Resource concept

Approaches to service quality that apply to the structure dimension can be subsumed under the heading resource concepts. These include, most importantly, human resources concepts (especially quahfication concepts), as well as the infrastructure necessary to deliver the service and service-support tools in the form of suitable information and communication technologies. The analysis of customer-employee interaction is crucial to enable appropriate recruiting and qualification of the employees who are to deliver the service. 

The multiple-resource model of attention [Navon and Gopher, 1979 Wickens, 1980,1984] extends and specifies the resource concept by identifying several separate processing resources that are exclusive to a subset of activities. Results of numerous dual-task studies were used to distinguish separable resources. The model identifies different resource structures for verbal and auditory modalities, spatial and verbal codes, manual and vocal responses, and between (1) selection and execution of responses and (2) perceptual and central processing stages. 

From the time indicated, the Industrial Revolution brought about the birth of the first industries, the division of labor, interest in optimizing workers time [the first operations research (OR) studies were devoted to this area], optimal placement of machines, specialization of individuals and industries, and the creation of various functional areas within companies, which sometimes had conflicting objectives. Then came the need to coordinate and define activity levels and better allocate and use resources (concept of efficiency) to achieve these levels of activity, with optimal results for the company (from a global point of view) and avoiding internal conflicts. 

For both types of required flexibility, a common process description based on the product-process-resource concept (Pfrommer et al. 2013) is desirable. This description requires expressing in semantically well-defined and comparable ways, the concepts and relationships of (a) the needs for capabilities of production system components and devices (b) the component/device use conditions (access path and control) and (c) product-related processing requirements. 

Resources are defined as the total amount of an element in existence -both known and unknown - down to some grade which lies between the crustal abundance of a metal and its present economic grade. In essence, resources cannot be mined until they have been converted into reserves. The McKelvey Box, Fig. 3 2, provides a useful schematic summary of the various reserve/resource concepts. It includes two dimensions of classification, feasibility of recovery and the degree of certainty involved in any estimate. 

In the feasibility phase the project is tested as a concept. Is it technically feasible and is it economically viable There may be a number of ways to perform a particular task (such as develop an oil field) and these have to be judged against economic criteria, availability of resources, and risk. At this stage estimates of cost and income (production) profiles will carry a considerable uncertainty range, but are used to filter out unrealistic options. Several options may remain under consideration at the end of a feasibility study. 

The most striking feature of the earth, and one lacking from the neighboring planets, is the extensive hydrosphere. Water is the solvent and transport medium, participant, and catalyst in nearly all chemical reactions occurring in the environment. It is a necessary condition for life and represents a necessary resource for humans. It is an extraordinarily complex substance. Stmctural models of Hquid water depend on concepts of the electronic stmcture of the water molecule and the stmcture of ice. Hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules has an effect on almost every physical property of Hquid water. 

Goetsch, David I., and Stanley B. Davis. ISO 14000 Environmental Management. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Prentice Hall, 2000. - Publisher information says that this book is written as a practical teaching resource and how-to guide. Each chapter contains a list of key concepts, review questions, critical thinking problems, and discussion cases with related questions. 

This potential for consolidation in the area of documentation systems was used as an example to sell the overall integration concept. Documentation was an area of constant complaint and senior management could easily visualize opportunities for improvement in basic resource requirements, as well as secondary effects on resources for training, auditing and other activities. Exhibit 10-1 was a key part of the presentation that the VP, ESH made to senior management. 

Some resource economists fervently support the concept of sustainability. Others argue that the principle is less coherent, comprehensible, and compelling than prior concepts, particularly the core economics principle of efficiency. For economists, the choice of terminology is sccondaiy. The priniai y concern is resolving the underlying problems of possible market inefficiencies and the ability of governments to cure them. 

Environmental protection and resource use have to be considered in a comprehensive framework, and all of the relevant economic and natural scientific aspects have to be taken into consideration. The concepts of entropy and sustainability are useful in this regard. The entropy concept says that every system will tend toward maximum disorder if left to itself. In other words, in the absence of sound environmental policy. Earth s energy sources will be converted to heat and pollutants that must be received by Earth. The concept of sustainability has to do with... 

Our concepts of petroleum reserves and resources and their measurements are changing to reflect the uncertainty associated with these terms. Petroleum reseiwes have been largely calculated deterministically (i.e. single point estimates with the assumption of certainty). In the past decade, reseiwe and resource calculations have incorporated uncertainty into their estimates using probabilistic methodologies. One of the questions now being addressed are such as how certain arc you that the rcsciwcs you estimate arc the actual reseiwes and what is the range of uncertainty associated with that estimate New techniques arc required to address the critical question of how much petroleum we have and under what conditions it can be developed. 

A prospective location may appear to be right in all other respects but fails because of the manpower resource. This refers to not only the economic aspects such as the availability of labor and skills but also to the qualitative ones of being able to understand the local culture and customs, appreciation of people s attitudes and values. It also refers to the confidence in the ability to blend these with the culture and aspirations of the company to form a cohesive production unit that will work. A successful processing concept in one cultural environment may not be a success in another. 

Thomson Sign in at www.thomsonedu.com to assess your knowledge of this chapter s topics by taking a pre-test. The pre-test will link you to interactive organic chemistry resources based on your score in each concept area. 

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