How Human Beings Learn Languages - 1562 Words

How human beings learn languages is one of the most interesting processes that have been discussed by several scholars. The process through which human beings learn language is known as language acquisition, and it is a process that begins from the infancy stage. Different studies have been completed to highlight the process that human beings undergo to acquire language, specifically those who learn more than one language. These are the studies that this paper will analyze using the two articles that were completed by Patricia Kuhl and Andrea Macleod. Kuhl (2015) discusses how babies learn languages, and she believes that babies have crucial capacities when it comes to learning and mastering languages. She also points out that at the age of 6 months, a child can identify sounds that help in the construction of any language used in the world. The child can, therefore, manage to pick particular sounds and properties of the language and she/he can make meaning out of the sounds. It’s surprising how children manage to pick the different sounds, and at the end of the day, they become perfect speakers constructing sentences out of the sounds. The author also explains that parents (and adults who are close to them) also contribute to language development. The main reason for this is because children tend to imitate what adults are doing, and it is through this that they retain information. Therefore, language and development have a lot to do with people. Kuhl refers to anShow MoreRelatedDr Sue Savage Rumbaugh s Language Experiment Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesHuman beings are the highest in the order of primates, they are followed by monkeys and apes. Examples of lower primates are lemurs and bushbabies. A primate is a mammal that usually has forward-facing eyes and hands, they may also be considered social animals. The closer a primate is to ‘human capability’, the higher it is in the ranking of primates. The definition of language can be used to determine the accuracy and validity of linguist, Chomsky’s claim. Language can be verbal as well as physicalRead MoreThe Behaviorist Theory And The Nativist Theory963 Words   |  4 PagesLearning a language is very important in the human life, without some type of language humans would not be able to survive in this world. Language is something that humans use in a daily life. It is what they use to get what they want, to fight for what they believe, to resolve a co nflict; language is important. The way that someone may learn a language is just as important as knowing a language. The way someone may learn a language is important because the way they learned it may affect the wayRead MoreEssay on Linguistics in Anthropology634 Words   |  3 Pagesstudy of humans, also known as Anthropology, there are so many subdivisions we can learn about. One very interesting clump within the study of Anthropology can be classified as Linguistic Anthropology. In this instance, anthropologists study language and how the development and its use can be studied to understand culture. According to the department of Anthropology at California State University Long beach, Anthropologists are interested in learning â€Å"how many languages there are, how those languagesRead MoreLinguistic Nativism: There’s Something Between the Ears Language is something that humans use and1300 Words   |  6 PagesLinguistic Nativism: There’s Something Between the Ears Language is something that humans use and encounter every day. Whether it be writing a paper, reading an email, talking to your best friend on the phone, or asking someone for directions, the use of language is broad and heavily intertwined with experiencing the world in the human condition. But the question of how humans come from being silent babies to speaking children is still unanswered. Linguistic nativism is one theory that addressesRead MoreChomsky s Theory On Transformational Generative Grammar1117 Words   |  5 Pagesgrammar theory. He believed that language is innate, meaning that humans are born with a capacity for language. He based his theory on the fact that it unclear as to how humans acquired the ability to speak a language. The absence of environmental influences still allows the human brain to have a pre-determined set of rules for how language works when one is born. Chomsky stated, The most striking aspect of linguistic competence is what we may call the creativity of language, that is, the speaker sRead MoreLanguage Acquisition : Study Of How Humans Acquire A Set Of Semantic, Syntactic And Phonological Categories Essay1625 Words   |  7 PagesLanguage Acquisition Language acquisition is the study of how humans acquire a set of semantic, syntactic, morphological and phonological categories and rules that underlie their ability to speak and understand the language to which they are exposed. (Parker and Riley, 2005) Language is an understanding that truly makes us human. Yes, other species do communicate with an innate ability to produce a limited number of meaningful words, but there is no other species that can express sentences withRead MoreHow Do Humans Acquire Language?1332 Words   |  6 PagesHow Do Humans Acquire Language? Humans live in a world full of communication. Humans possess a native language that separates them from other animals. Language is developed within the first few years of a person s life. By the time one is a child; he can speak and understand almost as well as an adult. Children world-wide exhibit similar patterns of language acquisition even though they may be learning different languages. How humans learn even the most complicated languages has perplexedRead MoreEssay about How Do Humans Acquire Language?1294 Words   |  6 Pages How Do Humans Acquire Language? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Humans live in a world full of communication. Humans possess a native language that separates them from other animals. Language is developed within the first few years of a person’s life. By the time one is a child; he can speak and understand almost as well as an adult. Children world-wide exhibit similar patterns of language acquisition even though they may be learning different languages. How humans learn even the most complicatedRead More Language Acquisition in Children Essay1626 Words   |  7 PagesLanguage Acquisition in Children Introduction The study of language development, one of the most fascinating human achievements, has a long and rich history, extending over thousands of years (Chomsky, 2000). As the nature-versus-nurture argument is inevitable to arise whenever human behaviors are discussed, it is not surprising that language experts have debated the relative influences of genetics and the environment on language development (Hulit Howard, 2002). Among the various proposalsRead MoreEssay on Dispeling the Myth that Parents Teach Their Children to Talk666 Words   |  3 PagesIn the article titled Nine Ideas About Language by Harvey Daniels, one of the fundamental ideas that he presents is Children learn their native language swiftly, efficiently, and largely without instruction. This dispels the myth that parents â€Å"teach† their children to talk. Many linguist believe that the human brain is pre wired to learn language based on the theory that there are commonalities found in all languages which is nature. Some include the way questions are asked or ways of referring

Essay about Music and Its Influence on 20th Century...

Music and its Influence on 20th Century American History With the start of the 20th century music began to play a huge part in the rapidly maturing United States. Music of the 20th century was not only there to entertain the people but it was more. It was now used to influence and manipulate the listeners. Artists had a goal to entertain and to enlighten the listener so that they could get their messages heard. Music is one of the best ways to advertise and to expand ideas, and many artists knew this. Music rapidly influenced everyday American life. It was in their homes, cars, bars, theaters, movies, elevators and countless other places. Music was everywhere it defined what every American loved and worked for, it gave people hope and†¦show more content†¦Although, it was new to the United States it had mostly emerged long before then with the African-Americans, who since the days of slavery had been making there own forms of folk music. Such forms as ragtime, fife and drum bands, string bands and spirituals. Because racism was so high in the 1920’s, Jazz was a radical idea many white people did not think that African-American music was any good. Despite the racism, though very high at the time, Jazz still exploded throughout the United States. Jazz had a huge impact on the people of the early 1900s; it lessened the racism slightly opening people up to dance, which was considered an indecent act among many societies. African-American people also began to gain popularity with their smooth ability to improve the already great sound of Jazz. Such artists as Joe King Oliver and Louis Armstrong were huge and made a big impact on not only jazz, but also many people living in the U.S. at the time. Jazz paved the way for many more new innovative ideas for styles of American music. After World War I was winding down and Jazz was hitting a peak, anther new kind of music was once again emerging. Rock n Roll was another form of African-American music merged with white-American music. In 1955 rock took off with Bill Haley’s song â€Å"Rock Around the Clock†. The American people loved it for its exciting, heavy beat and its hypnotic power over people causing them to dance. Rock was very popular amongShow MoreRelatedThe History Of American Music1288 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20thRead MoreJazz From The United States999 Words   |  4 Pagesin the early part of the 20th century. From Ragtime and blues to Big Bean and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. The history of jazz has its roots firmly planted in the American cities of New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City. New Orleans jazz was first recorded in Chicago and New York, not in New Orleans. The first recording was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Jazz is often referred to as â€Å"American’s classical music.’’ Jazz is known as one’sRead MoreRagtime And Blues : The History And Their Influence On Jazz1581 Words   |  7 PagesRagtime and Blues: The History and Their Influence on Jazz In the city of New Orleans, from parades to clubs and from weddings to funerals, one element usually remained constant throughout all these events: the music that permeated the air. At most of these occasions, a band often performed as entertainment, providing many opportunities for musicians in the area to work. By the early 20th century, due to various factors such as mix of ethnicities and cultures with syncopated musical styles influencedRead MoreMusic is one of many forms of art. There are varying types of music which consists of seven1300 Words   |  6 Pages Music is one of many forms of art. There are varying types of music which consists of seven different concepts. These concepts: rhythm, tone, beat, melody, harmony, expression, and structure, are the fundamental parts of music. These parts of music, with all of its characteristics, has been proven throughout history to change views of most humans on earth regardless of age race, sex, and nationality. The creation of music is still disputed; however its early forms consisted of simple beats, rhythmsRead MoreThe United States And The American Century989 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the 19th century, the United States concentrates on expanding its reach into foreign markets and colonization of foreign territories. After fighting Spain for Cuba and the Philippines, along with the annexation of Hawaii and other territories, the Unites States have become a minor imperial power. The 1920s is a time of wealth and prosperity for America and they try to avoid any more involvement in foreign entanglements, but WWI engages the U.S. in European affairs, leaving Americans overwhelmedRead MoreBlack Writers of the 20th Century Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesLiterature has played an important role in society throughout history, the written word being a powerful tool in communicating ideas. This became even more important during the 20th century, when many people were trying to persuade others or share their emotions and histories. The black movements in the United States made use of this tool, many authors coming out and becoming part of the fabric of society. Three authors in particular, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, and Richard Wright became someRead MoreWoodstock Research Paper1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthree days of music and peace. The generation of the time wanted nothing more than what they got out of Woodstock. Today, people still look back on the festival and think of how well it made history without the expectance of doing so. Woodstock, one of the most important cultural events of the 20th century, combined iconic musical acts with interesting social behavior. In 1969, a group of men set up a music festival, known as Woodstock, which lasted for three, long, peaceful, and music oriented daysRead MoreJazz Influences on the 20th Century1158 Words   |  5 PagesJazz Influence on the 20th Century Jazz is considered one of the most influential types of music in American history. Some of the greatest artists in the world have contributed to the success jazz has had not only on American history, but throughout the world. Jazz music has come to serve as the base of many music styles in the United States. This paper will explain the history of jazz, where it all came from, and the effect it has had on the American culture in the 20th century. ToRead MoreThe Chaos Of Establishing An American Identity1304 Words   |  6 PagesEstablishing an American Identity: Charles Ives Charles Ives is the quintessential 20th century American composer. From his early organ music and music training to his later symphonic pieces and art songs, his music is drenched in early American nostalgia, quotes, and culture. Not only has Ives come to be known so well for his establishment of an American identity, but also his use of complex compositional techniques that fit so well in a post-Romantic era of music. Delving through the history of IvesRead More 1900-1910 Essay1184 Words   |  5 Pages1900-1910 At the beginning of the 20th century a New York editorialist wrote that the 20th century began in the United States with a sense of euphoria and self-satisfaction, a sure feeling that America is the envy of the world(World History Timeline 1900-1901). The president was Teddy Roosevelt, who enjoyed enormous popularity due to the general happiness of the American people. A thriving industry created many jobs for immigrants and others. A monumental event took place in 1901 when the

