The Politics of Boom essays

The Politics of Boom essays The Economist published an article on September 30, 2000 entitled The Politics of Boom. This article brings up several issues that we have discussed in Economics 103 this semester. The article discusses the presidential election and both candidates positions on some of the major issues dealing with the economy. Mainly, the article centers around the federal budget This years presidential election is being fought against the backdrop of an unprecedented economic boom. One component of this statement is the unemployment rate at about 4%, which is close to historic lows. In class, we learned that the different types of unemployment are frictional (when people quit work to seek more attractive employment), structural (resulting from technology or geography), and cyclical (associated with the downturn and recession phases of the business cycle). Also there are underemployed workers who are working at jobs that do not utilize their productive talents or experience, and discouraged workers who have given up looking for work after facing many rejections. The labor force is used in determining the unemployment rate. Those not included in the labor force are students, retirees, stay at-home parents, people under sixteen years old and people who are institutionalized. To find the unemployment rate you take the number of workers (labor force) and subtract discouraged workers. Then you divide the rest of the unemployed by that number. The natural rate of unemployment (NAIRU- non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment) is the rate that is consistent with the rate of inflation. Also a part of the quotation in paragraph two, is that inflation is still tame, though it is inching upward. Inflation is defined as an increase in the price level. Problems with inflation are distributional effects, transfer payments ...

25 Favorite Family History Quotes

25 Favorite Family History Quotes Are you looking for a quote related to genealogy and family history, for a family history photo or scrapbook, your Facebook or Twitter page, or a family genealogy website? These famous quotes include humorous quotes, inspirational quotes and other quotations related to our interest in the past. Why waste your money looking up your family tree? Just go into politics and your opponents will do it for you. -   Mark TwainIn all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness. -   Alex Haley, RootsIf you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten; Either write things worthy of reading, or do things worthy of writing. -   Benjamin Franklin, May 1738There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children - one is roots, and the other, wings. -   Hodding S. CarterWhen a society or a civilization perishes, one condition can always be found. They forgot where they came from. -   Carle SandburgI dont know who my grandfather was, I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be. -   Abraham LincolnYou live as long as you are remembered. -   Russian proverb Those who forget their past are destined to repeat it. -   Robert A. HeinleinWe are the children of many sires, and every drop of blood in us in its turn ... betrays its ancestor. -   Ralph Waldo EmersonEvery man  is a quotation from all his ancestors.  -   Ralph Waldo EmersonPeople will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors. -   Edmund BurkeEveryone has ancestors and it is only a question of going back far enough to find a good one. -   Howard Kenneth NixonIt is a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors. -   PlutarchAnybody can make history, only a great man can write it. -   He who has no fools, knaves, or beggars in his family was begot by a flash of lightning. -   Old English proverbIf you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance. -   George Bernard ShawThere is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his. -   Helen KellerFamily faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future. -   Gail Lumet Buckley Genealogy Tracing yourself back to people better than you are. -   John Garland PollardI dont have to look up my family tree because I know that Im the sap. -   Fred AllenIf you don’t know history, you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree. - Michael CrichtonWe inherit from  our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted. Each of us contains within this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise. - Edward SellnerWeve uncovered some embarrassing ancestors in the not-too-distant past. Some horse thieves, and some people killed on Saturday nights. One of my relatives, unfortunately, was even in the newspaper business. -   Jimmy CarterA man who thinks too much about his ancestors is like a potato- the best part of him is underground - Henry S.F. CooperSoutherners are so devoted to genealogy that we see a family tree under every bush. -   Florence King

History Projects Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History Projects - Assignment Example Abraham Lincoln was the president at the time the war ended in 1865. During the Reconstruction Period, the author indicates that the reorganization of the states was very hard for the Lincoln’s regime.After the Period, the 14th Amendment and 15th Amendment were passed giving black men the civil rights (Klose 24). He also points out on the World War I that began in 1914 and lasted for four years. The 19th Amendment passed in 1920 allowed women to vote.The Cold war started in the 1950 with the Vietnam War taking place in the late 1950’s. The author outlines the breakthroughs in economic, political and social fields until later in the 21st century (Klose 27). The author should have mentioned on the rapid industrialization that took place in the early 1990’s. He would have indicated the reasons for the occurrence of a peaceful period between the two world wars.He left out the Great Depression, which took place in 1929 to 1936. The Civil Rights movements that occurred after the Second World War have also been left out. The book is reliable when is discussing the history of America since 1865. As compared to other literary works, the author has presented the major events that took place in the United States since 1865 in chronological order. The book clearly indicates the end of slavery in America (Klose 30). It can be used by other students in history class particularly in describing the wars that have taken place since 1865. Instructions: Open the link stated above and Click History, North America and then American History since 1865. Other web links include: http://www.articlemyriad.com/american-history-1865-major-events-trends/2/ This website is very important to students because it gives the overview of the major events that occurred in North America since 1865(Smith par 1-2). The information on the website seems to have been obtained from other sources in which the writer fails to acknowledge the original authors.The

Attacks in Computer Systems versus Web-based Systems Case Study

Attacks in Computer Systems versus Web-based Systems - Case Study Example The similarities are also influenced by the homogenous nature of the technologies used in both types of systems. A web-based system is, essentially, a computer system that supports activities on the internet. This makes web presence the only contrast between the two systems and creates the uniformity in the types of attacks employed. The growth in web-based cybercrime has been enabled by various factors, which have had different magnifying effects on the observed increase in this type of criminal activity. The first factor is the increasing availability of internet connectivity in many areas of the world. Although it may appear trivial at first glance, greater access to the internet has inspired many hackers to engage in cybercrime; to the extent that they can find whichever resources they want (Provos, Rajab, & Mavrommatis, 2009:42). Using the internet, potential hackers can easily access information that instructs them on how to commit cybercrime. For example, currently, anybody with an internet connection can view links containing â€Å"tutorials† on how to engage in cybercrime. It is safe to say that this information is more easily accessible to people with internet connections than those without. The second factor is an increase in online transactions that have created opportunities for people to engage in criminal activities like stealing of online financial information. The internet has brought with it an explosion in e-commerce, and since e-commerce relies on web presence, cybercrime has grown alongside it. It is a case of people taking advantage of the weaknesses involved in online transactions like the provision of credit card information and identification data (Provos, Rajab, & Mavrommatis, 2009:44). However, this could also be said to be a direct result of technological development. As technology becomes more advanced, its flaws become more pronounced.  

