Welfare Essays - Federal Assistance In The United States

Welfare Welfare Welfare is a government program that provides money, medical care, food, housing, and other things that people need in order to survive. People who can receive help from these welfare programs are children, elders, disabled, and others who cannot support their families on their current income. Another name for welfare is public assistance. There are many organizations that supply this public assistance. Such as Salvation Army and other groups. Public assistance benefits help many people who live below the poverty line, an income level is established for families. If your income is below this you would be eligible to receive this help. Welfare in the United States Federal and state governments in the Unites States serve the poor people through about 60 public assistance programs. Most people receive help through one of the four major programs. These programs are Medicaid, Aid to families with dependant Children, Social Security, or Supplemental Security, or the food stamps program. I will discuss the four programs individually. Medicaid provides free medical care to the poor people. Funds vary from state to state. In some situations, people who may be able to pay daily needs, but can't afford large medical bills may also be able to receive Medicaid. Some services paid for are bills such as doctor's visits and nursing home care. Most Medicaid funding comes from the federal government. The rest is supplied by the state. Each state runs their own Medicaid program. A.F.D.C. provides cash benefits to dependent children and the parents or the guardians taking care of them. Most families that qualify for A.F.D.C. have just one parent in the home. About 80 percent of these families are headed by a woman. A.F.D.C. also pays benefits to two-parent families if both parents are unemployed. Most A.F.D.C. funding comes from the federal government. The states provide the rest of the money and administer the program. The sizes of families' payment vary from state to state. Next is Social Security Income. This provides financial Aid to people in need who are at least 65 years old, blind, or disabled. The federal government finances and administers social security income programs in most states, though some states supply the federal payment and are able to run their own programs. Finally, the Food Stamp Program helps low-income households buy more and better food than they could otherwise afford. Each participating household receives a certain number of coupons called food stamps. The stamps are issued by the federal government. The number of stamps a household receives varies with the family's size, income, and expenses. Cooperating grocery stores accept the stamps like money for food purchases only. There are other programs such as energy assistance and public housing. Energy assistance, which is federally financed but administered by the states, helps people pay fuel bills. Public housing provides low cost rental apartments in government owned buildings. State and local governments fund and administer their own general assistance programs. These programs provide financial aid for needy people who do not qualify for other types of welfare. People waiting to receive assistance from other programs also may get temporary emergency aid from general assistance. Back in the early days, welfare resembled the English system. Social governments were responsible for helping the poor. But the colonies and later the states, sometimes helped the local government provide aid. The first federal welfare program, began after the Revolutionary War, they provided pensions to war veterans. During the Civil War these pensions were expanded to cover soldiers' widows and orphans. In the early 1900's, primary responsibility for providing welfare benefits shifted from local to state governments. During these years, states enacted programs to aid dependent children and the elderly. The criticisms of welfare ranges over a number of social and economic issues. Some people criticize welfare programs for not providing high enough benefits to eliminate poverty. Spending on welfare would have to increase greatly to eliminate poverty, and many people believe the cost is already too high. Many critics of the welfare system charge that providing a steady income to needy people encourages idleness. Actually, most welfare benefits go to elderly, blind, and disabled people and mothers with young children. But welfare does discourage some recipients from working harder by reducing benefits if their income

Darwinism essays

Darwinism essays Charles Darwin Like many students, Charles Darwin was only intrested in topics that was intresting to him and although his father was a doctor, Darwin was very unintrested in medicine and he also couldnt stand the sight of surgery. He did eventually get a degree in Theology from Cambridge University, Although Theology was a minor intrest to him. What Darwin really liked to do was climb over hills, observe plants and animals, collecting new specimens, studying their structures, and categorizing his findings. In 1831, when Darwin was 22 years old, the British government sent her Majesty's ship The Beagle on a 5 year expedition that would take them along the coastline of South America and then onward around the world. During the trip the Beagle would carry along a naturalist to observe and collect Geological and Biological specimens. Thanks to a recomendation from one of Darwins old college professors, he was offered the position aboard the Beagle. The Beagle sailed to South America, ma king many stops along the coast. Here Darwin observed the plants and animals of the tropics and was stunned by the diversity of species compared with Europe. The most significant stop the Beagle made was the Galapagos Islands off the northwestern coast of South America. It was here that Darwin found huge populations of Tortoises; and he found out that diffrent islands were home to diffrent types of tortoises. He found that islands without tortoises, pricky pear cactus plants grew with their fruits spread all over the ground. And on Islands that had lots of tortoises, the prickly pears grew really thick, tall, bearing the fruit high above the tortoises reach. He wondered if the differences in the two plants were from being isolated from one another on seperate islands. In 1836, Darwin returned to England after his 5 year expedition. He became established as one of the best naturalists of his time. But Darwin sought to prove his idea of evolution with simple ...