Changing Hr Practices in Cable Co Free Essays

Changing HR practices in Cable Co Case study Table of Content 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. We will write a custom essay sample on Changing Hr Practices in Cable Co or any similar topic only for you Order Now 3 2. Problem diagnosis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3 3. Data collection and analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 4. 1 Problem #1 – Human Resources planning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 4. 2 Problem #2 – Performance Management System†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6 4. 3 Problem #3 – Recruitment and Selection processes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 7 4. Proposed Solution†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 5. 4 Human Resources planning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 5. 5 Performance Appraisal System†¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 5. 6 Recruitment and Selection process†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 References List†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 Appendix 1 – The 4 stage Leadership Model Appendix 2 – Performance Appraisal form Appendix 3 – Giving Feedback Tool 1. Introduction This case study is based on CableCo which is a joint venture between an Australian corporation AuzCo, and two Chinese organizations Post Bureau and PTA. The purpose of this report is to help the company to diagnose the problem, after research of the company’s background inform ation, identify its causes and offer a solution. This new Australia and China joint venture is located in an Economics and Development Zone about 47 km from the downtown area of Tianjing, a well-developed industrial city in China. The main products of the joint venture are telecommunications and various other kinds of communication cables. The Company has 184 employees in total; most of them 60% (113) are employed in the Production Department, as it is the most important functional part of CableCo. The Company’s mission is expressed â€Å"to produce quality products, provide first-class service to customers and guarantee reliable delivery. The Company’s business strategy is to continuously develop new products, improve the quality of goods, reduce costs, and manage its human resources efficiently and strengthen management control. Implementation of the company’s strategy depended strongly on effective employee performance and management control (Zhu, Case Study A). The telecommunication sector in China where C ableCo operates has undergone rapid development. There has been a steady growth in the total number of phones in China. Because of this reason, the cable industry in China has attracted many domestic and international investors. As supply exceeds demand in this market segment, it is more difficult maintain key employees. The CableCo management team has realized that improvements in efficiency and effectiveness had to be achieved through better utilization of its human resources (Zhu, Case Study A). 2. Problem Diagnosis After the initial meeting with the client it is found that the company’s authenticity is rather low in regards to managing their human resources. Although Cable Co realizes that its employees are the most valuable asset they have, the company still has a lot defects and inefficient processes in the HR management area. The key problem that the company is concerned about is how to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the Human Resources management that is the most important area in a highly competitive market. Cable Co is in danger to lose their image as a good quality product manufacturer because of uncertain business development strategy and employee internal dissatisfaction within a growing competitive market. The Management consultant’s main objective would be to assist the company in changing its HR practices and processes in order to improve Cable Co’s Human Resources Management and to enable effective operation in the highly competitive market within a multicultural working environment. A Structured model (Issue tree) enables us to see Cable Co’s situation more clearly. Using this model it would also facilitate in recognizing main causes and find the best ways for possible solutions for company’s problems (Fombrun and Nevins, 2004). Inefficient Human Resources Management Problem #2 Defects in performance management system Job analysis/Performance appraisals Bonus system Problem #3 Recruitment Selection Candidate database Selection Methods Problem #1 Organization’s Structure HR Planning Short-term oriented HR planning To keep a stable workforce 3. Data collection and analysis In order to analyze the situation within Cable Co, data collection had been processed. There were two basic data collection approaches used – deductive and naturalistic. To gain a more detailed overview of the company’s situation the 4 stage leadership model is used. Structured interviews with each leadership team member were conducted. Also questionnaires based on employees’ current job satisfaction, understanding of job requirements and a rewards system were used in the data collection process. The work environment observations and interactions between managers, supervisors and employees along with the organization’s documents were an important information source during analyzing the situation in Cables Co. Based on previously constructed issue tree model, the main problem and its causes can be stated: 3. Problem #1 – Human Resources Planning * Organization’s Structure A lot of Chinese companies are operating under strict control of the government. There are unclear and different views between Chinese and Australian managers at Cable Co. Common ground rules and guidelines should be introduced. Currently some leading positions and responsibilies are overlapping or two positions are held by the same person. * Short-ter m oriented HR planning Both management parties (Chinese on one side, Australian on the other side) have different approaches to business development. To evaluate the demand for new employees the company uses its forecasted production needs, based on the market situation. Also data from AuzCo Australian are used as a standard to formulate the staffing needs in the production department. It seems that staffing needs analysis is more affected from how it is done in the West than in China, although it should be based more on China’s market situation. Obviously judgmental forecasting is used to forecast the company’s future employment needs this means that managers and other people within the company decide on staffing requirements. Gully, M. , Phillips M. 2009) There is no research data of Cable Co’s target market in China, and this causes management uncertainty and different opinions where the company is going and in which direction they are supposed be heading? Without knowing the company’s goals, it is very difficult for the managers to agree on a common staffing strategy. * Unstable workforce High turno ver in locally recruited employees make it difficult to keep workforce stable which affects the effectiveness of the company which reflects badly on HR recruitment. Intensifying competition in employment market, gives a lot of opportunities for employees to seek employment elsewhere. This would have an impact on Cable Co’s productivity as production workers are one of the key employee groups in the company. 3. 2 Problem #2 – Performance Management System * Performance Appraisal system After conducting research interviews with production workers, it is understandable that the company’s performance management system had many defects that reduce its effectiveness. Effectiveness of the existing performance management system in Cable Co is very doubtful for the reason listed below: Key performance criteria for both managerial and non-managerial employees are the same. Appraisal performance results have been kept confidential from the evaluated employees. Evaluations made upon appraiser’s daily observations and individual judgments, make the current system very subjective and results do not have validity. The company currently doesn’t have job analysis for most of its positions, which makes it really hard to evaluate the employees’ performance or to explain what are the main responsibilities and tasks for a position. Bonus System Currently there is no bonus system in the company. The previous system was used more to avoid potential conflict between employees and lost its function as a motivational tool. The bonus system based on defected performance evaluation process fails and decreases employees satisfaction. Operating in such a highly competitive market, it is essential to have motivated employees, and tools that help to keep them engaged . 3. 3 Problem #3 – Recruitment Selection * Applicants database Because the company does not have a common computerized database for all applicants, the recruitment process for every new position is more costly and more time consuming. Previous unsuccessful candidates and interview records might be useful for the next recruitment project, but it is difficult to find this information without a database. * Candidate selection There are no common guidelines for the department managers to use when conducting the recruitment process, no selection criteria that would be based on and aligned with the company’s business strategy. 4. Proposed Solution To make changes in the organization’s structures, systems or processes managers should have support from people working within the organization otherwise it will be impossible (Fombrun and Nevins, 2004, p. 209). It is suggested that inefficient Human Resources Management system in the company can be improved by more effective HR planning, a reviewed performance management system and recruitment and selection processes. 4. 1 Solution #1 – Human Resources Planning 1. Organize meetings between Cable Co Board of directors, General Manager and Executive Manager. The objectives for this meeting should be: * To review company’s goals and business strategy; * To identify and review all Cable Co target market segments; * To organized repeated market research to evaluate domestic (China) market demand for their product; * Based on research, reformulate the company’s business development strategy; * Management team should always be present, especially if the company put such a great emphasis on management control in its business strategy and product quality. Formulate Human resources strategy aligned with business development goals that will enable to plan the company’s people resources more efficiently. A previously mentioned problem is that the company is unable to offer accommodation for its employees should be seriously reconsidered. * Review employment offer package – concentrating on accommodation facilities for employees other than those from the local area. * That way company’s candidate pool would be ext ended, that can increase the best applicant attraction and give the company a competitive advantage. Organize a team to conduct accommodation market research; * Revise the company’s opportunities to offer accommodation or a housing allowance for their employees. * This will expand the company’s candidate pool and stabilize the workforce and turnover. 4. 2. Solution #2 – Performance Appraisal System â€Å"Employee Performance Management is a process for establishing a shared workforce understanding about what is to be achieved at an organization level. It is about aligning the organizational objectives with the employees’ agreed measures, skills, competency requirements, development plans and the delivery of results. (http://www. peoplestreme. com/what-is-performance-management. shtml, 20/05/2012) It is essential to make sure employees know what the positions key requirements are for high performance are. It is hard to maintain or try to achieve any perfo rmance level if the employee is not aware what the key aspects they have been evaluated for are. It is recommended to revise key performance criteria for managerial and non managerial positions in the company. These key areas for both types of employees should be formulated in the positions job description. When conducting job analysis, human resources personnel should consider the company’s business strategy. In this case the company pursues cost leadership and differentiation strategies. This kind of business usually requires a workforce who are adaptable, efficiency oriented, trainable and willing to follow standardized procedures (Gully, M. , Phillips M. 2009). Firstly, it is suggested to determine key performance criteria for managers and all other employees, and show those in their job description. Job analysis, which include important aspects of a job and characteristics a worker needs to do it well (Gully, M. Phillips M. 2009) should be conducted for each position in the company. Job descriptions should be received by each employee on the day they sign the employment contract with the company. That way the employee clearly understands the company’s requirements for high performance and key performance criteria for their positions. Secondly, a new performance apprai sal form should be developed (Appendix 1 – Performance Appraisal form), which allows matching the key performance criteria from the job description for different positions. An evaluation process should still be conducted from the top to the bottom, but it is important to have open communication and feedback on the results after employee evaluation. Employees won’t improve if managers or supervisors won’t give them honest and constructive feedback on their previous performance against the key criteria. As this is a new thing for supervisors and managers, it is recommended to set up guidelines on how to give constructive feedback about an employee’s performance (Appendix 2 – Giving feedback model). It is also advisable to process 360 degree feedback for company’s managers and supervisors. This would give managerial team a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and an insight on how others perceive them. Also provide an opportunity to adjust behaviors and develop skills that will enable them to excel at their jobs (http://www. custominsight. com/360-degree-feedback/what-is-360-degree-feedback. asp, 12/05/2012). A bonus system should be developed for key areas of the company such as Marketing and also Production Departments. It is also recommended to create an incentive plan for all employees if the company has reached its goal at the end of the year (for example, specific amount of sales or profit). That way all employees would feel rewarded, because everyone has contributed to improve productivity, profitability and to keep the organizations’ competitive advantage. Employee performance appraisal form results should also be taken into consideration when building the bonus system. It should be based on sales results for the Marketing department and productivity and quality for the Production department employees. The company should consider a yearly bonus implementation for all employees if an annual target has been reached. A bonus system is a great motivational tool that means more motivated employees, better work engagement, improved productivity and product quality, which help the company to gain better profitability. 4. 3 Solution #3 – Recruitment and Selection process * Candidate Database It is recommended to invest in the company’s development by creating a computerized HRM system, which includes all previous applicants and records on current employees. Included information on TeleCo employees would be a great source for Cable Co further recruitment processes. In this HRM system the company could also create talent inventories – detailed records that summarize each employee’s skills, competencies, and qualifications (Gully, M. , Phillips M. 2009, p. 126. ). This can be used as a very helpful tool in filling in future vacancies and also developing succession management in the company. * Recruitment and Selection If the company keeps involving line managers and supervisors in Human Resources processes, the selection and recruitment guidelines for management and supervisor’s team should be developed. It is important to have a formal instructions, and processes to follow when selecting, attracting, assessing and deploying employees (Gully, M. , Phillips M. 2009). Supervisors have to be competent to explain to the new employees what the key areas of the position are and what level of performance is expected from them. This information would be easily found in the job descriptions for each position, based on job analysis and performance appraisal reviews. These recommended changes will help Cable Co’s leadership team to improve the Human Resources management in the company and increase management control over organization’s processes. Reference List Gully. M, Phillips M. (2009). Strategic Staffing (2nd ed. ) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Fombrun. J, Nevids D. (2004). The Advice Business. Essential Tools and Models for Management Consulting, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Warner J. (2002) The Janus Performance Managament System: A Complete Performance Management Support Process for Individuals, Teams and the Entire Organization (Volume I), HRD Press Zhu J. C. Organizations Development and Change. Changing HR practices in China – Cable Co. Case Study A PeopleStream Pty. Ltd. Performance management. Retrieved from http://www. peoplestreme. com/what-is-performance-management. shtml Custom Insight. com. 360 Degree Solutions. Retrieved from http://www. custominsight. com/360-degree-feedback/what-is-360-degree-feedback. asp Business Balls, Performance Appraisal forms. Retrieved from http://www. businessballs. com/performanceappraisals. htm How to cite Changing Hr Practices in Cable Co, Essay examples

