Week Two Discussion Questions

Week Two Discussion Questions †¢ What are the different types of plans that organizations can use? What types of plans does your organization use, and why do they use these plans? There are different types of plans for an organization like examples, a financial plan, a production plan, a sales plan and etc. My organization uses very similar plans like the ones I mentioned because in order to have a success business one must plan ahead and have a future view of the organization. What are the steps in the planning process? Which step is the most crucial? Why? The steps in the planning process are, Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling. I think the most crucial one is Leading because in order to have success you must lead the organization to the correct path and a leader has been placed at its position because of their management skills which involves almost all steps in the planning process. Do you think organizations can overplan? Explain your response. Yes, I think over planning can happen. I think it is always best practice to have a plan B in the case that something goes wrong with plan A. †¢ What are three factors that affect the planning process? How do these factors affect the planning process? Three factors that can affect a planning process can be, competition, the economy, and management.Competition of course is when there is more than one organization out there offering a very similar product at a different price or a better one. The economy always affects business, if there is no jobs, there is no income therefore we do not have money to spend on offered products. Finally management can also fail in planning a good plan and may fail for what was expected. †¢ What role does organizational responsibility and ethics play in the planning process? It plays a role make things efficiently and the right way.

Admission Essay Final

Pursuing my dream career in Practical Nursing will bring to me a great sense of satisfaction.   I have always wanted to study nursing up to the highest education level possible for two reasons; one to use the education for life and secondly to live off the education.Education for me is just more than attaining good grades. Education for me is an opportunity to develop into a well-rounded person, fully equipped to face the world and serve my community and humanity and eventually make the world a better place for future generations to live in.The Lead School of Technology University has a unique culture which emphasizes on innovation, imagination and a culture of valuing of people. The Lead School of Technology University has a well-equipped library which meets the research needs of students, fully computerized and equipped with state of the art equipment. This is very ideal for nursing students and is very crucial for me as a nursing student.Throughout my life, I have always desired to study nursing from a reputable University hence my desire to join Lead School of Technology University which has unmatched standards in as far as nursing programs are concerned. My dream is to excel as a nursing student and graduate as a well-rounded nursing professional able to deal with the challenges that constantly emerge in the field.Without this hands-on experience, skills and knowledge, I cannot be able to make it, hence, my resolve to join Lead School of Technology University where I believe I will achieve my career and academic goals.   My dream to pursue nursing stems from an early age, partly from the encouragement from parents and secondly from my personal ambitions and career goals.My ambition is grounded in the realization that I am talented I love caring for people. I understand the importance of nurturing the talent and for me, the best way to do it is by studying nursing at the University level.For me, nursing is more than giving care; it is more than a path t o a promising career.   Nursing is a means to express oneself in one of the mot effective ways. Nursing leads to special way of communication in that it connects the nurse and the patient.Nursing is the best avenue to solve some of the social challenges the world is faced with, in regard to disease. Nursing can play a very positive role in conflict resolution in a world dominated by violence and selfishness.It is my conviction that, enrolling for a LPN course in this college will provide me with the necessary information-based skills to excel in achieving my career goals.   In this competitive world, it takes discipline, an understanding of relevant laws, a good understanding of ethical code of conduct and a couple of other skills to survive in the competitive nursing field.   My admission for a LPN program will therefore equip me with the above-mentioned skills and therefore make me a qualified professional.Conclusion  My interest in Lead School of Technology University is informed by the fact that, it will offer me with an empowering study environment. Lead School of Technology University has a sizeable number of students which means that, admission at the University requires high qualifications making it a center for excellence. I really look forward to getting admission to the Lead School of Technology University nursing program.BibliographyGordon, V (2005).   Career advising: An academic advisor’s guide. San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass.

Analysis on efficiency of Chinese commercial banks Research Proposal

Analysis on efficiency of Chinese commercial banks - Research Proposal Example A series of banking reforms have been implemented in China since 1979. These reforms aim to create a safe and sound system of banking within the country (Dong, 2009). The structural and institutional arrangements characterizing the banking sector in China as well as the banking reforms implemented in China in the past 20 years will provide the background and foundation of the study(Dong, 2009). The researcher felt that for efficiency to be discussed in-depth, it may be necessary for historical antecedents and facilitators of the same to be analyzed in order to provide the reader with a wealth of information. In the last 40 years, financial sectors across the globe have witnessed substantial developments(Dong, 2009). The change in the operating environment of banks has had significant implications for the business activities of banks as well as their economic role. Globalization, deregulation, technological progress and financial innovation to mention but a few have all gradually reduced the cost of processing and transmitting information which have been major forces impacting the performance of the international banking sector. Since the embarking of the open door policy in 1979, the Chinese banking sector has witnessed gradual yet notable reforms(Dong, 2009). A key objective of the said reforms implemented by the government was to build a competitive, effective and stable banking system to improve reliability and efficiency. The reforms aimed at moving the country from a planned economy supplemented with market elements to a socialist market economy. The Chinese government deregulated and liberalized operations in the Chinese banking sector as part of national reforms in the economy. The program applied includes among others the establishment of a double-tier system, separation of the lending policy form commercial

Nutritional Analyzes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nutritional Analyzes - Research Paper Example At last I tried to find solution for achieving required diet. I recorded everything I eat and drink for 7 days seven consecutive days, recording both what I am consuming and how much. Then I entered these details into a diet analysis program with a best fit approach, and many assumptions made. The computer program calculated the totals of each nutrient for each day, and averaged the data. I compared these averages to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI's). A set Profile values for an average person of my body type is used for comparison to these calculated averages. My goal values are calculated based on my body composition, activity level and determination of an Ideal weight goal. My ideal goal weight is 175-180 lbs. This shows I am under weight. The GOAL values for Energy, Protein, Carbohydrates, Total Fat, and Fiber is displayed in a table 1 showing a comparison with my average values and average intake of person with same height, age, and activity level. Comparison of my average intake and GOAL values shows that my energy consumption is perfect. But I need to Increase protein consumption to reach 30% Goal value, although these values are very high as compared to average nutritional parameters. ... The number of servings and/or quantity of each food group I consume is estimated and compared to the recommended serving distribution for my average Caloric intake discussed in the Daily Food Guide. Daily Food Guide Recommended Servings Average Servings Grains 10 3.57 Vegetables 4 3 Fruits 2.50 1 Dairy 3 10 Meat 7 17 Table 2 MICRONUTRIENTS The computer programs average my vitamin and mineral intake and report those values. I created a table reporting the results of comparison between my average values and established AI's or RDA's. VITAMINS MICRONUTRIENT RDA/AI 7 DAY AVERAGE DIFFERENCES THIAMIN 1.20 4.06 2.86 RIBOFLAVIN 1.30 9.39 8.09 NIACIN 16 10.56 5.44 VITAMIN B6 1.30 11.56 10.26 FOLATE 400 197.56 202.44 VITAMIN B12 2.60 11.67 9.07 VITAMIN C 90 231.18 141.18 VITAMIN A 900 613.69 286.31 VITAMIN D 5 1.78 3.22 VITAMIN E 15 8.22 6.78 Table 3 MINERALS MICRONUTRIENT RDA/AI 7 DAY AVERAGE DIFFERENCES CALCIUM 1000 237.49 762.51 PHOSPHOROUS 700 680.94 19.06 MAGNESIUM 400 376.20 23.80 IRON 8 7.11 0.89 ZINC 11 8.72 2.28 COPPER 1 8.22 7.32 Table 4 DISCUSSION Comparison of my average intake and GOAL values shows that my energy consumption is perfect. But I need to Increase protein consumption to reach 30% Goal value, although these values are very high as compared to average nutritional parameters. Again carbohydrate and fat consumption is very high compared to GOAL value. Primary resources for my energy consumption are chicken, Tilapia and flex oil. So to decrease my fat consumption I need to decrease these intakes. Carbohydrate consumption is mainly because of protein shake, rice, black beans, steak and vegetables. So I need to keep consumption of such food items also in control. At the same time I need to increase intake of food items which gives me

Modern Business in Comparative Perspective Essay - 9

Modern Business in Comparative Perspective - Essay Example The system is characterized by static standards of living and the interest of the community supersedes that of individuals (Gregory & Stuart, 2014). The command (regulated system) is an economic system where the economy is either controlled by the government or a corporate body as the centralized power. They regulate the distribution and use of resources. In addition, these bodies control wages and prices as well as the individual tasks (Lopus, 2013). This system has the potential of creating nutritious supply of resources to the people. Socialism is an example of command system where governments have certain level of control in socialist nations. Governments in state socialist own and operate commercial sectors for social purpose. On the other hand, in the market economic system, the government does not control major resources and the vital facets of the economy. Individuals make the economic decision such as how to invest their resources, type of job to take, and goods and services to produce. Different organizations influence the economic activities by influencing the supply and demand for resources and goods or services (Dui gnan & Britannica Educational Publishing. (2013). It is similar to free market system. In case it is a pure market system, then the government is completely absent on the economic decisions or economic affairs. In the 19th century, the USA was very close to the pure economic system. However, a mixed economic system synchronizes both the elements of command and market economy. Despite the fact that individuals make decisions in the market, the government influences the distribution and allocation of resources. Currently the US economy is a mixed economy (Gottlieb, Tilly & Shorter, 2013). Corporate economic systems have exhibited diversity in many countries. This is attributed to the different situations in each country such as: a country’s developmental stage, business and government relation, labor

New Health Medical Systems Memo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

