible output, transportability and storability are key; if the business is one that benefits from economies of scale, a high degree of simultaneity is also desirable. A business which focuses primarily on a service or intangible output depends heavily on customer contact and quality. Quality, while important for both goods and services output, is defined differently for each type of business. A tangible output can be objectively checked for quality using standard measurements and tests to determine its compliance with use requirements and regulations. An intangible output’s quality is determined by the value derived by the customer rather than quantitative measurements or regulatory factors. In both cases, however, Slack’s transformation process model can be used as a framework for understanding how a business takes raw inputs such as human resources, financial resources, information, raw materials and creativity and produces materials, information and customer s.

The Trail of Tears essays

The Trail of Tears essays More than 150 years ago, in 1839, the United States forced the Cherokee Nation West of the Mississippi River into what later would become the state of Oklahoma. The weather was unusually harsh that winter and the cold, the disease and the hunger cost the Cherokee Nation the lives of at least four thousand of the fifteen thousand people who traveled the thousand miles West (Perdue 93). Not only was the journey a very cruel and dangerous one for the Native Americans, but it also upset their tribal lives, particularly the tribal lives of the Cherokee women. This essay will focus on the position of the Cherokee woman in her tribe before and during the relocation West. Native American woman, particularly the Cherokee, lived and thrived in a matrilineal society long before the Europeans immigrated to North America. Traditionally Cherokee women had a voice in Cherokee government. They spoke freely in council, and the War Woman (or Beloved Woman) decided to the fate of captives (Perdue 94). The Cherokee men would live in houses that belonged to their wives and to their wifes family. Many tribal members believed that marriage gives no right to the husband over the property of his wife; and when they part she keeps the children and property belonging to them (Perdue 95). Even the fresh produce and other belongings of a Cherokee belonged to the women because they were the primary farmers. The Cherokee women owned their own fields and tended their own crops. The Cherokee women were also very adamant and vocal peacekeepers. In 1787, Benjamin Franklin received a letter from a Cherokee woman telling him that she had told her people to maintain peace with the white settlers. She had filled the peace pipe for the warriors and she enclosed some of the same tobacco for the United States Congress in order to unite symbolically her people and his in peace. She conti...

Craniates - Crainata - the Animal Encyclopedia

Craniates - Crainata - the Animal Encyclopedia Craniates (Craniata) are a group of chordates that includes hagfish, lampreys, and jawed vertebrates such as amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals, and fishes. Craniates are best described as chordates that have a braincase (also called a cranium or a skull), mandible (jawbone) and other facial bones. Craniates do not include simpler chordates such as lancelets and tunicates. Some craniates are aquatic and have gill slits, unlike the more primitive lancelets which have pharyngeal slits instead. Hagfishes Are the Most Primitive Among craniates, the most primitive is the hagfishes. Hagfishes do not have a bony skull. Instead, their skull is made up of cartilage, a strong but flexible substance that consists of the protein keratin. Hagfishes are the only living animal that has a skull but lack a backbone or vertebral column. First Evolved Around 480 Million Years Ago The first known craniates were marine animals that evolved about 480 million years ago. These early craniates are thought to have diverged from lancelets. As embryos, craniates have a unique tissue called the neural crest. The neural crest develops into a variety of structures in the adult animal such as nerve cells, ganglia, some endocrine glands, skeletal tissue, and connective tissue of the skull. Craniates, like all chordates, develop a notochord that is present in hagfishes and lampreys but which disappears in most vertebrates where it is replaced by the vertebral column. All Have an Internal Skeleton All craniates have an internal skeleton, also called an endoskeleton. The endoskeleton is made up of either cartilage or calcified bone. All craniates have a circulatory system that consists of arteries, capillaries, and veins. They also have a chambered heart (in vertebrates the circulatory system is closed) and a pancreas and paired kidneys. In craniates, the digestive tract consists of a mouth, pharynx, esophagus, intestine, rectum, and anus.   The Craniate Skull In the craniate skull, the olfactory organ is located anterior to the other structures, followed by paired eyes, paired ears. Also within the skull is the brain which is made up of five parts, the romencephalon, metencephalon, mesencephalon, diencephalon, and telencepahlon. Also present in the craniate skull are a collection of nerves such as the olfactory, optic, trigeninal, facial, accoustic, glossopharygeal, and vagus cranial nerve.   Most craniates have distinct male and female sexes, although some species are hemaphroditic. Most fish and amphibians undergo external fertilization and lay eggs when reproducing while other craniates (such as mammals) bear live young. Classification Craniates are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Craniates Craniates are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Hagfishes (Myxini) - There are six species of hagfishes alive today. Members of this group have been the subject of much debate about how they should be placed within the classification of chordates. Currently, hagfishes are considered to be most closely related to lampreys.Lampreys (Hyperoartia) - There are about 40 species of lampreys alive today. Members of this group include northern lampreys, southern topeyed lampreys, and pouched lampreys. Lampreys have a long, slender body and a skeleton made of cartilage.Jawed vertebrates (Gnathostomata) - There are about 53,000 species of jawed vertebrates alive today. Jawed vertebrates include bony fishes, cartilaginous fishes, and tetrapods.

Measurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Measurement - Essay Example Without the invention of figures and measuring standards, it would be extremely difficult for industries to perform the tasks accurately and efficiently (Ambrose & Harris 45). One of the industries that measurement plays a large role in is Engineering and Construction and without this practice it would be extremely difficult for those working in this industry to perform their duties. Types of Measurement categories As mentioned earlier, there are different types of measurements that can be found with regard to what in particular an individual is trying to measure (Baines & Haslam 59). These measurements can either be used on their own or jointly depending on the task that the individual measuring wants to perform. The categories that are used for measurement of specific areas can be referred to as Units (Ambrose & Harris 36). Some of the aspects of objects that may require measuring include areas such as: Mass – This has to do with the weight of an object and is one of the mos t common aspects of measurement as it used in almost every single activity including the weighing of oneself in a bid to keep an eye on their body weight (Emerson 23). This is popularly referred to as body mass index. Length – This is in regard to how long an object is. ... Measurement Systems Measurement systems refer to the available units that an individual is able to conduct their measurements in (Emerson 47). The different systems available have different units of measurements that are used to calculate the various aspects of an object such as weight, length and so on. Three of the most common measurement systems that have been used over the years include the Imperial system and the SI system. The Imperial System This system is also known as the English system and was developed by the British. It was once the most popular system in use at one point in time before the switch to use of the SI system (Baines & Haslam 67). The main countries that used these system included the Common wealth countries, the United States and of course the Britons themselves. After a while the system became known as the U.S. Customary units as they maintained the use of these units after other countries made the switch to the SI system and it is still in use there and in certain Caribbean countries as well. Though Britain formally moderately changed to the SI system, many Imperial units still remain in use in this country. The SI System The full name for this particular system is the International System of Units and its abbreviation came from the French language (Systeme International d'Unites). It is a recent revision of the metric system and can be termed as the world’s most popular system of units at the moment with most countries either adapting all or part of the system (Ambrose & Harris 32). There are two categories of SI units in existence, they include the base units that deal with the simpler measurements such as time,

Emotional and Behavior Disorders Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emotional and Behavior Disorders - Assignment Example This study stresses that emotional or behavioral disorders are classified into three groups, namely: internalizing factors, low incidence disorder and externalizing. Behavior disorders can also be inherited through an individual’s genes or because of a chemical imbalance in one’s brain because of an injury sustained in the brains. Youth exposed to violence, death of a family member(s), abuse and extreme stress are also prone to suffering from behavior and emotional disorders. 8 emotional and behavioral disorders Characteristics/Traits Commonly Used Medications Recommended Therapeutic Interventions Recommended Educational Interventions Disorder Name: Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)       From this paper it is clear that the affected child is unable to pay attention to anything. The affected child is easily distracted and not constantly active. The child is not still. The use of stimulant and non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine are normally recomm ended. Induced psychosis in methylphenidate is also recommended as medication. Lisdexamfetamin, Dextroamphetamine, Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine are also the common medication. The Team Approach should be effectively used in which the parents, therapist, psychologist, teachers and the school, and physician should work together to focus on interventions, like consistent use of reward systems, techniques and schedules to help in mastering of skills. People should be made aware of the causes of these conditions and preventive measures put in place to prevent occurrence. Treatment should also be sought as early as possible for people who are affected. Disorder Name: Severe Depression       Loss of concentration in normal activities. The affected child experiences changes in appetite and feels hopeless. Lack of value towards life which may lead to destructive behaviors and suicide. Various antidepressants are used in the treatment of depression and conditions related to depression. T hey include Tricyclic antidepressant, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, Selective Serotonin Inhibitors reuptake inhibitors and Serotin & norepinephrine Inhibitors. Interpersonal Therapies and cognitive behavioral therapies should be used in the treatment of severe depression. People should be made aware of the causes of these conditions and preventive measures put in place to prevent occurrence. Treatment should also be sought as early as possible for people who are affected. Disorder Name: Eating Disorders      