Reconstruction and African Americans from 1865-1900 free essay sample

African Americans from 1865-1900 From 1865 to 1900, Reconstruction was meant to help change the lives of African Americas. However, because of prejudice, Reconstruction didn’t go on as far as it could have. Reconstruction tried to deliver its promises to African Americans while battling a discriminatory white America. This is seen socially, through civil rights, and politically, through Jim Crow Laws and voting. Concerning social promises, Reconstruction made astounding changes for African Americans; this is evident in newspapers and the Civil Rights Act of 1875. White Americans were becoming more sympathetic to the needs of African Americans, or at least white reporters were. Newspapers began to print stories and pictures made to draw sympathy to the black man and anger towards the KKK, such as in Harper’s Weekly’s â€Å"One Less Vote† (Doc A, F). The Civil Rights Act of 1875 allowed each citizen equality, no more segregation in hotels, restaurants, public theaters, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Reconstruction and African Americans from 1865-1900 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , but it wasn’t followed by everyone. Business owners were not willing to de-segregate, and the ones who were willing lost white business. White men and women remained biased, making it impossible for African Americans to have equality. White bias didn’t stop the American government from taking political action to protect African Americans. The 14th and 15th Amendments attempted to stop discrimination; the 14th Amendment gave protection of privileges for blacks and the 15th Amendment gave them the right to vote. Because of reforms, African Americans were legally allowed to vote. This brought celebration in African American communities, now they could have political influence. However, mainly in the South, blacks were threatened and even killed for going to vote. Opposing government reforms, such as the Amendments, was the Deep South. The Jim Crow Laws were passed; by segregation, prohibiting people to even talk about equality, and inter-racial marriage, equality was outlawed. Socially there was more acceptance. Politically there was more freedom. Reconstruction did alleviate many of the African Americans’ burdens. Overall, Reconstruction during 1865 to 1900 could have gone much farther. If it were not for the hostility expressed towards the equality of the races, Reconstruction could have quickly given the blacks their freedoms.

