Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Rc car shell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Rc car shell - Essay Example Shells for RC cars can be manufactured using a variety of ways, which have similarities but differ in different ways. The common aspect with all the manufacturing processes is that they require a mould or pattern that takes the shape of the car shell so that the design of the shell can be similar. The moulds are also different because some of them are positive whereas others are negative (Groover 2013). Before manufacturing begins, the company must choose the best process in terms of a variety of needs. For instance, the manufacturing process to be chosen should be fast, time conscious and should also have the ability for a high product output but at the same time produce high quality products. It should also use readily available and cheap raw materials rather than expensive ones. As stated above, many processes exist that can be applied when manufacturing RC Buggy shell. These include Compression moulding, Reaction Injection Moulding, thermoforming and transfer moulding. All these manufacturing processes are viable for manufacturing an RC Buggy shell. This paper will discuss all these manufacturing processes in terms of their viability, advantages and disadvantages and make a recommendation on the one that is the most viable option among them for manufacturing an RC Buggy shell. Reaction Injection Moulding: This is one of the methods that are used to manufacture shell for RC cars. In this method, the manufacturer has to build a special mould using a pattern that is similar to the shape of RC buggy Shell. After the first process, the manufacturer can then start working with the material that should be used. This is important because the method requires a mixture of two materials that must be put into a mould cavity, where a chemical reaction is introduced so that these two materials can react to form a solid in a solidification process that creates a cross-link between the materials

Monday, October 28, 2019

Discuss the issue Ethical Business and How it relates to csr Essay Example for Free

Discuss the issue Ethical Business and How it relates to csr Essay Discuss the issue Ethical Business and how it relates to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). With reference to sources, provide examples of companies or organisations which demonstrate ethical behaviour and evaluate their motivation. The ideas of Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility are oftentimes discussed in a similar manner even though they both have distinctly different definitions. As the name suggests, the term ethical business or business ethics is associated with a mixture of both ‘ethics’ and ‘business’. According to Oxford English Dictionary (2010) a business is the buying and selling of products or services with an aim of profit making. Ethics, on the other hand is more complex in that it involves human judgment, between what is right and wrong, in regards to activities and their consequences towards the society (Velasquez, et al. , 2010). Chryssides and Kaler (1993) have drawn attention to the fact that in the same way that political ethics is related to honouring the right and wrong in governmental concerns, or medical ethics being identified with the morality in medical practice, business ethics can simply be defined as the issue of morality within the business industry whereby â€Å"morality is taken to mean moral judgments, standards and rules of conduct† (Ferrell and Fraedrich, 1997, p. 5). Therefore, ethical business can now be defined as the ethics or principles that act as one’s behavioral rules and regulations when dealing in the world of business (Ferrell, et al. , 2010). On the other hand, reference to The World Business Council for Sustainable Development explains CSR by putting across that a business has responsibilities and obligations that go beyond the workplace (WBCSD, 2001). This essentially signifies the voluntary duty that organisations participate in to fulfill the demands of a broader range of stakeholders (Jamali and Mirshak, 2006). Based on the definitions stated above, it would seem that CSR and business ethics share similar theories, considering the fact that both of their notions go further than profit-based decisions and into values along with concerns for the society as a whole (Mullerat, 2010). Having said that, it is certainly interesting to see that most people are inclined to link CSR with the positive operations of a firm yet when a business engages in a non-moral act, they set the stunt side by side with business ethics or rather, the lack of (Crane and Matten, 2010). The question of how business ethics relates to CSR can now be evaluated more closely. Some examples of issues in ethical business as well as CSR include harming the environment and sweatshop labour on top of fraud, health and safety and campaigning (IBE/Ipsos MORI 2009, cited in Irwin, 2010). This essay will comprehensively explore the motivations of firms that have demonstrated brilliant presentations of business ethics, such as Microsoft Inc. as well as examining the motives behind their ethical decisions. Additionally, it will also look at other corporations that have been linked with having high regards to ethics in business yet have been accused in making poor business choices in the recent years, for instance HM’s disposal of unsold clothing items in New York in 2010 (Daily Mail Reporter, 2010). Until recent years, HennesMauritz, more commonly known as HM has been highly admired for launching the use of organic cotton into the high street clothing (Vijayaraghavan, 2010). Green Retail Decisions (2011) reports that it even succeeded in surpassing their organic cotton goal usage in 2010 by tripling their original aim, manufacturing 15,000 tonnes of organic cotton. Furthermore, the company was also proud in producing high street attires out of 16,000 tonnes of fabric that have been recycled (Green Retail Decisions, 2011). Be that as it may, when the firm threw away unsold clothes outside of one of its retail outlets, many were not only left appalled but also questioning their business ethics (Daily Mail Reporter, 2010). In the same year, HM were involved in two more shocking headlines in the news, one of which includes the contamination of the organic cotton textile with GM, and the other being a suspicion of unsustainably made clothes (Vijayaraghavan, 2010). As previously stated, HM is widely respected for working with organic materials on their products. However, when genetically modified cotton was found in random product test conducted in a research lab, they were left with nothing to be applauded for. Hence, it is clear that this particular case study provides contradicting information on HM’s aims and motivations towards ethical decision-makings within their business. Even though they have been acceptable in their business ethics, for many of their stakeholders, the four issues specified above may heavily indicate otherwise. Another good example of a company with a similar situation is Coca Cola alongside its recent endeavours with ethical crises. Ferrel et al. (2011), in their book write that the company has been facing various allegations regarding their ethical misdemeanours since the 1990s, some of which include racial prejudice, pollution and consumption of natural resources. The claim against one of the world’s most acknowledged beverage companies, Coca Cola, otherwise known as Coke, for the practice of racial discrimination within their working environment was taken to court in April 1999 (Winter, 2000). In his article, Winter (2000) reports that Coke practiced a method of pay scale that is based upon a hierarchy whereby employees of African American background were situated at the bottom, earning $26,000 on average less than white workers in a year. Although the company denied all charges at the time, the public was clearly upset, resulting in a decline of their shares at the end of the 90’s (Fairfield, 2007). As a consequence of this, Coca Cola lost one of their main investors and biggest shareholder of 17 years, Warren Buffet in 2006 (Teather, 2006). Having their reputation jeopardised, Coca Cola announced the establishment of a new department to their company, the diversity group (The New York Times, 1999). Since the formation of this group, Coca Cola has been voted 46th on the DiversityInc’s top 50 list of businesses with the best practices along with coming 6th in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Blacks and Latinos (DiversityInc, 2012). In addition to this, Black Enterprise magazine has also awarded the organisation with numerous awards honouring their commitment to establish a working environment that is accepting of different cultures along with featuring the company in the Black Enterprise magazine’s yearly 40 Best Companies for Diversity list (Staff, 2012). DiversityInc (2012) also reports that Coca Cola donates forty percent of their humanitarian effort to culturally diverse non-profit organisations, such as their recent contribution to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. With that in mind, their ethics in business can be considered as acceptable to the public eye and it is almost unthinkable to think that they were accused of race-related discrimination just over a decade ago. The cases of HM and Coca Cola are referred to in this essay to express the similarity in their questionable motives. HM’s claim of being environmentally conscious with their utilisation of organic cotton within their business proves irrelevant after being caught with immoral acts that were stated earlier. The genuineness of their principles in business ethics is flawed by this flagrant contradiction since one would argue that if their sense of responsibility for the environment were great, they would not be accountable for such unethical activities. On the other hand, Coca Cola only responded to possessing ethics in their business environment after being sued and attracting negative media attention, not including the obvious decline in their sales even though they still remained as the world’s leading carbonated cola in 2006 (Fairfield, 2007). Thus, similarly the sincerity behind Coca Cola’s motive to develop a diversity group and their emphasis in cultural acceptance is also suspicious because these were only developed and implemented after the public uproar. Although it may be surprising, Microsoft Inc. can also be compared to Coca Cola and HM to an extent in terms of the motivations behind their CSR works as well as business ethics practices. The co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Inc. , Bill Gates is widely known and celebrated for his great donations to the public. In 2011, Microsoft Inc. won the award for being ‘Most Ethical, beating Google and Facebook after making donations of millions of dollars to non profit organisations and charities, establishing plans of actions for economic development as well as heightening their means of central reporting procedures (Smith, 2011). Having said all this, it is shocking to note that only just 15 years ago, a board experts at a panel in a well-known seminar held in California could not answer and decide whether Microsoft Inc. were an ethical corporation. (Spinello, 2003). Spinello (2003) continues to write that not only were the panel of experts unsure of the answer, the audience, who were consisted of scholarly representatives did not know how to respond either. This is because Microsoft Inc. has been involved in an antitrust inspection worldwide and some Americans have referred to this event as the â€Å"antitrust trial of the century† (Mota, 2005). The antitrust laws, otherwise known as competition laws were introduced by the American government to protect customers from being exploited by companies who practice unfair competition in the market (Investopedia, 2011). Gates is also the primary shareholder in America’s second biggest waste administration called the Republic Services (O’Hagan, 2013). In her article O’Hagan (2013) questions how the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation can spread the word to publicise vaccinations for poliomyelitis, a disease that can cause a temporary or permanent paralysis while â€Å"Republic Services is locking out its workers as part of an industrial dispute†, a policy that may put a risk to the Americans’ sanitary. There is no doubt that Microsoft Inc. ’s involvement in charity work over the years have been generous and can be regarded as a model example of a company who takes their corporate social responsibilities seriously. However, it is also evident that while their voluntary organisations are remarkable, their business practice leaves with less to be awed for. Hence, similar to the HM case brought up previously, there is a contradiction between Microsoft’s work with charity and some of their immoral activities in the workplace. It is also comparable to Coca Cola in that it only came to be involved in large ‘corporate citizenship’ after the aftermath from their antitrust cases (Smith, 2011). It is safe to say that most companies are fighting to prove their good works through all types of methods, charity works in the case of Microsoft Inc. as well as forming a new diversity department in the case of Coca Cola. With thousands of other corporations yearning to prove their sincerity in making ethical decisions and practicing moral behaviour in the workplace, it is becoming tougher to examine just how responsible and principled an organisation is (Kwan, 2012). Kwan (2012) writes that this issue can be solved with the help of a B Corp certification. B Corp stands for Benefit Corporations, which is one of the latest kinds of corporate structure, acting as a third party classification to calculate the effects of an organisation to the environment (Fritz, 2013). Balch (2012) argues that the term benefit not only considers social and environmental aspects of a business but also its financial side as well, where he insists that 21st century capitalism would be a hybrid of generating social value together with maximising financial returns. B Corps essentially â€Å"provides what is lacking elsewhere: proof† to support that the specific company is in actual fact practicing what is proclaimed by them, hence, useful for firms whose focus is to not only make profit but also putting social and environmental interest a primary concern while doing so (Rosenberg, 2011). Although certifying B Corps to sincere businesses with aims of increasing positive social and environmental impacts sound fair, smaller and newer companies may say otherwise (Akalp, 2011). In their academic journal, Helsey et al. (2013) report that a company must be prepared to invest on their time and money to obtain the status. Depending on the area that they are operating in, the business must able to relate themselves with certain criteria listed, such as â€Å"providing low-income or undeserved individuals or communities with beneficial products or services† (Helsey et al, 2013). Fritz (2013) also confirms that a company must be assessed in accordance to the B Ratings System in which they must score at least 80 points out of 200 on top of consenting to changes in their legal articles of incorporation. Furthermore, there is a fee involved, which varies depending on the revenue of the firm (Akalp, 2013). This implies that organisations with strong awareness and appreciation of responsibilities may choose not to be certified with B Corps and thus put across a sense of false portrayal to companies without the B Corp certificate (Akalp, 2013). Therefore, it can be argued that larger companies with a higher source of income can afford to pay more to be certified. In addition to this, there have also been criticisms on the marking boundaries of the certification process. As stated earlier, companies need to score a point of 80 out of the maximum 200. Horatio (2012) disputes that this only indicates a 40% passing score for a company to be certified, which he claims as â€Å"not much of a standard† and â€Å"essentially worthless†. With that in mind, a case could be made that there is now a limitation to the authenticity of the certificate since large companies can afford to pay their way through the process and most probably pass the low 40% passing requirement. The purpose of this essay has been to convey that most companies, regardless of their past, recent or current reputation are never completely ethical in their business activities and that in one way or another, they have been associated with its share of moral negligence. With the examples used in the essay, it is safe to say that most companies that operate in what is considered to be as ethical to the public are only doing so to receive public attractions, and consequently earn more profits and success to the company. It is important to draw attention to the fact that there is a fundamental difference between what a company does and what their beliefs are. Just because a company is praised for their CSR related activities and was voted amongst the best of companies with high business ethics performance, this does not indicate that they are doing so for the sake of the planet or the people. If anything, this essay has been stating otherwise, demonstrating that most ethically responsible organisations are only involved in ethical activities to draw consumers in, thus, increase their profit.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

