Are Engagement Strategies Desirable for Organizations and Employees Essay - 4

Are Engagement Strategies Desirable for Organizations and Employees - Essay Example According to the research findings, Human Resource helps and contributes to maintaining a competitive advantage of the company through various training, employee career orientations and development of skills and competencies which would be a company or product specific. They actually cater to shorten and act as a bridge to cover the gap between what the organization expects and what actually happens. The traditional sources of success like the product technology, studying market conditions and so on helps in providing competitive leverage both for its sustainability of the competitive advantage of the company sound functioning of the HRM is needed. Strategy chalks out the direction a company must travel in order to achieve the maximum output and benefit. Business strategy deals with achieving a competitive advantage of a company over others. The strategic capabilities of an organization can be tested by the ability of the company to execute the same. It can also be called as the path way which holds good not only for the employees but the management as well. Strategic HRM is related to the concept of strategy. It deals with the implementation and the execution of the HR policies. The strategic management requires the HR policies to be adhered and followed by the employees and the other staff. This is to bring out and cultivate the core competencies among the employees. The top management of the company checks the extent to which the rules made by the HR help in the growth of the company. The focus on the operational performance and the competitiveness have increased so much so that the managers have to make plans in accordance with the company’s objectives and aim.

Influential People Essay Example for Free

Influential People Essay In my life, I have had many various influential people, but I would have to say that my Mother has made the biggest impact of all. Most everything that I am today is a outcome of inspirations and instances I have established from my Mother. She has made so many different opportunities presented to me, without which I do not know where I would be. I find my Mother to be a very inspiring person; the reasons for this are infinite. My Mom has been through multiple hardships over the course of her life and throughout it all she has become an exceptionally strong, loving, and wise person. This fact alone amazes me and when compounded with the fact that my Mother, among it all, still manages to have a quick, clever, and upbeat sense of humor I am left fascinated. The things I have learned and continue to learn from my Mother are endless; she has taught me all of the founding principles of my life and for that I am eternally thankful. Though my Mother and I have many discussions on various subjects, within whom I learn many different things, I believe that many of the things I learn from her are discovered and observed from example. This summer would be an instance. Together, we faced many hardships that really pulled and tugged on our relationship. We worked through possibly one of the hardest things a mother could ever go through. It not only brought us closer together, but it made me realize how much she loves me, and how she is always going to be there for me. It is common knowledge that not everyone is perfect, even heroes, and in realizing this I know that I although I wish to be like my Mother in most ways I do not in all. This realization may be one of the most important things I have learned, my Mother has taught me to base my decisions in life not solely on the examples and actions of others but simply on what I gather and learn from the examples and actions of others. In other words, she has taught me not to follow blindly but to make my own decisions based on what I think is important. My relationship with my Mother is something that I treasure above everything else in my life. We are able to play and joke like young children and have serious in depth conversations on some of life hardest subject like mature adults. The various levels that my Mother can reach me on astound me and I think that it is what makes our relationship truly special and what makes her such a wonderful influence.

Job Analysis Questionnaires Are Structured Tools Psychology Essay

Job Analysis Questionnaires Are Structured Tools Psychology Essay Kevin Leon Menezes , wrote an article in 2009, in which he said that : Pakistan is actively participating to rename our Personnel Departments as Human Resources, the remaining developed markets are literally asking that : Is HR a career in crisis ? The best answer lies here that HR has an important role and is evolving and we have to move forward and leave behind the traditional administrative functions and to contribute dynamically n positively accordingly. A research conducted by Elina M. Antila Anne Kakkonen in 2008 depicts that the top level management believes that the participation of the HR managers is of due importance and they agree upon that there should be a common policy in this regard. Certain factors which explain the roles in the case organizations mainly focused on certain factor groups and they were found similar across the respective cases. Now, the problem lies here that our situation is completely different than that of the developed markets and this is primarily because of the fact the HR here is mainly practices by the multinational companies. Paucity of the Pakistani firms has developed their HR factions to a great extent but on the contrary these factions are the concepts being borrowed from the West or Japan. However, criticizing the HR seems to be the main issue around the globe respectively. Every organization has jobs and it has to go through the process of staffing. Job analysis is the main process through which one determines the duties of the required positions and the credentials of the people in order to hire them. Job analysis leads to write job descriptions and job specifications. A job description entails the information of what the job involves. In addition to this. Job description brings harmony to the work functions, support to maintain a well constructed salary structure and help the employees to understand their jobs in an easy manner. The main objective of the job analysis is that it focuses on the knowing of the different components of a workers job. The gist of job analysis is mainly effectiveness and efficiency that is to do the right thing in a right manner respectively. The prime motive we get from the job analysis is that it increases companys profitability, productivity and sustainability. A job description is a calligraphy which provides certain information on all the required duties and responsibilities assigned to the individuals performing a job. Clear, accurate and thorough job descriptions are important to the performance of the organization and for the employees as well. Job description is important for every position in the organization. It is a contract with the employee and it must be provided to him. It should be simple and precise and on the contrary if its not precise, it will affect the overall performance of the employee. Mostly, job analysis provides the information in the job description. The job analysis should be accurate and complete. Job description describes the job irrespective of the persons who hold that job. A well constructed job description should be kept specific, manageable and it should also have a direct relationship with the performance review in order to measure the performance management using ones job description. 2.1Job Analysis Tools THE CONTEXT OF WORK (REALISTIC JOB PREVIEW-RJP) Nowadays it is common for human resource professionals to recognize that job interviews are now a two-way process. In order to make this statement simpler, the hiring organization assesses the candidates while the candidates assess the hiring organization and the job respectively. This is mainly the understanding and thus it develops the Realistic Job Preview (RJP). It is now an essential part of the process of recruitment process in which the different organizations provide both favorable and unfavorable work information to their candidates. 2.2 What is a Realistic Job Preview? Realistic Job Previews (RJPs) are devices which are used in the initial stages of personnel selection in order to provide the potential candidates with information on the pros and cons of the job. This does not include the duties of the job but also what the job is exactly like and what are the working conditions to be considered. This type of preview certainly happens in the initial stages of the selection process. It provides a realistic picture of the ambience to the candidate and also covers: Norms of the organization The environment in which the candidates will work The ordinary tasks that the potential candidates may face RJP provides the candidate detailed information regarding the job so that they can decide for their suitability for the job. RJP shall portray a clear picture to the candidates informing them about the positive and negative aspects of the job in order to be successful. It is an essential part of the process of selection in which it gives the clear idea of the job to the candidates after being hired. Some experts believe that if the information provided to the candidates during an RJP is accurate, then it will be easy for the candidates to decide whether the job is right for them or not. By using the process of RJP, it reduces the expectations of the candidates who dont think that certain conditions will meet their requirements. This helps the organization a great deal as when the individuals accept the job, their expectations are not too high from the organization and thus it results in fewer apprehensions. Fleishman Job Analysis Survey F.jas is a hand book for ability requirement. It is a taxonomy which has detailed description of different kind of abilities required for a job. F. Jas contains specific job analysis scale. Functional Job Analysis Scale FJA was first used in 1940. Now days it uses seven scales to find out the performance of the workers Things Data People Worker Instructions Reasoning Math Language F.JA was used for a long time in USA as a part of the DOT. This has now been replaced by O.NET MOSAIC The office of the personal Management (OPM) is using multipurpose occupational system Analysis. Inventory close ended for information on federal court job. The OPM has started different projects; each project is working on different occupation. Two types of description are used, which are Tasks and Competency. MOSAIC is in fact working in all Govt Jobs. OCCUPTIONAL ANALYSIS INVENTORY (OAI) It was designed to yield mal job information It has five categories. 1 information received 2 Mental Activities 3 work behaviors 4Work Goals 5 Work Context. OAI has been used to gather information on 1400 jobs. However the reliability has been lower as compared to PAQ. Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) It is a study of job characteristic against human characteristics. The item of study has five catagories. Information input Mental process Work output Relationship with other persons Job context The researchers have collected a large data which has given reasonably good results. Work Profiling System (WPS) The system was developed to help employees to help accomplish human resources functions. The WPS has computerized system which records symbols of qualities related to personality like hearing skills, sight, taste , smell, touch, Body coordination, verbal skills, Number skills, complex Management skills, personality and Team Role. DICTIONARY OF OCCUPATIONAL TITLES In 1930, the occupational information was local so there was no co-ordination in different affairs. In 1934 a national database was developed and so in 1939 the first dictionary of occupation data DOT was published. However in 1990 it has become less useful due to many reasons. When in 1991 the published fifth edition, it was discovered that the new technological change are making the job more complicated, so the DOT approach was developed by US Employment service, despite that DOT is extensively used in social Security and immigration adjudication within the united state. Job analysis questionnaires are structured tools used to gather information about work as it is performed in each organization. Questionnaires may be used by the job analyst in an interview or completed by the job incumbent. Preparation of a job analysis questionnaire takes both time and skill of individuals knowledgeable of the jobs being analyzed and the development of questionnaires. Job analysis questionnaires may be hardcopy or electronic. They may be designed specifically for an organization, or more general to collect information from a large number of people working in many different organizations. Some conventional job analysis programs ask job incumbents to complete a preliminary questionnaire describing their jobs. The purpose is to provide the job analyst with a first draft of the necessary job information. It is also meant to be a first step in obtaining incumbent and supervisor approval of the final job description. Of course, not all employees enjoy filling out questionnaires. Also, employees vary in verbal and reading skills and may overstate or understate their work activities. Usually, the job analyst follows up the questionnaire by interviewing the employee and observing his or her job. Position Analysis Questionnaire The best-known quantitative approach to job analysis is the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). Developed by Dr. Ernest J. McCormick* and associates at Purdue University, the position analysis questionnaire is a structured job analysis questionnaire containing 194 items called job elements. These elements are worker-oriented. Using the terminology of the Department of Labors 1972 job analysis formula, they would be classified as worker behaviors. The items are organized into six divisions: (1) information input (2) mental processes (3) work output (physical activities and tools) (4) relationships with others (5) job context (the physical and social environment) (6) other job characteristics (such as pace and structure) Each job element is rated on six scales: extent of use, importance, time, possibility of occurrence, applicability, and a special code for certain jobs. (*During and after WWII, Dr. McCormick worked for the Federal Government contributing to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.) These descriptors flow from McCormicks model of the operational functions basic to all jobs: sensing (information receiving), information storage, information processing, and decision and action (physical control or communication). These functions vary in emphasis from job to job. Job analysts or supervisors usually complete the position analysis questionnaire. In some instances managerial, professional, or other white-collar job incumbents fill out the instrument. The reason for such limitations is that the reading requirements of this questionnaire is at the college-graduate level. Analyzing Job Analysis Questionnaire Data Data from the position analysis questionnaire can be analyzed in several ways. For a specific job, individual ratings can be averaged to yield the relative importance of and emphasis on various job elements, and the results can be summarized as a job description. The elements can also be clustered into a profile rating on a large number of job dimensions to permit comparison of this job with others. Estimates of employee aptitude requirements can be made. Job evaluation points can be estimated from the items related to pay. Finally, an occupational prestige score can be computed. Analysts can have position analysis questionnaire data computer-analyzed by sending the completed questionnaire to PAQ Services. Position Analysis Questionnaire Uses The position analysis questionnaire has been used for job evaluation, selection, performance appraisal, compensation planning, assessment-center development, determination of job similarity, development of job families, vocational counseling, determination of training needs, and job desig The Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) developed by McCormick, Jeanneret, and Mecham (1972) is a structured job analysis instrument to measure job characteristics and relate them to human characteristics. It consists of 195 job elements that represent in a comprehensive manner the domain of human behavior involved in work activities. The items that fall into five categories: Information input (where and how the worker gets information), Mental processes (reasoning and other processes that workers use), Work output (physical activities and tools used on the job), Relationships with other persons, and Job context (the physical and social contexts of work). Over the course of many studies, PAQ researchers have aggregated PAQ data for hundreds of jobs; that database is maintained by Purdue University. A wealth of research exists on the PAQ; it has yielded reasonably good reliability estimates and has been linked to several assessment tools

