Importance of Line or Staff Departments and Methods of Effecting Change Essay

Which type of department (line or staff) is most important to an organization? Why? Could an organization function without either of them? Why or why not? In every organization, authority is divided in order to make sure the firm is successful. This division ensures that no one department is responsible for everything. As an organization grows, there must be two departments that are given the authority to make decisions to benefit the firm. These are the Line department and the Staff department. While both have management authority, there are certain differences. Line departments â€Å"headed by a line manager, are the departments established to meet the objectives of the business and directly influence the success (profitability) of a business.† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 7) These managers are on the frontline, responsible for producing goods, marketing and distribution. â€Å"Line managers who head such departments exercise line authority† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 7) Staff departments â€Å"headed by a staff manager, provide assistance to the line departments and to each other.† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 7) These managers are there for support, giving advice, service and assistance. Examples of staff departments may include: the I.T. department, legal or Human recourses. While not directly contributing to the firm’s objectives, they are there to lend a helping hand. In my experience, it is the line department that is most important to the success and profitability of the company. While it may be agued that without the staff department one couldn’t market and sell the goods and services produced by the line department. But it is ultimately it is the line department that generates the revenue to sustain the company and there fore is most important. Granted that one cannot function without the other, and it is that synergy that ensures longevity and further success of the organization. Discuss three (3) different methods of effecting change. Why are most organizations and individuals resistant to change? What can managers do to facilitate change? Use practical examples from your experience or knowledge,  and describe your experience in implementing change. Effecting change in one’s environment can be a daunting task. Many individuals are reluctant to change and react differently when it occurs. â€Å"Most will accept the need to learn new skills and update their knowledge, but most resent efforts to change their attitudes† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 8) To solve this problem Kurt Lewin developed a three-step approach that consists of three phases, unfreezing, change, and refreezing. In the first step unfreezing, mangers must identify and discover the source or cause of the deficient behavior. â€Å"They confront the individual with the behavior and the problem it causes; they then begin to convince the him or her to change by suggesting methods and offering incentives.† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 8) This step is the foundation to helping the insubordinate employee open up an discuss why this deficient behavior is occurring. Often time this causes the employee to become emotional and upset. The second step change, the employee discomfort increases. This will cause the employee to question their reasons for their conduct, it is then that the manager has the chance to provide a role model to foster the preferred behavior. â€Å"As the individual adopts that behavior, performance will improve; but the manager must support and reinforce that behavior if it is to last.† (Plunkett, Alan, Attner, 2013, Ch 8) In the third step refreezing, new desired behaviors should be rewarded. Frequent praise at first is important for the continuation of preferred behaviors. Also, if any incentive was promised, then it must be honored. Failure to do so will cause a reversion to old deficient behavior and the manager would have to start again. In my experience, cold calling is a requirement to draw up business. Earlier last year, sales were down. An increase in production was needed to boost our P&L, so management enforced mandatory call nights. Each employee was given a list of clients to set appointments. Many of the veteran  employees saw this as a waste of time, and although they attended, did little or no work. Management sat with each of these employees individually to figure out what the cause of the issue was. Management created a reward system in which the employee with the most booked appointments gets a free lunch the next day and the employee with the most booked business from these appointments gets to take off the next two Mondays. This incentive had everyone dialing clients consistently and business increased dramatically. To reinforce these behaviors, a scoreboard was put up and the leading 5 employees numbers were updated weekly. Giving a competitive twist to this approach really helped motivation for pr oduction, especially in sales. References Plunkett, R. W., Allen, S. G., & Attner, F. R. (2013). Ch 7 Organizing Principles, Ch 8 Organizational Design, Culture and Change . Management: meeting and exceeding customer expectations (10th ed., ). : Mason, OH :. Footnotes 1[Add footnotes, if any, on their own page following references. For APA formatting requirements, it’s easy to just type your own footnote references and notes. To format a footnote reference, select the number and then, on the Home tab, in the Styles gallery, click Footnote Reference. The body of a footnote, such as this example, uses the Normal text style. (Note: If you delete this sample footnote, don’t forget to delete its in-text reference as well. That’s at the end of the sample Heading 2 paragraph on the first page of body content in this template.)