My Growth as a Writer Essay -- Personal Reflection

I have never liked writing; I always thought it was a waste of time. It was a great therapy but I never found academic writing to be useful just tedious. Only ever writing when I had too made it harder for my writing skills to grow or improve in any way. I have not taken an English class since the 10th grade, even then I never gave it much effort, just doing what I had to so I could pass the class. Then I jump in to College English 1010, I feel like I do well in all other subjects but this one. English is my worst nightmare. However in 8th grade I had an inspiring teacher, Ms. Moe. She told us to write whatever we felt on paper, to create stories from our lives, to write from our souls. Of course all of my stories were morbid with sinister events, but well written. (Maybe because I would spend all the time I could with her, so I would revise and revise until it was perfect- well at least for an 8th grader.) Writing My Past as a Writer was a great way to remind me why writing was alright. This paper was a little easier to write because it was my story. I had to revise it a bit and add some more background to what I was writing in the class, such as my Johnathn story (there are more of them too). As to let the reader know why Ms. Moe called me ‘disturbed’, but that was not hard. I’m sure Ms. Geary was a little concerned after reading this, wondering if she needed to report that I’m unstable or a threat to others, but no I just enjoy writing things that get my dark side out (Iâ €™m stable now, I promise). Getting a perfect score the first time, I still revised it and added things I thought would make it even better to read. Peer reviewing with Russell was great because he had some great insight in how to portray my reputation. Havi... ...one on the topic, so going back to try and find almost every source I have ever read was a little daunting, but I found most of them. I wanted to thank Ms. Geary for reminding me how much writing can do for me. It helped me realize that writing isn’t so horrible but it is just hard work. My writing skills have improved due to this class and all Ms. Geary had taught me. She made class fun with her inflections and just the way she says everything, her personality definitely showed through. I looked forward to class but never the homework. Finally after reading over my final drafts of: My Past as a Writer, Problematic Essay and my Exploratory Research Paper I realize that I have dramatically improved my writing skills in every draft thanks to revisions and some positive criticism for Ms. Geary. I think I am now ready to take on the next step in the English world.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

How did World War II Affect Women on Tennessee Essay

World War II saw the coming of commercialization and technology advancement in Tennessee. Aviation companies, dams and power plants were built to suffice the needs of the war. Because of such, it undeniably and consequently helped to increase the economy of the state making it one of the most promising Southern states during that time. Of course, with so much activity, it also affected the culture and history of the place. It contributed a lot to American history but we cannot take for granted the roles of women played during this time. But before the war happened, particularly in 1939, an aviation company called Aviation Corporation constructed an airplane factory adjoining Nashville Airport. Two years later, when war broke out, the factory that originally develop and builds civilian planes immediately extended into making warplanes. By 1943, more than 7,000 people worked at and for the company. Majority of the employees moved to Nashville and never left. But, the rather surprising part of this event is that most of the workers for the plant were composed of women (Kids). At the end of the war, approximately 33% of the Tennessee workforce is composed of women. Because majority of the workforce during that time was composed of women, it particularly affected how they lived their life. With the great impact that the war imposed on women, they became more focused on their work. Moreover, they became highly specialized workers in the field of aircraft making. Because of such, little improvement and development was done on families. Their family lives did not become the focus of their lives, instead, they concentrated o their work. Tennessee then became a state of women workers rather than family women. In short, their jobs and careers became their top priority. If ever there was an attention given to their respective families, it can be inferred that it was little. Consequently, with the rage on military service and employment, most of women that were needed in the air force division of the military were to discharge male pilots for strategic and warfare flight duty (Stewart-Smith). Nonetheless, it did not diminish any eagerness for the female pilots. In lieu of the airplane and warplane industry, one rich girl from Tennessee made a very daring contribution in their history. Her name is Cornelia Fort. She became tired of being rich that is why; she decided to be a pilot and served during the wartime. She died in a mid-air collision in 1943 (Kids). Perhaps, she became very influential for the women of Tennessee during this time. She became an inspiration for a lot of women. Perhaps the greatest contribution of the women of Tennessee during World War II is the fact the majority of its workforce is composed of women that exactly during those times were perceived as a work that is rather stated for men. Somehow, they managed to get out of the perception that women are just wives. They have regarded themselves as a great contributor to the workforce. Works Cited: Kids, Tennessee History for. â€Å"Part Four: The Great Depression and World War Ii. † 2006. Stewart-Smith, Natalie J. â€Å"Perspectives of the Women Pilot. † (1998). November 3, 2007 .