Business Model and Strategic Plan Essay Example for Free

Business Model and Strategic Plan Essay For more than four decades, the semiconductor industry has distinguished itself by the rapid pace of improvement in its products. Trends have resulted principally from the industry’s ability to exponentially decrease the minimum feature sizes used to fabricate integrated circuits and other products. Of course, the most frequently cited trend is in integration level, which is usually expressed as Moore’s Law (that is, the number of components per chip doubles roughly every 24 months). The most significant trend is the decreasing cost-per-function, which has led to significant improvements in economic productivity and overall quality of life through  proliferation of computers, communication, and other industrial and consumer electronics. All of these improvement trends, sometimes called â€Å"scaling† trends, have been enabled by large RD investments. In the last three decades, the growing size of the required investments has motivated industry collaboration and spawned many RD partnerships, consortia, and other cooperative ventures. To help guide these RD programs, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) initiated The National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (NTRS), which had 1992, 1994, and 1997 editions. In 1998, the SIA was joined by corresponding industry associations in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to participate in a 1998 update of the Roadmap and to begin work toward the first International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), published in 1999. Since then, the ITRS has been updated in even-numbered years and fully revised in odd-numbered years. The overall objective of the ITRS is to present industry-wide consensus on the â€Å"best current estimate† of the industry’s research and development needs out to a 15-year horizon. As such, it provides a guide to the efforts of companies, universities, governments, and other research providers or funders. The ITRS has improved the quality of RD investment decisions made at all levels and has helped channel research efforts to areas that most need research breakthroughs. It is forecasted that by the end of this next decade (2019) it will be necessary to augment the capabilities of the CMOS process by introduci ng multiple new devices that will hopefully realize some properties beyond the ones of CMOS devices. However, it is believed that most likely these new devices will not have all the properties of CMOS devices and therefore it is anticipated that heterogeneous integration either at the chip level or at the package level will integrate these new capabilities around a CMOS core. The participation and continued consensus of semiconductor experts from Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S.A. ensure that the 2011 ITRS remains the definitive source of guidance for semiconductor research as we strive to extend the historical advancement of semiconductor technology and the integrated circuit market. ON Semiconductor Corporation was founded in 1999 and acquired Cherry Semiconductor the next year. In the next six years, from 2005 to 2011, the company opened seven Solution Engineering Centers in Korea, Oregon, Taiwan, and Germany, California, China, and Japan. In addition, the company also acquired ten  companies, namely LSI Logic Gresham, Oregon Design Manufacturing Facility, ADI Voltag e Regulation Thermal Management Group, AMI Semiconductor, Catalyst Semiconductor, PulseCore Semiconductor, California Micro Devices, Sound Design Technologies, Cypress Image Sensor Business Unit, and SANYO Semiconductor. The Application Products Group offers analog, mixed-signal, and advanced logic application specific integrated circuits (IC); power conversions and interfaces between AC and DC. The Standard Products Group offers discrete and integrated semiconductor products, such as power switching, signal conditioning and amplification, circuit protection, and voltage reference. The SANYO Semiconductor Products Group offers microcontrollers, analog and digital tuners and signal processing, and memory semiconductors. In 2013, the company introduced the industrys highest resolution optical image stabilization (OIS) integrated circuit (IC) for smartphone camera modules. Strategic Plan Part I: Conceptualizing in Business A solid strategic analysis is beneficial to shareholders, employees, customers, and decisions makers within a company. The core of an effective strategic plan contains a well-thought and informative mission statement. Using the ON Semiconductor Corporation as a benchmark, a mission statement has been developed to differentiate the company’s products from the competition. In addition, the vision statement as plays an important role in communicating the ultimate goal of the company’s strategic decisions. A driving force behind the mission and vision is the company’s values and ethical principles, which often dictate the choices made during strategic planning. When it is fully implemented, the strategic plan will allow ON Semiconductor Corporation to gain a strategic advantage over its established competitors. Mission Statement We will transform ON Semiconductor Corporation from a traditional broad-line semiconductor company to the leading supplier of programmable solutions in systems everywhere. Semiconductor consolidation is the recent trend of semiconductor companies collaborating in order to come to a practical synergy with the goal of being able to operate in a business model that can sustain profitability. Newly established solutions will be able to supply  local communities with quality products at competitive prices while simultaneously creating value for shareholders. Vision Statement ON Semiconductor Corporation will grow into the largest provider in emerging markets. The brand will have an established presence in Asia, South America, and Europe with locations being found within the top 10 major cities on these continents. By saturating the world’s most populous metropolitan cities, ON Semiconductor Corporation will be the most recognizable Corporation in the world. Guiding Principles, Values, and Culture ON Semiconductor Corporation has several important ethical principles that influence major decisions in the strategic planning process. First, the company is concern about making quality products available to the lowest income groups. Therefore, it is important to keep a wide selection of low cost products available on the market. This becomes an especially important consideration as we expand in markets that experience high levels of economic struggle. Second, the company is committed to delivering exceptional customer service to its patrons. Customer loyalty is a driving factor towards the long-term success of the brand. Failing to deliver exceptional customer service could seriously hinder the ability to grow into new markets. In order for employees to express ON Semiconductor Corporation’s guiding principles, it is essential to create a corporate culture that reflects these principles. Providing ample opportunity for advancement within management hierarchy and the ability to participate in supplemental training will keep employee motivation high. As a result, employees will be eager to follow the ethical values set forth in the strategic plan. It is likely that the company will need to make slight modifications to organization culture to meet the preferences of various world cultures. Impact on Strategic Direction The mission, vision, and values of ON Semiconductor Corporation serve as the foundation for strategic decision making while the company gears up for expansion. When an unexpected variable causes a change in direction, the company will continue to use its mission as a guide for future choices. The primary mission is always to maximize shareholder profits, but the values  determine the approach the company will take to achieve this goal. Overall, this will help the company build a corporate culture in these new markets that gains the respect of the community. If the company is considered to be helping the local community, the chances of creating an effective strategic plan are highly unlikely. Addressing Customer Needs Expanding into emerging markets presents a unique challenge to address customer’s needs. Every country exhibits its own unique culture and it is essential to pander to the preferences of each individual culture. A system that works in the United States is not likely to see the same level of success in Bangladesh, unless serious modifications are made to the business model. To overcome this challenge, the company will conduct independent research and use paid consultants to determine how to tailor the brand’s image for success in vastly different cultures. As time progresses, the company will be able to assess strengths and weaknesses by testing different models in each regional area. Gaining insightful knowledge about each country’s cultural preferences will allow the company to attain a competitive advantage. The nature of strategic management today is seen in the environment-driven strategies of successful firms competing in a diverse market. We must understand that faulty assumptions and false information can result in the formulation of poor or even disastrous plans, and change is constant and continuous; that yesterday’s good plan may not be relevant or of any value today (Pearce Robinson, 2009). We have to realize that we live in a changing world and business organizations, governmental units and other entities, just like people, have to adjust and adapt to survive. Strategic Plan Part II: SWOTT Analysis SWOTT Analysis of ON Semiconductor Corporation is one of the most important components. By providing quality products and prices, the corporation has established a worldwide presence. This SWOTT analysis shows the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and trends that will impact the company in the future. With promising growth prospects in emerging markets, the company has implemented an aggressive plan to be established  throughout the world. This strategy poses several important risks and opportunities that shape the contents of the SWOTT analysis. Economic Trends Economic trends play a major role in the strategic decisions. The brand has an ambitions global growth plan that is sensitive to economic changes. For example, the company reports that China and India are it’s main targets for new locations and expects to see significant growth as economic conditions improve. As income levels rise in these countries, it is expected that new owners will be eager to implement proven concepts into the local community. In addition, higher incomes will provide greater opportunity for a loyal customer base. However, if economic conditions start on a downward trend then an aggressive expansion could be threatened by insufficient demand for their product. If franchise owners are not finding the locations profitable, it could create irreparable damage to the company’s image abroad and force the closure of new locations. Legal and Regulatory Forces Each new emerging market presents a unique mix of regulatory and legal challenges. For example, the company must adhere to specific regulations. Any major violations could create a major backlash to the brand to that could prevent future growth in the country. Supply Chain Operations Maintaining a consistent product is key to building customer loyalty for ON’s. Customers expect to purchase an identical product each time they make transactions with their company. In order to make this possible, the company has a sophisticated supply chain network in place to ensure every location has products available. This feat is achieved by utilizing regional distribution networks that supply owners with the proper equipment. Building a distribution network in overseas markets is significantly more risky than the