Childhood Memories Essay

Childhood is the most innocent phase of man’s life. With the passage of time, it fades into adolescence and adulthood. Yet the sweet memories of childhood linger on. My childhood recollections are those of a sheltered and carefree life, nurtured with love and concern. As I was the first child in the family, everybody doted on me. My funny lisping, my innocent mischief and my inane talk-everything was a source of immense pleasure to them. There was never a word of reproach or censure against me. Once a distant uncle picked me up from my school and, without informing my parents, took me to a fair. When I returned home, it was quite late. I found everybody worried, anxious and apprehensive about my safety. A frantic search for me had already been made. My uncle was taken to task, but nobody reprimanded me. Later, it was explained to me that going out with others without the knowledge of the parents was fraught with risks. I was warned, but the warning was so affectionate, tactful and persuasive that it left a healthy impression on my mind. I was quite inquisitive by nature and pestered my parents with constant queries. They, nevertheless, listened to me patiently and tried to satisfy my curiosity. I also fondly remember my grandmother with her wrinkled face which creased into a loving smile at the very sight of me. Her amusing anecdotes always transported me into a mysterious wonderland. My thoughts abound with such sweet memories. Each recollection has nostalgic air about it. I will treasure these precious childhood memories for ever. Memories of childhood Sweet are the recollections of the childhood of a man. These fill one’s mind with joy when one looks back to the days of childhood. Every child passes its days in the midst of the affection and cares of the parents, grandfather and grand-mother and other dear relations. Cares and anxieties do not trouble the innocent mind of the child. My childhood days When I look back to the days of my early childhood, I do not remember much. Only I remember how my old grand-mother fondled me. I used to sit in the evening by her side. She would tell me fairy tales—tales of the princes and princesses and rakshasas, and stories of ghosts. I listened to them with rapt attention. These seemed to be true to me. I remember the day clearly when I first went to school. It was a new life to me, but I liked it very much. I made friends with many boys there. I went to school with them and I enjoyed these very much. My teachers loved me very much. I was never afraid of them and they never beat me. I did my lessons well every day. I was fond of story-books. I read the stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. They left a deep impression on me. Sometimes tears stood in my eyes when I read about the sufferings of Seeta. My grand-mother grew very old. She died when I was nine years old. I loved her very much. Sometimes mother scolded me for doing some mischief. But my grand-mother shielded me. I was quite save there. So I felt great sorrow at her death. This is a sad recollection of my childhood. My sister is older than I by eight years. Her marriage ceremony took place when I was ten years old. It was a vary happy occasion. I absented myself from school for several days. My heart was filled with joy. On the day of the marriage our house was crowded with friends and relatives. In the evening the bridegroom and his party came. Conch shells were blowing to welcome the bridegroom. Musicians were playing on their bands. A grand feast was given to the guests. I supplied water to the guests. Of course, I ate my fill that night. Thus I spent the day in the midst of feast and merriment. Conclusion My days of childhood were really spent in happiness. There was only the sad incident of my grandmother’s death. I had no cares and anxieties. I thought of eating, reading, playing and wearing gay clothes and beautiful shoes and nothing else. Now I am a grown-up lad. I cannot now pass days so care-free as I did in the past.

Portrayals of jesus in the gospels Essay

Each of the four gospels contained in the New Testament portrays a different and unique portrait of Jesus. Mark’s gospel represents Jesus as the suffering servant, while Matthew shows Jesus as the new Moses. Luke stresses Jesus’ inclusion of the outcasts and then John’s non-synoptic gospel shows Jesus as God’s presence and as an otherworldly figure. Mark portrays Jesus as a powerful yet unrecognized and suffering Messiah. Stories throughout the gospel show Jesus to have control over storms, water and demons. He is able to heal lepers, cripples and people with withered limps. He also has undaunted authority over everything including sin and Sabbath laws. Yet the theme of the messianic secret is major within this gospel. Jesus often tells people â€Å"to tell no one† of the miracles he performs. This theme is part of the climax of Mark’s gospel when Peter proclaims that Jesus is Christ and Jesus responds by giving him strict orders to tell no one. He therefore is the unrecognized Messiah. Mark wrote his gospel to a suffering and fearful faith community. He wrote to inspire faith in them. That is why Mark emphasizes Jesus’ suffering to his readers so that they can relate and see that there is no glory without suffering. He therefore shows that in order to have true dominance one must first encounter suffering, just as Jesus had. Matthew writes his gospel from a Jewish standpoint. He is careful to connect Jesus as the legitimate heir to the royal house of David in order to establish Jesus’ Hebrew roots. Matthew often refers to Hebrew scripture to show Jesus as the fulfillment of the scriptures. He says that Jesus is God present with us. Jesus is portrayed as the new lawgiver in this gospel. He is a teacher who concentrates on the overall being of a person, meaning their actions as well as their thoughts. Matthew stresses that it is just as bad to think impurely as it is to act impure. Jesus has come to perfect the law and to provide ethical teachings to guide his followers. Matthew shows Jesus to pity the under privileged in his interpretation of the Sermon on  the Mount where Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. He also shows Jesus scolding much of the upper class, especially the Pharisees whom Jesus is shown to argue with numerous times throughout this gospel. Luke does the opposite of Matthew by writing from a Gentile point of view and directing his gospel toward a Greco-Roman audience. Luke concerns himself with showing that in Jesus the Gentiles are included in the promise of God’s covenant. The major theme of this gospel is that Jesus is savior. He is the savior of the whole world not just the Jews. Luke portrays Jesus as a passionate messiah by stressing his inclusion of the outcasts. Jesus associated with the tax collectors, woman and physically disadvantaged. Jesus denounces the rich and comfortable in this gospel during the Sermon on the Mount. Luke also downplays Jesus’ suffering by excluding much of it from his gospel. An example of this is the absence of the crown of thorns in his gospel. Luke does this to once again portray the more compassionate Jesus. He instead exclusively included Jesus’ praying for the forgiveness of the crowd and for the criminal next to him on the cross and to give more attention to Jesus’ resurrection and the appearances of the risen Jesus. John’s whole gospel is a portrait of Jesus. He includes new titles and truths that are not contained in any other gospel. Two important titles John quotes Jesus using are â€Å"I am† and â€Å"the word.† By using the term â€Å"I am† John is saying that the kingdom of God has come and that Jesus has always been. â€Å"The word† is God’s â€Å"logos.† This represents the basic idea of God revealing himself to mankind. It says that Jesus is the one whom God the father used to create the world. John therefore stresses Jesus’ incarnation and emphasizes the faith factor of believing without seeing. The four gospels are all very unique in portraying Jesus. They cover much of the same material but see Jesus from different point of views because of their different backgrounds. Luke and Matthew are perfect examples because they both believe so dearly in Jesus yet have different views because of their different cultures. The evangelists show that no matter who you are you can relate to Jesus just as they did. By studying the gospels you can see Jesus through your own lens and therefore paint your own portrait of the  messiah.

Review on Scholarly Empirical Journal Article Literature

On Scholarly Empirical Journal Article - Literature review Example The article mentions that business ethics deals with three different things; avoiding actions that could lead to universal law suits touching the company, avoiding breaking laws within an individual’s work-related activities. In analyzing the way the research study was completed, the focus is on the methodology area, data collection, and analysis. In completing the study, thirty participants from thirty different organizations were used. The material or apparatus used in this study was a questionnaire. These participants were provided with questionnaires that outlined certain situations possible within an organization. They were expected to provide a feedback on how they would react faced with the situations in the questionnaires (Dr. Manning, 2012). The results section provided an analysis of the results. Finally, in the conclusion area, the writer summarized the results of the study, and gave an evaluation of whether the findings were related to the hypothesis. In the assessment of the journal article, based on what I have learned so far, it is arguable that it was well done. This is because it took into consideration the basics of a standard scholarly empirical journal article (Selden, 2012). The survey was described in details, as well as the methodology. The writer carefully introduces the issue of study and gives the reader a foreshadow of what is to be found in the article. The data collection method has also been carefully described, with the analysis and conclusion based on its findings (Feldman, 2004).