The strategic plan for my future vision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The strategic plan for my future vision - Essay Example Social assessment shows that my social domain has been steady till present. In the future Scenario 1 shows possibilities of it increasing with events such as marriage and children whereas Scenario 2 shows that it may remain steady if no such events occur. 13 The diagram above displays my transportation domain which has gradually increased over time. Scenario 1 shows possibility of it increasing further if my goals are met, where as Scenario 2 shows how it may remain the same over the period of time. 14 Although it is not possible to spell out the exact map of the future, there are always ways to develop a viable vision (Kenichi, 2003). This report describes the strategic plan for my future vision. It is based on concepts from the article titled "Personal Futuring: A step-by-step guide" by Verene Wheelwright. Since personal assessment begins with vision (Brott, 2009), therefore this report assesses my current stage in life and uses various information to develop scenarios for the subsequently stages of my life. It further goes to analyze the life trends and forces which impact our lives as humans, and describes the role various foreknown forces play in motivation of actions. Strategic planning helps provide professional vision (Morrissey, 1992, 2) so finally all the information is developed into strategic plans for achieving my future vision. Life Stage According to Wheelwright the phases in our life can be divided into tens stages, namely Infant, Child, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, Middle Age, Independent Elder, Vulnerable elder, Dependant elder and End of Life. Each stage differs significantly from the one before it even though transition from one stage of life to another is gradual. Current Life Stage The stage of life I am currently occupying is the Young Adult stage. I am in fact an Early Young Adult at the age of twenty-two. I am presently enrolled in a master's program in university and in the process of completing my education, working part time as I plan for my long term career. Due to my current financial situation I am under some degree of financial pressure. Future Vision Life Stage Future vision is essential for every stage in an individual's life, since each stage is distinct and requires a distinct set of plans. However, I feel that the stage in my life which is the most critical for planning is the Middle Age. This stage is most appropriate to construct a future vision for because concentrating on this phase will not only allow me to meet goals I plan for that time period, but also to work

Scientific Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Scientific Management - Essay Example Scientific management therefore is also considered as one of the earliest attempts to actually apply scientific methods on engineering processes and the management. Taylor offered four important rules which form the basis of the scientific management and are still considered as important contribution towards the overall theory of management. It is however, important to understand that as the industrial advancement took place and more and firms entered into the market, the overall ideas on management and their application in real life situations started to change. With the passage of time, new and more innovative methods of management and labor productivity were introduced which rendered scientific management only as a discipline limited to industrial engineering. Many therefore argue that scientific management has particular relevance for the modern day organizations and has no present day significance. Scientific management as a discipline started to emerge in the 19th century when industrial revolution started to take place. Industrial revolution necessitated the use of best practices for utilizing the skills of the labor to their maximum. It advocated the use of optimizing ways in which tasks are to be performed in most efficient manner and tasks are simplified enough that labors could be trained to perform various sequences of the tasks easily.( Smith, & Boyns,2005) Prior to the introduction of scientific management, work was mostly performed by the craftsman holding monopoly over the way their skills were traded and how they decided to perform their jobs. Scientific management however, took a step further and converted the jobs into series of simple tasks which can be easily performed by training any skilled and semi-skilled workers. The overall purpose of scientific management therefore was to ensure that jobs are simplified and further training can be imparted so that tasks can be

Red Bull Marketing Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Red Bull Marketing Questions - Essay Example High income customers have high potential of consumption than low income customers. Therefore, the sales territories will be divided into high sales prospect and low sales prospects. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012), Australia has a high number of employed people. The employment rate increased by 0.1 percent and this will result to increase in consumer’s consumption. This provides a basis on identifying the sales team territory. The sales territory will be divided into high sales potential and low sales potential territories. The sales team will be allocated roles to seek and increase sales among the income earning people and the unemployment. The income generating individuals constitute the high sales prospects territory while the unemployment make up the low sales territory. Additionally, the sales territory will be determined geographically. The sales team will be allocated responsibilities in different geographical regions. Different sales representatives will be assigned Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern territory (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012),. In addition, most people living in urban areas have a higher income than the people living in the rural areas. The sales team will be allocated responsibilities in different rural and urban areas. The size of each territory will be determined to decide the number of sales staff to be allocated. This will ensure that the sales representatives are not given too much or too little to do. This can result to over or under servicing of consumers. The sales personnel will be allocated territories appropriately to avoid over servicing of consumers. This can cost the Red Bull since over taxed sales representatives take on suboptimality in their activities. They will take a remarkably small number of leads; spend less time with existing consumers and spot few potential consumers.