New Health Medical Systems Memo - Research Paper Example Staffing should incorporate specified basic rules which play a part in managing the human resources of an organization. New Health Medical Systems should have a durable staffing strategy which will be significant in attaining its objectives.The strategic decision of placing advertisements in the local newspapers and contacting staffing agencies that specialize in placing technicians into healthcare facilities is extremely significant for New Health Medical Systems. This will help in creating awareness among the qualified technicians. Organizing a job fair for local professionals to attend will also be essential for New Health Medical Systems. The job fair will enable the organization to analyze technicians who are qualified from the ordinary ones. New Health Medical Systems will receive numerous applications from technicians coming from different regions due to the job fair and visiting professionals. The final strategy of offering a $1,000 signing bonus to anyone who joins the organ ization and stays for at least 180 days is novel but ineffective as it will enhance the expenditure of the organization.The management of New Health Medical Systems should provide training for its current employees and put forward an offer for them. Also, any member of staff who recommends a qualified technician should get monetary rewards. This will help in developing and acquiring qualified technicians. The organization should employ all forms of media so as to adequately advertise the vacant positions.... There is need for appropriate forecasts regarding possible employee transfers, retirements, and turnover outside the zone. Training employees in the organization is a basic step for filling positions which are not required instantly. Staffing should incorporate specified basic rules which play a part in managing the human resources of an organization. New Health Medical Systems should have a durable staffing strategy which will be significant in attaining its objectives (Conaty & Charan, 2011). The strategic decision of placing advertisements in the local newspapers and contacting staffing agencies that specialize in placing technicians into health care facilities is extremely significant for New Health Medical Systems. This will help in creating awareness among the qualified technicians. Organizing a job fair for local professionals to attend will also be essential for New Health Medical Systems. The job fair will enable the organization to analyze technicians who are qualified from the ordinary ones. New Health Medical Systems will receive numerous applications from technicians coming from different regions due to the job fair and visiting professionals. The final strategy of offering a $1,000 signing bonus to anyone who joins the organization and stays for at least 180 days is novel but ineffective as it will enhance the expenditure of the organization. Recommendations The management of New Health Medical Systems should provide training for its current employees and put forward an offer for them. Also, any member of staff who recommends a qualified technician should get monetary rewards. This will help in developing and acquiring qualified technicians (Boudreau & Ramstad, 2007). The organization should employ all forms of media so as to adequately

Literature Review and Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literature Review and Report - Essay Example Succession planning is a process of identifying and developing people from within the organization with the potential to fill key leadership positions in the company. It increases the availability of experienced and capable employees that are prepared to assume these roles as they become available. It is now combined with leadership training and the processes together are very essential for the functioning of an organization. There are very many advantages of filling up the positions with existing employees, such as, they are already familiar with the values and the methods of functioning of the organization, the people of the organization already know them and thus it will be easier for them to fit in. Also, giving people such an opportunity ensures that they will work extra hard to get trained and developed so that they can fill in the gap required and aim for a promotion. Using internal employees also helps cut down on costs that would come up from the relentless head hunting acti vities for filling in a high post and gives out the message to the employees that the organization is closely knit and would rather give them the opportunities first. LITERATURE ARGUMENTS: Succession Planning Succession planning plays a very important role in regenerating a company's leadership, but quite often, the promises of traditional succession planning are not delivered. The whole purpose of succession planning in an organization, according to Leibman, Bruer and Maki (1996), is to develop a strong leader, not choose, but develop. This is because every organization has different needs and requirements from their leader. Allio (2007) insists that it is necessary to strategically build strong leadership teams in an organization, so as to meet these requirements. He discusses the importance of having good leaders in an organization and the effects that rogue leader can have. Barsh, Capozzi and Davidson (2008) on the other hand discuss the importance of the integration of innovati on into the strategic management of the organization. Leibman, Bruer and Maki (1996) write about the factors that play prominent roles in the development of these leadership teams. One of them is non discriminating hiring, which has led to work places being more diverse, in terms of gender, religious background, age group and ethnicities, all trying to balance home and work, to contribute to a better standard of living for the entire family. Thus, with increasing diversity in the workforce, it is essential that this factor be taken into account in the leadership development programs of organizations. Their research has shown that to achieve better results and higher productivity, corporations have begun to make changes in their structures. Allio (2007) adds to this view by stating, tall organizations are out, making way for a more lenient, flat structure that gives people greater authority and accountability, but also reduces chaos in the organization and encourages team efforts. Th is further contributes to the focus on preparing leadership team, rather than individuals. Also, having a team gives an organization more options and points of view. Barsh, Capozzi and Davidson (2008) provides an additional perspective that, this in some way makes the decision making process more efficient, if not easy, for the simple reason that more than one opinion is taken into account

Compare and contrast the two artworks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Compare and contrast the two artworks - Essay Example In both sculptures, artists have utilized the concept of contrast intended to give varied objects comprising main artworks real implications2,3. This is to ensure each artwork despite appearing different from the other; they have brought the required meaning. For instance, the most striking and common contrast evident in these two artworks is the aspect of color-light interaction. Light in these two artworks strikes them from a source placed up diagonally in relation to the objects’ position. Hence, illuminating varied and key areas of the artworks the way a real sun would suppose it was during daytime and in the open space far from the buildings or any other shelter. However, lightning in both artworks varies considerably whereby Cubi XIX’s illumination intensity is more than that of Henry Moore's figure. This is despite the source of illumination casting shadows beneath the two works. Probably, the reason why Cubi XIX’s illumination exceeds that of Henry Moore' s figure is due to its placement, which is outside as per the artist’s desire for the object to reflect any change of the natural light4. Similarly, the two objects have also utilized negative space with the intention of creating three-dimensional works5. Hence, this induces the aspect of depth evident when observing spaces and holes found in between varied objects overlapping each other without being in contact. However, in the Henry Moore's figure, its holes appear natural compared to those found in David Smith's artwork. Since, the latter due to its geometrical shapes suggest the holes comprising negative spaces are artificial, which is contrary to Henry Moore's figure6. Since, Henry Moore's artwork comprises of oval and irregular holes inside it, which is contrary to David Smith's object whose varied objects are geometric and seem to assume a certain array with the intention of attaining the required balance. Artists’ through these two artworks despite relaying div erse massages, their respective emphasizes varies considerably. This is evident in the mode of utilizing light whereby David Smith's object has increased illumination compared to that of Henry Moore. The latter artist’s emphasis encompasses depicting the entire object evident from its mild illumination, which is similar to a light produced by an artificial source, and striking an item under a shade or in a building. This is contrary to Cubi XIX, which focuses on depicting varied natural light’s alterations, which is the sun. Hence, prompting the artist to use beaten steel as the object’s sole material so that it may reflect the light as necessitated. This is evident from the varied parts of the entire objects that have high illumination intensity compared to both its rear parts and those of Henry Moore figure. Another outstanding divergence between the two objects encompasses the aspect of texture whereby Henry Moore’s artwork has an extremely smooth surf ace than that of David Smith's artwork7. Mainly, this emanates from the materials constituting the two respective works. David Smith's figure is not evenly smooth except in spaces or distortions made on the steel by the sculptor’s tool when shaping it to assume the required shape. However, Henry Moore in his work seems to have used a special tool in combination with hands to attain an appealing surface to feel. Since, the material comprising its artwork seems to be clay or any other similar matter

Henry VIIIs Foreign Policy 1509-1524 Essay Example for Free

Henry VIIIs Foreign Policy 1509-1524 Essay How far do Sources 1, 2 and 3 suggest that Henry VIIIs Foreign Policy in the years 1509-1524 followed consistent aims? Source 1 agrees that Henrys did follow consistent aims and Henry VIII had one goal target in his foreign policy whilst sources 2 and 3 especially, argues that Henry but could not agree one goal to pursue involving foreign policy. Source 1 in particular claims that Henry poured much dedication and time into ensuring that England went to war against France. The king writes letters to the pope, the emperor and the Venetians declaring his steadfast intention and strong provision to wage war against France suggesting that Henry VIIIs main goal was to attack France as he repeats his exact intentions to three separate individuals. This is reiterated in source 2 as Henry VIII is described to be accompanied by 500 horsemen and 3000 foot soldiers during the Field of Cloth of Gold showing aggression and building tension between the two rivals suggesting that King Henry was keen in causing tension so that it will lead to waging a war against France. We can see King Henry strongly suggesting that he consistently wanted to defeat the French as he writes to the Venetians to try and disband the newly formed league between Venetia and France. As the Milanese ambassador is writing at the time these letters had been sent he carries alot of weight with Source 1 as it clearly states the purpose of the letters and they lead to one clear goal which is to invade France. Source 3 shows Cromwell trying to persuade Henry to go against his plans to take over France but to redirect his attentions to Scotland. Cromwell suggesting that Henry converts first and chief his whole intent and purpose suggests that Henry was so determine to wage war against France he did not think about other issues to do with his Foreign Policy and Cromwell needed to remind him of budding problems. However Source 3 also suggests that Henry was lenient in his decisions about foreign policies as, even though Cromwell at this time is trying to work his way into the inner council and was desperate to gain the attentions of the King, felt the King was not so desperate in going against France that he was able to suggest the King redirects his attention to Scotland whilst still pleasing the King and trying to achieve honour. Source 2 also suggests that the King was not so rivalled with France as a contemporary account shows that Henry pitched his marquee near where the French king had been staying, although this could be seen as showing off and is multifaceted it can also be seen as Henry trying to break down the existing barriers to focus on the celebration of the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Overall, there is enough agreement in all three sources to suggest that Henry VIIIs foreign policy in the years 1509-1524 followed consistent aims. This is a view most strongly and optimistically supported by source 1, slightly confirmed by the accounts described in source 2 but largely denied by source 3.