Application to Imperial College Master in Finance Essay

Application to Imperial College Master in Finance - Essay Example Secondly, I could witness first-hand the environmental issues that are associated with that. I do not want to be too picky about where I find my first start, but I would like to begin my career within Asian financial hubs, such as Hong Kong and Singapore. The reasoning behind this is two-fold: I could familiarize myself with the Asian markets but I would also be able to network with many individuals who are working in the Asian financial industry. Tapping into their expertise will help me to form my own opinions and also give me the inside scoop on the inner workings of the financial markets in Asia. Please outline the challenges you think you will face in achieving these career goals and how you will overcome them? (200 words) A career in the financial industry can be extremely challenging and requires a solid academic background. I believe the curriculum offered at Imperial Business School will equip me with a range of skill sets beneficial to a career in trading. I look forward to studying Investment and Portfolio Management, Asset Pricing and Derivatives, and the Structured Credit and Equity Products modules, which will provide me with a theoretical framework of trading and investment strategies. Furthermore, traders need to be decisive and have market acumen. I am a retail investor in the Asian stock markets while I also have a trading account in the UK, where I constantly bet on commodities and foreign exchange rates. I believe my experience has made me aware of market movements and prepared me to work in this industry. Moreover, a career in trading also demands high quantitative skills. I have completed Mathematical Methods and Statistical Theories courses, which will serve as building blocks for taking advanced quantitative courses, such as Mathematics for Finance and Financial Econometrics at Imperial Business School. Additionally, professional qualifications would help me to break into this competitive market. Therefore, I have applied to take the CFA exam in June of 2013. Please describe your long term career goals or, if these are not clear, please outline the industry sectors that are of particular interest to you and why (200 words) After working as a commodity trader for a period of three years, I plan to join one of the top investment funds. This short experience as a trader would help form my decision-making processes and develop my market knowledge. Building on this experience, I believe I would learn more in-depth investment strategies and portfolio management skills by working with an investment fund. Ultimately, I would like to set up an environmental and ethical fund in China, where I would invest in environmentally-friendly companies, particularly those that are engaged in improving human health, safety, and the quality of life. Investors in China now are gradually increasing their interest in these companies. I truly believe that the emergence of such a fund would attract much public attention in China because the people want their society to change. Hopefully this would lead to Chinese companies disclosing more information about the environmental and social aspects of their public reports. Compounded with contemporary government policies that favour environmentally and ethically sound industries, I have strong faith that my fund will be an intermediary for investors to exercise market power on companies, shoulder greater social responsibilities, and move towards more

Team Sports Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Team Sports Economics - Essay Example Beyond the scene that regards hosting such events, there are certain synergies of mega-event sports competitions that could result in economic development to the city or even the entire country as a whole. There was a great deal of focus on the economic potentials of the 2012 London Olympics for the city and the country as a whole. Articles have been penned on the economic impacts of the London Olympics not only for the economy of the metropolis, but for the entire country as a whole. According to Great Britain (2012), predictions the GDP growth could have been affected by the Olympics games. The associated ticket sales that had been prepared for the 2012 Olympics games had been estimated to be about 0.1 percent of the UK economy, and the economic effects would be realized in the final quarter of the year (Great Britain, 2012: 45). According to the Word Bank (2012) the economic growth for the United Kingdom’s economy was 0.3%m therefore a contribution of 0.1% on the UK’s economy represents a significant contribution to the economy. on a micro economic level, sports events attracts a hordes of sports fans who troupe into a city’s hotels, restaurants, and businesses and bring forth a lot of money to such functions and the auxiliaries. According to the Office for National Statistics (2012) the visitors to the city during the games summed to over half a million spending an estimated average amount of  £1,290 per person, twice the amount spent by the non Olympic visitors. Preparations for these games involve a great deal of preparation which covers a huge outlay of funds for infrastructural developments. The high level of standards demanded by the International Olympic Committee, which includes the infrastructural developments as well as the security arrangements, makes an intrusion of the tax payer’s pockets mandatory. But despite the huge costs that these events have on the economy, profit must certainly

E books and its ease and convience in our society Research Paper

E books and its ease and convience in our society - Research Paper Example Ebook readers are conventionally how ebooks are read. They are digital mechanisms with micro processing technology, and operating system, and a screen that function much like computers. For example, book retailers like Amazon have their own book reader known as the Kindle and Barnes and Noble who is another book retailer, have until recently marketed a reader known as the Nook (Smith and Smith 299). The fact that book sellers themselves see the value of marketing a reader for digital books, suggest very obviously that (a) they understand the transformation away from conventional books and that (b), they understand the potential profit of marketing digitized books. There are a number of different types of ebook readers, and they vary with regard to cost but also technological efficiencies. For instance, the two readers mentioned, namely, the Nook and the Kindle are very limited as tools beyond just reading. That is, while they can handle and efficiently display a good range of file fo rmats for reading books, they are limited when compared to the basic functions of a computer. A strong new presence in the market for ebook readers are computer tablets. For instance, the Ipad which was introduced April 2010 had already reached sales of over 3 million units within two months of its release (Ashley 1).

Four Intentional Torts Negilence and Liability Essay

Four Intentional Torts Negilence and Liability - Essay Example However, he did not know that her friend had developed diabetes and severe high blood pressure. After he obtained Juliet’s residential address from his friend, John bought a big tiger doll for her present. When he arrived at Juliet’s house, he placed the big doll at the doorstep. He rang the bell and hid behind the door. When Juliet opened the door, she was frightened to see the big tiger doll placed at the door step. To her, the doll appeared to be a real tiger. Consequently, she collapsed and fell on the floor. John was shocked and resorted to call for an ambulance and Juliet’s brother. Juliet’s brother was so mad with John for his action. After Juliet woke from the comma, she decided to sue John for causing heart attack, which had been confirmed by the doctor. This is negligence because although John caused harm to Juliet by placing the big tiger doll at her door step and hid behind the door, his intentions were not to harm her (Statsky, 2012). Besides, she was her friend and just wanted to surprise her. In fact, the doll was Juliet’s present. Nevertheless, after Juliet condition was stable, his brother confronted John and accused him of causing harm to his sister. However, John apologized, but Juliet’s brother continued to throw words to John. In the process, John was agitated. He rushed into his car that was parked outside Juliet’s house and drew a gun from the back seat. He came out with a gun freely held in his hand and threatened Juliet’s brother that he would shoot him if he did not keep quiet. Nevertheless, Juliet’s brother dared him to shoot and that he would face the consequences. John shouted loud† Keep quiet or I should you†. Instead, Juliet’ brother was adamant and told John that he could not intimidate him with a â€Å"toy gun†. At this time, John raised the gun and pointed it at Juliet’s brother. Juliet’s brother realised that John was serious and that he would really shoot him. He even started pleading with him not to shoot. Out of anger, John pulled the trigger and Juliet’s brother was shot at the hand. This constitutes to an assault because in the first incident, John threatened to shoot him. Secondly, Juliet’s brother got scared when John pointed the gun at him, and thirdly because actually John shot him (Statsky, 2012). Due to the gun shot, neighbors came to witness the commotion. At this time, Juliet came out of the house only to find her brother lying on the ground in pool of blood. John apologized to her saying that he did not intend to shot him. Without listening to him, hurriedly, Juliet asked a neighbor, Mr. Chris, who had come to see what was going on, to help her take her brother into the car so that she could take him to the hospital. After they put her brother in the back seat of the car, Juliet started the car and drove at a very high speed. Mr. Chris, who by then had just stood behind the c ar, was covered by a huge crowd of dust as a result of dust brown by the speeding car. Unfortunately, Chris was filled with dust in his eyes and as a consequence fell on the ground. He was in pain and shouted loudly for help. Nevertheless, the car had already left and Juliet did not hear anything not even from the other neighbors that saw Chris being brown by the dust. At this time, John was still standing in with his gun still held loose in his hand. He was dumbfounded. However, when he saw what had befallen Chris, he called for an

Analyzing Literature with The Method(E) Assignment

Analyzing Literature with The Method(E) - Assignment Example Play, playing, dolls appear severally a clear indication that the narrator enjoys playing, but she feels stupid/weird for having played with a toy; â€Å"I felt stupid for having played with a toy that day† (Katie N.p). Play and bleeding- â€Å"I’ve been bleeding monthly for more than 20 years now and I figure I’m allowed to play with anything I want† (Katie N.p). The author states this when we very well know that she is already an adult and should not engage in childish plays. Contrasts; Play and bleeding- the narrator states that she is allowed to play after bleeding monthly for over 20 years yet the bleeding signifies ‘menstruation periods’ growing up thus should not be playing with toys. Step 5: one of the most important aspects that I can take from step 4 is play and bleeding. The narrator states that she is allowed to play after bleeding monthly for over 20 years yet the bleeding signifies ‘menstruation periods’ growing up thus should not be playing with toys. This indicates the narrators love for play and dolls. Even as an adult, she still plays with dolls, ironically. Moreover, the narrator repeats the playing concept to emphasize and reiterate her love for

Comparison of International Marketing Strategies Dissertation

Comparison of International Marketing Strategies - Dissertation Example The company associates itself only with those who have the capability to deliver effective services in the cost-effective fashion. Nestle tries to put forward the benefits of nutrition and therefore the marketing strategies are based on demographics which present the transformation in standards of living. Both Nestle and Unilever tend to focus on the health and wellness. Unilever focuses on the actual needs of the consumers but Nestle spotlights the corporate wellness unit to offer valued food to all the consumers. It can be said that Nestle sheds more light on the ingredients of the products rather than targeting the consumers. The corporate wellness group of Nestle deals with the promotion of nutrition value across the globe. The strategy is to provide the consumers tasty foods with high nutritional value. Unilever sticks to the company profile and often take the action of eliminating products from the market if it does not do well but such actions are hard to find in Nestle. Nestl e involves in creating and enhancing the products of the company. The packaging systems followed by Nestle shares huge impact on the marketing. They offer user-friendly packaging techniques which keep the food preserved as well as make the package attractive. The â€Å"Nestle Nutritional compass† is labeled on each product which presents the nutritional value of the products. It shows the benefit of purchasing the product to the consumers (Shaw, and Onkvisit, 2009). It believes that only nutritional information is necessary but not sufficient. The compass consists of three elements- â€Å"Good to know†, â€Å"good to remember† and â€Å"good to talk†. The marketing strategies of Unilever varied only in the three year period of the 1950s to 1980s. During this period the company engaged itself on technological advancements, development of new products, targeting new global markets and maintained the quality of the products according to world’s standa rds.   

