Video project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Video project - Assignment Example In this context, spectrum health involves itself with the community by creating direct contact and addresses their concerns in the manner that is best suited for them. The company involvement with the affairs of the community enables the community to appreciate its existence while the company can know the needs of the community health wise and address them in future community focused programs. The video illustrates the assigned course very well as it clearly shows the innovative manner a company or organisation can be involved in the community around it especially making the programs community friendly through participation. In this case, it is initially all about the social parties rather than what the organisation derives from it. The company does not engage mainly to rip benefits but it stands to ultimately benefit from its involvements through several avenues. The proceedings in the video provided bear a relation with what was discussed in class. One notable element relates to how corporate social responsibility in modern days functions. It is notable that the organisation Spectrum health stands to gain from its involvement with the community. Through corporate social responsibility, it is building reputation which in line translates to a better image. Demand for its health insurance services are likely to go up because it identifies with people surrounding its basic operations. According to the iron law of responsibility, those organisations that do no appeal to the society through usage of their power loses it. From the video, it is evident that Spectrum Health’s goal is to use their influence and contribute positively to the society. Essentially, their goal with coming up with the project is to make a positive impact which they achieve. The actions of the organisations contain some present forms of corporate social responsibilit y. There is the citizen ship approach- they do it out of obligation and accountability, they are also focused on the

School of Management and Economics Essay Example for Free

School of Management and Economics Essay During this work, we experienced how to manage the relationships within our work group in order to be efficient. Trust and collaboration have been the prerequisites for the formation of this team. We considered this bachelor thesis as an ongoing process, where all the parts of the paper have been rewritten many times. This work enables us to see marketing from a new perspective, more complex, maybe closer to the reality of companies. We would like to thank the managers from L’Orà ©al, Edouard Laclavià ¨re, Valentin Guillois, the manager located in Honk Hong, Ivan Coste-Manià ¨re, Iku, Aico, Mayumi, Ying, Sun-Young, Ahra and Katrin that dedicated time to answer to our questions. We are grateful to all these persons as they made the writing of this thesis possible. We would like to thank our tutor, Christine Lundberg that helped us finding our way in this process by providing us with good advice. We would like to thank also Marie Thuriot and Isabelle Petit, from IPAG, Nice, who answered from France to our emails and helped us in our researches orienting us to the right websites and to the right persons. Finally, we would like to thank our friends and relatives for their support, comprehension and criticism. Và ¤xjà ¶, May 25th 2006 Emilie, Lauranne and Tytti EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bachelor thesis in Economics at Và ¤xjà ¶ University, 2006 Authors: Lauranne Fina, Tytti Luc and Emilie Venezia Examiner: Jerzy Kociatkiewicz Tutor: Christine Lundberg Title: The Role of Cultural Differences in the Product and Promotion Adaptation Strategy: A L’Orà ©al Paris Case Study Introduction: Nowadays, firms are becoming more and more global. However, are consumers becoming global too? Therefore, the challenge for the firms consists in determining if they should adapt their products or if they should consider the consumers as being global, and keep their product standardized. The purpose of this paper is to investigate adaptation strategy in South Korea, Japan and People’s Republic of China (PRC) for make-up products and its promotion considering the influence of culture on the consumer behaviour. This is studied referring to the European market. L’Orà ©al Paris is used as an example to illustrate the study. Methodology: This study is a case study about L’Orà ©al Paris. To conduct it, we chose to use qualitative interviews and document analysis. Different kinds of interviews have been done in order to know more about the company adaptation strategy, the culture and the consumer behaviour in Asia. Written sources as external documents from L’Orà ©al Paris, websites, press articles, scientific articles and literature have been used to complete the primary data. Theoretical framework: Culture is a system of meanings shared by members of a group. It is an important part of marketing because it influences the consumers’ wants and needs and because it impacts on the interpretations of products’ communication. This demonstrates that the culture impacts consumer behaviour. The study of the consumer behaviour conducts companies to adapt their products features, their packaging, their symbolic attributes, their service attributes and their promotion. Empirical data: The empirical data comes from various sources. We interviewed three managers from L’Orà ©al Paris and as well girls from the following nationalities: three Japanese girls, one Chinese girl and two Korean girls. We also interviewed a specialist of cosmetics. All these interviews were conducted in order to answer our objectives. The interviews with the Asian girls and with the specialist of cosmetics were conducted in order to collect data on the culture and on the consumer behaviour. The interviews with the managers of L’Orà ©al Paris were conducted in order to collect data on their adaptation and standardization strategies on the studied markets. Analysis: Cultural aspects impact directly or indirectly on the consumer behaviour. The culture diversity creates the consumer behaviour diversity as it can be noticed in South Korea, Japan and PRC where the culture and the behaviours are very different than in Europe. L’Orà ©al Paris is trying to know more about these consumer behaviour differences in order to answer the consumers’ demands and to adapt its products and promotion strategy. Conclusion: L’Orà ©al Paris is adapting some elements of its product range and its promotion. The three countries studied are very different culturally speaking. However, the adaptations on products and promotion made by L’Orà ©al Paris do not take fully into account these cultural and consumer behaviour differences. Moreover, many promotion and products aspects are standardized. Thus, the L’Orà ©al Paris adaptation strategy in the Asian zone is a mix between standardization and adaptation. In its adaptation strategy, the firm considers some elements of the consumer behaviour therefore of the culture. To conclude, the cultural differences may influence the make-up products and promotion adaptation strategy.