History of Light Gauge Steel

History of Light Gauge Steel History and Development of Light Gauge Steel Within the Construction Industry At the end of World War Two, many countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Germany were suffering from an acute housing shortage. It was at this time that the use of light gauge steel was introduced into the construction industry by using it as a cladding system within the building of steel framed pre-fab houses. These pre-fabs were poorly designed with little insulation causing cold bridging and ultimately condensation and dampness within the interior of the buildings. This has led to many of these buildings being demolished and traditional brick homes constructed in their place. Despite this, with improved insulation, light gauge steel has continued to be used as an infill structure on multi storey buildings built from hot rolled steel or concrete frames. Commercial and retail buildings in particular continued to benefit from its diverse capabilities, using it as a cladding system which can be formed into many different shapes. In the USA, since 1990 over 20% of a ll affordable homes are now built using this method and it is still growing year on year (Koones, 2006). However, in the UK, we are not using advances in technology as we should be, meaning the buildings that we construct are responsible for almost half of our carbon emissions, half of our water consumption, around a third of our landfill waste and a quarter of all raw materials used in the UK (Smith R A, et al. 2003). This means that the UKs sustainable development targets cannot be met without a fundamental change to the way in which buildings are constructed. The national targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and the drive for buildings that generate zero carbon in operation present a huge challenge to the building industry (Corus. Sustainable Steel Construction). These drivers have forced the industry to radically change the way in which it constructs its buildings developing other forms of construction to comply with new building regulations and sustainability issues. Advances in technology have led to improved building designs enabling many of the problems that were associated with light gauge steel in previous buildings to be overcome. Other forms of construction have also evolved, most of which are now capable of being manufactured in a factory and shipped to the site ready for assembly. These are known as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and their use has been encouraged by Government and the Building Research Establishment (BRE) due to their impact on the environment and benefits to the end user. In 2006, the MMC market split was: Â £414 million for volumetric (based on manufacturers selling price), 52,797 timber frame units (houses and commercial), Â £61 million for light gauge steel frame (which equates to around 6,100 units), 750 SIPS units (estimate) (BRE 2nd March 09). Today the properties of light gauge steel are being utilised, not only as a cladding system but as a complete building product, replacing bricks and blocks with thin studs of steel fixed together to form non-load bearing or load bearing walls. The studs that are used are formed by folding the strips of galvanised, light gauge steel into the required shape, of which there are many. The most common shape being C sections which are usually formed for use within walls. These vary in size from 40 225 mm and between 0.56 3.2mm in diameter depending on whether or not they are to be used in exterior, interior, load bearing or non-load bearing elements of the building. The steel used is galvanized, providing it with a protective coating for internal applications and has a standard coating of G275 (275 grams/m2). As it is only suitable for interior applications then the entire light gauge steel structure has to be enclosed within a protective covering. This is referred to as the envelope or a warm frame structure and is formed using insulation and a protective vapour barrier. The warm frame structure enables the building to have excellent thermal properties, surpassing the minimum U-Value levels of the Building Regulations 2000. Within the UK the design code for light gauge steel is BS9590 part 5; European design code is Eurocode 3 part 1.3 these are intended to be set of technical rules for the design of buildings using this method of construction. Light gauge steel has the best strength to weight ratio over any other building material and these high strength to weight ratios equate to six tonnes of steel achieving the same performance as 120 tonnes of concrete (SCI, 2007) and as a consequence of its light weight, dependant on ground conditions, less substantial foundations, even the use of prefabricated ground beams assembled to form the foundations may be suitable. Its light weight also inevitably means fewer deliveries to site, in turn causing less disruption to the local community. There are a number of ways in which the elements of a light gauge steel building can be constructed, one of which has taken its name from timber framed buildings where each element of the building is cut to length and fixed together on site. This is referred to as stick building and is a very labour intensive method which, along with a carpenter for timber frames, requires several years of training. This is similar to traditional construction but instead replacing the bricks and mortar with light gauge steel, a good method for one off buildings but it also prevents the benefits gained by off site manufacture to be achieved. The opposite to stick building is the volumetric system. This is the most factory based form of construction and involves the delivery on site of, usually, a complete room fully fitted out with all fixtures and fittings. This minimises on site installation work and only requires the individual pods to be fixed together increasing the rate of construction of the bu ilding. This form of construction is very good for buildings where a repeated style of room is required such as student accommodation blocks or a hospital. When the design of a building is more complex then the cost of producing individual pods significantly rises. The factory based fabrication of the pods ensures a high standard of workmanship with a precision of +0 to -2mm tolerance being achievable and also minimises the traffic, waste, labour, and time spent constructing the buildings resulting in savings for the developer whilst minimising the impact on the environment. The open panel method is another design used with light gauge steel structures. It involves the assembly of the walls, floor or roof within a factory based environment and delivered to the site when needed. All insulation, services, cladding and internal finishes are then fitted on site. The direct factory based savings for the open panel method is reduced due to the fact that the superstructure of a building only amounts to about 15% of the total construction costs. Any savings made using the system would be modest but the reduced time spent on site related to the use of this method would be where the savings would be made. The closed panel method also involves the production of the elements of the building within a factory but will also have the insulation and vapour barrier fixed to it. The services, internal finishes, doors, windows etc may also be in place and the different elements of the building would only require fixing together on site which is usually achieved, as in other methods, by welding, riveting, screwing or crimping. Costs of MMC have been muted as a barrier to the progression of their use and the Barker Review of Housing Supplies (2004) stated that At the present time, traditional brick and block methods of construction remain cheaper, in many cases, than modern methods of construction, including off-site manufacture (OSM). Only four years later a 2008 BRE report (SmartLIFE Lessons Learned), published its findings on a pilot project in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire. It found that light gauge steel construction was in fact, cheaper than the traditional method of brick and block and also that of other MMC used, including timber framed and insulated concrete formwork. According to the SmartLIFE report the advantage of an ongoing partnership and understanding between the light gauge steel manufacturer and the main contractor was a factor in the methods cost effectiveness. The SmartLIFE project was undertaken to find the best ways the UK can deliver a greater volume of sustainable, affordab le and high quality homes in less time, using both traditional and innovative methods of construction. In comparison to other MMC, light gauge steels long roof and floor span capabilities also add to its diversity. Rooms can be changed around within the building by simply moving interior walls which do not require demolition as opposed to other methods. They can also be disassembled and reused or recycled unlike, for example, insulated concrete formwork walls. Whilst there are benefits to using light gauge steel there are also disadvantages including the metals thermal conductivity. Unlike a timber framed building, heat can quickly conduct across a metal stud and with many studs in a wall this can reduce the temperature within a room ensuring the u value of the wall is reduced. To rectify this additional exterior insulation is required at extra cost to the developer. There are also fears about corrosion problems. If the building is not kept within its warm envelope then deterioration of the metal could be a problem. A counter argument is that timber rots far easier and quicker than me tal and timber can also be a food source for a variety of animals. The electric conduciveness of the frame also means that extra work is needed to ensure the wiring does not come into contact with the frame. In modular and closed panel construction this would be undertaken in factory conditions and would be easily overcome but with on site installation it inevitably means further responsibility falls on to the sub-contractor electrician. Perhaps the most serious of its disadvantages is the thermal conductivity of the metal frame and its ability to cause the structure to collapse. To tackle this problem the fixing of two layers of gypsum plasterboard at staggered joints gives the metal frame a fire resistant time suitable to exceed the minimum fire safety requirements of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations 2000. The acoustic performance of light gauge steel has also been questioned but the necessary double layer of plasterboard also takes the level of acoustic performance past the necessary requirements outlined in Part E (Resistance to the passage of sound) of the Building Regulations 2000. The high embodied energy of light gauge steel is also a disadvantage to people who have no knowledge of its reusability and recyclability. To calculate the embodied energy within construction components the World Steel Association uses the system expansion method of lifecycle assessment, which is the preferred approach of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 14040 series of environmental standards. Although it is high in proportion to other MMC it is its ability of indefinite re-use and recycling without its qualities ever decreasing which differentiates it from all other methods of construction. Unlike traditional forms of construction light gauge steel benefits from low waste, adaptability, off site manufacture, re-usability, recyclability and resource efficiency making it one of the most sustainable building methods available within the UK. The buildings that can be produced by this method are light, open and very adaptable meaning old buildings would not have to be demolished when they are deemed unsuitable. The interiors would be simply rearranged to meet the end users requirements thus prolonging the life span of the building. Light gauge steel can and does exceed the requirements of todays low level building requirements and in conjunction with other methods of construction its benefits are also widened to medium and high rise buildings. However, a number of barriers will have to be overcome if light gauge steel is to become a prominent method of construction. Consumer confidence and the stigma of pre-fab buildings will have to be improved upon which can only be achieved by educating the consumer on the benefits of light gauge steel, including its whole life cycle properties. Finally financial aspects will have to be challenged including mortgage lenders and insurers who will essentially become a part of the education system. Their own education in the use of light gauge steel will enable them to encourage the use of and be involved in the progression of Modern Methods of Construction. Bibliography AMA Research Ltd, Current Practices and Future Potential in Modern Methods of Construction, waste and resources action programme. (2007) Barker K, Review of Housing Supply, Delivering Stability: Securing Our Future Housing Needs. Final Report and Recommendations, (2004), HM Treasury. BRE, Assessing the Sustainability of Prefabricated Construction Techniques: Building Research Establishment, (2003) BRE, Designing Quality Buildings, HIS BRE Press, (2007) CABE. Design and Modern Methods of Construction: Commission for the Built Environment, (2004) Communities and Local Government, Code for Sustainable Homes, Technical Guide, Department for Communities and Local Government, (2009) Corus BCSA. Sustainable Steel Construction, Building a sustainable future, (date unknown) Corus. Start Building With Fnished Rooms, Modular Building System, (2006). Currie D M, The use of Light- Gauge Cold Formed Steelwork in Construction, developments in research and design, Bre report, IHS BRE Press, (1989) Davison B Owens G, Steel Designers Manual, Blackwell publishing, Sixth Edition, The Steel Construction Institute, (2003) Dye A et al, Environmental Construction Handbook, RIBA, (2008) GRUBB P J et al, Light Steel Framing in Residential Construction, SCI Publication P301, (date unknown) GVA Grimley, Cities, Commerce Carbon: The Role of Property, (2009) Koones, S. (2006), Steel Frames Enter the Mainstream, Free Press, Smart Home Owner, May/June 2006. ODPM, Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (2003) Perkins M Z, The Utilization of Light Gauge Steel In Residetial Construction In The State Of Utah, Thesis, (2009) Ross Keith et al, A Guide to Modern Methods of Construction, NHBC Foundation, HIS BRE Press, (2006) ROSS Keith, Modern Methods of House Construction. Building Research Establishment, (2005) Sir John Egan. Rethinking Construction, Report of the Construction Task Force, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. (1998) Sir John Egan, Egan Review of Skills for Sustainable Communities: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (2004) SmartLIFE Lessons Learned, (2008), HIS BRE Press. BRE Report BR500 Smith R A, et al, The Construction Industry Mass Balance: resource use, wastes and emissions, Viridis Report VR4 (Revised), 2003, ISSN 1478-0143 Steel Construction Sector Sustainability Committee. Sustainable Steel Construction Building a Better Future. (2001) The Steel Construction Institute, Handbook of Structural Steelwork, 4th Edition, The British Constructional Steelwork Association Limited, (2007) TRADA, Manual for the Design of Timber Building Structures to EuroCode 5, (2007) Modern Methods of Construction, Evolution or Revolution? BURA, (2005) Unknown author, http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ (2009), Her Majestys Treasury, accessed 9th December 2009. Unknown author, http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/public/ (2009), HMSO, accessed 9th December 2009 Unknown author, http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/, (2009), accessed 3rd December 2009 Unknown Author, http://www.hexaport.com/ (2009), Hexaport International, accessed 7th December 2009 Unknown author, http://www.bre.co.uk/ (2000 2009), The Building Research Establishment Trust, accessed 9th December 2009 Unknown author, http://www.azobuild.com/ (2009), AZoM.com Pty Ltd, accessed 8th December 2009