Cultural Differences Study Of Brazil, China, And Nigeria Essay

Cultural Differences Study Of Brazil, China, And Nigeria - Essay Example This can be a big challenge given the presence of numerous languages from Chinese Mandarin to Brazilian Portuguese, the best way to deal with this is to have an all inclusive mode of communication that can be understood across the board and makes sure all the stakeholders understand what is expected of them.Considering the opportunities and the challenges that have been outlined earlier in this report it is important for the company to adapt to the cultural needs of these countries. These three countries each have their own way of doing business and the best approach should not be a general approach. In China and Nigeria, there exist traditional values that maintain the hierarchal system and all these factors have to be considered when coming up with a management system that fits all these different cultures. At the main office, the workers have a lot of freedom and freely interact with their superiors. The opportunities are an indication that the company should expand to these areas to take advantage of these factors, however, the challenges should also be considered and ways to tackle them clearly established. This is because they may prevent the growth of the business in these markets if they are not properly dealt with at the beginning. This process should be taken as a learning process and should be done carefully so that all the expected results are achieved. There should be different approaches to cater for these three different cultures because people in these countries react differently to information.

Performance Management Essay Example for Free

Performance Management Essay 1.Executive summary In order to have a sustainable competitive advantage, organisations realized that to do well economically, it is important to have the appropriate human capital within the company. That is how the term talent management was brought up. Human resource management is one of the pillars leading to organizational success and TM has become an important issue that HR professionals are dealing with. As companies go global, the need to focus on TM is increasing. This report is a critique of the journal article ‘Strategic talent management: A review and research agenda’ written by David G. Collings and Kamel Mellahi (2009). The report includes a broad view of how IHRM can address TM issues stated in the article. In the report, the strengths and weaknesses of the article have been stated and some recommendations concerning TM have been formulated and all the main points were highlighted in the conclusion. 2.Introduction This report is a critique of the journal article, ‘Strategic talent management: A review and research agenda’ written by David G.Collings and Kamel Mellahi (2009) for Elsevier publishing company. The report aims at critically analysing the mentioned article to find Talent Management issues relevant to International Human Resource management. Firstly the credibility of the authors and the validity of the article will be briefly analysed. The main key term this report deals with, that is Talent management (TM) will be explained as well as International human resource management (IHRM), ensuring clear understanding of the discussion which will follow. Further to the definition of the key terms, the theoretical model of strategic talent management proposed by the authors will be analysed and compared to the talent management wheel proposed by MIT Sloan Management Review (2012). The main body of the report will focus on the TM issues reported in the article and their relevance to IHRM, in this regard, other studies’ assumptions will be taken into account and thus allow us to critically analyse the article. Limitations and merits of the journal article will also be stated and followed by some recommendations as to how the discussed TM issues could be dealt with where international human resource management is concerned. Eventually, a conclusion will be included to highlight the main points which this report will cover. 3.Credibility of research Elsevier is one of the world’s leading providers of science information by providing authors and researchers as well as readers with innovative tools and world-class information helping in making critical decisions and to increase productivity. Elsevier has been delivering its services worldwide over the past 130 years and hence, is a credible source of information. Kamel Mellahi is the actual Co-Editor-in Chief of the International Journal of Management reviews. He has been carrying out many researches in the management field amongst which are in international business strategy and non-market strategy. He has also published more than seventy scholarly articles. His research were very much sought by several journals and publishers. David G.Collings is a Human Resource Management Professor at DCU and King’s College London. He is the joint editor of a couple of HRM journals. He has been doing research in the field of talent management and global mobility issues and has been able to influence numerous debates on global mobility. He has been ranked 6th on the list of the most productive scholar of Ireland. Both authors can be said to be well qualified to publish an article on talent management as they both have carried out numerous researches in HRM field, thus, this article can be said to be credible. 4.Definition of IHRM and Talent management With the advent of globalization, organisations have ceased to exist on local level only, businesses have gone global and this, for the betterment of its purpose. As well as it can have many advantages, the biggest challenge however remains the competition which has gain in vigour as organisations strive to stay sustainably competitive. IHRM can be said to be the procurement, allocation, utilization and the motivating pulse of international businesses’ human resources. The definition of TM, even though being the basis of the article, is however the very first matter of contention and one of the aims of the article. It was noted that no clear definition of TM has so far been made. Collings and Mellahi (2009), Boussebaa and Morgan (2008) and Piansoongnern and Anurit (2010, 290) have come up with a moreover similar definition of TM. According to them TM can be defined by processes and activities involving the identification of fundamental positions which help an organization to stay competitive, developing a talent pool of high performers to fill in those positions and adjusting HR practices to ensure commitment of such employees to the firm. For MNCs TM is more related to talented managers who get international assignments.

