Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Belated St Pattys Day

BELATED ST. PATTY’S DAY I remember being nearly awake at two or so in the morning on March 18th, 1991 tossing and turning in my bed and then in the middle of my restlessness, a gun fired. The cops rushed the door, placed her in handcuffs, all the while I was looking from a distance in my pseudo sleep stage, not quite sure if what I had seen really happened. This day marked a new beginning and a healthy approach to life for my mother. On this day, which I came to learn some months after the fact, was my mother’s new birthday. Luckily, the bullet grazed her head, only to shatter a mirror behind her. Alcoholism is a drug addiction. Alcohol is the culprit drug and it’s classified under a group called depressants, which affects the central nervous system, impairing concentration and judgment. Soon after rehabilitation started, I learned that my mother was an alcoholic and the problems associated with alcoholism were both physical and mental. My mother’s problems with drinking came way before I was conceived and some would argue that her problems came before her conception too. Although it has not been proven, there is substantial evidence that supports alcoholism is hereditary. Offspring of alcoholics are three to four times more likely to develop alcohol problems than offspring of non-alcoholics. The most unusual thing that I learned after my mother stuck me in Alateen is that alcoholism is a disease. Alateen is a place for teenagers to get advise in dealing with their alcoholic parent or parents and is a growing department of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholism has serious physical consequences, but there are several steps that lead to this disease. Your body gradually inherits a tolerance over a period of years and becomes dependent on the drug. The second step occurs when the victim notices memory lapses and blackouts. Lastly, the victim becomes powerless over alcohol and consumes beyond the normal limit. ... Free Essays on Belated St Patty's Day Free Essays on Belated St Patty's Day BELATED ST. PATTY’S DAY I remember being nearly awake at two or so in the morning on March 18th, 1991 tossing and turning in my bed and then in the middle of my restlessness, a gun fired. The cops rushed the door, placed her in handcuffs, all the while I was looking from a distance in my pseudo sleep stage, not quite sure if what I had seen really happened. This day marked a new beginning and a healthy approach to life for my mother. On this day, which I came to learn some months after the fact, was my mother’s new birthday. Luckily, the bullet grazed her head, only to shatter a mirror behind her. Alcoholism is a drug addiction. Alcohol is the culprit drug and it’s classified under a group called depressants, which affects the central nervous system, impairing concentration and judgment. Soon after rehabilitation started, I learned that my mother was an alcoholic and the problems associated with alcoholism were both physical and mental. My mother’s problems with drinking came way before I was conceived and some would argue that her problems came before her conception too. Although it has not been proven, there is substantial evidence that supports alcoholism is hereditary. Offspring of alcoholics are three to four times more likely to develop alcohol problems than offspring of non-alcoholics. The most unusual thing that I learned after my mother stuck me in Alateen is that alcoholism is a disease. Alateen is a place for teenagers to get advise in dealing with their alcoholic parent or parents and is a growing department of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholism has serious physical consequences, but there are several steps that lead to this disease. Your body gradually inherits a tolerance over a period of years and becomes dependent on the drug. The second step occurs when the victim notices memory lapses and blackouts. Lastly, the victim becomes powerless over alcohol and consumes beyond the normal limit. ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Ask for What You Want at Work

How to Ask for What You Want at Work It’s a fact of life that you will rarely be handed exactly what you want in in your career. It’s up to you to take control of your future and move it in your most ideal direction–if you sit around and wait for people to take notice and reward you, you might be waiting for a long time. If you’re feeling undervalued at work, here’s a surefire plan to organize your thoughts and make a plan before you approach the powers that be.Put into words what is making you unsatisfied. Do you feel your salary is too low? Are your hours too inconsistent? Do you despise working with a specific client?The first step will lead you to the next–and most important–step: identify exactly what it is you want. A raise? A better shift schedule? To be relived of your client? Be specific–it is important to have a concrete goal you can clearly express.Next, envision how your work life will be better if your ideal situation comes true. How might this change make you more valuable to your employer? What are the major selling points you can offer for making this change?Finally, create a plan and put it into action. What is the best method in your workplace for making a change? Send that email or make that call, set up a meeting, and put your best foot (and argument) forward.Even if making and implementing a detailed plan does not lead to your ideal results, your voice and demands will have been heard. If nothing else, a proactive attitude always lets your supervisors know you’re serious about your future.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Washington Mercy Hospital Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Washington Mercy Hospital Case - Essay Example Although the best solution to this problem had already been identified, who will bear the cost of solving the problem is now the main issue at hand. Previously, the hospital operated using a six-year old computer system, which provided general accounting, patient accounting and patient registration. However, the the dissatisfaction of the hospital staff with regards to the performance of their old computer system motivated the change to a new IS. Unfortunately, no objectives were set by the hospital to guide each step the directors, the committees, staff, and others would take. The board of directors seemed to be the one overseeing the steps toward a new IS, from determining the specifications needed, choosing the networking company, and assessing the new IS’s performance, since it was the one that provided the funding for those activities. It was the one that appointed a Director of Information Systems to oversee the installation and use of a patient information system, and mandated the senior managers to conduct a poll among medical staff regarding the performance of the old information system and the desirable features of a new system. However, aside from appointing people and funding the project, the board was detached from the decision-making regarding the project. The DIS was the one who prepared the RFP to be shown to potential bidders, oversaw the selection of networking company, and monitored the installation of the networking system. He also seemed to have been the one to set the 3 sec. response time stipulated in the MOA. The basis of this was not provided. No moment during the preparation of RFP to the signing of MOA was the building of ambulatory surgery department ever mentioned. He also did not indicate in the MOA the need of the networking company to provide IS to give room for growth. More importantly, the actual visits were almost a quarter more than the projected values he provided to