United. Unknown distributer and freight companies must be chosen by the company to handle these important operational tasks. In the future, ON’s will be able to establish a strong supply network to minimize the threats  faced in international supply chain operations. Opportunities Based on SWOTT Analysis The greatest opportunities for ON’s can be achieved by differentiating the brand from its main competitors. Primary competitors to ON’s market share include Intel Corp, Texas Instruments, Altera Corp and Xilinx Inc., which have established a dominating presence in international markets over the last several decades. ON’s has the ability to demonstrate value to their customers by delivering a product that is completely unique from most other companies. A marketing plan that outlines their unique experience that ON’s offers will help penetrate markets that are already occupied by competing companies. ON’s also has a great opportunity to achieve new innovations that can reduce labor costs. By implementing technology that can automate the duties of employees, the company can increase its operational efficiency. The company can also reduce operational costs within the supply chain by drawing on experiences in the US market. Building a new supply chain in an emerging market will allow the company to design it in the most cost effective manner. Each of these opportunities will play an important role in strategic success of the brand. SWOTT Table External Factors Factor Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Trends Global ON’s has an established image in overseas markets Supply Chain management requires additional investment to establish in global markets Massive new markets in Asia, especially China and India Political unrest in African and Middle East Markets Growing markets overseas will provide exception growth opportunities Economic Improved economic conditions will provide suitable owners. Greater disposable income will prompt some buys to seek more expensive alternatives. Commercial real estate recovery will provide more restaurant locations domestically. Economic collapse and rising materials costs could impact prices. Global economic recovery is remaining consistent Legal and Regulatory Strong safety record New global markets present new regulatory challenges Establish strong relationships with foreign business partners Legal costs for breaking foreign regulations Increased regulation in the USA could raise labor costs. Environmental Strong history of supporting clean environment practices Increasing public disapproval in the USA Show a commitment to environmental friendly initiatives Environmental infractions could create media backlash Consumers place greater importance on environmental initiatives. Competitive Analysis ON’s unique product line separates it from the competition Stronger brands, such as NXP have more overseas locations Differentiate from competing brands Closely related brands establishing locations in emerging markets. Most major brands and expanding globally SWOTT Table Internal Factors Factor Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Trends Strategy Aggressive strategy will provide rapid growth Rapid growth could cause investment in new innovations to lag behind Continue to build presence in emerging markets. Aggressive strategy may be rejected by some cultures Asian countries are showing increasing demand for electronics Technologies Optimized efficiency for product processing Technology still requires significant human capital Automation to cut down on manual labor needs Competitors may develop tech at a faster pace Technology is decreasing in cost overall Innovations Social media marketing in place to build customer loyalty Competitors are offering items that appeal to higher quality Automate payment processing for rapid ordering Negative media coverage could spread on social media Customers prefer products that efficient Intellectual Property ON’s brand is recognizable worldwide Brand is associated with low quality budget oriented products Increase awareness of high quality items Use of IP by foreign competitors without legal recourse Internet makes it possible to market the product rapidly Summary ON’s faces a complex set of challenges as they conduct their aggressive expansion into emerging markets. Ahead of all, the global economic climate poses the greatest risk to the company, as major changes could have a significant impact on the strategy’s effectiveness. However, competitive pressure dictates that ON’s must establish its presence in overseas markets as soon as possible. If the company waits to establish new locations, it many lose the opportunities provided by the current trend of global economic growth. The SWOTT analysis above provides insight that will help the brand mitigate risk as it continues to move forward with the strategy. Strategic Plan Part III: Balanced Scorecard As a method of further analyzing the strategic goals of ON Semiconductor Corporation, the balanced scorecard provides valuable insight into vision, mission, and values of the company. An analysis from the perspective of shareholders, customer, managers, and employees allows the company to gain a  stronger understanding of how strategic initiatives will affect these relationships. Each strategic initiative can have a differing impact, depending on the relationship a person has with the company. A strategic initiative aimed at lower costs might be beneficial to shareholders in the short term, but could have a negative impact on customer and employee values. The balanced scorecard attempts to organize strategic objectives based on their specific relationship to ON Semiconductor Corporation. Shareholder Value or Financial Perspective Objectives Targets Measures Risk Mitigation Increase customer base by expanding product variety Increase domestic revenue by 10% with a new product line over 5 years A trend of 0.5% growth in domestic sales per quarter. Test new items in a limited number of locations to determine nationwide viability. Decrease international supply chain costs. Lower supply chain costs in international markets by 5% over 2 years This objective should also result in higher operating margins Invest in long-term solutions to supply chain management. Improve price-to-earnings ratio. The current PEG ratio sis 9.05 (NASDAQ 2014) and should be increased to 1.50 A quarterly trend of improvement should be seen in the PEG ratio. Expand into international markets that present the highest overall value. Customer Value Perspective Objectives Targets Measures Risk Mitigation Improve company image by marketing new products Increase customer recognition of new product offerings. Growth of new product sales of 10% relative to traditional products. Conduct custom surveys to gain insight into new product reception. Improve overall customer service Increase positive feedback from loyal customers Improve customer feedback by 25% over 1 year. Implement an employee training program focused on customer service Implement delivery to large markets Make ON’s products available with rapid delivery. Implement ON’s delivery in at least 5 US cities Test the delivery system in limited markets before mainstream launch Process or Internal Operations Perspective Objectives Targets Measures Risk Mitigation Streamline payments with mobile devices Allow customers to pay with mobile devices Enable mobile POS systems at 25% of locations Survey customer preferences for mobile payments Increase ordering speed with improved automation. Eliminate need for full time staff by automating production. Reduce total labor costs by 5% over 2 years. Determine long term ROI of investment in automation Learning and Growth (Employee) Perspective Objectives Targets Measures Risk Mitigation Offer new opportunities for advancement within the company Promote more internal employees to middle manager positions Track the progression tenured of employees within the management hierarchy. Implement a training program for employees who desire management positions Improve corporate culture with social media Allow greater communication at all levels of company 25% employee participation on ON’s blog conversations Monitor and track system to ensure conversations are beneficial Summary Strategic initiatives are always associated with a certain level of risk. As an internationally recognized brand, it is essential for ON Semiconductor Corporation to make an effort to safeguard its image with any new strategic choice. Failing to maintain the image that has been developed could lead to a decreased ability to move forward with international growth of the brand. In addition, many of the strategic goals require a significant financial investment. Any large financial investment should show promise of delivering long-term value to shareholders. This is especially important in the process and internal operations category because it directly impacts the operational success of the company. A strategic initiative in this category must be designed for the long-term sustainability of the company. Each perspective on the balanced scorecard has unique strategic implications. For example, the strategic goals of the shareholders are significantly different than those of the employees or customers. The managers in charge or implementing a strategic plan must find middle ground between the objectives of each category listed on the balanced scorecard. Each category plays an important role in the success of the organization at large and it is essential that every category be considered during the process. Ultimately, the balanced scorecard will ensure the strategy meets the objectives and values of ON Semiconductor Corporation. ONs competition in the semiconductor industry is widely varied. Direct competitors are other established brand manufacturers, such as Intel, Defunct, Sony, Silicon Wafer Producers, Foundry and Qualcomm. The closest competitor in terms of popularity, growth, and product line is the Samsung Electronics. In such a climate, the best investment opportunities will be awarded to companies that have the ingenuity and creativity to meet the customers demands for fashion in an industry driven by economic conditions, demographic trends, and pricing. The industry has moved from a buy now, upgrade later consumer to a buy now, upgrade now consumer. The companys management is confident that the ONs’ can achieve its aggressive sales  forecasts, generating total sales of approximately $20.6 million in years to come. In addition, ONs management has carefully considered its market, potential customer base, and its ability to grow its sales average to capture 10% of the semiconductor industry. ON’s has the potential to become a highly regarded resource in local, regional, national, and international markets. Due to the companys aggressive marketing strategy, establishment of the company as a unique entity in its industry, careful development of its products coupled with strategic partnerships with some of the industrys headliners, and the companys profitable revenue model, ON’s has the potential to provide lucrative returns to potential investors. For ON’s to achieve status as an industry leader, it must secure initial capital. This capital will be used for start-up costs, to establish a reputable storefront, and to further develop the business, business infrastructure, internal systems, product development, and extensive marketing and geographic positioning. Providing that the company is able to acquire its funding requirements, ONs should be able to achieve operational success for many years to come. References Pearce, J. A. II, Robinson, R. B. (2009). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control(11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Thompson, A. A., Gamble, J. E., Strickland, A. J. (2006). Strategy: Winning in the marketplace: Core concepts, analytical tools, cases (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