Free Things They Carried Essays: M&Ms :: Things They Carried Essays

M&M's in The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien uses many interesting literary devices in his collection of short stories about his experiences in Vietnam. One of the most striking, yet understated, is his fleeting reference to M&M's. O'Brien allows them to be seen as something of a mystery, an enigma. O'Brien transforms M&M's into a symbol of America: mystical, powerful, and incredible. O'Brien also uses the simple image of a yo-yo to explain the necessity of American GI's to transform their mental attitudes to something different in order to survive the war. M&M's and yo-yo's are two very powerful symbols that O'Brien uses to explain the mentality of American soldiers in Vietnam. "As a medic, Rat Kiley carried a canvas satchel filled with morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape and comic books and all the things a medic must carry, including M&M's for especially bad wounds, for a total weight of nearly 20 pounds." (O'Brien 5) The first mention of M&M's is cryptic. O'Brien makes use of a standard list to describe what Rat Kiley carries, until he reaches the M&M's. M&M's are separated by a phrase, they are set apart; they receive special treatment. O'Brien is making clear to the reader that M&M's are not to be included in the normal list of things carried by a medic. M&M's are above and beyond simple medical gear. M&M's are for "especially bad wounds," they treat something more than bandages and tape can. O'Brien allows the reader to understand that M&M's have significance, and are very important to the soldiers. O'Brien's brief mention of M&M's allows us to wonder if when this magical cure is used. Does Rat Kiley administer M&M's to Tim when he is shot? Could M&M's have saved Rat when he goes insane? Are M&M's something so mystical that they don't even need to be mentioned? O'Brien creates M&M's to be a symbol of everything that the soldiers leave behind. To Kiowa, M&M's embody the spirit of his grandmother and the faith of his father. To Norman Bowker, M&M's mean as much as his medals mean to his father. To O'Brien, M&M's capture the spirit of a kind old man in Minnesota. M&M's are O'Brien's alternative symbol for "Mom and Apple Pie." Another symbol that O'Brien uses is Mitchell Sanders' yo-yo, Sanders is playing with his yo-yo when Curt Lemon is killed.

Workforce

The workforce is contingent on the willingness of personnel and sites . The workforce is the main concern of employers everywhere. All areas of employment are touched by economics and it consist of the figure of births rates, and the quantity of training each person receives. 100 years ago, most jobs were industrial in nature, what I mean is that individuals worked in factories or on an assembly lines. These types of positions weren't very challenging because it's a situation that was repetitious because the worker repeat steps. Because of new technology today, everything happens to be more demanding, very aggressive and creative. Women are employed within position that once was considered â€Å"only men were productive in. Work shifts are divided into three shifts for several organizations. They're basically eight hours a shift and the employee usually work forty hours a week. Over the years the workforce has added four generation of workers. This has caused a distinctive effect on the workforce and organizations have employed and facing age differences. The HR department has come to the knowledge that the workforce of the past as a consequence will influence the future status of many organizations. They realize that the success of the organization depends on being able to hire workers. Plus the facts show that many people are not retiring but continue to work well past the age of 65. HR specialists find that they're having to formulate additional resolutions to meet the demands relating to the workforce with the aging workers. Which requires HR specialists to understand and be able to execute ways to create jobs and to fill them with acceptable workers. Meanwhile workers and jobs are always transforming so organizations realize that they have diversity and the skill to maintain a balanced workforce being competent to accomplish their goals for the future of the organization. Also, companies have moved to global level with improved technology and communication. Besides more women employees entered the workforce which was not the state 100 years ago where women lives tended to be centered around their families. During World War I changed who the workforce would use once the men were either volunteering or being drafted to serve in the military which resulted in there was no one to fill the positions. So businesses hired the women to work in the men's place. After showing the factories that the women were capable to carry out the duties that the men could do, but they were paid less for the same job. Since then women have demanded rights for equal pay and equal treatment. Because the workforce have become more diverse with gender, age, and culture it has caused organizations to change how they attain workers and maintain their numbers. The older workers are still present in the workforce is making HR to consider alternative ways for hiring, training, and what type of benefits plans to offer as enticements.Today HR managers needs to spend considerable time and money in training in new technology and keep them updated. The future US workforce groups in 2025 would be mostly aged population over 60 years. The workforce I filled with many kinds of technology such as computers, internet, smart phones and many mobile devices that has opened communication where everything seems to move at the speed of light. Therefore, HR will need to be on their toes to meet every task in the future.ReferencesAnderson, B. E. (2000). Journal of Economic Perspectives. Worker Protection Policies in the New, 207-214.DeCenzo, D. A. (2016).Fundamentals of Human Resource Management. Danvers, MA: John Wiley ; Sons.Effortless HR. (2018).Retrieved from The Past, Present and Future Workforce: https://www.effortlesshr.com/blog/present-future-workforce-generations/Huczynski, A. ;. (2010). Organizational behaviour.London: Financial Times Prentice Hall.Khan, A. H. (2012). Impact of job satisfaction on employee performance: An empirical study of autonomous Medical Institutions of Pakistan.African Journal of Business Management, 2697.Micheal Bailey. (2018). Retrieved from Demographic shifts and the HR challenges of the f uture: https://www.michaelbaileyassociates.com/news/hr/demographic-shifts-and-the-hr-challenges-of-the-futureWomen in the Workplace. (n.d.).Retrieved from http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-09-15/edit-page/28241044_1_indian-women-chinese-women-chinese-counterpart