Marketing Analysis Polyphonic HMI free essay sample

Uncertain Attractive Yet Challenging Music Industry Landscape The music Industry is a 32 billion dollar industry, offering a huge opportunity if it can be penetrated. However, it is fraught with challenges. Arthritiss, producers, and record companies have little idea on how to find and create success in the industrys ABA. The dominant players, I. E. Record companies outfit pursuing the production of teethe next big hit by producing In masses and hoping hope that one turns out good, . This Is shown evidenced by the low hit success rate of 10%. A song topping music charts (Peg. 1, PA). What entails is an Industrial marketing practice of huge inefficiencies and unwise budget expenditure (Peg. 8, PA4). These problems stem from the market interactions of the industry, such as theistic is dictated by popular culture. There is constant and rapid evolution due to both volatility of popular music culture and lack of fail-safe apparatus to accurately predict upcoming trends. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Analysis Polyphonic HMI or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hence, all segments need a tool that Improver tool that Improves their chances of landing a hit song and reduce the need for excessive marketing expenditure..The satisfaction gratification of this need is ever more urgent due to falling sales and increasing music piracy (Peg. 5, PA). Can HAS be the answer to the industry needs? 2. Harnessing Overcoming Polyphonic HIM Barriers Opportunities Polyphonic HIM has significant barriers to overcome. Upon failing to impress hardware providers, HIM is lacking capital and time. In an Industry that Is normally associated with art, they have not found a way to make science and music mesh.However, they possess the potential to revolutionize the music industry. Polyphonic Whims core competencies IEEE in its technical expertise in artificial intelligence and natural science applications (Peg. 2, PA). Even though it does not provide specific feedback on how to improve a song, Haste HAS scientific product has the ability to revolutionize the music industry Phelps to eliminateeliminating the uncertainties of relying on instinct while incorporating humanistic music preferences In predicting future successes..It will serve to reduce marketing Inefficiencies, thereby allocating concentrated efforts and budgets to refocus efforts and budgets towards hits that have a A wheelwright likelihood of success of making the next big hit. Below are further issues of consideration, specific to HIM. What stand in its way is the minor issues detailed below. Minor Issues 1. Shoestring Marketing Budget HIM operates on a limited budget of $1 50,000 and this creates two Implications. First, HIM Is unable to reach out to the entire market and It limits them to target only 1 segment at this juncture..Pricing is critical as well, given that it needs to ensure that it recovers its operating fixed costs. Secondly, HIM is in dire need of a off cost efficient marketing plan is unable to do advertising and has to strategically come up with a feasible selling process. What is Hisss ideal marketing mix? 2. Dealing with Competition In Dalton to the budget constraints, HIM cannot simply Consigliore are competitors compartmentalizing forces, which lies in the substitutes of HAS which are traditional call-out studies and individuals gut instincts (preference surveys).These conventional substitutes depended on human instincts and thus it makes consumers highly skeptical of the abrupt replacement with machines. Depending on the different uses of spectrophotometer, it is pertinent to note that levels of skepticism Mould differ across segments and in turn affect the adaptability of HAS. Thus, based on the target market, how should HIM needs to position itself using an optimal marketing strategy to minimize skepticism and ensure highest possible profits?. Strategic Options: Option 1 : Target Unsi gned artists (AU). The AU segment comprises of hundreds of thousands of hopefuls that dream of a shot at fame and who are willing to spend money to further their dreams. Value Drivers: For AAAS, nothing gets in the way of pursuing their dreams. In addition, they form a mostly technologically as. N. Y crowd ho are willing to adopt new technologies like HAS. The potential of this segment is age where 300-400 demos are sent to a record label per week. Approximately 187,200 demos (350 demos per week) are sent in per year to the dozen or so ARCS under Universal Music Group for the US market (Peg. , PA). Risk Drivers: The core needs of CIA is to get a contract from Arcs, but as ARCS might not align their tastes and preferences to the scoring criteria of HAS (Peg. 12, AS), a good report from HAS does not directly translate to the CIA being signed by the RCA. USA have financial constraints Inch have prevented them from seeking available avenues like Internet Polls and Call-out surveys that costs above $1000 (Peg. 0, Pl). The shoestring budget does not allow for extensive advertising as it is costly for outreach to the massive number of USA (Peg. 1, PA). Lastly, the reports may be too complex for USA to understand, resulting in low adaptability. Option 2: Target Producers. This segment comprises 20-30 successful producers, few hundred producers with occasional hits and thousands of minor producers. Value Drivers: The use of HAS can help to diminish uncertainty to a certain extent, giving producers a better gauge of the potential of their songs. Risk Drivers: There are a few noteworthy risks. Outfits, there is a disconnection with the primary needs of the producers.Producers need to create hit songs but HAS merely suggests whether the songs that have the potential to become hits, showing limited effectiveness in tweaking songs. Therefore, HAS can only be seen as a subordinate tool in meeting producers needs. Secondly, thereafter is a high level of skepticism as producers pride themselves as artists with skills that cannot be replaced by a machine. Lastly, they might feel threatened that the software Nail replace their Job and hence refuse to adopt it.Risk Drivers: The core needs of AU s to get a contract from Arcs, but as ARCS might not align their tastes and preferences to the scoring criteria of HAS (Peg. 12, AS), a good report from HAS does not directly translate to the CIA being signed by the RCA. Thus, HAS is unable to meet the needs of this segment. Next, CIA have financial constraints which had prevented them from seeking available avenues like Internet Polls and Call-out surveys that costs above $1000 (Peg. 10, Pl). Thus, this is a highly price sensitive segment.In addition, Polyphonic does not have the full registry of CIA. The shoestring budget does not low for extensive advertising as it is costly for outreach to the massive number of in low adaptability. Option 3: Target Record Companies(RCA). This segment comprises of five major ARCS with combined share of 84% in the U. S. Market, each being home to at least a dozen labels. In addition, there are also tens of thousands of other small and midsized ARCS (Peg. 6, Pl). Value Drivers: The core needs for of ARCS is to reduce fixed costs that mainly stem from marketing initiatives(Peg. , PA). Hence, the core competency of HAS can directly address the by helping them filter hits and needs of Arcs, which is to predict hit songs with high accuracy for better allocation of baccalaureate budget to support likely hits and generate higher expected revenues. In addition, ARCS areas more a price insensitive, segment predisposed with higher budget and resources. A partial ACCORD analysis shows that this segment has high adaptability: HAS with an accuracy of 80% would be perceived to be more superior to traditional research methods of fairly low accuracy of 10% (Peg. 0, PA3). HAS is highly compatible as it suits the labels current behavior of sending songs for in-depth analysis in the form of reports. And since ARCS have familiarity with interpreting reports, complexity is low. The massive use of HAS in the music industry will definitely allow HAS to get noticed and tributes will spread by word-of-mouth, ensuring high communicability. Risk Drivers: However, Record labels under the same record company have significant collective buyer power to congregate and pressurize Polyphonic to reduce prices for their reports.In addition, major ARCS are hierarchical and operate with red tape, so the process of implementing HAS would be cumbersome. Recommendation: Option 3 is recommended. As the music industry faces a decline in album sales, the ARCS are forced to practice caution in launching albums. Consumers have become more discerning with their product expenditure. Every album launch requires a gamble on the part of the RCA marketing expenditure of $300,000 and upwards do not guarantee success in recouping the costs and profitability.An axiom of the industry is that less than 15% of released music titles generate profit, meaning the bulk of marketing investment are moot. Therefore, HAS brings about intervention to support the inner workings of Arcs. HAS sifts out the albums that do not make the cut room the manufacturing line, which avoids wastage of marketing budget. On the other hand, HAS could direct the ARCS to focus their endeavors on potential hit albums by allocating the bulk of budget to support likely hits. As such, HAS helps the ARCS to streamline marketing initiatives, and extract higher values from marketing investments.The ARCS can then reap higher margins from a reduction of fixed marketing costs. With predictive accuracy of about 80%, ARCS will perceive HAS as instrumental in turning their performance around. Justification of Recommendation Positioning Statement: Balance between Science and Art Within the business of research technologies in the pop music industry available to Arcs, Hit Song Science deviates from subjective preference sampling of limited individuals by Juxtaposing the test song and mathematical attributes of past hits alliterated by masses.HAS is thus the new-edge scientific humanistic tool that engages a million cultured ears to increase the likelihood of producing hits and reduce marketing expenditure. Generate u nbiased and technical assessments of songs, regardless of the reputation of the artiste. Financial Attractiveness Option 2: Producers option 3: RCA Target Volume 0,000 songs 5,500 songs 1 1 ,OHO songs Marketing Cost $1. 51 Unsigned artist $98. 41 Producer $2,500/ label target top 5 first) areas Even Price (BEEP) $95/ song $130/ song $89. 1 song above PVC) $30,000 $19,500 $33,000 Assumptions for all segments: Annual Fixed Cost=$500,OHO, Marketing budget= per song = $30, 10 songs/artist, Figures are for North America. Assumptions for CIA: 100,000 unsigned artists (Peg. 5, PA), Penetration Rate (PR)=I% Assumptions for Producers: 25 top producers(20 artists each) (Peg. 7 PA),500 one hit producers(10 artists each)l ,OHO aspiring producers (1 artist each) PR=I% Assumptions for RCA: 12 labels per record company (Peg. , PA), 5 major Arcs, 10,000 small Arcs, 2,500 unique albums and 3,000 unique singles, PR=50% Unit Contribution Analyzing the financial of each segment, it corroborates that targeting major ARCS Option 3) is the optimal choice. The $1 50,000 marketing budget is sufficient due to the least outreach that needs to be marketed to (12 labels or 5 Arcs). It Justifies the higher arbitrary market penetration rate set at 50%. Comparing with Option 2 and 3, marketing budget will be overstretched due to the much larger base of interested parties. Egg: only $1. Racketing dollars can be spent per unsigned artist which is probably close to production cost of a leaflet for promotion. Even though Option 1 and 2 have higher gross song volumes, the higher market penetration in Option 3 ensures the highest effective volume of songs that HAS technology captures (11,000 songs). Option 3 is also the most financially viable because it delivers the lowest areas-Even Price ($89/song) and highest Total Unit Contribution ($33,000). ), assuming that each song is priced 10% above Variable Cost of $30 for all 3 options.Value Sharing between ARCS and Humiliated by HAS for Record Companies To Justify he premium pricing of HAS(see later), we first considered Hisss value add for to the two main sources: (1) Marketing Cost Savings and (2) Increase in Expected Revenues. Marketing Cost Savings Before HAS After HAS Success rate of marketing to get hits Singles to market 2 Marketing and Promotion cost/singles Total marketing cost Marketing cost savings Assumptions: (1) Peg. 10 PA, Assume conservative 50% success rate instead of 80%. (2) Peg. 9 PA, Assume HAS capture only 50% of 3000 new singles. (3) Peg. PA, Assume $300,000 marketing cost and $100,000 promotion fees (1): Usage of HAS dramatically educes Marketing Expenses of newly released singles. Traditionally, there are about 3000 singles released per year, of which HAS technology captures half due to the 50% market penetration rate. Given that the HAS software increases success rate of marketing hits from 10% to 50%, we only have to promote 300 singles (instead of 1,500) to get 150 hits. Assuming each single is marketed and promoted at $400,000 per single (Peg. 8 PA), this results in 80% decrease in marketing expenditure from MM to $MM, generating potential cost savings of $MM. 2): Assuming hit success rate remains at 10%, there will also be an increase of expected revenues of MM. With the implementation of HAS technology, there is now 80%there is 40% probabilistically predictability (50% instead of 10% based on AR) that 1 out of 10 albums/singles marketed will become hits, generating increased probability- Knighted expected revenues of $776. MM for albums and $65. MM for singles. Increase in Expected Revenues Hit Success Rate (Fixed) Success rate of marketing to get hits Number of hit albums 125 381 Number of non-hit albums 1,375 Probability weighted revenues from non-hit albums (Table A)Increase in expected revenues from albums Number of non-hit singles 150 Probability weighted revenues from hit singles (Table A)Weighted expected revenues from hit singles 11,500,000 1,350 Probability weighted revenues from non-hit singles (Table A)Weighted expected revenues from non-hit singles 4,950,000 Total Increase in Expected Revenues Assumptions: Hit albums = Hit Success unique albums-?125 ton-hit albums-2500-125) Hit singles = Hit success * *3000 unique singles-?1 50 (Non-hit singles=3000-1 50) Probability weighted revenues from hit-singles/albums= Success rate of marketing /3)*Low Estimate+(l /3)*Med Est 3)*High Est] *Hit singles/liberalnesss in expected revenues from singles Sensitivity Analysis to Determine Optimal Procrastinating hit success rate remains at 10%, there will also be an increase of expected revenues of $MM. With the implementation of HAS technology, there is now 80% probability (instead of 10% based on A) that 1 out of 10 albums/singles marketed will become hits, generating increased probability-weighted expected revenues of $776. MM for albums and 565. MM for singles. Sensitivity SVGA Market Penetration Rate 75% Success Rate of Marketing to get hits 37801,477 1 51 337,931 ,250 1 ere sensitivity table proves that implementing HAS technology improves success rate of marketing, which in turn increases the SVGA for the Arcs. However, we observe that SVGA is limited by the market penetration rate, depending on how best HIM utilizes its marketing budget to capture the largest possible portion of the market, reinforcing the importance of Promotion and Distribution strategies. Its marketing mix. SVGA was then utilized to derive the price ceiling, price floor and target price of HAS technology on a per song basis. Based on target price of $60,105 per song or $600,105 per album, HIM is able to achieve a profit margin of 99. 85%.Price Ceiling Price Floor Target Price Assumptions 100% Penetration Rate Success Rate 1% Penetration Rate 11% Success Rate Penetration Rate Share of GAVE Price/songs $181,730 $6,873 $60,105 Net Value Add to Arcs 1$2. 68 bill) $1. 32 bill $661 mil Profit Margin of HIM(PM) 39. 97% 56. 58% 39. 85% Assumptions: (1) SVGA divided by target volume(market penetration * total volume of songs) (2) Net Value Add= Gross Value Add- Cost of Reports; Cost of Reports = Price per song * Market Penetration Rate * Volume of Songs (3) Assume that HIM will share alee created with record companies equally The sensitivity table proves that implementing HAS technology improves success rate of marketing, which in turn increases the SVGA for the Arcs.However, we observe that SVGA is limited by the market penetration rate, depending on how best HIM utilizes its marketing budget to capture the largest possible portion of the market, reinforcing the importance of Promotion and Distribution strategies. SVGA was then utilized to derive the price ceiling, price floor and target price of HAS technology on a per song basis. Based on target price of 60,105 per song or $600,105 per album, HIM is able to achieve a profit margin of 39. 85%. To analyze the mutual benefit of implementing HAS, we analyzed Hisss deducting all the relevant costs (Peg. 8 PA). With the implementation of HAS technology target price and assuming that Universal claims 32% the $661 M net value created See Pricing of HAS), this results in 8% increase in profit margin. PM.Suggested Marketing Mix for HAS Short Term: HIM should first target one major RCA to the top Major ARCS and hope to achieve industry awareness and accreditation of the technology and capture the ailing with at least one major Record Company. Patenting the HAS technology and giving competitive exclusive rights to one RCA will diminish buyer power that major ARCS hold when they congregate. Seethe suggested Pricing is standardized at $60,000 per song. The Product is homogeneous and utilized on master recordings of established artists. Pertaining Promotion and Place, HIM would seek the management of ARCS management via professional connections of HIM board members.Advertising leaflets are published to inform about the product. Salesmen and technical satisfactoriness would execute On-site Demonstrations to entice and enlighten Interested Arcs. Follow-ups are conducted to update ARCS on changing market trends and consumer preferences. For further market awareness, HAS guaranteed stickers Nail be placed on record label albums to enhance visibility of product. Mid-term and needed:Hem would now target small/medium sized Arcs, Producers and Unsigned Artists. The aim is to increase sales volume in other segments using the Market and Product Development strategy. Pricing is discriminated between Producers and Unsigned Artists.The Product is licensed as a software to major Arcs, while reports re personalized and simplified for USA and aspiring producers. Promotion and Place Initiatives are done via personal selling and one-to-one consultation with ARCS with the incentive of volume discounts. HIM can also offer trials of one unreleased song and four recently released songs to validate predictive and post-deceive accuracy. A chart release of Top 100 songs screened through by HAS technology and online retailers reviews increases product visibility. HIM will pursue the development of mobile APS and DID online websites for unsigned artists and producers to encourage easier consumer adoption.