Models In The Search For Knowledge

Models In The Search For Knowledge 10. A model is a simplified representation of some aspect of the world. In what ways may models help or hinder the search for knowledge? Models as representations of one or another aspect of the world are applied in a vast number of areas. There are many types of models in numerous areas of knowledge including the natural sciences and mathematics. Models are valuable tools, though sometimes imperfect, that help us in the search for knowledge. Models are not only visual representations but also possess an epistemic value. Therefore the term model could be divided into two main categories, that is, physical and conceptual representations. In most areas of knowledge these two are integrated together to help us understand various phenomena better and eventually gain knowledge. Models have purposes; they help us look for solutions to certain problems. For example, models in the field of engineering are developed in order to get a basic idea on how to control or prevent certain properties of materials, processes and procedures. These observations can then lead to imagination of what could happen during the processes or to an improvement in the performance of the system. Models have objectives; what they actually represent in the real world. Models give us knowledge because they represent these supposed objectives more or less accurately analysed in terms of resemblance or concept. In most areas of knowledge where models apply, they represent evident phenomena. Most scientific models assume that there is an obvious relationship between the structure of a model and that of the real world system, that is, the objective. For example, computers that model the path of hurricanes are created by scientists and consequently their objective is to predict the path of a hurricane. Modellers use these indirect representations to analyse the real world phenomena. The term indirect in this case would imply the construction of simple models with fewer properties attributed compared to the objective. If this is the case, then naturally, models exhibit a lot of idealizations, abstractions and approximations. Models are formed in such a way that the problem is easily accessible and approachable more than once so that they can be dealt with in an organized manner. However, models being too simplified may hinder the search for knowledge. A child may see a paper-plane as a model that represents its objective that is, a real aeroplane. The basic physics of a paper-plane has some similarity to that of real aeroplanes. For example, in both cases, the wings are an important factor as the lifting of a plane occurs when the wing slices the air to cause more pressure underneath it. However, paper-planes often lead children into confusion when compared with a real one an actual aeroplane floats longer and a paper-plane eventually rests to ground. Maps are also another example of simplified representations as they define the Earth on a flat surface with some semantic approach. Maps are created in order to communicate information to the map readers and consequently they represent their objectives according to the intentions of the readers. However, cartography being called modelling can be questioned if the reader lacks map reading skills and is unable to locate himself, wont maps then hinder the search for knowledge for that individual? Mathematical models play a vital role in almost all kinds of fields, especially those in the natural sciences, engineering and the human sciences. A mathematical model represents a structure or a system using mathematical language which can exist in many different forms. These include statistical models in the human sciences, exponential growth in the natural sciences and differential calculus in engineering fields. Mathematical terminology and symbolic equations are difficult to understand and therefore the theoretical aspect of the models is reinforced by visual representations such as charts, graphs and diagrams. For example, a building can be modelled not only by creating replicas on small scale or creating a three dimensional visualization but also by mathematics, as I learnt this when I was working on my mathematics portfolio. This falls under the discipline of architecture, which is both an engineering discipline and a social science. The task was to design an office block with certain specifications in a curved roof structure and the scopes and limitations were given. The concepts of differential calculus and optimization were to be applied in this case. From such a model we can determine the maximum volumes of cuboids within a curved structure and eventually maximise and minimize office space and wasted area respectively. This type of mathematical model appears to be accurate and the architect can ensure the contractor that the building is going to be stable, will utilize maximum space and have aesthetic values. Mathematics is a vital area of knowledge when it comes to models. Scientific modelling today comprises all aspects of modelling, including physical, conceptual and mathematical aspects. Scientific modelling is the process of generating a model that would help develop a proposed hypothesis. Scientific models provide a scenario of the actual system where the elements are easier to read and interpret as they are simplified. The objective of these is to portray pragmatic objects and their phenomena and processes in a logical manner. However, not all mathematical models are so accurate. An example is that of exponential growth where a mathematical function is used as a model to represent certain rate of growth. Human population trends can be expressed as exponential growth. Such a model is weak and leads to vague knowledge. This is because there are numerous factors affecting human population and it is difficult to predict accurately what is going to happen in the future. Also, this model would apply to a limited region only. In addition, the exponential growth model is only valid for a certain period of time as in the long run it does not make sense to people who argue that nothing can keep on growing forever or for the case of human population the model is not credible for people who believe in the judgement day. Global warming is a recent trend that people are concerned about which describes climate change due to human activity and other factors. In physics this year I learnt that models are developed in order to help scientists predict the future climate state of our planet. These are, but are not limited to, changes in the component of green house gases, volcanic activity and cyclical changes in the Earths orbit. Though the warming of the Earth is caused by certain natural forces, scientists believe that humans have been enhancing these effects by contributing to the greenhouse gases since industrialization began. Such models help us know about the current climate state of the Earth and the models might be accurate for a short period of time. There are knowledge issues that are brought up in the case of models and reliability and accuracy are the most important of these in my opinion. Some experts claim that the Earth might end up in a cooling phase instead of getting warmer. However, because there is comparatively more evidence to support the warming of the Earth, these claims are easily countered. But what if the global climate change has nothing to do with humans, and it is an unavoidable natural cycle? There are some contributing factors like increased solar flare activity and volcanic activity which are inevitable. Nonetheless, these models suggest that humans have enhanced this rate by contributing to the overall warming and show rapidity of this effect. As previously mentioned, assumptions are part of models, and therefore the more assumptions that are made in a scientific model, the less accurate it becomes, which affects the resulting knowledge. While models help scientists to simulate real systems that are difficult to get access to and conditions do not allow room for experiment, direct measurement will always have an advantage over just simplified representations. The degree of imagination is also important when it comes to model making. A modeller has to define his imagination well in order to convey the objective. This leads us to the importance of language in a model. If the model is not expressed well in any kind of language, be it symbols in maps, equations in mathematical models or even flow diagrams in human sciences, the model is not effective and can affect the search for knowledge. If models are defined as simplified representations of an aspect in the world, then what about complex systems that exist and yet cannot be put into simplified representations with a valuable objective? If models help us in better understanding of certain aspects of the world, then why can we not model human or animal behaviour? These questions cannot be directly answered but they can be resolved to some extent by expressing a narrowed definition of the term model and its limitation of application. Models are somewhat useful in areas of natural sciences and engineering as mentioned in this essay. Conversely, models are not whatsoever useful when it comes to certain areas of knowledge, for example ethics. This is because a model cannot represent moralistic situations and it is difficult to predict human behaviour. To create a model that would help resolve an ethical dilemma of what is right or wrong simply does not make sense. Human psychology cannot be predicted logically and therefore even if such a model existed it would create many conclusions and in the end the objective of the model becomes vague. The same applies to religion where the entire area of knowledge is based on beliefs and facts that already exist there is no need of models for prediction; the future has already been decided. Therefore whether models help or hinder the search for knowledge significantly depends on the area of knowledge.

Comparing My Two Grandmothers :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