Assignment on strategic business management and planning

Assignment on strategic business management and planning These thee views are on the purpose and cooperate social responsibility (CSR) of an organization. What people expect an organization to achieve and what influence people can have over an organizations purpose. It is important to understand their expectations, how these might differ from each other and extend to which they likely to influence the organizations purpose and strategy. Collectively these people are called organizational stakeholders. Stakeholders, are those individuals or groups who depend on the organization to fulfill their own goals and on whom, in turn, the organization depends. Important external stakeholders would usually include shareholders, financial institutions, customers and suppliers. CSR involves a business identifying its stakeholder groups and incorporating their needs and values within the strategic and day-to-day decision-making process. First, Milton Friedman is in the view that the sole purpose of a business is to maximize profit. He believes that the only corporate social responsibility a company has is to increase profit. This is where an organization in the view that the only responsibility of business is the short-term interest of shareholders or private owners of small companies. It dismisses or only just meets the minimum obligations on internal aspects such as employee welfare, working conditions, and job satisfaction and eternal aspects like environment issues, human rights, community activities and markets also that the market will regulate itself without any need for externally induced controls. Purchase or sale of a product will be determined and/or regulated by the market in compliance with the free choice of individuals. Ideally, there would be no need for external ethical controls. This is especially evident in small private companies because they are only answerable to a limited stakeholder groups. The Second, stakeholder view by Charles Handy, is to achieve financials benefits to the shareholders or owners through profits but in contrast to the earlier view profits will not be the sole responsibility of an organization. He would not define business exclusively in terms of individualist self-interest of profit maximization but, rather, in terms of a behavioral efficiency of benefit to both individuals and society that is operates. The justification for social action is that of an organizations reputation is important to its long-term financial growth. An effective CSR policy will infuse all aspects of operations. Its believed that actions businesses take today to incorporate CSR throughout the organization represent a real point of differentiation and competitive market advantage on which future success will be manifested. This takes the view that organizations not only have responsibility to their shareholders but also have a responsibility for well-balanced relationship with other stakeholders both internal and external. As the companies stakeholder interest gets wider organizations social responsibility gets wider. There is a direct relationship between clarity of purpose and integrity of purpose to be fully effective, staff must be happy and confident as well as clear about what they are asked to do. Customers must be happy that they are purchasing good quality products/services from an honest company. The community must be happy that it is supporting a principled and sound organization. (Contemporary Strategic Management- R.Pettinger, page 317) The third view, Society and shareholders are becoming one and the same, Performance of an organization should be measured in a much more pluralistic way than just through its financial bottom line, the attitudes of these companies are more socially progressive than others. If the mangers concentrate on the success of their organization by undertaking unethical activities that damage the society that will not bring into line with the stakeholder expectations. Its in the best interest in the society if all the firms are behaving responsibly which results in success of the economic system as a whole. CSR covers all aspects of a business day-to-day operations. Everything an organization does in some way interacts with one or more of its stakeholder groups, and companies today need to build a sound brand with respect to all stakeholders. Whether as an employer, producer, buyer, supplier, or investment, the attractiveness and success of a company today is directly linked to the strength of its brand. CSR affects all aspects of all operations within a corporation because of the need to consider the needs of all constituent groups. Each area builds on all the others to create a composite of the corporation in the eyes of all stakeholder groups. Companies in this view retain uneconomical production in the aim of preserving jobs. As the stakeholder diversity of expectations get wider companies will adapt this approach. Organizations are often finding themselves in a dilemma where they need to be financially profitable to meet the shareholder demand and trying to protect and improve the interest in the society. They need to balance their own interests with that of their employee and communities. This includes considerations as to how the conflicting demand of different stakeholders will be reconciled. Also, we can view that wider the stakeholder interest expand the social responsibility get much more important to an organization. (Exploring Cooperate Strategy 7th Edition, G.Johnson, K.Scholes R.Whittington page 190) In general, the goal of any economic system should be to further the general social welfare. The purpose of business should extend beyond the maximization of efficiency and profit. Increasingly, society expects businesses to have an obligation to the society in which they are located, to the people they employ, and their customers, beyond their traditional bottom-line and narrow shareh older concerns What are the implications of these differing views for managers development of organizational strategy? Strategy is concerned with the long-term direction, the direction that the organization should be taking and the type of action required to achieve its objectives. Different views given on the Illustration 4.6 can have a fundamental effect on the purpose or the direction of an organization, which will result in a difference in strategies that are pursued. The expectations and the power of the stakeholders will influence the strategic decision-making. Additionally, companies adopting CSR is important to the development of organizations business strategy because, wherever possible, consumers want to buy products from companies they trust; suppliers want to form business partnerships with companies they can rely on; employees want to work for companies they respect; and NGOs, increasingly, want to work together with companies seeking feasible solutions and innovations in areas of common concern. Satisfying each of these stakeholder groups allows companies to maximize their commitment to another important stakeholder group, their investors, who benefit most when the needs of these other stakeholders are meet. Therefore, CSR policy adapted will a key issue in developing company strategy. At the macro environment level, the stakeholder expectation range from laissez-faire organization at one extreme to organizations as shapers of society at the other. The extend to which organization will exceed its minimum obligations to stakeholders and society at large will be a key issue that mangers have to understand in strategy creation. Company may looking at value maximizing by increasing profits will influence the strategic planners in developing its strategies by concentrating on overall cost reduction throughout the value chain, product or service differentiation, or concentrating on a Nish market focus. On the other hand companies following stakeholder theories will develop strategies trying to fulfill obligations to the society at large. At individual level, cultural aspect, behavior and actions of individuals within and organization is clearly important for the management of the organization. With the first view by Milton Friedman, Profit maximization does not accommodate individual beliefs; individual satisfaction who ever does one respond to a situation where there is a conflict between the personal beliefs and the company business decisions has no recourse but to resign. This will affect management that formulating strategy with there, own beliefs and values. Additionally, companies have to consider Internal factors such as the capability of the organization to follow the proposed plan strategy. Each of the above views will attract varied staff to the organization. Operational factors the technological production process and the method of production process will change the strategic decision out come on each of the above views taking to an example which technology will be affected. Is the company looking at only product output or does it look at impact on job loss or environment letdowns. External factors this is about social, community, or outside pressure from interested parties such as employee federations on employee safety measures or trade unions on minimum wage. The result would be different stakeholder interests and there interactions heavily influence the strategic choice, the whole strategy making process is subject to constant review. The end result is ideally an organization strategy that is both effective and acceptable. (Contemporary Strategic Management- R. Pettinger page 317) Stakeholders represent more challenges than opportunities Appraise the conflicting needs, power, and influence of stakeholders. Different stakeholder groups varied expected needs and the power they have over the organizations would affect the purpose and choices that I will seek. Internal Influence is likely to occur only because individuals share expectations with others by being a part of a stakeholder group, which may be departments, geographical locations or different level of hierarchy. Individuals may belong to more than one stakeholder group and stakeholder groups will gather together differently depending on the issue in hand because inside an organization few individuals have sufficient power to determine and make a impact on their alone. External stakeholders from the market environment such as shareholders, suppliers, distributors, sometimes, external stakeholders may seek influence through their link with the internal stakeholders. For example sub-contacted distribution will pressure on the marketing and advertizing strategies. Stakeholders from the social/political environment like policy makers, regulators, government agencies and the stakeholders in the technological environment such as owners of competitive technologies with conflicting expectations, each environment seeking different outcomes in different situations, sometimes different outcomes in one situation. For example new technological advancement that brings in competitor advantage clearly falls inline with the technological group whilst the non-bio degradable waste it generates contradicts to social and political stakeholder expectations resulting in massive outraged environmentalist and political pressure. Additionally, the ability of individuals or stakeholder groups to persuade an organization to follow a certain course of action will have influence over organizations purpose and strategic decisions. The individual or group, who holds the position or the hierarchy, carries the power with in the organization. For example the Managing Director uses his formal powers to participate and sponsor a local tennis tournament for young teenagers tennis players. The type of relationship which organization might establish with the external stakeholders will determine the extent of power over the organization. Is the, organization accountable to one stakeholder, or group? Stakeholders are not usually homogeneous it contain a variety of subdivisions/groups with different level of power, too much subdivision makes decision-making challenging and confusing. The reliance on resources in terms of shareholders, lenders or heavy dependence on one supplier or customer will give them the power over the fi rm. Hence, company will have to prioritize or find a correct match to satisfying the entire stakeholder group. These raise some difficult issues for mangers in deciding and implementing strategic change due to high level of varied expectations and power of diverse stakeholder groups with conflicting thoughts. But usually managers are in a powerful position within organization to influence the expectation of other stakeholders. They have access to information and channels of influence, which are not available to many other stakeholders. Even though stakeholder represents challengers to the manager who work on strategy, the real power behind the throne lies on the managers in constructing strategies to suit their own purpose and managing stakeholder expectations to ensure acceptance by the entire society. How can Organizations manage shareholder conflicts and handle issues of ethics, corporate governance and regulation? Conflicts of interests are more or else likely to arise between different groups in the governance chain (governance chain is where a typical reporting structure giving the flow of reports and actions from the beneficiaries of an organization to the mangers making the decisions) for individual managers or the owners (shareholders) or directors as they seek to balance these various interests. Directors and the managers have an obligation to fulfill their role in their capacity to the organization, but their own self-interests might be in expense of shareholder expectations. This is where the importance of both the role of the board and the disclosure of information to other stakeholders were developed, through corporate governance regulations. Directors responsibility to shareholders is a very important issue. The guiding principle in UK is that boards of directors are responsible to shareholders but must also be responsible for relationship with other stakeholders and take into accou nt their interests. Additionally, the way in which targets, budgets and rewards are structured has an