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

(lean)Supply Chain and Operations Management Essay

(lean)Supply Chain and Operations Management - Essay Example Many large corporations have intricate purchasing and supplying operations that inevitably create waste and foster non-value added activities. In order to minimize waste and reap maximum profits, corporations exercise lean management practices. One such corporation that practices lean management is Toyota Motor Corporation. It has remained one of the key practices in Toyota (KERBER AND DRECKSHAGE, 2011). One of the key steps in lean is to recognize which steps create value and which do not. By breaking down all activities in to the two aforementioned categories, concrete steps can be taken to promote the former and eradicate the latter. The lean management identifies seven activities as the â€Å"seven wastes†, they are as follows: Over-production: This occurs when more products are produced than what is demanded by the consumer. One common erroneous practice is the production of goods in bulk, as often transpires that customers need change over long periods that products in bulk require. This practice is considered the worst source of waste, as it begets all the other wastes, as more inventory and expenditure is required for the storage and preservation of goods; this does not benefit the customer nor generates income (TAYLOR AND BRUNT, 2001). Continuously improve: This is the mindset which a company is required to adopt. It must always work on the incremental enhancement of processes, services and products over time, with the aim of reducing waste and maximizing

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Business process reengineering Essay Example for Free

Business process reengineering Essay This article is about business process reengineering. business processes we can say is the core tasks that are carried out in departments in an organization for the ultimate goal of delivering a product and a high quality one at that and services to the satisfaction of the customer. Business process reengineering is the modeling of the existing processed to steer the organization towards better performance. This is not considered to be done over a long period of time but rather it is something which is done at once so in a way there is a change of the way things are done but the aim is to come up with a better way for a better benefit. Examples of business processes is the manner in which information flows in an organization,management, departmental tasks,, that is the sales and marketing, production, as well as operational and technical support. Business process reengineering strategy is to improve the business competitive advantage. In discussion is its scope and strength. In consideration is the size of the business alongside the composition of the market. Its main aim is improving the existing business processes and sees how they make a business much better than it was before. We can also call it business transformation whereby the existing organization transforms the way work is done with a way of improving the services as well reducing the costs. It is also aimed at adding value to the existing business; processes and maintain the ones which are relevant as they are while at the same time minimizing or getting rid of those that do not add value to the organization. The article also speaks about organizational culture. An organization is a work setting which comprises of employees. These may be in different departments e. g. sales and marketing, production, and transport department. These departments are interdependent and they support one another in their functions. Their main aim is for the organization to achieve its goals and objectives. It comprises of employees who are the human resources. Culture in itself is beliefs, norms, attitudes, values and experiences of an organization and the people who work there. Organizational culture is the way things are done there. There is a trend of the way the management operates and the way people behave and the manner in which they work. An example of an organization culture is the role culture where emphasis is laid on the concentration on the task carried out. Teamwork is also is a type of culture where tasks are accomplished by a group of people working together with a common goal. They however work as a tea m but this they do in order to achieve the organization goals and objectives as a whole. This is the analysis of the existing business processes in which case is the way tasks are carried out in an organization and working towards transforming them and implementing the new process with the aim improving products and services that the organization offers. A group of processes are observed whereby individual tasks are allocated to a team with a wide range of expertise to accomplish with the main aim of achieving the organization goals and objectives. It is also aimed at improving the organization efficiency and effectiveness. The main aim of BPR is to increase an organization competitive advantage and a new competitive edge. An organization can achieve its goals a fresh through business process reengineering since it is as good as new. Cost is the price at which the end product is sold for. In cost strategy the consideration is to penetrate the market with a low price while at the same time offering the standard quality product and even better than that of the competitor but a lower cost. This will be seen to give an organization the competitive edge. The key issue is to maintain the quality of the product while liasing with all the department s in order to ensure that at all costs the cost is reduced from the marketing department to the production department. Cost reduction should be considered in all aspects of the organization and in the whole business process as a whole . this will enable the organisation to reach the consumer with a high quality product and a t a favourable price. Another organization process is production. This is the conversion of the raw materials into a product. The organization has a plant in which there is manual machinery which is used in the production process. Human effort is considered in loading the materials some of them onto the machinery for production. Efficiency is required in order to ensure that the product at the end of the day is prepared on time and also should be of the standard quality. At all times the organization should seek ways to ensure that the costs of production are kept at the minimum in