Human Resource Planning Strategies, Recruitment And Procedures

Human Resource Planning Strategies, Recruitment And Procedures INTRODUCTION According to Bulla and Scott human resource planning is the process for ensuring that the human resource requirements of an organization are identified and plans are made for satisfying those requirements. It determines the human resources required by the organization to achieve its strategic goals. Human resource planning is generally concerned with businesses of longer terms but sometimes it also addresses businesses of short terms as well. In order to improve organizational effectiveness, it looks at the broader issues how people are employed and developed. Human resource planning is an integral part business planning. In this assignment, firstly I will explore that how HR plan supports organizations strategic objectives. Then I will discuss the legal requirements which influence HR planning. In next part, recruitment and selection of new staff is explained in detail and with it the effect of organizational culture on recruitment and retention of staff is described. In last part, human resource management procedures are discussed which are grievance, discipline and dismissal procedures. The strategic planning process projects to changes in the type of activities carried out by the organization. In order to achieve the goals, resource and skill requirements it identifies the core competencies the organization needs. Quinn Mills says that human resource planning is a decision making process and consist of three steps: Identify appropriate number of people with right skills Motivate these people to achieve high performance Create links between business objectives and people planning activities. Human resource planning consists of four steps To forecast future needs To analyse the availability and supply of people To draw up plans To monitor how plans are implemented A strategy is a plan of a company which shows that how it matches its internal strengths and weaknesses to external threats and opportunities. CHALLENGES TO STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE Human resource management priorities are focusing on boosting competitiveness, reducing costs and improving employee performance. COMPANYS BASIC STRATEGIES CORPORATE STRATEGY Corporate strategy is portfolio of businesses that comprise the company and the ways by which these are related to each other. It consists of Diversification strategy identifies the expansion of a company by adding new products Vertical integration strategy shows the expansion of a company by producing its raw materials or selling its products Consolidation reduces the size of a company Geographic expansion takes the business abroad COMPETITIVE STRATEGY Competitive strategy strengthens the long term position of the companys business in the marketplace. Managers use different corporate strategies to achieve corporate advantage. COST LEADERSHIP aims to make the company a low cost leader in industry. DIFFERENTIATION COMPETITIVE STRATEGY is a strategy in which a company wants to be unique in the industry FUNCTIONAL STRATEGY It is a basic course of action that each department of business pursue to achieve its competitive goals. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT In planning and achievement of any organization, human resource management plays a bigger role in the success. Strategic human resource management formulates and executes HR systems and HR policies. HR ROLE IN THE FORMULATION OF STRATEGY A strategic plan identifies, analyze, and balance the companys internal strengths and weaknesses and external threats and opportunities. Human resource planning process takes place within the context of labour market. According to Elliott (1991): The market for labour is an abstraction; it is an analytical construction used to describe the context within which the buyers and sellers of labour come together to determine the pricing and allocation of labour services. The internal labour market consists of labour within the company. It is a main source of future labour requirements by introducing the policies like training, development, and career planning and management succession. The external labour market consists of regional, local, national and international labour markets. In order to find the right people for the right job, it is necessary to consider that which of these labour markets are the best source. Both the sources are extensively used depending on the size of the company, the rate of growth and decline and the policies of employee resourcing. The firm much relies on internal market and believes in long term careers of the staff through training sessions or apprenticeship. The aims of human resource planning are as follows: The skillful and competent people are obtained and retained Makes the best use of human resource planning To overcome the problems like deficit of people or potential surplus To develop a trained workforce Reduce to rely on external recruitment Human resource planning consist of four steps Forecast future needs Analyze the supply and availability of people Make plans to match supply to demand Monitor the implementation of plan For future demands, human resource planning concentrates on skills and competencies which indicate the numbers required in longer term. Its main aim is to produce policies like training, retention and utilization of human resources and development. Human resource planning addresses the following questions: How many people will be needed? What competencies and skills are required for future? Is training or development needed further? Is there is a need for recruitment? When will there is a need for new people? When will the training and recruitment start? How to tackle the situation of reducing cut costs? How can the flexibility be achieved on the use of people? FORMULATION OF BUSINESS STRATEGY HR strategy contributes to the formulation of business strategy which identifies to make the best use of existing human resources. IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS STRATEGIES It consists of; Development strategies are the needs to increase skills to fit people for greater responsibility. It also defines the outputs required from training programmes. Retention strategies indicate the intentions of the company to get the right people Utilization strategies describe how the organization intends to improve productivity and cost Flexibilities strategies define the companys strategies in developing flexible work arrangements Downsizing strategies are the needs to be done by the organization to reduce the numbers employed. FORMULATION OF HR STRATEGIES Formulation of strategies addresses a number of questions Where are we now? Where do we want to be in the future? How are we going to get there? Resourcing strategies are converted to business strategies by depending on the following plans SCENARIO PLAN conducts an environmental scan on the issues which affect the labour market. This is possibly based on PEST approach. DEMAND FORECASTING estimates the future needs of the people. Its base is long term business plan and annual budget. For the companys plans, details are required which results in increased or decreased demands of employees. The introduction of new technology would also have to be considered in order to bring changes to working methods or procedures. There are four methods of demand forecasting MANAGERIAL JUDGEMENT This method requires managers to sit together and think about the future pressure and workload. The managers have to decide that how many people they need. Line managers and senior managers are involved in this agreement. Top management prepares company and department forecasts and these forecasts are reviewed and agreed with department managers. All the guidelines should be prepared for departmental managers indicating the future activities which will effect their department. With the help of these guidelines, departmental managers prepare their forecast to a laid- down format. They can seek help from personnel department. The personnel department prepares a human forecast of the company. Human resource planning committee then reviewed these two forecasts and reconciles with the department managers about these two forecasts and submits a final amended forecast to top management for approval. RATIO TREND ANALYSIS It is a study of past ratios between direct and indirect workers. In this way, future ratios are forecasted and made some allowances for changes in the company. WORK STUDY TECHNIQUES Work study techniques are used in work measurements to calculate long operations and the requirement of people for those operations. The production budget of any manufacturing company is prepared in volumes of sealable products or in volumes of output for individual departments. The productive hours are then compiled by the use of standard hours. The standard hours per unit of output are multiplied by the planning volume of units to be produced to give the total planned hours. This is divided by the number of actual working hours for an individual operator. MODELLING Technique like computers and spreadsheet can help in demand and supply forecast. FORECASTING COMPETENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENT This shows an impact of projected, product market developments and the introduction of new technology. SUPPLY FORECASTING estimate the supply of manpower by reference to analyses of current resources and future availability. Supply forecasting consists of number of people from inside or outside of the organization. It covers Existing human resources Losses to existing human resources through employee wastage Changes to existing human resources through internal promotions The effect of changing conditions and absenteeism of work Sources of supply from inside or outside the organization FORECASTING REQUIREMENTS analyse the demand and supply forecasts to identify future deficits with the help of models. DEMAND AND SUPPLY FORECASTING MODELS Models help to make decisions and make the decision makers to understand the situation in which these decisions are made. These modelling techniques help to prepare human resource forecast. It also helps to understand the career evaluation and predict and measure wastage for setting and operating models, data is required which is as follows: Human resource system- gives a description of the people who enter or exit of the organization and their progress at different levels. Stocks the number of people employed in each grade. They are analysed in age or length of service Flows- recruits, leavers and promotion flows are analysed by age or length of service Assumptions- assumptions are made for future behaviour of the system and in this way the implications of different outcomes can be evaluated. Career analysis- a career prospectus is made to build up analysing data on promotions. This links the data to information on the database about the potential of current employees. FLEXIBILITY It aims to achieve increased organizational effectiveness. It has following forms CONTRACT BASED FLEXIBILITY is an employee contract which shows the flexibility of terms and conditions. The overall purpose of the job descriptions is written in terms. This flexibility can be achieved by employing contract workers to work on any task according to their skills. TIME BASED FLEXIBILITY is achieved by the flexible hours. JOB BASED FLEXIBILITY is a functional flexibility in which workers can move from task to task according to their skills. Companies make the fullest use of flexibility in order to make the fullest use of their workforce. Functional flexibility is also associated with pay schemes and ensures that all staff is treated equally in terms of benefits. SKILL BASED FLEXIBILITY is a range of staff to perform different tasks to exercise greater responsibility. it is based on the competencies and the utilization of the capabilities of the workers. ORGANIZATION BASED flexibility makes use of contract workers and part time and temporary staff. PRODUCTIVITY AND COST ANALYSIS analyse the productivity and costs to identify the need for improvement. An increase in activity level can improve the productivity and recruits more employees. In order to reduce costs, a company looks at productivity and employment costs. The input of employees gives an output of goods and services as productivity. Employment costs consist of pay, employee benefits, national insurance contributions, recruitment costs, training costs, leaving costs including redundancy payments, loss of production, replacement and training, the cost of health and safety and personnel administration costs. ACTION PLANNING Action planning is derived from the resourcing strategies and are made in the following areas OVERALL PLAN The overall human resource plan Improves methods in sorting out young people for recruitment Links with schools and colleges to create interest of the young people Attracts young people by developing programmes and training sessions Widens to recruit woman and part time workers Arrange working hours for new employees Provide benefit packages Provide training programmes for the new employees and make better use of their skills and talents HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN The human resource development plan shows The number of existing staff who needs training The number of trainees required and the programmes for recruiting and training them New learning programmes or the changes to the existing courses THE RECRUITMENT PLAN The recruitment plan set out The need of the numbers and types of people required to make up any deficits To attract candidates by training and development programmes, pay and benefit packages, working hours arrangement, child care facilities etc The dealing of the problems in the supply of the recruits by the recruitment programme THE RETENTION PLAN The retention plan is based on the analysis of why people leave. It addresses the following areas PAY This problem arises due to unfair and uncompetitive systems. Actions to be taken are Review pay levels on the basis of market surveys Review pay schemes so that everyone is treated equally Make sure that employees understand the relation between performance and reward JOBS They should be designed in such a way which can increase skill variety and provide opportunities for learning and growth. PERFORMANCE If the employees are not clear of their responsibilities or performance then they can be demotivated. Related to performance, following actions can be taken Encourage managers to praise the staff for their performance by giving them a healthy and informative feedback. Train managers