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

China and Japan’s Responses to Western Influence Essay

During the 19th and 20th centuries, much of the western world had at the very least, begun to modernize. Countries on this side of the globe were becoming booming metropolises. Trade with many other nations brought lots of new things to these western countries and also resulted in the Europeans observing a good deal of places that were not yet modernized. These observations later lead to the western nations wanting to make changes. They began trying to do this by setting up spheres of influence, sending missionaries, proposing treaties and other agreements, and in some cases, completely taking over. Some countries fought back, and resisted modernization, and others submitted to the inevitable changes that were coming their way. China and Japan are great examples of this, both countries were strongly opposed to Western influence but in the end, the two countries reacted to the changes very differently. Prior to western contact, China and Japan held the belief that they were superior civilizations. Both countries felt that any contact with westerners would corrupt their perfect societies. Also, because they felt they already were perfect, they didn’t think modernization was necessary. The people of both countries were comfortable with their traditional, more old fashioned ways of life and saw no reason to change. The westerners however, would not take no for an answer, they were determined to make China open ports to them so they could trade and work to modernize the country. The westerners were very interested in obtaining silk and tea from China but the problem was, the westerners didn’t have anything the Chinese wanted in exchange besides gold and silver. This resulted in an unfavorable balance of trade. To fix this, the westerners really needed something the Chinese wanted so they began growing opium in India and illegally smuggling it into China. The habit of opium smoking caught on quickly and as a result, the western people were making a great deal of money. Overtime, more than 12 million people developed addictions to the drug. Seeing how this substance was harming China’s people, the government made opium illegal and wanted it out of their country for good. The  westerners opposed this decision and not long after, took China to war and conquered them. Following the war, the Treaty of Nanjiing was signed and the Chinese were forced to open up more ports and allow westerners into their country. This eventually lead to the modernization of China. Next on the western nations’ list was Japan. It all started with commodore Matthew Perry, he sailed to Japan and requested that the Japanese aid people of the US and Europe if they came to the shores of the country. Only a year after Perry first made his request to the Japanese, the Great White Fleet made a voyage back to Japan to reiterate the request. The Japanese, unlike the Chinese did not fight back, but agreed and the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed which opened ports for trade and ensured fair treatment and extraterritoriality for sailors. Now that Japan had opened up its shores to the westerners, the next thing they wanted to do was get Japan to modernize. Again, unlike China, Japan did not put up a fight, but decided to accept the inevitable changes that were soon to come. So, the Japanese began studying and adopting the western way of life and ended up modernizing in a period of three short years. In conclusion, although in the beginning, both China and Japan were firm believers in isolationism and did not want anything to do with western countries, once faced with the issue of western contact and modernization, the two countries responded very differently. China fought back and had to overcome many hardships and fight in terrible wars that cost many people their lives which left a lasting and devastating impact on the country. Japan on the other hand, accepted the change and avoided a great deal of violence and struggle. Although China and Japan had very different responses, it is clear that western contact and modernization changed both countries forever.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on HR Management

1. The following are the trends and issues that will have an impact on human resource and the way people work in the next ten years. First, Flexi – place and flexi – hour will likely become more popular among many job fields, such as computer and information systems, marketing and sales, and higher – level management. In the future, performing those jobs away from the offices on a flexi – schedule will be more obviously witnessed. Advancing in the computer technology is the key to the higher popularity of workplace and work hour flexibility. Through telecommuting and virtual work office, people will be able to get their jobs done in a very timely manner from their home or any location. To strategically help emphasize result orientation and increase overall effectiveness and efficiency in the global arena, more companies begin to implement the concept of flexi – place and flexi – hour (60, 1998). Mr. Bonnie Hathcock, Vice President for Human Resource and Development for US Airways said that a number of work hours became less significant as the main focus was shifted to performance and outcomes (HR, 1998). Second, the globalization of business will be more apparently seen in the near future since a number of companies have begun to conduct their business internationally to expand their operations. The growth of computer technology is the major factor allowing organizations to be more effective in communicating with their branches, customers, suppliers and strategic partners. For organizations to increase their chance to successfully capture new foreign markets, they need to be familiar with the cultures, languages and business practices found in their markets. This will allow them to deal with specific markets in different countries more effectively. In the future, to be competitive internationally, not only must workforce be capable, but also be adaptable to different cultural environments (Bohlander et al, 2001). Pr... Free Essays on HR Management Free Essays on HR Management 1. The following are the trends and issues that will have an impact on human resource and the way people work in the next ten years. First, Flexi – place and flexi – hour will likely become more popular among many job fields, such as computer and information systems, marketing and sales, and higher – level management. In the future, performing those jobs away from the offices on a flexi – schedule will be more obviously witnessed. Advancing in the computer technology is the key to the higher popularity of workplace and work hour flexibility. Through telecommuting and virtual work office, people will be able to get their jobs done in a very timely manner from their home or any location. To strategically help emphasize result orientation and increase overall effectiveness and efficiency in the global arena, more companies begin to implement the concept of flexi – place and flexi – hour (60, 1998). Mr. Bonnie Hathcock, Vice President for Human Resource and Development for US Airways said that a number of work hours became less significant as the main focus was shifted to performance and outcomes (HR, 1998). Second, the globalization of business will be more apparently seen in the near future since a number of companies have begun to conduct their business internationally to expand their operations. The growth of computer technology is the major factor allowing organizations to be more effective in communicating with their branches, customers, suppliers and strategic partners. For organizations to increase their chance to successfully capture new foreign markets, they need to be familiar with the cultures, languages and business practices found in their markets. This will allow them to deal with specific markets in different countries more effectively. In the future, to be competitive internationally, not only must workforce be capable, but also be adaptable to different cultural environments (Bohlander et al, 2001). Pr...

Monday, October 21, 2019

How to Reveal Invisible Ink Messages

How to Reveal Invisible Ink Messages Most invisible ink messages can be revealed by heating the paper on which they are written. The ink weakens the fibers in the paper so the message discolors (burns) before the rest of the paper. The real secret, aside from the message, is how to reveal it without setting your paper on fire. Tip: Dont use a lighter, match, or open fire to reveal your invisible ink message. You can lay the paper over an incandescent light bulb with fairly good results, but it is hard to tell if your paper is hot enough, so you may not know whether your paper is blank or whether you just cant see the message. There Are Other Methods That Work Better You can iron your paper (dont use steam). This is probably the best method, but you may not have an iron or else have no idea where you put it. A hot iron for your hair also works. Another simple method is to wave the paper over a hot stove. If you have a secret invisible ink message, youll start to see some distortion of the paper as it gets hot. If you continue heating the paper, the message will darken to a gold or brown color. If you use a stove, its still possible to ignite your message, but it is a lot less likely than if you used fire. You Can Use Almost Anything to Write an Invisible Ink Message Try using a broken toothpick as a pen and saliva or lemon juice as ink. You can even use plain water to write the message... the message wont darken, but when you first heat the paper the fibers that were moved when the paper absorbed the water will bulge out a bit. Try it!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Harp Seal Facts (Pagophilus groenlandicus)

Harp Seal Facts (Pagophilus groenlandicus) The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), also known as the saddleback seal, is a true seal best known for its adorable furry white pups. It gets its common name from the markings resembling a wishbone, harp, or saddle that develop on its back in adulthood. The seals scientific name means ice-lover from Greenland. Fast Facts: Harp Seal Scientific Name: Pagophilus  groenlandicusCommon Name: Saddleback sealBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 5.9-6.2 feetWeight: 260-298 poundsLife Span: 30 yearsDiet: CarnivorousHabitat: North Atlantic and Greenland SeaPopulation: 4,500,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description All seal pups are born with a yellow coat, which whitens until its first molt. Juveniles and most females have a silver-to-gray coat with black spots. Adult males and some females develop a darker head and a dorsal harp or saddle marking. Females weigh around 260 lb and are up to 5.9 ft in length. Males are larger, weighing an average of 298 lb and reaching a length of 6.2 ft. The male harp seal has a harp pattern on its back. Jurgen Christine Sohns / Getty Images Blubber insulates the seals body, while flippers act as heat exchangers to warm or cool the seal. Harp seals have large eyes, each with a tapetum lucidum to aid vision in dim light. Females identify pups by scent, but seals close their nostrils underwater. Seal whiskers, or vibrissae, are highly sensitive to vibration. They give the animal a sense of touch on land and the ability to detect movement underwater. Habitat and Distribution Harp seals live in the North Atlantic and Greenland Sea. There are three breeding populations, located in the Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Atlantic, and the Greenland Sea. The groups are not known to interbreed. Harp seal distribution. Jonathan Hornung Diet Like other pinnipeds, harp seals are carnivores. Their diet includes several species of fish, krill, and other invertebrates. The seals display food preferences that appear to be most heavily influenced by prey abundance. Predators and Hunting Juvenile seals are eaten by most terrestrial predators, including foxes, wolves, and polar bears. Adult seals are preyed on by large sharks and killer whales. However, humans are the primary harp seals predators. Historically, these seals were hunted for their meat, omega-3 fatty acid-rich oil, and fur. Today, seal hunting mainly occurs in Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. The practice is controversial, as the demand for seal products appears to be decreasing and the killing method (clubbing) is graphic. In Canada, commercial hunting is restricted to November 15 to May 15, with kill quotas in place. Despite restrictions, the harp seal retains commercial importance. Hundreds of thousands of seals are hunted each year. Reproduction and Offspring Each year between February and April, adult harp seals return to breeding grounds in the White Sea, Newfoundland, and the Greenland Sea. The males establish dominance by fighting each other using teeth and flippers. They court females using flipper movements, vocalizations, blowing bubbles, and performing underwater displays. Mating occurs underwater. After a gestation period of about 11.5 months, the mother usually gives birth to a single pup, although twins sometimes occur. Birth takes place on sea ice and is extremely fast, taking as little as 15 seconds. The mother does not hunt while nursing and loses up to 3 kg of mass per day. At birth, the pups coat is stained yellow from amniotic fluid, but it quickly turns pure white. The mother stops nursing and abandons the pup when its time to mate. Birth, weaning, and mating all occur during the same breeding season. Initially, the abandoned pup is immobile. Once it sheds its white coat, it learns to swim and hunt. Seals gather annually on the ice to molt their coat, which involves shedding both fur and blubber. Juveniles molt several times before achieving an adult pelt. Harp seals can live over 30 years. Conservation Status Harp seal are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, and their numbers are increasing. As of 2008, there were at least 4.5 million adult harp seals. This population growth can be explained by the decrease in seal hunting. However, the seal population is still threatened by several factors which could severely impact the species in the near future. Oil spills and water pollution subject the species to heavy chemical contamination and decrease its food supply. Seals get tangled in fishing gear, which leads to drowning. Harp seals are susceptible to distemper, prion infections, and other diseases, which may impact mortality rates. The most significant threat is climate change. Climate change causes a reduction in sea ice, forcing seals to move to new areas. Whether the seals can adapt to such change is unknown. Sources Folkow, L.P. and E.S. Nordà ¸y. Distribution and diving behaviour of harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) from the Greenland Sea stock.  Polar Biology.  27: 281–298, 2004.Kovacs, K.M. Pagophilus groenlandicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  2015: e.T41671A45231087 doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41671A45231087.enLavigne, David M. in Perrin, William F.; Wursig, Bernd; Thewissen, J.G.M., eds. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals (2nd ed.). 30 Corporate Drive, Burlington Ma. 01803: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-373553-9, 2009.Ronald, K. and J. L. Dougan. The Ice Lover: Biology of the Harp Seal (Phoca groenlandica).  Science.  215  (4535): 928–933, 1982.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Effects of advertisement for childeren and youth Research Paper