order to ensure that the product reaches the market at a low price, in order to enjoy a competitive advantage. This is the computerized use of machinery. The machinery in the organization is controlled using computers and all the production processes are computer controlled. This will ensure that the product is of high quality, speed will be increased since the machines work much faster than human beings. Efficiency is enhanced where there is continuity of the work being done as well as the uniformity since the machines do not take days off. This will ensure that the supply of products in the market is constant and availability is enhanced. Supplies also can be made even on orders which have been made over a short period of time since the machinery can be able to meet the production to be done with the minimum time possible. This can also ensure that there is a reduction in the cost of production where there are no many human resources required together with the expenses that go with them like medical cover, housing allowances, as well as pension funds. Cost reduction is effective, and it ensures that the product at the end of the day penetrates the market at a very low cost which will enable the organization to build a large customer base, and also expand its market share. This is a combination of beliefs, attitudes, norms adopted by people in an organization and the manner in which they work. It is best described as a collection of norms and values by people and groups working in an organization. This is a type of culture where efforts are directed towards a product or a service being delivered. it brings human resources together and also pulling resources together for the benefit of coming up with the best possible product or service. It is a team culture whereby a team is built and it is assigned a certain project with an aim of achieving a certain goal and objective. In this culture the team is composed of people qualified in different fields of expertise and is marked by sessions of brainstorming where ideas are formed on how to accomplish the set task. There is also an element of friendliness, as the members all the employees working in a team have to combine efforts and hence each one of them is as important and hence they have got to form alliances. It is from expertise that power is derived. Team members have a scope of ideas which they bring on board and contribute towards accomplishment of the set tasks. The main aim is to reduce costs in all aspects of the organization from sales and marketing and other departments to production. This will ensure that the end consumer will enjoy a lower price of the product than that of the competitor. Cutting costs should be considered in all the organization processes. When the cost is reduced the product is able to penetrate the market at a relatively lower price than that of the competitor products. This will increase the market share as well as the profits. When there is an increase in the profits the organization will also be able to run efficiently and be able to meet its consumer needs as well as enjoy growth in terms of better service and product delivery. This can be achieved through mass s production and distribution, reduction of waste and also a reduction of the market force while also maintaining a goal oriented team. This is the time for business process reengineering. It should be considered since it is for the better of the organization where it gets rid of obsolete business processes and introducing and bringing fresh ideas and ways of working in an organization in order to come up with fresh ideas as well as improve the organization efficiency in delivery of products and services. Organization culture plays an important role in the way an organization operates. It is very important that an organization adopts a culture that favours its goals and objectives and enhances the growth of the organization as well as ensure that it encourages the employees to work towards achieving the organization goals.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Vietnam :: essays research papers

The United States of America prides itself as the self proclaimed leader of the free world. Since the end of World War II the United States has chosen to use force in order to insure this so called "freedom" of other less fortunate nations who do not have the ability to defend themselves. According to the United States these infieor nations "freedom," has been in jeopardy since the beging of the cold war. Webster’s dictionary defines a democracy as a government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. Since the start of the cold war, the United States has undertaken the policy that if you are not a democracy than you are not truly free. *~The government wants use to think that a democracy is pure and good where as a communist society is corrupt and harmful. The fact remains both a forms governments to control the inhabitants and to lead them so that their life might become better.~* The United States gives its citizens the right to periodicly elect their leaders. When the United States entered Vietnam after the French lost the war in 1954, why did it feel, it was necessary to choose to fight the Ho Chi Men lead communists, without even allowing the Vietnamese people a chance to elect their own leader under a free parlimentory electoral system. The Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 Robert McNamara saw the Vietnam conflict escalate from 100 American advisors in 1961 to over 275,000 troops during the time of his departure. Vietnam was caught in a revolution, not unlike the civil war, split in two, north versus south. The battle lines where drawn, the 17th parellel the boundry, the communist state split to the north and a democratic state to the south. However, Southeast Asia was considored one of the most sensitive places at this time durning the cold war. Therfore North Vietnam’s communist neighb ors’ China and Russia, both supplied Ho Chi Men forces. While the south was backed by the United States(which had been funding the war effort since the French conflict). McNamara’s memoirs In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam describes his powerful position in the Cabinet under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. According to McNamara, the United States policy towards Southeast Asia was defined when President Eisenhower delivered his now famous, and "widely publized" 1956 speech.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Diploma in Business Essay