To Be Or Not To Be Essays - English-language Films, Free Essays

To Be Or Not To Be Essays - English-language Films, Free Essays To Be Or Not To Be To Be or Not To Be This is a question I ask myself Do I live to be or not to be Do I die to be or not to be What exactly is to be anyway to be in what frame of mind when i murder to be in love when i get married do i have to be in order to be something?

The Company of Wolves Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Company of Wolves - Essay Example While her mother mourns, she goes to spend some time with her grandmother (Angela Lansbury), who tells her stories and warns about wolves and men, intuitively and effortlessly drawing parallels between both species; After she returns to her parents, and while taking a walk in the woods with a friend, they find that a wolf has entered town to lay siege on their cattle. They run into town to alert the men, who hunt down the wolf and kill it. However, the carcass transforms into a human corpse. The rest of the story is reminiscent and full of the symbolisms from Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood. It also includes the usual suspects – huntsman, wolf, granny etc. But that is where the likeness ends – it does not end or even proceed as would be expected. Based on Carter’s short stories, which, according to Merja Makinen, are (in)famous for the â€Å"excessiveness of their violence and, latterly, the almost violent exuberance of their excess,† The Company of Wolves delivers on its promise of violence and morbid dispositions. It is also very vicious in its attack on and reversal of the damsel-in-distress tradition present not only in Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood, but in fairy tales, generally. For example, in one scene, where Rosaleen is cornered by a wolf, she has the courage to grab a rifle and shoot at it (as opposed to the helpless/hapless young girl crying for help). It is also ‘laden’ with sexual innuendo and symbolic portraits of female sexual liberation, which can be deduced in the scenewhere she gives up her bright red shawl (which is said to symbolise her virginity) of her own volition, not out of coercion. The wholesomeness of the plot, however, is brought to question by the director’s barely comfortable employment of the â€Å"Chinese Box† structure in the film. Throughout all four stories narrated in the movie, I was conscious of the separateness of the

Utilization Management and Models of Care Research Paper

Utilization Management and Models of Care - Research Paper Example It is also a whole person centered approach that offers a comprehensive care strategies for chronic, acute and end of life care. Finally, the PCHM facilitates the integration and coordination of care thus ensuring that the patients receive the best care and services from their medical neighborhood thus improving quality and safety of the services. Health care facilities that have employed the Chronic Care Model have also been able to achieve their quality and safety goals due to the various beneficial elements inherent in the model. Glasgow, Orleans & Wagner (2001) informs that one of the key ways through which the Chronic Care Model facilitates the achievement of quality and safety goals by coordinating the care delivery process and offering clinical decision support. The model coordinated coordinates decisions and actions of different care givers leading to glycemic control, health care utilization and patient satisfaction. Evidence based decision making is vital in the achievement of safety and quality goals (Coleman, Austin, Brach & Wagner, 2009). The model facilitates the incorporation of evidence based practices into various registries and patient assessment tools thus improving the quality of care offered by the care givers. Shojania, K., Kathryn, M., Grimshaw, J., Sundaram, V., Rushakoff, R. (2006). Effects of quality improvement strategies for type 2 diabetes on glycemic control: a meta-regression analysis.  Journal of the American Medical Association  296(4), 427–440.

Peer review process assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Peer review process - Assignment Example This is a very useful proposal for educational institutions since the factors that affect XYZ are the same factors that influence other institutions that offer the same services. I appeal for funding because management hired fire captains based of their technical competence and high motivational attitudes. However, this does not necessarily translate in to leadership ability, as many would think. Further, I think promoting managers that have not been trained, nor have had the opportunities to be mentored by experienced leaders, leaves an experience gap between upper level management and lower level supervisors that will soon be asked step into upper level leadership positions. It is significant to note that as upper level management leaves and younger supervisors step up there will certainly be a lack of transformational leadership and vision that was possessed by the leaders that left. Therefore funding such a project will improve leadership styles in organizations. The proposal has critically looked at the firefighting career field, which is technical field where firefighters are given individual tasks in order to accomplish an overall objective. When there is an emergency each individual knows what he or she as an individual must due to contribute to the team success of the mission. However, this causes problems when a firefighter is now put in the position of supervisor and they must keep up with the technical competencies of firefighting while also managing the administrative, political, and human resources issues that comes along with the day-to-day activities of running a fire station. In making this transition, one is often required to alter their paradigm or worldview. I appeal for funding for this project because the emphasis on efficiency, customer-service, and consistent communication are all-important components of an HRPP. Building trust between the research community and the HRPP indirectly serves as a