My Two Grandmothers In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth; after that, He created grandmothers. If you want to talk about creating something in His own image, the grandmother is it. Remember as a child how "God-like" she seemed to be? She was all knowing and all seeing. She could be gracious and forgiving, but the wrath of a grandmother is not something soon forgotten. I grew up with two grandmothers who lived fairly close to me, so I was able to spend a lot of time with them as a child. My grandmothers were very different in terms of appearance, personality, and background, but they did have similar Christian values and work habits. In December of 1948, Imogene Ballentine gave birth to a baby girl who would, twenty three years later, become my mother. Mrs. Ballentine would frequently tell her six grandchildren that twenty-three years was long enough for her to be a mother, but I know she loved having us around. We called her "Nana" instead of the traditional grandma because she insisted the name suited her better. Nana is a petite woman, standing about 5'4", with bright blue eyes and hair to match. From her twenties to the present day she has always kept herself in perfect, manicured fashion. Her nails have always been an exact one-half inch above the tips of her fingers for as long as I can recall, and the roots revealing her true hair color have never shown. The family has tried to update her wardrobe many times through Christmas and birthday gifts, but she still maintains that 1940's look. This rebellion against fashion truly reflects her incredible personality. Nana has a knack for creating big scenes and is often a little too outspoken. I will never forget one incident in a Denny's restaurant. Nana, her sister, and I had gone in for dessert one night and were waited on by a nice-looking guy. Nana purposely spilled her ice cream so that the waiter would have to bend over to clean it up. Just as he bent over, she reached up and pinched his butt. Her sister roared with laughter, and I hid under the table. I was shocked to see a sixty-five-year-old behaving like a teenager, but I think her young-at-heart attitude helps us relate to each other even better than I relate to my own mother.