Describe how marketing techniques are used to market products in two organizations.P2- describe the limitations and constrains of marketing.M1- compare marketing techniques used in marketing products in Two organizations. Answer: P1 – I am going to be talking about how marketing techniques are used to market products in two different organizations.Marketing is the process of understanding the market, within which a business operates and satisfying customers, needs in order to meet the objects of the business. The role of marketing within a particular organization will depend on the organization overall objectives. The object of many businesses is to make a profit, but it not the purpose of many voluntary and public (government owned) organization, although marketing is as equally important for them. In order successfully identify, anticipate and satisfy customer ‘needs, a businesses need to carry out market research to assess its competitive position and its customersâ⠂¬â„¢ needs.Once a business knows more about its customers and competitors it can set clear and smart marketing objectives. Unit 1 Different types of business activity and ownership Pass 1 A) Type of businesses activity If I live in a city of any size especially in an area where new people are moving in people are increasingly using the Internet to find local businesses. Microsoft can’t be local because people search jobs by region: United States, Europe and Asia etc. Oxfam is a local as well such as located in Watford High Street. Some of the businesses that can be helped by local Internet marketing include: chiropractor, computer retailer, travel agent, locksmith, massage therapist, insurance agent, real estate agent, mortgage broker, maid service hardware retailer, plumber, auto repair etc. How to use the Internet to market a local or regional business. There are many businesses in UK. It is located sites across a country. For example, Microsoft Company is found in Cambridge that is UK. Of course Oxfam is collecting money to save people and it is every where in the UK, i.e. London, Hertfordshire , Oxfordshire and Birmingham etc. they will be called National Businesses. An International business company is a legal entity incorporated in a tax haven which is free from all local taxes (except small fixed annual fees). Typically the IBC  cannot conduct business in the country of incorporation. Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. Microsoft International Careers Newsletter, a free quarterly e-publication that will give us timely information on career opportunities at Microsoft, i.e. from Europe somewhere else. Both Microsoft and Oxfam are global companies, but Microsoft careers can take us to a global presence. They offer opportunities around the world to make an impact with the next generation of technology they’re building today. Political factors: include legal aspects (e.g. Microsoft copyright), the general political ethos. Economic factors: Marketers need to consider the state of a trading economy in the short and long-terms. This is especially true when planning for international marketing. to look at: Economic factors include the effect of the economy ( e.g. Interest rates) on individuals, and on organisations. Social factors: The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. Factors include demographic change (e.g. Oxfam is concerned of changes in proportion of age groups and educational changes.), other changes in social habits (where people go to shop, leisure expectations), Technological factors: Technology is vital for competitive advantage, and is a major driver of globalization. Consider the following points: There are obviously a wide range of technological factors affecting libraries and information centres (e.g. Microsoft Internet, telecommunications, and the media in which people expect to find information). Section 2 National and international laws: International laws are created by international bodies; in particular Britain can be affected by European Union laws. The European Union courts are increasingly important in making judgements which apply across the Union. European Union laws are regarded as having supremacy over national laws. * Employment: Over time a body of law or legislation has developed governing employer/employee relations and the rights of employees and employers in the workplace. The Working Time Directive, 1999 Both businesses must guarantee to all employees a maximum 48 hours working week, and a four week holiday. Employees can choose to opt out of the Working Time requirement and agree to work longer hours if they wish. * Contracts: Oxfam employees have rights under their contract of employment. An employment  contract is a legal agreement between an employer and an employee, setting out the terms on which one agrees to employ the other. The plan must set out where the business wants to go, the aims and objectives, and details of how they will accomplish these aims; it is referred to as the strategy. Aims and objectives: The aims of the companies depend on the kind of business they are. For example, the aims of Oxfam will be quite different from those of Microsoft. A firm needs to have a clear sense of direction that should be clearly communicated to all stakeholders. The aims of the businesses that can be split into objectives. The objectives set out more specifically how the aim can be achieved. For example, the aim of the Microsoft is to be the world’s leading software supplier. The objective is to undercut the price of rivals; to take over other similar makers; to increase sales by giving discount price to the customers so this shall increase the needs of the company. Internal structures: The two chosen businesses are Microsoft and Oxfam vital to generate a structure that will enable them to better meet the needs of their stakeholders. For example, an essential part of the structure of a private company is the Board of Directors with the MD at the top. By giving high priority to the Board means that the interests of the owners (stakeholders) are given priority. However, the companies need to predict for the customers that are very significant organisational structure needs to ensure there are obvious links to customers. For example, the businesses can give priority to the position of customer service managers. Make a judgement about the importance of these factors on the organisation concerned. Factors Organisations can be concerned on Political Funding Wars and conflict Government policies Elections Political trends Government term and change Trading polices Economic Interest and exchange rates Taxation changes specific to product/services Disposable income Job growth/unemployment Import/export ratios Production level Internal sources of finance i.e. banks, hire purchase, leasing and etc.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Portfolio: Big five Personality Traits and Oliver P. John Essay