Effectiveness of Support Services for Reducing Poverty

Effectiveness of Support Services for Reducing Poverty A 6000 word literature review project which critically analyses and evaluates the effectiveness of family support services aimed at reducing stress and poverty for the parents of children in need. Introduction The whole issue of parents and children in need is a vast, complex and ethically challenging one. This review is specifically charged with an examination of those issues which impinge upon the stresses and strains that are experienced by parents of children in need. A superficial examination of these issues that are involved in this particular area would suggest that there are a number of â€Å"sub-texts† which can all give rise to this particular situation. Firstly, to have a child in need is clearly a stressful situation for any parent. (Meltzer H et al. 1999) This can clearly be purely a financial concern and a reflection of the fact that the whole family is in financial hardship, perhaps due to the economic situation or perhaps due to the actions of the parents themselves. Equally the need of the child can be a result of a non-financial need, so we should also consider the child who is in some way handicapped, ill, emotionally disturbed or perhaps in need in some other way. This produces another type of stress on the parent, and these stresses are typically longer lasting and, in general, less easily rectified than a purely financial consideration of need. (Hall D 1996). It is part of the basic ethos of the welfare state that it should look after its less able and disadvantaged members. (Welsh Office 1997). Parents of children in need will often qualify in this definition. We shall therefore examine the various aspects of this problem. Literature Review We will make a start by considering one type of child in need. The first paper that we will consider is that of Prof. Vostanis (Vostanis 2002), which looks at the mental health problems that are faced by deprived children and their families together with the effectiveness of the resources that are available to them. It is a well written and well researched paper, if rather complex and confusing in places. We will consider this paper in some detail as it provides an excellent overview of the whole area. The paper starts with a rather useful definition for our purposes. It qualifies the deprived child, initially in terms of a homeless family, that being : A family of any number of adults with dependent children who are statutorily accepted by local authorities (housing departments) in the UK, and are usually accommodated for a brief period in voluntary agency, local authority or housing association hostels. This period of temporary accommodation can vary enormously depending on the time of year and the area considered, and can range from a few days to perhaps several months. The target in Greater London is currently to rehouse homeless families within 4-6 weeks. In London particularly, the homeless families can be placed in Bed Breakfast accommodation. (D of H 1998) In this respect, the immediate family support mechanisms do appear to be in place. Vostranis however, goes on to make the observation that despite the fact that the definition of the homeless family is rather broad, it does not cover all of the potential children in need, as those children and their carers who have lost their homes but have managed to live with relatives, on the streets or perhaps live as travellers, are not covered by the statutory obligation to provide housing. The official figures therefore, he observes, are generally an underestimate of the true situation. The official figures for the homeless families are put (in this paper) at 140,000. (Vostanis Cumella, 1999) The authors give us further information in that many families will become homeless again within one year of rehousing and the typical family seen is the single mother and at least two children who are generally under the age of 11 yrs. They also observe that the typical father and adolescent child tend to be placed in homeless centres. (D of H 1995) In exploration of the particular topic that we are considering, the authors give us the situations that typically have given rise to the degree of parental stress that may have led to the homelessness. They point to the fact that a homeless family is usually homeless for different reasons to the single homeless adult. Vostanis (et al 1997) is quoted as showing that 50% of the cases studied were homeless as a direct result of domestic violence and 25% as a result of harassment from neighbours. The authors observe that the numbers in this category (and therefore the problems), are rising. (Welsh Office 1999). There are a number of section to this paper which are not directly referable to our considerations. We shall therefore direct our attention purely to those parts that have a direct bearing on the subject. One particularly useful and analytical part of the paper is the section that details the characteristics and needs of the target group. This is a very detailed section, but it makes the point that the children in need in this group are particularly heterogeneous, generally all with multiple and inter-related needs. Homelessness is seldom a one off event. This particular observation, (say the authors), is crucially important for the development and provision of services. Most families have histories of previous chronic adversities that constitute risk factors for both children and parents (Bassuk et al, 1997). Such events include family conflict, violence and breakdown; limited or absent networks for family and social support; recurring moves; poverty; and unemployment. Mothers are more likely to have suffered abuse in their own childhood and adult life and children have increased rates of placement on the at-risk child protection register, because of neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse. If we specifically consider the health needs of this population, the authors categorise them thus: The children are more likely to have a history of low birthweight, anaemia, dental decay and delayed immunisations, to be of lower stature and have a greater degree of nutritional stress. They are also more likely to suffer accidents, injuries and burns. (BPA 1999) Some studies have found that child health problems increase with the duration of homelessness, although this finding is not consistent. A substantial proportion of homeless children have delayed development compared with the general population of children of a similar chronological age. This includes both specific developmental delays, such as in receptive and expressive language and visual, motor and reading skills, as well as general skills and educational status (Webb et al. 2001). It is for this reason specifically, that it has proved extremely difficult to assess the effectiveness of the family support services because of the multivariate nature of the problems that are presented. The authors point to the fact that one of the prime determinants of the degree of support available, is the actual access that the families have to these services. Many sources (viz. Wilkinson R 1996), equate the poor health of the disadvantaged primarily with the lack of access to services. One immediate difficulty is the current registration system in the UK. In order to be seen in the primary healthcare team setting, one must be registered with a named doctor. In the majority of cases that we are dealing with here, they have moved area and registration is probably not high on their list of priorities. One can argue that there is the access to the A E departments of the local hospitals but there is virtually no continuity here and they are no geared up to provide anything other than immediate treatment. (Hall D 1996). This fact restricts their access to primary healthcare team procedures such as immunisations and other preventative medicine health clinics. (Lissauer et al, 1993) . By the same token these groups also have restricted access to the social services, whether they be the access teams, the family teams or the family support units and other agencies. The authors also point to other more disruptive trends in this group such as an inability to attend a particular school for fear of being traced by an abusive partner. It follows that these children do not have a stable social support of a school. They are denied such factors as peer groups, routines and challenges which are both important protective and developmental factors. (Shankleman J et al 2000). The summation of all of these factors, and others, is that the effectiveness of the family support services is greatly reduced by the mobility and the transient nature of the family unit. Quite apart from the difficulties outlined above relating to the problems of access to avenues of help open to the child in need and their families there are the problems engendered by the fact that social service departments in different areas of the country may not have immediate access to the previous records giving rise to many potential, and real, problems with continuity of care. This problem is brought into more immediate focus when one considers the increased frequency of child protection registrations in this particular group. (Hall D et al 1998). One specific analysis of the family support services of this particular group comes in the form of the psychiatric services. In the context of the title of this piece, it demonstrates how these particular services, (but not these alone), are failing to deal with the totality of the problem. All of the aspects that we have outlined so far are conspiring to dilute the effectiveness of the services provided. The fact that they are a mobile population with no fixed address means that some of the services may choose to invoke this as a reason for not making provision for them, particularly if resources are stretched. If more resources are given, then they are typically preferentially targeted at the single adult homeless population where the need is arguably greater. The authors of this paper point to the fact that this may not actually be true as some studies have shown that homeless single mothers and their children have a 49% psychopathy rate and only an 11% contact with the support services. (Cumella et al, 1998). The impact of this fact on the children can only be imagined. To an extent however, it can be quantified as the authors cite other studies which show a 30% need rating for children, (they do not actually define exactly what their perceived level of need was), contrasted with a 3% contact rate for children and adolescents in this area. (viz. Power S et al. 1995). Putting these considerations together, the authors outline a set of proposals which are designed to help improve the access to some of the essential services. The model that they propose could, if successful and with a degree of modification, prove suitable for adaptation to other areas of the family support services. It is not appropriate to discuss this model in detail, but suffice it to say that it has a tiered structure so that the degree of distress and need is titrated against the degree of input generated. One of the reasons that we have selected this particular paper to present in this context is for its last section. It proposes a â€Å"family support services model† which has been developed and pioneered in the Leicester area. In the context of our review, it is worth considering in some detail. A service provided through a family support team (four family support assistants).This is designed to detect a range of problems at the time of crisis; manage a degree of mental health problems (behavioural and emotional); provide parenting-training; support and train housing (hostel) staff; co-ordinate the work of different agencies; and provide some continuity after rehousing by ensuring intake by appropriate local services. The family workers are based at the main hostel for homeless children and families. Other, predominantly voluntary, services have established alternative posts, such as advocates and key workers. Whatever the title of the post, it is essential that the post-holder has some experience and ongoing training in mental health and child protection, so that he or she can hold a substantial case-load, rather than merely mediate between already limited services. The family support workers have direct access to the local child and adult mental health services, whose staff provide weekly outreach clinics. Their role is to work with the family support workers and other agencies, assess selected children and families, and provide treatment for more severe problems or disorders such as depression, self-harm and PTSD. A weekly inter-agency liaison meeting at the main hostel is attended by a health visitor, representatives of the local domestic violence service and Sure Start, There are also close, regular links with education welfare and social services. The aim is to effectively utilise specialist skills by discussing family situations from all perspectives at the liaison meeting. A bimonthly steering group, led by the housing department, involves senior managers representing these agencies, as well as the education and social services departments and the voluntary sector, and they oversee and co-ordinate the service. This appears to be something of an exemplar in relation to services provided elsewhere. The paper does not provide any element of costings in this area neither does it provide any figures in relation to its success rates, contact rates or overall effectiveness. In conclusion this paper is an extremely well written and authoritative overview of the situation relating to the stresses of the homeless parent with children and the effectiveness (or lack of it) in its ability to reduce the stresses experienced by the homeless children in need and their parents. It proposes remedies but sadly it does not evaluate the effectiveness of those remedies. In order to address these shortcomings we can consider another paper by Tischler (et al 2000). This looks at a similar outreach set up which has been designed to capture the families of children in need who might otherwise slip through the net. This paper is written from a different perspective and specifically analyses the effectiveness of these services as they pertain to an entry cohort of 40 families. This particular study was set up after preliminary work was done in the Birmingham area with 114 homeless families and this study defined the needs of the families but did not quantify their support systems.(Vostanis et al 1998). This paper set out to identify and measure the support systems available and their effectiveness as far as the families were concerned. The stresses encountered were partly reflected by the incidence of psychiatric morbidity. The mothers in the group were found to have over 50% more morbidity than a matched control group. The children in the group were found to have â€Å"histories of abuse, living in care, being on the at-risk protection register, delayed communication and higher reported mental health problems.† All of which adds to the general background stress levels. (Kerouac S et al. 1996). This particular study found that despite the psychiatric morbidity in the children, (estimated to be about 30%), and the psychiatric morbidity in the parents, (estimated at about 50%), only 3% of the children and 10% of the parents had had any significant contact or support from the social services. In this respect, this paper is very useful to our purpose as it quantifies the levels of intervention and access to healthcare resources that this particular group has. By any appreciation, it would be considered woefully inadequate in any society that calls itself civilised. In the terms of the title of this piece, the effectiveness of the family support services is minimal. Like the last paper discussed, this one also considered how best to tackle the problem, and this one is of much greater value to us, as it specifies a response, or intervention, to the problem in much the same way as the Vostranis 2002 paper did, but it makes the same measurements as it did prior to the intervention, and therefore allows us an insight into the actual effectiveness of the intervention. The way this particular study worked was to assess the problem (as it has been presented above), devise an intervention strategy and then to measure its effect. This particular study goes to great lengths to actively involve all the appropriate agencies that could help the situation by having a central assessment station that acted as a liaison between all of the other resources. In brief, it actively involved liaison with the following: Education, social services, child protection, local mental health services, voluntary and community organisations to facilitate the re-integration of the family into the community, and particularly their engagement with local services following rehousing; and training of staff of homeless centres in the understanding, recognition and management of mental illness in children and parents. This is essential, as hostel staff often work in isolation and have little knowledge of the potential severity and consequences of mental health problems in children. It was hoped that, by doing this, it would maximise the impact that the limited resources had on reducing the levels of morbidity and stress in the families of the children in need. The post intervention results were, by any estimate, impressive considering the historical difficulty of working with this particular group (OHara M 1995). 40 families (including 122 children) were studied in detail. The paper gives a detailed breakdown of the ethnic and demographic breakdown of the group. By far the biggest group were single mothers and children (72%) The results showed that the majority of referrals were seen between 1-3 times (55%), with a further 22% being seen 4-6 times. It is a reflection of the difficulty in engaging this type of family in need that over 25% did not actually keep their appointments despite the obvious potential benefits that could have been utilised. The authors investigated this group further and ascertained that a common reason for non attendance was the perception that the psychological welfare of the children was not actually the main concern. The families perceived that their primary needs were rehousing and financial stability. Other priorities identified were that physical health was a greater priority than mental health. The authors also identify another common failing in the social services provision, and that is the general lack of regular contact. They cite the situation where some families cope well initially, apparently glad to have escaped an abusive or violent home situation, but a prolonged stay in a hostel or temporary accommodation may soon precipitate a bout of depression in the parents and behavioural problems in the children of such parents. (Brooks RM et al 1998). They suggest that regular re-visiting of families who have been in temporary accommodation for any significant length of time should be mandatory. This paper takes a very practical overview by pointing out that workability of the system is, to a large extent, dependent on the goodwill of a number of committed professionals. The authors state that this has to be nurtured and they call for sufficient funding must be given to enable this particular model to be extended to a National level. Thus far in the review we have considered the effectiveness of the service provision in the support of the families of the children in need in one specific target grouping, those who are stressed by virtue of the fact that they are homeless. We will now consider the literature on a different kind of family stress, and that is when a parent dies. This leaves the children with a considerable amount of potential emotional â€Å"baggage† and the surviving parent with an enormous amount of stress. (Webb E 1998). An excellent paper by Downey (et al 1999) tackles this particular problem with both sensitivity and also considerable rigour. It is a long and complex paper, but the overall aims and objectives are clear from the outset. The structure of the paper is a prospective case study which aims to assess whether the degree of distress suffered by a family during a time of bereavement is in any way linked to the degree of service provision that is utilised. The base line for this study is set out in its first two paragraphs. Parentally bereaved children and surviving parents showed a greater than predicted level of psychiatric morbidity. Boys had greater levels of demonstrable morbidity than did girls, but bereaved mothers showed more morbidity than did bereaved fathers. Children were more likely to show signs of behavioural disturbance when the surviving parent manifested some kind of psychiatric disorder. (Kranzler EM et al 1990). The authors point to the fact that their study shows that the service provision is statistically related to a number of (arguably unexpected [Fristad MA et al 1993]) factors namely: The age of the children and the manner of parental death. Children under 5 years of age were less likely to be offered services than older children even though their parents desired it. Children were significantly more likely to be offered services when the parent had committed suicide or when the death was expected. Children least likely to receive service support were those who were not in touch with services before parental death. Paradoxically the level of service provision was not found to be statistically significantly related to either the parental wishes or the degree of the psychiatric disturbance in either the parent or child. (Sanchez L et al 1994) The service provision did have some statistical relationships but that was only found to be the manner of the parental death and the actual age of the child at the time. The authors therefore are able to identify a mismatch between the perceived need for support and the actual service provision made. Part of that mismatch is found to be due to the inability of the social services and other related agencies to take a dispassionate overview. Elsewhere in the paper the authors suggest that there are other factors that add to this inequality and they include lack of resources and a lack of specificity in identifying children at greatest risk. (Harrington R 1996) The authors examine other literature to back up their initial precept that bereaved children have greater levels of morbidity. They cite many other papers who have found distress manifesting in the form of â€Å"anxiety, depression, withdrawal, sleep disturbance, and aggression.† (Worden JW et al. 1996) and also psychological problems in later life (Harris T et al. 1996). In terms of study structure, the authors point to methodological problems with other papers in the area including a common failing of either having a standardised measure or no matched control group (Mohammed D et al 2003). They also point to the fact that this is probably the first UK study to investigate the subject using a properly representative sample and certainly the first to investigate whether service provision is actually related to the degree of the problems experienced. The entry cohort involved nearly 550 families with 94 having children in the target range (2-18). With certain exclusions (such as two families where one parent had murdered the other etc.) and non respondents, the final cohort was reduced to 45 families and one target child was randomly selected from each family. It has to be noted that the comparatively large number of non-respondents may have introduced a large element of bias, insofar as it is possible that the families most in need of support were those who were most distressed by the death of a family member and these could have been the very ones who chose not to participate. (Morton V et al 2003) The authors make no comment on this particular fact. The authors should be commended for a particularly ingenious control measure for the children. They were matched by asking their school teacher to complete an inventory of disturbed behaviour on the next child in the school register after the target child. A large part of the paper is taken up with methodological issues which ( apart form the comments above) cannot be faulted. In terms of being children in need, 60% of children were found to have â€Å"significant behavioural abnormalities† with 28% having scores above the 95th centile. In terms of specific service support provision, 82% of parents identified a perceived need for support by virtue of the behaviour of their children. Only 49% of these actually received it in any degree. Perhaps the most surprising statistic to come out of this study was the fact that of the parents who were offered support 44% were in the group who asked for it and 56% were in the group who didn’t want it. The levels of support offered were independent of the degree of behavioural disturbance in the child. As with the majority of papers that we have either presented here or read in preparation for this review, the authors call for a more rationally targeted approach to the utilisation of limited resources. The study also provides us with a very pertinent comment which many experienced healthcare professionals will empathise with, (Black D 1996), and that is: Practitioners should also be aware that child disturbance may reflect undetected psychological distress in the surviving parent. While not suggesting that this is a reflection of Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy, the comment is a valid reflection of the fact that parental distress may be well hidden from people outside of the family and may only present as a manifestation of the child’s behaviour. (Feldman MD et al. 1994) The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that there is a considerable gap in the support offered ( quite apart form the effectiveness of that support) in this area of obvious stress for both parents and children. (Black D 1998). This study goes some way to quantifying the level of support actually given in these circumstances. We have considered the role of the effectiveness and indeed, even the existence, of adequate support services for the children in need and their parents in a number of different social circumstances. The next paper that we wish to present is an excellent review of the support that is given to another specific sub-group and that is women and children who suffer from domestic violence. Webb and her group (et al 2001) considered the problem in considerable (and commendable) depth The study itself had an entry cohort of nearly 150 children and their mothers who were resident in a number of hostels and women’s refuges that had been the victims of family violence at some stage in the recent past. The study subjected the cohort to a battery of tests designed to assess their physical, emotional and psychological health, and then quantified their access to, and support gained from, the primary healthcare teams and other social service-based support agencies. This study is presented in a long and sometimes difficult to read format. Much of the presentation is (understandably) taken up with statistical, ethical and methodological matters – all of which appear to be largely of excellent quality and the result of careful consideration. The results make for interesting and, (in the context of this review), very relevant reading. Perhaps one of the more original findings was that nearly 60% of the child health data held by the various refuges was factually incorrect. This clearly has grave implications for studies that base their evidence base on that data set (Berwick D 2005). Of great implication for the social services support mechanisms was the finding that 76% of the mothers in the study expressed concerns about the health of their children. Once they had left the refuge there was a significant loss to the follow up systems as 15% were untraceable and 25% returned to the home of the original perpetrator. The study documents the fact that this particular group had both a high level of need for support and also a poor level of access to appropriate services. In the study conclusions, the authors make the pertinent comment that the time spent in the refuge offers a â€Å"window of opportunity† for the family support services to make contact and to review health and child developmental status. This is not a demographically small group. In the UK, over 35,000 children and a parent, are recorded as passing through the refuges each year, with at least a similar number also being refered to other types of safe accommodation. Such measures are clearly not undertaken lightly with the average woman only entering a refuge after an average of 28 separate assaults. One can only speculate at the long term effects that this can have on both the mother and the children. In common with the other papers reviewed, this paper also calls for greater levels of support for the families concerned as, by inference, the current levels of effectiveness of the family support services is clearly inadequate. Conclusions This review has specifically presented a number of papers which have been chosen from a much larger number that have been accessed and assessed, because of the fact that each has a particularly important issue or factor in its construction or results. The issue that we have set out to evaluate is the effectiveness of the family support services which are specifically aimed at reducing the stress levels for the parents of children in need. Almost without exception, all of the papers that have been accessed (quite apart from those presented) have demonstrated the fact that the levels of support from the statutory bodies is â€Å"less than optimum† and in some cases it can only be described as â€Å"dire†. Another factor that is a common finding, is that, given the fact that any welfare system is, by its very nature, a rationed system, the provision of the services that are provided is seldom targeted at the groups that need it the most. One can cite the Tischler (et al 2000) and Downey (et al 1999) papers in particular as demonstrating that a substantial proportion of the resources mobilised are actually being directed to groups that are either not requesting support or who demonstrably need it less than other sectors of the community. Some of the papers (actually a small proportion) make positive suggestions about the models for redirecting and targeting support. Sadly, the majority do little more than call for â€Å"more research to be done on the issue†. In overview, we would have to conclude that the evidence suggests that the effectiveness of the family support services in reducing stress and poverty for the parents of children in need is poor at best and certainly capable of considerable improvement. References Bassuk, E. Buckner, J. Weinreb, L. et al (1997),  Homelessness in female-headed families: childhood and adult risk and protective factors.   American Journal of Public Health, 87, 241–248 1997 Berwick D 2005 Broadening the view of evidence-based medicine Qual. Saf. Health Care, Oct 2005; 14: 315 316. Black D. 1996,  Childhood bereavement: distress and long term sequelae can be lessened by early intervention.   BMJ 1996; 312: 1496,   Black D. 1998,  Coping with loss: bereavement in childhood.   BMJ 1998; 316: 931-933,   BPA 1999,  British Paediatric Association. Outcome measures for child health.   London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1999.    Brooks RM, Ferguson T, Webb E. 1998,  Health services to children resident in domestic violence shelters.   Ambulatory Child Health 1998; 4: 369-374.    Cumella, S. Grattan, E. Vostanis, P.