Development of the German Industrial Relations System

Development of the German Industrial Relations System The management of employees, both individually and collectively, remains a central feature of organizational life (Blyton Turnbull, 2004). This statement, taken from the book The Dynamics of Employee Relations, generally reflects the necessity organizations are facing. Regarding the central role employees are playing in business, the implementation of systems which regulate the working process in order to protect and restrain both employees and employers by installing rules, policies, and guidelines are essential. These systems are called employee relations and are put in place globally. Yet, these systems differ accordingly among different economies according to nation and culture. The subsequent is divided into three major pillars: First, it will provide a description of the core characteristics of the German employment relations system. The second pillar regards the existing systems of collective bargaining and participation and discusses their development since the 1980s. The third and last part gives an outline of the major recent trends and will focus in detail on the most significant recent issue of the German employment relations system. Main Body Core characteristics of the German human resource management/employment system Being one of the most successful economies in Europe (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), the German industrial relation system is regarded to encourage workplace cooperation in high-quality production and the economic prosperity contributes in general to a peaceful and collaborative work-environment. According to Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, the German model of industrial relations is based on five pillars, which will be explained in the following. The most significant pillar is regarded to be the dual structure of interest representation. This implies a separation of workers representation at the workplace-level from the collective bargaining system. Hence structural conflicts between labor and capital are dealt with in two arenas, separated according to interests, actors, and modes of enforcement (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998): While collective bargaining deals with issues such as working-hours and wages on a more general level and therefore follows a quantitative approac h, in the workplace these are specialized and more of qualitative nature. Although both parties are legally independent from each other in formal terms, they reveal certain interdependencies in reality. Keller (1998) states that unions and works councils are reliable partners within a network of stable co-operation. It is for example often the case that Unions train members of the works-council and provide them with legal advice, while works councilors are in many cases also trade unionists and participate in policy-making and recruiting members for their Union. The two institutions of trade Unions and Works Councils, as well as collective bargaining, will be described in more detail in the following and at a later stage. As the second pillar, Mà ¼ller-Jentsch (1998) reveals the importance of the law. Existing on a profound legal basis, the dual system of Germanys industrial relations puts emphasis on a detailed regulation of labor conflicts on the one hand and industrial relations at the workplace on the other. For instance, this implies the fact that works councils do not have the right to strike. Penalties for breaches are high, which calls legal exports to action, who therefore gain more and more influence on the workers side. The third pillar mentioned is the degree to which the institutions of collective representation encompass their constituencies. As the unions and works councils are able to make decisions in the name of the whole workforce, they are obliged by law to represent the interests of all employees. Next and fourth important feature is the fact that the named institutions are of intermediate character (Ferner Hyman, 1998). According to its legal constitution, the works council follows explicitly the economic goals of the company. Trade unions have become so called mediators between the interests of labor and capital, and bulwarks of the tradition of social partnership (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, 1998). The fifth and final major pillar of the Germa n model of industrial relations is the relative centralization of collective bargaining and the according coordinated bargaining policies, which will be explained in greater detail in the second part of this essay. The two parties of the German dual system are, as already described above, the trade unions and the works councils. In Germany, trade unionism goes back to 1945, when the German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) was put in place, providing a single organizational structure for workers of different status. In 1995, the confederation had a total of 9,354,670 members coming from sectors such as the metal industry, public service, chemicals, construction, banking, rail, police, wood and plastics, media, textiles, food drink and tobacco, or education and science for example. Although German unions are not formally affiliated to any political party, the German trade Union Confederation shows links to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). These patt erns of political alignment result from tradition, yet they appear to be weakening more and more over time. In addition, there are two other significant confederations in Germany: the German Salaried Employees Union (DAG) and the German Civil Servants Federation (DBB), which resulted from the Weimar Republic. The trade union density in Germany in 2007 was at 19.9% (OECD.2008). In comparison, the UK shows a density of 28%, whereas the United States reveal 11.6%. The second part of the German dual system are the works councils. In Germany, works councils are mandatory for in all private firms with five or more employees. They possess rights of information, consultation, and co-determination (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). Co-determination implies social matters such as principles of remuneration and payment methods, performance related pay, daily and weekly work schedules, regulation of overtime, holiday arrangements, or the use of technical devices to monitor employees pe rformance. In specific circumstances there is even the right of veto over individual cases of hiring, grading, transfer, and dismissal. Additionally, the employer is obliged to inform the works council about the economic situation and financial affairs. Works councilors are elected for four years and are by law independent from the unions, representing the whole workforce. In general, works councils deal with the following employment relations: technological change, functional and numerical flexibility, as well as influencing the formal company structures. As already pointed out above, technological change implies for example the implementation of new technological instruments or methods to monitor employee performance. Concerning the functional flexibility, an article from the Industrial Relations Journal can be stated: Works councils are constituted on the basis of working together with the respective employer/management in a spirit of mutual trust to reinforce the achievement of functional flexibility (Lumley, 1992). The numerical flexibility roots in a legal event. The Employment Promotion Act was introduced by the German government in 1985. After successful lobbying of employers, legislative changes in employment relations were introduced, facilitating an increase in fixed-term contracts, temporary employees, and part-time workers in a mixed way. This enabled employers to be able to react more promptly to economic crises or peak-times, for example. Especially times of economic pressure generate a demand for more flexibility by organizations in how work is conducted. There is a need for flexible structures and work processes, allowing companies to adjust their labor resources to meet rapidly changing market demands, for instance the current global economic crisis which also strongly hit the German economy. Competitive conditions are leading to a decentralization of the German employment relations system on multiple levels, particularly within enterprises ( Berg, 2008). At the same time, workers desire more flexibility in when, how, and where they work. The increase in female labor, the rise of dual earner couples, and the cost of child rearing have altered the balance between work- and non-work roles and contributed to a variety of flexible work arrangements, especially in Germany (Berg et al. 2004). Another significant aspect of the German employment relations system is how business in the country is organized. There are three basic types of organization which can be distinguished: The chambers of Industry and Commerce, Business Associations, and Employers Associations (Harzing Van Ruysseveldt, 2004). The Chambers of Industry and Commerce are local organizations with a formal legal status, which makes membership necessary for all affected firms. The term affected implies all firms belonging to the respective field of operations of the Chambers. The task carried out by the Chambers are for example licensing and regulating trade pract ices and managing occupational training programs such as apprenticeships. These are a popular instrument for German high-school graduates who are willing to directly enter into working or simply do not have the possibility to go to university. Business Associations are organized by industry, in local associations affiliated to sectoral peak associations (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). They are concerned with such matters as technology, production, marketing, and research. In Contrast, Employers Associations are responsible for negotiating the multi-employer collective agreements, which, according to Mà ¼ller-Jentsch (1998) are covering the vast majority of employees. Finally, the following facts about the German economy and its industrial relations will provide a further insight on how the countrys relations look like. The information is taken from the European Industrial Relations Observatory. The trade union density in Germany, where the number of trade union members is compared relative to the overall number of employees, is at around 22%. The employer organization density is at 63%. Here, the number describes the percentage of employees employed by companies who are members of an employer organization. In 2007, the country employment rate, regarding people from 15-64 years, was at 6.4%, whereas the unemployment rate for the same age-group reached 8.4%. Another significant figure is the number of working days lost through industrial action, per 1,000 employees. Here the average from 2004-2007 was at 5.62 days. The European average was at 37.47 days, which shows that Germany is significantly below the average (EIRO, 2009). Furthermore, the industrial relations in Germany, in cooperation with many other factors of course, result in a stable and advanced economy, which is to be regarded as very advanced and on a high level. Yet, there is still room for improvement left, also in industrial relations. Here, the cooperation of trade unions, works cou ncils, and employers could still be further improved. Existing systems of collective bargaining participation and their development since the 1980s Collective bargaining can be defined as a process of decision-making between parties representing employer and employee interests. Its purpose is the negotiation and application of an agreed set of rules to govern the substantive and procedural terms of the employment relationship (Windmà ¼ller.1987). In detail, the functions of collective bargaining are determining the terms and conditions of employment, as well as the allocation, distribution, and transaction of cost-saving issues. Furthermore, it also aims at countervailing the power of management and conflict-resolution. A significant prerequisite is the mutual recognition of the actors as representatives and the general willingness to bargain. The parties need to be aware of the fact that, within a defined area, future problems and issues are to be resolved jointly. Collective bargaining takes place within the field of the terms and conditions of employment. Specific topics are the price of labor, work rules, individual job rig hts, enforcement procedures, and the issue of management and union rights. (Zagelmeyer, 2010) The relationship between the two parties (employers and employees), can significantly influence the outcome of the bargaining. This accounts on a general as well as on an individual level. The probability to achieve a win-win situation throughout the bargaining process is certainly higher if the overall climate between management and employees in the company is positive and if the individuals get along with each other. It also affects the respective strategies and tactics and determines the general atmosphere of the whole process. Another important aspect is the term of bargaining power. According to Chamberlain and Kuhn (1986), it is defined as the ability to secure anothers agreement on ones own terms. It is the driving force underlying the bargaining relationship. The structure of collective bargaining can be either formal or informal. In a formal structure, the participants are legally bound by the terms of the agreement, whereas an informal bargaining structure is defined as the employers or employees who are affected by the results of a negotiated settlement through either pattern bargaining or other non-binding processes (Zagelmeyer, 2010). The process of collective bargaining can take place on different layers. Starting at a work group, department or company level, the single-employer bargaining functions in a decentralized way. Multi-employer collective bargaining embodies the local single industry, regional economy, or even a national economy, which reveals the highest possible degree of centralization. To draw the line to the German system of collective bargaining, Berg (2004) states the Germany shows a trend towards a further decentralization of collective bargaining, meaning that employment relations issues are increasingly being resolved on a single-employer level. Keller and Jacobi (1998) refer to the German Collective Agreement Act, where the parties t o a collective agreement must be unions on the workers side and single employers and or employers associations on the other. Company collective agreements are mainly to be found in smaller firms and cover a small minority of employees. Yet, the overall collective bargaining coverage in Germany ranked at 61% in 2007 (EIRO, 2009). In comparison to 2004 (68%), this percentage has decreased by 7% and can probably be drawn back to the current trend of decentralization of collective bargaining in Germany, which, on average, does not cover as many of the overall number of employees than the centralized approach including multi-employer collective bargaining. Indust ry wide and sectoral agreements contribute to a high degree of standardization of wages and other working conditions, as does state regulation (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998). It is also the case that, although sectoral bargaining is taking place at a regional level, collective bargaining in Germany is centrally direc ted by the national organizations on each of the two sides. Several pilot-agreements, especially from the engineering industry, function as role models for influence all other industries. An example is the so called IG Metall, which therefore enjoys a high degree of awareness in the German economy. According to the pacemaker of IG Metall, there are three different kinds of collective agreements to be distinguished: First, there are wage agreements. These set the level of wages and periodic alterations. Next there are the so called framework agreements, specifying wage-payment systems. Last, there are umbrella-agreements, which regulate all other conditions of employment such as working time, overtime, holidays, and dismissals. Another significant aspect of the German way of bargaining is described by Tallard (1988): The German collective bargaining process follows a certain sequence. A more or less extended period, depending on the industry and complexity of the issue to be discusse d, leads to agreement in the majority of the cases. If negotiations fail, both parties try to resolve the conflict through mediation procedures. These are established by union-employer agreements instead of government interventions. If mediation also fails, the conflict might result in a strike or in a lockout, which are the two last legal weapons of the union side in order to achieve their goals (Keller. 1997). Although there is a trend towards decentralization of collective bargaining, the system still needs mechanisms to adapt general conditions of collective agreements to the circumstances of individual establishment (Berg, 2008). Furthermore, it needs to be pointed out that civil servants are excluded from collective bargaining. The conditions of employment for this group of employees are set by legislation. Still, there is an influence of the relevant unions who function as consultants for the government. Another aspect of German industrial relations is that the scope of indus trial regulations is not closely related to union membership, as it is the case in other countries (Ferner Hyman, 1998). Roughly eighty percent of the employees are covered by collective agreements, which is three times the number of union members. Currently, the majority of collective negotiations is concerned with pay. This has been a development over the past decades and the focus of collective bargaining has changed over time. During the 1970s for instance, non-wage issues have received the most attention. During the late 1970s, for example, there had been a trend in bargaining across industries which considered the protection of employees against rationalization. During the 1980s, working-time arrangements played a dominant role (Ferner Hyman, 1998), where collective bargaining mostly aimed at regulating the working-time of employees as a strategy for job-creation. In the focus of discussion between unions and employers was the claim that the effect of shorter working hours r esults in an increase in employment. Since the early 1990s, especially after the Unification of Eastern and Western Germany, collective bargaining turned to the issue of wages. Since the efforts of the unions have not been very successful (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998), strikes emerged over several industries. Mà ¼ller et al. (1998) also make the point that collective bargaining seems to have had only a limited impact on income differentials. It was not a subject of priority to German unions. Yet, through the introduction of common pay scales, the gap between management employees (white-collars) and manual employees seems to be closing. In order to demonstrate the development and the outcome of collective bargaining in Germany, two other aspects need to be taken into consideration. During the 1950s annual holidays in Germany were two weeks, on average. Until the 1990s, this was increased to a total of six weeks, due to constant union-efforts (Ferner Hyman, 1998). The o ther aspect considers the amount of weekly working hours. Again during the 1950s, employees worked on average 48 hours per week. In the 1990s the efforts of the unions resulted in a total of 37.5 hours per week, on average. Taking a closer look on the development of collective bargaining in Germany, the following can be conclusion can be drawn. Due the historically more nationwide structure of bargaining, which had been introduced to a certain extent already in the Weimar Republic, the main process of bargaining happens at a more nation-wide, multi-employer stage. The development since the 1980s has shown that most bargaining-procedures follow the role model of the above described IG Metall and the major issue has become the topic of remuneration. A current example was the ongoing, publically held discussion about minimum-wages in several industries. Yet, there is a certain trend towards the decentralization of bargaining on a single-employer level which will be further discussed in the following. It is also of a high significance that the nationwide role-models are carried out to the single-employer levels, where often adjustments are made and the centralized outcome is often adapted to individual situations of companies. As a last aspect to be discussed referring to collective bargaining is the extent to which political parties in Germany take influence on the bargaining process. The IG Metall for example has an obvious affinity to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), whose major target group are people belonging to the general workforce. This can certainly be of advantage for the majority of employees in case that the SPD takes legislative influence in favor of issues the IG Metall is concerned with. Current major trends and the decentralization of the German human resource management relations system The following part of the essay will provide an outline of current trends regarding the human resources management relations system in Germany. The previously described trend of the decentralization of bargaining structures will be regarded in greater detail, since it seems to be a significant development in German employment relations over the past years. One trend, which is not only occurring in Germany but in nearly all major industrial economies of Europe, is described by Streeck and Kluge (1999). In their study, it becomes evident that employers are tending to have a growing interest in a reliable and constructive relationship with trade unions on a company level. They state that the aim is to get along in a more productive manner than as it had always been the case. Being aware of the fact that this saves time and efforts, employers try to act more on a partner-level (Streeck Kluge, 1999). In case of Germany, the employee-side has the opportunity to react on static negotiation s with the employer by introducing strikes and lockouts. Yet, regarding the fact that employers are now obviously showing an increased compliance, at least on a perceived level, unions also tend to adopt a higher potential of compromise and push back a strike as the last opportunity since it harms the company on a general level. Another notable trend over the past years in Germany has been the growth of temporary work. With growth rates that are significantly higher than the rates of standard employment (Mitlacher, 2008), temporary work has attracted both public and academic attention. This trend can obviously be drawn back to times of economic recession and a certain divergence in business fluctuations. Employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are often depending on the ability to react to the current situation. In peak-times they are able to adjust their workforce upwards, whereas in times of crisis they can easily downsize their workforce accordingly. This situat ion surely comprises a negative connotation towards employee rights, yet it is a very useful application for employers although it might be regarded as exploitation of the workforce. To go a bit more into detail, it can be stated that on the one hand, temporary or triangular employment relations offer the possibility to reduce labor, hiring, and training costs. On the other hand it might also be stated that agency jobs are also associated with low wages, minimal benefits, negligible job security, little training, and no job prospects (Mitlacher, 2008). Here it becomes clearly evident that the advantage of triangular work is on the employers side, whereas employees have to get along with it. In general, Jahn (2005), who is quoted by Mitlacher (2008), states that the proportion of young people and foreigners is much higher among temporary agency workers than in the overall economy. Furthermore, 30% of the temporary workers are low-skilled and only a quarter of all temporary workers ar e women (Federal Employment Service, 2005). A further trend which can be regarded in Germany is the issue of privatization. It is an issue since the 1970s when the Social Democratic Party was governing and refused privatization on grounds of political principle (Ferner Hyman, 1998). Due to the issues of the perceived increase in profitability and flexibility coming along with privatization, the trend has developed during the 1980s, when the Christian Democratic Party of Germany came to power and created the legal grounds for privatization. Although all public sector unions and major interest organizations have offered strong and coordinated resistance to privatization and have caused serious social conflicts (Mà ¼ller-Jentsch, Keller, Jacobi, 1998) , the trend kept on developing over time. A famous recent example for privatization is the Deutsche Bahn AG. Apart from the above mentioned current issues, there is another significant trend in Germanys employment relations. According to a study of the Max-Planck-institute, the employment relations in Germany undergo a change which can be allocated to a steady increase in internationalization, which has started to grow considerably during the 1990s. Besides the danger of facility-shifts to financially more feasible countries, employment relations are mainly affected by another aspect. The increasing degree of Americanization brings along a growing shareholder-orientation. Industrial Relations and codetermination are reacting on the competitive environment of international markets by adapting to a decentralization of collective bargaining (Max-Planck-Institut-fà ¼r-Gesellschaftsforschung, 1999). This is development is also supported by the unification of Germany, when two independent economies were merged together. The area wide-wage agreement has been in the centre of Germanys system of collective bargaining. Individual wage agreements have led to more moderate wage developments, whilst collective agreements wit h individual firms, and agreements at the production unit level, have not had this moderating effect. On the other hand, collective bargaining has become more flexible, leading to greater pay differentiation. The further decentralization of collective bargaining, although desirable, has given rise to objections based in constitutional law and to resistance from employees and employers (Ochel, 2005). As already described above, there is a trend from multi-layer collective bargaining to a decentralized structure, with a single-employer structure, taking place from work unit-levels to corporation-levels. As revealed by Mà ¼ller-Jentsch et al. (1998), there is no necessary interconnection between deregulation initiated by the government and flexibility, which is pursued by assertive employers. Yet, both coincide in practice and contribute to the process of decentralization of labor relations. Therefore the actors at the company level gain importance, whereas the actors on a sectoral le vel, unions and employers associations lose some of their former power. Coming along with the above described shift of competence and influence, a new institutionalized balance of power (Ferner Hyman, 1998) has developed. Still, nationwide pacemakers such as the IG Metall are still powerful and maintain a significant influence. Referring to this issue, an example is presented by Ochel (2005) is provided, who bascically refers to so called Wild-Cat Co-Operation. In detail , this means that works councils often agree to overtime working, which enhances the earnings of their constituents while allowing the company to increase production without the long-term commitments involved in taking new workers. This contradicts with the policy to which the unions are strongly committed, to restrict overtime and encourage additional recruitment in order to reduce unemployment. The divergence between interests is the following: Unions, having a nationwide, multi-employer perspective aim reducing the overall unemployment. Works Councils instead aim at achieving the most suitable solution for the individual company, since they have a more decentralized focus and a single-employer point of view. Conclusion To come to a final conclusion it can be stated that the German industrial relations system has undergone a constant development over the last decades. The dual system, embodying unions and works councils, is based on tradition and represents the two parties of collective bargaining. Due to internationalization and other globalizing aspects, a major development in the German system is a shift towards decentralization, laying more decision power on the individual employers perspectives. As pointed out above, this bears opportunities as well as challenges.