Events Throughout History That Have Changed Us †History Essay

Events Throughout History That Have Changed Us – History Essay Free Online Research Papers Events Throughout History That Have Changed Us History Essay Throughout global history, there have been turning points that have led to lasting change. The changes often occur for various reasons because of different events. These events have been witnessed all around the world from Capitalist America to Communist China. The French Revolution is a prime example of people wanting change, for different reasons. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as consulate of France is a turning point that caused changes that we still see today. After the execution of Louis XVI, there were multiple government changes. The instability of the government caused various people to come to power. The French writer Voltaire once complained, â€Å"A man traveling across France would have to change laws as often as he changed horses.† The people of France wanted some stability and their lives. Napoleon Bonaparte took full advantage of the people’s want for a government that was stable. After overthrowing the Directory, the French government, in 1799, Bonaparte had a new constitution drafted, which made France a dictatorship, giving him total control of the government. Although he took total control, one of Bonaparte’s first goals was to reconstruct the government. He tried to keep revolutionary ideas, but replaced elected officials from local government with people he appointed. Some other changes that occurred under Bonaparte were establishment of technical school, universities and secondary schools, which were controlled by the government. He also established the Bank of France, which help to change the financial system of France. Every citizen was required to pay taxes; it helped relieved inflation, high prices, and more importantly the debt of France. Perhaps the most important contributions that had real lasting change, was Napoleon’s approach to French law. Bonaparte once said, â€Å"What the French people want, is equality, not liberty.† He did just that. The Napoleonic Code was based on Enlightenment ideas of the time, like equality of all citizens before law and religious toleration. Although it took away freedom of speech and allowed censorship, the French people had been craving for this stability. The Napoleonic Code was not limited to just France. After his death, nations around the world adopted similar law codes. States in America such as New York and Louisiana have civil and criminal codes based on those of Napoleon. Several other states used Bonaparte’s code of law as a model, for their own. The U.S. federal government also uses some Napoleon’s ideas of law. Change is all around us. It is human nature to want change, to want to a better way of life. When someone comes to power and provides stability to a government, in turmoil, people will support. Napoleon Bonaparte coming to power in France was a major turning point in world history, which has had lasting changes that can be seen today. Research Papers on Events Throughout History That Have Changed Us - History EssayAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropePETSTEL analysis of India19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBringing Democracy to AfricaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationCapital PunishmentBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice

Free Essays on Alcoholics

Alcoholism Alcohol is the most used and abused drug in the world. For this reason, some of the most common problems in society are alcohol related. Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease that includes both a physical and psychological addiction. Alcoholics know the consequences associated with heavy drinking, but they are so addicted that they have no self-control. Alcohol becomes the single most important part of the person’s life. It totally consumes the alcoholic to the point where his or her thoughts and actions are associated with their alcohol addiction, if not guided by it altogether. Alcoholism, like other illnesses will become worse without treatment, and remain life threatening as long as it is left untreated. The psychological dependence an alcoholic has is when they think alcohol is necessary and life will not be good without it. The physical dependence an alcoholic has is when their body becomes so used to the drug that it now needs alcohol to function without pain. Alcoholism is not a disease experienced only by adults. Alcoholism, like any illness, can strike at any age. Ten percent of the adult drinkers in the U.S are considered alcoholics or at least experience drinking problems to some degree. Surveys have shown that more than one out of three Americans have a personal friend or relative who has had a drinking problem for ten years or longer. Almost two out of three Americans report that they know someone who drinks too much. It is estimated that there are 18 million alcoholic or problem drinkers in the U.S. For every alcoholic there are at least four other people who are affected by the alcoholic. This means that in the U.S. there are at least seventy-two million other people deal ing with the disease somehow. Many people believe that alcoholics are people that are the skid row winos and bums. This is a common misconception. Actually ninety-four percent of alcoholics live at home, while only six per... Free Essays on Alcoholics Free Essays on Alcoholics Alcoholism Alcohol is the most used and abused drug in the world. For this reason, some of the most common problems in society are alcohol related. Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease that includes both a physical and psychological addiction. Alcoholics know the consequences associated with heavy drinking, but they are so addicted that they have no self-control. Alcohol becomes the single most important part of the person’s life. It totally consumes the alcoholic to the point where his or her thoughts and actions are associated with their alcohol addiction, if not guided by it altogether. Alcoholism, like other illnesses will become worse without treatment, and remain life threatening as long as it is left untreated. The psychological dependence an alcoholic has is when they think alcohol is necessary and life will not be good without it. The physical dependence an alcoholic has is when their body becomes so used to the drug that it now needs alcohol to function without pain. Alcoholism is not a disease experienced only by adults. Alcoholism, like any illness, can strike at any age. Ten percent of the adult drinkers in the U.S are considered alcoholics or at least experience drinking problems to some degree. Surveys have shown that more than one out of three Americans have a personal friend or relative who has had a drinking problem for ten years or longer. Almost two out of three Americans report that they know someone who drinks too much. It is estimated that there are 18 million alcoholic or problem drinkers in the U.S. For every alcoholic there are at least four other people who are affected by the alcoholic. This means that in the U.S. there are at least seventy-two million other people dea ling with the disease somehow. Many people believe that alcoholics are people that are the skid row winos and bums. This is a common misconception. Actually ninety-four percent of alcoholics live at home, while only six per...

American Romanticism Literature quiz Essays

American Romanticism Literature quiz Essays American Romanticism Literature quiz Paper American Romanticism Literature quiz Paper Essay Topic: Literature American Renaissance Five year burst of creative energy from 1850-1855 America gained literary independence from Great Britain What happened in American Literature between 1820-1865 1820-1865 What years did the Era of Optimism last? Confidence in the economy, political system, and citizenry of the nation; population of European immigrants rapidly expanded; technological advances such as the Erie Canal, railroad, farming equipment, the revolver, the telegraph, and oil drilling What conditions fueled national optimism? Sectionalism and cultural provincialism What are 2 issues that undermined national optimism? National division between the North and the South; compromises proved to be only temporary solutions; political independence (States Rights) and slavery; civil war What are some causes of sectionalism? Absence of international copyright law; limited perspective and expectation of many American readers; two schools of thought on the issue of a national literature (strikingly American and universality in theme and form) What are some reasons for cultural provincialism? Revolt against the literary values of the previous age; individualism; imagination; emotion displaced reason; nature; the distant What were some romantic emphases in literary romanticism? Individualism What means man as an individual is superior to man in the mass; all men possess the necessary credentials for public office; man is not a fallen creature, just corrupted by corrupting influences in society?

Sustainable Business Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable Business Development - Essay Example Oil industry is usually denoted as the most profitable business segment. Refined products in this production procedure is formed after undertaking series of steps such as partial refining, transport, refining, storage and transport, and delivery of final products. The crude oil production is linked with environmental impacts caused at different levels such as water, soil, air and living beings. Pollution is closely knitted with oil production in the form of wastewaters, solid waste, aerosols and gas emissions discharged while refining, transportation, drilling and production procedure. Water contamination mainly results during oil production due to oil spills or cooling water discharges. Refining or production operations results into certain harmful emissions like sulfur, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, fluorine, acid mist, etc. There is even occasional release of alkaline materials and solvents in oil production stage. Solid waste generated though production tends to contaminate surface wa ter and soil (EPA, 2013). Noise pollution is a major issue in such mechanism. Oil production is likely to cause accidents in terms of explosion or fire. In overall context increasing demand for crude oil as a major energy source is enhancing its production rate but as a natural resource it is depleting at a faster rate. As per the statistics given in figure3, the rate of oil consumption has increased over the years. This product do not possessed a long lifecycle and has to be replaced at a rapid rate. Oil drilling results into depletion of natural resource. At the consumption stage huge amount of harmful chemicals and gas is discharged into atmosphere causing air pollution. This even results into global warming along with intensified noise pollution. Living beings are affected to a great extent through discharge of such harmful pollutants. In this study environmental impact caused by crude oil production and consumption is appropriately outlined. There have

Qualitative Interface Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative Interface Evaluation - Essay Example Since this task is important in software development, experts have agreed on eight most basic characters of a good user interface. While evaluating the interfaces in this paper it will be important to look at these characteristics because they will be the basis of over evaluation. The techniques for interface evaluation among other parameters will be looking at these characteristics. They include: 1. Clear The main aim of any interface to enable users access information and complete their tasks with a lot of ease. Have a clear interface where icons and the menus are well placed and have a clear meaning is important for a successful interface. Users should not be frustrated by the symbols or icons on the interface, one should provide a pop-up message with details of the function of that interface this makes it more clear. While pointing at that icon you may not know the function of it but a pop up message appears which explains the function. 2. Concise This means straight to the point users do not want a lot of details in the interface. While making the interface clear one should not be trapped into adding a lot of information to overload the interface. The icons or details should be short to the point. The volume icon has a scale and icons which shows the high and low volume level. Although it is not easy to keep things, clear and concise developers should strive to achieve this. Sources( http://www.usabilitypost.com) 3. Familiar A good interface is one that a new user can easily learn and be able to use from the previous interfaces. While developers strive for uniqueness in their interface one thing should be clear, the interface should be familiar to the users for them to have interest to learn and use them effectively. Naturally, users do not like new things, different environment which they will struggle to adapt. Things that are familiar or terms which one uses should be familiar to the users of the system. A system that uses icons should be keen on the ty pe of the icons they use because the context of the system is very important. The screen shot below shows the user that he/she does not need to learn more about the interface because these are the tasks that they want to accomplish using this application hence easy to use. Sources ( http://www.usabilitypost.com) 4. Responsive This means that the system interface should be fast, users like an interface that enables them to accomplish tasks within a short period. It is frustrating for users to wait longer as their requests are being loaded slowly. The user should also have feedback from the system such as the percentage of work done by the system, remaining time and completion status either failed or successful. When the program is loading for instance, a progressing bar or a spinning wheel indicates the task status. The program below shows the time elapsed, time remaining and the percentage of the task done. 5. Consistent Users will learn and advance well in their interface usage if the design system is consistent. Having a system with different interfaces for each version of the program disorients the users. The placement of the Icons, tabs and other items on the interface must be consistent. For instance Microsoft interface are consistent for its application package which enables users to easily adapt from one application to another. 6. Attractive Making an interface attractive is important because users will enjoy performing their tasks with it and probably look forward to using the

Nventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nventory Management - Essay Example il industry has its core competency in the efficient supply chain system; it has developed a highly integrated and IT enabled logistics structure so that the demand and supply of its offerings is efficiently managed. Once the level of any product reaches a pre-determined level, the IT system automatically places an order at the supplier location. The supplier ensures that the goods are delivered within the agreed time period so that the problem of shortage is completely eliminated. Similarly, UPS, the leading postal carrier service provider ensures that it implements the direct-to-store approach effectively. In this approach, the step of distribution center is completely eliminated and the inventory is moved directly from the manufacturer to the consumer; there is no need of warehousing the stock and the holding and warehousing costs are completely eradicated from the supply chain (Muller, 2011). With the help of IT-enabled supply chain frameworks, the supplier-manufacturer relations have strengthened and the orders are fulfilled on time with shorter lead times and excellent level of the operational efficiency is attained. In order to ensure that the appropriate inventory management system is in place, the companies have made it mandatory that the best inventory management technique is implemented. For instance, Continental Airlines has ensured that it has the most efficient Materials Resource Planning (MRP) system within its business operations so that the in-flight services related to food and beverages are efficiently performed. As a result, its cost has reduced by US$40 million on yearly basis. With the help of this system, the inventory is adequately managed and it has been able to enhance its levels of proficiency and customer expectation by a significant amount (Wild, 2012). The Internet-enabled links between the partners of supply chain (inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics and distribution) have enhanced the collaboration and coordination

How Formative Assessment Supports Pupils' Learning Essay

How Formative Assessment Supports Pupils' Learning - Essay Example According to the Collins English Dictionary (2003), formative assessment is the â€Å"ongoing assessment of a pupil’s educational development within a particular subject area. Sadler (1999) defines it as the kind of assessment whose intention is to generate feedback so as to improve and enhance students’ learning. This kind of assessment helps development of knowledge, skills and abilities and also enhances understanding without necessarily having to pass any final testing (Black and Wiliam 2003). Formative assessments are learner centered, which means that their goal is to help the student make maximum progress in the learning process. The assessments are appropriate for primary school children as they embrace the educational objective domains of Blooms taxonomy: psychomotor, affective and cognitive. The cognitive domain that is enhanced by formative assessments revolves around the comprehension, knowledge and ability to critically think about a subject. The psychomot or domain is all about the ability of the pupil to physically manipulate instruments in the learning process. The affective domain on the other hand relate to how learners are likely to react emotionally (Sadler 1998). Formative assessments incorporate all three Bloom’s Taxonomy domains in that they allow the pupil to develop not only recall skills, but also critical analysis skills in the learning process. There are two types of formative assessments according to Hall and Burke (2004). These are: planned formative assessments and interactive assessments. As the name suggests, planned formative assessments are those that are use to obtain tangible evidence on the way pupils think about a concept that they have been taught in class. These types of assessments are normally semi-formal and may be taken at the beginning or at the end of a certain topic. In these assessments, some assessment activities are prepared to furnish evidence that can be used to improve pupils’ lea rning. The information that is elicited from such an activity is used to gauge the level of understanding of the students and to structure instruction so that knowledge and skill development are enhanced (Tuttle 2009). Interactive assessment takes place during the interaction process between teacher and pupil. Hall and Burke (2004) describe this assessment as the one that includes incidental and ongoing assessments which arise from learning activities and it cannot be anticipated. This means that interactive assessments can occur at any time as the teacher and pupils are interacting in a learning setting (Black, Harrison and William 2003). This assessment aims at improving learning through mediation and intervention. The teacher may notice or recognize the learner’s thinking and can then respond to it appropriately. This kind of assessments is considered to be more pupil and teacher driven than it is curriculum driven. Unlike planned assessment that results in permanent infor mation, interactive assessment accrues information that is ephemeral (Sadler 1998). This means that the teacher can identify weak areas in the child’s learning and correct them quickly so as to avoid accumulated misconception on the learner’s side. Formative assessments can be in the form of observations, worksheets, pop quizzes, journals and diagnostic tests. Observation involves the instructor making observations about students’

Reading with Comprehension Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reading with Comprehension - Essay Example Learning Difficulties in Reading with comprehension According to Callella (2000), learning difficulties comprise of the inability to make clear connections between the text read and its actual meaning. Readers may be confronted with a number of difficulties in an attempt to understand and comprehend any piece of writing, which they read. Most of the difficulties in learning affect children and hinder their understanding of written texts. It becomes extremely challenging for school going children to understand what they read, when they have difficulties in learning. Some of the learning difficulties in reading with comprehension include challenges in decoding, linguistic comprehension, and poor phonological and semantic skills. Other difficulties may be related to problems with visual word recognition, fluency, and problems with inference making and working memory. These difficulties will now be analyzed on the basis of how they influence reading with comprehension. The lack of proper decoding skills can act as a constraint on reading with comprehension. This may happen when decoding is slow and effortful; in such a case, resources may be dedicated to word level processing. On the other hand, when decoding in the reader is automatic, then the task of comprehension may be possible. Reading comprehension can be compromised when decoding in the reader is poor (Westwood, 2004). Decoding relates to the speed of word reading; children who have poor reading comprehension skills can be slower at reading words than students with excellent reading comprehension skills. The relationship between reading comprehension and efficiency in decoding continues in a person’s lifetime. Poor reading skills and non word reading in early childhood may predict learning difficulties in reading with comprehension in secondary school years and adulthood. Linguistic comprehension can also be a source of poor reading comprehension. The simple model of reading holds that apart from def icits in decoding, poor comprehenders may also have deficits in linguistic comprehension. Readers may have difficulties in understanding the language used in a comprehension (Westwood, 2004). For example, they may not understand the actual meaning of the words used. This learning difficulty presents a challenge to the understanding of written text. In order to make meaning out of written texts, the reader should understand the language used. Thus, difficulties in understanding the actual meaning of words, phrases, and vocabulary used can be regarded as a learning difficulty in reading with comprehension. According to Allington & McGill-Franzen (2000), poor phonological skills also pose significant challenges in reading with comprehension. Phonological skills have a correlation with the development of literacy in children as well as adults. Phonological deficits may usually characterize individuals with poor reading comprehension skills. Comprehension problems on the basis of phonolo gical skills may emanate from the inability to sustain phonological representation of verbal information while reading. Phonological skills play an essential role in determining how the reader represents verbal information when reading. Thus, the inability of children to set up phonological representation leads to difficulties in reading with comprehension. Other difficulties related to phonology entail problems in word recognition.

Sweatshop labor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sweatshop labor - Essay Example The facts are evidenced in how 7 percent of trade around the globe today is with counterfeit goods. (Thomas, p 2). This type of manufacture of goods is involved with such tragedies as child labor, abusive conditions, along with ties to terrorism and organized crime. Law mentions how counterfeiting results in more than just low wages, but in manipulation and funneling of monies into illegal activities that pose as significant threats to society as a whole (Thomas, p. 2) Conditions that children workers are made to endure are horrific by any reasonable person’s standard. In fact, it should shock the conscience of U.S. consumers and businesspeople alike. One example that Dana Thomas found in Thailand was a plant that had young children who were being forced to make counterfeit handbags for sale to the more developed lands such as the United States. The children had their legs intentionally broken by sweatshop owners and placed in such a manner that no healing of the broken limbs would occur. The owners did this to force the children to work against their will in the production of counterfeit goods (Thomas, p.1). Advanced nations like America are contributing to the problem of sweatshop labor and seeking low cost goods at the expense of human health and decency issues. This is a major society problem as Jim Hightower points to in his article â€Å"The Price of Cheap Goods†. One issue that Hightower points out is that America has such a demand for low-cost labor that critical safeguards for workers are being ignored or bypassed simply due to economic demand and pressure for ever more cheaper labor costs and higher profits for the American based companies (Hightower, p.1) One example that Hightower mentions is that research at one Hong Kong area factory discovered that the workers at the plant will break or