Effects of advertisement for childeren and youth - Research Paper Example Unfortunately, while these are normally targeting adult’s children who often have unrestricted or unsupervised access to TV, this becomes collateral damage when exposed to the many sexually insinuative adverts out there. Take an example of Gucci it runs among others a commercial with a picture of a half-naked man with a woman on her knees at his feet in magazines accessible to children (Poulton, 2011). According to the longitudinal carried out in 2009 and presented to the pediatric societies, children exposure to sexual content on TV makes them more likely to become sexually active early and hence run a greater risk of sexually transmitted diseases (Morris, 2011). Moreover, another negative aspect of TV commercials on children is that they can encourage bad behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse as well as violence. Camel cigarettes was under fire recently when a cigarette commercial was claimed to target teen age girls, in the one of the ads was a picture of a little, classic, black dress and fashion accessories, juxtaposed with a patent leather cigarette case. This could clearly have attracted the attention of teenage girls who would normally associate with the most of the aforementioned items (Boyles, n.d). This and such commercials others portraying violence and other conventionally antisocial behavior are likely to negatively influence children. Nonetheless, not all adverts are negative and several of them actually play an important role in informing and educating children on per tin tissues such as health and even sexuality. Condom adverts for instance are known to have a negative effect on teens, however, the upside is they provide information on safe sex, and this information is very important to keep help them protect themselves should they decide to have sex anyway. Ultimately, it is the collective duty of parents and TV and advertising firms to keep children safe form the adverts that

Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Starbucks - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to do this, as well as thoroughly investigate and consider the key elements related to these three issues. In doing this, we can come to a more understanding, knowledgeable, and critical point of view on the matter of Starbucks, its history, its strengths, and weaknesses. This is what will be dissertated in the following. It is rather well known that Starbucks has come to be, by some, regarded as a symbolic of the problems posed by globalization. In fact, several Starbucks locations were actually vandalized during a World Trade Organization in Seattle. This is why the issue of the global matters in regards to Starbucks is so essential. When Starbucks first opened its doors in Seattle in 1971, no one realized by 2006 they would be an international icon. Why has Starbucks become such a success No, they have not reached the global status of companies such as McDonalds or Nike but they are well on their way. The company is always looking ahead and re-inventing how people think about coffee. Value and quality brings customers back for more. They have offered an experience for each person who enters. Starbucks international mission is "to be a global company, making a difference in people's lives by leveraging our brand and the coffee experience to foster human connections (Starbucks Coffee Internatio

Friday, October 18, 2019

Business and Management Research Methodology Essay

Business and Management Research Methodology - Essay Example scheduling the research workload and activities over a stipulated period and being flexible enough to make alterations in it when problems occur; vii. constructing and sustaining the research argument through a long document without resorting to long descriptions that are not embedded in the structure of the argument; viii writing and understanding the purpose of an introduction, a conclusion and an abstract for an academic document; ix writing clearly and imaginatively, and with a sense of authority; and x. using an appropriate referencing system. In order to conduct research in terms of the above mentioned requirements, the work involved may include: the development of an appropriate and interesting research topic; reading the relevant and other appropriate literature; specifying the method adopted for the research; collection or selection of the required data; analysis and interpretation of the data and finally writing up the dissertation as the end product. Deciding on the research topic takes a good deal of time, thought and discussion. In deciding on it, the best help is discussion with the research guide and other faculty members, one's colleagues, journal articles which may point out 'further areas of research', doctoral thesis reading which would give ideas of extending or disagreeing with the thesis propounded in the research thesis. The preliminary reading will not only be useful for choosing the topic but will also be helpful for writing a literature review for the project later on. So careful notes should be kept at every stage. Readings can include article summaries from Abstracts. Label the notes so that somebody else could read and understand them. This should mean that the researcher too, understand them when they are read again. A research statement turns the original ideas into something that can be researched. (Kumar 1996) Research Project After the preliminary readings, the research a proposal has to be formulated. A good way to prepare a research project is to include the categories of the research proposal as the project itself. There should be a proposed title or an initial short statement about what is proposed to be done. The introduction could be shorter than in the research thesis. But it should explain: why is this work is being done what problems are being investigated what questions will the researcher ask what other research is relevant to the work The methodology may be described, but it could be tentative if, at this stage a final decision about the methods of investigation and analysis would not have been made. But describe a range of possibilities that are being considered and how the information collected will be analyzed. A research proposal should also include a rough timetable as to when the different stages of the work are planned to be carried out. Timetable the Research and Report The researcher will have to be able carry out the research work and write it up by the deadline indicated in the

Liberty Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Liberty - Coursework Example Liberty is a word which is often used politically wherein it is advocated and fought for. According to most dictionaries liberty is the state of immunity from exercise of authority. It also means a personal freedom one possesses or has to possess so as to make one's own choice, be it in speech, opinion, worship, occupation or anything. Defining liberty is almost impossible without using the words which mean the absence of coercion. But is liberty just the absence of restraint "By liberty then we can only mean a power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will; this is, if we choose to remain at rest, we may; if we choose to move, we also may." (David Hume, 1748) Good and bad are relative things. One person's good may be other person's bad. Likewise, liberty and restraint are also relative things. An absence of restraint for committing an act of robbery cannot be called liberty. If all restraints are minimized, so as to bring a complete absence of any kind of control, one would hope to achieve liberty. But when restraints are removed entirely, the world will not have equality, and there will be battles and bloodshed. So the definition of the word needs something more or less than bare absence of restraints. Going by the general definitions, no one can have liberty because no one is free to do all that is wanted. Everybody is subject to some superior power to live against personal wishes. In the following sub-headings let us take a deeper study of the word and its meaning. Immunity from Authority "He (Man) must have a master; but the master may be Nature or may be a fellow man. When he is under the impersonal coercion of Nature, we say that he is free; and when he is under the personal coercion of some one above him, we call him, according to the degree of his dependence, a slave, a serf, or a vassal." (Spencer, 1891) History has many instances showing that liberty was the cause for people of various countries to fight which eventually lead to the overthrow of their governments. Aristocrats have always been revolted against and the French revolution and the Russian revolution stand testimony to that. As a matter of fact, Jean Jacques Rousseau's French Revolution slogan, "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" became the basic principles for democracy in the world. Even now many parts of the world struggle for liberty. In Pakistan and Myanmar, people are fighting for democracy against the military regimes. In this political sense, the restraint is in the form of anti-democratic rule. Such a government can be said to curb the people's freedom because the restraint imposed on them affects them, their country and prevents improvement on a global level. But at the same time, every country has a judiciary and the police, in order to protect the people from law offenders. The judicial laws are also restrictio ns laid down so that any action committed by common men does not go against the welfare of the nation. The judiciary has the power to punish offenders of the law. One may tend to opine that this affects the freedom of thought, belief and action of, say, a thief, or a murderer. Police could be wrongly thought of as ones who wipe out the liberty of a thief. Thus, it is

