Why Do Firms Exist an Example by

Why Do Firms Exist? If markets are unanimously supposed to be the most proficient organizational arrangement and do not need the existence of firms for tackling scarcity, then why do firms exist at all? Ahead of the traditional theory of the firm as a profit-maximizing unit, an additional theory has developed to deal with the question of why firms exist. This hypothesis is not incorporated in most micro theory texts and course materials. For the most part frequently firms are assumed as an indispensable nonconformist building block of the economy without further explanation. The existence question of firms is never raised. A theory intending to clarify the existence of firms has been developed and can be seen as a discrepancy of the alternatives argument. (Foss, 2005) The premise that government substitutes for markets when they fall short to organize economic activity economically can be unmitigated to firms. Firms may come into existence to antidote noteworthy aspects of market failure. Need essay sample on "Why Do Firms Exist?" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Jointly the substitutes quarrelsome arrangement of mainstream political economy and the substitutes commencement of the firm would suggest the broad outlines of a substitutes theory of institutions in economics. A substitutes theory of institutions would assume that other forms of organized economic activity are, like the government and the firm, derivatives of and substitutes for competitive markets. (Huff, 2000) Markets are chosen as the paramount solution to the trouble of scarcity. Certainly markets fall short. Other institutional structures come into subsistence to recompense for the insufficiencies of markets. In this scrutiny, these other institutional structures undoubtedly would not exist if markets were unanimously triumphant in organizing human activity. Why do firms exist? This is a question avoiding by the substitutes confrontational structure which permeates approximately all of the academic literature in the economics profession. Think about the most essential assumptions of economic analysis. In conventional economics, the fundamental suppositions of economic theory come into view to hypothesize the survival of shortage and markets but not firms. Scarceness is a substantive intention about the character of the real world. (Dunning, 2001) It identifies a basic limitation of resources, incomes, and products accessible for human utilization and fabrication. Markets assist us manage with scarcity. In addition, markets can purpose without firms. Thus the scarcity-coping function of markets can be attained without firms. References Dunning, J. H. & Mucchielli, J. (Eds.). (2001). Multinational Firms: The Global-Local Dilemma. London: Routledge. Foss, N. J. (2005). Strategy, Economic Organization, and the Knowledge Economy: The Coordination of Firms and Resources. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Huff, A. S., Huff, J. O., & Barr, P. S. (2000). When Firms Change Direction. New York: Oxford University Press.

Literacy Coaching in Modern Education

Literacy Coaching in Modern Education Introduction Literate citizenry is very critical in the economic growth of every country. Currently, the high rate of globalization requires a workforce that is very efficient in communication, reading and solving various problems. As a result, the ability to sustain an economy of every country is dependent on the effectiveness and productivity of its human resource. Effective education is one of the ways through which literacy amongst the citizens can be attained.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Literacy Coaching in Modern Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order for learning institutions to be effective in imparting knowledge to students, they are incorporating valuable learning programs. These programs are mainly intended to enhance adolescent literacy. One of the ways through which adolescent learning process can be improved is through incorporation of literacy coaches (Sturtevant 1). Sturteva nt defines literacy coaches as proficient individuals whose role is to promote achievement of learning objectives in their school districts and secondary schools. Their roles and titles depend on the context of work, teaching and educational experience. Some of roles they play include coaching, teaching and heading reading programs. In addition, they serve as reference in reading and writing for administrators, learning support personnel, teachers and the society. They also provide expertise promotion based on past and latest literature and studies. In addition they collaborate with other professionals to develop and implement reading schemes for single person or groups of students at the same time acting as advocates for students who have difficulties in reading. The role of literacy coaches can be specifically defined. For example, a literacy coach can act as tutor for students facing problems in reading and a coordinator for writing and reading schemes (Rita Deford 3). Based on the views of Cleveland University Heights, literacy coaches act as collaborative consultants to promote K grade 12 teachers. They also serve as providers of essential understanding and particular literacy materials which support the learning process. Literacy coaches can be defined in seven different ways as outlined below (Cleveland University Heights 3). Teachers who have special knowledge, experience and skills in literacy teaching Modelers and communicators of research-linked top practices approaches relevant to literacy teachings Promoters of teachers by analysis Opportunities providers of professional communication and development Initiators of teachers support in relation to district literacy essentials Promoters of assessment associated implementation of the ELA basic curriculum. Interpreters and translators of literacy assessment to guide the development of coaching. Standard for literacy experts, 2010 This standard details the criteria for establishing and assessing pre paration plans for learning professionals. It gives the description of what is acceptable and what is not to reading professions in its context. These standards are based on performance. It also emphasizes on the importance of concentrating on knowledge, disposition and skills which are crucial for effective learning in a particular role. The standard is a product of a deliberative procedure based on professional proficiency and research in the reading area. Standard matrix Each matrix is defined by fundamentals that give particulars of the standards contents and whose evidence may be used to reproduce assignments, activities or assessment of particular preparation schemes. The elements in the verification column in the 2003 standard have been amended to portray development in the literacy field. For instance, with the significance influence of technology in writing and reading directives, it highlights ways through which reading experts can showcase their skill using the new litera cy.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, the standard portrays increased concern for English students, due to increase of their number in school and progression in knowledge of literacy instruction provision for them. It is important to note that these standards also give indicators and elements that specifically describe the roles the reading professional (International Reading Association 2) Standards are portrayed across all roles in a matrix with roles as columns and standards in rows to enable readers to detect the difference in outcomes among the professional responsibilities. However, standards 2010 list every role separately with complimentary standards to allow readers to search a specific standard alongside its description through out the various roles. Users of standards, 2010 Some of the institutions which utilize these standards include institut ions of higher learning such as colleges and universities. One of the ways through which these standards are utilized includes preparation of programs and promotion of personnel. The personnel who utilize these standards include Reading teachers Administrators Reading teachers Educators Literacy coaches Reading specialists Class reading teachers. The standard is also utilized by these individuals in assessment of the candidates and effectiveness’s of the program. The NCATE utilizes a criterion which is based on this standard in making decisions related to accreditation of literacy coaches otherwise referred to as reading coaches. The International Reading Association is responsible for conducting reviews of literacy coaches for NCATE endorsement. In addition, NCATE employs these standards to update their basic teacher standards relevant to language and reading art (International Reading Association 4). Standards 2010 is applicable in higher education institutions, state dep artments or units to control both professional program effectiveness and student’s reading preparedness. These standards are based on professionalism and reading research that depicts the performance criteria displayed by skilled reading experts. The set of standards guide determines the choice of program content when programming as well as learning activities which prepare students for the prospective roles such as reading specialist. Appropriately, the standard gives a guide for the determination of the amount of courses and semester hours to be included in the plan to support high performance in every expertise role. Effective assessment of candidate can be achieved through its alignment with the reading standards.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Literacy Coaching in Modern Education specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More How, are assessments conducted using these standards? Various points precede the c larification of the procedure for measuring candidate outcome and quality of the program by use of standard 2010. To begin with, the standards and the relevant elements should be the target for evaluation. Therefore, evaluation should measure the content, intellect and outlook reflected by the elements and the evidence which may be used to analyze particular elements. The principles for assessment include; Measurement of the content Competence and disposition projected in the elements Sampling of critical skill and knowledge embedded in the standards Measurement of complex ideas Intelligent reasoning and upper cognitive requirements. Importantly, assessment should correspond to the element of each standard (International Reading Association 43). Conclusion The significance of literacy coaches is increasing in schools across all grades from Kindergarten to grade 12. Since this is a developing profession, there exists fresh excitement concerning possibility of improvement with regar d to literacy instruction and improvement in student achievement. This has resulted from formalization in school guidance. Based on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the International Reading Association (IRA), these professionals are undertaking various tasks in schools. They are concerned with assessment of students, instructional planning and coaching (Rita Deford 1). Cleveland Heights. University height city school district browser. Literacy coaches. University Heights, OH: Miramar Boulevard. 2010.Web. International Reading Association. Standards for reading professionals. New York: International Reading Association, 2010.Print. Rita, Bean and Deford, Diane. Do’s and don’ts for literacy coaches advice from field. Literacy South Carolina: Coaching Clearing House, 2009. Print.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sturtevant, Elizabeth. The literacy coach: a key to improving teaching and learning in secondary  schools. Merrill: Prentice Hall, 2000. Web.