in counselling; give briefing on performance management system and get a feedback on how it has been applied TRAINING If the people are not trained then this can create an increase in resignations. Training and learning programmes should be introduced to employees before joining the organization. Training programmes give employees the confidence and make them more competent in their performance. In this way they can make better use of their abilities and can do variety of tasks and enhance their skills and competencies. CAREER DEVELOPMENT Promotion prospectus and career prospectus in many of the organizations is limited which make most of the employees to turnover. To have a stable workforce, employers need planning in providing career opportunities by Developing promotion procedures Giving advice on career prospectus Encourage promotion from within COMMITMENT Commitment can be increased by explaining the mission and strategies of the company. Communication with employees is very important especially face to face communication. This also seeks the views of other people at work. CONFLICT WITH MANAGES AND SUPERVISORS This is another reason of turnover. This should be solved by Selecting those managers who are qualified and with well developed leadership Giving them training in resolving conflicts and dealing with grievances Recruitment and selection Poor selection results in rapid turnover. Selection of the employees should match with their capabilities. THE FLEXIBILITY PLAN The aim of the flexibility plan is utilize all the skills and capabilities of employers. It also reduces the employment cost and increase productivity. The flexibility plan consist of ALTERNATIVES TO FULL TIME PERMANENT STAFF The core of permanent full time staff consist of managers and team leaders who are needed to run the teams of core workers.it also include professional staff such as personnel which provides high level professional advice and services. Knowledge workers, technicians and highly skilled workers is also a part of team. The next step is the right use of the temporary workers, part-time workers and subcontracting workers. FLEXIBLE HOUR ARRANGEMENT This is also included in flexibility plan. Flexible hours can be arranged in the following ways: FLEXIBLE DAILY HOURS is a day to day pattern according to work loads FLEXIBLE WEEKLY HOURS are the weekly hours which are done at the peak time of the year COMPRESSED WORKING WEEKS is a pattern where employees work less than five days OVERTIME To reduce the overtime costs, flexibility plan offers flexible hours, new shift arrangements and overtime limitations. ARRANGEMENT OF SHIFT WORKING This reduces the overtime and is modified to meet demand requirements. THE PRODUCTIVITY PLAN This plan increase productivity and reduce employment costs by improving the methods like automation, mechanization and computerization. THE DOWNSIZING PLAN This plan sets out Arrangement for consulting with employees and their trade unions Forecast of the number of losses that can be taken up by natural wastage Forecast of the number who want to leave voluntarily Redundancy terms Arrangements by telling individual employees about the redundancies and keeping the trade unions informed CONTROL In spite of including budgets and targets, human resource plan also clarifies the implementation and control. This reports on the numbers employed against establishment and on the numbers recruited against the recruitment targets. Against budget, it also report employment costs and trends in wastage and employment ratios. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF NEW STAFF The overall aim of the recruitment and selection process is to obtain the number and quality required at a minimum cost in order to satisfy the companys human resource requirements. The recruitment and selection process is a series of three steps: Define requirements Decide terms and conditions of employment, prepare job descriptions and specifications Attract candidates Review and evaluate by building a pool of candidates for the jobs by recruiting internal and external candidates, advertisement, use agencies and consultants Select candidates By interviewing, testing, assessing, assessment centres, offering employment, asking references, and preparing employment contracts DEFINE REQUIREMENTS In recruitment programme, the number of people required should be specified which is derived from the human resource plan. In addition, there will be demands for new jobs to be filled and these should be checked for justification. It is necessary to check the type of employee required for a specific job. For assessing candidates, this information provides a basic introduction required to agencies or recruitment consultants. A candidates profile, educational background, experience and skills produce criteria for a suitable job and is assessed by interviewing or by means of psychological tests. JOB DESCRIPTION A job description sets the overall objective of the job, basic details of the job, main activities and any other special requirements. For the purpose of recruitment, the information can only be provided on the arrangement for training and career opportunities. Pay, benefits, mobility and travelling are included in terms and conditions. PERSONNEL SPECIFICATIONS It is also known as recruitment, person specification or job specification. It requires educational background, qualification, experience, skills, competencies and training from the candidate. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OR QUALIFICATION- academic or technical qualification is required EXPERIENCE- achievements or merits obtained COMPETENCIES- it consist of any special skills achieved such as numeracy TRAINING- any special training that a candidate has taken SPECIFIC DEMANDS- a candidate is expected to develop new markets, productivity, best customer services and sales and introduce new techniques and systems ORGANIZATIONAL FIT- the candidate is expected to work within the corporate culture SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS- mobility, unsocial hours and travelling The most familiar classification scheme introduced by Rodger (1952) and is known as THE SEVEN POINT PLAN The seven point plan consists of PHYSICAL APPEARANCE- physique, health, appearance and speech ATTAINMENTS- education, qualification, experience GENERAL INTELLIGENCE- intellectual quality SPECIAL APTITUDES- mechanical, manual dexterity INTERESTS- intellectual, practical, physically active, social, artistic DISPOSITION- influential, power of acceptance, steadiness, dependable, self reliance CIRCUMSTANCES- domestic circumstances, occupations of family Another classification system is produced by Munro- Fraser and is known as THE FIVEFOLD GRADING SYSTEM The fivefold grading system covers IMPACT ON OTHERS- appearance, make-up, speech, manner ACQUIRED QUALIFICATION- education, vocational training, experience INNATE ABILITIES- aptitude for learning, natural quickness of comprehension MOTIVATION- goals set up by an individual and determination to follow them and success in achieving them ADJUSTMENT- emotional stability Both systems are proved to be good for interviewing but seven point plan is more stable and has a longer pedigree. COMPETENCY BASED APPROACH During selection process, competency based approach is used as a framework for a particular role. According to Roberts (1997) The benefit of taking a competencies approach is that people can identify and isolate the key characteristics which would be used as the basis for selection, and that those characteristics will be described in terms which both can understand and agreeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..The competencies therefore become a fundamental part of a selection process. According to Wood and Payne (1998), the advantages of competency based approach are; It increases the accuracy of prediction about stability It facilitates a closer match between the persons attributes and the demands of the job It helps to prevent interviewers making snap adjustments It can underpin the whole range of recruitment techniques- application forms,, interviews, tests and assessment centres ATTRACTING CANDIDATES It is a matter to identify, evaluate and use the most appropriate sources of applicants. If difficulties occur in attracting candidates then being an employer there should be a proper study at the strengths and weaknesses of the company. ANALYSIS OF RECRUITMENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES It covers the matters like pay, employee benefits, working conditions, security of employment, educational and training opportunities, career prospectus and the reputation of an organization. The aim of an organization is to build a better image by use of advertisements, brochures or interviews. SOURCES OF CANDIDATES To fill the anticipated openings, if there are no qualified candidates inside then the outside candidates are given more consideration. This may require forecasting general economic, local market and occupational market conditions. To forecast general economic conditions is the expected prevailing rate of unemployment. Lower rate of unemployment lowers the labour supply and then its more difficult to recruit personnel Local labour market conditions are also important. Finally, the forecasting of candidates for jobs in specific occupations is to be recruited. Once a position is filled, the next step is to develop an applicant pool either from internal or external sources. Recruitment efforts are for the welfare of the strategic plans of the company. Some recruiting methods are superior to others, depending what your sources are and who a company is recruiting. If no candidates are available within an organization then the main sources of candidates are ADVERTISING Advertising is a best source to attract candidates. For successful advertisement, a company needs to address two issues: the media and the ads construction. The selection of best medium depends on the types of positions a company is recruiting. OBJECTIVES OF ADVERTISEMENT Attract attention An advertisement should be attractive enough to gain an attention of a potential candidate Create and maintain interest The information of an ad is to be communicated in an attractive way about the job, the organization, qualifications and the terms and conditions of employment. Stimulate action An advertisement should be conveyed in such a way that it not only attracts candidates but encourage them to read at the end and apply. ANALYSE THE JOB REQUIREMENT Its necessary for a company to establish that how many jobs to be filled and when. Then comes the job description and person specification for qualification and experience. The next step is to consider where suitable candidates are likely to come from and the companies, jobs or educational establishments they are in. Finally the pay and the benefits of the company are clearly shown in an advertisement. EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES AS A SOURCE OF CANDIDATES There are three basic types of employment agencies THOSE OPERATED BY FEDERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS These agencies are on the rise these days. These agencies fill up the jobs, counsellors visit the work site. Review the job requirements and help the employer to write job description. THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION Most societies have units which help their members in finding a suitable job. Public welfare agencies place the people who are disabled and war veterans. PRIVATE OWNED AGENCIES These agencies charge to every applicant for the application they place. These agencies are the sources of managerial personnel, clerical and white collar. RECRUITMENT CONSULTANTS Recruitment consultants advertise, interview and shortlist. STEPS FOR CHOOSING RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT Check its reputation with others Check the advertisements of other companies in order to know the consultancy Meet the consultant who is working on the assignment Compare its fee with other recruitment consultants USING RECRUITMENT CONSULTANTS It is necessary to Brief them the terms and conditions of the company Give them assistance in job defining Clarify arrangements for interviewing and short- listing Clarify the fee and expenses structure Make sure the arrangements made are directly dealing with the consultant USING EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANTS These are also known as head hunter. These consultants are for senior jobs and direct the limited number of people to specific jobs. They are bit expensive consultants .These consultants have their own contacts and have researchers who identify specific people for a specific job. The consultant forwards the shortlist of candidates with full report to the client when a number of potential candidates have been assembled. CHOOSING AN ADVERTISING COMPANY Following steps should be taken while choosing an advertising company Experience in handling recruitment advertising Services provided to the clients Fee structure Staff meeting who are working on advertisement Discuss methods of working RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT A recruitment advertisement should start with a compelling headline and then it covers the areas like the organization, the job, qualification and experience, terms and conditions of job, the location and the action to be taken. The headline should be a job title and in bold letters. For attracting customers, quote the salary in an attractive way. The name of the company should be given. Create interest in the job and convey the essential features of the job by giving a brief description of the duties of a job holder. The qualification and experience should be stated. This will vary from candidate to candidate. Pay scale and the job requirements will give them the enough information about the experience required. Final section of the advertisement is how a candidate can apply for a job? Candidates would be appreciated if they apply in writing, or have a telephonic conversation or may be called for an informal chat at some suitable place. SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 According to this law it is unlawful to discriminate by favouring sex in advertisement. Sexiest job titles should be avoided. There are certain jobs which are unisex and are non discriminatory. TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT CLASSIFIED/ RUN- ON- they are cheap and suitable for routine jobs. In this a copy is run on, having no white space in or around the advertisement and no paragraph spacing. CLASSIFIED/SEMI-DISPLAY-it is much more effective and is fairly cheap. The h