A Tan to Die For by Claire Oliver :: Letter to Editor Melanoma Tanning Solarium

â€Å"A tan to die for† written by Claire Oliver is a letter to the editor that shows that the use of solariums can greatly increase the potential for life-threatening melanoma. Claire Oliver’s tone shows a composed, collected and complacent frame of mind at her imminent death, stating that â€Å"[she is] at peace†. Her composed tone when discussing the certainty of her impending death appeals to a sense of rationality, and writes optimistically about the remainder of her life. This optimism, and personal responsibility, comes from her wish of helping those who do not know of the health risks involved in the beauty young teens crave to acquire. Ms Oliver states factually how little life she has remaining. â€Å"If I really fight it out, I may even have six weeks left.† She puts her life in perspective, and follows by showcasing her emotions more obviously. â€Å"It’s scary, because I feel myself getting more tired and it worries me that I might not wake up.† This fear evokes the sympathies of the reader. The writer then transfers her focus from her story to the risks involved with solariums and how she appeals to the government to educate the general public especially to the younger generation. She also demands some answers from the government and wants some honesty from them on how the dangers on solarium can kill you. Through her letter to the editor she implies that the solariums should be banned but for the first time she gives her opinion saying â€Å"Obviously, I think they should be banned.† She also implies the government is more concerned about business profits rather then the general public’s health. Ms Oliver tries to not focus her attentions on the government but to raise awareness and the sense of responsibility. The writer shifts her focus to her life background and how she was like any other normally 25 year old. She implies how â€Å"normal† she is because she wants to everybody to know that she was just as â€Å"normal† as everyone else. This disease can happen to anyone at any age.