Organization And Management Essay

INTRODUCTION Control is the process of assuring the efficient accomplishment of enterprise objectives. In the turbulent environment faced by management, power and control is necessary to anticipate problems, measure performance against standards, take corrective actions for deviations from plans and if necessary, modify plans. The term control may have some negative connotations for some. In the management process, it is a facilitating function aiding the organization to accomplish the set objectives. The primary responsibility for exercising control rests with management at HQ division with the execution of plans. In an organization, control consists in verifying whether everything occurs in conformity with the plans adopted, the instructions issued and principles established. Its object is to point out weaknesses and errors in order to rectify them and prevent recurrence. It operates on everything, things, people, and actions. It is wrong to assume that only top management has the responsibility for power and control and that there is little need for control at lower levels of management. While the scope for control may vary to some extent depending upon the position of an employee in the hierarchy, all those who have responsibility for the execution of plans need to exercise control too. M/s Engineering Products is an engineering company, based in UK, manufacturing mechanical tools for various industrial manufactures .Due to the marketing trend and policy change, the company sometime in 1980 did some major deviations by closing and selling some units and presently in the trade of defense, industrial services and auto parts. The company is in the line of exporting components to different countries. It has processed for expansion, 50% of the employees are stationed in Western Europe and North America. Bulk of the sales is taken care by Western Europe and America and a very small portion by UK. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The major prerequisites of control are two: a plan and a structure. a) Plan: controls must be based on plan. The more clear and complete the plans are the more effective controls can be; plans become the standards by which the actions are measured. b) Structure: There is need for a structure to know where the responsibility rests for deviations and corrective action, if any needed. As in the case of plans, the more clear and complete the organization structure is, the more effective control can be. Controls, to be effective, should share the following basic characteristics: Appropriate: Controls should correspond to an organization’s plans. Controls designed for a Management Executive are inappropriate for a supervisor Strategic: Control should serve a strategic purpose and provide spotlight on positive and negative exceptions at critical points. Acceptable: Controls will not work unless people want them to. They should be acceptable to those to whom they apply. Reliable and objective: Controls should be accurate and unbiased. If they are unreliable and subjective, people will resent them. THE POWER AND CONTROL PROCESS In the Engineering Products the control process used  Ã‚     involves three steps: (a) establishing standards. (b) measuring performance against these standards, and (c) reinforcing success/correcting deviations. a) Establishing Standards: Standards mean criteria of performance. Standards may be of many kinds and include verifiable goals set in qualitative or quantitative terms. Engineering Products has established standards in areas such as: (a) Profitability (b) Productivity (c) Market Share (d) Worker Performance (e) Innovation (f) Social Responsibility Standards are based on past performance, managerial judgment or scientific analysis. Standards are used to measure performance and judge success or failure. b) Measuring of Performance: Essentially, it is a comparison between â€Å"what is† and â€Å"what should be† the performance. Ideally, measurement should be done on a forward-looking basis to predict probable deviations from standards rather than merely be used as a post mortem exercise. c) Reinforcing Success/Correcting Deviations: When plans and organization structures are clear, it is easy to reinforce success and avoid failures. When deviations are noticed or apprehended based on warning signs, the reasons can be analyzed and appropriate corrective actions taken promptly. LITERATURE REVIEW POLICIES AND DESIGN CHOICES IN CONTROL Engineering Products are following three options in exercising control: centralization or delegation formal or informal direct or indirect preferences for one or a mix of all options are matters of judgment. Each option has relevance in a particular situation Centralization or Delegation Centralization is an approach where control is exercised by the HQ or the top management group.   Thus, functional autonomy will be lacking at operating levels. Delegation, on the contrary, manifests transfer of decision-making authority downward and outward within the formal structure. Sometimes, decision-making power is transferred downwards in a hierarchy prescribing limits on the scope and type of decisions. Centralized Control: makes it easier to coordinate the activities of various subunits/departments in an organization. seeks to achieve balance among various functions because the top management can be expected to have a broad organization-wide perspective. proves more useful because control will be in the hands of senior, experienced top executives. is necessary to meet extraordinary situations. is economical since duplication in activities and resource use can be avoided. Delegation and decentralization too have positive features: they relieve the top management from overload. motivate individuals to give better performance due to opportunities for individual freedom, discretion and control. contribute to the personal and professional development of managers.†¢ people at operating Direct or Indirect There are two ways of controlling. One way is to supervise subordinates’ activities closely, trace deviations to the persons responsible and get them to correct their practices. This is called indirect control The other way is to develop high quality managers who will properly understand and apply managerial principles, functions, techniques and philosophy, make few mistakes and initiate corrective actions, wherever necessary, themselves. This is called direct control. The higher the quality of managers and their subordinates, the less will be the need for indirect controls. Conflict and Negotiation Life is a never ending process of one conflict after another. Conflict has always been widespread in society but it is only recently that it has generated a lot of interest and has been the focus of research and study. Employees have become more vociferous in their demands for a better deal. Various departments in an organization face a situation full of conflicts due to a number of reasons like goal diversity, scarcity of resources or task interdependence etc. Negotiation is an attempt to find a solution that reconciles or integrates the needs of both parties who work together to define the problem and to identify mutually satisfactory solutions. In negotiation, there is open expression of feelings as well as exchange of task-related information. The most critical ingredients in successful negotiation are: 1 Definition of the problem should be a joint effort based on shared fact finding. 2 Problems should be stated in terms of specifics. 3 Discussions between the groups should consist of specific, non-evaluative comments and questions should be asked to elicit information. 4The groups should work together in developing alternative solutions. 5All agreements about separate issues should he considered tentative.   Without trust, each group will fear manipulation and may not reveal its true preferences. Secondly, integrative problem solving takes a lot of time and can succeed only in the absence of pressure for a quick settlement. Direct control hastens corrective actions, lightens the burden caused by indirect control and subordinates feel less concerned about superior’s subjectivity in rating their performance because in indirect control one would feel a close relationship between performance and measurement. METHODOLOGY The central HR function at Engineering Products had been placed on a different platform after the other units placed at different places are moving towards international integration. integration. A system is being formed for interaction of different managers of different units and how international postings to be managed HR department at HQ office desires to play a more forceful role rather than doing only doing routine administrative work. The Dynamics of Personnel/Human Resource Management (P/HRM) is a dynamic discipline as it mostly deals with ever-changing work settings, characterized by people having varied cultural, social and religious backgrounds, diverse goals, multifarious expectations and attitudes. The personnel scene itself has been changing quite dramatically over the years. State regulations, competitive pressures, unionization of employees, do exert a strong influence on the way the personnel function is carried out in various organizations. Over the years, employees have become more sophisticated in their demands for high quality work environments, adequate benefits, proper training and career growth opportunities. All these factors compel human resource professionals to look for ways to improve their interactions with employees, other managers and outside groups in order to maximize worker productivity and satisfaction. Changing Role of Human Resource in View of Social Factors: A number of environmental factors influence the work of HR office.They cannot perform  Ã‚   in a vacuum. These factors influence the organization through human resources. External factors separately or in combination can influence the HR function of any organization. The job of a HR manager is to balance the demands and expectations of the external groups with the internal requirements and achieve the assigned goals in an efficient and effective manner. The HR manager has to work closely with these constituent parts, understand the internal dynamics properly and devise ways and means to survive and progress. Local and State Factors State is the custodian of industrial and economic activities. The emergence of problems on the industrial front in the form of trade union movement, failure of many employers to deal fairly with workers, non-fulfillment of plan targets forced the states to intervene in human resource management and to enact various pieces of labor legislation.    Unions Unions have also gained strength. At present, these organizations constitute one of the power blocks in many countries. With the formation and recognition of these organizations, the issues relating to employee interests are no longer determined by the unilateral actions of management. These have to be discussed with union representatives invariably.   In consequence, the scope of managerial discretion in personnel activities has been narrowed down. Changing Work Values   Organizations must now advance from general affirmation and enthusiasm for the career development of their personnel to greater precision. The concepts and goals development programmes must be more precise, more widely understood, reflected in formal policy statements and translated into institutional and personnel practice. Alienation from the job, increasing counter-productive behavior, rising expectations and changing ideas of employees are some of the other factors responsible for the changing values and roles of human force. Consequently it has become imperative for the management to include  Ã‚   benefits to improve morale, introduce a machinery to redress grievances, encourage employee participation in decision-making and the like to pave the way for industrial betterment and to meet the ever increasing demands of workforce. Culture In Organization Every organization has some characteristics which are common with any other organization. At the same time, each organization has its unique set of characteristics and properties. This psychological structure of organization and their sub-units is usually referred to as Organizational Culture. Organizational culture is a relatively enduring quality of the internal environment that is experienced by the members, influences their behavior, and can be described in terms of values of a particular set of characteristics of the organization. Organizational culture is the set of characteristics that describe an organization and that (a) distinguish one organization from other organizations; (b) are relatively enduring over time and (c) influence the behavior of the people in the organization. Organizational Culture is a relatively uniform perception held of the organization, it has common characteristics, it is descriptive, it can distinguish one organization from another and it integrates individual, group and organization system variables. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE. Organization structure refers to the formal, established pattern of relationships amongst the various parts of a firm or any organization. The fact that these relationships are formal implies that they are deliberately specified and adopted and do not evolve on their own. Of course, it may sometimes happen that given an unusual situation, new working relationships may evolve and which may later be adopted as representing the formal structure.   Only when relationships are clearly spelled out and accepted by everyone, can they be considered as constituting a structure. This does not mean that once established, there can be no change in these relationships. Changes may be necessary with passage of time and change of circumstances, but frequent and erratic changes are to be avoided. References Peters, Thomas, J. and Waterman, Robert H., 1999. Management of Development Programmes, Harper and Row: New York. Elbing, A.1998. Behavioral Decisions in Organizations, Scott Foresman: Glenview. P.0.1991. A Stud .of Decision Making Job Choice. MIT Press: Cambridge. Vroom, V.1-I and Yetton, P.W.1997. Organisational Leadership and Decision Making. University of Pittsburgh Press: Pittsburgh. Barnard, C.l.l997. The Functions of the Executive. Harvard University Press: Cambridge. Behling, 0, and Schriesheim, C. 1996. Organisational Behavior. Theory, Research and Application. Allyn and Bacon: Boston. Elbing, A.1988. Behavioral Decisions in Organizations, Scott Foresman: Glenview. Vroom, V.H. and Yetton, P.W.1983. Leadership and Decision Making. University of Pittsburgh Press: Pittsburgh. Stephin Robbins. et al. Action-research as applied to Development, in Organization Development and Research (Ed. Wendell L French et al) Business Publications Inc., Dallas (1998). Eager G., Change Agent Skills: Assessing and Designing Excellence, University Associates California (1998). Fohman, Mark.A. et al. Action-research as applied to Development, in Organization Development and Research (Ed. Wendell L French et al) Business Publications Inc., Dallas (1998). Chris Argyris, Management and Organization Development: The Path form X4 to YB, McGraw Hill, New York (1991). Beckhard, R. Harris, R. T Organization transitions: Managing Complex Changes, Addison Wesley (1997). Cascio, W.F., Fundamentals of Modern Organisations, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York,1992 Purecell J.,Boxall P., Organisational Management, Plagrave, Macmillan, New York,2003