How Formative Assessment Supports Pupils' Learning Essay

How Formative Assessment Supports Pupils' Learning - Essay Example According to the Collins English Dictionary (2003), formative assessment is the â€Å"ongoing assessment of a pupil’s educational development within a particular subject area. Sadler (1999) defines it as the kind of assessment whose intention is to generate feedback so as to improve and enhance students’ learning. This kind of assessment helps development of knowledge, skills and abilities and also enhances understanding without necessarily having to pass any final testing (Black and Wiliam 2003). Formative assessments are learner centered, which means that their goal is to help the student make maximum progress in the learning process. The assessments are appropriate for primary school children as they embrace the educational objective domains of Blooms taxonomy: psychomotor, affective and cognitive. The cognitive domain that is enhanced by formative assessments revolves around the comprehension, knowledge and ability to critically think about a subject. The psychomot or domain is all about the ability of the pupil to physically manipulate instruments in the learning process. The affective domain on the other hand relate to how learners are likely to react emotionally (Sadler 1998). Formative assessments incorporate all three Bloom’s Taxonomy domains in that they allow the pupil to develop not only recall skills, but also critical analysis skills in the learning process. There are two types of formative assessments according to Hall and Burke (2004). These are: planned formative assessments and interactive assessments. As the name suggests, planned formative assessments are those that are use to obtain tangible evidence on the way pupils think about a concept that they have been taught in class. These types of assessments are normally semi-formal and may be taken at the beginning or at the end of a certain topic. In these assessments, some assessment activities are prepared to furnish evidence that can be used to improve pupils’ lea rning. The information that is elicited from such an activity is used to gauge the level of understanding of the students and to structure instruction so that knowledge and skill development are enhanced (Tuttle 2009). Interactive assessment takes place during the interaction process between teacher and pupil. Hall and Burke (2004) describe this assessment as the one that includes incidental and ongoing assessments which arise from learning activities and it cannot be anticipated. This means that interactive assessments can occur at any time as the teacher and pupils are interacting in a learning setting (Black, Harrison and William 2003). This assessment aims at improving learning through mediation and intervention. The teacher may notice or recognize the learner’s thinking and can then respond to it appropriately. This kind of assessments is considered to be more pupil and teacher driven than it is curriculum driven. Unlike planned assessment that results in permanent infor mation, interactive assessment accrues information that is ephemeral (Sadler 1998). This means that the teacher can identify weak areas in the child’s learning and correct them quickly so as to avoid accumulated misconception on the learner’s side. Formative assessments can be in the form of observations, worksheets, pop quizzes, journals and diagnostic tests. Observation involves the instructor making observations about students’

Sweatshop labor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sweatshop labor - Essay Example The facts are evidenced in how 7 percent of trade around the globe today is with counterfeit goods. (Thomas, p 2). This type of manufacture of goods is involved with such tragedies as child labor, abusive conditions, along with ties to terrorism and organized crime. Law mentions how counterfeiting results in more than just low wages, but in manipulation and funneling of monies into illegal activities that pose as significant threats to society as a whole (Thomas, p. 2) Conditions that children workers are made to endure are horrific by any reasonable person’s standard. In fact, it should shock the conscience of U.S. consumers and businesspeople alike. One example that Dana Thomas found in Thailand was a plant that had young children who were being forced to make counterfeit handbags for sale to the more developed lands such as the United States. The children had their legs intentionally broken by sweatshop owners and placed in such a manner that no healing of the broken limbs would occur. The owners did this to force the children to work against their will in the production of counterfeit goods (Thomas, p.1). Advanced nations like America are contributing to the problem of sweatshop labor and seeking low cost goods at the expense of human health and decency issues. This is a major society problem as Jim Hightower points to in his article â€Å"The Price of Cheap Goods†. One issue that Hightower points out is that America has such a demand for low-cost labor that critical safeguards for workers are being ignored or bypassed simply due to economic demand and pressure for ever more cheaper labor costs and higher profits for the American based companies (Hightower, p.1) One example that Hightower mentions is that research at one Hong Kong area factory discovered that the workers at the plant will break or

The Story of an Hour Essay Example for Free

The Story of an Hour Essay The Story of an Hour is a work of short fiction by southern regionalist writer Kate Chopin. Originally published in Vogue magazine in 1984, this widely read story by Chopin did not receive strong recognition until it was rediscovered during the height of the feminist movement back in the 1960’s. This work of the author greatly reflects and represents Chopin’s personal view on women’s roles in society which very much shocked her reading audience at the time. As a writer, Chopin was highly influenced by the southern environment she grew in. She was raised in a household of intelligent, independent, pioneering women for she was raised by her French-Creole mother and grandmother (who was the first woman in Kansas to be legally separated from her husband) after being orphaned of her father at the young age of four. Toth in her biography notes that Chopin â€Å"†¦also smoked cigarettes in public and revelled in wandering around alone, drinking beer. † Like in many of her other writings, in The Story of an Hour she illustrates to the reader [some of] the concerns faced by women and their plight to have their own identity. The Story of an Hour is a story set in the late 19th century when women’s duties were basically to keep house, bear children and present themselves as faithful loving wives and not much more. It tells the story of a married southern woman, Louise Mallard, who receives news of her husband’s (Brently Mallard) death. Being of frail condition, those around her (sister Josephine and family friend Richards) took great care in gently revealing to her the disastrous news. At first the heroine takes the reception of the news like any other loving wife of the time: with despair and grief. However, when Louise isolates herself from her sister and Richards to deal with her feelings in private, she realizes something quite surprising to herself. To her surprise [and the reader’s], â€Å"a monstrous joy†¦held her† (Chopin) and it was during this moment of epiphany she realizes her overwhelming desire for freedom. Empowered by her new realization, Louise ends her brief isolation and decides to go down from her room to welcome her future filled with â€Å"days that would be her own† (Chopin). However, with a sudden twist of faith, her erroneously reported deceased husband walks into the house to the surprise of everyone. As a result, Louise ended up dying ironically â€Å"of heart diseaseof the joy that kills† (Chopin). This short fiction by Chopin tackles the issue of identity and self-discovery of women. Written in a time where numerous social and ethical questions were in the minds of most Americans, Chopin’s take on the â€Å"Woman Question† proved to be quite controversial for the period. Rejected initially for its feminist message, The Story of an Hour is a prime example of how the author tackles female self-assertion. In the story, the author subtly hints at the social oppression of women. During the period at which the story was originally written, the standards upheld by general society for women were that of selfless wives and mothers. This is reflected in the way the lead character Louise Mallard doesn’t even receive a name at the beginning of the story. She is only referred to as Mrs. Mallard and in pronouns until much later in the story. Ironically her husband Brently, a minor character, is named at the beginning of the story. By the simple omission of Louise’s name early in the story the author manages to imply how women at the time were mere â€Å"property† of men – that they were â€Å"attachments† to their father’s and husbands.