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Economics of the firm - IKEA Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics of the firm - IKEA - Term Paper Example It ensures to bring product within the buying capacity of as many people as possible. IKEA takes challenges to provide the best quality at low price. Hence, success of IKEA is based on the secret recipe of simple yet effective business model. This report is aimed at providing the detailed review of the economics of IKEA, giving insight about firm’s internal conduct as well as impact it receives from domestic and international events. NATURE OF PRODUCT OR SERVICE IKEA furniture nature can be classified as normal goods; between the broad categorization of normal and inferior goods. Technology has played an incredible role in determining the demand for furniture. At IKEA, technological development has ensured continuous innovation that facilitated furniture in a flat package that is also easy to assemble by self at home. Moreover, technological advancement enables firm to sell online, allowing people to devise their own set up using IKEA applications and reduce cost with maximum benefit with IKEA’s life improvement projects. IKEA ranks first on top 20 furniture retailers (Daten, 2011) due to low price among its main differentiating factors. (Daten, 2011) Furniture has high price elasticity that threatens sale in case of rising prices. On the other hand, prices of furniture are rising due to declining natural resources and rising price of furniture components such as steel, plastic, aluminum etc as presented in graph below (Daten, 2011). (Daten, 2011) Survey report has shown that more than 75 percent consumer keep an eye on price when buying price (Daten, 2011). Therefore, IKEA is benefitted for its low price where other competitors get hard hit due to price. Housing demand compliments furniture demand. Availability of widest range of home furnishing product at affordable price makes IKEA preferred choice. During economic downturn, IKEA has managed to carve profit with its low cost offering fetching sales for being growingly adopted as substitute for high cost offerings in home furnishing . IKEA sales grew by 6.9% and stores increased by 2.7% in the year 2011 (Ikea., 2011). Finished flats as main drivers of furniture demand still have sizeable market as projected for 2012, survey report shows: (Daten, 2011) MARKET TREND Being home item furniture is used by almost all family members; hence, there are large numbers of factors that affect its purchase. These aspects include personal, product, industry, availability and many other domain all putting equal pressure in driving consumer behavior. Survey results driving the furniture purchase from two perspectives as shown in the following figures (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Shopping behavior for furniture purchase is affected by following factors (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Keeping all these factors, the survey found IKEA is the most preferred furniture retailer as shown: (Microsoft, 2011) Survey results regarding reasons resulting in furniture buying is mentioned bel ow: (Microsoft, 2011) Among many factors leading furniture buying, income and price are very important. At IKEA constant innovation reduces prices which in result drive sales. At an average IKEA reduces its sales price by 2-3 percent per year (Ikea, 2011). An indifference curve for furniture consumption with change in prices from IKEA has been developed showing the increase in

AIM in London Stock Exchange Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

AIM in London Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example The main advantage of this system is that it has reduced the regulatory barriers and constraints and has been able to attract new firms in the market and lot of investment in the market. Alternative investment Market is required to comply and abide by certain specified rules and regulations that has been established in accordance with the rules and regulations that has been established by the act of Financial Services and Market. The Alternative investment market does not include the corporate governance and therefore it has been advised that the NOMADS are required to follow the principles or regulations that have been introduced by the London stock exchange. The rules and regulations includes that the Nomads must be the member of the firm that is associated with professionals of corporate finance and it is required to be approved by the London Stock exchange. The exchange has also provided benefit for the private regulators that is an incentive will be offered for enhancing its value in the market. The main objective behind appointing the Nomads are that it is appointed as the private gate keepers or as the watch dog in deciding whether the companies that are willing to list their shares in the market are appropriate or preferable for the market and they are the supervisors for monitoring the companies or the firms for ensuring that the standards related to the exchange that is regulated by the corporate governance are fulfilled. The needs and requirements of AIM are very flexible in nature and it does not require market capitalization and also trading requirement. It measures the appropriate value of the cost of the investors. The regulators of Alternative investment market that is the nomads are engaged in the preparation of the working capital report, pro forma financial information, historical financial information and also the report on the financial procedures. The importance of AIM can be observed from the fact that AIM is flourishing and its

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Economics of the firm - IKEA Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics of the firm - IKEA - Term Paper Example It ensures to bring product within the buying capacity of as many people as possible. IKEA takes challenges to provide the best quality at low price. Hence, success of IKEA is based on the secret recipe of simple yet effective business model. This report is aimed at providing the detailed review of the economics of IKEA, giving insight about firm’s internal conduct as well as impact it receives from domestic and international events. NATURE OF PRODUCT OR SERVICE IKEA furniture nature can be classified as normal goods; between the broad categorization of normal and inferior goods. Technology has played an incredible role in determining the demand for furniture. At IKEA, technological development has ensured continuous innovation that facilitated furniture in a flat package that is also easy to assemble by self at home. Moreover, technological advancement enables firm to sell online, allowing people to devise their own set up using IKEA applications and reduce cost with maximum benefit with IKEA’s life improvement projects. IKEA ranks first on top 20 furniture retailers (Daten, 2011) due to low price among its main differentiating factors. (Daten, 2011) Furniture has high price elasticity that threatens sale in case of rising prices. On the other hand, prices of furniture are rising due to declining natural resources and rising price of furniture components such as steel, plastic, aluminum etc as presented in graph below (Daten, 2011). (Daten, 2011) Survey report has shown that more than 75 percent consumer keep an eye on price when buying price (Daten, 2011). Therefore, IKEA is benefitted for its low price where other competitors get hard hit due to price. Housing demand compliments furniture demand. Availability of widest range of home furnishing product at affordable price makes IKEA preferred choice. During economic downturn, IKEA has managed to carve profit with its low cost offering fetching sales for being growingly adopted as substitute for high cost offerings in home furnishing . IKEA sales grew by 6.9% and stores increased by 2.7% in the year 2011 (Ikea., 2011). Finished flats as main drivers of furniture demand still have sizeable market as projected for 2012, survey report shows: (Daten, 2011) MARKET TREND Being home item furniture is used by almost all family members; hence, there are large numbers of factors that affect its purchase. These aspects include personal, product, industry, availability and many other domain all putting equal pressure in driving consumer behavior. Survey results driving the furniture purchase from two perspectives as shown in the following figures (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Shopping behavior for furniture purchase is affected by following factors (Microsoft, 2011): (Microsoft, 2011) Keeping all these factors, the survey found IKEA is the most preferred furniture retailer as shown: (Microsoft, 2011) Survey results regarding reasons resulting in furniture buying is mentioned bel ow: (Microsoft, 2011) Among many factors leading furniture buying, income and price are very important. At IKEA constant innovation reduces prices which in result drive sales. At an average IKEA reduces its sales price by 2-3 percent per year (Ikea, 2011). An indifference curve for furniture consumption with change in prices from IKEA has been developed showing the increase in

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

New Service Ideas ( based upon changing Consumers and Markets) Article

New Service Ideas ( based upon changing Consumers and Markets) - Article Example Try to find articles that have a focus on consumers or consumer groups and how they are changing. DON’T pick articles on new products or services- pick a broader consumer or environmental trend- make sure it is a major, not a minor trend- and that it is in the U.S. (we are not focusing on other countries for this assignment- it may be a Global trend- that’s OK, but must be ‘trending’ in the US too.) 2) Then answer the question "HOW are these trends important to marketers of services?" How will they Impact some services? (1/2 page). Focus on SERVICES, not products- and how this trend will impact Services in General- what unique elements of services will be impacted by this trend (like restaurants, or bars, or airlines, or hotels†¦etc) 3) Finally, take a stab at developing TWO NEW (2) Services or Service Extensions (Wal-Mart having child-care; Target decorating college dorm rooms) that would capitalize and be successful because of this trend. Cool examples in past of new services: â€Å"Elder Universities† (for seniors); Airlines for adults only (no babies/ children); Nightclubs for older women (cougars); Cruise Lines for Disabled People; Spa for Asian Americans; Evangelical Christian Dating or Cruise Line, Vacations where you can take your dog†¦.etc. (1/2 to 2/3 page for EACH service idea). Turn in a copy of the two articles with your 2-2.5 page write-up (hint- good magazines/journals to look in are American Demographics, Advertising Age, Business Week/Forbes/ Fortune, and Wall Street Journal. One of the major social trends that is developing in America is assimilation of immigrants and young generation adapting to cultures from different cultures. For instance, more kids of young generation are exploring new avenues of socializing and even dating. More than ever, groups of different nationalities and religions are intermixing, which is

Monday, October 14, 2019

A 17th century audience Essay Example for Free

A 17th century audience Essay The Tempest is full of magic and illusion. Consider the effect this would have on a 17th century audience and a 21st century audience. How might the magic and illusion be presented today? William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest as a play. It was not intended for the text to be read by school children from a book. It was intended for performance in a theatre, where it would give enjoyment to an audience. One of the main themes of The Tempest is magic. Prospero is a magician, a sorcerer, a wizard, someone with magical powers. He uses these powers to make lots of things happen within the play. Indeed, the first scene focuses on the storm that Prospero has created to cause havoc on the ship upon which his enemies are travelling. At the beginning of the play, the storm just seems like any other storm, with an unfortunate crew being shipwrecked. By the end of Act 1, however, we discover that the storm was not a natural occurrence. Prospero conjured up the storm and deliberately picked out that ship. The audience get their first hint of this in Mirandas first speech of the play. Miranda has watched the storm destroy the ship and she feels pity for the shipwrecked people. In her opening line, she asks her father if the storm is a product of his magic: If by your art, my dearest father, you have Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them. This shows that Miranda knows about Prosperos magic. She may not know everything that he does with his powers, but she knows that he does have supernatural powers. This storm is the beginning of a plan that Prospero has thought up to wreak revenge on his enemies. The plan involves a lot of magic. After being stranded on the island for 12 years, Prospero has had time to perfect his powers and to dream up a plan, a plan that never could have taken place without the storm. Because of this, the initial storm has a massive impact on the rest of the play. It also gives the audience an idea of how strong Prosperos powers are. He is able to control the elements, something that only God is supposed to be able to do. However, as we learn later on in the play, Prospero may be able to conjure up storms and illusions, but he cannot control human nature, and must rely on good luck when trying to make Ferdinand and Miranda to fall in love.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Main Objectives of Training in Employment