Important technical development Essay

The most important technical development was the unitization of the liner shipping business. The shipping industry has been so successful at exploiting this technical development that the cost of sea transport has hardly increased. Coal and Oil cost little more to transport in the mid 1990s than in 1940s. Those important causes which are mostly affecting the demand for sea transport are 8 The World Economy : As it was discussed before that world economy with its output and trade is the most important single factor to generate demand for shipping and any crisis in the world economy reflects in the demand for shipping. In table 01 its clear that ups and downs of shipping demand is also proportionate to world trade. There are 03 different aspects of the world economy that may bring about change in the demand for sea transport ,which are- The Business Cycle: The business cycle lays the foundation for freight cycles. Fluctuation in the rate of economic growth work through in to the sea borne trade, creating a cycle pattern of demand for ships. For example, two major recession in shipping business in 1975 and 1981-1983 ,which co-incited with the recession of the world economy. This economic cycles arise from a combination of external and internal factors. The external factors include events such as wars or sudden changes in commodity prices such as crude oil, which cause a sudden change in demand. Internal factors refer to the dynamic structure of the world economy itself, which it is argued, leads naturally to a cyclical rather than linear growth path. Five of the most common business cycles are- I. The Multiplier and accelerator : The main internal mechanism which creates cycles is the interplay between consumption and investment. II. Time-lags: The delays between economic decision and their implementation can make cyclical fluctuation more extreme. The shipping markets provides and excellent example for this. During a shipping market boom, ship owners order ships that are not delivered until the market has gone into recession. When the arrival of the new ships at a time when there is already a surplus, further discourages new ordering just at the time when shipbuilders are running out of work. The result of their time lags is to make booms and recession more extreme and cyclical. III. Stock building : It produces sudden burst of demand as industries adjust their stocks during the business cycle. On several occasion shipping boom have been driven by short-term stock building by industry in anticipation of future shortage or price rises. Examples are the Korean war in 1952-53, the dry cargo boom of 1974-75, mini tankers boom in 1979 and summer 1986. Tanker booms were caused by temporary stock building by the world oil industry. IV. Mass psychology : If people act in an imitative manner a particular trend will build up to a level where they can affect the whole economic system. Their periods of optimism and pessimism become self fulfilling through the medium of stock exchanges, financial booms and the behaviour of investment. V. Random shocks : Random shocks such as wars, weather changes, new resources, commodity price changes, which upset the stability of economic system may contribute to the cyclical process. Its impact on the shipping market is often very severe ,for example ,1930s depression which followed by the wall street crash of 1929. Other two aspects are The ‘trade elasticity’ and The ‘trade development cycle’-which are correlated to business cycle. Other factors which have very strong influence on shipping demand are Transport cost. Transport cost are an element in the costs of production and If transport Costs are low ,its possible for domestic commodities to be substituted for the cheaper goods supplied over great distances, which will create business opportunities for shipping. The globalisation of the world economy has reinforced the inherent and unique internationalism and fluidity of the shipping industry, while over the same period the industry has become vastly more productive, with very much larger, faster ships and new techniques such as containerisation. By understanding and exploiting world economic activities and trade pattern along with all the other factors stated above, which are mostly controlling the shipping demand, ship owners and shipping management can achieve maximum business profit. From table one it is clear that the future growth of world trade and out put will definitely create more demand for shipping. Thus the ‘derived demand’ nature of ‘shipping demand’ creating huge opportunity for ship owners and shipping management to profit from the ups and downs of world trade. References 1. whitepaper of DTLR on British Shipping Charting a New Course ,para-9,obtained from www. shipping. dtlr. gov. uk/cnc/index. html ,or menu-whitepaper, october2001. 2. Chrzanowski I, 1985, An Introduction To Shipping Economics, Fairplay Publications. 3. Abrahamsson B J, 1980,International Ocean Shipping: Current Concepts and Principal, WestView Press. 4. McConville J,1999,Economics of Maritime Tansport,p42,The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London  www.isl.org

Electric Medical Records Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Electric Medical Records - Essay Example In addition, the paper will highlight network infrastructure and the end user devices and other technology considerations. There are stimulus programs and government initiatives in the United States, the European Commission of eHealth Action Plan, Canada’s Health Inforway, and China’s Guidelines on deepening the reform of the Healthcare System; which accelerate the clinical applications adoption. EMR infrastructure provides portfolio to offer integrated and validated solutions in the healthcare industry. EMR transforms electronic care processes in the industry. With a well developed IT infrastructure, there will be a high level of performance, security, availability, integration, and virtualization of health records. The computer network and technology infrastructure that supports EMR in healthcare infrastructure is EMC EHR Infrastructure Solutions Suite. As a current technology, it can transform and change completely the healthcare infrastructure. It can do this throug h consolidating, managing and virtualization of clinical applications effectively and efficiently. It can also ensure the security of personally identified information and protected health information in the delivery of care. EMC HER Infrastructure Solutions Suite can also protect both past and future healthcare information technology investment. The EMC HER Infrastructure Solutions Suite also ensure improvement of clinical workflow and productivity for collaborative and safer care decisions. This cuts out the present EMR framework that is being used. Although NextGen KBM 5.6 framework is advantageous compared to manual recording systems, it is wise enough for the recent medical data recording and maintenance specifications set by the federal government calls for the deployment of a more complex but smoother EMR technology. It is of much importance that a more centralized and coherent data administration system should be adopted. Development of online collaboration and adoption of u niform terminology are the major areas of challenge, where improvements are highly desired in order to advance the current EMR (NextGen and NEON, 2011). On a daily basis, healthcare organizations process an increasing data amounts. Currently, it’s a challenge to share information and connect affiliated doctors in a health system. In most healthcare organizations, there is no current technology that offers an end to end electronic medical record solution that enhances standards for accessibility, accuracy, and security. There is a manual system of processing patient flows which is tiresome and complicated. In the current situation, workflow processes are analyzed and documented. There are various inefficiencies and bottlenecks even in the billing system. The current processes that require and efficient EMR infrastructure include: Billing, scheduling appointments, referral management, procedures of office visits, patient check-in and check-out, and e-prescribing and laboratorie s (NextGen and NEON, 2011). There are various gaps and issues in the healthcare environment concerning EMR. There is a huge lack of innovation in the health records thwarting the attempts of doctors to advance the process and workflow of healthcare. The vendors of EMR control the data and even resist functionality improvement as well, although they reap financial gains from it. The EMR vendors have always insisted on the uniqueness of healthcare

Ethics and Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ethics and Morality - Essay Example According to Rousseau, for the State, it is important that each citizen has some kind of religion or devotion as a regularizing rod for his behavior. It does not matter to the State if the religion is uplifting the citizen in any way or not. Its requirement is that it controls and shapes his behavior in the right way, so that he is not a nuisance in the society and remains a law-abiding citizen. Morality is the other side of the religious coin. It is interesting to note that much of what we call 'morality' today did not exist in the Stone Age. The powerful took away what they needed from the hapless unfortunate creatures, who either perished or got enslaved. It was the jungle law, what prevails today in most of the animal kingdom, though there are interesting exceptions. As man became increasingly aware of his society, community and responsibility towards them, a kind of bond formed around him, making him an integral part of it and certain rules and conditions were either imposed on him, or he became conscious that to adhere to them would be self-preservation from harmful attacks. The individualist nature has resulted in the collective way of life and man found security in numbers and lived as part of a society, where morality became the most important requirement to have a coherent social structure. Social contract theory is supposed to be as old as Philosophy itself and even Socrates' explanation to Crito approaches it. Rousseau comes very close to Hobbes when he says that religion binds the man to morality, law and hence, to social contract. This is helpful for the peace and well being of the society. It glorifies the prince, the country, and the lawmakers. Hence, it is a form of social contract entered between the individual man and the collective society, which later was governed and protected by political authority. Man and society are bound by this unseen contract and it is easy to assume that morality and social contract are complimentary as well as prerequisites to each other. "Social contracts or Contractarianism stems from the political power and control and man's accepting it as legitimate authority in governance of moral fibre of the society." http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/contractarianism/ According to Hobbes, it is clear that common interest of fear leads men into political society and fear could be of gory death, insecurity, lack of cultural living, deprivation of comfort and industry, losing satisfaction derived out of life, losing kin and possessions, living with unfulfilled desires, separation, misadventure and hatred ruling every bit of life. Hobbs feels that even a bad political authority is better than none and should be welcomed and cherished.