The Virtual Neighborhood and Its Social Implications :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

The Virtual Neighborhood and Its Social Implications My own feelings about the "virtual neighborhood" fall somewhere in between those of Jim Dewer and David Noble. I will very briefly make an attempt to sketch out some boundary lines and find myself therein. I distinguish two sides of the issue. One is the concept itself and the other is the proposed list of uses. Admittedly, the two of these are related. The Concept First of all, the "virtual neighborhood" is no real neighborhood and we need to avoid being unduly convinced by a metaphor which is just that, a metaphor, of limited use. A "virtual promise" is no real promise. A "virtual promise" does not hold up in court where contracts have to be demonstrable, e.g., in writing. The word 'virtual' means something idealized by projection and not actualized. Calling the Internet a "virtual neighborhood" is making a claim that we can re-create a familiar experience by projection into an enormous "ideal" electronic experience. Second, let us not forget to check to see whether a metaphor is appropriate. Just because it is a metaphor is no reason to believe it is a useful metaphor --- that is, a "noble falsehood." Does the idea of a virtual neighborhood have some nobility? If we stretch the neighborhood all the way around the world, what features of it can we justifiably expect to carry over into the virtual reality of the metaphor? And what won't stretch? Clearly, actual visualization, moment-by-moment multiple perception, and direction recognition/identification -- essential features of truly human contact -- don't stretch across this medium. We don't get to watch a person's "body language." Is the person uneasy? Confident? Intimacy is something that also belongs to most neighborhoods but doesn't travel well. For one thing, the network is too narrow a channel and it's set up for too much speed. Neighborhoods develop because we watch each other's kids grow up and we borrow each other's lawn mowers. And finally, I do not believe that commitment is something we'll find in the virtual neighborhood. When my virtual neighbor's URL burns down, will I be there with my bucket of fiberoptic? A neighborhood is something complex, something rich. Saying that we can re-create a neighborhood virtually across incredible distances and through a very limited medium has to be, in some real sense, very audacious. This is especially the case, I think, when we claim that intimacy can move without alteration across this medium.