Response to Hip-hop Feminism

Response to Hip-hop Feminism Let Me Blow Your Mind: Response to Hip-hop Feminism In Let Me Blow Your Mind: Hip Hop Feminist Futures in Theory and Praxis, Lindsey explores the origins of hip-hop feminism, its relation to Black feminism(s), and its application to urban education. She also challenges the centralization of the African American male perspective in hip-hop by focusing on the Black and Brown girls and womens, transgender people of colors, and queer people of colors lived experiences. In this essay, I will examine the social context of the writer, how she describes current realities, how she analysis these realities, her vision and strategy for the future, and how the historical contacts affects this theory. I will end by sharing how this theory has relevance to my own life. Dr. Treva Lindsey is currently a professor at the Ohio State University in the Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College and her Masters and Ph.D. from Duke University. She specializes in Black feminist theory, womens history, and popular culture studies along with work in critical race and gender theory, sexual politics, and African diaspora studies (Treva Lindsey). Lindsey is a self-described diva feminist, which she describes as being audacious, vibrant, passionate, and fierce in [her] dedication to eradicating racism, poverty, sexism, homophobia, religious intolerance, and other forms of socio-historical, political, and cultural oppression and exploitation (Lindsey), who is informed by Black feminist theory, hip-hop feminism, and her position as an African American woman in academia. In her publication, Lindsey states that women and girls not only play an integral role in the formation and sustaining of hip-hop culture(s) but also provide distinct standpoints, perspectives, and interventions into one of the most powerful cultural movements of late-20th and early-21st centuries (Lindsey 53). This idea is the base of hip-hop feminism that argues these contributions and perspectives are ignored or exploited by hip-hop culture. Lindsey describes several key theoretical interventions of hip-hop feminismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦including bringing wreck, kinetic orality, sonic pleasure, percussive resistance, and Black girl standpoint theory (Lindsey 55) to challenge the devaluation of womens and girls engagement with hip-hop (Lindsey 53). This devaluation benefits the African American male perspective in hip-hop which, as hip-hop feminism has argued against, has led to pervasive sexism and misogynyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in rap music (Lindsey 62). Lindsey starts her analysis of this reality by first exploring the relationship, and the differences, between Black feminism(s) and hip-hop feminism. She explains that there are material and discursive differencesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦between second-wave Black feminists and women of the hip-hop generation (Lindsey 56). While both feminisms address sexism and the patriarchy, Black feminists do not believe it is possible to base a feminist epistemology in a movement where sexism and misogyny thrive. Hip-hop feminism argues for a feminism that considers the messiness and lived contradictions of human experience (Lindsey 56), such as the women who participate in a culture such as hip-hop, to better understand the reality of women and girls. Lindsey describes this argument perfectly stating if we do not take seriously the pleasure girls and women derive from music, even misogynistic and sexist music, we miss an opportunity to theorize the complexities of women and girls pleasure and enjoyment (L indsey 63). The analysis continues with her challenging the African American male as the subject of hip-hop. As stated, she used the theoretical interventions of bringing wreck, kinetic orality, sonic pleasure, percussive resistance, and Black girl standpoint theory to argue Black and brown womens and girls roles in creating and sustaining hip-hop culture. Activities such as hand-games, Double-Dutch, and childhood chants are ways girls learn to preform race and gender, while constructing a musical Blackness, that then becomes a pivotal part of hip-hop (Lindsey). However, this musical Blackness is also vilified in the hip-hop community as shown by Lindseys twerking example. The co-optation of twerking coupled with its decontextualized deployments in mass media also mirrors histories of cultural appropriation, hyper-sexualization of Black women and girls, and the demonization and devaluation of Black cultural forms and social practices performed by Black people (Lindsey 60). While Lindsey never explicitly states her