Developing Good Business Sense

Developing Good Business Sense Axia College of University of Phoenix BUS 210 Developing Good Business Sense June 29, 2008 The three companies I selected for this assignment are McDonalds, Bose Corporation and Motorola. From the reading I was able to determine the employee’s organizational structure within this company’s by which they complete their jobs. I will review and outline the main kinds of Operations and Materials Management (OMM) processes these companies use, and how it affects their operations. Also, I will discuss how companies design their operating systems to give them a competitive advantage. I will identify which components of operations and materials management costs and the methods companies use to reduce them. McDonald’s is a highly successful and well recognized brand leader of fast food restaurants located around the world. They sell hamburgers and french fries as their primary products, and they work with many different food suppliers such as hamburger bun manufacturers, beef producers, produce suppliers and many others, to ensure their foods are as fresh as possible. McDonald’s sells franchise rights to local owner/operators which allow them to keep costs low and avoid high capital and plant investment costs. Since a great deal of McDonald’s service is reliant on delivering customer’s food fresh, McDonald’s use the Just in Time (JIT) inventory management system. This system reviews stock inventory levels available against product usage, and arranges delivery and restocking to the restaurants just as inventory items are needed. This allows inventory to be kept to a minimum in each franchise location. Foods for the restaurants are not warehoused for days or weeks, and are efficiently managed under this system so they are used quickly and, freshness is guaranteed. Each franchise owner keeps labor costs down by managing store staff schedules against the peak customer periods when the restaurant gets busy. Another technique McDonald’s uses to keep distribution costs low, is to have soft drink company’s ship only the soda syrup mix needed for each brand, which is then mixed with carbonated water at the soda fountain in the store. McDonalds has also begun to employ the use of robotics to complete routine, repetitive tasks such as filling soda orders for the drive through window and dumping fries into the fry maker, as a means of making their food quicker and less expensively. Over time the return on investment for these developments will pay off greatly in saved labor costs. Of course, the most important element in any McDonald’s restaurants is that employees must be organized and communicate effectively. Wasted food equates to wasted money and if a special order is needed, staff must talk to each other to make sure it is done right the first time. By working together as a team the cooks, preparation staff, and cashiers help to keeps the orders organized and production is kept high. The Bose Corporation is a world renowned manufacturer of high-fidelity speakers and audio equipment. The company’s ability to meet customer demand for their products is dependant on the supply chain and availability of components needed to complete customer orders. The company uses a supply chain network that is spread across the globe, with their primary source of over 50% of purchased components coming from the Far East. Logistics managers within the company bear the responsibility of moving the vast amounts of equipment into production, based on a real-time inventory management system called â€Å"ProterLink†. This system is able to locate supplies that are needed anywhere in the shipping chain, and divert them if necessary to meet an accelerated production schedule if necessary. This operational system gives Bose the advantage of meeting large customer’s orders without missing a beat. Transportation costs associated with material movement and management from suppliers to their Bose’ production facility would be a key cost consideration for the company. If supplies needed to fill orders are transported efficiently and are timed to correspond to production schedules, costs would be lower because unnecessary components would not take valuable inventory space away from items that are in need to complete orders, thereby maximizing production effectiveness. Motorola, a global communications leader, is using a unique forward thinking production plan to bring their services and products to market. In their self-named, â€Å"factory of the future†, custom made communication devices can be produced very quickly for customers, giving Motorola a competitive advantage. The process starts with sales person who receives the order and inputs all of the customer’s customization preferences. This information is provided as a barcode and relayed to the production facility, which uses automation technology (robots) to produce the phone in accordance with the customer’s wishes. Using robots gives Motorola a competitive advantage because they are able to mass produce large volumes of customized phones, with only a two-hour turnaround window. The universal operational strategy in any business is to meet the goal of customer satisfaction. The company’s reviewed accomplish that goal through improving quality and efficiency, and ultimately reducing costs. [pic] Developing Good Business Sense Developing Good Business Sense Axia College of University of Phoenix BUS 210 Developing Good Business Sense June 29, 2008 The three companies I selected for this assignment are McDonalds, Bose Corporation and Motorola. From the reading I was able to determine the employee’s organizational structure within this company’s by which they complete their jobs. I will review and outline the main kinds of Operations and Materials Management (OMM) processes these companies use, and how it affects their operations. Also, I will discuss how companies design their operating systems to give them a competitive advantage. I will identify which components of operations and materials management costs and the methods companies use to reduce them. McDonald’s is a highly successful and well recognized brand leader of fast food restaurants located around the world. They sell hamburgers and french fries as their primary products, and they work with many different food suppliers such as hamburger bun manufacturers, beef producers, produce suppliers and many others, to ensure their foods are as fresh as possible. McDonald’s sells franchise rights to local owner/operators which allow them to keep costs low and avoid high capital and plant investment costs. Since a great deal of McDonald’s service is reliant on delivering customer’s food fresh, McDonald’s use the Just in Time (JIT) inventory management system. This system reviews stock inventory levels available against product usage, and arranges delivery and restocking to the restaurants just as inventory items are needed. This allows inventory to be kept to a minimum in each franchise location. Foods for the restaurants are not warehoused for days or weeks, and are efficiently managed under this system so they are used quickly and, freshness is guaranteed. Each franchise owner keeps labor costs down by managing store staff schedules against the peak customer periods when the restaurant gets busy. Another technique McDonald’s uses to keep distribution costs low, is to have soft drink company’s ship only the soda syrup mix needed for each brand, which is then mixed with carbonated water at the soda fountain in the store. McDonalds has also begun to employ the use of robotics to complete routine, repetitive tasks such as filling soda orders for the drive through window and dumping fries into the fry maker, as a means of making their food quicker and less expensively. Over time the return on investment for these developments will pay off greatly in saved labor costs. Of course, the most important element in any McDonald’s restaurants is that employees must be organized and communicate effectively. Wasted food equates to wasted money and if a special order is needed, staff must talk to each other to make sure it is done right the first time. By working together as a team the cooks, preparation staff, and cashiers help to keeps the orders organized and production is kept high. The Bose Corporation is a world renowned manufacturer of high-fidelity speakers and audio equipment. The company’s ability to meet customer demand for their products is dependant on the supply chain and availability of components needed to complete customer orders. The company uses a supply chain network that is spread across the globe, with their primary source of over 50% of purchased components coming from the Far East. Logistics managers within the company bear the responsibility of moving the vast amounts of equipment into production, based on a real-time inventory management system called â€Å"ProterLink†. This system is able to locate supplies that are needed anywhere in the shipping chain, and divert them if necessary to meet an accelerated production schedule if necessary. This operational system gives Bose the advantage of meeting large customer’s orders without missing a beat. Transportation costs associated with material movement and management from suppliers to their Bose’ production facility would be a key cost consideration for the company. If supplies needed to fill orders are transported efficiently and are timed to correspond to production schedules, costs would be lower because unnecessary components would not take valuable inventory space away from items that are in need to complete orders, thereby maximizing production effectiveness. Motorola, a global communications leader, is using a unique forward thinking production plan to bring their services and products to market. In their self-named, â€Å"factory of the future†, custom made communication devices can be produced very quickly for customers, giving Motorola a competitive advantage. The process starts with sales person who receives the order and inputs all of the customer’s customization preferences. This information is provided as a barcode and relayed to the production facility, which uses automation technology (robots) to produce the phone in accordance with the customer’s wishes. Using robots gives Motorola a competitive advantage because they are able to mass produce large volumes of customized phones, with only a two-hour turnaround window. The universal operational strategy in any business is to meet the goal of customer satisfaction. The company’s reviewed accomplish that goal through improving quality and efficiency, and ultimately reducing costs. [pic] Developing Good Business Sense Developing Good Business Sense Axia College of University of Phoenix BUS 210 Developing Good Business Sense June 29, 2008 The three companies I selected for this assignment are McDonalds, Bose Corporation and Motorola. From the reading I was able to determine the employee’s organizational structure within this company’s by which they complete their jobs. I will review and outline the main kinds of Operations and Materials Management (OMM) processes these companies use, and how it affects their operations. Also, I will discuss how companies design their operating systems to give them a competitive advantage. I will identify which components of operations and materials management costs and the methods companies use to reduce them. McDonald’s is a highly successful and well recognized brand leader of fast food restaurants located around the world. They sell hamburgers and french fries as their primary products, and they work with many different food suppliers such as hamburger bun manufacturers, beef producers, produce suppliers and many others, to ensure their foods are as fresh as possible. McDonald’s sells franchise rights to local owner/operators which allow them to keep costs low and avoid high capital and plant investment costs. Since a great deal of McDonald’s service is reliant on delivering customer’s food fresh, McDonald’s use the Just in Time (JIT) inventory management system. This system reviews stock inventory levels available against product usage, and arranges delivery and restocking to the restaurants just as inventory items are needed. This allows inventory to be kept to a minimum in each franchise location. Foods for the restaurants are not warehoused for days or weeks, and are efficiently managed under this system so they are used quickly and, freshness is guaranteed. Each franchise owner keeps labor costs down by managing store staff schedules against the peak customer periods when the restaurant gets busy. Another technique McDonald’s uses to keep distribution costs low, is to have soft drink company’s ship only the soda syrup mix needed for each brand, which is then mixed with carbonated water at the soda fountain in the store. McDonalds has also begun to employ the use of robotics to complete routine, repetitive tasks such as filling soda orders for the drive through window and dumping fries into the fry maker, as a means of making their food quicker and less expensively. Over time the return on investment for these developments will pay off greatly in saved labor costs. Of course, the most important element in any McDonald’s restaurants is that employees must be organized and communicate effectively. Wasted food equates to wasted money and if a special order is needed, staff must talk to each other to make sure it is done right the first time. By working together as a team the cooks, preparation staff, and cashiers help to keeps the orders organized and production is kept high. The Bose Corporation is a world renowned manufacturer of high-fidelity speakers and audio equipment. The company’s ability to meet customer demand for their products is dependant on the supply chain and availability of components needed to complete customer orders. The company uses a supply chain network that is spread across the globe, with their primary source of over 50% of purchased components coming from the Far East. Logistics managers within the company bear the responsibility of moving the vast amounts of equipment into production, based on a real-time inventory management system called â€Å"ProterLink†. This system is able to locate supplies that are needed anywhere in the shipping chain, and divert them if necessary to meet an accelerated production schedule if necessary. This operational system gives Bose the advantage of meeting large customer’s orders without missing a beat. Transportation costs associated with material movement and management from suppliers to their Bose’ production facility would be a key cost consideration for the company. If supplies needed to fill orders are transported efficiently and are timed to correspond to production schedules, costs would be lower because unnecessary components would not take valuable inventory space away from items that are in need to complete orders, thereby maximizing production effectiveness. Motorola, a global communications leader, is using a unique forward thinking production plan to bring their services and products to market. In their self-named, â€Å"factory of the future†, custom made communication devices can be produced very quickly for customers, giving Motorola a competitive advantage. The process starts with sales person who receives the order and inputs all of the customer’s customization preferences. This information is provided as a barcode and relayed to the production facility, which uses automation technology (robots) to produce the phone in accordance with the customer’s wishes. Using robots gives Motorola a competitive advantage because they are able to mass produce large volumes of customized phones, with only a two-hour turnaround window. The universal operational strategy in any business is to meet the goal of customer satisfaction. The company’s reviewed accomplish that goal through improving quality and efficiency, and ultimately reducing costs. [pic]