Human Resource Training and Development Essay

Training and development is a major investment made by employers , and therefore great care should be taken to ensure adequate returns on the investment. Training and development. Some experts try to differentiate training from development. In this case, both training and development is in the same meaning. Training is more to short term, and focuses on current needs of the employee and the organization. Development meanwhile looks more to the future needs, whereby development are about preparing employees for tomorrow’s jobs, technology and economic situation. Most on-the-job training efforts are about ensuring that employees can perform their present tasks as well as possible. Leadership programmes, on the other hand, are an example of the development initiatives taken by employers to ensure they have a steady supply of senior managers ready to drive organizational success. TRAINING EMPLOYEES. Training is a learning process that involves the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and abilities or known as K. S. A. K. S. A. is necessary to successfully perform a job. Several reasons exist for an organization to conduct training for it’s employees. Here are the 4 reasons why K. S. A. is important. 1. Economic, social, technological, and government changes can make the skills learned today obsolete in the future. 2. Planned organizational changes (such as the introduction of new equipment) can make it necessary for employees to update their skills or acquire new ones. 3. Performance problems within an organization such as low productivity or large scrap problems can be reduced by training. 4. Regulatory, contractual, professional, or certification issues can require an employer to provide training for it employees. STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PROGRAM. * Perform job analysis. * Perform needs assessment * Establish training objectives * Conduct training program* Evaluate training outcomes Job analysis. Job analysis is actually more focusing on the Knowledge, skills, and abilities (K. S. A. ). K. S. A. is actually necessary to successfully perform a job. Perform needs assessment. Needs assessment is a systematic analysis of the specific training activities the organization requires to achieve it objectives. In general, five methods can be used to gather needs assessment information – 1. Interviews 2. Surveys / questionnaires 3. Observations 4. Focus groups 5. Document examination. Interviews with employees can be conducted by specialists in the Human Resource Deaprtment or by outside experts. Basic questions that should usually be asked are as follows : 1. What problems is the employees having in his/her job. 2. What additional skills and/or knowledge does the employee need to better perform the job? 3. What training does the employee believe is needed? In conducting an interviews, every organization would have several additional questions about specific issues. In addition, if interviews are to provide useful information, employees must believe their input will be valued and not be used against them. Surveys and/or questionnaires are also frequently used in needs assessment. Normally this involves developing a list of skills required to perform particular jobs effectively and asking employees to check those skills in which they believe they need training. METHODS OF TRAINING Several methods can be used to satisfy an organization’s training needs and accomplish it’s objectives. Some of the more commonly used methods include on-the-job training, job rotation, apprenticeship training, and classroom training. * On-The-Job training. On-the-Job training or simply known as OTJ, is normally given by a senior employee or a manager. The employee is shown how to perform the job and allowed to do it under the trainer’s supervision. * Job rotation (cross training) One of the OTJ training is job rotation, sometimes called cross training. In job rotation, an individual learns several different jobs within a work unit or department and performs each job for a specified time period. One main advantage of job rotation is that it makes flexibility possible in the department. For example, when one member of a work unit is absent, another person can perform the job. The advantages of OTJ training are that no special facilities are required and the new employee does productive work during the learning process. OTJ training has been found to be more effective than classroom training that may be seldom be used when the person returns to the job. It’s major disadvantages is that the pressures of the workplace can cause instruction of the employee to be haphazard or neglected. * Apprenticeship Training Apprenticeship Training provides beginning workers with comprehensive training in the practical and theoretical aspects of work required in a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs combine OTJ and classroom training to prepare workers for more than 800 skilled occupations such as computer operator and laboratory technician. * Classroom Training Classroom Training is conducted off the job and is probably the most familiar training method. It is an effective means of imparting information quickly to large groups with limited or no knowledge of the subject being presented. It is useful for teaching factual material, concepts, principles, and theories. Portions of orientation programs, some aspects of apprenticeship training, and safety programs are usually presented utilizing some form of classroom instruction. * Virtual classroom Internet technology has advanced rapidly and as a result the training of Prev Page employees is changing. In some companies, employee training has moved from the old typical style classroom to the internet. A virtual classroom is an online teaching and learning environment that integrates chat rooms, desktop video conferencing, web sites, and e-mail distributions into a typical lecture-based systems. Virtual classroom offer training in either self-paced courses, real-time courses through intranets, or real-time video conferencing. In a typical virtual classroom, a professor lectures to a local class and a remote class that may be thousand of miles away. EVALUATING TRAINING When the results of a training program are evaluated, a number of benefits accrue. Less effective programs can be withdrawn to save time and effort. Weaknesses within established programs can be identified and remedied. Evaluation of training can be broken down into four areas : 1. Reaction – How much did the trainees like the program? 2. Learning – What principles, facts, and concepts were learned in the training program? 3. Behavior – Did the job behavior of the trainees change because of the program? 4. Results – What were the results of the program in terms of factorssuch as reduced costs or reduction in turnover? * Reaction Reaction evaluation should be consider a wide range of topics, including program content, structure and format, instructional techniques, instructors abilities and style, the quality of the learning environment, the extent to which training objectives were achieved, and recommendations for improvement. Reaction evaluation questionnaires are normally administrated immediately following the training, but they can be administered several weeks later. The major flaw in using only reaction evaluation is that enthuasiasm of trainees cannot necessarily be taken as evidence of improved ability and performance * Learning Learning evaluation concerns how well the trainees understood and absorbed the principles, facts, and skills taught. In teaching skills, classroom Prev Page demonstrations by trainees are a fairly objective way to determine how much learning is occurring. Where principles and facts are being taught, paper and pencils tests can be used. Standardized tests can be purchased to measure learning in many areas. In other areas, the trainers must develop their own tests. To obtain an accurate picture of what was learned, trainees should be tested both before and after the program. * Behavior Behavior evaluation deals with the nature of the change in job behavior of the trainee and is much more difficult than reaction of learning evaluation. The following guidelines can help evaluate behavioral change. A systematic appraisal should be made of on the job (OTJ) performance on a before and after basis. The appraisal of performance should be made by one or more of the following groups (the more the better) * The trainee * The trainee’s superior * The trainee’s subordinates * The trainee’s peers or other people thoroughly familiar with his/her performance. A statistical analysis should be made to compare performance before and after training and to relate changes to the training program. The post-training appraisal should be made several months after the training so that the trainees have an opportunity to put what they have learned into practice. A control group (one not receiving the training) should be used. * Results. Results evaluation attempts to measure changes in variables such as reduced turnover, reduced costs, improved efficiency, reduction in grievances, and increases in quantity and quality of production. As with behavior evaluation, pretests, posttests, and control groups are reqired in performing an accurate results evaluation. Prev Page BENEFITS OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT As we know, training is designed to change attitudes, develop skills, and impart knowledge. Effective training programmes may require expenditure on the part of the employer, but they bring about a number of benefits to the organization, including – * Increased productivity which in turn leads to higher profits. * More satisfied employees which lowers turnover rates. * Aid recruitment efforts making it easier to hire talented employees. * Trained employees are more innovative. * The company is in a better position to compete both nationally and internationally. Trained employees help ensure that company profits are maximized. At the same time, the training of employees is significant at the macro level of the economy. Well-trained staff can produce higher quality products which can successfully gain a good share of the world markets. By training and development organizing work around subordinates becomes fairly easy. The span of control of the managers increase which help the organizations in low costs and thus better allocation of resources takes place. It also helps the managers effectively and efficiently attain the organizational goals. Also by training the employees helps the employees get updated with the latest skills and techniques, which in turn increase the productivity and output per worker and the marginal and average productivity per worker increases. THE MALAYSIA CASE ON TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. Malaysia is an example country that really put an efforts in order to maintain and establish a good way of training and development. As we know, Prev Page Malaysia are now competing with highly sophisticated staff from many multinational company from many nations. Through this, the Malaysian government takes a keen interest in helping and encouraging employers to train their staff continuously. The government of Malaysia has established a number of initiatives which directly or indirectly help employers to train their employees. This include – * A free educational system up to secondary level. * Subsidized tertiary education in public universities. * Encouraging top-class foreign universities to establish branches or campuses or conduct training programme’s . * Establishment of Industrial Training Institutes to train industrial training instructors. * Introduction of the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd. Act. (Human Resource Development Bhd. Act. ) International HRD Types of Expatriates Expatriates Free Agent Heart at Home Going Native Dual Citizen Proactive Career Stagnant Career Ethnocentric Adaptable Most Effective There are generally four types of expatriates managers : Free agent. There are two types of free agent. The first includes people who put their career above either the parent company or the foreign operation where they Prev Page are working. They often are highly effective, but they will move with little warning from one company to another, may serve their own short term interests at the expense of the company’s long term ones, and do not plan to return to their home country. The second types of people are who takes foreign assignment only for the large compensation. Heart at home The heart at home type is very ethnocentric and usually eager to return home. When the company wants strong headquarters control, this type of person may be useful and effective. Going native The going native type learns and accepts the local way of doing business, want to stay in the foreign location, and prefer not to consult headquarters. This type of person may be appropriate for situations in which the company follows multi domestic practices. Dual Citizen The dual citizen type has a clear understanding of global needs, why he or she is needed at the foreign subsidiary and local. This type of person usually finds methods to align the interest of headquarters and the subsidiary. Generally, the dual citizen is most effective type of expatriate managers. Training and Development for Expatriate Managers Training focus on preparing the manager for a specific job, while development is concern with the developing skills of the manager when he work with the firm. Normally, most firms focus more on the training rather than on development of the management. Management development programmes for expatriate managers increase overall skills levels by continuing learning in management and rotations of managers through jobs within the global firms to gain more experiences. Management development is best to used as strategic tool to build strong understanding about other culture and informal management network, both of which are supportive of a transnational and global strategy. Before expatriates are sent for their foreign assignment, they need to be Prev Page prepared for their foreign assignment, they need to be prepared for their new and more challenging tasks. So, it is important for expatriates well trained before they leave the country. Training for expatriates managers involve obtaining skills for a particular foreign posting. Training can helps expatriates and their families to ready with the above problems related to the foreign assignments. Cultural training, language training, and practical training will help those expatriate to solve the problem and reduce expatriates failures. Cultural training Cultural training provides opportunities for expatriates to understand and value the culture of the host country. The training must be cover the country culture such as in aspect of history, politics, economy, religion, and social and business practices prior to departure. Cultural training can promote an appreciation of the host country’s culture and help in expatriate adjustment. Language training Although the English is the international language, expatriates are needed to learn and understand some language of the host country. It is because to helps effective communication between locals and expatriates. Language training helps to improve expatriates’s effectiveness, aid expatriates in adjusting to foreign culture, and create a better corporate image. Practical training Practical training is the best mode to prepared the expatriates to adapt new environment and daily activities. Sharing experiences with those who have been to the host’s country is one way to have real life experiences prior to departure. Once in the host country, seeking support from other expatriates from the same country would speed up the process of adaptation in the new environment. Practical training can help expatriates and family ease into day to day life of the host country. Repatriation training Another issue in training and development is repatriation which refer to preparing expatriates for re-entry into their home country organization. This is the same to support expatriate to adjust the expatriate in a new environment. Prev Page Cross Cultural Training Cross cultural training is a kind of cultural training given to the potential expatriates before they go on their overseas assignments. Cross cultural training refers to the development of awareness between people where a common cultural framework does not exist. There are two approaches of cross cultural training which are cross cultural awareness training and culture or country specific training. Cross Cultural Awareness Training. Cross cultural awareness training deals with the manifestation of culture in the workplace and has many applications. Its main purpose is to evaluate and undertake the challenges cross cultural differences can bring to the workplace. This training generates awareness of a foreign culture and creates understanding of how to foster mutual trust, respect, and understanding in a different culture. This training an effort to equip potential expatriates with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage a multi-cultural staff. This training helps them to create fair and comfortable working environment and enhance negotiations with foreign clients or customers in discussing possible terms and conditions. Culture or Country specific training Culture or country specific training is commonly targeted at individual or teams that often visit a foreign country or who frequently interact with foreign client. Such training usually focuses on areas such as values, morals, ethics, business practices, etiquette, protocol, or negotiation styles with reference to one country. This better equips participants with the key skills. Understanding and appreciating intercultural differences ultimately promotes clearer communication, reduces communication, reduces barriers, builds trust, strengthen relationships, open horizons, and yield tangible results in terms of business success. Repatriation of Expatriates Repatriation is a critical issues in the training and development of expatriates managers. Repatriation is concerned when the expatriates who have been living abroad for certain period of time for re-entry into their Prev Page home country. Repatriation should be seen as the final link in an integrated, circular process that selects, train, sends, and brings home expatriate managers. Repatriation is the return of the expatriate to his or home country following completion of a lengthy foreign assignment. Repatriation is needed as expatriates who have spent a few years in host country cultures often experiences distress in readapting to their own home culture. The distress is normally caused by adaptation to the host country, followed by re-entry, which means that they have adapt to something that they left before. This creates disturbance in the early period of coming back, and is referred to as reverse culture shock. The disturbance is worse when returning managers are not able to get the right position or nothing more than to get the position in the home office. Like expatriation, repatriation requires advance preparation. If repatriation is not properly managed, the expatriate will encounter problem when returning to the home country. Some of returning employees fell that their international experiences is not valued because they be placed in lower position rather than high position on overseas. Moreover, some expatriates report that they have difficulties in financial upon returned. Many experiences reverse culture shock when in readjustment to home country culture. For employees and employee who have worked several years abroad have difficulties to readjustment the daily life like before. Problem with repatriation arises in three general areas such as personal finances, readjustment to the home country work environment, and readjustment to the home country social life. Companies give expatriate many financial benefits to encourage them to accept a foreign assignment. While abroad, expatriates may live in the high standard neighbourhood and sent their children to the private schools, socialize with elite group, and still save more money because of high wages. Some of human resources practices for smoothing repatriation including providing expatriates with an advance notices of when they will return, more information about their new jobs, placement in suitable job regarding with their foreign experiences, housing assistance, reorientation programmes, periodic visits to headquarters, and enlisting a formal headquarters mentor to watch over their interests while.