Self Reflective Of Teamwork Experience Nursing Essay

Self Reflective Of Teamwork Experience Nursing Essay Good teamwork plays a crucial role in implementing and fulfilling common goal quicker and better in a team project. Every team member plays his or her particular role and takes on different responsibilities which combined together can make the team function well and achieve common goal. In different stages of teamwork, conflicts or arguments may occur as members have different standpoints which need be harmonized within the team. The key to effective teamwork is to exploit each team roles unique abilities to motivate them play up strengths and avoid their weaknesses with a proper balance. Through teamwork, I clearly recognize my role characteristics, learn to develop my strong points and circumvent weaknesses in the team, and draw lessons and reflections on how to deal with emergencies happened in teamwork. Every member in a team will have his or her role different from others. According to the Team Role Theory that Dr Meredit identified and developed, different individuals act different team roles to varying degrees which he grouped into nine general kinds (Belbin D.M., 2007). By identifying characteristics of different kind of roles, we can ensure to make the most of every member and manage weaknesses to avoid them. There are four roles in my team. Student A is a shaper; Student B and student C are team-workers; Student D is an implementer; and I am a completer finisher. Completer finishers, just as its name implies, are painstaking, conscientious and used most effectively at the end of a task worked as quality controller, to search out errors and omissions, modify and polish them, and finally make sure the task delivers on time (Belbin D.M., 2007). But on the other side, completer finishers are inclined to worry unduly because of their perfectionism and have difficulty letting go and delegating work (West M, 1994). My role is important to teamwork guaranteeing task finished as scheduled and improving team performance to high quality. As completer finishers are always perfectionists with conscientious and disciplined characteristics, I have the capacity for follow-through and attention to detail, to spot errors and gaps and modify them for better. I do not allow any delay in task completing and think highly of punctuality. Owning to my role characteristics, I always keep an eye on the team members work process to recognize if task is undertaken as scheduled timetable and finished per our completion requirements. This works effectively and efficiently to make our team goal accomplished and standardized. But I also need admit that I am easily irritable and worried unduly, which might bring unnecessary air of tension to the team members and will affect their personal emotions and somewhat derail the work efficiency. For instance, when student A did not finish the scheduled task on time, I will thin k it was quite an irresponsible act and get quite fussed. During the teamwork experience, I felt teamwork is not an easy job. In the evolve of team building, Tuckmans teamwork theory of Four Stages of Group Development can help me better understand and manage various problems or unexpected circumstances that might happen at different stages of team development (Miller DL, 2003). According to Tuchman, there are four phrases in team evolve: forming, storming, norming and performing (Tuckman, online). During my experience from this teamwork, in the four different stages of group development, both positive and negative circumstances happened and need be taken care of. The initial stage of team development is forming. In this stage, individuals are not united quite well yet and it will be difficult to reach agreement. Each member is eager to find their place and hardly can feel a sense of belonging within the team (Scott D. J., 2000). As members are nearly strangers, they do not know clearly about their purpose and strongly need a leaders guidance to tell them why they are together. To overcome the problems caused for the forming stage and prepare for the following team task, our team opened some meetings in the library to build trust within each other. But some unexpected thing happened in our first meeting. Student A did not show up when everybody else were waiting for his appearance. He was not in Preston and went outing at that time. He did not check email while the notice of meeting was spread within the team by email only as we usually use email for connection and not thought for the accident somebody might not check email sometimes. This was an unhappy accident and we learnt to recheck for some unconfirmed uncertainties to avoid such accidents happening again. Through meetings, my leader illustrated the team task and general agenda and regulations for task completion. Tasks were divided and allotted to each person concerned. This stage is important as it paves the way to next team stages smooth development. Each members strengths and weaknesses need be identified and thus can make sure each one play up strength and be arranged to finish the most appropriate part. If we can allocate different tasks to the right person, efficiency of teamwork will be elevated greatly which will do better to individual motivation and avoid less conflicts or complaints within the team. When the forming stage finished, individuals began to see themselves as part of the team and will sense a belonging and motivated to work together. The storming stage is coming as clash of views and collision of all sorts of train of thought slowly gather together which is enough to make a storm for both brains and teamwork (Tuckman, 1977). In this stage, team members can easily challenge each other due to individuals held different points of view towards the same thing. Using Tuchmans word to say, conflict and contradiction typify this stage as differences surface. Actually this happens many times in our team discussion. Each individual had different attitudes towards same question, and all would appreciate others to accept and think the way as has suggested. For example, when we were discussing in one of the meetings, student D expressed his opinions with his standpoints which student B and me thought good and gave support. But student A and student C had quite different ideas. The refore conflict is unavoidable. If we vote to decide which idea will be adopted, student A and student C will feel unsatisfied and reduce teamwork initiative. I figured out that student A and student Cs standpoints had some plus points if melted into student Ds ideas, so I tried to convince both sides to modify their ideas and harmonize a generally accepted scheme. For many times we felt the storming stage was wasting lots of time for endless arguing and loss of focus on the completion of common task. But through our efforts to polish each other based on mutual respects, we finally learnt the further meaning of teamwork and realized in a team the collective interests and team performance is above all. This is a stage for team members to harmonize their ideas and team leader played important role to coordinate and help for decision making to the method of how to get the task done. Besides, each team member should not only learn independent thinking, but also to appreciate and respect others ideas and opinions, thus to figure out some balance within the team and finish the team goal in a peaceful and beneficial way. When experiencing a smooth transition of the storming stage, the stage of norming seems to be overcome more naturally and easily. The norming stage is a stage where team members start to trust more on each other and unite together to process the task with more teamwork with a growing sense of togetherness (Gersick, 1988). With the forming and storming stages development, our team gradually grew more mature and teamwork was achieved more effectively and efficiently. Team members now would follow team principles and behave for the best of the team. The stage of performing is the final stage which focused on task refreshing, implementing and completing. All teamwork combined to provide synergy for performance is delivered through people working effectively together (Tuckman, online). In this stage our team had many modifications towards task structure and manifestation. Thus team members can be allotted for new tasks or complete for others tasks as well. We had an accident in this stage which was finally settled imminent but no threatening to final team performance. Task of conclusion was assigned to complete by Student A which I emphasized many times in our discussion. He did not spell any disagreement before but didnt finish for this part until the deadline for task completion. Despite his irresponsibility, I also made a mistake that silence did not mean agreement. But it was urgent and no time to look into who was to be blamed, finally team leader took on the responsibility to finish this part by himself. Despite this little accident, process executions of our teamwork were quite smooth and efficient. Team members finished their tasks as scheduled and we worked together to point out each others mistakes and improve team performance in final presentation. Through the four stages of group development, I learnt that good communications and discipline are very important to make a team work more efficient and unity together more tightly. Besides, mutual respects, trusts and understanding are essential to achieve common goal. When people learn to appreciated and support each others efforts, individual is highly motivated and inspired to improve work efficiency. That is the charm of teamwork which I enjoy for the most. From this teamwork experience, I strongly feel the importance of teamwork and the amazement it may bring for quality task completion and goal achievement. It teaches me to coordinate with others and as an individual to put group interest in the first place. Maximizing individual strengths and minimizing weaknesses to achieve a teams common goal and harmonizing team members standpoints to some balance is the charm only teamwork can bring and make each individual have better play. Reference: Belbin.D.M, 2007. Belbin Team Role Theory. Online available at: http://www.belbin.com/rte.asp?id=8 Belbin.D.M, 2007. Belbins Team Roles:How understanding team roles can improve team performance. Online available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_83.htm Gersick CJG, 1988. Time and transition in work teams: Toward a new model of group development. Academy of management journal. Miller D.L., 2003. The Stages of Group Development: A Retrospective Study of Dynamic Team Processes. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, Volume 20, Issue 2, pages 121-134. Scott D. Johnson et al, 2000. Team development and group processes of virtual learning teams. College of Education, University of Illinois. Tuckman BW, 1977. Stages of small group development revisited. Group and organizational studies. Tcukman, 2001. FAMOUS MODELS, Stages of Group Development. Online available at: http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/tuckman.htm Tuckman Theory, Tuckmans Team Development Model, online available at: www.e3smallschools.org/download/TuckmansTeamDevelopmentModel.pdf West M, 1994. Effective Teamwork. The British Psychology Society.

Antony and Cleopatra Essay -- essays research papers

Joseph Innes How does Shakespeare present the sense of opposites or polarities And what is the importance of these to the play? William Shakespeare wrote Antony and Cleopatra around 1606, during the reign of King James  ². The play is a history, set in the time of the Roman Empire many centuries before it was written and based on the well-documented history of Octavius Caesar, Marc Antony and Cleopatra. These characters and their lives were contained in primarily one document: Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, which was translated by Sir Thomas North in 1579. In the creation of the play, Shakespeare kept very close to the plot of North’s history although some characters such as Enobarbus are largely Shakespeare’s creations. In the play, Shakespeare creates two completely different, conflicting worlds from which most if not all of the drama and tension is derived from, causing tension between those living in the two ideals of Rome and Egypt. From the very beginning one of the themes of the play becomes very evident to the audience, the conflict between Rome and Egypt. The two places represent a symbolic clash of ideals in the play. Rome is seen as a place of honor and duty and taken very seriously, this is shown through the actions and behaviour of Caesar, a man with huge responsibilities, and even when his associates are celebrating and getting drunk, he does not. As a contrast, Egypt is shown as a place of indulgence and pleasure, shown this time through Cleopatra’s court, where it seems the inhabitants do nothing but indulge themselves with games, wine and sex. These differences in ideals are so great that the people in Rome treat Antony’s indulgence in Egypt with Cleopatra as a taboo â€Å"this is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes / The Lamps of night in revel†(1.4.4-5). Caesar’s condemnation of Antony’s behavior is an example of how much he is despised for turning his back on Roman duty. This clash is in some ways an example of Elizabethan perceptions on the differences between East and West, an obstacle that is impossible for Antony and Cleopatra to overcome. Shakespeare personifies the two poles of the world as the people living there. Caesar is seen as the embodiment of Rome, with his rigid sense of duty and honour, and Egypt is presented through Cleopatra with her excessive and theatrical extravagance and free flowing passio... ... and charming towards Cleopatra, although she knows he is merely trying to avoid her committing suicide, so that she can be his trophy. After this meeting, Cleopatra resolves to follow her plan of death and although Rome may have triumphed at face value, the East is in fact presenting its true spirit, Cleopatra is refusing to become anything but herself. This conclusion to the conflict between East and West is needed to provide a satisfying ending to the play, although neither East or West wins, but is left at a stalemate. The West wins over reason and duty, and yet the East has won through emotion and love, the love between Antony and Cleopatra. The polarities between Antony and Cleopatra are huge and arguably impossible to overcome as the conflict and differences between Egypt and Rome would inevitably end in tragedy. Shakespeare uses this as the centre of his drama, and without it would lose its powerful and emotive realism that Shakespeare spent his life perfecting. In this way, the conflict between Egypt and Rome is the most important theme, as from it spawns the differences in honour, reason, emotion and ideals, thus forming the framework for much more drama beyond it.

Philosophy of Existentialism :: Papers

Philosophy of Existentialism From what I understand reading Jean-Paul Sartre's work the Existentialism is philosophy that places emphasis on individual existence, subjectivism, and freedom of making choice. According to Sartre, Existentialism is philosophy that states that "if God does not exist, there is at least one being in whom existence precedes essence." It seems that Sartre's theory rests on this thesis that 'existence precedes essence' and therefore it should be basis for any further discussion or understanding of this philosophy. To prove this Sartre uses example of man or human being, he says that man first exist, where he is nothing, and then afterwards he defines himself, where he himself will have made what he will be. So if I understand this correctly this means that you need to have existence in order to have essence, so there is no predetermined 'true' thing, it has to already exist in order to become what it is. Therefore man is fully in charge of creating himself as a person, and creating his own future. Subjectivity is also important to Existentialism, and by subjectivity Sartre means that while choosing his own self, man also chooses all man. And he states this idea in this citation "to choose to be this or that is to affirm at the same time the value of what we choose, because we can never choose evil. We always choose the good, and nothing can be good for us without being good for all." I'm not sure if I can agree with this, because knowing myself, sometimes I consciously make decisions that I know are not good for everyone. But what I think Sartre is trying to say is that those passionate choices and actions that every individual makes, are influencing choices and actions of others. Third and last thing that makes up my definition of the Existentialism is freedom of choice. "The boy was faced with the choice of leaving for England joining the Free French forces-that is, leaving his mother behind-or remaining with his mother and helping her to carry on. He was fully aware that the woman lived only for him and that his going off-and perhaps his death-would plunge her into despair, whereas every effort he made toward going off and fighting was an uncertain move which might run aground and prove completely useless.