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview

Your Guide to a Successful Second Interview You’ve survived your first interview. Congratulations! And the hiring manager has called you back in for a second round. Congrats again! You must have done something right, right? But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare as arduously for your second interview as you did for your first. First, understand this is not a guarantee you’ll get the job. If anything, the competition has narrowed and become more fierce. You can’t rest on your laurels yet. You have to fight! You’ll probably be sitting down with someone higher up on the food chain- sometimes a lot higher up- as well, so your preparation and your game have to be top notch. There’s a lot more pressure. The stakes are higher. But you have another, more targeted chance to prove you are the right candidate for the job.Step 1: StrategizeMake sure you know exactly what the job is- what it entails, who you’d be reporting to, etc. Then make sure you know who exactly will be interviewing you- and read up as much as you can on who they are. You’ll want to impress your interviewer(s) with your expansive knowledge of the industry/company/role, but not scare them away. Strike a good balance.Be sure to prepare a brand new list of questions you should be prepared to ask when that section of the interview comes up. Tailor your research to this job in particular, and reach out to your contacts to see if you can chat with anyone who works or has worked in that office. It’s not a bad time to figure out what really matters to you in a job- and make doubly sure you want this one, as you move closer to potentially getting it.Step 2: PlanThere are three types of interviews: one-on-one interviews with a department head, director, or even owner; panel interviews with a group of higher-ups (think firing squad); and group interviews where you’re being interviewed alongside your competition. Each requires a slightly different strategy, so be sure to k now going in which scenario to prepare for. Mock interviewing with friends or current contacts is always a good idea to make sure you’re on your game.Step 3: Ask QuestionsWhether you’re talking to a supervisor, an HR manager, or a potential future coworker, you’ll absolutely need some questions to ask. Prepare a ton and then choose the one that makes the most sense when you’re on the ground. Make a list of questions for each type of person- that way you won’t run into an HR rep and only have questions prepared for your would-be immediate supervisor. When in doubt, ask about a typical day in the office, the work culture, or whether there is potential for professional growth.Your Top 5 Tips for a Second InterviewNo matter which sort of interview you’re facing, or with whom, here are five great ideas to keep you at the top of the heap.1. Be respectfulEven if you think you should be speaking with someone higher up on the food chain, treat whomev er interviews you with utmost respect. Make eye contact, be pleasant, shake hands firmly and warmly. And get a business card. You’ll thank yourself come thank you note time!2. Assess and analyzeRemember, a second interview is also a chance for them to start selling you on the job. Keep an eye out for red flags. Try to get a sense of your potential future coworkers. Ask yourself how you would feel in this environment, with this team. Do you respect the people who would be your supervisors?3. PrepareAs we said before, you have to prepare even more for a second interview than a first. You’ll need more information about the nitty-gritty details of the job, as specifics are much more likely to come up. Do your homework. Show how much you know about the job and about the company and industry.4. BreatheIt’s easy to get so stressed that you hold your breath. Don’t! Figure out what you’re going to say going in, and try to get through it. Take a moment to in ternalize questions before answering so you really make use of your preparation.5. Be honestThis should go without saying, but it bears repeating: no long-term good will come of you telling your interviewer what they want to hear. Be honest about your skills and your needs and you won’t end up in a job you don’t want or can’t handle.