Rwanda: Genocide and Refugee Crisis Essay -- History Genocide Murder H

"How can I ever forget the scene where my husband was massacred right in my presence. It was a nightmare. It was a nightmare. I live through it every day and it is engraved forever in my memory.† During one April, not so long ago, the world sat back and watched as a turbulent political situation in central Africa turned into something the world will never be able to forget. 800,000 people murdered in just 100 days, 800,000 people needlessly slaughtered at the hands of extremists, 800,000 men, women, and children gone because of a more serious problem rooted in social prejudice and inequality, 800,000 killed in a genocide that the world could do nothing about until it was too late. Almost 50 years after the world pledged to never let anything like the holocaust occur again, the world had to watch as a genocide unfolded in Rwanda. Between April of 1994 and July of 1994 some 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus were systematically killed as Rwanda fell into political despair and turmoil, leaving millions more as refugees struggling to put their lives back together in the aftermath of such horrific violence. The large number of people forced to flee the violence in 1994 not onl y created a massive refugee population in the surrounding countries of Zaire, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda, but the number of refugees within what is known as the Great Lakes region continue to cause political turmoil even today, almost eleven years after the genocide. This paper will focus specifically on the Rwandan refugees and their plight during the last ten years as a result of the genocide. In order to understand the reasons why the genocide occurred and created this refugee population the first section will give a brief overview to the poli... ...r Crossings: Return of Refugees, Identity, and Reconstruction in Rwanda." African Studies Review (1998): 17-28. <http://www.jstor.org>. Klinghoffer, Arthur J. The International Dimension of Genocide in Rwanda. New York: New York UP, 1998. Pottier, Johan. "Relief and Repatriation: Views by Rwandan Refugees; Lessons for Humanitarian Aid Workers." African Affairs (1996): 403-429. <http://www.jstor.org>. Smith, Charles D. "The Geopolitics of Rwandan Resettlement: Uganda and Tanzania." Issue: A Journal of Opinion (1995): 54-57. <http://www.jstor.org>. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The State of the World's Refugees: Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action. New York: Oxford UP, 2000. Waters, Tony. "Tutsi Social Identity in Contemporary Africa." The Journal of Modern African Studies (1995): 343-347. <http://www.jstor.org>. Rwanda: Genocide and Refugee Crisis Essay -- History Genocide Murder H "How can I ever forget the scene where my husband was massacred right in my presence. It was a nightmare. It was a nightmare. I live through it every day and it is engraved forever in my memory.† During one April, not so long ago, the world sat back and watched as a turbulent political situation in central Africa turned into something the world will never be able to forget. 800,000 people murdered in just 100 days, 800,000 people needlessly slaughtered at the hands of extremists, 800,000 men, women, and children gone because of a more serious problem rooted in social prejudice and inequality, 800,000 killed in a genocide that the world could do nothing about until it was too late. Almost 50 years after the world pledged to never let anything like the holocaust occur again, the world had to watch as a genocide unfolded in Rwanda. Between April of 1994 and July of 1994 some 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus were systematically killed as Rwanda fell into political despair and turmoil, leaving millions more as refugees struggling to put their lives back together in the aftermath of such horrific violence. The large number of people forced to flee the violence in 1994 not onl y created a massive refugee population in the surrounding countries of Zaire, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda, but the number of refugees within what is known as the Great Lakes region continue to cause political turmoil even today, almost eleven years after the genocide. This paper will focus specifically on the Rwandan refugees and their plight during the last ten years as a result of the genocide. In order to understand the reasons why the genocide occurred and created this refugee population the first section will give a brief overview to the poli... ...r Crossings: Return of Refugees, Identity, and Reconstruction in Rwanda." African Studies Review (1998): 17-28. <http://www.jstor.org>. Klinghoffer, Arthur J. The International Dimension of Genocide in Rwanda. New York: New York UP, 1998. Pottier, Johan. "Relief and Repatriation: Views by Rwandan Refugees; Lessons for Humanitarian Aid Workers." African Affairs (1996): 403-429. <http://www.jstor.org>. Smith, Charles D. "The Geopolitics of Rwandan Resettlement: Uganda and Tanzania." Issue: A Journal of Opinion (1995): 54-57. <http://www.jstor.org>. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The State of the World's Refugees: Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action. New York: Oxford UP, 2000. Waters, Tony. "Tutsi Social Identity in Contemporary Africa." The Journal of Modern African Studies (1995): 343-347. <http://www.jstor.org>.

Reproductive Cloning Technology Essays -- Biology Clone

Reproductive Cloning Cloning has become a major issue in our modern world, from moral, ethical, and religious concerns, to the problem of financial and government support. Human cloning is one of the most controversial topics, and because of this, many of the new important discoveries and beneficial technologies have been overlooked and ignored. Reproductive cloning technology may offer many new possibilities, including hope for endangered species, resources for human organ transplants, and answers to questions concerning cancer, inherited diseases, and aging. The research that led up to the ability to clone mammals started more than a century ago. From frogs to mice to sheep to humans, reproductive cloning promises many possibilities. Ever since the successful birth of Dolly on July 5, 1996, the scientific community as well as the public have been engulfed in the idea of reproductive cloning, its benefits, and its potential threats. This well-publicized event was a giant steppingstone in understanding and using the techniques of gene cloning and reproductive cloning. By using a technique known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, scientists at the Roslin Institute removed the nucleus from an oocyte (unfertilized egg), and then fused this newly enucleated cell with a donor cell (with complete nucleus). This new embryo was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother ewe. In total, out of 277 fused cells, 29 successfully developed into embryos, while only one of these resulted in a successful live birth (a total success rate of 0.4%) (Wong, 202). Dolly was the first living mammal to be cloned by this fast and accurate process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, but was by no means the first animal to be cloned. The first... ...s, Mark. â€Å"Gene Cloning,† 11 June, 2004 , Holmgrem Lab, 27 July, 2007, 7. â€Å"History Of Cloning,† John’s Cloning Page , 22 July, 2007, 8. Pellegrino, Edmund D., â€Å"Human Cloning and Human Dignity.† The President’s Council on Bioethics. 22 July 2007 9. "Cloning Fact Sheet." Human Genome Project Information. 29 Aug. 2006. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program. 27 July 2007 10. Love, Jamie, â€Å"The Cloning of Dolly.† Science Explained 27 November, 1997; 18 July, 2007 Reproductive Cloning Technology Essays -- Biology Clone Reproductive Cloning Cloning has become a major issue in our modern world, from moral, ethical, and religious concerns, to the problem of financial and government support. Human cloning is one of the most controversial topics, and because of this, many of the new important discoveries and beneficial technologies have been overlooked and ignored. Reproductive cloning technology may offer many new possibilities, including hope for endangered species, resources for human organ transplants, and answers to questions concerning cancer, inherited diseases, and aging. The research that led up to the ability to clone mammals started more than a century ago. From frogs to mice to sheep to humans, reproductive cloning promises many possibilities. Ever since the successful birth of Dolly on July 5, 1996, the scientific community as well as the public have been engulfed in the idea of reproductive cloning, its benefits, and its potential threats. This well-publicized event was a giant steppingstone in understanding and using the techniques of gene cloning and reproductive cloning. By using a technique known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, scientists at the Roslin Institute removed the nucleus from an oocyte (unfertilized egg), and then fused this newly enucleated cell with a donor cell (with complete nucleus). This new embryo was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother ewe. In total, out of 277 fused cells, 29 successfully developed into embryos, while only one of these resulted in a successful live birth (a total success rate of 0.4%) (Wong, 202). Dolly was the first living mammal to be cloned by this fast and accurate process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, but was by no means the first animal to be cloned. The first... ...s, Mark. â€Å"Gene Cloning,† 11 June, 2004 , Holmgrem Lab, 27 July, 2007, 7. â€Å"History Of Cloning,† John’s Cloning Page , 22 July, 2007, 8. Pellegrino, Edmund D., â€Å"Human Cloning and Human Dignity.† The President’s Council on Bioethics. 22 July 2007 9. "Cloning Fact Sheet." Human Genome Project Information. 29 Aug. 2006. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program. 27 July 2007 10. Love, Jamie, â€Å"The Cloning of Dolly.† Science Explained 27 November, 1997; 18 July, 2007