Effective HRM and its impact on an organisation Essay

Effective human resource is instrumental for ensuring the sustainable success of the organisation as a whole. Human resource is the most important resource in any investment. This is because it is the force behind the conversion of other resource into profitable products of services to the company. The roles of human resource management are to recruit, training, engaging, and retaining a strong workforce for the organisation (Jackson & Mathis 2008, p. 56). As an important role of an effective human resource management, it must seek to ensure that it attracts and recruit the best candidates to suit the requirements of the organisation. This gives the organisation a competitive advantage of sustainable realisation of its strategic plan. The other function of effective HRM is to train workforce. A trained workforce serves the ultimate purpose of providing quality services to the organisation. It is due to this that the function of effective human resource management to train the workforce remains of great importance to the organisation (Bates 2002). In addition, training should entail instilling a strong respect and uphold of the company’s corporate culture to new employees. This promotes accountability and reduces conflicts of interest. Effective HRM should invest much resource in developing and executing an efficient employee engagement policy. Employee engagement functions to encourage employee commitment towards the execution of the mission and objectives of the organisation (Bates 2002). This has the implication engaging employees as a function of effective HRM is a crucial factor in enhancing the competitive profitability of the organisation. The last important function of effective HRM is retention of the best employees in the organisation. With a strong workforce, a company is assured of meeting the demands of its customers as well as the dictates of its strategic business plan (Sempere, Lillo, & Lajara 2002, p. 13). This is because such a workforce enjoys the competitive advantage of innovatively resolving company problems. On the other hand, retention of employees save the organisation the huge costs involved in employee recruitment and training process. Thus effective HRM plays a pivotal role in the success of a company. Strengths and weaknesses of online recruitment Online recruitment practices are increasing becoming common in the modern business world. The practice enjoys the advantage of convenience. Online recruitment involves the access of potential employees from an online database, evaluating their qualification, and choosing the most suited candidate (Starcke 1996). This has the implication that online recruitment saves the organisation time. Just to be appreciated is the fact that the process of traditional recruiting entails conducting physical interviews with the candidates, an act which no doubt wastes time. Moreover, time is one of the most valuable resources in an organisation (Wuttke 2008, p. 34). This makes online recruitment to be of importance in saving time while getting the required talent. Other strength of online recruitments is cost effective and has provisions of variety of talents from across the globe. Online recruitment is entails the practice of candidate access at the click of the button, making less costly. On the other hand, the practice promotes diversity in an organisation as it provides the employer with a cross-cultural workforce from across the globe (Johannasen 2009). Such are instrumental in promoting innovation in the organisation. Nevertheless, online recruitment has a number of weaknesses. First, it opens a loophole for potential employment of unqualified candidates. Faking of certificates is not a new thing across the globe. Although the employer might realise of the certification problem, the costs and time incurred in facilitating the employment deal remains a major loss to the organisation (Younger 2007). Therefore, the practice fails to protect the authenticity of the information given by the candidates. Another weakness of online recruitment is that it involves too many candidates, an element that makes it demanding to make the right choice. Online job applications are quite many. Despite the specifications of qualification given by the employer many irrelevant applicants post their application. This means that the employer will be faced with the problem of sorting out numerous inappropriate and irrelevant candidates, an action that is no doubt time consuming (Jahannasen 2009). However, this can be easily resolved if clear description of job is made and the employers uses the candidate screening tools of the online job site board to limit candidate spam. Advantages of training and development to both organisation and individual Training and career development in an organisation is of great important to both the organisation and the individual. The organisation seeks to ensure the availability of reliable workforce to aid in the realisation of its strategic business plans. To achieve this goal, the company should train and development career (Wilson 2005). It is worth noting that different companies have different approaches to their businesses. Further, education seems to be the same for students of the same profession. This has the indication that the ultimate skill and experience enjoyed by employees reflect their training in a particular organisation (Wilson 2005, p. 102). Therefore, training and development will promote the effectiveness of the workforce in executing their duties. Another advantage of training and development is that it promotes employee commitment to the company mission and objective. Employee engagement practices are instrumental in promoting employee commitment to the mission and objectives of an organisation. According to the principles of effective human resource management, training of employees is one of the reliable tools of ensuring their satisfaction at the workplace (Bureau of Labour Statistics 2009). This is due to the fact that training eliminates the demoralisation aspects brought by failure to efficiently realise one’s expectations at the workplace. In addition, training gives employees an opportunity to achieve their professional career goals while earning a living. All these are important are important in meeting the social and economic responsibilities of both the individual and the organisation. Training and career development serves the important role of strengthening the reputation of an organisation. Reputation remains the best marketing tool for the products and services of any business. On the other side, the reputation of a company is defined by the effectiveness and reliability of its services to the customers (Aidele 2009, p. 76). This means that an organisation should have in place a strong workforce to meet its market demands. This calls for engaging in employee training and career development since such is vital tools in promoting innovative solving of problems. Still, providing training and development gives the organisation the competitive advantage of identifying the best talent for its workforce as it eliminates certification qualifications to engage in seeking actual capabilities of its employees. Why poor performance occurs and the strategies that can be used to overcome it Poor performance in an organisation is to be blamed to poor human resource management. This can be evident from failure of the HRM in its four main functions. Hiring discrimination practices which lead to recruitment of unqualified candidates compromises the reliability of the company workforce in providing quality services to the organisation. Another cause of poor performance is lack of training and engagement to employees (Booth 1993, p. 81). An informed and satisfied workforce gives reliable services to the company with a high degree of commitment. As an HRM function, employee engagement does not only promote commitment but also accountability of the employees in their duties. Therefore, poor performance can occur due to failure by the HRM in one or more of its functions namely; recruiting, training, engaging and retaining the best employees for the organisation. To overcome this problem, organisations should in formulating and implementing strong positive corporate culture to govern its human resource (Booth 1993, p. 89). This culture should dictate for giving employment opportunities on merit to mitigating incidence of recruiting unqualified and thus unreliable employees into the organisation. In addition, employee training must be given priority as it serves to equip the workforce with adequate knowledge on the operations and expectations of the organisation from them. This is important in mitigating operational mistakes of failures. Another strategy is employee engagement which seeks to enhance the commitment by employees to the mission and objectives of the organisation (Werner, Shuler, & Jackson 2008, p. 66). Most employees perform poorly due to failure by the company to care for their personal needs. However, the practice of employee engagement seeks to appreciate and address the social and economic concerns of individual employees as a way of ensuring their sustainable job satisfaction. The last strategy is striving to retain the best employees in an organisation. Most organisations lose reliable employees due to poor conflict resolution policies. This negates their sustainable development objectives, a problem that calls for implementation of an effective conflict resolution policies to eliminate resignations or conflict at workplace which compromises performance.