SARS: Modern Pandemic Episode Essay -- Disease, Disorders

Throughout the ages pandemic episodes have plagued mankind. Severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS is an example of a modern pandemic that recently affected the world. The SARS pandemic challenged world health care organizations and governments on how to confront a modern day pandemic episode. This paper will explore the origin of SARS and the steps taken to contain and treat the pandemic episode. SARS emerged mid-November 2002 in southern China, in the province of Guangdong, but was not officially reported until February 2003 to the governmental health care organization of Guangdong (Ahmad, Krumkamp, & Reintjes, 2009). The first case of SARS outside of China that was reported was on March 3, 2003 in Vietnam, with more cases reported from Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, and Taiwan shortly afterward (Ahmad, Krumkamp, & Reintjes, 2009). By mid-summer of 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) had been notified of 8437 cases worldwide, with 813 deaths (Zhong et al., 2003). The disease spread quickly from China to Europe, North America, and southeast Asia because of travel from where SARS first started. Patients that were infected by SARS were noted to have atypical pneumonia. They presented with high fevers and respiratory issues that quickly developed into pneumonia within a few days (Zhong et al., 2003). Through serological and nasopharyngeal aspirate testing, the coronavirus (CoV) was determined to be the cause of SARS (Zhong et al., 2003). It was also determined that the persons that were originally exposed to the virus had contact with animals, most likely to prepare food, at a produce market in the province of Guangdong (Zhong et al., 2003). The virus had started with the animals, crossed over to humans, and mutated. ... ...?. BMC Public Health, 91-8. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-81 N. S. Zhong, A. C., B. J. Zheng, A. C., Y. M. Li, A. C., L. L. M., A. C., Poon, Z., H. H., & ... Xu. (2003). Epidemiology and cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Guangdong, People's Republic of China, in February, 2003. Lancet, 362(9393), 1353-1358. Timen, A. A., van Doornum, G. J., Schutten, M. M., Conyn-van Spaendonck, M. E., van der Meer, J. M., Osterhaus, A. E., & van Steenbergen, J. E. (2006). Public health implications of using various case definitions in The Netherlands during the worldwide SARS outbreak. Clinical Microbiology & Infection, 12(12), 1214-1220. World Health Organization (WHO). (2004, October). WHO guidelines for the global surveillance of SARS Updated recommendations, October 2004. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_CDS_CSR_ARO_2004_1.pdf

Enabling Learning and Assessment

Two of the assessment activities that I use are Worksheets (or written questions) and photographic evidence. These assessment activities are the most commonly found within my level 1 group. Worksheets within my area are a very versatile way of collecting information from the student, they can contain short answer questions, multiple choice questions etc. Worksheets are extremely valid because they are usually created by the awarding body of that qualification or by the teachers who have read through what the learners need to achieve. Because it is a direct way of assessing, the learners will not â€Å"go off task† as the worksheets are designed to be short, sharp ways of assessing that require the learner to answer two or three questions about a particular criteria. Ideally, the learner should be assessed on different occasions, and by different people on each criteria, so that this assessment becomes more reliable. Once the learner has answered these questions to show their understanding, and have had the criteria explained to them, they would have passed that one element within their criteria, therefore making it even more sufficient, fair and reliable. Worksheets are very easy to differentiate depending on the level of learners/ course/ certain individuals. If you have someone in your class who is dyslexic then you can differentiate a worksheet into more picture based learning where possible and also if you have someone who excels in lessons you can differentiate the worksheets to enable more information from the learner. The fact that this can be done so easily makes it fair. A question of authenticity can be raised with worksheets because answers can be very easily duplicated within the classroom, however, it is up to the teacher to recognise that this is happening and stop it. In my experience of using worksheets I have found that it is a very accessible way of teaching because if you need to add a question onto a worksheet, you just simply add it through Microsoft word. The learners enjoy worksheets a lot more than essays or assignments because it only requires them to focus for short periods of time, which means that they are not, distracted halfway through and can put 100% effort into that worksheet. Another positive for a worksheet is that it usually explains on it what the learner needs to do so the learner could arry on completing other worksheets if the rest of the class need more explanation for example. This could, however, be a bad thing in a higher level course as they may not include the correct amount of information within their writing, but for my level 1 course, and the worksheets that I create, I make sure that I have explained what the criteria is that the student needs to complete. For me, worksheets are one of the best ways of assessing students as they have many positives. Photographic evidence is a way of capturing evidence through photographs as opposed to writing, this way of assessing is good because it shows that the student can do what the criteria is asking and the proof is the photograph, for example in one of my lessons a criteria is to take part in a team activity, using photographic evidence shows the student in the moment and participating. This therefore shows both validity and reliability because a photo can cover a range of criteria not just one. However, there can be issues with photos reliability as it could easily be posed for, and would not be a genuine indication of the wok that is being completed. This work is very authentic because it cannot be used by anyone other than the student in the photo. This method is also very fair as there is little writing to be done on the photographic evidence sheet, the writing that the student needs to complete is just for added information that the student would like to add. This makes this process much fairer to students that have dyslexia, or any other form of learning difficulty that might affect their written work. In my own practice of using photographic evidence I found that the students enjoy it a lot more because there is less work for them to do, however making sure that everyone has a photo of them completing the criteria can sometimes be a negative. The other bad point to photographic evidence is that you may find yourself having to complete the session again as people may have been away for that session and not got themselves a photo. This can hinder your scheme of work etc. But I still feel that this is one of the best ways of gathering evidence, especially for the lower level groups as they not have the literacy levels to complete what the higher level groups will. Purpose of assessment For this part of the assignment I am going to describe and analyse summative assessment. Summative assessment can be described as: â€Å"†¦what students tend to focus on. It is the assessment, usually on completion of a course or module, which says whether or not you have â€Å"passed†. It is—or should be—undertaken with reference to all the objectives or outcomes of the course, and is usually fairly formal. (www. learningandteaching. info, 2010) Taking this approach makes the assessment very clear to the student, and not only confirms their overall mark, but also high lights what they have done well, and what they need to improve on; â€Å"Summative assessment is the process of evaluating (and grading) the learning of students at a point in time. † (www. qualityresearchinternational. com, 2010) Summative assessment also helps the assessor confirm that the student has an understanding of the topic, and has built upon their knowledge, as