influence the way in which managers and other people perform and, return will decide the extent to which the shareholder best interest being perused. In general governance chain challenges directors and managers to be knowledgeable about the expectations of the shareholders/owners, to constantly work towards achieving their needs and keep them informed, but self-interests of directors and managers might differ from the shareholder expectations, the power between the different players in the governance chain pursuing their own interests make it difficult, not only that very different levels of access to information make it even more difficult, on the contrary self interest need to be encouraged to achieve the interest of the beneficiaries as well. This is where the corporate governing bodies usually come in to play, through initially concerned on the internal financial controls and external disclosure of information later on broadening of internal control requirement beyond simply financial controls and looked at the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors. These implications by the government meant that director and mangers must be more proactive in addressing the interests of the beneficiaries requiring them to change there behavior of following self-interest, where large number of whom have focused in increasing their personal financial rewards often disregarding the consequences of their behavior on the final beneficiaries of the company performance. (Exploring Corporate Strategy 7th Edition-G.Johnson, K.Scholes R.Whittington Page 170-171) Critically analyze the contents and relevance of the mission statement for each of the three different organizations (page 165), with regards to their goals, values and objectives. Mission statement is an image that a business must have of its aims and goals translated into written form. It gives specific sight of the direction and purpose of an organization. For many corporate leaders it is a vital part of their attempt to motivate employees and to set priorities. (The economist Guide to management ideas and gurus- Tim Hindle). A clear, thoughtful mission provides employees with a shared sense of purpose, direction and opportunity. To define its mission, a company should address Druckers classic questions: What is our business? Who is our customer? What is of value to the customers? What will the business be? Successful companies continuously ask them and answer them thoughtfully and thoroughly. (Marketing Management P.Kotler, K.Keller, M.Brady M.Goodman Page 88) Some organizations use the term vision statement some even have both vision and mission statements (Tata Steel). A vision and a mission can be one and the same but the concepts through are not necessarily the same. Broadly vision refers to future intentions and mission delivering present ones. If there is substantial disagreement within the organization or with stakeholders as to its mission vision it may result in real problems in strategic direction of the organization. Mission st atements are at their best when they reflect a vision, which provides a direction for the company. Mission statements help organizations to focus their strategy by defining boundaries within which each organization to operate. Tata Steel, for example, has said it is strive to strengthen Indias industrial base through effective utilization of staff and material by using high technology and productivity. It is not, evidently, going to enter the business with trend setting designs for European market or providing a safer India. The Metropolitan Police, for example needs to nurture and safe guard the sociality the goal should be to achieve A safer London its mission has said working together for a safer London shows the overall goal and the specific outcome it need to achieve. Villeroy Boch, for example, have a different goal a different objective from that of the earlier two, they are in a constantly changing market needing them to be innovative trend setting company which highlighted in there mission statement to be the leading European lifestyle brand with high competence and tren d setting for high end design and living therefore, company mission statement helps to focus their strategy though emphasizing on goals and specific objectives it need to achieve. A recurring problem has been that managers and employees lower down the hierarchys lack of commitment, competencies, continues improvement, and unclear communication as to how day to day work contribute to the overall strategic direction may lead the mission statement to become a bland idealistic blur. Mission statement defines the scope along which an organizations performance is to be measured and judged. Other than, making profit. Tata Steel, for example, said that it considered itself successful through continue to improve the quality of life of there employees and the community they serve, upholding the spirit and values of Tatas towards national building. Organizations often acknowledge their responsibility to other stakeholders as well, mentioning their attitude to employees Villeroy Boch, for example, says in the long run a strong market position can only be achieved by having innovative and committed employees. Our priority task is to motivate them and cultivate their team spirit, encourage them to achieve personal and joint goals or to customers Metropolitan Police, for example, says we will have pride in delivering quality policing. There is no greater priority, we will build trust by listening and responding. Apart from the financial profits objective, others are diffi cult to quantify or express in measurable terms to revitalize the core business for a sustainable future is highly relevant to Tata Steel and todays environment, but it may become absurd if it has to be expressed in some measurable way. Nonetheless its an important goal that Tata need to achieve. It suggests standards for individual ethical behavior. For example, Villeroy Boch had what it called Five values One philosophy. Among them were: Responsibility- we feel obligated not only to our employees, shareholders and customers, but also to the environment and society Metropolitan Police is a non-profit entity in the solely view to be socially responsible. Tata Steel, for example, points out to overall, the company seeks to scale the heights of excellence in all that it does in an atmosphere free from fear, and thereby reaffirms its faith in democratic values it shows that Tata is socially align with the Indian government and pressure groups in creating, developing and maintaining democratic social life style in India. Even though, ethical values are embedded in a organizations mission its not its core expectation or the most essential for the management to focus its attention, except for The Metropolitan Police, this will surface after meeting its number of priority requirem ents, for example, in the event of a choice between making a loss or closing down where people will lose jobs company will prioritize not to loose money. Goals are things companies intend to achieve. Objectives are the steps we take along the way toward achieving Goals. Tactics are elements of going about accomplishing Objectives. Strategy is the overarching plan to use our unique competitive advantages to achieve our stated Goals through the use of specific and measurable Objectives and Tactics in pursuit of mission. Business lays out a set of tactics and objectives to be achieved that move towards the achievement of the strategic goals. The strategic goals guide the choice of objectives and the tactics employed. They provide direction for the business. Evaluate theories for and against systematic development of mission statements, values and objectives and suggest how you would have improved on the mission statement of the three organizations with reference to their purpose, strategy, values and behavioral standards. One or more stakeholders may expect corporate values, vision, mission and objectives of the organizations. But in some instances these statements might be formal requirements of corporate governance. Illustration 4.5 is an example The Metropolitan Police of the Government of London. Regardless of the reason it must be highlighted that these statements may not be accurate reflection of the priorities within the organization. (Exploring Corporate Strategy Johnson, Scholes Whittington 7th Edition page 207-209) Development of mission statement, corporate values and objectives is a carefully articulated process where a managers setting a project team to survey throughout the organization to check validity and usefulness of a such goal, gathering of information from current stakeholders and their perception of the organization, recommendations for improvements and suggestions to amend and update through consultation with workforce and customers and communication throughout the company in a appropriate way. They answer the question What business are we in? or Why we exist? and reflect basic function in a society in terms of products and services (Mintzberg) it creates the core values the principles that guide an organizations actions for example We will build trust by listening and responding The Metropolitan Police, it describes the unique purpose and direction of an organization for example To be the leading European lifestyle brand Villeroy Boch, it helps to differentiate from its compe tition for example the company seeks to scale the heights of excellence in all that it does in an atmosphere free from fear, and thereby reaffirm its faith in democratic values Tata Steel, reflects benefits to customers and state key values to all stakeholders for example to continue to improve the quality of life of our employees and the communities we serve Tata Steel give value to its employees, Earning oriented growth, high and constant rates of return and appropriate dividends Villeroy Boch shows companies direction towards growth and profitability to its shareholders. Although, most companies operate with a wide range of goals and objectives the central goal of most organizations is to maximize shareholder returns, and to extend shareholder returns fully it requires being highly profitable and high growth. However, it is important that top managers not to overemphasize current profitability to detriment of long-term profitability and profit growth. The overzealous pursuit of current profitability to maximize short term performance can encourage much misguide managerial action cutting expenditure judged to be non essential in the short run for example, Research and development expenditure, marketing expenditure. Although cutting current expenditure increases current profit levels, the under investment will result in, lack of innovation and diminishing marketing can jeopardize long term profitability and profit growth. (Essential Strategic Management Hill, Jones Page 31) The organizations mission, and objectives guide this expenditure. The companys mission statement directs the pursuit of long-term goals and sustaining organizations competitive advantage and profitability over time. Therefore, a well thought out mission will identify all stakeholder groups and weight their relative rights and abilities to affect the firms success. (Formulation, implementation and control of competitive strategy Pearce, Robinson page 68-69) As mentioned above both vision and mission is inspirational, it talks about the future and present intentions of an organization. They try to motivate personal employees to seek and achieve the articulated vision. It tries to attract the future investment through its existing shareholders and perspective investors. However, if organizations demonstrably fail to live up or keep the statements to mere showpiece and doesnt put out in practice it will be a de-motivator for the work force as well as it will fail to impress stakeholders. For example if Tata Steel doesnt act to improve the quality of life of its employees what will happen to the workforce? Well it might result in high labor turnover or low productivity that will boil down to company failure. Same way if Villeroy Boch neglects its environmental obligations the long term growth and profitability might be affected. Therefore, organizations need to strike a balance. Additionally, mission statement need to be continuous in tha t they summarize an organizations purpose. The values and objectives need to be evaluated at different level of time and restated as ones are achieved. TATA STEEL Need to create a sense of pride, as employees need to be empowered that they are working for an Indias number one and currently a top global player in the industry. The company wants to effectively utilize its staff but it lacks in emphasizing and focusing its core resource fully. Further, Tata Steel has failed to define an overarching aim like what Valleroy Boch To be the leading European lifestyle brand it sets the company attitude and culture through a clear direction. THE METROPOLITAN PLOICE It describes its main activity, function in society, the unique purpose and scope of its operation for a safer London the mission statement works well for a purpose oriented establishment but I would have included the human rights responsibility to the community. To develop a balanced properly respected society. Further, to depart from racism and discrimination from the officers. As well as try to incorporate the objectives to reduce overall drug and crime rate and the fear of crime. VILLEROY BOCH The company has established clear future intentions with focusing on limited number of goals, excellent future stability, has pointed out companies major policies, value and culture. Villeroy Boch, have define its major competitive spheres by identifying its market segment, industry and competencies. The five values have provided reassurance to its shareholders, confidence to the society and customers, given a knockout punch by sending signals of strengths to its competitors and have created sense of pride and value for its employees. Only thing that I view is it not brief. Ideally a mission statement should be brief and flexible. If its too long and bulky it tends to loose its essence. The key is the prime purpose of a mission statement it is important for organizations to live up to the promises they declare.