vision, it is clear that she wants hip-hop to move away from the misogyny and sexism it is known for and for women and girls to both develop new music and to think critically about the music they listen to. She discusses hip-hop education as a possible strategy to address these concerns. Its been shown that the problematic lyrics and images of rap music were secondary to the beat of the music for the girls, even as the girls critiqued the music for its derogatory content (Love 91). This means that teaching women and girls media literacy will help them recognize the misogyny and sexism in music but not stop them from enjoying the genre; which may lead to more of these women and girls to either move towards music, in the same genre, that is less or not misogynistic or to create music that does not have these themes of misogyny. Creation of new music in the hip-hop genre is where hip-hop education can play an important role. Brown argues that we do not hear Black girls or their truths because their sound is at best misunderstood, and at worst, framed as problematic. According to Brown, the tonality of Black girls is the core of their expressivity, but often receives admonishment because of its juxtaposition to acceptable performances of girlhood' (Lindsey 61). Some hip-hop education organizations, such as Saving Our Lives Hear Our Truths (SOLHOT), demand that grown-ups not tell Black girls to quiet downà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to experience Black girls unique voices and articulations (Lindsey 62). Giving space for these girls to think critically about the messages around them and to develop their own voice and sound will enable them to influence the world and music around them in ways they could not before. Hip-hop feminism has its roots in the hip-hop movement of the late 20th century and Black feminism(s). In 1999, when cultural critic and journalist Joan Morgan coined the term hip-hop feminist, she did not imagine how instrumental her framing of her standpoint as someone simultaneously rooted in both hip-hop and Black feminism(s) would be for the emergence of the scholarly subfield, women in hip-hop (Lindsey 55). Lindsey uses hip-hop feminism to analyze women and girls contributions to the hip-hop genre, to challenge the centering of the African American male perspective in hip-hop, and to suggest possible ways to change the misogyny and sexism in the genre. Hip-hop feminism was created when women of the hip-hop generation felt Black feminism(s) did not apply to their lives because it did not view them as both empowering and problematic. This context created what Morgan called a functional feminism that focused on the unique lives and experiences of the women of the hip-hop generatio n. Unfortunately, I could not discuss every topic Lindsey addressed in this response. I chose to focus on Lindseys descriptions of musical Blackness and hip-hop education because those ideas have the most relevance to my current time and location. As a science educator, I am passionate about minority representation in and access to the sciences. I want the content I teach to be accessible to anyone who walks into my classroom but that is only possible if I ensure my classroom environment is safe for everyone. There are several aspects of hip-hop education that I could bring into my classroom, such as experience Black girls unique voices and articulations (Lindsey 62) as it applies to scientific discovery and inquiry, that would make the space more welcoming to students. By applying hip-hop feminist pedagogy to my classroom, I could help students see themselves as scientists. Lindsey uses hip-hop feminism to challenge the idea that the subject of hip hop is the African American male and to inform educational techniques to empower girls of color. While the theory itself does not have much relevance to my life, its application in the classroom could help me introduce the world of science to students in a way that is enjoyable. Hip-hop feminism may be generationally specific with a focus on critical race theory but it is applicable to many situations as Lindsey showed by applying it to both the hip-hop community, the classroom, and violence against transgender and queer individuals. Work Cited Lindsey, Treva. Blog post. A Diva Feminist. Blogger.com, 30 Apr. 2009. Web. 4 Mar. 2017. . Lindsey, Treva. Let Me Blow Your Mind: Hip Hop Feminist Futures in Theory and Praxis. Urban Education. 50.1 (2015): 52-77. Web. Love, Bettina. Hip hops lil sistas speak: Negotiating hip hop identities and politics  in the New South. Peter Lang. 2012. Treva Lindsey. Womens Gender and Sexuality Studies. N.p., 5 Feb. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2017. .