1. Introduction The purpose of this portfolio is to reflect on my experiences and learning’s whilst studying BSB124- Working in Business, particularly what I have learnt about my Intrapersonal and Interpersonal competencies. I will explore my personality trains through the use of the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and explain how they can be beneficial/detrimental to my future career goal. 2. Intrapersonal Intrapersonal effectiveness is defined as â€Å"Understanding yourself (and your goals, strengths, weaknesses, style, biases) and improving self-management skills, such as time management and stress management† (De Janasz, Wood, Gottschalk, Dowd and Schneider 2006, p. 3). 2.1 The Big Five Inventory The Big Five Inventory (BFI) is a personality assessment tool, which has five dimensions including Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (Costa and McCrae, 1992). Research has been conducted to explain how people with varying levels of these traits will perform within the workplace. Research conducted, shows that conscientiousness and emotional stability are positively correlated with job performance in virtually all jobs (Anderson and Viswesvaran 1998; Barrick and Mount 1991; Salgado 1997; Tett et al. 1991), extraversion has been found to be related to job performance in occupations where interactions with others are a significant portion of the job (Barrick and Mount 1991; Mount et al. 1998), agreeableness is said to be positively associated to ratings of teamwork, and openness to experience has been positively related to training performance (Barrick and Mount 1991; Salgado 1997). As you will see in Appendix 1, I am highest in agreeableness, followed by extraversion then openness to experience, with my lowest ratings being conscientiousness and neuroticism. These results are important, as I see myself working as a Public Relations representative for a large, international corporation within the next five (5) to ten (10) years (preferably for a charity organisation such as Ronald McDonald House  Charities). My personality test scores indicate that I am sympathetic, modest, straightforward, sociable, enthusiastic, imaginative, confident and even-tempered; however, I am not very thorough, and there is definitely room for improvement with my organizational skills (Costa and McCrae 1992). According to the handbook of personality (Oliver P. John et al.), being high in extraversion means that I very sociable and am suitable for positions of leadership. This is relevant to my long-term career goal, as research conducted on seek.com shows that leadership qualities as well as social/networking skills, are valuable within the Public relations industry (see Appendix 2 for job advertisements). Further research into the requirements of obtaining a position within the Public Relations industry would indicate that task and goal directed behaviour; as well strong organizational skills are required. These qualities are consistent with the personality trait of conscientiousness. As mentioned previously, my personality test scores indicate that conscientiousness is an area in which has room for improvement. I feel that my personality profile reflects many strengths as well as weaknesses, especially in terms of my likely workplace performance. As mentioned throughout this section, I am high in agreeableness and extraversion, and low in conscientiousness. These results are consistent with my experiences within BSB124, especially throughout the group presentation, as I believe that I did a good job in motivating my team and helping others. Although our overall grade was a six (6), I feel that we would have achieved better results had I organized my time appropriately and practiced my part of the speech more thoroughly (I did the introduction, and had to start over as I had lost my place roughly thirty (30) seconds in). As mentioned previously, I intend on obtaining a position within a large international organisation. I believe that my low level of conscientiousness will hinder my success in this environment, and therefore, see it as an area that I can focus on to further my professional development. I believe that my high level of agreeableness and openness to experience will be helpful,  especially as I will be working with a wide variety of people from all kinds of backgrounds/nationalities. A high level of agreeableness means that I will work well in a team environment (Oliver P. John et al.) and a high level of openness to experience suggests that I am willing to learn and try new things (Oliver P. John et al.). This is significant when working with people from different cultures, I don’t know how to word this, I am trying to say that I may see something as conventional; however, someone with a different background will see it as strange- hence I will need to be able to adapt my methods when working overseas. 2.2 Learning goal and related activity I intend to develop a number of competencies associated with conscientiousness- mainly organisation, but also self-discipline. I will do this by setting myself S.M.A.R.T goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). The development of these competencies will help me to achieve my long-term career goal. 3. Interpersonal Interpersonal effectiveness is defined as â€Å"the ability to manage conflict, to build and manage high-performance teams, to conduct efficient meetings, to coach and counsel employees, to provide negative feedback in constructive ways, to influence others’ opinions, and to motivate and energize employees† (Whetten & Cameron 2011, p.130). 3.1 Self-perception Inventory â€Å"A team is not a bunch of people with job titles, but a congregation of individuals, each of whom has a role which is understood by other members. Members of a team seek out certain roles and they perform most effectively in the ones that are most natural to them† (Belbin, 1981). The Self-perception Inventory (SPI) was created to give individuals a â€Å"simple means of assessing their best team roles† (Belbin, 1981). It is difficult to work effectively with people without some reasonable expectations of how  they are going to perform. Based on the results of the questionnaire, the SPI makes each individual aware of their preferred role when working in teams. This then allows them to focus on their strengths and improve on their weakness. During his research, Meredith found that each of the behaviours were essential in getting the team successfully from start to finish. The key was balance. For example, Meredith Belbin found that a team with no Plants struggled to come up with the initial spark of an idea with which to push forward. However, once too many Plants were in the team, bad ideas concealed good ones and non-starters were given too much airtime. Similarly, with no Shaper, the team ambled along without drive and direction, missing deadlines. With too many Shapers, in-fighting began and morale was lowered. A Summary of my SPI results is in Appendix 3. Results of the SPI indicate that my two preferred team roles are Shaper and Company Worker. A shaper can be defined as someone who has a drive and readiness for challenge, can strive under pressure and is seen as a leadership figure; however, they can be prone to provocation and can be seen as rude and impatient (Belbin, 1981). A Company Worker is someone who is hard working, self-disciplined, organized and practical, but be seen as inflexible and unresponsive (Belbin 1981). I believe that these results are an accurate reflection of my personality, and are consistent both with my experiences within BSB124 as well as within the workplace. I will need to focus on my weaknesses, as addressed through the SPI, should I wish to be successful in both university and future career development. As with my intrapersonal learning goals, I will use S.M.A.R.T goals to address the weaknesses above. My results from Belbin’s inventory, combined with my personality profile, and work experience suggests that, in groups I am likely to engage in a confrontational conflict resolution style. Research indicates that Asian cultures tend to prefer non-confrontational conflict styles, and as a result tend to react defensively when confronted in conflict situations (Rahim & Blum; Ting-Toomey et al., 1991). As I hope to work in a large, international organisation in the future and it is likely I will be dealing with individuals from Asian cultures, I therefore need to adjust my conflict  style accordingly. Thus, again using the SMART goals specified in section 2.2, I envisage that a more agreeable, empathetic nature will help me engage in more appropriate conflict resolution styles when necessary. 3.2 SPARK analysis