A Reaction and Analysis of “Saving Grace” by Lee Smith

Lee Smith’s Saving Grace is a novel that features the story of Florida Grace Shepherd, a young Appalachian girl who is brought up in an environment that oppresses the rights and freedom of young women based on the expectations of its very religious nature. Grace, who is also the narrator of the story, tells her own tale about her quest for identity and freedom as well as her ultimate religious awakening. She shares her story as she goes through her childhood despising her father Virgil and the reality that unlike other children, she is growing with insufficient love and care from the people she expects to receive it. Grace’s childhood is bound by religious rules and codes since her father is their community's popular charismatic preacher and serpent handler. She is not free to do what other kids can do, and she is not even free to read anything except for the Bible. Grace and her siblings are not even allowed to read the newspaper as their father stresses that the only news they need to know about is the good news from the Holy Scripture (Smith, 2008). Grace also knows that she is an abused child. Aside from the insufficient affection she gets from home, she also suffers painful maltreatments from her father, whom she wants to respect and adore, but he treats her with coldness instead (Smith, 2008). Because of the absurd religious limitations that prevent her from doing what she wanted as a kid, and due to the agony that she suffered from the hands of her father acting as an honorable man, Grace grows up carrying a bitter resentment toward the home she grew up in. She also becomes pessimistic about the good possibilities in life, and she grows up envying everything that made other girls of her age happy (Smith, 2008). Smith's ability to capture the Appalachian way of life and the reality of growing up in an environment full of bizarre religious traditions has been highly regarded by her critics. Moreover, her ability to mold characters based on the known stereotypes in the society has also made her earn the admiration of critics and readers (Town, 2004). Saving Grace is seen by many as a work filled with symbolisms reflected in the names of the characters. Florida Grace Shepherd is in itself a name full of meanings. Florida is based on the place where Grace was born, while Grace stands for the Grace of God. Her last name, Shepherd, can be interpreted as a reminder of her family’s role as shepherds of their community since they represent the people's shepherd, Jesus, in the eyes of their neighbors (Town, 2004) However, while this is the popular impression about their family, Smith (2008) adds an inner conflict in Virgil’s character. Although considered as a sacred and honorable man, Virgil is inclined to bed a lot of women aside from his wife. He also seems to be incapable of controlling his emotions, particularly his bad temper and rage, which he often takes out on Grace. This sinner-saint conflict in Virgil’s character is the greatest confusion for Grace as well. Yet, despite this conflict on Virgil's personality and attitude, he is still able to win the respect of the people in their church because of his devotion and loyalty to what he preaches. Although he can be seen as a man with normal lustful desires, his ability to strengthen other people’s faith in the Lord remains unquestionable, making him respected despite his worldly sins. In the end, the readers would realize that the title of this novel completely explains Grace’s story. Aside from the fact that the story is indeed about saving the main protagonist from losing her faith and her strength to carry on with life, the title may also say that in all the obstacles and trials Grace faced, there is one saving grace which lifted her spirits up and made her hold on to her faith—her strong desire to repent, to change, and to believe that there is really a Supreme Being who governs and looks after her. The ending appears to be open-ended for the author does not clearly state how Grace chose to carry on with her life. However, as she wanted to start anew, it can be inferred that Grace has met her saving grace which made her realize that being doomed and oppressed for a long time can never be good reasons to give up; rather, they are valuable lessons she can carry with her on her journey to rebuild her new life.

Melanie Phillips Essay Example

Melanie Phillips Essay Example Melanie Phillips Essay Melanie Phillips Essay Melanie Phillips article is about how she feels about violence on T.V and video. The article contains Melanie Phillips strong opinions and views on video violence and how she is against it. She wants everyone to be aware of what is going on on T.V and video and warning parents to protect their children.The headline is designed to attract attention because it makes you think. The word mediocrity has 2 meanings, middle state or second rate and it doesnt say which one she means so that is there to confuse you. It also gives you the idea of mediocrity fighting which is quite surprising. The mediocrity is supposed to be the masses who are governed by the powerful so if they rebelled against the powerful leaders it would be a surprise.The violent truth part seems to contradict its self because the truth isnt usually violent which would puzzle the reader but what Melanie Phillips means by violent truth is the truth about violence on T.V and video. She is against violent movies, videos and t elevision programs and children being able to view them. She doesnt like children mimicking the violence they see on T.V and video that are being broadcast early in the afternoon so that the children can watch it.The headline could also mean that people who wont accept the truth are mediocre.In the opening paragraphs Melanie Philips uses a conversational tone to entice you into reading her views. She also uses rhetorical questions to make it feel like she is talking to you.Well, are you for video violence or against it?Melanie Phillips actually opens her article with a rhetorical question which makes you feel involved and that your opinions are valued. Rhetorical questions and conversational tone are effective because it makes it feel like Melanie Phillips is having a conversation with the reader and it gives the text a natural feel.No one would actually answer her second rhetorical question:Do you think children should continue to be exploited for commercial profit by amoral film m akers etc.Which also gives the reader a chance to think about their views on video violence.Melanie Phillips answers most of her own rhetorical questionsYou do?You dont?At the start Melanie Phillips makes a shocking contradiction when she pretends to congratulate the people who agree with video violence and insults the ones who dont which shocks the reader because what they have read so far sounds like she is against it.Another technique that Melanie Phillips uses is emotive language that is meant to disgust the reader. Using strong words like explicit degradation is meant to alarm the reader and helps put across her powerful views.Amoral film-makers selling images of sadism, gratuitous violence and explicit degradation.She also uses slang expressions, which also adds to the impression she is talking to you personally.Come on now dont dodge the question.Melanie Phillips uses sarcasm when she talks about Michael Winner and Dr Guy Cumberbatch. She calls Michael Winner an exploiter, wh ich is her real opinion of him but she sarcastically corrects herself and calls him a creative artist, which is his opinion of himself. And again for Dr Cumberbatch, she says he uses exploitation, which is what she thinks it is and then sarcastically corrects herself and calls it artistic freedom which they say it is.It is a clever way of putting across her views and not getting into trouble.Melanie Phillips starts off with quite long sentence and using only small words but as the article wears on she starts to use clever long words that mean the same as a long sentence of small words. This illustrates her large vocabulary. Short, complicated sentences are more effective than long, simple ones because it puts across her views and makes her look intelligent at the same time but long, simple sentences dont have the same effect that short, complicated one do because they waste time and dont make the writer sound as intelligent.Crime is a complicated matrix of causes.The sentences lose their informality after the first few paragraphs and start to use more formal language. The words get longer and more difficult which replaces the slang at the start of the article. It stops sounding like she is talking to you and more like a complaining letter to a television company.The content says all the way through that violence does affect children but it lacks evidence and it sounds like she spends more time sneering than finding proof and proving her point. She doesnt give the reader any proof so it is really only Melanie Phillips own opinion, which is ineffective. If she had given the reader a life story of a child who had copied something off T.V and said what he/she had done then her point would have been put across more effectively and it would be more interesting to read. She also failed to say what the American research had found out if anything. The article is disappointing in that respect.The picture is effective because of its boldness. It has a hint of humour in i t with the clapboard sound of music 2 maniac nun.The fat director has aggressive body language, and evil look, trying to look young by exposing his hairy chest and his money-shaped medallions and looks to have a very loud voice even without his megaphone. He looks like he is splattered with blood which signifies that he makes his money from violence and the contence in his cup looks more like a potion and not a drink. The picture emphasizes Melanie Phillips views on amoral filmmakers.My opinion is that there is a lot of violence on T.V and video now and some impressionable children might copy what they see on T.V but it is really up to the parents to decide whether or not they want their children to see it or not. If parents dont want their children watching the violence then they shouldnt buy the videos, or they should change the channel and not ruin it for the people who dont mind the violence with their whining. If they were to cancel all things violent then they would have to ca ncel the news and most cartoons.The article has a very effective opening that draws in the reader with a rhetorical question and conversational tone but as the reader reads on it starts to get more serious and less effective. When the conversational tone stops and she starts to try and prove her point, the lack of solid evidence doesnt convince the reader. So, overall the article has a very effective opening but loses its impact at the end.

Is It Worth It essays

Is It Worth It essays Dexter King Confronts His Critics And Reveals His Dream There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Dexter King about his tight control of the King speeches, papers, and copyrights. In his new book, Growing Up King: AN Intimate Memoir, he confronts his critics and mournfully examines the effect his fathers death had on him as a child. Kings book describes in some detail the events of the night of April 4, 1968. Particularly about how he and his siblings were told by the Rev. Andrew Young about their father had been killed. Even to this very day it pains King to speak of the assassination. Now King is the CEO and president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolence Social Change. He has endured a considerable amount of criticism from the media and others who are uncomfortable about his decisions regarding the center and the licensing of his fathers papers. King has been accused of peddling his fathers legacy to the highest bidder. There is a public dispute over whether M. Kings papers will go to the Library Of Congress and whether the family will be compensated for the papers. Some say the papers should be donated to the Library. Other critics have charged that the King Center itself is not involved in contemporary civil rights issues and does not supported direct action methods of nonviolence. King says the intention of the center is to educate organization, not to be a direct action organization. King says the Center is educating people on M. Kings real message which is deeper than the I Have A Dream speech. ...