Funding in singaporean health system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Funding in singaporean health system - Essay Example The funding also enables competition between the different private health care facilities. The funding also encourages individuals to choose between the public and private health care facilities. Singapore uses the 3M health care financing and services provision. The first 'M' is the Medisave introduced in 1984, the second 'M' is the Medishield introduced in 1990 and the third 'M' is the Medifund introduced in 1963. These 3M form the centerpiece of Singapore health care financing. The 3M medical strategy was designed to curb the reliance of the public on fee for service, third party reimbursement. New medical schemes have been added to the 3M, these include the Eldercare and Elderfund. The Singapore government offers subsidies to public health, outpatient services, hospital services and preventive care. Classes B and C are highly subsidized accounting for the higher costs of running private hospitals. This is practiced at the private sector. It is done individually or through an employer. It is popular among professionals and companies. It is practiced in the private sector. With this type of funding, the companies control the health care expenditure. The system is not used at a national level in Singapore. Widely practiced in Singapore's private sector. ... Fee for service Widely practiced in Singapore's private sector. It is practiced at a family medicine and specialist level. This form of financing for the private sector is growing rapidly in Singapore. It is based on free to choose basis. It is personal and very efficient. However it cannot serve the Singapore entire population as it is expensive. The sector progress as the economy grows (Toh, 2008). Cost containment In the Singapore method of health care financing the health care cost do not pose any problem so long as the rising national income is matched with the health care costs. This means that as the GDP increases, the health care costs should also plummet. This however is problematic due to the fact that the health care cost might increase faster than the GDP. As hospitalization cost increase the cost of the premiums are bound to increase. In the 3M system, all the money spent on the health care is directly the money earned by the health facilities. This system makes the health care providers lack any incentive to contain costs. The system thus limits health care providers from practicing entrepreneur skills. The 3M scheme has resulted in the cutting back of the government spending on healthcare but not to the private spending. Government promotion to the private sector Singapore is striving towards becoming a regional medical hub. This initiative is funded by the government and aims at promoting the private health care sector. The government has spent millions of dollars in attracting foreign based biotechnology and pharmacetucal companies. Some multinational drug companies operating in Singapore include Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-plough and Pfizer. (Taylor & Blair,

The views of Descartes on Rationalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The views of Descartes on Rationalism - Essay Example He argues that there are many things that he accepted as truth in his childhood. Descartes refuted his childish and youthful beliefs and sought to build his ideas afresh. He used a methodological approach to handle issues that nagged his mind. He is quoted as saying that â€Å"some thoughts within him were as due to his power of thinking.† In applying these thoughts in ideas of notion, he was able to distinguish them from others. In his first meditation, Descartes doubts many things that happen to human life. Notably, Descartes employs a rational and methodological doubt. For instance, he states that when he dreams, he is deceived by illusions that he sees in the dreams. Similarly, the insane perceive the same dreams in their waking moments. He argues that human beings are thinking beings in a position to know their minds distinctively and clearly, but have to work towards knowing their own mind. Descartes is aware of the power to reason, which he views as the basis of accepting knowledge. Descartes regards anything that is doubtful as false. He gives a critical analysis of his existence and the existence of demons. He argues that he exists because he has conceived that opinion in his mind. He clearly notes the difference that exists between â€Å"I think† and â€Å"I exist†. He recognizes the power of human beings to think. In doing so, he asserts that human beings are able to think about things that do not exist. Questioning the existence of things in human environment would lead to thinking and doubting some norms in the society. In as much as that would happen, the mind exists within the body, thus he is able to think and sense at the same time. This attribute provides room for discerning what is good, right, or wrong. Descartes believed that sensory perception is part of the same mind which thinks but is not veridical. For instance, when experimenting with wax, he realized that the wax had