Formal Letter

Poor Maintenance of Taman JayadiriI am writing this letter on behalf of the residents of Taman Jayadiri to complain about the dismal conditions we have been putting up with for the past three months. 2. One of the main grouses of the residents concerns uncollected rubbish (point 1). Initially, rubbish was collected three times a week. However, since June this year the garbage collectors have only been coming once a week. Our litter bins are always filled to the brim and we have no choice but to leave our bags of rubbish next to the bins. The rotting waste causes a terrible stench (point 2). Worse still, stray cats and dogs scatter the rubbish (point 3) while looking for food. This is not only unpleasant but also unhealthy.3. Most of the drains in Taman Jayadiri are clogged (point 4) with rubbish resulting in the water becoming stagnant. It is not uncommon to see plastic bags, bottles and dry leaves in these drains. There is an urgent need to clear these drains as the stagnant water i s an idealbreeding ground for mosquitoes (point 5). The residents are worried as there has been a sharp increase in dengue cases (point 6) in the last two months.4. The street lights along several roads are also not working (point 7). This has caused several accidents at night (point 8), mostly involving motorcyclists as they are unable to see in the dark. Unfortunately, the dark streets have also led to another problem – an increase in crime (point 9). Several residents, especially women, have fallen victim to snatch thieves. 5. The one and only playground in our area is also not well-maintained (point 10). The grass is  overgrown (point 11) as it has not been cut for almost three months. Besides, the playground equipment is damaged (point 12). Many of the see-saws and swings have been spoiled by vandals. I hope the council will look into our complaints and take prompt action to solve our problems. Thank you.Yours faithfully,Raisya Zahraa Binti Hairul Hisyam Suggestions On the Changes Need To Be Done To The LibraryMy intention of writing this letter is to inform you that our school library needs changesto attract more students to visit it. In relation to that, I would like to offer my suggestionson the changes need to be done to the library. 2. The number of novels should be increased as the fiction section lacks books. Manystudents feel disappointed because they cannot find their favourite novels in the library.Besides, the library needs to have dictionaries of the latest edition since the present dictionaries are not up to date and they are not really helpful to students in completing the English assignment 3. The shelves and furniture should be rearranged because the positions are notconducive to reading.During peak hours many students have to sit on the floor and between shelves and this hinder them from reading comfortably. The wall need to berepainted as well for the reason that the dull wall colour kills the students’ inter est inspending their free time in the library. Some said the colour encourages them to sleep while reading. 4. Apart from that, the library needs more fans or be air-conditioned due to   poor ventilation. Many students cannot stand the heat especially during the afternoon hours.Moreover, more librarians should be placed at the counter because of the long queue during recess.A few will miss their meals and might lose concentration later in class due to hunger. 5. It is my hope that you will view my suggestions and comments constructively anddo something to upgrade the conditions of the library in order to create a conducive reading environment. Thank you.Yours faithfully, Raisya (RAISYA ZAHRAA BT HAIRUL HISYAM)Letter of ComplaintRaju a/l Lingam, 123 A, Lorong Bahagia, Taman Sentosa, 07231 Bandar Baru Sentol, KelantanThe President, Bandar Baru Sentol Council, Kompleks Utama, 07200 Bandar Baru Sentol 16 JUNE 2011Dear Sir, Uncollected Rubbish and Clogged DrainsI am writing this letter is to attract your attention to the above title. As the representative of the community, I am calling to tell you that the 300 odd residents living in Taman Sentosa are extremely unhappy about the lackadaisical attitude of the local town council towards the uncollected  rubbish and clogged drains in our area.2. The rubbish in our area has not been collected for more than a week. The rubbish is supposed to be collected on alternate days but this has not been the case. The town council workers collect the rubbish according to their own whims and fancies. The uncollected garbage has attracted not only flies and mosquitoes but also wild dogs which had attacked the residents on several occasions. These stray animals also scatter the rubbish and make the roads dirty and smelly. As a result, residents have to bear the discomfort of stench from the garbage and risk their health.3. We are also disappointed with the town council workers for not clearing the clogged drains which are filled with rubbish. The drains would usually overflow when there is heavy rain and the rubbish would then flow into the compounds of our houses. Besides, putting up with the unbearable stench emitted from them, the residents have to spend hours cleaning their compounds of rotten vegetables, food leftovers and other rubbish.4. Due to dengue outbreak recently, we are really concerned about the residents’ health especially the children. Fogging service also was not done accordingly to the schedule. The fogging authority only did their job whenever a case of dengue aroused. They even fogging the neighbourhood late at night that caused us to leave the residents. They need to consider the residents who have babies and also to those who need to wake up early in the morning for work. The fogging also caused the people to have breathing problem when we were not told the exact time of fogging.5. We have made numerous appeals to the Municipal Council to look into our complaints but to no avai l. We have been putting up with this predicament for more than a week. We hope the health authorities would do something to check these health hazards.Thank you.Yours faithfully,