Wilson (2009) agrees; â€Å"Summative assessment is usually associated with tests and exams. It aids the assessment of learning and is quite formal. In summative assessment styles, a learner progresses through their qualification until the time comes that learning is complete and they are tested on their knowledge†. From my research I have found out that in most cases summative assessment is a test or exam at the end of a course to determine whether you have passed or failed what you have been studying. If you were to fail you would have to re-sit the exam or test. Students would normally get a period to revise for these tests to ensure that they pass. This is most definitely valid because it would be the awarding body that sets the exams. This form of summative assessment is also an extremely authentic and efficient way of assessing, as the room would be set up in exam conditions, with separate desks, no mobile phones or speaking so it’s guaranteed to be the individuals own work. There are some questions on the fairness of this though as everyone would get the same set of questions, written and presented in the same way without any kind of differentiation, so this may be unfair to those, for example, that struggle with reading, and is therefore putting that student at a disadvantage. However, those with learning difficulties who would have the greatest struggle with this form of assessment, often have Exam Access Arrangements, granting them with special permissions such as extra time, rest breaks, or a scribe. Also with regards to preparing, some students may have a computer at home that may help them to gain a greater advantage than those without this technology. Some people from other cultures may have some other things that are more important to them at home, for example, praying. Some of these people may also not speak English and that disadvantages them straight away. â€Å"Assessment is a socially embedded activity which can only be understood by taking account of the cultural, economic and political contexts within which it operates† (Stobart, 2005) Within my area however, it is not a pass or fail exam which is the summative assessment. The summative assessment in my area is completed in a much smaller scale throughout the year in the form of portfolio evidence. The course that I teach is a yearlong course for level 1 students wanting to be in the public services (police, royal marines etc). The entire course consists of 7 units which range from map reading to team building and physical fitness. The evidence that we use in these portfolios is also varied including witness statements, photographic evidence and short answer questions on worksheets. Due to the varied methods of evidence collection it is difficult to individualise each one for validity and reliability etc. But generally because there is that varied style the students always look forward to the theory side of the sessions. As I make the worksheets for this course, I know that they are reliable, valid, fair and current because I have differentiated almost all of them for higher level learners and lower level. I know what the awarding body is looking for in terms of work so have structured the worksheets around that. My only concern for this type of assessment is authenticity, as it would be easy to replicate a friend’s answer without understanding it yourself. We summative assess like this because it is an NCFE qualification that is determined and assessed on a completed portfolio of evidence rather than an exam at the end of the year. This is useful for us as teachers, and a less stressful experience for our learners, because if a learner does not understand then we can explain it in different ways until they do, so they keep getting to try and try again, rather than try once and they’ve passed or failed. This also helps us target their areas of concern, and we can therefore plan accordingly. Reflection The biggest single source of feedback is from the learner themselves: from their internalised judgements† (www. psy-gla. ac. uk, 2010) The above comment is very true in the case of one of my students, he was his biggest critic, he was home schooled and really didn’t like the idea of education as a whole never mind being told what to do, this same student also has been diagnosed with aspergers and ADHD. The first day he came into college he was on extension studies and I was his support worker at the time. Trying to get him to do any work was near to impossible. He had a real problem with authority and lacked the confidence to ask for help from either myself or the teacher. During my time with this student I soon realised that he would use conversation as a way of distracting himself from learning. I adopted a strategy that allowed him to talk and get his work done at the same time, this was after I had a 1:1 with him and discussed to him that he was only making his college life difficult for himself and he would get much more done if he listened to the staff and then, once his work is complete, he can talk to me about other things. I then moved to the sports and public services department, to find that this particular student had in filled to one of my lessons that I would be teaching. Without a support worker I thought that this student would struggle with the content within the class as he wasn’t used to working without a supportive voice, giving him feedback where it counted. I kept him behind the first session and asked how I could improve to help his learning, and he gave me some ideas which I used the next session, such as short hands on activities to break up the sessions, and his general behaviour and attitude flourished. I also had a system in place that we set up together, if he was struggling with a piece of work he would put his pen down and fold his arms, which gave me the signal to come over and assist him. A year after that, this student enrolled on the course that he was infilling last year (where he is now). And with regular tutorials and setting up of SMART targets for him, for example â€Å"show up to lessons with the correct equipment on time and if you are going to be late phone up in advance and let us know†, he is one of the high achievers in the class and will be moving on next year to a level 2 course. So had it not been for feedback with this individual I don’t feel that he would have made it within the education system but due to good sources of feedback around the college he is now achieving a lot higher than he would have hoped and that I would have expected when he first came to college. (ecologyofeducation. net) Feedback has helped me develop as a teacher in many ways, the first micro each of the PTLLS course gave me great confidence and enthusiasm towards being a teacher as my general peer and tutor feedback was extremely positive and not much went wrong. I have also had some constructive feedback throughout my observations from both Barbara Roche, Rob Gray and the students in my class that have given me some great ideas for the future, such as keeping motivation high by switching tasks quickly so that people do not find the lesson boring. Keeping tasks into bite size pieces to not confuse the learner. I have received feedback from my manager on my lessons after an observation and the feedback was to be more academic within the classroom and try to understand the difference between being too friendly towards students and not achieving the respect that a teacher needs. Due to this feedback I made sure that I was still friendly towards the students but not too friendly and within a few weeks I had the respect and rapport that I expected. Feedback has helped me reflect more as it’s a great tool to use, I give positive feedback to myself and, as long as I’m honest, constructive feedback too. As seen above reflection enters Kolbs feedback cycle just after the concrete experience and just before the abstract conceptualisation, where one would discover what learning actually took place. Overall, without feedback there would be no active learning, students wouldn’t know how well they had done, teachers wouldn’t know if they are doing their job correctly. You understand and gain confidence or know where to improve because of the feedback you get, whether this is in a one to one basis with a manager or work colleague, or in a classroom full of students.