The benefits of training bank officials in Ethiopia Dissertation

The benefits of training bank officials in Ethiopia - Dissertation Example Studies on the banking sector in Ethiopia reveal consistent findings that service expectations of customers do not match perceived performance. Thus, with the aim to recommend a suitable strategy for an effective training program for bank employees in Ethiopia, three objectives were set in Chapter I. All three objectives have been achieved through qualitative secondary analysis of data. Several benefits of training have been identified which include enhancement of knowledge and skills, motivation and retention of employees, open and honest communication and promotion of the  interpersonal relationship. Training can improve service quality, spur growth and impact productivity. Shortcomings among bank staff have been identified through studies conducted by other researchers in Ethiopian banks. These include lack of soft skills among employees, lack of product-specific knowledge and skills. The level of education of employees is also not known which could impact the outcome. Based on the short comings and the literature and theories on training, factors that could contribute towards an effective training program on Ethiopia have been evaluated. These include evaluation of training needs which would have to be based on organizational mission and goals. In addition, training should be an ongoing process and should be kept in-house, while continuous monitoring and evaluation of the training interventions have also been found to be necessary. (Donovan, Hannigan & Crowe, 2001).

Human Resource Information System Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Resource Information System - Assignment Example In this regard, P&G may consider using the self service portal which, acts as an access point to an organization’s HRM information (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 296). This would involve the use of computers, and intranet via the internet from all its 80 branches. This approach would help P&G to achieve a specific competitive position through knowledge and skills applied on HR technology (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 291). P&G could also utilize a shared-service center. This would help the company to focus on value creation by offering excellent services to customers while ensuring cost reduction through increased efficiency and constant improvement (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 291). Additionally, human resource outsourcing could also be helpful in that, it can help the P&G 80 branches to contract with internal venders of the countries they are operating to perform HR services and activities. This can help P&G both financially and strategically. Question 2 Even with so many count ries and governmental organizations involved, P&G can still achieve sufficient standardization through HRIS to gain increased savings. However, this should involve a proper articulation and adherence to compliance regulations with government mandates (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 312). ... Question 3 Internal customers would view the move from decentralized to centralized shared services as a good move because this will enable the provision of excellent services with greater efficiency, value generation and improved services. Additionally, moving from decentralized to centralized shared services makes customers managers in business units such as operations and marketing. Besides, such measures allow internal customers to assess the value of consolidated unit to facilitate continuous improvement by shared services centers managers (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 300). Question 4 Changes experienced as a result of moving from decentralized to centralized shared services can be measured from internal customer perspective. One of the ways to measure these changes involves reduction in the overall financial cost in relation to HR administrative processes (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 300). Since centralization of shared services aims at improvement of quality and customer satis faction, such improvements can be assessed in terms of changes experienced in this towards this effect. Additionally, since centralized shared services ensures cost reduction in employees improved performance, therefore, employee’s retention and training costs can be another method to measure of the changes (Kavanagh, Thite and Johnson 301). It is also apparent that employee’s royalty is also ensured through productivity and morale. Therefore, this can also be one of the ways to measure the change realized as a result of moving from decentralized to centralized shared services. Question 5 P&G can utilise various measures for the administrative

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Term Paper

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Lifestyles During the 1950s - Term Paper Example These changes transformed standards of living, where people evolved from being small-time energy users to ultimately becoming insatiable energy consumers. Second, Goldstein discusses Hubbert’s prediction on oil, coal, and natural production and consumption levels. Hubbert forecasted that the United States will reach the peak of its oil production in the 1970s. Furthermore, Hubbert also showed that the estimated two trillion barrels of oil in the world will run out too, and that the crisis will begin, not until people have consumed the last drop of oil, but when they reached the peak of its production. Goldstein is arguing that people should wake up to the certainty that the world is running out of gas, and that continuously depending on fossil fuels alone would not be enough to respond to the energy needs of the future. He explores different alternative energy resources and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each source. He predicts that based on the rate-of-conversi on problems, the production of existing alternative fuels will not be enough to substitute for oil demand, unless vast progress on their technologies can be attained in a few years. Goldstein notes that ethanol is renewable energy, but is a negative energy resource, because of the production costs. ... On the contrary, it presents considerable safety and nuclear waste issues. Moreover, it cannot power ordinary automobiles. Goldstein finds promising developments in hydrogen-based energy production and improving battery technology to power up the transportation industry. Cars can run on advanced batteries and transport people and goods over short routes. Hydrogen is clean energy, but further research has to be done to improve its efficient production. Moreover, Goldstein is asking his readers to live simpler lives that will reduce energy consumption. I believe in the Hubbert Peak Theory, because the moment society reaches the peak of oil production, tumbling down becomes much faster, like the bell curve production that Hubbert generated. We just need to take a good look at our own lives and around us to see how much we use up energy. We use it in everything we do. In our cars, in lighting our homes and workplaces, in using our computers, tablets, cellular phones, and MP3 players, and even in producing gadgets that do not use up electrical energy like brooms and pens. Multiply that usage across the world, and especially in booming economies, where energy expenditure rises like tidal waves, and we get a rough idea of what unbridled energy consumption means. Once we reach peak oil, gas, and coal production, by that time, our consumption rates must have increased too, as population rates soar and people grow older and use more goods and tools. As a result, our consumption exceeds the rate of oil production, and we plummet down Hubbert’s bell curve. And we do not get to rise up again in another bell curve of oil production, since oil reserves are not unlimited. This is reality, a reality we have to face and to prepare

Web 2.0 and Beyond Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Web 2.0 and Beyond - Assignment Example Generally, these technologies were more users friendly and one could learn and at same time make contribution. One thing which I disliked about these technologies was their lack of privacy. Web 2.0 technologies assimilation has led to both positive and negative impacts in life. One of their advantages is the ease of access of information and communication. These technologies have made information easily accessible from variety of sources. They facilitate interaction at advanced levels through chatting in blogs, over social sites and video conferencing all of which have made communication nowadays more effective and efficient. The main disadvantage of web 2.0 technologies is over dependence amongst its users. This means that one is shut down in case of internet slow down or failure. Furthermore, there is lack of privacy and security of data shared due to susceptibility of hacking and plagiarism in case of literal information. Despite these disadvantages these technologies have currently been applied in fields like sales and marketing e.g. in second life and many others which have made life better. On the contrary many users have fallen prey to hackers and grown excessiv ely dependent on the internet. Thus it is inconclusive to state web 2.0 is a breakthrough. Web 3.0Â  refers to a proposed semantic web which will incorporate personalizations like. iGoogle, intelligent search and behavioral advertising with the objective of turning web into a database. Contrary to the past technologies it is infrastructural based. Web 3.0 will add more value to users since the technology will be with human capabilities of accurately and precisely determining information required, translating to more relevant information. In addition, this may lead to massive loss of employment since most activities unlike currently will be automated. This will be caused by the human intelligence to be applied in webs 3.0