Human Resources Management And Persistent Approaches Commerce Essay

Human Resources Management And Persistent Approaches Commerce Essay Human resource management has become a persistent and prominent approach to the management of employment in an extensive range of market economies. In concern of management theorists and for many managers, HRM is the imperative to the survival and success of organisations in the twenty first century. According to Peter Drucker (1993), defines one single, simple idea: that people their skills, knowledge and creativity- are the key resource for economic and organisational success i.e. the knowledge- based economy. Despite the popularity of the term HRM, there is still no universally agreed definition of its meaning. According to Watson (2002:369) suggests that a rather messy situation currently exists whereby the term HRM is used in a confusing variety of ways. In its broadest sense HRM can be defined as a generic term to describe any approach to managing people; whereas Boxall and Purcell (2003:1) described HRM as all those activities associated with the management of employment relationships in the firm. Though, HRM comprises a new approach to managing people that is extensively different to more conventional practices. Even there are number of perspectives which make HRM distinctive. However Storey (1995:5) defines HRM as a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques. Whereas related to strategic nature o f HRM, Buchanan and Huczynski (2004:679) approaches HRM as a managerial prospective, which argues the need to establish an integrated series of personnel policies to support organisational strategy. Two main modification of HRM were acknowledged early in scholastic discussions of HRM: According to (Guest, 1987; storey, 1992) Hard HRM with an emphasis on the Strategies of cost minimisation (e.g. low wages, minimal training, close supervision), Quantitative aspects of managing human resource as an economic factor in production (e.g. in lean production- downsizing, work intensification). Soft HRM approaches aimed at enhancing the Commitment, Communication, Motivation, Quality, Leadership and flexibility of employees. Strategic HRM:- A strategic approach to Human Resource management has great appeal, According to Johnson and scholes (1997); describe strategic HRM in concern of business and management as the direction and scope of an organisational over the longer term, which ideally matches its resources to its changing environment, and in particular to its markets, customers and clients to meet stakeholders expectations. Strategic decisions in management are likely to be concerned with: Enduring direction of the organisation Extent of the organisations deeds Identical organisations deeds to its environment (i.e. PESTLE) Identical organisational deeds to its resources The Harvard model of HRM:- Source: Beer et al (1984; p.16 Map of the HRM territory) Long term consequences Individual well -being Organizational Effectiveness Social well- being HRM Policy choices Employee influences Human resource flow Reward systems Work systems HR Outcomes Commitment Competence Congruence Cost effectiveness Situational factors Workforce characteristics Business strategy and conditions Management philosophy Labour market Unions Task technology Laws and societal values Laws and Ideal types of Human Resource Management:- Characteristics Human resource management Strategic nature Dealing with day to day issues; but proactive in nature and integrated with other management functions. A deliberately long-term strategic view of Human resources Psychological Contract Based on seeking willing commitment of the employee Job design Typically team-based Organisational structure Flexible with core of key employees surrounded by peripheral cells High degree of outsourcing Remuneration Market based Individual and/or team performance Pay for contribution Recruitment Sophisticated recruitment for all employees Strong internal labour market for core employees. Greater reliance on external labour market for non-core Training/development Transformed into a learning and development philosophy transcending job related training. Strong emphasis on management and leadership development A learning organisation culture Employee relations perspective Individualistic; high trust Organisations of the function Largely integrated into line management for day to day HR issues Specialist HR group to advise and create HR policy Welfare role No explicit welfare role Criteria for success of the function Control of HR costs, maximum utilisation of HRM over long term Source: adapted and developed from Guest (1987) Recession:- Organisations have been focus to enormous stress over the past few years, with foremost principal structural changes in industry sometimes obscured behind the short or long-term issues of recession which in other words can be described as the circumstances of the economy turn down; a extensive cut in the GDP, Employment and Trade (Business). In numerous ways, recessions are a motivating natural experiment to examine. According to Paul Geroski Paul Gregg (1997) describes recession involve a major reduction in demand sustained over a substantial period of time, it affect some organisation far more than others and they are exogenous to the actions of individual organisations. The reduction in demand is most important and sustained means that those organisations that are deficiently affected by a recession are expected to be rethinking the essential premises of their competitive strategy. The evaluation between the strategy and composition of organisations who are exceedingly harshly affected by a recession with those less harshly affected endow with indication on what composes a few organisations more susceptible to surprises them others, and on the toughness of diverse strategy choices and diverse organisational constitution to changes in market conditions. As a consequences recession also throw at least some useful luminosity on how organisations counter to unpredicted changes in demand. Additionally the effects of recessionary demand surprises are unavoidably reassigned reverse to labour markets. Current scenario of Recession:- According to Mike Schraeder and David J. Hoover (2010) the global economy has experienced massive confront in the previous two years as businesses have struggled with apparently insoluble financial crises which disclose a shocking compilation of industries that have closed a business, economize, or occupied in other strategic indispensable in the expedition for survival. Providentially, there is a number of substantiation that the influence of the global crises possibly will be deteriorating. Moreover, organization and their leaders are now faced with the harsh certainty of demanding to recuperate from the shock of these crises, whereas concurrently creating divisions that are proficient for competing effectively in a decrepit global environment. Cost-effective aspect Peak to through so far Real GDP decrease 3.7% real decline from December 2007 until June 2009 totalling $500 billion Personal Income individual wages declined by $339 billion from mid-2008 to the 1st Qtr of 2009 Investment Fixed investment has declined by $543 billion, or 24%, since December 2007 Unemployment There are  8.1 million less people employed today than in 2007 Industrial Production Has fallen 12% since 2007 Bankruptcies National bankruptcies have risen from 800,000 in 2007 to 1.4 million in 2009, a 75% increase Trade Exports and imports declined by 22% and 31%, respectively, between July 2008 and June 2009 Currency The USD has fallen 17% in the last year versus a basket of world currencies Bank Failures 140  banks   failed in 2009, with  700 banks in danger of failing, according to the FDIC Source: Economic Recession, Depression, or Systematic breakdown (Economics/ Recession 2008-2010) by James Quinn, (March 4th, 2010) available from Internet URL http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17665.html http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/images/2010/Mar/recession-4-1.jpg Source: Economic Recession, Depression, or Systematic breakdown (Economics/ Recession 2008-2010) by James Quinn, (March 4th, 2010) available from Internet URL http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17665.html http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/images/2010/Mar/recession-4-2.jpg Source: Economic Recession, Depression, or Systematic breakdown (Economics/ Recession 2008-2010) by James Quinn, (March 4th, 2010) available from Internet URL http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17665.html Impacts of recession on top of global/ domestic organizations:- As per given data in graphs of above mentioned, the major area to focus in concern of HRM is unemployment, during ending phase of 2007 employer were recruiting employees without forecasting the demand of prospective which results into redundancies/ unemployment, job insecurity, demotivation, stress , depression, reduced flexible working hours and increase in responsibilities on working employee in the organisations also. Whereas James Quinn (2010) describes a depression is categorized by irregular enhance in unemployment, a decrease in the accessibility of credit, extract productivity and venture, frequent liquidation, condensed sum of business and exchange, as well as extremely explosive comparative currency price variation, mostly depreciation. Price devaluation, economic crisis, and the stock market/ bank collapse are also universal fundamentals of a depression. According to Sally Walters (2009); International national Downsize/ recession related issues: Business environment Business closures Redundancies Modification in terms and conditions of employment Cash flow complications Deficiency of credit Reduction in the value of authentic Consolidation Condensed margins Public overheads Recover costs and competences Recruitment Employee revenue Recruitment complications Aged employees Skill development Understanding future complications when economy start to rise Facing difficulty to invest in skill development Training Compact training obligation Emphasize the specific needs of business Lack of apprentices in young employees in concern of employment prospects HRM Strategic perspective in concern of recession (issues):- According to David Hussey (2002), during recession there are no simple solutions and, success will depend, as always, on the soundness of the strategic decisions taken by top management, and ability of the organisation to implement those strategies. This would push the Human resource phase of the business to the forefront, even without the additional difficulties of sustained revolutionize and the demands. HRM, which is already very proficient in many organisations, requires to be obsessed by the business requirements of the organisation, but without losing prospect of the decisive value and significance of people in making strategies turn out to be reality. While attempt to come out from the recession, companies perspective in concern of HRM; (issues which has been taken by companies/ organisations to survive in time of recession) Redundancy/ Job cuts Cost retrenchment and downsizing Hiring freezes Modification in terms and conditions of employment Laying off temporary/ part time employees Condensed training dedication Freezes in previously planned Pay, Incentives and Bonus policies Enhance the use of premature retirement Restructure Reduction in employee hours Affecting employees offshore Employee revenue HR department should obtain into depiction barely the liable effectiveness of their deeds but also their apparent impact on employee commitment. HRM activities in relation to HRM outcomes and performance (under perspective of recession):- Issues Impacts Solutions Positive Implications Negative Implications Redundancy Cost retrenchment and downsizing, Demotivation Stress Depression Rejoin the employee in state of increase in demand, Contract based employee Employee might perform well compare to previous performance Fluctuation in employee working hours Employee might not have commitment and loyality towards organisation or might lose trust Less work commitment, Insecurity in aspects of full time employees Reduce pay, incentives and change in bonus policies Freeze on promotions Low motivation Low motivation Less employee engagement and commitment, trust Offering rewards by increasing pay/ incentive/ bonus Performance appraisal for highly skilled employee and core employee of the organisation to keep them in trust and motivated It might have significant affect on employee performance Motivation Dedication towards work Employee engagement and commitment It might only motivate few employee in organisation, as money is always solution of short term situations, Appraisals are sometime demotivated expensive Might also affect on cost cutting strategy of organisation Reduction in training commitment Decline in leadership and learning development, Poor performance Provide continuous improvement training programs