Mount Plesant

Opgave A – Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant from 2005 is an odd little short story. The story’s narrative technique and language is very unique, because it allows you to see a child’s world from its perspective. The way the story is written makes you think of your own childhood where ghosts and the darkness were the scariest things in the whole wide world. Below, I will analyze this odd little short story, and also give you an interpretation of Mary-Louise Buxton’s Mount Pleasant where she so curiously write about Elizabeth and her imaginative everyday life.The short story is about a girl Elizabeth who narrates the reader through her every day life. How she discovers the world, how she see her parents and how she interpret things. This short story is not like any other short story, because normally you would have this big climax, with life-changing experiences, and a main theme to tell you how to live your life. This story is â€Å"just† a little child ’s experiences. The thing that makes this story interesting is the extraordinary first-person narrator.The story is in a way written like some sort of diary by a six-year-old. I think the narrator is about six because she talks about the boy on the picture and he looks around 9-10 not much older than her: â€Å"He’s maybe nine or ten, not that much older than I am† The Narrator does not alter the spoken language; it makes the story seem a bit messy but also childish. The language is a big part of this short story because the writer, Mary-Louise, plays with names for objects and concepts, words and the way the different parts of the story are put together.Talking about names, it could be names such as: â€Å"Mammy† â€Å"The Look† â€Å"Granny ‘Omi’s Duckering Ball† â€Å"Babby† â€Å"Boo Boo† Playing with nicknames like this gives the story a childish feeling, and if Mary-Louise had chosen to use a â€Å"grown-upà ¢â‚¬  language the story would not have been the same, so this is most likely why this kind of language is chosen. You instantly know the narrator is a child, because the little girl are having a constant urge for being entertained. It is hard for her to focus.It is seen a couple of times in the story, at first it is kind of confusing, but the second time you read the story the meaning of it gets more clear. The best example is when she is talking about her mother’s behavior, in the situation where her dad puts the picture of the little boy on the mantelpiece. Then out of nowhere our protagonist begins talking about the area and how everyone know her and her sister, how the nuns treat them, the different shops in the area, and then followed by a very descriptive list of sweets you can get at the corner in the tub shop: And then there’s the tub shop on the corner where you can go in and buy big tubs of ice cream, and get sweets out of great big glass jars behind the co unter – raspberry ruffles and chewing nuts and chocolate raisins and liquorice sticks and ice cups and strawberry boot lace† And after talking about the candy she suddenly returns to the time and place she broke loose from. Changing the subjects is confusing, but also what you would expect a child to do. Another thing that keeps it childish is the small ‘wake up! ’ line such as Mammy said not to get dirty. † â€Å"We never want to go home. † They spice up the language, and would definitely be something a child would do. It fits very well with the narrative structure of the story If you look at the characters other than the protagonist, you immediately think of the parents. I think it is good writing, because not only is the parents the most important character in a child’s life, it is also two of the most important character in this short story. You get the impression that the mother is the strict one: If I see that bloody picture again at tea time† â€Å"Mammy said not to get dirty† The father is the exact opposite he is the fun one, the one who lets Elizabeth and her sister stay op late and the less strict one. The father has a more childish language saying Boo Boo and Bobby dazzler. However, the father may not be as sweet and loving as you would expect. One night he takes his two daughters to bed and the dog will no move and instead of calling it by its name he is saying ‘dog’ and then he slaps the dog so hard that it gets scared and hide under the table.I did not notice it at first because our narrator does not make it unusually and a big deal, it makes you think that it could have happened before. All through the story I waited for something bad or devastating to happen, but nothing happened, or maybe the real disaster is hidden? In the end it is mentioned that the mother picks up the picture of the boy and puts it back on to the mantelpiece, and you hear Elizabeth’s thoughts a bout it dropping down in the night. But earlier in the story it says: â€Å"I run to the mantelpiece and put the picture in the grate†She had put it there herself, so it could be understood as a symbol of disorder. The night where this happens could very well be the night where Elizabeth sees a ghost walking around and locking her to her bed. When you have a child as your narrator, it is always hard to tell if something really happened, maybe Elizabeth did see this ghost, or it could be that nothing happened during that night, it was just normal behavior from a child who were scared in the dark. It is a hard deal knowing when children speak the truth and when they overreact.This story is definitely not like your typical short story, it is cryptic and you have to read it a few times before you get what is going on. Maybe the message is just how a child sees the world and how you have to remember to dream and imagine, with themes such as being imaginative, childhood and fear. à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ [ 1 ]. P. 2 L. 59 [ 2 ]. p. 1 l. 1 [ 3 ]. p. 2 l. 46 [ 4 ]. p. 2 l. 49 [ 5 ]. p. 1 l. 28 [ 6 ]. p. 2 l. 69 [ 7 ]. p. 3 l 91-94 [ 8 ]. p. 1 l. 18 [ 9 ]. p. 3 l. 114 [ 10 ]. p. 2 l. 53 [ 11 ]. p. 1 l. 18 [ 12 ]. p. 5 l. 164

Income Tax Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Income Tax - Coursework Example 2. Wages and salaries was composed of: †¨Salary taken by Ronni,  £25,000 †¨Wages paid to Bryn (Ronni’s father) for work done to repair bicycles, at a rate of  £20 per hour (30 hrs x 48 weeks) =  £28,800 †¨Wages paid to assistant bicycle repairer at a rate of  £15 per hour (30 hrs x 48 weeks) =  £21,600 †¨Casual help in shop,  £5,400 †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ 4. Repairs and renewals was composed of: †¨Repairs to warehouse floor  £850 †¨Repairs to flat above shop  £750 †¨Cleaning materials  £300 †¨Cleaning contract for shop and workshop †¨Ã‚ £500 †¨Sundry small items  £250 †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ 5. Motor Expenses mainly for the cost of running Ronni’s estate car used for collecting/delivering broken/mended bicycles and for transporting items for the shop from the cash and carry outlet. Private use of the car had been agreed at 30%. †¨Diesel fuel, car  £8500 †¨Insurance for car  £1200 †¨Repairs, car  £350 †¨Road fund tax, car  £375 †¨Rental of van  £600 †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ 7. Sundry expenses of were composed of: †¨Subscription to magazine, ‘Cycling Today’ †¨Ã‚ £100 †¨Subscription to Green party  £50 †¨Subscription to ‘New Transport Systems’ †¨Ã‚ £24 †¨Sponsorship of local junior school cycling proficiency awards  £50 †¨Donation to Green party  £25 †¨Donation to local hospital A&E department (Ronni had an accident and broke her arm)  £100 †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Postage, stationery and telephone expenses  £100 †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Accountancy charges  £80 †¨Sundry other items  £100†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ Calculate the taxable trading profit for Ronni’s business for the year ended 30 September 2011. †¨You should provide your own data where none is given, ensuring that you retain a taxable trading profit (i.e. not a trading loss) and should ensure that you choose data that will fully demonstrate your knowledge of taxation. Calculate the Income tax payable by Ronni for the tax year 2011/12, providing your own data where none is given, to fully demonstrate your knowledge

Michelengelo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Michelengelo - Essay Example He later shifted to sculptures after mastering painting. Michelangelo made many paintings while in Florence. His skill impressed the Pope and he got an invite to make a painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Church. Michelangelo was also an architect. He contributed his ideas to many architectural masterpieces that are in Italy today. His most celebrated contribution in the field of architecture is the St. Peters cathedral. He developed many principal features that can be seen at the cathedral including the design for the dome. Early works The earliest sculpture made by Michelangelo was the Battle of the Centaurs. He created the sculpture when he was about seventeen years old. This artwork is regarded highly due to its simplicity. He used solid forms that created squarish figures making the sculpture depict violence in an intense manner (Harden, 2008). The Medici family was overthrown following the death of Lorenzo in 1492. Michelangelo was forced to flee to Bologna where he continue d with his work. He made sculptures of three saints for the San Domenico church. Rome Michelangelo returned briefly to Florence before moving to Rome. In Rome he made a sculpture of a Bacchus for a banker. The Bacchus is the only large sculpture from the earlier days of Michelangelo’s art work that still survives to date. It is also the only sculpture designed to be viewed from all sides. The banker also paid Michelangelo to carve the Peita ( a carving in which Mary holds the dead body of Christ while on her knees) in 1498 (Pettit, 1998). The sculpture is presently located in St. Peters. The sculpture was larger than the usual life size sculptures. The theme of contrast was manifested a lot in the work. Mary’s position was vertical while the body of Christ lay horizontally. One person was alive while the other was dead. One was male and the other female. Florence In 1501 Michelangelo returned to Florence. By then, he was the most talented sculptor in Central Italy. The Florence cathedral commissioned him to carve the David. In 1504, he was commissioned to paint the Battle of Cascina. The painting depicted soldiers climbing from a river they had been swimming in to respond to a military distress call. Michelangelo continued to work on other large projects but he failed to finish most of them. In 1505, Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II (1443–1513). He was requested to design the pope’s tomb. The tomb was to incorporate approximately 40 life size statues. Michelangelo worked on and off on the project for a period of forty years (Harden,2008). Statue of David This is the most acknowledged sculpture done by Michelangelo. When Michelangelo returned to Florence in 1501 after the fall of Girolamo Savonarola, he was asked to complete a statue of David that an earlier artist had left unfinished. The statue was to be a symbol of freedom. He responded by finishing the statue of David. This statue was a master work of art made of marble (Bonner, 2001). It established the prominence of Michelangelo as an artist with extraordinary skill and a creative imagination. Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel was the chief chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo was commissioned by the Pope in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. The artwork done on this ceiling was unique compared to artwork done on other ceilings. The project halted for some months. When Michelangelo returned to continue with the project, his style shifted a bit to intensify emotional tension.

Employment skills for engineers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employment skills for engineers - Essay Example I gained self-confidence with the importance of courage to stand in front of people and share my ideas with other people without fear. Through the numerous class projects and presentations that we did before fellow students, I have perfected the skill, and now I feel that I can harness it whenever and wherever. I have learned how to express myself confidently as well as think for myself and how to seek feedback from other people. My time management skills greatly improved over the course through the assignments that I have managed to complete on time. Most importantly, I have come to appreciate working efficiently under pressure and no supervision in order to achieve my targets. I feel I have gained enough skills and confidence to handle engineering projects in the corporate world and meet all the set goals on time. At first, I thought that I would have to read so much theory. I, however, have been privileged to participate in practical engineering lessons that gave me an opportunity to work in a team without many misunderstandings with my colleagues. Through these experiences, I have developed excellent communication skills that have helped me throughout my 12 months internship. I related well with my teammates throughout these experiences. These have given me an upper hand as I have been able to be chosen as a leader and sometimes as a follower and an active participant in these team practical projects. Throughout my campus life as an engineering student, I have developed resilience through the tough subjects and actual work, which were part of the module. I have also gained a positive outlook in life as all the hard work, and sacrifice has also yielded rewards through good grades awarded to me for the hard work. My problem-solving skills have greatly improved through the practice of identifying problems either in group work or individually and coming up with solutions to these problems. My research skills have