Summarize lectures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summarize lectures - Essay Example It could be on managerial or strategic levels. Egoistic and empathetic thinkers are two main factors in collaborative problem solving. Thus the eight principles of IS have been helping organizations to get advantage over other organizations. Hardware and software are the two main components of computing technology. Hardware is the main mechanical structural part of a computing device. It mainly consists of CPU. The CPU reads and processes the information and present it on the monitor screen. There are two forms of data storage in a computer: volatile and non volatile. Volatile form of storage is provided by the compact disks and memory cards whereas the non volatile storage form is provided magnetic disk which also stores data for long term. The computer processes data in the form of bits. Server and client computers work in coordination with each other where the server is providing specific services to the client computer. The operating systems and the software to be used in the computer are usually purchased and they are different for different hardware companies. Software also come to protect a computer from attacks of viruses and malware. Database is usually used to keep the record of things which contain complex material and involving more than one field. A database application usually revolves around the user, the application, database management system and the metadata. The main the most important of these components is the database management system. It is the system which is the central unit of the application and stores and administers the database. The first and the main function of the database management system is to create the required structure including tables for the database. Processing of the submitted information and providing tools to the user or its management are the third and fourth functions of DBMS respectively. Special terminologies e.g. entity for table and identifier for key are being used in the database model system. Poorly

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 68

History - Essay Example Discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus also made people question existing view of geography by Ptolemy (the world is flat). These discoveries spawned a scientific revolution as it spurred new questions to be asked. There was much resistance to new discoveries because the people were skeptical of these discoveries and would rather stick with their old beliefs. But perhaps more importantly, resistance came from the Catholic Church because ideas from the scientific revolution challenged their hold on the masses by using faith and superstition. In other words, scientific discoveries threatened the social, economic, and political order based on religion, as Christianity was often the central coherent ideology in many European societies. The people would naturally tend to question the authority of the Church because there were now being offered scientific explanations based on reason and logic for many natural phenomena like lightning (just a form of electricity) and not an act of God. The scientific studies by Copernicus in 1543 theorized the Sun to be the center of the solar system and not the Earth as had previously been taught. This striking departure from past beliefs made people realize not to accept dogma as truth anymore; science started to challenge the many ideas of religion. The Enlightenment is also called as the Age of Reason and it was influenced by the Scientific Revolution in the sense every observable natural phenomena has to have an underlying scientific, logical explanation for it. The Industrial Revolution was similar to the Scientific Revolution because it altered the way people think and perceive the natural world. In other words, it was a big paradigm shift for them and society in general. In particular, capitalism destroyed the old feudal order in which the wealth of a person was derived from ownership of vast tracts of land with many people or serfs serving in bondage as peons. The old pattern or business model (paradigm) of

To calculate the acceleration due Essay Example for Free

To calculate the acceleration due Essay Find acceleration due to gravity using ball drop method Amine Alami IB1-3 Lab Report Aim: To calculate the acceleration due to gravity by dropping a ball from a certain distance and recording the time Hypothesis: it is expected that the gravity should be within the same range for each trial Variables: The independent variable = the distance The dependent variable = the time Controlled variables are: the mass of the steel ball the position of the trip plate -the length of the plumb line Equipment: meter stick , half meter stick 1 steel ball. Boss and clamp Electronic Timing Device Release mechanism Plumb bob -trip plate Procedure: A steel ball was inserted between the jaws of the release mechanism The height was adjusted to 1 meter and half a meter, measured from the bottom of the ball to the trip plate The plumb bob was used to locate the centre of the trip plate , to ensure that the ball falls on it and to make sure the release mechanism is perpendicular to the surface of the plate a circuit was made between the release mechanism, the trip plate and the electronic timer. it was configured to start counting as soon as the ball is released and to stop counting when it touched the plate The timer was switched on and RESET was pressed the thumbscrew was pressed to release the ball, it was held straight rather than curved to achieve better results when the ball hits the plate, the spring comes up and the timer stops the time was measured The distance ( independent variable) was varied by moving the clamp upwards or downwards until the distance from the bottom of the ball equals 0. 5 m or 1 m The time was read from the electronic timing device. The same steel ball was used through out the experiment and the plumb bob was kept in the same length through out the trials for each length 20 trials were performed and averaged the distance the ball travels was measured after every trial Data Collection: Table 1. The time it takes the ball to fall 1 meter Trial Displacement(s) iThe time it takes the ball to fall half a meter Trial Displacement(s) i 0. 5mm Time(t). Data Processing and presentation: Average Time in table Percentage uncertainty of gravity 2= (0. 4/9. 95)x100 = 4. 02% Conclusion: The results were in the same range. The firs gravity was very close to the ideal gravity Evaluation: The method used was fairly accurate -but there are many sources of error which may affect the result obtained using it Sources of Error: Air resistance is an error, but it has a slight effect The thumbscrew is clicked twice The thumbscrew wasnt pressed properly The ball might not fall in the centre The clamp may move slightly upwards or downward after every few measurements The same person should press the thumbscrew through out all the experiment The thumbscrew should be pushed with quickly and firmly.