Introduction to programming Essay Example for Free

Introduction to programming Essay As this course is titled â€Å"Introduction to programming†, therefore it is most essential and appropriate to understand what programming really means. Let us first see a widely known definition of programming. Definition: A program is a precise sequence of steps to solve a particular problem.† It means that when we say that we have a program, it actually mean that we know about a complete set activities to be performed in a particular order. The purpose of these activities is to solve a given problem. Alan Perlis, a professor at Yale University, says: See more: how to write an introduction paragraph for an essay It goes against the grain of modern education to teach children to program. What fun is there in making plans, acquiring discipline in organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail and learning to be self-critical? It is a sarcastic statement about modern education, and it means that the modern education is not developing critical skills like planning, organizing and paying attention to detail. Practically, in our day to day lives we are constantly planning, organizing and paying attention to fine details (if we want our plans to succeed). And it is also fun to do these activities. For example, for a picnic trip we plan where to go, what to wear, what to take for lunch, organize travel details and have a good time while doing so. When we talk about computer programming then as Mr. Steve Summit puts it â€Å"At its most basic level, programming a computer simply means telling it what to do, and this vapid-sounding definition is not even a joke. There are no other truly fundamental aspects of computer programming; everything else we talk about will simply be the details of a particular, usually artificial, mechanism for telling a computer what to do. Sometimes these mechanisms are chosen because they have been found to be convenient for programmers (people) to use; other times they have been chosen because theyre easy for the computer to understand. The first hard thing about programming is to learn, become comfortable with, and accept these artificial mechanisms, whether they make sense to you or not. â€Å" Why Programming is important The question most of the people ask is why should we learn to program when there are so many application software and code generators available to do the task for us. Well the answer is as give by the Matthias Felleisen in the book ‘How to design programs’ â€Å"The answer consists of two parts. First, it is indeed true that traditional forms of programming are useful for just a few people. But, programming as we the authors understand it is useful for everyone: the administrative secretary who uses spreadsheets as well as the high-tech programmer. In other words, we have a broader notion of programming in mind than the traditional one. We explain our notion in a moment. Second, we teach our idea of programming with a technology that is based on the principle of minimal intrusion. Hence, our notion of programming teaches problem-analysis and problem-solving skills without imposing the overhead of traditional programming notations and tools.† Hence learning to program is important because it develops analytical and problem solving abilities. It is a creative activity and provides us a mean to express abstract ideas. Thus programming is fun and is much more than a vocational skill. By designing programs, we learn many skills that are important for all professions. These skills can be summarized as: Critical reading Analytical thinking Creative synthesis What skills are needed Programming is an important activity as people life and living depends on the programs one make. Hence while programming one should Paying attention to detail Think about the reusability. Think about user interface Understand the fact the computers are stupid Comment the code liberally Paying attention to detail In programming, the details matter. This is a very important skill. A good programmer always analyzes the problem statement very carefully and in detail. You should pay attention to all the aspects of the problem. You cant be vague. You cant describe your program 3/4th of the way, then say, You know what I mean?, and have the compiler figure out the rest. Furthermore you should pay attention to the calculations involved in the program, its flow, and most importantly, the logic of the program. Sometimes, a grammatically correct sentence does not make any sense. For example, here is a verse from poem Through the Looking Glass written by Lewis Carol: â€Å"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe â€Å" The grammar is correct but there is no meaning. Similarly, the sentence, Mr. ABC sleeps thirty hours every day, is grammatically correct but it is illogical. So it may happen that a program is grammatically correct. It compiles and runs but produces incorrect or absurd results and does not solve the problem. It is very important to pay attention to the logic of the program. Think about the reusability When ever you are writing a program, always keep in mind that it could be reused at some other time. Also, try to write in a way that it can be used to solve some other related problem. A classic example of this is: Suppose we have to calculate the area of a given circle. We know the area of a circle is (Pi * r2). Now we have written a program which calculates the area of a circle with given radius. At some later time we are given a problem to find out the area of a ring. The area of the ring can be calculated by subtracting the area of outer circle from the area of the inner circle. Hence we can use the program that calculates the area of a circle to calculate the area of the ring. Think about Good user interface As programmers, we assume that computer users know a lot of things, this is a big mistake. So never assume that the user of your program is computer literate. Always provide an easy to understand and easy to use interface that is self explanatory. Understand the fact that computers are stupid Computers are incredibly stupid. They do exactly what you tell them to do: no more, no less unlike human beings. Computers cant think by themselves. In this sense, they differ from human beings. For example, if someone asks you, â€Å"What is the time?†, â€Å"Time please?† or just, â€Å"Time?† you understand anyway that he is asking the time but computer is different. Instructions to the computer should be explicitly stated. Computer will tell you the time only if you ask it in the way you have programmed it. When youre programming, it helps to be able to think as stupidly as the computer does, so that you are in the right frame of mind for specifying everything in minute detail, and not assuming that the right thing will happen by itself. Comment the code liberally Always comment the code liberally. The comment statements do not affect the performance of the program as these are ignored by the compiler and do not take any memory in the computer. Comments are used to explain the functioning of the programs. It helps the other programmers as well as the creator of the program to understand the code. Program design recipe In order to design a program effectively and properly we must have a recipe to follow. In the book name ‘How to design programs’ by Matthias Felleisen.and the co-worker, the idea of design recipe has been stated very elegenlty as â€Å"Learning to design programs is like learning to play soccer. A player must learn to trap a ball, to dribble with a ball, to pass, and to shoot a ball. Once the player knows those basic skills, the next goals are to learn to play a position, to play certain strategies, to choose among feasible strategies, and, on occasion, to create variations of a strategy because none fits. â€Å"