Analyzing Carson’s Work

Literary works document history. Each piece of literature can tell the readers something about the past – it may be events, ideologies, or stories of people. As a reflection of thoughts however, these literary pieces often do not relay accurate events. Rather, such works only provide vague interpretations of the authors. In this paper, the researcher will try to analyze the poem â€Å"Belfast Confetti† of Ciaran Carson of Northern Ireland.By analyzing the events which probably inspired the creation of the poem, this paper will serve as a historical criticism of the award-winning piece.The title, â€Å"Belfast Confetti† is not one which Carson creates imaginatively. Rather, it is a common slang term used to refer to the easy-grip collection of debris often used by rioters during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Troubles was the period of conflict that roughly began during the 1960s and seemingly ended in 1998 through the Belfast Agreement. It was considered a s a period of conflict that resulted from the political conflict between the catholic/nationalist minority and the protestant/unionist majority. The worse of these years were from 1970 to 1972, when almost five hundred people died.Most of these killings took place in Belfast, the city where Carson was born, and lived his whole life. (English) Other the common slang term, the word â€Å"Confetti† in the title can be interpreted in a number of ways. It can be regarded as the collection of screws, nails, bolts, and other sharp objects used as shrapnel for IRA bombs. (English) If coupled with imagination, the term â€Å"confetti† can bring the reader right into bombing scene, where one can witness the â€Å"confetti† of various fatal elements dropping from midair.Also, â€Å"confetti† can suggest a feeling of confusion and disorder embracing the mind of the author as he took himself right into the hostile hotspots of Belfast. As noted by Mahony, â€Å"Belfas t confetti uses three quite different image patterns, all conveyed as being disrupted, to try to recreate for the reader in a linear fashion, the very non-linear experience of living through a bombing. † (Mahony) â€Å"Suddenly as the riot squad moved in, it was raining exclamation marks† (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC)The situation depicts a usual day during the period of the Troubles when riots were common day-to-day events. According to Carson, each time the riot squad moves in, that meant that it was time for a â€Å"raining† of â€Å"exclamation marks†. Raining is often used to imply â€Å"a multitude of† or â€Å"plenty of†. As for the â€Å"exclamation marks†, such can be interpreted following the actual purpose of using the said punctuation mark – signifying strong emotions during the onset of violence. Thus, Carson notes that when riot squads come, then a variety of strong emotions set in the people of Belfast.This variety may refer to mixture of revolutionizing and insistent emotions of the squads, distrustful and aggressive reactions of the military, and apprehensive and distraught feelings of the civilians. â€Å"Nuts, bolts, nails, car-keys. A fount of broken type. And the explosion. Itself – an askerisk on the map. This hyphenated line, a burst of rapid fire†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC) The description of diverse emotions is then followed by a seeming narrative of what actual takes place during Belfast’s destructive era.Through these lines, Carson takes the readers again in a picturesque gallery of memories where the rioters throw in the cocktail of â€Å"nuts, bolts, nails, car-keys† and the air fills up with fountain-like debris (â€Å"a fount of broken type†) much like what happens when an active volcano spews dust, smoke, and stones up in the sky. In response to the noted revolutionary action is an explosion – which then leaves awkward marks on the city’s map as it inevitably eradicates social structures. In writing, asterisks are often used to indicate anonymity – to conceal, taking the place of letters within a word.Carson then uses the word â€Å"asterisk† to describe what explosions often did to Belfast before – destroying its structures and people into obscurity. As noted by Mahony, â€Å"Carson tries to project a debris-strewn labyrinth where once there was order. † (Mahony) Carson also uses the phrase â€Å"hyphenated line† to describe the â€Å"burst of rapid fire†. Hyphens are used to join words. By â€Å"hyphenated†, Carson reflects on continuous nonstop gun fires. â€Å"I was trying to complete a sentence in my head but it kept stuttering† (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC)In the next line, Carson then describes what he felt when he was in the city at the time of the Troubles. He explains that at times when the guns were firing, civ ilians would try to create a sentence (which is defined as ‘a set of words with a complete thought’). Sentence here should not be taken as a mere line in a poem. Instead, it can be noted that Carson relays that in the midst of the gun fires and explosions, people would try to devise a â€Å"sentence† or a â€Å"complete† explanation of the devastating event which is happening around them.Unfortunately, they would just â€Å"stutter†, or fail at devising an adequate rationalization. â€Å"All the alleyways and side streets blocked with stops and colons. † (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC) Following Carson’s fondness of punctuation metaphors, the â€Å"stops† would refer to â€Å"periods†. Periods are use to end a sentence and colons indicate discontinuities within sentences. Both suggest that people caught in the midst of violent Belfast bouts would try to find a way to escape through alleys and side lanes but neverthele ss only to find dead ends.â€Å"I know this labyrinth so well – Balaclava, Raglan, Inkerman, Odessa Street – Why can’t I escape? Every move is punctuated. † (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC) In this line, Carson injects his own history in his literary piece. As one who grew up in Belfast, he knew the place quite well. Implying that he is very familiar of the place also tells the readers something about Belfast’s geography. The city is small with lots of intertwining streets, which just like Carson suggests – looks like a maze. The question of escape however, supports the overall theme of the poem.Carson suggests that people who were caught in the Troubles could not find a way out of the conflict. Apart from the civilians, those who were directly involved within the problem could not find a way to effectively resolve the persisting crisis. The politicians, activists, republicans, loyalists, and paramilitary forces were unable to find an eff icient solution even through a series of ceasefires and agreements. The people of Belfast and that of the whole Northern Ireland couldn’t find a way out even up to now as sporadic killings still happen. (English)As noted by Carson, every move is â€Å"punctuated† or as what its literal meaning suggests, â€Å"interrupted at frequent intervals†. (Collins Dictionary) It should be noted that despite attempts to end the Troubles through the Sunningdale Agreement, the establishment of the group ‘Peace People’, open talks, and paramilitary ceasefires. However, all of these struggles towards peace are often interrupted by bombings, armed campaigns, and killings. (English) The same also happens at the individual level as attempts to escape are also interrupted by indecisions.â€Å"Crimea Street. Dead end again. A Saracen, Kremlin-2 mesh. Makrolon face-shields. Walkietalkies. † (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC) Carson also further addresses the exis tence of military forces through an enumeration of what they often use at war. For people who live in Belfast, the enumerated warfare gears are considered as typical daily paraphernalia. However, the familiarity of such things disrupts the commonality of normality as suggested by the next line: â€Å"What is my name? Where am I coming from?Where am I going? A fusillade of question- marks. † (Belfast Confetti, copied from BBC) The series of questions may be equated to the disgruntled thinking which the people of Belfast experienced during the Troubles period. These can also be interpreted as the common questions based upon what the authorities often ask to the city constituents as part of standard security interrogations. In an interview in The Guardian, Carson relays his own experience as he was interrogated by the authorities:When somebody comes to you and says ‘OK, mate, over here, against the wall',† he says in exaggerated Cockney, â€Å"and you're asked who y ou are, where you're from, and you say: ‘I'm from here. ‘ (Quoted from The Guardian) Another interpretation is that it is a question of identity that troubles civilians who do not belong to either of the conflicting parties. As a result of the confusion that surrounds them, civilians felt that there was a need to participate to the war. As noted by Carson, he himself felt that taking a side was necessary.In the same interview with the Guardian, when asked whether he felt like joining one of the conflicting political parties, Carson responses: Kind of close at times, but †¦ you know – no. And why not? I don't know. One could easily have done so. I was scared maybe. (Quoted from The Guardian) The â€Å"fusillade† meaning ‘simultaneous and incessant firing’ of questions emphasizes the uncertainty of the civilians. In conclusion, the poem ultimately tells Carson’s story of living through the Troubles and facing daily bombings, riots, an d violence.As noted by Wheatley, â€Å"The chaos of violence (which, once again is creative to the same extent to which it can be destructive) â€Å"is made scriptable in metaphors drawn from writing and printing in ways that emphasize the explosive effects on any pretence of realist representation. † (Wheatley). Carson injects metaphors in his interpretation of the events so as to dramatize and emphasize the frustration posed by the bombings, and seemingly take the reader to the actual events. Works Cited: BBC. â€Å"Poetry: Belfast Confetti†. BBC Northern Ireland Learning. 2 May 2009 â€Å"Collins Essential English Dictionary†. HarperCollins Publishers, 2004, 2006 English, Richard. â€Å"Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA†. Oxford University Press, 2003 Mahony, Christina Hunt. â€Å"Contemporary Irish Literature†. Palgrave Macmillan, pp 79-84 The Guardian Staff. â€Å"A life in poetry: Ciaran Carson† Guardian. co. uk. 17 Jan 2009. 2 May 2009 Wheatley, David. â€Å"That Blank Mouth: Secrecy, Shibboleths, and Silence in Northern Irish Poetry†. Journal of Modern Literature. 25 (2001): 1-16