Development in knowledge Skill enhancement Expensive might not be effective for all employees Issues Impacts Solutions Positive Implications Negative Implications Relocate/Redeploy transfer of employee (domestic as well as globally depend upon organisation Low morale, insecurity in concern of job, Cultural dispute Provide social network, Provide comfortable zone by management , Provide facilities and benefits Depend upon individual behaviour of employee; it might goes well as employee will get exposure and it might help to learn different cultural/ countrywide organisation strategies and guiding principle Expensive but sometime it is not possible in real world to do so. Depend upon employee individual personality to have capability to cope up with different culture Laying off part time/ temporary working Workload, Less employee engagement towards work and commitment Provide a more flexible alternative to full time employee, Cover temporary peaks in demand Cost effective To protect the job security of core employees To cover for holidays and sickness absence Might not be effective for all industry expertise Depend upon contextualities of the situation HRM strategic planning and sustainable implementation for current market conditions prospect economy crisis:- Indicates in accomplishment plan Description Strategic planning Strategic personnel forecast Link employees scheduling with business strategy by establishing demand and supply circumstances by employment category Productivity controlling Launch a innovative efficiency metric such as worth additional per individual to administer productivity programs Work force adaptation Employees flexibility Exploit working-time implements like generation work accounts, vacation programs, and engagement with unions Employees reduction Amend employees size to the new economic environment with respect to job category forecasts Human resources Cost management Optimize workforce cost programs by converting cash inducements to noncash ones Persistent recruiting of key workforce Employ top applicants for assignment- decisive jobs HR and performance improvements Restructuring the HR organisations Measures all HR actions to certify superiority throughout bunching procedure optimization, and ascendancy process Performance management Support performance process to the new environment by discarding interim observations and implementing enduring philosophy Sustainable implementations Employee Engagement Focus on such values as honesty and trust and start an initiative to bring discipline and motivation into balance Leadership Competences Coach leaders to evolution from intensification to crisis with workshops, communication process, and support from top management Modify management Establish best-in-class support by illuminating accountabilities, enforcing transparency, and soliciting employee feedback Internal and external communication Organize a comprehensible communication strategy and methods that target decisive stakeholders Source: Rainer Strack , Pieter Haen et al. (March 2009) Creating people in advantage in times of crisis; how to address HR challenges in the recession. Boston consulting group; European association for people management For visionary companies who wants to develop state-of-the art nation development in the existing environment:- In todays impulsive environment, the HR department is frequently dragged in numerous directions. According to Rainer Strack), Pieter Haen et al. for illustration, specialist recruiters who usually focus on hiring may need to take on other HR tasks, such as managing the introduction of shortened working hours. Strategic personnel forecast: predict future scarcity to reorganize capabilities Performance management: shift from diminutive to extensive term approaches Employee engagement: attention on motivation and accountabilities Leadership competences: endow leaders for turbulent conditions Modify management: espouse a methodical, cascading approach Internal and external communication: talk the walk Strategic planning:- Strategic personnel forecast: predict future scarcity to reorganize capabilities Generally organisations do not fully comprehend how downsize will influence their demands for individuals and how layoffs will influence their prospect. Even if the economy prolongs to depreciate, the majority of companies will still features lack in precise jobs. To overcome from this Rainer Strack), Pieter Haen et al. suggests that companies have to evaluate their employees by generating job categories with comparable expertise requirements. While in dispensation these companies will capable to categorize probable scarcity in skills as well as pockets of competence where retraining opportunities exist. Once companies will recognize their requirements for job category, companies might discover smarter and longer term preference about their employees. productivity controlling: progress from input to output On the whole HR departments do a high-quality job of determining headcount, human resources costs and relative inputs. Work force adaptation:- Employee flexibility: generate reversible circumstances Companies expecting to recuperate from the current downsize should attempt to establishment headcounts method with built in flexibility; moderately than layoff employees particularly in those marketplace where employees diminution are expensive and time intense. Employees reduction: be suspicious to engrave in the accurate places Companies whose businesses are in extensive decline require, thinking the steps that are additional enduring, like laying-off full time employees. Companies have to identify the core employees who should be engaged. Human resources cost management: produce inventive reimbursement model Whereas companies may espouse a flexible or restructure strategy, the action might be in several ways like relating to wages, deferring bonuses etc. Persistent recruiting of key workforce: promote talent In this consumers marketplace, elegant corporations are discerning fortitude key employees from competitors or the marketplace. HR and performance improvements:- Restructuring the HR organisations: be lean HR department requires being highly effective and efficient in scenario of downturn, otherwise it will affect on trustworthiness while HR will endeavour to lead individuals proposal elsewhere in company. Performance management: shift from diminutive to extensive term approaches Presently Companies have a major chance to standardize their performance management and incentive methods to extensive term business objectives that might expand new significance, such as growth and sustainable business traditions Sustainable implementation:- Employee engagement: attention on motivation and accountabilities Employees are most essential and effective assets of company when they are motivated while working in well-organized system. In downsize, it is tough to achieve balance between motivation and well organized system due to unavailability of promotion and high wages. Leadership competences: endow leaders for turbulent conditions Leadership is motivating the corporation to modify its commencement of superlative performance. In time of crisis organizations are arranging training for their mangers to coach them how to lead in tough times. Modify management: espouse a methodical, cascading approach Companies requires clear agenda and sustained and meticulous program management. HRM needs to create schedules, metrics and clear accountabilities to mobilize the establishment. Internal and external communication: talk the walk In organisation working environment; one to one communication, an open door policy and active listening skills all are significant. Conclusion:- Though it is complicated for HR to recognize techniques and HR practice that promotes a environment of modernization in support of the organisation objectives. Present scenario of downturn has immense impact and creates challenges for all departments, production units and workforce within organisation. HRM top management is itself in crucial situation; they have to rethink about their previous strategies before recession and compare it to the present scenario of crisis, then need to implement in concern of present situation. There is enormous requirement of critically analysing the strategies and necessitate to structure the new strategies undertaking consideration of employees supply and demand, maintaining employee engagement, developing forefront for leaders to assist for survival in crisis for companies and employees in tough time and restructuring the organisation and HR as per obligation of businesses. Work force might respond to the complicated situation like downsize positive ly if their leaders are truthful, straight and compassionate about the complications and generate enthusiasm about the prospects. Recommendations for Managing Human Resource Management in downsize/recession in addition to foremost prospective:- In present scenario of global as well as domestic organisations, many of countries are coming out of recession, not fully because there are still uncertainties how stable the global market is however nobody has firm scenario when will the next recession occur, since still companies are trying to cope up with economy crisis in few aspects. According to Rainer Strack , Pieter Haen et al. (2009) the first casualty of a downturn is people; the employees, on whom the fortunes of a company rest. Companies do whatever they can to get costs under control, and they often act swiftly by cutting employee hours, imposing a hiring freeze, and taking other steps that affect their employees. In perspective of HRM; there are hazards for corporations that engrave their employees too swiftly. While individuals may emerge to be in immense contribute today, the demographic wave will soon twist. Whereas Rainer Strack , Pieter Haen et al. (2009) elaborate further their point by saying the talent pool is poised to shrink, as the baby boom generation retreats into retirement and as younger and similar generations enter their prime working years. Look for ways for cost effectiveness without laying off work force Reallocate employees wherever probable Keep on fostering and emergent employee talent/ capabilities All decisions must have taken under consideration of suspicious personnel planning Ensure that company pursue the legislative dismissal course of action to the correspondence if company necessitate doing redundancies. Let remaining employees know that they are valued, essential and essence of company. References:- Beer, M., Spector, B.,Lawerce, P.R., Mills, D. And Walton, R.E. (1984), p.16; Managing Human Assets, New York: Free Press Boxall, P. and Purcell, J. (2003), p.1; Strategy and Human Resources Management, Houndmills:Palgrave Macmillan Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004), p.679; Oraganizational Behaviour, 5th edn. Harlow:FT/Prentice Hall Drucker, P. (1993), Post Capitalist Society, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Geroski, P. A. Gregg, P. (1997), p. 2-3; Coping with Recession: UK Company Performance in adversity, United Kingdom: Cambridge University press (eBook resource : available from internet URL: http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=enlr=id=neo3ZneOXp8Coi=fndpg=PP16dq=business+coping+strategies+to+avoid+the+effects+of+recessionots=TEB2ESH_5asig=zaVSjowL5UBTTSpZa0FhWzeUp1w#v=onepageq=f=false Guest, D. (1987), Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Journal of management studies, 24, 5: 503-521 Hussey, D. (2002), p.5; Business Driven HRM, New York: Wiley Sons ltd. Jhonson, G. and Scholes, K. (1997), Exploring Corporate Strategy, London: Prentice Hall Quinn, J. (2010), Economic Recession, Depression, or Systematic Breakdown, E- Resource Article published on Mar, 4th 2010 available from internet URL: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article17665.html Rainer, S. Haen, P. et al. (2009), Creating People Advantage in Time of Crisis: How to address HR challenges in the recession, Journal of Mangerial psychology, Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, E-Resource available from Emerald. Schraedar, M. and Hoover, D. (2010), vol.24, 2: p.11-13, Enhancing Organisational Recovery in Tough Times: a pragmatic perspective, Development and Learning in Organisations, Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, E-Resource available from Emerald; http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewPDF.jsp?contentType=ArticleFilename=html/Output/Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Pdf/0810240203.pdf Storey, J. (1992), Developments in the Management of Human Resources: An Analytical Review, London: Blackwell Storey, J. (1995), p.5; Human Resources Management: A Critical Text, London: Routledge Walters, S. (2009), p.5-8; The Impact of the Economic Downturn on business and skills in England, Journal of Social Economics, Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, E-Resource available from Emerald. Watson, T. (2002), p.369; Organising and Managing Work, Harlow: FT/Prentice Hall