Main Objectives of Training in Employment The training, development and education of employees at all level of hierarchy in an organization are considered as an essential tool in maintaining competitiveness in the international arena. The chance for workplace learning to improve individual and organizational performance has been acknowledged for a very long time. Training is a fundamental component in helping to resolve major organizational or management problem. Training is an ideal way to learn a job. Today, Management of the skills of the workforce is an essential aspect of doing business, and employee development will likely grow in the future (Noe, 1999). The benefits of employee development extend beyond the actual skills gained and their contribution to an individuals productivity (Benson, 2002). Training is the use of systematic and planned instruction activities to promote learning. This approach can be summarized in the phrase learner-based training. (Armstrong, 2001) Training has an opposite role to play in accelerating learning: that is, training should be reserved in circumstances justifying a more directed expert-led approach instead of viewing training as a comprehensive and all-pervasive solution for the development of the people. (Reynolds, 2004) 2.1. Learning Learning is defined as a method of increasing an individuals ability to take action. (Kim, 1993) The definitive aim of learning policies and programs of any organisation is to make provision of skilled, knowledgeable and competent workforce necessary to meet present and prospective needs. (Armstrong, 2001) However, Reynolds et al (2000) explained that there is a need to make difference between learning and training as learning is a process of acquiring new knowledge, skills and capabilities whilst training is one of the actions an organisation can take for the promotion of learning. Similarly, Sloman (2003a) distinguished between learning that lies within the domain of the individual and training that lies within the domain of the organization. Today, The approach is to focus on the individual learning by ensuring that it happened when needed that is, just-for-you and just-in-time learning. 2.2. Definition of Training In General, Training is defined as a planned and systematic effort to modify or develop knowledge, skills and attitudes through learning experiences, to achieve effective performance in an activity or range of activities. (Garavan et al., 1995; Harrison, 1993; Reid et al., 1994). The Manpower Services Commission (1981) described training as a designed process aiming at the development of attitude, knowledge or skill behaviour through the knowhow of learning in order to achieve performance in an activity or series of activities. The idea behind training in the situation of the work is to increase the capabilities of an individual so as to satisfy the current and prospective needs of the organisation. Training is the systematic modification of behaviour through learning which occurs as a result of education, instruction, development and planned experience. (Armstrong, 1999) Decenzo and Robbins (1996) defined training as a learning experience that seeks a relatively permanent change in an individual that will improve the ability to perform on the job. As well, Decenzo and Robbins pointed out that training bring about changes in skills, knowledge, attitudes, or behaviour. Many other definitions provided in literature lay emphasis on a current job focus. Being a very popular activity, it appear to cross all the limits including on- the- job training, off- the- job training , training to young employees , adult training, formal and informal training through work experience. Looking forward critically to the views on training concepts revealed the same thing in appearance what really differs is the alternative of words. 2.3. Aim of Training The central aim of training is to aid an organisation achieving its purpose by adding value to its key resources, that is, the people it employs. Consequently, to attain the overall effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation, it needs to invest in its people to enable them to perform better and to empower them to make the best use of their natural abilities. 2.4. The three main objectives of Training pointed out by Armstrong (1999) are as follows: Training develops the ability of the employee to enhance their performance. Assist in the growth of the people in the organisation as far as possible, as such its future Human Resources can be met within the organisation, The learning time for employees starting new jobs on appointment, transfer or promotion are lessened and also ensure that the latter are totally competent as promptly and cost-effectively as possible. 2.5. The need for training is justified in many ways: Learning can take place through formal training as: Formal instruction can develop the skill for the works requirements. Various skills are needed for the number of employees which have to be developed quickly so as to meet new demands and cannot be obtain through relying on experience. In order to ensure that employees meet their responsibilities critical information need to be imparted. Common learning need has to be met, which can be dealt through training programs. 2.6. The Systematic Approach to training The influential factors in conflict with the good performance of employees are the inadequacy of training. With simple recruitment, no seriously minded organisation can be staffed by employees having expertise and potentials in variety of discipline desired for the total functioning. Through, a systematic approach to training of the personnel on a continuous basis connects the totality of the workforce towards higher productivity in the organisation. The Manpower Services Commission (1981, p.59) defined systematic training as training undertaken on a planned basis as a result of applying a logical series of steps. In practice, the number and description of these steps tends to vary, but in general terms they would cover such aspects as the development of training policy, identification of training needs, development of training objectives and plans, implementation of planned training and validation, evaluation and review of training. Typically, the systematic model consists of 5 components: analysis of training needs, design of training curriculum, development of training curriculum, implementation or delivery and finally the evaluation. (Carnevale et al, 1990). 2.7. Models of Training: 2.7.1. ADDIE model The most common conceptual model for systematic training is the ADDIE model. The ADDIE model presents a systematic process for determining training needs, the design and development of training programs and materials, implementation of the program, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the training (Gagne et al, 2005). The ADDIE model has been evolved through written or oral tradition both formally and informally (Molenda, 2003). Figure 1-ADDIE Model: Phases, System Functions, and Quality Improvement Source: Department of the Air Force (2001) Note: ADDIE = analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate. The ADDIE illustrated above is one of the revised model. The model shows that: Evaluation is the focus of the ADDIE process. ADDIE is a continuous process with flexibility to enter and reenter various phases when necessary so as to develop, update or revise instruction. The ADDIE activities take place within and are dependent on system functions. Cooperation is necessary among personnel performing in the system function and those who design develop and implement instructional systems. All activities and system function is based on continuous improvement for the overall system. The entire process of this model is the ADDIE model takes place with the sphere of Quality improvement. ADDIE depends on the mission and job analysis for required data in order to design, develop and implement instruction. There are more than 100 different variations of the model; however, almost all of them reflect the generic ADDIE process. 2.8. Performance improvement focus Models There are normally three models related to training for performance improvement. The following three models, performance-based instruction, training for performance system, and training for impact, take a performance improvement focus. They each work from the assumption that it is unlikely that training by itself will improve individual or organizational performance. These models emphasize the analysis and evaluation phases and their connection to the host organization The performance-base instruction Training for performance system Training for impact. However, these three models work on the assumption that training by itself would not improve the performance of employee or the organisation as emphasize must be on the analysis and evaluation phase. 2.8.1.The performance-base instruction Model Performance-base instruction (PBI) model was developed by Dale Brethower and Karolyn Smalley in 1998. The PBI model was specially designed to add value to individuals and organizations performance through which the gap between the novice and the excellent performance is reduced. Holton et al (2000) stated that the model is learner and organisation centered and seeing that there is an improvement in performance, it hereby adds value to the organization. Figure 2-Performance-Based Instruction Source: Brethower and Smalley (1998). The benefit of this systematic training approach is to enhance the high ratio of benefit to the high ratio of cost as it uses a systematic and efficient development process. Brethower and Smalley (1998) pointed out the application of the PBI model is put into practice through: (1) Guided observation, (2) Guided practice, (3) Demonstration of mastery. 2.8.2. Training for performance system The Training for performance system (TPS) model was initially developed by Richard A. Swason in 1978 which have begin with the composition of the ADDIE model as discussed previously and thus have expand one each phase to mitigate rigidity and shortcomings. Swason(2002) defined the TPS as a process for the development of human expertise for the purpose of improving individual, organizational and process performance. Normally, the TPS analyzes the requirement for basic organisational performance and also deal with the development of the expertise in the field of knowledge work and system work. Figure 3 Training for Performance System, Source: Swanson (2002). TPS give rise to a systematic training model with the potential to produce outstanding outcomes in the training environment for all content. Thus this is accomplished in 2 ways: The traditional 5 phases of training is supported by a solid leadership function. The basis of leadership includes the tasks of: Championing the training and development mission and goals of training, Managing the training and development process, Ensuring the continuous improvement of the process. Each phase is divided into two specific steps which further describe the major processes that make up the phase which is backed up by a an easy-to-use support system for every step. The analysis phases (Swanson, 1996) and the evaluation phase (Swanson, 1996; Swanson Holton, 1999) in the TPS model is emphasis as being the key to success. 2.8.3. Training for impact model This model links training with the specific goal of an organization. That is, the need that drives the request for training is identified in the organization. This model helps the trainer to document their training efforts. The Training for impact model states a mandatory need assessment. That is, the business result expected to take place from the improvements are recognized on the front end. This model helps the Human Resource Development (HRD) professional to focus on the requirement and delivery for the improvement in skills and knowledge whereas, management to focus on the needs required in the working environment to support new skills or knowledge. Then, the results must be measured. (Cowell et al, 2006). Figure 4-Training for impact Source: Robinson and Robinson (1989). Robinson and Robinson (1989) outlined 12 steps of progression through the Training-for-impact model. Step 1: Identify business need and client: This means that training should help in maximizing opportunities, and thus be more projects driven than curriculum base. Step 2: Form a collaborative relationship with client: the learning experience and work environment us examined. Step 3: conduct initial project meeting: This is a key step in the training process. Step 4: Conduct Performance effectiveness assessment: Front-end assessment is mandatory as it identifies. What gap exists? What should be? What should not be? What is the difference between the two? Step 5: Conduct cause analysis: In this step the cause of the gap that exists should be identified. Steps 6 and 7: tabulate, interpret and report results to the client: the HRD manager must present the result in a way to encourage management to take expected action. Step 8: design the reaction and learning evaluation system: In this step, the reaction evaluation that is, receiving information from participant and learning evaluation that is, assessment of the degree of skill and knowledge which have been learn should be designed. Step 9: design tracking system: The behavioural, non-observable and operational results should be identified clearly and must be specific to allow measurement. Step 10: conduct training: maximum impact to the organisation is assured because of the time and efforts devoted in the need assessment. Step 11: collect, tabulate and interpret evaluation and tracking data: comparison of the date collected with the base data for evaluation of outcome evidence. Step 12: report to the client: the results from all evaluation with emphasis on tracking studies should be reported. Clients will assist with evaluation and follow up actions. 2.9. The Systematic training process 2.9.1. Training needs analysis The analysis phase was originally based on the understanding that training was needed and that analyzing the content was the starting point. Goldstein (1986) described needs assessment as an effort to analyse and diagnose the organization, task and person, to determine if a cure is necessary and what cure is most likely to produce the desired results. Needs analysis is a systematic attempt to identify current and future organizational problems. (Anderson, 1993; Roscoe, 1995). Training need analysis is a process of determining what ought to be (goals) and assessing the amount of discrepancy between what ought to be and what actually is (needs). (Briggs, Gustafson and Tillman, 1991). The purpose of a training needs analysis is to close the gap between the actual and desired situations by determining discrepancies in outcomes, placing them in order of priority and selecting the most important for closure or reduction. (Rothwell and Kazanas, 1998). It is important to carry out training needs analysis before organizing any training activities as it guaranteed the success of the activities. The analysis ensures synergy among the learning need of individual and quest for effectiveness, job performance and strategic organisational development. (Potter et al., 2003) Normally the TNA refers to the process of examining needs for training in order to determine how they might actually be met. It attempt to define gaps between what people know and can do and what they should know and be able to do. To gain a meaningful analysis, it is crucial to use the system approach. Following certain steps will be beneficial as it provide direction and focus in the process. As such, it provides a framework within which to work and to report results to management. The steps that are normally used to analyse training needs are as follows: Step 1: Perform a gap analysis Step 2: Identify priorities and importance Step 3: Identify causes of performance problems and/or opportunities Step 4: Identify possible solutions and growth opportunities Step 5: Present your findings A Training Needs Assessment is normally conducted so as to determine what the actual performance problem(s) is (are) (Rossett, 1999). However, in some cases, a problem is not due to the of lack in instruction but to deficiencies within the job structure or environment (Clark, 1999). 