White-collar Crimes :: Legal Issues, Unethical Behaviors

People draw conclusions and profile the average committed street crimes by race, gender, and social classes. White-collar crimes are probably not as common as street crimes to the average person. Not everyone hears about every crime and some crimes manage to slide around the news. Society usually thinks of crime as violent or unethical abuse of some sort (leaving a baby in the car on accident). Poverty, social environments, and peer pressure influences decisions for people who committee white-collar crimes. Society views of crime are mostly based on personal profiling of offenders and conclusions of the average convicts. A person who reads the newspaper every single day concludes a description of criminals through what they see and read. Elliott (2010) writes, â€Å"The media are quick to report crimes involving individuals that the public would normally espouse as pillars of success† (pg. 1). People think highly of celebrities and successful socialites and the public are appalled when socialites commit white-collar crimes. Media plays important parts of societal views and standards. A store that gets robbed a lot in a certain neighborhood is always on the local news channel. There would be a mental imprint telling you not to go to that store or go at night alone. People are used to turning on the television and seeing convicted murders who fit the typical profile. The not so typical profile such as Martha Stewart or John Rigas is upsetting because their crimes are not the usual norms of society. People symbolize social norms by following the rules of society and maintaining individual society roles. Physical crimes are often more upsetting to people than white-collar crimes. Mooney, Knox, & Schacht (2011) write, â€Å"Nonetheless, many white-collar criminals go unpunished† (pg. 124). People who commit white-collar crimes probably think the sentence for getting caught will not be extreme punishment. Therefore, some white-collar criminals take the risk and label their behavior as accepting. The economical depletion makes poverty, unemployment, and business struggles worse within communities. Elliot (2010) writes, â€Å"Certainly, the global economic crisis we are currently experiencing sets the stage for desperate financial measures† (pg.2). Financial problems affect all social classes in different ways. Someone working at a fast food chain that gets paid minimum wage may have trouble financially. There may be children they must support by any means necessary.

Gillian Clarke Essay

Before even reading â€Å"Miracle on St David’s Day†, I knew that something very special was going to happen from the word in the title â€Å"Miracle†. Clarke’s use of this word suggests that an amazing event is going to occur and that the poem is therefore going to be emotional and poignant. Gillian Clarke uses the first verse of the poem to create a pastoral idyll due to the use of personification-â€Å"An afternoon yellow and open mouthed with daffodils†. This conjures a happy and warm image of daffodils with their trumpets open wide, laughing in the sunlight, and it successfully personifies the flowers. Clarke also places people in the description to make it seem even more vivid in our minds-â€Å"the rumps of gardeners between nursery shrubs†. The line, â€Å"country house, guests strolling† pulls together a vivid image of a beautiful, opening scene in the reader’s mind. Clarke also introduces the importance of nature right at the beginning of the poem in this first verse. lAt the start of the second verse, Clarke dramatically dispels the pastoral idyllic that she created in the first verse. â€Å"I am reading poetry to the insane† is a blunt line, completely in contrast to the last verse as it is so insensitive. As readers, we instantly realise the harsh reality of the situation that she is in fact in a mental institution. Clarke’s dispelling of the original image is effective because it catches the reader’s attention immediately as it is a completely unexpected twist. It also makes the poem poignant because it makes the reader’s realise that there is never a perfect place and that there is always suffering around. Clarke goes on in this verse to describe some of the patients around her and the length of their mental disorders-â€Å"An old woman interrupting offers as many buckets of coal as I need. Clarke describes the poignant image of a schizophrenic, beautiful boy absorbed in her poetry making us realise that her poetry may be powerful for these people. After verse two, Clarke introduces verse three by stating â€Å"on a good day, they tell me later† to show how the split between a verse is a like the dramatic split personality of a schizophrenic. In verse three, Clarke goes into more detail about her moving surroundings to build up a vivid idea of the situation in the reader’s mind. She describes ow the sun causes shadows of window bars into the room and how a woman is sitting in these shadows as if she is in a cage. â€Å"In a cage of first March sun a woman sits†. Clarke repeats the word not, â€Å"not listening, not seeing, not feeling† to result in the woman appearing to be trapped inside herself and entirely vacant. Finally in this verse, Clarke writes, â€Å"a big, big mild, man is tenderly led to his chair†. The use of the adverb â€Å"tenderly† makes us understand just how much care and attention these people need. Clarke continues with the poem’s tone of compassion in verse four, by the slow reading caused by several instances of pauses in the line due to commas such as â€Å"†¦ hands on his knees, he rocks†¦ â€Å". â€Å"I read to the big, dumb, labouring man as he rocks† also brings about the sad sense that although this man seems self-sufficient and big on the exterior he is mild and insecure on the inside and in the mind. Finally Clarke uses an oxymoron, â€Å"I read to their presences, absences† to show how although they are physically in the room, some of their minds aren’t really there at all. In verse five, Clarke’s writing makes everything suddenly change. The slow and thoughtful pace of the poem ends dramatically in a similar way that Clarke destroyed the pastoral idyllic after the first verse. Gillian Clarke’s use of alliteration also strongly suggests that something special is about to happen, â€Å"He is suddenly standing silently, huge and mild but I feel afraid. † Clarke then cleverly uses two similes to portray the moment before the man speaks, â€Å"Like slow movement of spring water or the first bird of the year in the breaking darkness†. These similes are closely linked to new life spring which is convenient because the poem is set on the first day of spring. We also grasp from Clarke’s use of similes that the man is going to do something new. This is a significant and poignant moment in the poem because the man is so well-built and huge yet what he is about to do is something really big and special for everybody in the room and the reader, â€Å"the labourer’s voice recites ‘The Daffodils’† The reaction to this man’s speech is shock and no one is able to speak. The nurses are speechless and prepared for violence from the man but even they freeze. The patients, some of which are seriously mentally ill also suddenly listen, â€Å"the patients seem to listen†. It is effective and poignant, how Gillian Clarke then personifies the daffodils to match the characters and mood of the room. She expresses that even nature outside can react at this incredible moment. The hyperbole that she uses, â€Å"a thousand, ten thousand† is an excerpt from the Wordsworth poem that the man is reciting. Clarke successfully employs this hyperbole to exaggerate the number of daffodils who stop to observe to the man breaking free of speech and his life. I think that the seventh stanza is the most heart-breaking stanza, especially â€Å"Since the dumbness of misery fell†; because that implies that the man was once a happy child and only stopped talking and became miserable when something tore his life apart. This is poignant because it makes us imagine tragic events that could have stopped this man from speaking and that it really shows the power and impact that poetry can have. I think â€Å"the daffodils are flame† is a very effective and clever way of Clarke to finish the poem because it is ending with the daffodils where it first started. The way that nature outside corresponds to the event in the room is truly miraculous. In verse six Clarke personifies the daffodils as â€Å"still as wax† whilst the man is reciting and the daffodils are then â€Å"flame† in the last verse during the man’s applaud (we can see a fiery theme). The poem is so poignant because of the way Clarke creates successful images and personification so that we can feel we are in the room at the time of the miracle. The pathetic fallacy at the end leaves reader’s reflective and astounded by the description in poetry of such an amazing account.