A Conflicted Society Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart†, Chinua Achebe challenges the reader to actively engage in the analysis of issues raised throughout the text. Achebe brings the issue of tradition versus change to the forefront of Umuofian society for the reader to examine. Achebe shows the reader the gradual downfall of the main character, Okonkwo, through his refusal to accept change in his society. Achebe also brings about the controversial issues dealing with masculinity in Umuofian society. Okonkwo rejects anything that he feels is â€Å"womanly† and thus seals his own demise. Achebe shows the reader that acting â€Å"manly† doesn’t necessarily make one a man. By simplifying the issues within Umuofian society and the conflicted Okonkwo, Achebe paints a clear picture of the consequences of closed-minded societies, and the people who exist within those societies. Okonkwo and his Umuofian society are strong believers in tradition, and continually ignore the need for change throughout the novel. In a deal with a neighboring village, Okonkwo becomes the illegitimate father to a boy named Ikemefuna. Over time, Okonkwo comes to accept the boy, finding him to be an ideal son. While Okonkwo is fond of the boy, he never shows any affection toward Ikemefuna. After three years of living with Okonkwo and his family in Umuofia, Ikemefuna is murdered by the man that he treated as his father and other men in the village simply because the â€Å"Oracle† told a village elder that the boy must die. Rather than challenge what his society is doing, Okonkwo goes along with his clansmen and takes part in the death of Ikemefuna. In his dying moments, Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo for protection, but Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna because he refuses to question the ideals of his fellow villagers, and does not want to appear weak. After Okonkwo is exiled from Umuofia for accidentally killing another young man in the village, the reader still sees a reluctance to embrace change in society. Now living in his motherland, Mbanto, Okonkwo and his family are met with missionaries that have travelled to the village to share Christian beliefs with the villagers. The missionaries preach about the danger of worshipping false gods. The villagers reject the missionaries’ beliefs, simply because it is not what their fathers and grandfathers believed. The people of Mbanta cling to their pagan religion with complete closed-mindedness, rejecting the Holy Trinity and any other beliefs that differ from the traditional beliefs of their ancestors. Reverend James Smith, who is the leader of the missionaries, has his church burned to the ground because one of the villagers who converted to Christianity unmasked an egwugwu during a pagan ceremony, which the villagers believe to be the same as killing an ancestral spirit. Rather than be open-minded to other religions and beliefs, the villagers reject anything that is not what they are used to believing. They burn down Reverent Smith’s church to get rid of the villagers, and the new ideas that they preached. Okonkwo is not accepting at all of anything that seems feminine to him.   Okonkwo sets very strict boundaries with his daughter, Ezinma, simply because she is female. Even though it is his daughter, Ezinma, that knows her father the best, and that Okonkwo feels closest to, he keeps her at arms length. The feelings that Okonkwo has for his daughter are illustrated in the passage that states, â€Å"Okonkwo was very lucky in his daughters. He never stopped regretting that Ezinma was a girl (Achebe 172)†. Because Ezinma was a girl, even though she probably understood her father the best of any of his children, he pushed her away and avoided a close, loving relationship with her simply because of her gender. By pushing away Ezinma, Okonkwo is passing by a great opportunity to get to know his daughter and have a closer relationship with her. Simply because she is a female, he rebuffs her attempts to have such a relationship with her father. Another example of Okonkwo’s intolerance for â€Å"womanly† things is within his relationship with his son, Nwoye. Nwoye decides that he is going to go against his father’s wishes, and join the missionaries. Upon learning of Nwoye’s decision, Okonkwo sits down with his sons and tells them that, â€Å"I will only have a son who is a man, who will hold his head up among my people. If any one of you prefers to be a woman let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him (Achebe 172)†. Okonkwo would rather drive away his own flesh and blood than to have them be who they really are, and accepting them for all that they are, and all that they aren’t. By pushing away his son simply because his aspirations differ from those that Okonkwo would have for him, Okonkwo is creating a very large crack in the foundation of his family. Once a child is told that his father isn’t proud of him, it is very difficult to rebuild any relationship. Okonkwo would rather maintain a â€Å"manly† appearance than accept his family for who they are. Chinua Achebe’s novel, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† addresses the always controversial issue of tradition versus change, and shows his readers how a failure to be open-minded and accepting of new ideas can lead a one into a vicious cycle of making mistakes. Achebe also addresses the issue of masculinity versus femininity in the novel. Through the actions of his main character, Okonkwo, the reader realizes that simply because a man is â€Å"tough† does not necessarily mean that he is a good, respectable man, even if he is highly regarded within his own society. Achebe’s novel brings these issues that exist within African society, and allows the reader to see the consequences of rejecting change through the absolute demise of the main character of the story, Okonkwo, and the subsequent effects of rejecting new ideas and beliefs on society in general. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994.

Book Review American Slavery: 1619-1877 by Peter Kolchin

â€Å"American Slavery, 1619-1877† by Peter Kolchin gives an overview of the practice of slavery in America between 1619 and 1877. From the origins of slavery in the colonial period to the road to its abolition, the book explores the characteristics of slave culture as well as the racial mind-sets and development of the old South’s social structures. This paper is divided in two sections.The first section observes the author’s vivid presentation of the slave-master psyche and relationship from the 17th to 19th century America. The second section examines the author’s choice of method in narration – how, apart from quoting statistics, Kolchin gave weight to accounts of slaves’ and slave owners’ lives and conditions. Delving into the Peculiar Institution of Slavery American slavery, Kolchin explains, didn't develop in isolation, but evolved as part of a trend toward forced labor in the New World colonies.By about 1770, American slavery w as concentrated mostly in the South, though it existed in all of the American colonies, and, as time passed, relationships between slaves and masters changed as second- generation slaves lost much of their African culture and became Americanized. The Revolutionary era saw slavery threatened by Enlightenment ideology, but the institution survived more strongly than ever in the South and, during the 19th century, came to be perceived as fundamental to the Southern economy and way of life.Kolchin also writes about slave life through the Civil War, and, not surprisingly, he sees slavery as leaving a legacy that has persisted throughout our own century. Kolchin probes into the lives of those imprisoned by the â€Å"peculiar institution† of American slavery. It begins with slavery’s origin in America in the sixteen hundreds, with the importation of slaves from Africa. Their free labor established the agricultural foundation of the New World. From hereon, Kolchin follows the escalation of slavery through citing statistics and providing information of conditions of the lives and times of slaves and slave owners.Kolchin narrates tales of hardship and provides a condemning opinion of slavery. At the same time, however, he focuses on the facts of daily living of slaves in America. Furthermore, Kolchin delves deeply into the oddly fascinating dynamics of the slave-master relationship, which allows incidents such as a master whipping his slave for working sluggishly and then the evening of the same day, gathering all of the slaves for a bible reading session. A person who provides basic needs for others but forces them to provide him free labor in return is evaluated repeatedly in the book with interesting outcomes.However, the author likewise presents a slave owner who had minimal impact on slaves’ lives outside of the workday, one who allowed the slaves to have social and religious celebrations of their own choosing, and viewed the slaves as not just property, but humans. The irony of this is that slave owners saw no wrong in what they were doing, regardless of how they treated their respective slaves. Slavery, as an institution, was from the perspective of the slave owners, justified.Kolchin describes that, in response, slaves were overtly resistive to their predicament at times, while others provided less obvious resistance in the form of slow work, feigning illness, and even sabotage. In addition, Kolchin gives the readers the catalysts for the events in the history of slavery. Economic, religious, and social factors are made prevalent, which renders the book well organized and able to reach depths that a few other books with the same topic failed to achieve. Even though the war ended, hatred for blacks remains.Thus, segregation evolves in full force throughout the nation, but mainly in the south. He also explains the struggle of the south to compete with the north as far as industrialization which was the new course of Amer ica straying away from agriculture, and until today they still suffer a lack of industry opposed to the northern states. Method of Narration The book’s chronological format of the book provides a logical flow and allows the reader to see the manner by which the events of each day made tremendous impact on slavery.The bibliographical essay lists hundreds of books that pertain to the writing in a sectional format and describes particular topics covered in each book. This is easy to see in the straightforward and matter-of-fact way that the author discusses topics from whipping of slaves, to the selling of slaves resulting in the breakup of families. Kolchin effectively used statistics in writing this book, in that, at the start of most sections or chapters the reader was able to ascertain the slave population and distribution, as well as growth rates and comparison to white population.Kolchin’s interpretation of this particular historic era shows that its’ history is primarily determined by individuals with economic motivations. When the author wanted to explain the horrors of these situations, he used quotes from slaves themselves, not a personal soapbox that many authors use. By using these comparisons the reader can see how the treatment of slaves was paramount to production, controllability, and even reproduction. ConclusionPeter Kolchin’s â€Å"American Slavery, 1619 – 1877,† provides a laudable and significant consideration of slavery in the formation of the United States as a country. It is a clear and briskly written survey that puts slavery in context and explains its continuing impact on American life. Overall, Kolchin displays an excellent work of literature which provides many sources and well-thought-out information. Reference Kolchin, Peter (1993). American Slavery, 1619-1877. Hill and Wang