Why is Aluminium utilised in the contemporary world?

Aluminium is used extravagantly in the contemporary world, primarily due to its unique structure and desirable properties. Further, aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust; thus, scarcity is not a problem. It is a member of the Boron group of chemical elements, and is ‘the most widely used non-ferrous metal’ (Planet Ark, 2010). It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is necessary to consider the fact that ‘pure aluminium is not often used as it has poor mechanical properties. It is usually alloyed with other metals or silicon’ (Chemical Industry Education Centre, 2011). A key area in which aluminium alloys are utilised is for the construction of aircraft and rockets. Aircraft manufacturers use high-strength aluminium alloys for the construction of aircraft and rockets. This is because aluminium (the predominant element of the alloy) is able to be compounded with other metals and substances, is highly malleable, resistant to corrosion and consists of a high strength to density ratio, in comparison to other metals. ‘Aluminium is used in virtually all segments of the aircraft, missile and spacecraft industry-in airframes, engines, accessories, and tankage for liquid fuel and oxidizers’ (Davis, 2000).Further, Aluminium 7075 is an aluminium alloy that is used heavily in the construction of aircraft and rockets (The Aluminum Association, 2008). Aluminium consists of a low ionisation energy, as well as a relatively high atomic radius, in comparison to other metals. The ground state valence electron configuration of Aluminium is 3s2 3p1 (Web Elements Ltd, 2011). Consequently, Aluminium comprises of three valence electrons, which are able to be shared with other elements, or in this instance, metal atoms. In addition, as aluminium has a low ionization number, 6.0 Electron Volts (Ev), as well as moderately low ionisation energies, this implies that the valence electrons of aluminium atoms are not strongly held by the nucleus, and are thus, delocalized. Delocalized electrons are not restricted to one atom or another; they are distributed across several atoms in the solid. Thus, valence electrons can move freely out of the influence of their kernels (atomic orbit/structure minus valence electrons). Consequently, aluminium, and other metals, has free mobile electrons (Tutor Vista, 2010). In addition, the bonding in metals is often described through the â€Å"electron sea model†. Another reason as to why Aluminium is able to be compounded with other elements pertains to its electronegativity. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons (Clark, 2009). The Pauling Scale is used to measure the electronegativity of a particular element. Metal's reactivity is dependent on their electropositivity; thus, a metal with a higher value in the Pauling Scale is less reactive than another metal with a lower value in the Pauling Scale (Tutor Vista, 2010). The electronegativity of aluminium is 1.61 Pauling units (Pu) (refer to table 3), whereas the electronegativity of copper is 1.65 Pu and iron, 1.83 Pu (refer to table 3). Thus, aluminium is more reactive than copper and steel, and is able to be adeptly bonded with other elements. (Other factors are involved) Malleability is the ability of a metal to exhibit large deformation or plastic response when being subjected to compressive force (Engineers Edge, 2012). The key reason as to why Aluminium is highly malleable pertains to its polycrystalline structure. The polycrystalline structure of aluminium consists of various dislocations, or crystallographic defects. The presence and movement of these dislocations, gives rise to characteristic and desirable metallic properties, for instance, malleability (Davyson). Aluminium is highly resistant to corrosion. This is primarily because a thin visible oxide forms instantly, when the metal is exposed to the atmosphere. These substances are formed as aluminium has the electron configuration 1s22s22p63s23p1, and oxygen has the electron configuration 1s22s22p4; this means that aluminium loses 1-3 valance electrons to oxygen, yielding aluminium cations with a 3+ charge, as well as oxygen atoms with a 2- charge. This is an example of an ionic bond. In addition, when Aluminium oxide is formed, it consists of a noble gas configuration, and; therefore, is balanced as well as stable. The formation of Aluminium oxide can be represented by the following formula: 4Al(s) + 3O2(g) → 2Al2O3(s) Further, this oxide layer is one of the main reasons for aluminium’s good corrosion properties; it is self-repairing if damaged, and is stable in the general ph range 4-9 (SAPA Profiles UK Ltd, 2010). When aluminium is used for the construction of aircraft and rockets, it is often anodized to improve strength, and colour (Davis, 2000). Aluminium 7075 possesses an incredibly high strength to density ratio. The maximum/ultimate tensile strength of the alloy varies from 40000 psi to 78000 psi, depending on the grade of the temper (Alcoa, 2011). It is strong, with strength comparable to many steels (iron). The tensile strength of iron (Fe) is approximately 40,000 psi (All Metals & Forge Group, 2011). Aluminium 7075 has a density of 2.8g/cm ³; where as the density of steel is 7.87 g/cm ³, approximately 282.07% greater. The low atomic mass, 26.982 AMU, and high atomic radius of aluminium, 182pm, relate to the principal reason as to why it has a low density, in comparison to iron. Iron, on the other hand, has an atomic mass of 58.845 AMU and an atomic radius of 172pm. Aluminium consists of a face-centred cubic (fcc) crystal structure, whereas iron has a body-centred cubic structure. The atomic packing factor (APF) of a face-centred cubic crystal structure is 0.74, whilst the APF of a body-centred cubic crystal structure is 0.68. Although aluminium comprises of a more compact atomic structure, the fact that Aluminium has a higher atomic radius, as well as lower atomic mass, in comparison to that of iron; thus, having less mass in a certain space than iron, allows it to have a lower density. This pertains to the fact that density is equal to mass over volume (d=m/v). Aluminium is used extravagantly in the contemporary world, primarily due to its unique structure and desirable properties. A Key area in which aluminium is utilised is for the construction of aircraft and rockets. The reasons, as to why aluminium is used in this particular application, are apparent and abundant. Bibliography Alcoa. (2011). Alloy 7075. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Alcoa: http://www.alcoa.com/mill_products/catalog/pdf/alloy7075techsheet.pdf All Metals & Forge Group. (2011). Metal Tidbits, Tensile Strength. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from All Metals & Forge Group Web site: http://www.steelforge.com/metaltidbits/tensilestrength.htm Chemical Industry Education Centre. (2011). Aluminium: Uses. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Greener Industry: http://www.greener-industry.org.uk/pages/aluminium/aluminium_2uses.htm Clark, J. (2009). Electronegativity. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 14-February from Chemguide Web site: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/electroneg.html Davis, J. (2000). Corrosion of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys. New York: ASM International. Davyson, S. (n.d.). The Structure of Aluminium. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Aluminium: http://sam.davyson.com/as/physics/aluminium/siteus/structure.html Engineers Edge. (2012). Malleability – Strength (Mechanics) of Materials. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 4-February from Engineers Edge Web site: http://www.engineersedge.com/material_science/malleability.htm Planet Ark. (2010 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 10-December). Aluminium. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Planet Ark: http://cans.planetark.org/recycling-info/facts.cfm SAPA Profiles UK Ltd. (2010). Aluminium's Corrosion Resistance. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 14-February from Aluminium Design: http://www.aluminiumdesign.net/corrosion-resistance.html Swarthmore College Computer Society. (2012). Ductility. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Swarthmore College Computer Society Web site: http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/08/ajb/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Ductility.html The Aluminum Association. (2008). Aluminum in Aircraft. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from The Aluminum Association website: http://www.aluminum.org/CONTENT/NAVIGATIONMENU/THEINDUSTRY/TRANSPORTATIONMARKET/AIRCRAFT/DEFAULT.HTM Tutor Vista. (2010). Bonding in Metallic solids. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 11-February from Tutor Vista Web site: http://chemistry.tutorvista.com/physical-chemistry/metallic-bonding.html Web Elements Ltd. (2011). Properties of Aluminium Atoms. Retrieved 2012 à Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ Ã‚ » 12-February from Web Elements: the Periodic Table on the Web: http://www.webelements.com/aluminium/atoms.html