Customer Retention Strategies Essay

Assume you are doing a classroom presentation on customer retention strategies. Reread your responses to the What Do You Think? questions that you completed throughout this chapter. 1.What are some service attitudes and practices that promote retaining customers? Customer retention refer to a strategy with the purpose of doing whatever it takes to keep a company’s current customers on a long term basis (Gibson, 2012). Retaining customers is enabled by excellent customer service that produces many positive benefits for the organization. Retaining customers through effective customer service enables easier growth, indirectly and directly. When the customers are happy and satisfied then the staff is happy as well (2009). You can improve the customer stimulation by offering discounts, promotions and having active sales efforts will keep a relationship with your customer and attract them to buy more of the products or service you sell. Upon the organization, you can keenly monitor the customers for signs of attrition such as a decrease/increase in calls. If you develop a precise campaign strategy then you will prevent high risk customers and you will be able to retain in more swiftly manner. When you can improve the precision and clarity of your billing process, you can go a long way toward minimizing customer worry. Increasing the power of the service organization and the sales team to address customer complaints promptly and offer retention-oriented promotions are other ways to appease dissatisfied customers. When doing this, you are addressing the key sources of customer dissatisfaction (2011). 2.What service issues must be carefully addressed by the CSRs to retain customers over a long period of ti me? An angry, dissatisfied customer. When dealing with these customers, listen to what they have to say while they explain their problem. Offer an apology and  empathize with them even if you don’t agree with their complaint, you letting them know that you can and might come up a solution to help them. After things have been solved, do a follow up with them. 3. Which skills should CSRs demonstrate that keep customers returning for more products? You always want to keep your customers happy and satisfied so they can continue doing business with the company. Communicate and listen to your customers. When you listen to your customers, you can find out what they needs and wants are. Ask questions concerning them like: How you doing? Is your day going okay? Did you enjoy the product or service that you purchased? Let them know that you appreciate their business. Keep a positive attitude with the customers. Smile when you are talking to the customer; if you are on the phone still smile even though the customer can’t see it, they will feel it. Speak clearly try not to talk so fast to where the customer can understand you. Last but not least remain objective. Your goal is to make sure they are happy. I think if the CSRs use these skills, they wouldn’t have any problems losing customers. References: Customer Service. (2009). Retrieved June 1, 2014, from www.businessballs.com: http://www.businessballs.com Gibson, P. (2012). Customer Retention. In P. Gibson, World of Customer Service (p. 118). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Thorton, V. (2011, December 14). Three Keys to Attracting and Retaining Customers or Clients. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from www.evanmichael.com: http://www.evanmichael.com

Women in the Workplace essays

Women in the Workplace essays Women in the Workplace The emergence of an urban, industrialized society affected the lives of American women in the late nineteenth century. Women during this time were beginning to see that not only did they belong in the home, but they could also find a role in the workplace. Men, on the other hand, maintained their role in the job market. However, the jobs of both men and women in the nineteenth become more and more specialized in their nature. Women in the 1800s were searching for jobs that had typically been done by men. These jobs included office work and factory work. As women searching for work found, the jobs they wanted to obtain were not there. Men, or other women who had started the search earlier had already filled these jobs. However, with the reorganization of industrial society, more and more jobs would begin to become available. Adams 2 The increasing number of jobs meant there was more specialization in the workplace. Along with the specialization of industry came improved technology. This would prove to be a great way to get women into jobs. Technology, for example, led to the production of the typewriter. In the 1880s, also, the employment of women in offices begin to climb sharply.... This coincidence has led some analysts to conclude that the invention of the typewriter was basically responsible for the employment of women in offices in the United States (p68). The invention of the typewriter led to excellent jobs for women in the nineteenth century. Women could now hold clerical occupations. These clerical occupations included positions as stenographers and typists. For women, these were dream jobs. Now, women would not have to work in factories under extremely harsh conditions. Clerical work was generally seen as more desirable than industrial work, and this spurred women of working-class origins to seek clerical jobs (p71). In taking clerical positions, women would work fewer hour...