What You Need to Know About Biomes

What You Need to Know About Biomes If you want to learn about ecology, the first thing you need to understand is how all of living organisms in the world live with one another. A biome is an ecosystem or group of ecosystems that can be characterized by its vegetation, plant  and animals life, climate, geology, elevation, and rainfall.   Biomes are large ecosystem units. So while a puddle may be considered an ecosystem, the Pacific Ocean would be considered a biome. In most cases, the plants and animals in a biome will have special adaptations that make living in that community most successful.   So when ecologists study a particular plant or animal, they generally study its entire biome to have a better understanding of the role that species plays in its community. There are five basic types of land biomes and two categories of aquatic biomes. Each biome can then be broken down into a number of sub-biomes or zones that all have their own unique set of  geographic characteristics. Here are the defining characteristics of the worlds biomes: Land Biomes Tundra: A tundra is a treeless biome that is characterized by long, cold winters and short tepid summers. The word tundra  comes from the Russian word for uplands.   The cooler temperatures and shorter growing season limits the types of plants that are found in tundras to grasses, mosses, lichen, low shrubs, and a few flowering plants.   The three main types of tundra are the arctic tundra, alpine tundra, and Antarctic tundra.Grassland: As the name suggests, grasslands are characterized by the predominance of grasses and grass-like plants, such as sedge and rush.   Savannas are a type of grassland that also include a few scattered trees. Grasslands can be found on every continent in the world except for Antarctica.Forest:  In the forest biome, large groups of trees live together in close relationship with each other and with the other living things in the environment.    In general, the trees in a forest are so abundant that their tops touch or overlap, shading the ground .   Tropical rainforest, boreal forest,  and temperate forest are a few  types of forest biome. Desert:  Rainfall -  or the lack of it- is the defining characteristic of the desert biome.   Deserts get less than 10 inches of rainfall per year.   Because of this, many deserts have little to no vegetation while others have a few scattered low shrubs or grasses. Deserts are usually classified as hot or cold or  semi-arid or coastal.   Ã‚  Mountain: Every continent on Earth has a mountain biome.   Mountains are land masses that are usually found in groups called chains or ranges although some do exist on their own.   A single mountain may have many ecosystems  within it, starting with a desert at the base, changing to a forest as the elevation rises, and topped off with a tundra.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aquatic Biomes Water biomes make up over 75 percent of the Earths surface. They consist of freshwater ecosystems such as  ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands, as well as marine regions such as  coral reefs,  oceans,  and estuaries.Marine biomes are distinguished from freshwater by the presence dissolved compounds - usually salts - in the water. The amount of salt - or salinity - varies within each of the marine ecosystems.  Ã‚   Biomes play a critical role in the understanding of ecology because they help scientists study not only a specific plant or animal but also the role it plays in its community and the characteristics that it has developed to live in its environment.

Constitutional Considerations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Constitutional Considerations - Research Paper Example It is hard to prosecute someone for crimes committed in another jurisdiction (but it is possible). Generally speaking, the worse the crime the higher the level of jurisdiction. For example, most terrorism charges are of a federal nature and will be tried in federal court because they are matters of national security. |The government has decided that one type of crime is more severe than another and that it affects the national interest. Additionally if a crime involves several states—for example, if you rob banks in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, federal prosecutors will likely take over. Additionally, if a crime involves moving money in and out of the country, federal prosecutors will likely take over. Or if a crime such as corruption is occurring at the State Capitol, the FBI will be called in. Generally, there are a number of federal organizations such as the FBI, ATF, and DEA who have federal jurisdiction over certain serious types of crimes. These people will d o their investigations and turn over their evidence to federal prosecutors who will then make their case to a federal judge. All of these people will have been appointed by the federal government. Jurisdiction is the place of the

The Galapagos and Sustainable Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Galapagos and Sustainable Tourism - Essay Example Then the announcer’s voice comes over the almost hypnotic spectacle: the flamingos were among the inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands. I was mildly surprised because we had just finished a research on the Galapagos, where my group and I discussed the unique and delicate ecosystem of this isolated archipelago. Flamingos are not found solely in the Galapagos, to be sure. But something in their beauty and grace will tell you that the loss of even one of these to the pollution and degradation of human wastefulness is an unspeakable thing. What more those species that could be found only in the Islands? Once they are gone, they are gone forever. I think that this is the remarkable concept behind sustainability, the acknowledgment that earthly life should go on to take its natural course for as long as it can, as it had for millions of years before man even appeared. Man’s emergence in the last second of the earth’s clock, as it is so often described, should not be th e cause of her sudden demise, least of all because people wanted to go around enjoying themselves. Tourism is more than just having fun. The saying is that travel is the best teacher, which is entirely true because travel enriches one’s experiences, broadens his perspective and expands his understanding. It would have been wonderful if, as a class, we could have visited these places we researched about, as it would have added a third dimension to the book pages we have been moving around in. Other than this, this research project.

Company Law consultancy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Company Law consultancy - Case Study Example They do not appear to have done this. Perhaps the company is on the look out for better information from concept to delivery. Whatever may be the reason, Sam and Paul, as majority shareholders, are not using the right way of handling business situations. The action against Larry cannot be seen in isolation because other minority shareholders, that is, Carl, Mark and Jennifer too have their own problems with Sam and Paul. Thus, there is the possibility that the action against Larry is just a tip in the iceberg of Sam and Paul's strong-arm policy aimed at disciplinary measures or removal of the minority shareholders. Sam and Paul have also not talked to Larry and given him the opportunity to explain his position. Sam and Paul have simply come to the conclusion that it is not possible to carry on with Larry because his service has proved expensive. Hence, in Sam and Paul's view, the company has to discontinue with Larry's services. Nonetheless, Averno Ltd is an established corporation. A corporation is described as a person in a political capacity created by law, to endure perpetually. For non-binding external actions or transactions, corporations enjoy the same latitude as private individuals. But it is in the internal affairs that one sees advantage or disadvantages in the corporation. Sam and Paul's actions do not appear to augur well for Averno. Larry now has the legal option to file a suit as minority shareholder in accordance with the rule in Foss versus Harbottle (A summary of the law on minority shareholder protection) Under the case of Foss versus Harbottle, Larry can file a suit as representing Averno Ltd and carry the case to its logical end. There appears to be undue haste on the part of Sam and Paul to have signed an exclusive contract with Megabit Consultancy Ltd. In the first place, they have not adhered to the important provision of its Articles of Association. Secondly, they have placed themselves precariously in a situation where they could be jumping from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. There is no mention about Megabit's rates. Obviously, their rates are attractive as compared to Larry's rates. Nonetheless, the fact that Larry is a shareholder in Averno does not seem to have made any impression on Sam and Paul. It is pertinent to note that Sam and Paul ought to have signed up with Megabit after consulting Larry. There is a clause in the Articles of Association that mentions Larry is the consultant for information technology in Averno. Sam and Paul ought to suitably amend this c lause after calling a special meeting. If the company means business and wants to excel in the sphere of information technology be it networking, web designing, databases, maintenance, application, projects, or procurement, then it must follow the rules and ensure that the relevant point is amended in its Articles of Association (ITC - The Information Technology Consultancy). Sam and Paul must call a meeting of the board and have a special resolution passed to the effect that Larry's services are not needed anymore. It remains to be seen how they wish to induct Megabit.

Alternative Methods of Involvement of Employees in Decision Making Essay

Alternative Methods of Involvement of Employees in Decision Making - Essay Example Managers today are under pressure to engage employees in all aspects of their jobs. Generally, they must find ways to engage employees so they will stay working in the organization. Without engagement, many employees begin to slack in their duties (Farndale, van Ruiten, Killiher & Hope-Hailey, 2011; Gupta, 2011; Liu, Listen-Heyes & Ko, 2010). Companies are pressed to find alternative ways of engaging employees to motivate them to stay. Part of this engagement happens when employees have a voice in the decision making process. When they have a voice and understand that their ideas and opinions are valued and often taken into consideration when large decisions are made, the individuals have a better time of staying with the organisation. Employee Decision Making and Retention One of the ways to retain employees is to give them an opportunity to provide information about change and opportunities for advancement. Many employees bring their most creative and innovative ideas when they fee l they have the opportunity to be heard. Chen, Ployhart et al. (2011) studied the issue of employee turnover and why this often happened. They found that an employee’s job satisfaction is central to whether they stay in on organisation or whether they leave. Part of job satisfaction came from the employee’s perception of their control within their job. Control was often felt by the opportunity to take part in specific decisions as they happened. ... (2011) add to this discussion on voice because they suggest that employees have more commitment to the organisation when they perceive that their voice is being heard. They also found that this perception was directly related to whether employees developed trust in senior management. The authors state that the employee must have a psychological attachment to the organization and its values. This means that employees must be actively involved with decision making and there must be an â€Å"exchange relationship† which means a â€Å"one party provides a benefit to the other, thereby causing an obligation to respond by providing something beneficial †¦ â€Å"(Farndale et al., 2011, p. 115). In an exchange relationship in the organisation, employee voice is heard on a regular basis. The positive aspects of treating employees as stakeholders is that it makes them feel valued, makes them create a stronger commitment to the organisation and motivates them to contribute (Wilkin son and Fay, 2011). With employees as active participants in the decision making process, the managers would become more accountable in their financial practices as well as in their accounting of what they were charged to do (Chilosi and Damiani 2007). Some of the challenges to this method include that some employees may feel they do not have to work as hard because they are important to the organisation, and this attitude can lead to a lessening of productivity. Also, employees involved as stakeholders could create a challenge for outsiders who come into the firm to bring their assistance because they would know as much as the insiders. In some cases, managers can become disgruntled because they may perceive that they do not have as much power because all employees have a say (Chilosi and Damiani 2007).