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Review of a qualitative research article Essay Example

Review of a qualitative research article Essay Example Review of a qualitative research article Essay Review of a qualitative research article Essay This essay is a reappraisal of a research article of how Local Authority Social workers make determinations when they are sing referrals of kids. The rubric of the survey is Threshold Decisions: How Social Workers Prioritize Referrals of Child Concern by Dendy Platt ( 2008 ) . I would try to critically measure this Qualitative diary article based on indispensable elements of the research which include the Title, Abstract, Introduction, Method, Findings and Conclusion. The survey examined how societal workers make picks on single instances of kids concern referrals, if to transport out a an initial Assessment i.e. Sect 17 of the Children Act 1989 or if to set about the Child Protection Procedure under the Sect. 47 of the Children Act 1989. The major determination suggests that Social workers prioritize their referrals based on five cardinal countries, Specificity, Severity, hazard, parental duty and documentation. It was reviewing to cognize that informations were collected from So cial workers and that Parents were besides involved. Title It is deserving observing that the rubric adequately prepares the reader as it gives good penetration into what the survey is approximately. The rubric of an article is really of import as it exposes the reader to an article. The cardinal words were appropriate and sufficient as they did recover the article upon typing the cardinal words in the hunt engine. ( Harmonizing to Descombe 2008 p.88 ) , a subject needs to be a really much more narrowly defined country of its survey. Abstraction The major determination in this article suggests that societal workers evaluate referrals based on five cardinal factors, specificity, badness, hazard, parental duty and documentation . It is deserving observing the abstract did fix a reader for this survey. The abstract clearly high spots that the purpose of the survey is to happen out how societal workers reach determination when to transport out an initial appraisal ( Sect 17 of kids act 1989 ) or a nucleus appraisal, ( Sect 47 of kids Act 1989 ) when sing referrals about kid concerns. The abstract clearly stated that the survey chose a qualitative attack. Harmonizing to ( Punch 2000 p. 243 ) , qualitative attack is frequently sensitive to context and treat to populate experience and local groundedness, where the research worker tries to acquire closer to what is being studied . Using qualitative method allows the research worker to happen out a batch about the survey. He went farther to explicate that qualitative research methods are the best manner we have of acquiring the insider s position ( Ibid ) Qualitative method allows the research worker to bring forth new theoretical thoughts. This happens because they are able to detect and talk to the people ( individual ) being studied and allows them to come up with new thoughts through out the survey. Being prejudice is one of the restrictions of qualitative research method because research workers can compose their ain position or even sentiment on the affair. But as we can see that making hard country is a great advantage to qualitative research method. ) Introduction Looking at the debut, it seems clear that the job that led to the research was that the reading of the developments of the refocusing enterprise has contributed to a clime where societal workers work frequently feel pulled and pushed in different waies by political and popular sentiment. The debut touched on relevant authorities policies and enterprises such as refocusing enterprise which was initiated by the authorities in 1990 and the model for Assessment of kids in demand. In my position, the writer attempted to measure the refocusing enterprise policy which attempts to refocus societal work pattern and to originate any necessary alterations. I partially agree with this impression as the survey may convey about positive alterations in the kid protection clime. But besides the writer needs to admit where he points on that the clime of kid protection is one of uncertainness, that societal work itself is a profession full of uncertainness . The research worker explained that the deduction of the refocusing enterprise is the rise in the threshold for credence of a kid protection referral as it was thought that the cost to household of kid protection processs were non acceptable in the instances where allegations are minor. In my position, the designation of spread of cognition shows that the job has significance for societal work pattern and the research may positively inform pattern. Interestingly, the research worker acknowledges and analyses