Pyrrhus, the Pyrrhic War, and the Defense of Tarentum

Pyrrhus, the Pyrrhic War, and the Defense of Tarentum Spartas one colony, Tarentum, in Italy, was a wealthy commercial center with a navy, but an inadequate army. When a Roman squadron of ships arrived at the coast of Tarentum, in violation of a treaty of 302 that denied Rome access to its harbor, the Tarentines sank the ships, killed the admiral, and added insult to injury by spurning Roman ambassadors. To retaliate, the Romans marched on Tarentum, which hired soldiers from King Pyrrhus of Epirus (in modern Albania) to help defend it. Pyrrhus troops were heavy-armed foot soldiers with lances, a cavalry, and a herd of elephants. They fought the Romans in the summer of 280 B.C. The Roman legions were equipped with (ineffective) short swords, and the Roman cavalry horses couldnt stand against the elephants. The Romans were routed, losing about 7000 men, but Pyrrhus lost perhaps 4000, whom he couldnt afford to lose. Despite his diminished manpower, Pyrrhus advanced from Tarentum to the city of Rome. Arriving there, he realized he had made a mistake and asked for peace, but his offer was rejected. Soldiers had always come from the propertied classes, but under the blind censor Appius Claudius, Rome now drew troops from citizens without property. Appius Claudius was from a family whose name was known throughout Roman history. The gens produced Clodius Pulcher (92-52 B.C.) the flamboyant tribune whose gang caused trouble for Cicero, and the Claudians in the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman emperors. An evil early Appius Claudius pursued and brought a fraudulent legal decision against a free woman, Verginia, in 451 B.C. They trained through the winter and marched in the spring of 279, meeting Pyrrhus near Ausculum. Pyrrhus again won by virtue of his elephants and again, at great cost to himself a Pyrrhic victory. He returned to Tarentum and again asked Rome for peace. A couple of years later, Pyrrhus attacked Roman troops near Malventum/Beneventum; this time, unsuccessfully. Defeated, Pyrrhus left with the surviving fraction of the troops he had brought with him. When the garrison Pyrrhus had left behind in Tarentum departed in 272, Tarentum fell to Rome. In the terms of their treaty, Rome did not require the people of Tarentum to supply troops, as it did with most allies, but instead Tarentum had to provide ships. Rome now controlled Magna Graecia in the south, as well as most of the rest of Italy to the Gauls in the north. Source: A History of the Roman Republic, by Cyril E. Robinson, NY Thomas Y. Crowell Company Publishers: 1932