A Social Partnerships in the New Millenium

There is also a huge amount being written about the issue, some Industrial Relations commentators have even hailed this as the most exciting thing to happen to UK industry in years. However, not every group completely agrees with this. For example, some groups believe that Social Partnership has had a very negative effect on British Trade Unions. At www.labournet.org.uk a group have named a bulletin board ‘Solidarity’. It is a page dedicated to ‘challenging social partnership’ and it’s apparent corrosive effects on union power. It is very typical of the types of arguments put forward by groups that are oh so against social partnerships. Stakeholders like the authors of solidarity believe that social partnerships tie unions to the coat tails of employers. What they want is a ‘new unionism’ which opposes subordination to the ‘global market’ and builds on the experience of the Liverpool Dockers. This group is completely opposed to any kind of privatisation and really wants more from unions than just a concern for working conditions. They want a break â€Å"..with the narrow work place concerns of ‘non-political’ trade unionism† and believe that unions should fight † for the interests of the working class and oppressed as a whole†. They also see a need for a repeal of all â€Å"anti-union† legislation and an end to state interference into unions, such as social partnership agreements. Taken from ‘Solidarity’, the journal that openly states it’s purpose is to challenge social partnerships in trade unions, here are some ‘facts’ that display how social partnerships have had a harmful effect on British trade unions: In Rover and the car industry, where the unions have identified the interests of workers with commercial success in the ‘global market’, they have been gravely weakened and meekly accepted massive job cuts. USDAW has reached a ‘Partnership Agreement’ with Tesco which takes away the right of the union members as a whole to vote on pay deals. The TUC has collaborated with a privatised utility in the Energy Industry and set up a company with them – Union Energy – thus effectively abandoning the fight for re-nationalisation. They are collaborating with a privatised utility which has decimated trade union members’ jobs. The unions have swallowed ‘Investors in People’ which identifies the interests of union members with the ‘business aims’ of private companies. The TUC and most unions have accepted that the increased competition of the ‘global market’ means unity with ‘our employers’ and competing with workers in other countries. Stakeholders like these aim to challenge social partnership by campaigning for complete independence of the unions from the employer. They reject globalisation and counterpoise to it a working class internationalism which recognises that workers have more in common with those in other countries than they do with ‘our own’ bosses. It is a very Marxist standpoint . They feel that for those in the unions who support their independence from the employers and the state, a systematic struggle against ‘social partnership’ in all its manifestations is a central task if they are to break the unions from the employers’ coat tails. They are insistent that this outlook has only been adopted by union leaders. It has though percolated down to many workplaces, reinforced by the fear of unemployment. This far left view contrasts greatly with those unions that actually see social partnership in a very positive, if slightly unclear light. Unions like FIET, The International Federation of commercial, clerical, professional, and technical employees see social partnership as a â€Å"new and challenging area of work for the union.† For unions that see the millennium as a time to accept social partnership, it will mean unions and companies learning to do things differently, rather than trying to campaign against this change. Some unions like FIET have accepted that we now have a government committed to promoting the partnership approach, and to ensuring that it becomes a permanent feature in the workplace. Unions like this have therefore accepted that social partnership is going to be around for a long time. I think that left wing reactions to social partnerships, like that of ‘Solidarity’ is very much a reactive one rather than considered. I think that those stakeholders set so strongly against this issue need to understand that the government’s political commitment to partnership goes far beyond the UK. We now have a new and positive approach to Europe and this social partnership model is at the heart of the EU’s approach to all Industrial Relations. Indeed Social Partnership does mean long term changes to the Industrial Relations scene in Europe and in Britain, all that unions need to work on is understanding what these changes will mean for their members and the companies that they work in. Looked at from this more positive, optimistic standpoint then social partnership has the potential to deliver some very real benefits: Potentially it means that employers will be working with the trade unions to bring about improvements in the quality of work. It means that employees, through their trade union, will be given a much greater say in how their company is run. Social partnership should give unions the opportunity to be consulted earlier, more often and on a wider range of issues than has happened before. Surely the growth in partnership at work can only be a welcome one, if not somewhat overdue? However, these encouraging and upbeat pointers can only be achieved if the unions get themselves involved in equal terms right from the beginning, otherwise employers could try to do things without the unions. As stakeholders like ‘Solidarity’ state I think that there is indeed a risk that social partnership may be used to try and undermine trade union organisation in the work place. Employers could potentially claim that they can have a partnership directly with their staff and do not require the union’s participation. If the unions are excluded in this way then not only could there be disastrous consequences for union members but social partnership will not work for employers either. Partnership can only be successful when employees as partners are properly supported and resourced through a dependable trade union. To illustrate this point further, let us consider what may happen if the retail sector tried to introduce partnership without trade union involvement : Most employees in this sector work part-time. There are increasingly complex and unsociable working hours in retailing which in turn means that most employees may have very little contact with anyone beyond their shift. In these circumstances employees have less of an opportunity to form a collective view. Simply meeting together can be extremely difficult in such organisations, let alone having the resources and confidence to develop their own ideas and concerns. Therefore it is clear that in most cases employees are unlikely to become equal and effective partners when they do not have the time or the means to generate their own agenda. A dependable and experienced trade union means that employees can enter into partnership properly supported and resourced. To achieve this, a real commitment is required from employers to supporting trade union membership, as the best way for their staff to be given a voice and more importantly the confidence to use it. Basically partnership needs partners. But how will social partnership actually change things in real terms for employees and the unions? By answering this question I will hopefully be able to assess if social partnership is a viable way forward in the new millennium. Firstly, unions need to take a positive approach, for them social partnerships should be about: Co-operation, not confrontation. Improving the quality of working life. Employers listening to and respecting unions and vice versa. Employees developing their