Inflammatory Mediators Of Asthma Health Essay

Inflammatory Mediators Of Asthma Health Essay Once IgE binds to mast cells (or activated eosinophils), an amplification system operates since the cells not only release the spasmogens and other mediators specified but also can stimulate ÃŽ ² cells to produce more IgE. Furthermore, the production of IL-5, IL-4 IL-13 and IL-9 amplifies the Th2-mediated events. It is believed that asthma symptoms are manifested because of Th2 mediated immune response. Pulmonary allergic inflammation in mice lead to decrease in pulmonary IL-5 concentration, specific IgE, IgG1, and eosinophil and T cell recruitment in wild type mice in the absence of T cells. T cells are important in IL-4 dependent IgG1, IgE and Th2 cell mediated lung inflammation, further more there is evidence that CD4+T cells have a role in asthma process. For example, in murine model external protein induced T cells increases IL-5 production and produces airway eosinophilia. (Larche et al. 2003) Asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory airway disorder that involves the activation of the inflammatory and structural cells. These released inflammatory mediators cause typical pathophysiological changes of asthma (Peter et al., 2003). There are several lines of evidence that may implicate a mediator in asthma. Firstly, it may mimic features of clinical asthma. Secondly, the mediator may be produced in asthmatic patients. Thus, mediators or their metabolites may be detected in plasma (e.g. histamine), urine (e.g. LTE4), or more likely, the airways in biopsies, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, induced sputum or exhaled air. 1.8.3.1. Histamine Histamine was the first mediator implicated in the pathophysiological changes of asthma (Barnes et al., 1998). Histamine is one of the important mediator of allergy, inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Histamine is synthesized and released by mast cells in the airway wall and by circulating and infiltrating basophils. Antigen-induced histamine secretion is initiated by the bridging of the adjacent IgE receptors on the mast cell surface. Histamine receptors are among the thousands of members of the 7-transmembrane-spanning family of receptors that couple ligand binding to intracellular reactions through interactions with another large family of guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding heterotrimeric proteins. H1-receptors mediate a host of intracellular events most readily characterized by changes in free cytosolic calcium levels. Histamine show different response in mammalian tissue depends upon presence of receptor on that tissue Kulkarni, (1976). 1.8.3.2. Adenosine Adenosine can act as an autocoid cause bronchoconstriction in asthmatics and increase immunologically induced mediator release from mast cells of human lung (Cushley et al., 1984; Peachell et al., 1988). Mast cells also release adenosine in response to IgE cross-linking and other stimuli for mast cell activation. 1.8.3.3. Lipid-Derived Mediators Leukotrienes Leukotrienes are potent lipid mediators produced by arachidonic acid metabolism in cell or nuclear membrane. Several types of airway inflammatory cells, like eosinophils, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, and epithelial cells, can synthesize LTs in response to a variety of stimuli. Leukotrienes are important inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. All the Cys-LTs are potent constrictors of bronchial smooth muscle. On a molar basis, LTD4 is 1000 times more active than histamine and constrict bronchioles (Dahlen et al., 1980). Cys-LTs, acting on Cys-LT1 receptors produce bronchospasm, airway hyper-responsiveness, proliferation of airway smooth muscle, excess production of mucus and mucosal edema and eosinophilia in the airways, and other features in asthma (Sundeep et al., 2001; Peter, 1998). Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) PAF is ether-linked phospholipid. The synthesis of PAF occurs in inflammatory cells, including platelet, neutrophils, basophils, macrophages and eosinophils. PAF induces airway smooth muscle contraction by releasing other mediators. PAF-induced bronchoconstriction is not inhibited by H1 receptor antagonist Ketotifen. However, PAF-induced bronchoconstriction can be inhibited by LT antagonists, because of involvement of LTD4 in this response. PAF stimulate chemotaxis and adhesion of eosinophils and neutrophils in-vitro (Peter et al., 2003). Prostanoids Prostanoids include prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane (Tx), which are generated from arachidonic acid, usually by the action of COX. In general PGF2 and PGD2 contract and PGE relax tracheal muscle. Asthmatic individuals are particularly sensitive to PGF2ÃŽ ±, which may cause intense bronchospasm. Although both PGE1 and PGE2 can produce bronchodilatation when given to such patients by aerosol, bronchoconstriction sometime is observed. Tx analogue U 46619 is a potent constrictor in asthmatic patients, and this effect is mediated in part via acetylcholine release. Prostanoids stimulate airway mucus secretion in various animal species. It inhibits the release of mediators from mast cells, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophil inflammatory cells (Peter et al., 2003). 1.8.3.4. Cytokines Cytokines are small protein mediators that play an integral role in the coordination and persistence of inflammation in asthma. Many inflammatory cells macrophages, mast cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes) are capable of synthesizing and releasing these proteins. Th2 lymphocytes produce a panel of cytokines, including IL-5, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-9 (Barnes et al., 1998). 1.8.3.4.1. Interleukin-4 IL-4 is critical for the synthesis of IgE by B-cells and for eosinophils recruitment. IL-4 is also involved in Th2 cell differentiation. IL-4 is a key factor in the development of allergic inflammation, and they may also play a major role in exacerbating asthmatic symptoms (Adcock and Caramori, 2003). Figure 11. Role of CD4+Th2cells and Various cytokines in asthma pathogenesis. 1.8.3.4.2. Interleukin-5 It play important role in allergic asthma. IL-5 promote the maturation of eosinophils from bone marrow processor, prolongs their survival by inhibition of apoptosis, activates mature eosinophil recruitment to tissue via synergistic effect with chemoattractants such as eotaxin and promote eosinophil adhesion of vascular endothelium.IL-5 can also promote basophils to release exaggerated amounts of histamine and leukotrienes, mediators that contribute to allergic bronchospasm and congestion in asthma (Fred et al., 2000). 1.8.3.4.3. Interleukin-9 Its major actions include maturation of eosinophils, airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness and mucus over production (Adcock and Caramori, 2003). 1.8.3.4.4. Interleukin-13 IL-13 is critical for the synthesis of IgE by B-cells. Activates eosinophils, monocyte. IL-13 is a key factor in the development of allergic inflammation and they may also play a major role in exacerbating asthmatic symptoms (Barnes et al., 1998). 1.8.3.5. Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) GM-CSF is one of the colony-stimulating factor that acts to regulate the growth, proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic cells.GM-CSF can enhance the release of superoxide anions, also induce eosinophil apoptosis and activation, induces release of LTs, endothelial cell migration (Barnes et al., 1998). 1.8.3.6. Reactive Oxygen Species in Asthma Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by various enzymatic reactions and chemical processes or they can directly be inhaled. ROS are essential in many physiological reactions and are important for the killing of invading microorganisms. However, when airway cells and tissues are exposed to oxidative stress elicited by environmental pollutants, infections, inflammatory reactions or decreased levels of anti- oxidants, enhanced levels of ROS can have a variety of deleterious effects within the airways thereby inducing several pathophysiological conditions. It has been shown that ROS can damage DNA, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates leading to impaired cellular functions and enhanced inflammatory reactions. ROS are known to play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of various airway disorders such as adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cystic fibrosis, idiopathic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and asthma (Gillissen and Nowak, 1998; Repine et al., 1997).