The mission statements of Toyota Corporation and General Motors

The mission statements of Toyota Corporation and General Motors Introduction The aim of this paper is to analyze the mission statements of Toyota Corporation and General Motors, compare the quality of each mission statement, discuss whether the mission statements could define the firms and help make strategic decisions, evaluate whether there is any need for improvement, and analyze the vision statements of the two companies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The mission statements of Toyota Corporation and General Motors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mission Statements of the Two Companies Mission Statement of Toyota Corporation Although Toyota Corporation is one of the most successful vehicle producers in the world, the mission statement of this company seems to be quite straightforward than many other multinational corporations; to specify, according to Toyota Corporation (2012), the mission of Toyota is to attract and reach consumers with high- valued products and services a nd the most pleasing ownership-experience in America. Mission Statement of GM It is essential to note that GM possesses an extensive and intricate mission statement, and General Motors (2012) stated that its mission is an outline of the business’s key feature with basic business description and core values; particularly, the mission states that General Motor is a multinational-corporation involved in socially responsible operations globally. Additionally, General Motor has also focused on organizing a mission statement that would reflect the principles and ethical factors of the business; as a result, a part of its statement also suggests that it is devoted to offer vehicles of such quality that consumers will obtain better-value, workers and associates will share success, and shareholder will get sustained and greater-return. Comparisons on the Quality of Each Mission Statement It is notable that the mission statement of Toyota Motor is quite simple and it is a brief glance of what Toyota thinks about conducting a customer- oriented business. It helps a reader to catch the key idea behind its operations quite quickly and provides a plain, but crucial business outlook very efficiently. On the other hand, the mission statement of General Motor is quite comprehensive and elaborate and it is a succinct illustration of GM’s central characteristics, fundamental corporate issues and central standards and policies. It is important to suggest that GM has tried to design a mission statement that would help a customer to identify and learn about the company very clearly and broadly. Mission Statements in Defining the Firms and Making Strategic Decisions It is clear from the mission statements of the two companies that GM has better defined its business and its approach towards running the operations based on the mission. In making its strategic decisions while operating, GM emphasizes and ensures that it is socially responsible internationally, aligned wit h its principles and ethics, and devoted for ensuring better quality and higher consumer value, as suggested by the mission statement.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conversely, in case of Toyota Corporation, lack of elaboration in the mission statement means that it has some deficits in defining such a large business; however, its highly customer- oriented operations indicate that it follows its mission of attracting and reaching consumers with high-valued products in strategic decision-making. Need For Improvement For reaching customers of all ages, it is necessary for General Motor to improve its mission statement in terms of simplifying and shortening it so that it can save customers’ time value; however, the key idea of the statement could remain the same. On the other hand, Toyota should try to extend the description about the company to some extent a nd allow people to know about it a bit more elaborately. Vision Statements of the Two Companies Vision Statement of GM The vision statement of General Motor is very straightforward according to General Motors (2012), its vision statement states that the company is focused in only one global-vision, which is to design, construct, and trade the best automobiles available in the earth; the following figure shows an illustration of its core visions: Figure 1: Core visions of GM Source: General Motors (2012) Vision Statement of Toyota Corporation Toyota Corporation (2012) suggested that the vision statement of the business is to be the most victorious and esteemed automobile business in America; however, the corporation’s visions include a major focus on CSR and environmental issues; however, the following figure shows its visions regarding social responsibility-Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The mission statements of Toyota Corporation and General Mo tors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure 2: Visions of Toyota Source: Toyota Corporation (2012) Whether the Companies are Heading in the Same Direction As the strong players in the global automobile industry, both companies possess some common goals, which are expressed through their mission and vision statements; however, when it comes to operational management, it appears they are heading towards diverging directions. SWOT Analysis of GM Strengths GM has business operation in 157 countries and it has strong position in North America, for example, WSJ reported that GM is in the highest position considering the number of car sales in the US market because GM sold 232,538 cars in 2010/11 while Toyota sold 159,540 cars in this zone. However, the subsequent diagram compares more details- Figure 3: Comparison of GM and ToyotaAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Source: WSJ (2011) This company still has a significant market share in the global car industry and it has above 209,000 competent employees to operate the business in adverse economic condition. Weaknesses The market share of GM has decreased dramatically from 1990 to 2004 and it lost a significant percentage of the US market share, for instance, its market share fell about 35.50% to 18.80% in this zone; therefore, the performance of GM in Stock market is not satisfactory and the following diagram demonstrates the position of this company in Stock market- Figure 4: Basic chart of GM Source: Yahoo Finance (2012) Most of the car manufacturing companies change the model of the car regularly, but GM is not focus on this matter even if it has not change its strategy to introduce new products like environmental friendly products. Opportunities Joint venture with local companies or large multinational companies can bring fruitful result for GM, for example, to increase profit margin an d market share in global market, it has opportunity to develop hybrid technology and introduce new vehicle styles and models for the target customers using this strategy. The purchasing power of the people is one of the most important factors to decide about the car model; therefore, GM has scope to change its position and increase financial performance by introducing low cost products to operate business in highly populated zone like India and China. Threats Intense competition among the market players of car industry is one of the main threats for GM because competitors like Toyota, Honda, Ford and Nissan rapidly captured large market share in the global car market; however, the next diagram compares the position of GM with other direct competitors Figure 5: Direct Competitor Comparison Source: Yahoo Finance (2012) High operating costs due to volatility of the price of raw materials, decrease the demand of GM cars for high consumption rate of fuel, increase legal litigation cost s and adverse recessionary impact create serious problem to operate business in this market. The Way GM Responds to the Issue of Social Responsibility From the very beginning of operation, GM has concentrated on the issue of corporate social responsibility and taken many initiatives for the product development and protect the environment, for example, it introduced first diversity program in 1968, and it adopted Sullivan Principles in 1997. However, the prime intention of this company was to reduce carbon emission, provide road safety, increase values, and increase profits upholding CSR policy; as a result, the management of GM has selected many projects those many focused on risk mitigation, development of social awareness, and protection of public health (General Motors, 2011). Kinds of Activities GM has promoted the use of E85 ethanol, reduced water used by 35%, introduced new brands like E85 FlexFuel and LaCrosse with eAssist, contributed about $68 million to charitable purpose (General Motors, 2011). Whether GM’s Activities are Appropriate or Not GM has also taken a number of specific initiatives, for instance, it introduced largest brand â€Å"Chevrolet† and invested $40 million in various carbon offsetting projects, which demonstrate that it has corporate social responsibility since this company is committed to ensure the best quality products in terms of green technology, safety and health issue. Godelnik (2011) reported that carbon offsetting projects was bad investment for this company considering the position of the shareholders and economic position of this company, but this report supports the activities of the GM as profit maximization should not only one motto of the company. Reference List General Motors (2011). Annual Report 2011 of General Motors Company). Retrieved from gm.com/content/dam/gmcom/COMPANY/Investors/Stockholder_Information/PDFs/2011_GM_Annual_Report.pdf General Motors (2012). Investors: Corporate Strategy. Retrieve d from gm.com/company/investors/corporate-strategy.html Godelnik, R. (2011). The Case of GM’s CSR Initiative: Why Good Intentions Are Not Enough. Retrieved from environmentalleader.com/2011/01/27/the-case-of-gms-csr-initiative-why-good-intentions-are-not-enough/ Toyota Corporation (2012). CSR Policy. Retrieved from toyota-global.com/sustainability/csr_initiatives/csr_concepts/policy.html Toyota Corporation (2012). What are Toyotas Mission and Vision Statements? Retrieved from toyota.com/help/faqs/company-what_are_toyotas_mission_and_vision_statements.html WSJ. (2011). Sales and Share of Total Market by Manufacturer. Wall Street Journal, Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-autosales.html Yahoo Finance (2012). Direct Competitor Comparison of General Motors Company (GM). Retrieved from http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q/co?s=GM Yahoo Finance (2012). Basic Charts of General Motors Company (GM). Retrieved from http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=GMt=2yl=onz=lq=lc =