In relation to customary international law, what are the difficulties Essay

In relation to customary international law, what are the difficulties involved in determining State practice and how is it possible to separate State practice from opinio juris - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is International Law as the body of laws, precepts and regulatory principles that govern relationships between states on the world stage. As states interact with each other in worldly affairs, a political, economic or financial business situation may be created whereby there is a disagreement or difference of viewpoint or even rules of conduct. As a result, one or both state entities may feel cheated and may either decide to settle their differences amicably with one another on agreed terms, resort to aggressive tactics like wars and embargoes or appeal to internationally recognized institutions like the International Courts of Justice and the United Nations Organization to solve their problems. For example, the UN last year has intervened to monitor the situation in Libya arising from the formation of opposition groups seeking to overthrow the corrupt and decadent regime of Col. Muammar Gaddafi. It passed Resolution 1970 on February 26, 2011 under which it condemned the escalation of violence in Libya, noting the loss of lives and heavy civilian casualties that defined crimes against humanity and the civilian population. It demanded a ceasefire and cessation of violent activities, ensuring safety and security to both citizens as well as foreign nationals. It also pressed for safety of the media which was instrumental in bringing information as to the actual situation on the ground. Among other things, the adoption of this resolution resulted in an arms embargo, the creation of a no-fly zone and freezing of assets as recommended by a high level Committee created in the aftermath of the Arab League meeting and the Organization of Islamic Conferences on the situation. Thankfully, the situation is now returning to normalcy since Gaddafi has been deposed and killed and the rest of his family is either in exile or has been arrested or killed. At the present time, the world community especially European and US officials have asked t he Security Council to pass a similar resolution against the regime in Syria, considering the nine month crackdown on protestors in which thousands have been killed or arrested. In terms of Lord Denning’s definition, given at the judgment of the case of Trendtex Trading Corp v Central Bank of Nigeria (1977), International Law may be described as ‘the sum of the rules or usages which civilized States have agreed shall be binding upon them in their dealings with one another’. It is primarily concerned with the behavior of States, and comprises the body of principles, rules and customs recognized as binding obligations by sovereign States and international entities. Higgins points out that ‘it is a system of normative conduct that States consider obligatory to follow’ and as may be formally defined by various conventions and agreements published by the United Nations, the

Affirmative Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Affirmative Action - Essay Example This multipurpose term is used for the set of programs developed by government in order to eliminate the discrimination based on race and gender. The affirmative action programs provide opportunities in education and employment. This facilitates the opportunities that can help beneficiary group to improve its skill, opportunities and uplift the social status. There are various studies that have covered the controversies around the affirmative action within the American society and politics. This has been viewed a politically motivated activity to increase or maintain the vote banks. The controversy is also linked with the tangibility factors of the affirmative action. This is termed as ‘reverse discrimination or preferential treatment’ by Mangum. Berry (2004) has studied the expansion of the affirmative action programs to the private sector by providing educational, training and employment opportunity to the protected groups with increase their recruitment in the organiz ation. There have been various studies and debates over the controversies around affirmative action.

Alternative Methods of Involvement of Employees in Decision Making Essay

Alternative Methods of Involvement of Employees in Decision Making - Essay Example Managers today are under pressure to engage employees in all aspects of their jobs. Generally, they must find ways to engage employees so they will stay working in the organization. Without engagement, many employees begin to slack in their duties (Farndale, van Ruiten, Killiher & Hope-Hailey, 2011; Gupta, 2011; Liu, Listen-Heyes & Ko, 2010). Companies are pressed to find alternative ways of engaging employees to motivate them to stay. Part of this engagement happens when employees have a voice in the decision making process. When they have a voice and understand that their ideas and opinions are valued and often taken into consideration when large decisions are made, the individuals have a better time of staying with the organisation. Employee Decision Making and Retention One of the ways to retain employees is to give them an opportunity to provide information about change and opportunities for advancement. Many employees bring their most creative and innovative ideas when they fee l they have the opportunity to be heard. Chen, Ployhart et al. (2011) studied the issue of employee turnover and why this often happened. They found that an employee’s job satisfaction is central to whether they stay in on organisation or whether they leave. Part of job satisfaction came from the employee’s perception of their control within their job. Control was often felt by the opportunity to take part in specific decisions as they happened. ... (2011) add to this discussion on voice because they suggest that employees have more commitment to the organisation when they perceive that their voice is being heard. They also found that this perception was directly related to whether employees developed trust in senior management. The authors state that the employee must have a psychological attachment to the organization and its values. This means that employees must be actively involved with decision making and there must be an â€Å"exchange relationship† which means a â€Å"one party provides a benefit to the other, thereby causing an obligation to respond by providing something beneficial †¦ â€Å"(Farndale et al., 2011, p. 115). In an exchange relationship in the organisation, employee voice is heard on a regular basis. The positive aspects of treating employees as stakeholders is that it makes them feel valued, makes them create a stronger commitment to the organisation and motivates them to contribute (Wilkin son and Fay, 2011). With employees as active participants in the decision making process, the managers would become more accountable in their financial practices as well as in their accounting of what they were charged to do (Chilosi and Damiani 2007). Some of the challenges to this method include that some employees may feel they do not have to work as hard because they are important to the organisation, and this attitude can lead to a lessening of productivity. Also, employees involved as stakeholders could create a challenge for outsiders who come into the firm to bring their assistance because they would know as much as the insiders. In some cases, managers can become disgruntled because they may perceive that they do not have as much power because all employees have a say (Chilosi and Damiani 2007).

Affirmative Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Affirmative Action - Essay Example This multipurpose term is used for the set of programs developed by government in order to eliminate the discrimination based on race and gender. The affirmative action programs provide opportunities in education and employment. This facilitates the opportunities that can help beneficiary group to improve its skill, opportunities and uplift the social status. There are various studies that have covered the controversies around the affirmative action within the American society and politics. This has been viewed a politically motivated activity to increase or maintain the vote banks. The controversy is also linked with the tangibility factors of the affirmative action. This is termed as ‘reverse discrimination or preferential treatment’ by Mangum. Berry (2004) has studied the expansion of the affirmative action programs to the private sector by providing educational, training and employment opportunity to the protected groups with increase their recruitment in the organiz ation. There have been various studies and debates over the controversies around affirmative action.

Effects of missing an appointment Essay Example for Free

Effects of missing an appointment Essay There are a wide range of effects for a person missing an appointment. Missing an appointment effect the individual who missed the appointment, least of all. Regardless of reason, not showing up for a scheduled time is a great disrespect to all the people that might have benefited from the scheduled time. Missing an appointment punishes others that may have gained from that time slot. There are many solutions to not missing an appointment, and by following the steps to prevent from missing an appointment gives a common courtesy to others. People’s time is extremely valuable and by missing an appointment it shows an extreme amount of disrespect. The main people being affected by my inconsiderate decision were the physical therapists, the patients, and least of all I. The people who work for you are being thrown under the bus when an appointment is missed. In my case, the people at the physical therapy clinic who work tirelessly to provide care for others that are injured, to get them back in fighting shape. By missing the allotted time all of the preparation and care to make me better was essentially thrown down the drain. A substantial amount of time was wasted that could have been used to benefit me or another soldier. I cannot reiterate enough, the selfishness of missing an appointment. All that was needed was a simple call, a common courtesy, for the situation to be resolved. By missing my appointment I basically told the physical therapy clinic that my time is more valuable than yours, which is very disrespectful. The others that were affected by my decision to miss the appointment were all of the other patients seeking care. Being a soldier requires many physical demands which often incur injuries. It is extremely important for any soldier seeking care to be able to receive the proper treatment. By me missing my appointment it took time away from another soldier that could have received treatment. By calling ahead it could have potentially given someone else who needed that time with the physical therapy clinic, a chance to get seen and treated. I inadvertently placed myself before others by not calling ahead and cancelling, or rescheduling my allotted time with the physical therapy clinic. I briefly put aside some of my basic values of being a soldier when I missed the appointment. There are many solutions that could have been done to avoid the missed appointment, and will be done in the future. Something as easy as putting an alarm in my phone, could have helped me to not miss my appointment. I also could have been more proactive with my leadership and let my chain of command know when and what time my appointment was. Certain safeguards in the future will be put in place to prevent this lack of respect for others, to not happen again. The more people I let know of my appointments will prevent me from missing any future appointments. I feel I can improve as a soldier from this incident and by me missing this appointment it will make me become more considerate for others and give me a better awareness of when and where my appointments are. On Friday I missed my physical therapy appointment and while I feel this was an outlier of events, I cannot and will not let this happen again. The only reason I can provide as to why my appointment was missed is that I work sick call at the Aid Station, and it ran later than normal that morning. As a medic I know first-hand the importance of holding true to a scheduled appointment. I know what it feels like being on the other end of the spectrum. When I screen patients and a patient misses an appointment it feels like someone has wasted my time. In other words it feels like a slap in the face, which makes me missing my appointment that much more inexcusable. Others that feel the effects of missing an appointment are the direct chain of command. The lack of respect by one person can reflect negatively on a whole organization. By missing an appointment others wonder if the unit as a whole treats appointments and others with that same lack of respect. In my case I have great NCO’s and a great support system that has done nothing but help me in my career and teach me the in’s and out’s of how to be a good soldier and an even better person. However, with my lapse in judgment my decision reflected very poorly on my leadership. That in itself is enough for me to understand the negative outcomes by missing my appointment. Overall the effects of one individual’s mistake can be felt by a plethora of different individuals and groups. From the Physical therapy clinic whose time could have been better spent helping other patients to me as an individual. I think something good that has come out of my mistake is that I now have a much better perspective of all the different people that my decision affected. Appointments are very easy to cancel ahead of time to give another person a chance to seek treatment. For so many people and organizations effected a simple phone call or preventative measure would have resolved the situations.