Hrm Evaluation and Hrm Models Essays

Hrm Evaluation and Hrm Models Essays Hrm Evaluation and Hrm Models Essay Hrm Evaluation and Hrm Models Essay Introduction The study of HRM evolves from the personnel management since from the industrial revolution age. During that time two types of perspectives are widely prevalent one is Pluralist and the other is Unitarist. There lies a significant difference between the two. As per Pluralist a multinational organization basically consists of large no. of subgroups where loyalty lies in each subgroup, whereas as per Unitarist it is a single entity which flourishes in harmony. In pluralist, the two important subgroups are trade union and management, whereas as per Unitarist it is unique. Analoui, 1999) Over the year the same thoughts prevail, but with the emergence of HRM and modern business strategies, many changes occurred in the field of HRM and can be explained with the help of various models. Multinational organizational structure, Multinational organizational strategy and HRM are interrelated. A large no. of models has been derived to discuss this and one such model is the beer Model . This model acts as a map or guide to develop strategy pertaining to relationships among all the employees. It basically concentrates on the soft aspects of HRM. It basically gives importance to the employee commitment rather than control. It is also based on the premise that employees needed to be congruent, cost effective and competent. This model is very successful in explaining various strategies adopted by the multinational organization as reward system leads to better job performance. However it is criticized on the resource based perspective that it disrupts the business focus of the multinational organization and also distorts the cost minimization and the profit maximization. ( Beer (1984)) Significant of HRM and Multinational organizational behavior as per various Models HRM and organizational behavior plays an important role in devising strategy to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the multinational organization. Various models are there which are helping the multinational organization to achieve their goals. The various problem faced by a multinational organization during following phases are given below. Scholars of HR suggested various models which is widely used by multinational companies as given in the following sections:- Problem to select right candidates during recruitment can be better explained by self efficacy model. ? LMX Model to define relationship between Manager and subordinates ? Job Characteristics Model to solve the problem of the characteristic of ideal job ? Goal Setting Model to prepare performance appraisal. Self Efficacy Model The term self-efficacy is used to describe an individual’s perception of how competent they find themsel ves and their abilities to achieve complex tasks. People with strong self-efficacy are more likely to accept more responsibility and accept more challenging tasks. They also believe that no obstacles can get in the way from stopping them achieve their goals. Individuals with low self-efficacy are more apt to looking as difficult tasks as intimidating and do not believe they that are capable of achieving personal success. Self-efficacy is something that is important in any multinational organization. However, it is more important at any multinational organization to hire individuals who have a High level of self-efficacy so that employee perceives themselves capable of achieving many complex tasks. This could prove to be an issue within the multinational organization because individuals could become bored or feel not challenged by the tasks designated in their position, which could lead to frustration for the employees and employer. Hence, Challenging tasks should be given to such individuals. An individual with moderate level of self-efficacy provides opportunity for the multinational organization to designate tasks to that are challenging, but also still attainable. It is good to hire large no. of employees of this category. Hence, multinational organization is using it to compare the self efficacy of the person with job requirements so that right person will be put at right place. This can be done in the following ways:- 1) An individual with moderate level of self-efficacy provides opportunity for the organization to designate tasks to that are challenging, but also still attainable. It is good to hire large no. of employees of this category. 2) The individuals with low self-efficacy can pose a problem for any multinational organization as they might hinder the productivity and success of the organization. Hence, in order to ensure more confident and driven individuals, it could moderately delegate more difficult tasks to these individuals in order to boost their confidence and the way they perceive themselves. Also, they could provide more positive feedback in their jobs and reinforce that the individual is doing well at their job. Leadership Model It is a model that suggests that leaders develop different relationships with each of their subordinates only through work related activities. There are two important groups to consider that a subordinate may fall under depending on which phase they fit into. The in group is defined as a low number of subordinates with high LMX relationships. The second group is known as the out group in which the number of subordinates is large and contains relatively low level LMX relationships (Hellriegel 323). Employees who find themselves in the out-group are likely to face high job turnover. This should be important to all management because high turnover is a very large investment for the multinational organization. The level of LMX has a significant relationship to subordinates satisfaction with their manager. Employees with lower LMX are more dissatisfied, less motivated, and more prone to quit whereas employees with higher LMX are likely to be satisfied with their work, more motivated, and committed to staying and contributing to the multinational organization (Hellriegel 323). LMX has three critical components which are mutual affection, contribution to work activities, and professional respect. When a subordinate has high mutual affection for a superior, the subordinate likes the superior as a person and will often come to the superior’s defense if attacked. High contribution to work activities comes into play when a subordinate goes above and beyond their job description to help the superior out. High Professional Respect is when the superior admires the subordinate’s knowledge and competence of the job (Hellriegel 323). Multinational companies are widely using it in the following ways for the betterment of relationship between manager and subordinates in the following ways:- ) It explains that generally if an organization doesn’t take steps to increase the mutual affection score of its staff then they will likely to enter the realm of the out group which could potentially lead to the employee leaving the organization because Why stay at an organization if you’re not happy with your manager? 2) One way management can increase the mutual affectio n is to take a more active role and listen to the complaints of the employees and to take the time to establish supportive and trusting relationships with the employees. ) Another suggestion as per this model might be to engage the staff in team building activities and icebreakers. It can be concluded that if the superiors and managers of any organization are not providing proper support to their staff and then there is need to make a drastic change soon because the organization as a whole could be affected. 4) Some possible solutions from this external factor might include taking the time to reassess what kind of support is needed for staff. One way to do this is anonymous comment cards. Have all the employees fill out comment cards anonymously and identify specific instances where an employee failed to receive support. This must be down anonymously by the employer because the employee might be unwilling to respond for fear of termination. 5) The manager may have a tendency to interact with other employees in an unprofessional manner. The manager can decrease this perception by keeping to policy or by adjusting his/her interactions in front of employees. 6) Management needs to do a better job of developing better relationships with its employees. Some improvement strategies include the use of assertive communication, appropriate communication openness, and constructive feedback with all of the subordinates. Job Characteristics Model The job characteristics model has to do with the idea of increasing the amounts of five job characteristics: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback in a job. This model can be related to any multinational organization and its HRM strategy building since it looks into how well an employee has the opportunity to be motivated to work in the restaurant. It highlights the areas that need work in the restaurant and what the employees enjoy or dislike about working there. It also demonstrates which employees are content with working there for a while and which view it as a stepping stone towards another opportunity that has not yet befallen upon them. The model demonstrates a need for change in the structure of a multinational organization in case it wants to increase their employee’s motivation to continue their work there. Generally, there are two main approaches recommended to superiors for designing/redesigning jobs which are vertical loading and the formation of natural work teams. Vertical loading is when tasks that were considered reserved for management level staff are delegated to all employees. It includes the power to set schedules, decide work methods, breaks, and seek solutions to their own problems. Goal Setting Model Goal setting is a very integral part of any job. Whether you are attempting to better yourself or complete a project, setting goals is one of the most helpful tools to assist you throughout the process. Goal setting can definitely help a business in raising their standards for employees which will end up helping the bottom line. The goal setting model that we used for our survey seems to have a big impact on job performance. According to the model, if employees felt good about the goals they set, they were better at their jobs. It basically consists of five essential pieces must come together in order for the managers to gain benefits of a goal setting program. The first piece is that the person must be knowledgeable about the topic of the specified goal and have the sufficient capacity to attain the goal. The second step is that the person must be committed to the goal, especially if the goal is difficult. The third step is that people need feedback on their goals. According to the text, employees will raise their performance because they are afraid they will have past performance. The forth step is that complex tasks must be broken up into simpler more short term goals so that the goals can be attained. It is stated in the text that employees are more responsive when they know about their progress. The fifth and final piece is to have a situation constraint. One of the most important aspects of a leader is to ensure that employees have the resources to attain their goals and to help eliminate any troubles that may lie in the way. Now to discuss some of the benefits that goal setting can have on performance. According to the Don Hellreigel text, Goal setting motivates individuals to achieve high performance. Some of the benefits stem from developing difficult goals. When it comes to an multinational organization for example a restaurant, such goal setting can be setting goals for a certain dollar amount each table waited on per person. The benefits is that it will motivate people to develop aim to reach goals. It also helps people to focus their attention on goal-relevant action, and encouraging people to develop action plans to reach these goals. Conclusion From the discussion mentioned above by using various models of HRM, it is clear that HRM plays an important role in designing strategy of an multinational organization in all three levels i. e. corporate level, SBU level and operational level. It is clearly shown that how strategy can be derived in all these levels using these models. In the similar way the bath models also give importance to external factors of AMO i. e Ability, Motivation and Opportunity to devise the various strategies of the HRM. (John Purcell,2004) The seven principles filling the strategic gap of HR are as follows:- 1) It tells there must be sufficient employees with desired skill which is also mentioned by Self efficacy model to carry task at multinational organization. 2) There must be enough motivation as explained through job characteristic model to give desired performance. ) There must be opportunities given which is also explained through job characteristic model to perform job. 4) Responsibilities of line manager as explain by the Leadership theory to develop those qualities in their subordinates. 5) Distinction between policies and practices as per job characteristic model is the heart of bath model for better performance. 6) Job enrichment needs to maintain better performance 7) Consistencies in policies for efficiency and effectiv eness. References ? Analoui, F. 1999), Strategic Human Resource Management: Towards Constructing a Choice Model. ? Bagshaw M (2004) â€Å"Is diversity divisive? A positive training approach†, Industrial and Commercial Training 36, 4, 153-157 ? Beer, M. , Spector, B. , Lawrence, P. R. , Mills, D. Q. , Walton, R. E. (1984), A Conceptual View of HRM ? Hellriegel, Don, John W. Slocum. Multinational organizational Behavior. Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning, 3rd edition, 2009. ? John Purcell, Bath Model , University of Bath, 2004