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED APPLYING FOR JOB IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED APPLYING FOR JOB IN HOTEL INDUSTRY Hotels and motels are not only places where one can obtain great food and comfortable rooms; they are also the center of community life, with facilities for meeting, entertainment, communication and personal service. Their stock in trade has always been hospitality and service, and hotel and motel have made an art of dispensing comfort, pleasing the palate and creating an atmosphere of home for guests. As far as career opportunities are concerned, in United States alone, the hospitality industry is one of the largest of all industries, surpassed only by the automotive and food industry. Wage and salary opportunities in hotel and other accommodations is expected to increase by 17 percent through 2012, compared with 16 percent growth projected for all industries combined. Dr. Robert A. Beck, former dean of the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University, and an eminent consultant, describes the challenges and opportunities of the Hotel industry. The hospitality industry offers todays young men and young women a most interesting and exciting career. Management of a hotel or a restaurant calls for a wide range of capabilities. Guests must be received with cordiality and provided with comfortable, well-designed, and tastefully decorated surroundings. They need appetizing, wholesome food that has been wisely bought, properly stored, skillfully prepared, and graciously served. Various other conveniences in public areas, conference and exhibit rooms, communication systems, and travel systems are required for proper guest service. Further, a staff of employees must be recruited, trained, and motivated to provide hospitable service. Moreover, all must be successfully coordinated to return a profit to the establishments investors. For those wishing a rewarding and challenging life in service to their fellow man, a future in the hospitality field should certainly be considered. SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES: Social Skills: At the core of this profession is service and hospitality, so people need to enjoy working with people and helping to teach, inform and entertain them. Social skills generally include talking to people and making them feel at ease with you. If the person does not possess excellent social skills, then it will be very difficult for him to survive in the service industry. A guest would never like to stay at a hotel where the staff is stiff and unfriendly no matter how beautiful and comfortable the hotel is. respectful, patient and tolerant: Graciousness is one of the key personal skills needed in the service industry. At times, the customer will truly test your patience but at times like that one must be polite with irritable, short-tempered customers. It is important to remember to never quarrel with the customer as he is the reason for your bread and butter. The most basic quality in a manager is for him to be respectful to others. Pride is the most precious thing to people and if the manager takes that away from his employees, they will never trust him again. That will make extracting work from them very difficult. A managers job is to make sure that the employees are learning, growing and performing to their utmost potential and that can only be achieved through a relationship of mutual trust and kindness. Leadership skills: The most important job of a leader is to assist the employees and his team into giving their best efforts towards the organizational goal. Leaders inspire others to act by setting a good example. They drive and perseverance spurs others on. A leaders responsibilities are many. He must inspire others, be able to give positive and negative feedback, organize and entrust projects and responsibilities, solve problems and make decisions and monitor the teams progress and setting goals for himself and his team. Business skills: Business skills are important for any employee in the hotel industry. He should have sound knowledge of the profitability aspect of his hotel. He should be completely aware of the organizations goals and the strategies developed to achieve those goals. He should know sources and methods of the funding and management of the resources. Business skills also include human resource management and delegating work and resources. Valuing diversity: To work with an assortment of individual cultures at one place is tough. Especially in this day and age of competition, if a company recognizes and respects individuality, then it can maintain a strategic edge over others. These cultural differences, if managed positively can foster creativity, better decision making, higher performance and competitive advantage. In the hotel industry, one is constantly meeting people from different cultures, backgrounds and language. It is essential to not only understand but also respect people from diverse societies and locations. A person can understand more about culturally different people by travelling around the world and interacting with such people. Besides that, reading can also teach a person much about different customs and traditions. It is important that the guests feel right at home when they visit your hotel and the only way to do that is to make the environment as close to their own environment as possible. Ingenuity and imagination: Since the hotel industry is a highly competitive industry, the customer must not only have a good but a delightful experience to gain his loyalty. For this, employees in the hotel industry must introduce originality, creativity and imagination in their service. It is also essential that they are also given enough resources and authority by their employers in their tasks to completely satisfy the customer. Inventory management skills: Inventory management skills include purchasing, stock control and merchandise display. Inventory management skills consist of proper planning strategy of the stock and supplies to be purchased, how they will be transported to the destination, where they will be stored, when will the new stock be ordered and how long will it take to be delivered. Since the hotel industry is highly competitive and gourmet is an essential part of the hotel industry, it is essential that the food served is always fresh, cooked well and nicely presented. Along with that, it is important for the person managing the inventory to be a good negotiator so that he may get maximum utility out of the price paid for the supply. Negotiator: Negotiation is gaining the favor of people from whom we want things such as money, justice, status and recognition. Both technical and non-technical persons need negotiating skills to obtain help from and support of colleagues, supervisors, peers, customers, suppliers and even friends and family. In the hotel industry one is constant negotiating with customers, colleagues, and suppliers and needs to be quite skillful at it. Technical Skills: Technical skills mean having the ability to understand and aptitude to function the techniques, equipments and methods used in the organization. These skills are important in all fields of job whether its finance, engineering or manufacturing. Rodney Mott, plant manager at Nucor Corp.s new Hickman, Arkansas, steel mill, needed technical skills to decide on the installation of a new $50 million caster, which turns liquid metal into bands of steel. The move nearly doubled the Hickman plants capacity, to 36000 tons a week. Technical skills are particularly important al lower organizational levels. It is very difficult for a manager to survive in the business world if he does not possess adequate technical skills. His initial escalation in the organization depends on his technical skills. But for the top management of the company, the technical skills are not as important as the conceptual skills are. Even in the hotel industry, technical skills are quite important as one will constantly be using or supervising use of new systems and equipments and needs to be an expert at it. Active Listener: Active listening is one of the most powerful personal and management tools. It involves more than just hearing. It involves your powers of observation as well. Observing body language is also a part of active listening as often the words completely contradict the body language. It is the process of taking action to help someone say exactly what he or she really means and then applying that information to the best possible way. In the service industry, active listening is extremely important as it determines the efficiency and the effectiveness of the service delivered to the customers. SAMPLE CV: Objective: to seek the position of a hotel manager in a reputed hotel in order to use all my expertise and proficiency in this area towards the development of the hotel business. Knowledge: Proficiency in MS Access, MS Excel, MS Power Point etc. Proficiency in SQL. Professional Skills: Capable of maintaining customers reservations and creating customer databases Excellent oral and written communication Able to complete assignments within deadline. Able to work and direct teams Capable in handling phone calls and e-mail of customers. Capable of addressing customers complaints and queries. Able to organize big and small events. Educational Background: Bachelors in Hotel Management from Boston University in 1997. Job Experience: Worked as a assistant front office in ABC Hotel from 2005 to 2007 Worked as a hotel manager XYZ Hotel from 2007 till date. Summary: Handled customers queries and complaints via calls, emails and fax etc Handled inventory management Monitored and overseen all employees duties. Administered complete hotel operations SKILLS AUDIT: Social Skills: I believe I have good social skills since I like interacting with people and getting to know them. I have a friendly personality due to which people find it easy to talk to me. They are at ease with me. Often, I have also been the entertainer of my peer group and amongst friends. I also believe in helping people out without expecting any reward in return. In college I am a part of several societies so I am constantly meeting new people and working with them. respectful, patient and tolerant: Since childhood I have been a part of several community services. The experience there has taught me how to be patient, tolerant and respectful towards people. A lot of times, we come across people who prove to be quite difficult and working with them can be quite challenging, but Ive learned very early that politeness can turn any frown into a smile and I apply the same rule in my life. Leadership skills: I have often directed groups and teams in several societies as Im very actively social in my community as well as am a part of a few societies at the university. The most recent experience is leading a group of people who were chosen to prepare an extensive business plan on a new business initiated. Here we had to visit several organizations and people, gather relevant market information, conduct research and develop a whole business plan that comprised of the marketing and promotion plan too. As a leader I took upon myself to delegate tasks to the group members, give them deadline for the task, supervise their work and performance and motivate them to work towards the goal. Business skills: Having courses of business studies has taught me a lot of how a business should be conducted effectively. But I do believe that business management is a skill that cannot be excelled at until one gets practical experience in the same. Valuing diversity: Since I am a part of several societies, meeting people from different cultures and diverse backgrounds is quite common. The challenge I face here is understanding their customs and traditions and respecting them. Some words of actions that are quite respectful here may prove to be quite offensive to them. So one has to be quite careful while working with them. One advantage of working with people from diverse backgrounds is the generation of new and unique ideas that one is introduced to. These differences managed positively can foster creativity, better decision making, higher performance and competitive advantage. Inventory management skills: This summer I had an internship at a local motel where I was assisting in inventory management. My daily duties consisted of physically counting and keeping records of the stock and place order when the supplies were close to their last stages. I also had to make sure that the supplies I ordered were delivered on time and make a check that the delivered supplies were fresh. I was able to handle the job efficiently and it gave me a great experience in the world of inventory management. Technical Skills: I believe I do not have the best technical skills at the time as these are skills that are polished with time and experience. But I do possess proficiency in using the Microsoft Office and can read make reports and financial statements and interpret them. With time, I believe I shall be more adept in technical skills. Active Listener: I use active listening skills every day while communicating with my classmates, friends and even family. By carefully observing their body language and repeating important words of what they are saying, I make sure that I understand exactly what they are trying to communicate to me to avoid any misunderstandings. Active listening is a very important skill that is useful in all aspects of life whether it is college life, family life or work life. REFLECTIVE LEARNING: This module has been very helpful for me in terms of personal development. A few of the skills that I think I must learn/posses are as follows: Peoples person: One thing I have learned is that one needs to be a peoples person. The main task of a manager is to interact with people. These people can be his own organizations employees, his team and staff and it can also be persons from outside the organization that is the supplier, customers or outsourced people. Since every person has a different personality and outlook towards things, the manager must be flexible enough to change according to the situation that requires him to be. Only then can he be a good negotiator and can get things down the way he wants it. Become achievement/results oriented: To survive in the professional world, one needs to become achievement/results oriented. This includes the aspiration to get the assigned tasks completed efficiently and effectively. An achievement oriented manager must constantly challenge himself with new tasks and projects and set and must surpass his benchmark to be the best. But becoming achievement oriented is not easy. This requires proper and vigorous planning and foreseeing all future obstacles and finding ways to meet them. Assertiveness: Assertiveness means standing up for your own rights in such a way that you do not violate others persons rights. Here, you are expressing your needs, wants, and opinions, feelings in beliefs in a direct, honest and appropriate manner. Behaving assertively puts you in a position of being able to influence people properly and react to them positively. Business awareness: It is extremely important to have business awareness if the manager wishes to grow professionally. The manager must constantly look for new business opportunities and must exploit them whenever he can. He should have a clear idea of what his organizations overall goals are and what steps the organization is taking to achieve them. Only then can his organization and he himself can rise in the business world. Excellent communication skills: Communication is an essential tool in the professional life no matter which industry or sector you belong to. The talent to communicate well, orally and in writing goes a long way. The communication skills also include observing the non-verbal communication. It means listening to the words that are being said but also use other clues that convey its meaning. Several things clue the non verbal communication, for example, the shape of the eyes, the muscles of the face, even posture. Collaboration: Collaborating is the work platform of the 21st century. It is the epitome of the we workplace, where extending request and excellent service to fellow workers is the foundation of all interactions. Collaboration takes advantage of the most effective actions possible because it focuses on and utilizes the unique gifts and strengths of the many. Everyones skills complement and reinforce one anothers. Collaboration creates and energy that inspires and motivates. Through collaboration, people gain a stronger appreciation for how their efforts align, add value, and produce results for the company. One more point about collaboration is pertinent. Savvy managers know that collaboration requires employees to be a part of something larger than themselves a project with meaning and importance. To that end, they artfully help employees relinquish ego behaviors, replacing them with mutually beneficial ones. They act consciously to ensure that every person knows how much his or her contribution adds to the projects success. As companies move to more virtual projects executed globally, utilizing a host of virtual communication technologies, collaboration challenges with intensity. Building your collaboration skills allows you to handle disparate work spread across various cultures and times zones and to transcend various boundaries. It becomes your strategy for bringing out the best in each person. Working under unpredictable circumstances: Work is often unpredictable. Situations and circumstances change and due to that the pressure of the project increases. The best laid plans are therefore disrupted and the established priorities are abandoned. In these situations, one needs to be able to handle such circumstances and make quick decisions as they arise. Periodic Trainings: Periodic trainings are very important to keep the employees up to date with the current systems and trends. Many institutions are now offering trainings to their business executives as a means of developing skills. These trainings prove to be very useful in initiating and promoting entrepreneurship. Trainings are required to get sound knowledge of technical and non-technical skills. International trainings are also a good forum for the manager to create new personal relationships and interact with new people. Analyze past mistakes and note down learning points: One way to learn from past mistakes is to analyze the past. Ask yourself what went wrong. What have I learnt from it? How can I improve the situation? Even if one fails to achieve a certain goal, instead of being discouraged he should jot down points of what he has learned from the situation and if he had to face a similar situation again, what would he do differently the next time. Self-analysis is a very effective learning method. Interacting with people from different cultures and environments: To further broaden ones horizon, one constantly needs to interact with people from different environments are cultures. This enables us to learn about the different cultural dynamics and let go of our preconceived notions. This way one also learns to use that cultural diversity to the organizations advantage. When a group of people from different cultures come together originality and creativity is introduced. In todays day and age, where cities are becoming more and more metropolitan, it is important to be able to interact with and respect people from different places and appreciate their difference. personal development plan: What do I need to learn? Develop technical skills pertaining to my professional life. How have I established such need? I have come to know that I am not quite as proficient in technical skills and they are an essential requirement for the kind of profession I wish to pursue. What is the aim of my learning? I aim to be proficient at technical skills. What are the specific objectives I need to achieve? Demonstrate evidence of improvement in these skills. How will I accomplish my objectives? I plan to take courses in new systems and software that are being used in the business world nowadays. I shall also read about the new systems and softwares, their purpose and contribution in the overall organizations goals. What is my timescale? On-going. I plan to keep practicing and learning new systems and soft wares to keep myself proficient.