Shadows In Architecture

Shadows In Architecture As we all know that light is essential for various activities and shadows are intrinsically connected with light. Light is inseparable from the notion of form and space and so is shadow from light. Throughout the world architects have strived to marvel the use of natural light, but seldom do they consider the shadowed areas caused due to that light. The ambience of a space is affected by the quality of light and shadows. Treatment of light and shadows has been a typical feature of traditional Japanese architecture which understands and lays importance to the design of areas in shade from a source of light. Ar Juhani Pallasmaa on shadows: The imagination and daydreaming are stimulated by dim light and shadow. In order to think clearly, the sharpness of vision has to be suppressed, for thoughts travel with an absent-minded and unfocussed gaze. Homogeneous bright light paralyses the imagination in the same way that homogenisation of space weakens the experience of being, and wipes away the sense of place. (Pallasmaa, 2005). Architect Peter Zumthor listed the following as one his favourite ideas: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to plan the building as a pure mass of shadow then, afterwards, to put in light as if you were hollowing out the darkness, as if the light were a new mass seeping in. (Zumthor, 2006). The area of study of this dissertation will be based on the idea that if the lighted parts of an object are too light, the form of it is difficult to perceive, and if the parts in shadow are too dark no form will be seen. When light falls on a relief perpendicular to its surface, there will be a minimum of shadows. The intricacies will hardly be visible. Similarly perception of texture also depends on minute differences in relief. The dynamic nature of the shadows cast by sunlight gives an immense potential to effectively design and create shades and shadows. Ordinary day-to-day phenomenon like openings along a long corridor create patches of light and shadow and breaks the monotony of the long walk. Elements of buildings such as sunshades, jaalis, screens, louvres, etc cast shadows which have shapes. The phenomenology of shadows is an important aspect of spaces. Hence, it is more than evident that light and shadows are an essential part of a space.If the architect has an understanding of the relationship of the object with its shadow, he will be better able to control it to compose the shadows and hence the feel of the space. Research Question: How do shadows affect spatial design? Need Identification Every experience of architecture is multi-sensory; qualities of space are measured by the eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue simultaneously. A development towards the dominance of the sense of vision has been observed and analyzed by a number of philosophers in recent years. Vision, as we all know, is a consequence of light. Hence, in a very direct way, light is essential for perception of architecture. This study will focus on a rather unspoken, yet ever-present, product of light, i.e. shadows. Elements of architecture undergo innumerable transformations during the course of the day and from season to season. In 1849 John Rushkin stated that among the first habits that a young architect should learn, is that of thinking in shadowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (Rushkin, 1880). The shadow gives shape and life to the object in light. Casting of shadow reveals the relationships between objects. Just as Chiaroscuro in paintings and sculptures creates vitality, the play of light and shadow brings life to buildings. (Sullivan, 1947). Objectives To study, in brief, the role of shadows in spatial design throughout the history of architecture in a chronological way. To study the role of shadows in the design of contemporary spaces, taking up examples and case-studies To study how people react to the above mentioned cases. (designers intent vs. achieved). Lastly, attempt to formulate/arrive at generalities to assist the incorporation of shadow-design in the basic design of spaces and buildings Scope The study will analyze the role of self-shadows and cast-shadows (formed under natural light) in spatial design. Understand and analyze the effects of the two different types of shadows (with a visual boundary and without a visual boundary) Study changes in the use of light and shadow throughout the history of architecture. The study will include: Visual perception of the spaces Basic understanding of tones, intensity etc The study will NOT include: Climato-logical impact of the natural light Technical aspects of light, including definitions and quantifiable items like Lux, Lumens, Illuminance, etc. Limitations Shade/shadow is seen as absence or relative deficiency of light. Hence, a direct quantification is not possible. The study has been limited to use of natural light in buildings to streamline the topic of study due to time and text limitations. Secondary case-studies will rely on the imagery and data available in the media and/or books. Direct interview of people using the mentioned spaces (outstation or otherwise) is not possible hence the study will rely on the literature available. Methodology Literature Survey Case-study Primary Prominent examples of such spaces in or around Delhi which have successfully incorporated shadow as an element in the design Secondary Prominent examples of such spaces which have successfully incorporated shadow as an element in the design, with sufficient data available for analysis. Analysis Analysis of the data collected after the Literature Survey and Case-studies. Formulation of ideas Arrive at generalities after a detailed analysis of the collected data to assist the designing of shadows for spaces and buildings. This will help in sensitizing the reader to consider shadows as an important element in spatial design, and hence a whole new approach to designing. The formulations will tentatively be with respect to: scale; forms blocks and massing; geometry; material colour and texture; pertaining to particular elements of buildings (like sunshades, louvers, screens etc) Definitions: (http://oxforddictionaries.com/) shadow: (noun) a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface. shade: (noun) comparative darkness caused by shelter from direct sunlight. darkness: (noun) the partial or total absence of light. chiaroscuro: ( http://www.britannica.com) the interplay of light and shadow on or as if on a surface ( from Italian: chiaro, light; scuro, dark) technique employed in the visual arts to represent light and shadow as they define three-dimensional objects. phenomenology: It is a philosophical design current in contemporary architecture and a specific field of academic research, based on the experience of building materials and their sensory properties. Works Cited Pallasmaa, J. (2005). The eyes of the skin : architecture and the senses. Chichester: John Wiley Sons Ltd. Plummer, H. (2009). The Architecture of Natural Light. London: Thames Hudson Ltd. Rasmussen, S. E. (1962). Experiencing Architecture. Cambridge: The MIT Press. Rushkin, J. (1880). The Seven Lamps of Architecture. New York: Drover Publications, Inc. Sullivan, L. (1947). Ornament in Architecture, Kindergarten Chats and Other Writings. New York: Witten Art Books. Tanizaki, J. (1977). In praise of shadows. New Haven, Conn.: Leetes Island Books. Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmospheres : architectural environments, surrounding objects. Basel, Boston: Birkhà ¤user. Bibliography Murray, D. (1990). Architecture and shadow. New York: Rizzoli. Pallasmaa, J. (2005). The eyes of the skin : architecture and the senses. Chichester: John Wiley Sons Ltd. Plummer, H. (2009). The Architecture of Natural Light. London: Thames Hudson Ltd. Rasmussen, S. E. (1962). Experiencing Architecture. Cambridge: The MIT Press. Rushkin, J. (1880). The Seven Lamps of Architecture. New York: Drover Publications, Inc. Sullivan, L. (1947). Ornament in Architecture, Kindergarten Chats and Other Writings. New York: Witten Art Books. Tanizaki, J. (1977). In praise of shadows. New Haven, Conn.: Leetes Island Books. Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmospheres : architectural environments, surrounding objects. Basel, Boston: Birkhà ¤user. Chapter Outline: Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction Light and Shadow: The inseparable Shadows and spatial design Research Question Need Identification Scope Limitations Methodology References Chapter 2: Architecture Precedents Shadows in Architecture through time Works of contemporary architects Chapter 3: Understanding shadows 3.1 Shadows Self-shadows and cast-shadows Shadows having a visual boundary versus without a visual boundary (shades); obscuring etc Dominance of shadow versus dominance of light Effect of shadows in spatial design Form Elements: Jaalis, relief, pergola etc Materials and texture Dynamism through light and shadow Chapter 4: Case-studies Primary: Spiritual/meditation center India Habitat Center Secondary: Church of Light by Tadao Ando The Pantheon, Rome Chapter 5: Conclusion Analysis and conclusion List of Plates