Essay on How Insurance Works

Essay on How Insurance Works Essay on How Insurance Works This is a free example essay on Insurance: In August of 2003 I took a position with AdminOne Corporation located in Bentonville, Arkansas as a Financial Services/Systems assistant. AdminOne is a privately owned and operated Third Party Administration that provides all of its clients virtually all their benefit needs. We work directly with employers representing a wide variety of industries to provide a comprehensive assortment of services with hassle-free Customer Service. For organizations determining that the high cost of health care requires alternate methods of funding, plan design, and plan management, AdminOne can provide many different functions. Some of these functions include: preparing all communication material, assisting in the implementation of the plan, recommending cost containment procedures and plan document changes, analyzing existing plan benefits and funding methods. Additionally, AdminOne also provides a wide variety of other products and services at the client’s demand, such as life insurance, long term disability, short-term disability, 401K plans, etc. As like many organizations, AdminOne feels that our customers deserve the highest quality of service and administration of their benefit plans. In keeping this our main focus, we have acquired the highest quality, technologically advanced claims adjudication system available on the market. AdminOne use the RIMS (Resource Information Management System, Inc.) system. RIMS began their business in 1981 and are still the dominant leader in claims adjudication systems. There are over 400 insurance companies across the United States that use the RIMS system, however, they haven’t seen the advantage of AdminOne. We believe we have an advantage over other insurance companies because we have built in the technology and automation functions to provide the maximum opportunity to pay claims accurately, timely, and in the most cost efficient manner for our clients. Our system is way more advanced than other insurance companies in many ways. First of all, it has the ability to link multiple fee schedules to single providers. Second, unlimited note screens can be used to aid in the documentation of every inquiry. Third, every customer who comes through us can doesn’t have to worry about fraud or abuse to their benefit plans. This is because we have installed a security system that will detect any hacking or abuse to any benefit programs. We believe this added on feature should keep clients knocking on our door for service. A new addition to our RIMS system is our customized client access website. This website is actually connected with our RIMS software so that clients can actually view their current claims. This is another advantage for us in that it keeps the phones from ringing all of the time. For example, if Allen Canning Co. wanted to access their current claims and make an adjustment because of termination of one of its employees, they could easily visit our website and make the adjustments themselves. This keeps our clients from having to call in and requiring us to make the manual adjustment. Moreover, to keep our system up to date and working efficiently, it was imperative that AdminOne recruit a systems team. There were five positions that needed to be filled and I was one of the recruits for the position. My primary responsibility, as a systems assistant, is to help my supervisor, Angie Baker, with client billing functions, implementation procedures for new clients and new computer systems and training on new systems. I actually talk to clients, such as Allen Canning Co, and help them decide how they want their claims invoices to look like. This usually takes thirty minutes to an hour to complete. Following the interview, I take their claims information and input the data in to RIMS. However, the process of inputting the data can be very extensive because every piece of information about each customer of the organization must be inputted. Then I go through a huge amount of modules and processes to produce the desired result, the invoice. Each invoice has its own number and group name associated with it. For instance, if I see AC802 in the top right corner of the plan document, I know that am working on Allen Canning Company’s invoice. Another responsibility of mine is to train clients on our custom designed client access website. I travel at least once a week to the surrounding cities and train our clients on how to use our website. Most of the time I meet with managers and other users of the system to insure they know how to input the data correctly. Most of the users have a general idea on how to use the system, but there are a few that don’t and I have to start from scratch. Furthermore, after the managers and current users understand how our website works, I give them user names and passwords which RIMS already assigns to their group name. After all this, they are now ready to view their claims and make any adjustments where they are needed. However, the clients only have limited access to our website. For instance, they cannot go into our system to change billing rates or selecting a different plan. That is something that only AdminOne has access to and there cannot be any debate. The client access website is one part of our system that I tend to a lot of the time. At the end of every day, I log in to the RIMS website and download any changes that went on in the system. For instance, if A.G. Russell Knives hired some new employees and added them to their plan, then I would extract that data and save it to our main server, which contains all of our client information. However, we do back up the server weekly to prevent loss of information in case of a fire or something along those lines. Moreover, I deal a lot with marketing materials, presentations, and proposals when necessary. For instance, whenever AdminOne has the opportunity to acquire a new client, our company will have meeting with that client in person or via videoconferencing. Sometimes I will join my team and participate in these meetings. The topics usually discussed in these meetings range from new ideas on administrative software to potential clients that we could obtain in the future. The meetings are normally 30 minutes to an hour and are very beneficial to our company. In addition to working for AdminOne as a systems assistant, I also do a number of job duties for the financial side. My primary responsibility is to update our RIMS system whenever we receive payment from our clients or when we have to cut checks to our re-insurance carriers. This is the more complicated area of my job and requires a lot more number crunching. I actually assist our accountant in keeping AdminOne’s books balanced and make sure that the money we receive goes in the correct account. My favorite part of the financial services assistant is the monthly billing, which we generate through our RIMS software. The process for calculating invoices and printing them from our server can actually be quite tedious. For example, whenever we get a new client, it is my duty to input their plan information into our system as soon as possible. I do this by creating a new table in RIMS that is specifically for our new client. Then I give them a group number, which is generated by RIMS, so that we can distinguish them from other clients. After all this is completed, RIMS will calculate their invoice based on what I input. However, since AdminOne is a third party insurance provider, we do not get all of the money that comes from paying the invoice. We have to pay other PPO carriers and re-insurance carriers based on a percentage that I enter. This is where the hard stuff comes into play because every client we have has a completely different plan. Some companies prefer to use a brok er and some clients prefer to use re-insurance carriers. Whatever the client’s decision may be; the point is that we actually enter the disbursement of payment into RIMS and it calculates the fees for us. That is the awesome attribute about RIMS because everything is automated. In addition to using the RIMS software, I also use many other software applications to complete my duties as a financial services assistant. Microsoft Excel and Quick Books are the main two that I use quite often. These applications are used to record payments whenever we receive them and aid in the accounts payable process. For instance, after I receive payment from Allen Canning Co, I open Allen Canning’s folder in Excel and update their information. This information includes the current number of people that is on their plan, which PPO carriers they used, and if they used a broker. Next I print out all of their sheets on Excel and match them to the printouts that RIMS generated. If all is correct then we are ready to cut the checks to the appropriate providers. Following the update of Excel, I then turn my attention to Quick Books. First, I prepare all of the paperwork, which was generated by RIMS and Excel, to enter the exact dollar amount. This part is very crucial because if I make one mistake it will throw off our balance sheet and income statement. Then we could possibly cut too much money or not enough. Second, I take the dollar amounts that I just entered and create a balance sheet that is generated by Quick Books. These balance sheets are then matched with our projected balance sheets that we generate earlier in the month. Sometimes the balance sheets don’t match up, but that doesn’t mean that there was an error entering the dollar amounts. It could mean that their head count had changed for their plan, such as firing someone or hiring someone. Next, after we have matched up the balance sheets, and everything looks good, we then cut the checks to the other providers. These checks are actually produced through Quick Boo ks and contain the dollar amounts for which I entered earlier in the process. Finally, after all the checks have been cut I immediately take them to our mailbox so that they can be mailed to the providers. One additional thing I did learn from my co-op experience was the act of confidentiality. This doesn’t play a big role in all organizations, but it is huge at AdminOne. It is imperative at insurance firms to keep all customers’ information kept suppressed. For instance, if I accidentally sent Allen Canning’s invoice to the wrong company, that firm could view their rates and what they are billed. This could pose a huge problem because the other firm may view their rates as being higher than Allen Canning’s and get very frustrated and we could possibly lose their business. Because everybody knows that insurance rates and premiums are based on whether the client is more risky or less risky. If they are more risky, then they will have to pay a higher premium and if they are less risky, they will pay a lower premium. Another example of keeping information suppressed is our internal network, or intranet. AdminOne has their own private network within the company that holds only accounting information and billing information. These records are to be kept suppressed at all times and AdminOne employees make sure that it does. That is why we install firewalls and blockers to keep outsiders from hacking into our system. There has been never been an occasion where anyone has tried to hack in, but there is always a first time for everything. So I guess you could see how keeping information suppressed is a must in an insurance organization. Upon joining AdminOne in early August, I really didn’t know what to expect since this was my first job in a real work environment. So I decided to come up with three objectives, or goals, that I could try to achieve throughout my co-op experience. The first goal that I set for myself was to obtain a better understanding of how internal business procedures actually work. Because I learn about them all of the time from the classes that I take and I really want to see if that is how it actually is in a real environment. The second objective that I came up with was to learn how to implement new systems in a real work setting. I believe that this is important for all ISYS majors for the simple fact that computer systems are always changing. New hardware and software hits the market all of the time and it is important as an ISYS major to become familiar with as much as you can. My third and final objective was to learn how to prioritize my duties so that I could be more efficient. S ince this was my first real job, I thought that this would be a good objective because it would definitely look good to my employer if I got a lot of work done in a short amount of time. I believe that it makes a person look good and motivated if they can prioritize and get more things done in a small amount of time. In conclusion, I would like to say that this co-op experience has really helped me in many ways. I am very fortunate I received a job that had something to do with my major and it has encouraged me to keep pursuing a career in this field of study. Since I have been working for AdminOne, I have learned so much more about my job than I ever could from a textbook. Not saying that the classes I have taken haven’t helped me, but I actually got some hands on experience while working there. For example, I have learned how to use many more software programs than I ever had while taking my ISYS classes. However, there are a few classes that really helped me out and can now see what they were talking about all this time. My Organizational Behavior class is one of the main classes where I developed a strong foundation. In that class we learned about the roles and norms of certain organizations and how they all differ depending on the organization in which you work. And on the first day o f my job I could see with my own eyes what they were talking about. I saw how all of my co-workers conducted themselves in the work environment and outside the work environment. I also leaned about our dress code while working at AdminOne, which is norm itself. In addition, my Business Statistics class was another key factor. I believe if I hadn’t taken that class, I wouldn’t be where I am because the job that I have right now requires a lot of number crunching. That is basically all we learned in Business statistics. Overall I am very pleased with my co-op experience and believe it will be very beneficial for my future. I enjoyed telling you about my organization and I hope you now have a better understanding of what we do. ______________ is a professional essay writing service which can provide high school, college and university students with 100% original custom written essays, research papers, term papers, dissertations, courseworks, homeworks, book reviews, book reports, lab reports, projects, presentations and other assignments of top quality. 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Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 2

Law - Essay Example 2001). Section 230(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 defines an employee as someone working under a contract of employment. However, the statute does not clearly define the essential elements of the contract of employment. This deficiency thus resulted into constructions of various tests for determining whether someone is an employee or not. Amongst the outlined essential elements to be satisfied before categorizing a worker as either an independent contractor or an employee is whether the particular worker has to sign a contract of employment with the employer prior to the commencement of the contract. In cases whereby the individual begins to execute the contract without legally recognized documentations (contract of employment), handling of cases such as breach of contract, becomes much difficult, especially when either party presents the case in a court of law (Lord, M. 2009). It is also worth noting that some employees or independent contractors like working on a personal level but this depends on the nature of the work involved. Additionally, it has to be determined whether there has to be a mutuality of obligation between the two parties. A mutuality of obligation refers to a well-set procedure of work or relationship between the employee and the employer or between the contractor and his or her client (Smith, J. D., 2003). An employer should avail work to the employee at all the times, as specified by their contract of employment. Consequently, the employee should complete any work assigned to him or her by the employer at the specified period of the contract. This thus, forms a mutual obligation between the employer and the employee. On the other hand, mutual obligation occurs between a contractor and his or her client when the client supplies exactly the amount of work specified by the contract of employment and the contractor finishes the work within the specified (Welker, R. F., 2002).