Vladimir Lenin :: Vladimir Lenin Essays

Vladimir Lenin, who’s real name was Vladimir Ilch Ulyanov, played an important role in shaping the character of the twentieth century western world. He oversaw the most far-reaching revolution that in 1917 radically changed the political and social structure of Russia and balance of power in the world. Being an important historical figure in Russia, Lenin is treated more like a god. To the Russian public, he is presented as strong, wise, courageous, and kind. Lenin’s infallibility, or accuracy, was so strong that his words pervaded every level of daily life. Such as newspapers, storybooks, etc. Children were taught to follow his example and adults were told to follow his path and advice on how to be hardworking, loyal communists. Since the revolution more than 350 million works by Lenin have been published in the former USSR. He is the ultimate mentor and guide for all soviets, like he was a god or idle. He had the final authority on every aspect of their life. Anyone who visits the Soviet Union then and now is bound to be shocked by the utter extravagance of the nation’s adulation with him. Americans today can not even grasp why the Soviets idolize one man so much. It inspires guilt in Americans about their own revolutionary past. But, to the extremes of which the worship of Lenin is carried makes us ask ourselves who he really was. As you will see the man and the myth are often difficult to distinguish. Lenin’s likeness appears before the Soviets very often and in many different ways so that he is almost too easy to forget about. An example would be, in a park in Kiev, a floral arrangement is fashioned to resemble his face. In Moscow this adulation reaches an absurd height. In Red Square people wait in an endless lone to see his tomb. While in this line an eternal flame honors the millions of soviets who died in World War Two. Who was Lenin really? A god, a man, or something else. Where did he come from? What did he believe? Why did the Soviets immortalize him so relentlessly? Lenin was born in the backwater town of Simbirsk in 1870. He grew up in a well educated family in provincial Russia. He excelled at school and went on to study law. At university, he was exposed to radical thinking, and his views were also influenced by the execution of his elder brother, a member of a revolutionary group.

Lord Of The Flies Story :: essays research papers

The war was over, but not without casualties. Numerous ships, planes and factories had been bombed with regular bombs, and London was totally destroyed - by a single atomic bomb. Only derelicts lived there now, not knowing of the harmful radiation that surrounded what once was the great capital.Slowly though, things were getting back to normal, shops began opening, and the war started to shift to the back of people's minds. Life was becoming more normal, but the memory of the war was still there, and always would be. Unfortunately, my memories of our time on the island would never shift to the back of my mind - I would never forget what the war meant to me. I might not have been killed, though I wish I had been, I might not have lost my home or seen London go up a huge mushroom cloud of bright red light, but I had lived with people that hardly deserve that title, people that became animals, people that were worse than animals - murderers. And I myself, was one of them.I was slowly getting better, but I never got through a night without hearing the chant and Simon's furtive screams as we jabbed, attacked and mauled him, without seeing Piggy's fat body flying into the air and then crashing down on the rocks. I had never recovered from those experiences and at no time had a job. I live in a small, damp apartment above a coin laundry. The greatest pleasure I had in life was feeding the pigeons in the park. I would get what stale bread I could from the bakery to feed the birds. They would rush at me when they saw me and fight for the small scraps of bread before it had even hit the ground. They were animals, but not like Jack and the others, they were kind animals, they never hurt anyone - they went about their lives regardless of us. Many times I wished that I too could be a pigeon. I wanted to lead the simple life that they did, I wanted to forget what had happened, I wanted to escape the plaguing memories.It was Tuesday morning and I was feeding pigeons in the park. They were fighting for the pathetic scraps of stale bread I threw on the ground as usual, looking at me begging me with their eyes for more.

Free Essays - A Personal Utopia in Brave New World :: Brave New World

A Personal Utopia:   An Analysis of a Key Passage in Brave New World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The key passage of Aldous Huxley’s Brace New World takes place after John has been arrested and is a conversation with Mond.   When John and Mond speak of ideal societies, a major part of Brave New World, the aspect of human nature which makes us search continuously for our personal Utopia, becomes apparent.   In Mond’s study, the sacrifices each character makes in order to find a Utopia are interconnected.   The search for a personal Utopia reveals Huxley’s view on human nature of sacrificing everything to live with self-fulfillment.   Ã‚  The connection of the sacrifices each character makes is shown in the study, helping the reader understand that it is human nature to sacrifice something to live a more fulfilling life.   One sees that all, except Helmholtz and John, are willing to give up an important part of them so they can feel fulfilled.   Mond is willing to sacrifice the one thing dearest to him- science.   He says he gave it up in hope of Controllership.   He got what he paid for by continuing his interest in science, â€Å"By choosing to serve happiness.     Other people’s-not mine.† [235], or by serving stability instead of collapsing the fragile social structure.   At the beginning, Bernard was willing to give up his position in the new world so he could further his studies in finding a society more suited to his needs; but, in the end, he did not want to give up his rank and failed in finding an ideal society.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It becomes apparent that anyone who will not give up a major part of themself will fail in their quest for a greater society.   John is not willing to give up anything, be it antiques to happiness.   In the end, however, he ended up making the ultimate sacrifice- his life.   By ending his life, he escaped into what his society’s religion believed to be a Utopia; it is better known as heaven.   Meanwhile, Helmholtz is able to somewhat adapt to any surronding and makes the sacrifices as needed, that is the reason he was not biased to any other cultures.   There are still faults in his beliefs, thanks to hynopaedia. Helmholtz cannot understand Othello, he is not accustomed   to the social inability the book thrives on.   He was still by far the most able, and willing, to understand John’s society.