2.9.2. Designing the training program The next step consists of designing the training program. It is imperative for organisations to realize while designing the program that is equally important to consider what trainees should know or be able to do after the training is complete. One thing that should be considered before designing the training program us what the program is to accomplish, that is the objectives. Without knowing what the program is to accomplish it is very difficult to design the program. 2.9.2.1. Determining training objectives and training plan After the need analysis, it becomes easier to establish training objectives and to determine what the learners must be able to perform after the training program. However, Mckenna and Beech (2002) stated the importance for a sound basis to be established for other elements of Human Resource Management practice such as performance management, reward management combined with training and development. That is, training and development itself cannot help in the total development of employee without the complement of appraisal and motivation. 2.9.2.2. Determine the content Once, attainable and measurable objectives have been set, it is crucial to determine the content. This can be either a complete training program or ne task only. In the content details of the course content and time, resources required, method of training, who should do the training and who should be trained information should be available. 2.9.2.3. Implementing training The success of the training program totally depends on how well it is implemented. The establishment of a suitable learning environment is one of the most important elements determining the success of the training provided. There should be the right provision for the availability of training facilities as such trainers will be able to gain the interest of the audience, maximize understanding and participation. The method of training used is normally based on the identified needs, training objectives, an understanding on part of the trainees, resources available and the awareness of the learning principle. The most popular training and development techniques used by organizations can be classified as either on the job training and off the job training. (DeCouza et al, 1996) On the job training This is the most widely use method of training as it is simple and less costly to operate. It is normally conducted at the work site and in context of the actual job. Here, there is a close collaboration between the trainer and learner. There are 3 common methods used for on the job training are: learning by doing, mentoring, and shadowing and job rotation. Off the job training Off the job training involves employees taking training course away from their place of work. It might also be provided by the organsation training department or by external providers. The training methods are: Lectures Demonstration Role play Case study Demonstration 2.9.3. Evaluation of training program A review of literature on evaluation of training was conducted to identify methods of effectiveness evaluation for training programs. Upon checking the effectiveness of training, Kenny et al (1992) stated that both during and after the completion of the training, it must be reviewed by training officers, the line manager and if required by the trainee also. Evaluation helps to measure the cost benefits of the training program not only based on the achievement of its laid down objectives. Phillips (1991) defined evaluation as a systematic process to determine the worth, value, or meaning of something whereas, Holli and Calabrese (1998) defined evaluation as contrast of an observed value or a standard quality or criteria of comparison. Therefore, Evaluation is the process of forming value decision about the quality of programs, products, and goals. 2.9.3.1. Methods of training effectiveness evaluation Training can be evaluated in several ways. Beardwell and Holden (1993) have cited some of these methods as follows: Questionnaires : this is the most common approach of obtaining responses about the training program from the trainee. Tests : An important evaluation program for measuring learning. This help to show the change in skills, knowledge or ability of the trainee attribute from the program. These are common on formal courses. Structured exercises : this provides the opportunities to apply the learned skills and techniques under observation of evaluators. Interviews : this is a direct way of gathering information from trainees. This can be formal and informal; individual or group, face to face or by telephone. 2.9.3.2. Approaches to evaluation of training Upon the definition of evaluation, the Kirkpatrick Model was the most commonly reported model. Phillips (1991) pointed out that the Kirkpatrick Model was one of the most well known frameworks for the classification of evaluation areas. This was confirmed by America Society for Training and Development (ASTD) in 1997 when carrying a survey on human resource development. 2.9.2.3. The Kirkpatrick Model: Level one : reaction Level two : Learning Level three : Behavior Level 4 : Results Level one: Reaction Normally, stakeholder reactions provide useful insight into factors that contribute to learner motivation and satisfaction but do not directly measure training results. Typically, reaction data includes the learn ability data collected from trainees and teach ability data collected from trainers. Level 2: Learning The determination of the learning gain is an essential measure. Did the training programs achieve its objectives? Have the trainees mastered the knowledge, skills and attitudes at which the training was directed? If the training does not result in learning, training has no value to an organization. However, there are ample evidences that learning from training is often quickly lost or not transferred to the job in a way that improves employee performance. Therefore, measuring learning alone does not provide adequate evidence of trainings value to the organisation. (Collins, 2002; Dionne, 1996). Level 3: Behaviour It is argued the trainee work performance is the most meaningful and critical factor in judging the training effectiveness. That is, it determines the extent to which changes in behaviour and job performance have occurred as a result of the training event and also involves both the employees and managers evaluation of changes in job related activities. Level 4: Results Finally, the impact of the training event on the organisation performance is measures as it is views as many or equals to more important than individuals work performance. However, organisational performance can only be achieved through individual performance. 2.10.Training and Employees Performance Overview The quality of the workforce and their development through training are key factors in determining long term profitability and the optimum performance of organisations. Therefore, to hire and retain quality employees, it is crucial to invest in their development of their skills, knowledge and abilities so that the individual and eventually the organizations performance can increase. Traditionally, training is given to new employees only. However, this is a mistake as ongoing training for existing employees helps them to adjust to changing job requirement quickly. Figure 5-Bramleys individual model of training Source:Swart et al(2005) The model in general assumes that employee knowledge, skills and attitudes will change by the adoption of a training program; however, this does not always end in that way. If the employee believes, there is an improvement in his knowledge and skills; then it may be safe to also assume that, there will be an increase in the persons individual performance. Through training the persons competencies will be reinforced and will enable him or her to execute the tasks assigned effectively and efficiently. As a result, according to the model, there will be an increase in the overall performance of the organization. Nevertheless, individual job performance is also influenced by the culture and the structure of the organization, by the job design, the reward systems used to motivate employees and the power and politics that exist in the organization and the group processes. Individuals may not achieve their goals and thus not perform well, due to problems associated with the reasons above and not necessarily due to lack of skills. Wright and Geroy (2001), argued to ensure training effectiveness, certain issues must be taken into account. Management style may need to change and training also, has to fit with the culture of the organization. Some companies may offer training programs that, the organization itself is not prepared to accept the ensuing changes. Besides, Eisenberger et al. (1986) proposed that employees are more likely to become committed to an organization, if they believe that the organization is committed to them and management should make efforts to create a positive work environment. Managers, also have the responsibility, to ascertain which factors inhibit effectiveness and make the appropriate decisions, to ameliorate the situation (Swart et al., 2005). Although in theory training seems to increase organizational performance, in actuality the evidence for such a claim is scant. Bartel (1994), in a survey 2.11. Performance Management Definition of performance management Fisher et al (2003) defined performance management as the integration of performance appraisal systems with broader human resource systems as a means of aligning employees work behaviors with organizational goals. Performance management should be an ongoing, interactive process that is designed to enhance employee capability and facilitate productivity. 2.11.1 Criteria for assessing employees performance Productivity Productivity can be said to be the raison dà ªtre of management. According to Armstrong (1999) productivity represents the output of goods and services that can be obtained from a given input of employees. The sources of productivity gains includes (Schiller, 2002) Higher skills- increase in the skills of labour More capital- An increase in the ratio of capital to labor Improved management- better use of available resources in the process. Technological advancement- development and use of better capital equipment. Training leads to the development of higher skill and thus impacts on employee performance. The focus is that employee will not perform better at work no matter how hard they try and regardless of how they want until they know what they are supposed to do and how they are supposed to do it (Zaccarelli, 1997). Productivity is one of the most important elements for assessing employee performance. Motivation and Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction refers to an employees overall assessment of his or her work and work-related experiences, which is influenced by an individuals values, ideals and belief.( Baron, 1976; Chan et al., 2004). Research has been reporting job satisfaction as an important predictor of several critical negative and positive work outcomes. Job satisfaction is a very important motivator for employees performance and has been found to inversely relate to turnover.(Mak and Sockel, 1999; Rust et al., 1996). On the other hand, the offering talented employees training to retain them on their current job function and allowing them to learn to new skills can be utilized to improve employee satisfaction within the organisation (Rice et al, 1991). Evidence suggest that suggests that training is more likely to have a positive impact on employee satisfaction where the employers develop formal, structured approaches to training that link skill formation to job tenure, career progression, recognition and rewards (Heyes and Stuart, 1994). Therefore, these factors lead to the employee being happy and thus performance better. Level of customers satisfaction There is a positive relationship between happy employees and satisfied customers. It would seem that if people feel good about their jobs, their happiness would be reflected in the quality of their work and in positive feedback from their customers. People are an integral part of customer relationship management as it is not just about technology. However, unless the employee is trained and empowered to manage the customer base within the correct organisational structure there will be an impact on the success of the implementation. Employees need to work at the levels of their abilities and have responsibilities commensurate with these if they are not to feel under-utilized which can lead to dissatisfaction. Staff members who manage customers are usually capable of much more than they are asked to do. That is why policies that empower your staff to manage customers better work so well (Stone et al., 2000). Degree of Coordination Coordination is a part of all organizations that have a certain degree of specialization or differentiation among their parts, commanding some sort of coordinated effort across them. A mechanism of coordination can be considered any administrative tool used for achieving integration among different units within an organization. Coordination as compared with control should be less direct and less costly (Cray, 1984). The greater the level of interdependence within the organization, the greater the need for integration. Employees are assessed on the relationship between department and colleagues. Relationship management is very crucial in any orgnisation as it is a social arrangement where all people work together to achieve common goal. Commitment towards the organisation Commitment is a very important concept as it helps to enhance performance of employees. Employees who feel committed to their organisation are more valued and thus perform better. As such investing in people is one important aspect which leads to organisational commitment. Employee may view an effective training experience as an indication that the company is willing to invest in them and cares about them; this, training may enhance their commitment to the organization(Tannenbaum et al., 1991) References Stone, M., Woodcock, N. and Mactynger, E. (2000) Customer Relationship Marketing, Kogan Page, London. Cray, D. (1984), Control and coordination in multinational corporations