old work on the kid protection field ( what is known ) but besides points out the cognition spread as it demonstrates how application of these factors differs between instances of kid concern and instances of kid protection ( What is desired to be known ) . I would reason that these grounds sum to sufficiently justification of this survey. Literature Review Knowledge spread was identified but author did non explicate how his work would try to shut the spread. Author made an attempt to critically reexamine the work of others and points out incompatibilities. The intent of the research is to analyze ways societal workers in England made determinations at the initial referral phase. It is my believe that since the writer decided to roll up information signifier societal workers and households suggest that research is from a grounded theory attack. Harmonizing to Punch ( 2000 p.163 ) Grounded theory is best defined as a research scheme whose intent is to bring forth theory from informations, To be grounded means fundamentally the theory is generated from informations. ( ibid ) My rational for asseverating that a grounded theory attack was implemented is that the writer made sense of the informations through constructs chiefly informed by societal workers and the find of these constructs begins from the interviews with the societal workers. ( Somekh and Lewin 2006p.49 ) point out that grounded theory is best described as an incorporate theoretical preparation that gives understanding about how organisation experience and respond to events that occur . From this definition, it could be argued that grounded theory was the most effectual manner to near this survey. Research workers do convey position to the research, although these positions tend to steer the inquiry and influence reading, but they do nt drive the research. ( ibid p.51 ) . However one of the drawbacks from this attack is that research may be influenced by the research worker s personal experiences and old surveies which therefore disable the research in nearing the survey with an unfastened head. Finding In my position, the research worker survey has a strong internal cogency, the research worker made a good attempt to extinguish the alternate accounts in his findings . The consequence nevertheless can non be applied beyond the sample. It would be clearly naive to believe that the findings reflect how societal workers in the UK determination devising. Method The Researcher implemented ethical rules. The societal workers involved have to be made cognizant of what they were acquiring into before make up ones minding to join forces. I would reason that appropriate processs were implemented ; besides the participant understood what the intent of the research. The research worker efficaciously anonymised participants individualities, which protected participants privateness. The likely result the research purpose to accomplish include possible alterations in policy, examine pattern issues for societal workers transporting out initial appraisal, where in the yesteryear, it would hold been a kid maltreatment probe ( Sect 47 of the kids Act 1989 ) One of the strengths of instance survey is that multiple methods and informations beginnings can be used to research and interrogate instance survey thereby taking to a good description of a research from the position of the participant ( Someth and Lewin 2006 p.33 ) . I do look up to the fact that the research implemented the instance survey attack as this gives the reader a really rich description of the survey and besides gives a reader a good apprehension on the issue. Dependability of the determination was promoted by the informations aggregation from two local governments who have a really different processs and pattern, besides All interviews were tape- recorded. Harmonizing to ( Silverman 2006p. 285 ) , working with the sound and picture recordings eliminates at one stroke many of the jobs that research workers have with the unspecified truth of field notes and limited public entree to them However the generalisation of the research may non be possible. The failing of instance survey is that it is non possible to generalise statistically from a little figure of instances to a population as a whole ( Someth and Lewin 2006 p.34 ) Mentions Punch, K.F. ( 2000 ) Introduction to Social Research Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage Publication. Somekh, B. and Lewin, C. ( 2006 ) Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Sage Publication: London. Silverman, D. ( 2006 ) 2nd Edition. Qualitative Research. Theory, Method and Practice. Sage Publication: London. Denscombe, M. ( 2008 ) Land Rules for Good Research, a 10 usher for societal research workers. Open University: Buckingham.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Congressional Committee System