Quest for Identity in the Victorian Era Essay -- Literature Essays Lit

Quest for Identity in the Victorian Era      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "'Who are you?' said the caterpillar" to Alice (Carroll 60).   This was a question she could not answer.   Why doesn't Alice know what constitutes her being?   Humans desire completeness, and a solid identity.   Up to the age of Darwinism, that void was filled by religious faith.   But with the emergence of Charles Darwin's theories on natural selection and survival of the fittest, Victorians were reevaluating their paths to righteousness.   Without God as a foundation, what were life's rules?      Peter Bowler argues in Charles Darwin: The Man and His Influence that the old road to salvation had been damaged by one of Darwin's greatest triumphs - being the catalyst for the transformation of Victorian thought (150).   Darwin made man question his belief system and, as Richard Altick presents in Victorian People and Ideas, revisions of man's destiny and place within the universe had to take form (232).   "Since no divine agency could be relied upon to ameliorate his condition, man must turn himself to make whatever he can of his life" (235), thus helping himself.   This idea of self-help brought Victorians in search of mens sana in corpore sano, or total health or wholeness, in which "they adopted the well-knit body as their model for spiritual health, the harmony of the self with external principles of growth and order" (Anderson).   Through this model, they attempted to identify their purest and most desirable form through the use of drugs and a yearning for eternal yo uth.   They admired Grecian characteristics as well, which was the exact opposite image Darwin placed within the Victorian mind - that man was a descendent of a hairy quadruped.   All of these goals were sought after ... ...York:   Cambridge University Press, 1990.   Carroll, Lewis.   Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.   1866.   New York:   HarperCollins Publishers, 1992.   Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan.   The Sign of Four.   New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 1994. Gardner, Martin.   The Annotated Alice.   New York:   W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. Haggard, H. Rider.   She.   1887.   New York:   Oxford University Press, 1998.   "Man or Beast?   The Lasting Effects of Darwin."   Florida Gulf Coast University.   Unpublished essay, 2001.   Mitchell, Sally.   Daily Life in Victorian England.   Westport, Connecticut:   Greenwood Press, 1996.   Stevenson, Robert Louis.   The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.   1886.   Mineola, New York:   Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.   Wilde, Oscar.   The Picture of Dorian Gray.   1891.   Mineola, New York:   Dover Publications, Inc., 1993.      Quest for Identity in the Victorian Era Essay -- Literature Essays Lit Quest for Identity in the Victorian Era      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "'Who are you?' said the caterpillar" to Alice (Carroll 60).   This was a question she could not answer.   Why doesn't Alice know what constitutes her being?   Humans desire completeness, and a solid identity.   Up to the age of Darwinism, that void was filled by religious faith.   But with the emergence of Charles Darwin's theories on natural selection and survival of the fittest, Victorians were reevaluating their paths to righteousness.   Without God as a foundation, what were life's rules?      Peter Bowler argues in Charles Darwin: The Man and His Influence that the old road to salvation had been damaged by one of Darwin's greatest triumphs - being the catalyst for the transformation of Victorian thought (150).   Darwin made man question his belief system and, as Richard Altick presents in Victorian People and Ideas, revisions of man's destiny and place within the universe had to take form (232).   "Since no divine agency could be relied upon to ameliorate his condition, man must turn himself to make whatever he can of his life" (235), thus helping himself.   This idea of self-help brought Victorians in search of mens sana in corpore sano, or total health or wholeness, in which "they adopted the well-knit body as their model for spiritual health, the harmony of the self with external principles of growth and order" (Anderson).   Through this model, they attempted to identify their purest and most desirable form through the use of drugs and a yearning for eternal yo uth.   They admired Grecian characteristics as well, which was the exact opposite image Darwin placed within the Victorian mind - that man was a descendent of a hairy quadruped.   All of these goals were sought after ... ...York:   Cambridge University Press, 1990.   Carroll, Lewis.   Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.   1866.   New York:   HarperCollins Publishers, 1992.   Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan.   The Sign of Four.   New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 1994. Gardner, Martin.   The Annotated Alice.   New York:   W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. Haggard, H. Rider.   She.   1887.   New York:   Oxford University Press, 1998.   "Man or Beast?   The Lasting Effects of Darwin."   Florida Gulf Coast University.   Unpublished essay, 2001.   Mitchell, Sally.   Daily Life in Victorian England.   Westport, Connecticut:   Greenwood Press, 1996.   Stevenson, Robert Louis.   The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.   1886.   Mineola, New York:   Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.   Wilde, Oscar.   The Picture of Dorian Gray.   1891.   Mineola, New York:   Dover Publications, Inc., 1993.     

Online News and Print’s Future Essay -- Technology Computers Essays

Online News and Print’s Future The Internet’s influence on our lives has spread throughout. Researching, shopping, job searching, and more can all be done with a keyboard and a few clicks of a mouse. But this ease of use casts a shadow on the future of printed information. The Web’s instant knowledge has changed our reading and writing habits and has made print media seem old-fashioned. One of the first industries to lead the change was journalism. As the Web expanded in the mid 90’s, online editions of popular newspapers surfaced and opened a new field for seeing and telling the world's events. Even before the Web boom, the advance of another technology had already started to threaten print newspapers’ survival. In his essay â€Å"Deadline,† Nicholson Baker shares his frustrations with libraries who destroy newspaper archives in favor of microfilm backups. For years, he tried to buy as many of these collections as he could before they were destroyed. He says in the essay, â€Å"Sometimes I'm a little stunned to think that I've become a newspaper librarian†¦But at the moment nobody else seems to want to do what needs to be done† (Baker 33). As libraries adapted the new technology, they felt less of a need to keep the old style. Disregard for newspapers took on a new form with the growth of the Internet. Journalism and the news have frequently taken on new forms as communication technology advances. Beginning with oral tradition, friends and family use to tell the news to each other without mass audiences or recording instruments, like pen and paper. But as new technologies emerged, the early methods declined in usage. One such shift happened in Socrates-era Greece when writing culture overtook oral culture (Birkerts 63). As m... ...lied. Using it like it's print media won't do any good. Champions of old media need to realize that before they declare doom. Works Cited Baker, Nicholson. â€Å"Deadline† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 9- 34. Birkerts, Sven. â€Å"Into the Electronic Millennium.† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 62-74. Mitchell, Stephens. â€Å"Complex Seeing: A New Form.† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 418-442. Sosnoki, James. â€Å"Hyper-readers and their Reading Engine.† Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed. Evelyn B. Tribble and Anne Trubek. New York: Longman, 2003. 400-417.

Puerto Rico and the United States Essay -- American History Puerto Ric

Puerto Rico and the United States Since Puerto Rico was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and Spanish colonization ensued in 1508, Puerto Rico has experienced all of these pressures of identity and culture. When Columbus first arrived he found the island populated by thousands of Taino Indians who made the mistake of showing Columbus gold nuggets in the river. This was all Spain needed to finance its crown. Differences between the Spaniards and the Taints began around two years later when Diego Salcedo was killed by the Indians. The Taino Indians revolt against the Spaniards was met with no success and many left the island or fled into the mountains where they began new lives. Though living in the secluded mountains, the Tainos were still colonists of Spain, but at heart were Borinquens. Even though they were a part of the "State" of Spain, i.e. a legal and political organization, with the power to require obedience and loyalty from its citizens. (Morris, p.12) the Tainos were a Nation or "a self defined community of people who share a sense of solidarity based on a belief in a common heritage and who claim political rights that may include self determination, history, language, culture and territory". (Morris, p. 12) This was the beginning of the Foundation of the four storeyed building. In Jose Luis Gonzalez's article Puerto Rico, The Four Storeyed Country and Other Essays he too uses the metaphor of floors, stairs or foundation. Gonzalez saw that Puerto Rico's foundation though has grown more and more obscure over time, either by Puerto Ricans or other people who have transferred or erased the first and second floors. (Prof. Figueroa, lecture notes of 9/15/98) In Rosario Fe... ...tality and their way of life. The question is how much longer will it going on being this way? Bibliography: Fernandez, Ronald. The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the U.S. in the Twentieth Century. 2d. ed. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1996). Ferre, Rosario. The House on the Lagoon. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1995). Glasser, Ruth. My Music is My Flag: Puerto Rican Musicians in New York and their Communities, 1917-1940. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996). Gonzalez, Jose Luis. "The Four-Storey Country," in The Four-Storey Country and Other Essays. (Princeton: Marcus Weinner, 1993). Morris, Nancy. , Puerto Rico: Culture, Politics, and Identity. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1995). Rigau, Jorge. Puerto Rico 1900. Santiago, Roberto (ed.), Boricuas: Influential Writings—An anthology. (New York: Ballantine Books, 1995). Puerto Rico and the United States Essay -- American History Puerto Ric Puerto Rico and the United States Since Puerto Rico was first discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493, and Spanish colonization ensued in 1508, Puerto Rico has experienced all of these pressures of identity and culture. When Columbus first arrived he found the island populated by thousands of Taino Indians who made the mistake of showing Columbus gold nuggets in the river. This was all Spain needed to finance its crown. Differences between the Spaniards and the Taints began around two years later when Diego Salcedo was killed by the Indians. The Taino Indians revolt against the Spaniards was met with no success and many left the island or fled into the mountains where they began new lives. Though living in the secluded mountains, the Tainos were still colonists of Spain, but at heart were Borinquens. Even though they were a part of the "State" of Spain, i.e. a legal and political organization, with the power to require obedience and loyalty from its citizens. (Morris, p.12) the Tainos were a Nation or "a self defined community of people who share a sense of solidarity based on a belief in a common heritage and who claim political rights that may include self determination, history, language, culture and territory". (Morris, p. 12) This was the beginning of the Foundation of the four storeyed building. In Jose Luis Gonzalez's article Puerto Rico, The Four Storeyed Country and Other Essays he too uses the metaphor of floors, stairs or foundation. Gonzalez saw that Puerto Rico's foundation though has grown more and more obscure over time, either by Puerto Ricans or other people who have transferred or erased the first and second floors. (Prof. Figueroa, lecture notes of 9/15/98) In Rosario Fe... ...tality and their way of life. The question is how much longer will it going on being this way? Bibliography: Fernandez, Ronald. The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the U.S. in the Twentieth Century. 2d. ed. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1996). Ferre, Rosario. The House on the Lagoon. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1995). Glasser, Ruth. My Music is My Flag: Puerto Rican Musicians in New York and their Communities, 1917-1940. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996). Gonzalez, Jose Luis. "The Four-Storey Country," in The Four-Storey Country and Other Essays. (Princeton: Marcus Weinner, 1993). Morris, Nancy. , Puerto Rico: Culture, Politics, and Identity. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1995). Rigau, Jorge. Puerto Rico 1900. Santiago, Roberto (ed.), Boricuas: Influential Writings—An anthology. (New York: Ballantine Books, 1995).