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Essay --

The objective of this article is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Speedster Athletics Company’s financial position. Company has a good profitability and a attractive asset base. However following strengths can be highlighted in the financial position of Speedster Athletics Company; †¢ Favourable Gross profits – Speedster Athletics Company has been able to generate favourable gross margins over the last three years consistently over the industry average of 26%. Gross margin is in a declining trend over 2010 to 2011 where 2011 gross margin is 27% (1371/5075*100%) which is 1% lower than 2011, however this is above the industry average level, proving that Speedster company is capable of generating better margins. †¢ Increase in Fixed assets base in 2011 over 2010 – From 2010 to 2011 there has been a 23.8% increase in gross fixed assets value. The raised funds through long term debts would have been used to enhance assets base of Speedster. This is a very positive sigh of future profitability and capacity of the company. Higher assets should be able to generate more cash inflow...

Friday, October 11, 2019

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twelve

â€Å"Good practice,† Christopher said, stopping next to Matt as he headed out of the locker room. â€Å"You've got some great moves, man.† â€Å"Thanks,† Matt said, glancing up from putting on his shoes. â€Å"You were looking pretty good out there yourself.† He could tel Christopher was going to be a solid team-mate, the kind of guy who did his job and focused on the big picture, working to help the rest of the team. He was a great roommate, too, generous and laid-back. He didn't even snore. â€Å"Want to skip the dining hal and order a pizza?† Christopher asked. â€Å"This is my night to beat you at Guitar Hero – I can feel it.† Matt laughed. In the couple of weeks they'd been living together, he and Christopher had been working their way through al the Wii games Christopher had brought with him to school. â€Å"Al right, I'l see you back at the room.† Christopher slapped him on the back, grinning widely. After Christopher left, Matt took his time getting his things together, letting the other guys get out of the locker room ahead of him. He felt like walking back to the dorm alone tonight. They were a nice bunch of guys, but he was sore and tired. Between footbal practices and Vitale Society pledge activities, he'd never worked his body quite so hard. It felt good. He felt good. Even the stupidest of the Vitale activities – and some of them were pretty stupid: they'd had to work in teams to build houses out of newspaper the other night – were kind of fun, because he was getting to know some amazing people. Ethan had been right. As a group, the pledges were smart, determined, talented, everything you'd expect. And he was one of them. His classes were interesting, too. Back in high school he'd gotten okay grades but had mostly just done what he had to do to pass. The Civil War, geometry, chemistry, To Kill a Mockingbird: al his schoolwork had sort of blended into the background of his real life of friends and sports. Some of what he was doing at Dalcrest was like that, too, but in most of his classes, he was starting to see connections between things. He was getting the idea that history, language, science, and literature were al parts of the same thing – the way people thought and the stories they told – and it was real y pretty interesting. It was possible, Matt thought, with a self-mocking grin, that he was â€Å"blossoming† in col ege, just like his high school guidance counselor had predicted. It wasn't ful y dark yet, but it was getting late. Matt sped up, thinking about pizza. There weren't a lot of people roaming the campus. Matt guessed they were either in the cafeteria or holed up in their rooms, afraid. He wasn't worried, though. He figured there were a lot more vulnerable targets than a footbal player. A breeze started up, waving the branches of the trees on the quad and wafting the smel of grass to Matt. It stil felt like summer. In the bushes, a few early-evening fireflies blinked on and off. He rol ed his shoulders, enjoying the stretch after a long practice. Up ahead, someone screamed. A guy, Matt thought. The cry cut off suddenly. Before he could even think, Matt was running toward the sound. His heart was pounding, and he tried to force his tired legs to move faster. That was a sound of pure panic, Matt thought. He strained his ears but didn't hear anything except his own ragged breaths. As he came around the business building, a dark figure that had been bent over something in the grass took off, its long skinny legs flying. It was moving fast, and its face was completely concealed by a hoodie. Matt couldn't even see if it was a guy or a girl. He angled his own stride to race after the figure in black but came to a sudden halt by the shape in the grass. Not just a shape. For a moment, Matt's mind refused to process what he was seeing. The red and gold of a footbal jersey. Wet, thick liquid spreading across it. A familiar face. Then everything snapped into focus. He dropped to his knees. â€Å"Christopher, oh no, Christopher.† There was blood everywhere. Matt frantical y felt at Christopher's chest, trying to figure out where he could put pressure to try to stop the bleeding. Everywhere, everywhere, it's coming from everywhere. Christopher's whole body was shaking, and Matt pressed his hands against the soaking footbal jersey to try to hold him stil . Fresh blood ran in thick crimson streams against the brighter red of the jersey's material. â€Å"Christopher, man, hold on, it's going to be okay. You'l be okay,† Matt said, and pul ed out his phone to dial 911. His own hands were covered with blood now, and the phone was a slimy mess as he held it to his ear. â€Å"Please,† he said, his voice shaking, â€Å"I'm at Dalcrest Col ege, near the business building. My roommate, someone attacked my roommate. He's bleeding a lot. He's not conscious.† The 911 operator started to ask him some questions and Matt tried to focus. Suddenly Christopher opened his eyes, taking a deep gulp of air. â€Å"Christopher,† Matt said, dropping his phone. â€Å"Chris, they're sending an ambulance, hold on.† The shaking got worse, Christopher's arms and legs vibrating in a rapid rhythm. His eyes settled on Matt's face, and his mouth opened. â€Å"Chris,† Matt said, trying to hold him down, trying to be gentle, â€Å"who did this? Who attacked you?† Christopher gasped again, a hoarse gulping sound. Then the shaking stopped, and he was very stil . His eyelids slid down over his eyes. â€Å"Chris, please hold on,† Matt begged. â€Å"They're coming. They'l help you.† He grabbed at Christopher, shook him a little, but Christopher wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. Sirens sounded in the distance, but Matt knew the ambulance was already too late.