Harmful Aspects of The Automobile Essay -- Essays Papers

Harmful Aspects of The Automobile Air pollution refers to the presence of foreign substances in the atmosphere. Air pollution is a problem in countries where urban and population growth have been accompanied by the use of the automobile. Smog, carbon monoxide, and acid rain, are only a few of these foreign substances in the atmosphere. The negative effects these poisons have upon the environment and the human body are astronomical. Respiratory inflammation, impaired vision, learning disabilities, and death are all results that smog, carbon monoxide, and acid rain have on the human body. The deterioration of the ozone, and precious trees, as well as the destruction of many necessary rain forests are examples of pollution’s negative effects on the environment. Smog, carbon monoxide, and acid rain are all main roots to the deterioration of humans, as well as the planet. For additional information, see http://cses.scbe.on.ca/air4.htm. The first poisonous gas to be discussed would be smog. Smog builds when sunlight cooks everyday emissions from automobiles. Automobiles body paint, as well as gasoline fumes, all play a deadly role in the destructive path of smog. When these pollutants cook in the sunlight, they form ground-level ozone, which is the main component in smog. Pollutants are generated by traffic in urban areas. To view an example of a polluted see http://www-wilson.uesd.edu/education/airpollution (76k). The pollution is then blown from city to city in wind flows carrying toxins into the rural areas. â€Å"Motor vehicles are the main source of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The emission from motor vehicles combined with sunlight create a brown haze, which we have come to recognize as smog†(Deg... ...erioration of humans, as well as the planet. Works Cited - Degobert, Paul. Automobiles and Pollution. Warrendale PA: Society of Automotive Engineers, 1995. - Grad, P. Frank. The Automobile and The Regulation of it’s Impact on The Environment. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1975. - Haslam, Sylvia. River Pollution: An Ecological Perspective. London: New York: Belhaven Press, 1990. - Meisel, S. William. Monitoring Carbon Monoxide Concentrations in Urban Areas. Washington: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, 1979. - Schwieger, Robert G. and Elliott, Thomas C. Acid Rain: Engineering solutions, regulatory Aspects. New York: Hemisphere Pub. Corp. Magraw Hill, 1985. - Southwestern: The Student Handbook. 4 vols. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc, 1997. 4 vols.

The Illusion of Tradition in Jacksons The Lottery Essay -- Shirley Ja

The Illusion of Tradition There is a Lottery going on today and we all hold a ticket. In â€Å"The Lottery† Shirley Jackson is asking people to stop for a moment and take a look at the traditions around them. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism to show that traditions today are sometimes as misguided as the tradition of the lottery in that small town in Somewhere, USA.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Evil can be evoked in the most kind-hearted person if tradition deems it ok. Though the years there have been many wars in which many men have fought, and killed. If not put in a war torn environment the men in those wars would never have killed anyone. School children continually bully each other, sometimes to the point of serious injury. Otherwise kind, loving children, gain strength through numbers and, as a group encourage each other, making it ok to torment another. Usually a much weaker and shy child is on the receiving end of this torment. The children in â€Å"The Lottery† symbolize how humans have a duel nature that allows usually friendly people to become violent when put in the right situation with the right conditions. â€Å"On a beautiful day in June the young children choose there stones. Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobb y and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix-- the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy"--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.†(255) People in this small town are the same as in any small town, but when empowered with numbers and a tradition that deem it ok, evil shows it’s ugly face.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today tradition is a strong part of out lives. We do not have any traditions that are as extreme as the lottery, however â€Å"The Lottery† symbolizes that relevance can be lost over time. Take the Bible for example, it has been written and rewritten several times over thousands of years, translated from one language to another and then to another. Even over the relatively short period of time in â€Å"The Lottery† many thing had been lost from there tradition. â€Å"At one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the ... ...obody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'† (258) â€Å"There's always been a lottery," he added petulantly.† (258) Tradition is so strongly rooted that it is tied to the fertility of the land and how well a year’s crop will be. Each and every day we face life with the chance that we may not make it through the day. The black box in â€Å"The Lottery† symbolizes the fact that we are mortal beings and just as easy as not we may die any given day. â€Å"Mr. Graves had selected the five slips and put them in the box, and he dropped all the papers but those onto the ground, where the breeze caught them and lifted them off.† (259) Automobile accidents, cancer, heart attacks, any number of things could happen to anyone any time as easy as the slips of paper fell into the box. The slips falling into the box and the wind blowing the others away symbolizes how random life really is with respect to death. Live your life full and pray the wind blows for you. Works Cited Jackson, Shirley. ?The Lottery.? Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Diana Gioia. 6thed. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.

Meaning of Life Essay

Here’s what a recent survey found: †¢ 25% of people say it is to seek truth and create meaning for yourself †¢ 22% think the meaning of life is to lovingly help others and make the world better †¢ 18% say there is no meaning †¢ 8% think it is to reproduce and continue your genes and the human race †¢ 8% say it is to find happiness †¢ 6% believe it is to learn how to serve and worship God, while †¢ 8% don’t know While it seems there are several purposes to life, science is beginning to reveal there is one fundamental purpose to all life. Every moment of your existence your body works to keep energy flowing. Every second you breathe air, you add food and water to replace the energy you use. Everything you sense or do is connected to the flow of energy in one form or another. You are so used to this energy flow that you hardly notice it. It is the ultimate process of your life. If your energy stops flowing you die: flowing energy differentiates living creatures from dead ones. While the purpose of all life might be to help energy flow, the same laws of energy indicate that a meaning of your own life is to find how your energy flows best. Is this science echoing those scriptures that suggest you have your own unique ‘gift’ that you should use? What does your energy enable you to do best? This can be as simple as determining what you are truly passionate about or what you do better than anyone else. Unfortunately, many of us are not aware of what this is. As such, the individual meaning of your life is for you to discover what makes your energy flow best and then how to do that. How you use energy best varies for everyone – therefore, everyone has a slightly different meaning to someone else. Ignoring this means your energy will be all mixed up and your life will be chaotic. This is what most scriptures and spiritual writings are trying to tell us, but just didn’t understand energy well enough. If you look at ancient scriptures and spiritual writings in terms of energy you start to realise that they, and modern science, are all saying something similar. In short, while the purpose of all life is about helping energy flow, spread and balance, your individual meaning is about determining how you do this best, what you do that helps your energies flow best.

Marriage †Cause and Effect Essay

Growing up children are surrounded with a fairy tale life, the ‘happily ever after. ’ As girls we are supposed to wait for our prince charming and he will love us forever; and for boys it is finding and rescuing a beautiful princess who can cook, clean, and is loved by all creatures. That is what marriage is based off of as a child, but that perspective changes once we get a small grasp of the concept of love and we really see what marriage is. Marriage is not something anyone goes into lightly and maybe our expectations of the fairy tale life are why divorce is so commonly sought. There are many reason whys people get married; for love, money, status or because it is the ‘right’ thing to do. For those who marry for love, it is because you share common ground with the other person. They will become your other half as they will have the same beliefs, passions and values as you. After dating and being together for a while we learn that marriage and children are next on the check list. So the marriage is set and a ceremony held and they live ‘happily ever after’, but what most couples do not grasp after they are married is that there is not a sense of pure individualism any more. When married what is mine is yours and yours is mine. There are no longer ‘his’ or ‘her’ problems; they evolve into ‘us’ problems. Hence these individual problems root into a bigger problem- communication. When couples are able to talk they are likely to solve their problems, but disagreements due to the lack of communication can often lead to arguments. Not being able to communicate can be simply caused by the differences of being a male and female, but if the couple wants to move forward in their lives together and be able to relate to each other, than learning how to converse is important. When we do not feel understood, we react, whether it is silently, verbally, or with action; but not once does it occur to us that the other person is also trying to be understood. Thus the relationship will continue in a cycle of poor communication leading in most likely a divorce. Communication is important in all relationships regardless if the relationship is intended for love or other personal gains. Some males and females try to cash in by being greedy and choosing to get married for money; when they choose a partner that they can depend on for life. Most of victims are singers, self-employed businessmen/women, actresses, or elder rich singles. Although they may not be forced into the marriage, these wealthy persons are unaware of the ulterior motives of their partner. The effect of marrying only for love is the eventual unfold of the lies and deceits of the particular partner. Another effect is if that rich person loses their wealth, the outcome is all the same. Depending if the person lost wealth or the ‘victim’ finds out the true motive of the relationship they will most likely divorce this person and continue on their search for true love or money. Another reason why a couple would get married is because it is ‘the right thing to do’, which usually means that there is a child out of wedlock. The purpose of getting married for a child is so that the child will get the right idea; fall in love, get married, have a child. Another objective is that the couple who is not necessarily in love is trying to build love from this child/union. The outcome of this method is that the child ends up driving the couple apart, because of the demand and needs. The primary care taker cannot be solely committed to their lover because the child needs attention and care for their own well-being. If one person feels there is not enough attention they might be unfaithful and/or just leave. Trying to build love in a relationship where time is precious and cannot be spent just between the two people is extremely hard and most of those relationships fall through because there will be a lack of commitment. There are many reasons why people choose to get married and the outcome of those reasons depends solely on the level of commitment and how well the couple interacts with each other. Growing up with the ideal that there is a Prince charming or a beautiful damsel in distress and living ‘happily ever after’ is not a realistic approach to a marriage, for marriages take more work than what appears. There is a level of trust, honesty, and most importantly communication that needs to be met in order for it to be successful, but unfortunately in these times where people have been accustomed to shotgun weddings, the divorce happens just as fast.