The Congressional Committee System The congressional committees are subdivisions of the U.S. Congress that concentrate on specific areas of U.S. domestic and foreign policy and general government oversight. Often called the â€Å"little legislatures,† congressional committees review pending legislation and recommend action on that legislation by the whole House or Senate. The congressional committees provide Congress with critical information related to specialized, rather than general subjects. President Woodrow Wilson once wrote of the committees, â€Å"It is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work.† Brief History of the Committee System Today’s congressional committee system had its beginnings in the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the first and still the most ambitious restructuring of the original system of standing committees as used in the First Continental Congress in 1774. Under the 1946 Act, the number of permanent House committees was reduced from 48 to 19 and the number of Senate committees from 33 to 15. In addition, the Act formalized the jurisdictions of each committee, thus helping to consolidate or eliminate several committees and minimize conflicts between similar House and Senate committees. In 1993, a temporary Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress determined that the 1946 Act had failed to limit the number of subcommittees any single committee could create. Today, the rules of the House limit each full committee to five subcommittees, except for the Appropriations Committee (12 subcommittees), Armed Services (7 subcommittees), Foreign Affairs (7 subcommittees), and Transportation and Infrastructure (6 subcommittees). However, committees in the Senate are still allowed to create an unlimited number of subcommittees.   Where the Action Happens The congressional committee system is where the action really takes place in the U.S. law-making process. Each chamber of Congress has committees set up to perform specific functions, enabling the legislative bodies to accomplish their often complex work more quickly with smaller groups. There are approximately 250 congressional committees and subcommittees, each charged with different functions and all made up of members of Congress. Each chamber has its own committees, although there are joint committees comprising members of both chambers. Each committee, going by chamber guidelines, adopts its own set of rules, giving each panel its own special character. The Standing Committees   In the Senate, there are standing committees for: agriculture, nutrition, and forestry;appropriations, which holds the federal purse strings and is, therefore, one of the most powerful Senate committees;armed services;banking, housing, and urban affairs;budget;commerce, science, and transportation;energy and natural resources;environment and public works;finance; foreign relations;health, education, labor, and pensions;homeland security and governmental affairs;judiciary;rules and administration;small business and entrepreneurship; andveterans affairs. These standing committees are permanent legislative panels, and their various subcommittees handle the nuts-and-bolts work of the full committee. The Senate also has four select committees charged with more specific tasks: Indian affairs, ethics, intelligence, and aging. These handle housekeeping-type functions, such as keeping Congress honest or ensuring the fair treatment of American Indians.Committees are chaired by a member of the majority party, often a senior member of Congress. Parties assign their members to specific committees. In the Senate, there is a limit to the number of committees on which one member may serve. While each committee may hire its own staff and appropriate resources as it sees fit, the majority party often controls those decisions. The House of Representatives has several of the same committees as the Senate: agriculture,appropriations,armed services,budget,education and labor,foreign affairs,homeland security,energy and commerce,Judiciary,natural resources,science and technology,small business,and veterans affairs. Committees unique to the House include House administration, oversight and government reform, rules, standards of official conduct, transportation and infrastructure, and ways and means. This last committee is considered the most influential and sought-after House committee, so powerful that members of this panel cannot serve on any other committees without a special waiver. The panel has jurisdiction over taxation, among other things. There are four joint House/Senate committees. Their areas of interest are printing, taxation, the Library of Congress, and the U.S. economy. Committees in the Legislative Process Most congressional committees deal with passing laws. During each two-year session of Congress, literally thousands of bills are proposed, but only a small percentage is considered for passage. A bill that is favored often goes through four steps in committee. First, executive agencies give written comments on the measure; second, the committee holds hearings in which witnesses testify and answer questions; third, the committee tweaks the measure, sometimes with input from non-committee members of Congress; finally, when the language is agreed upon the measure is sent to the full chamber for debate. Conference committees, usually composed of standing committee members from the House and Senate who originally considered the legislation, also help reconcile one chambers version of a bill with the others. Not all committees are legislative. Others confirm government appointees such as federal judges; investigate government officials or pressing national issues; or ensure that specific government functions are carried out, like printing government documents or administering the Library of Congress. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer who also works as a copy editor for the Camden Courier-Post. She formerly worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about books, religion, sports, music, films and restaurants. Updated by Robert Longley

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Persuade the reader to purchase a hybrid vehicle Essay

Persuade the reader to purchase a hybrid vehicle - Essay Example This model car was developed after realising that traditional automobiles were significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the destruction of the environment through global warming. Apart from using natural gas, hybrid cars also use a lithium-ion battery which can be recharged at special recharge points. These cars are environmental friendly since they do not emit any carbon footprint that can damage the environment. Hybrid cars are also fast and efficient which make them ideal for personal and family use. These cars can also be classified as luxury brands and they are very attractive. Toyota and Honda are currently the major actors in this sector and they manufacture economic hybrid cars. The other advantage of buying a hybrid car is that they are easy to maintain in the long run. We are currently living in a world that is characterised by a volatile economy. For instance, the prices of gas and oil are constantly increasing and these have spiral effects on the motorists who have to fork out more money for their daily fuel requirements. Though hybrid cars are expensive to purchase for the first time, it can be seen that they are economic in the long run. Since these are powered by natural gas, it can be observed that there would be no hassle for the motorists to worry about rising prices of oil. The other important point to consider about hybrid cars is that they are all weather terrain vehicles. They can be operated efficiently in any type of environment. Basically, hybrid cars present quite a lot of benefits to the consumers compared to other traditional vehicles though their price may be a setback to the majority of customers. Hybrid cars are environmental friendly and they can provide a long lasting solution to the problem of global warming. Hybrid cars are economic in the long run since they are not powered by fossil fuels that are