Business communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business communication - Assignment Example A low value signifies that the less members of the society ‘accept’ that there will always be inequality and a high value show that there is resistance to inequality. This dimension measures the value that a society places on group achievement against individual achievement. A low value in the index signifies that the society places more value on collective achievement, and is thus more independent, while a high value shows that the society places more value in individual achievement. The uncertainty avoidance index, shows how the society’s attitude towards defining social structures. A high value in the index signifies that a society is uncomfortable operating in undefined social and political structures; it also signifies high levels of emotion (Schwartz, 1999) and the members prefer having a strong legal and regulatory governing framework. A low score signifies that the society does not require strong structures from which to operate within, they are not afraid of certainty and are more pragmatic in their approach, not emotional. This is a more straightforward dimension; it covers a society’s adherence to the hegemonic masculine social concept. A high value in the index signifies a society places high value on the more masculine attributes of competitiveness, power and ambition while a low value shows a society’s values are more feminine, with more value placed in the overall quality of life and strong relationships. The long-term orientation index shows whether a society places more value on short term or long-term gratification. Psychologically, it can also be seen as a measurement of pragmatism. Long term oriented societies are more pragmatic, with emphasis placed on the ‘bigger picture’ while short term oriented societies are less pragmatic in their approach (Appadurai, 1996), adhering to their traditions

Marketing trends Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing trends - Assignment Example It is vital that business entities realise this, and try to make consumers feel satisfied. Without customer satisfaction, the business has not achieved its core objective. Consumer movement is the collective movement that exists among consumers (Higham, 2009). It exists in order to protect the interests of consumers in the region. People still have no idea of their rights when it comes to the purchase of products. This movement is there to ensure consumers get the right treatment from business owners. It unites consumers with the aim of enabling them to fight for their rights. It is similar to trade unions. Branding offers consistency. It is hard for consumers to remain loyal to products if the brand labels keep changing. Consumer loyalty is vital in any business field. This brings the need to have a consistent brand that consumers can relate to, without having doubts. One importance of branding is the identity it creates (Higham, 2009). Identity is a key component in the retention of clients. Brands are symbols of what people have come to love and appreciate. Although they may sometimes look old, it is up to the organization to determine if a change in brand can cause a shift in customer loyalty. One of the major effects of online marketing is the website traffic that may increase after time. It is a well-known fact that, many individuals spend most of the working hours online. With online marketing, it becomes easier to look for products and goods to purchase. If millions of people did this in an hour, the traffic created may be immense and result in site traffic. Online marketing strategies need to have numerous, comprehensive campaigns. That means that, an immense proportion of folks need to be involved in the progression (Ferrell & Hartline, 2010). Internet marketing increases the chances of sales. As a means of advertising, it is a new method of reaching consumers, while giving them time to do other activities.