own agenda through their trade union. If they agree on the above terms then hopefully it will mean: Moving away from the common practice of the union only talking to companies once a year. At the moment, even with companies with whom there exists a good relationship, unions often only talk to the organisation at the time of the annual wage negotiations. Many unions feel that the annual wage round sometimes becomes a little tired and predictable, with companies offering the lowest increase that they feel they can get away with. However, partnership is different. For the unions, it means talking to companies throughout the year. It means having a constant dialogue with employers about what is happening at all levels of the company. It should also mean that the union is consulted on a wider range of issues. Companies are used to contacting unions when they are implementing redundancies or sell offs. Mainly because there is a legal obligation on them to do this, but unions have not in the past been consulted on the overall direction of a company or about strategic decisions that may affect employees. A Social Partnership means that the union should be consulted on a far wider range of issues than they have been used to. It means earlier and better consultation sessions, theoretically no more being told about something when it has already been implemented. A Social Partnerships in the New Millenium There is also a huge amount being written about the issue, some Industrial Relations commentators have even hailed this as the most exciting thing to happen to UK industry in years. However, not every group completely agrees with this. For example, some groups believe that Social Partnership has had a very negative effect on British Trade Unions. At www.labournet.org.uk a group have named a bulletin board ‘Solidarity’. It is a page dedicated to ‘challenging social partnership’ and it’s apparent corrosive effects on union power. It is very typical of the types of arguments put forward by groups that are oh so against social partnerships. Stakeholders like the authors of solidarity believe that social partnerships tie unions to the coat tails of employers. What they want is a ‘new unionism’ which opposes subordination to the ‘global market’ and builds on the experience of the Liverpool Dockers. This group is completely opposed to any kind of privatisation and really wants more from unions than just a concern for working conditions. They want a break â€Å"..with the narrow work place concerns of ‘non-political’ trade unionism† and believe that unions should fight † for the interests of the working class and oppressed as a whole†. They also see a need for a repeal of all â€Å"anti-union† legislation and an end to state interference into unions, such as social partnership agreements. Taken from ‘Solidarity’, the journal that openly states it’s purpose is to challenge social partnerships in trade unions, here are some ‘facts’ that display how social partnerships have had a harmful effect on British trade unions: In Rover and the car industry, where the unions have identified the interests of workers with commercial success in the ‘global market’, they have been gravely weakened and meekly accepted massive job cuts. USDAW has reached a ‘Partnership Agreement’ with Tesco which takes away the right of the union members as a whole to vote on pay deals. The TUC has collaborated with a privatised utility in the Energy Industry and set up a company with them – Union Energy – thus effectively abandoning the fight for re-nationalisation. They are collaborating with a privatised utility which has decimated trade union members’ jobs. The unions have swallowed ‘Investors in People’ which identifies the interests of union members with the ‘business aims’ of private companies. The TUC and most unions have accepted that the increased competition of the ‘global market’ means unity with ‘our employers’ and competing with workers in other countries. Stakeholders like these aim to challenge social partnership by campaigning for complete independence of the unions from the employer. They reject globalisation and counterpoise to it a working class internationalism which recognises that workers have more in common with those in other countries than they do with ‘our own’ bosses. It is a very Marxist standpoint . They feel that for those in the unions who support their independence from the employers and the state, a systematic struggle against ‘social partnership’ in all its manifestations is a central task if they are to break the unions from the employers’ coat tails. They are insistent that this outlook has only been adopted by union leaders. It has though percolated down to many workplaces, reinforced by the fear of unemployment. This far left view contrasts greatly with those unions that actually see social partnership in a very positive, if slightly unclear light. Unions like FIET, The International Federation of commercial, clerical, professional, and technical employees see social partnership as a â€Å"new and challenging area of work for the union.† For unions that see the millennium as a time to accept social partnership, it will mean unions and companies learning to do things differently, rather than trying to campaign against this change. Some unions like FIET have accepted that we now have a government committed to promoting the partnership approach, and to ensuring that it becomes a permanent feature in the workplace. Unions like this have therefore accepted that social partnership is going to be around for a long time. I think that left wing reactions to social partnerships, like that of ‘Solidarity’ is very much a reactive one rather than considered. I think that those stakeholders set so strongly against this issue need to understand that the government’s political commitment to partnership goes far beyond the UK. We now have a new and positive approach to Europe and this social partnership model is at the heart of the EU’s approach to all Industrial Relations. Indeed Social Partnership does mean long term changes to the Industrial Relations scene in Europe and in Britain, all that unions need to work on is understanding what these changes will mean for their members and the companies that they work in. Looked at from this more positive, optimistic standpoint then social partnership has the potential to deliver some very real benefits: Potentially it means that employers will be working with the trade unions to bring about improvements in the quality of work. It means that employees, through their trade union, will be given a much greater say in how their company is run. Social partnership should give unions the opportunity to be consulted earlier, more often and on a wider range of issues than has happened before. Surely the growth in partnership at work can only be a welcome one, if not somewhat overdue? However, these encouraging and upbeat pointers can only be achieved if the unions get themselves involved in equal terms right from the beginning, otherwise employers could try to do things without the unions. As stakeholders like ‘Solidarity’ state I think that there is indeed a risk that social partnership may be used to try and undermine trade union organisation in the work place. Employers could potentially claim that they can have a partnership directly with their staff and do not require the union’s participation. If the unions are excluded in this way then not only could there be disastrous consequences for union members but social partnership will not work for employers either. Partnership can only be successful when employees as partners are properly supported and resourced through a dependable trade union. To illustrate this point further, let us consider what may happen if the retail sector tried to introduce partnership without trade union involvement : Most employees in this sector work part-time. There are increasingly complex and unsociable working hours in retailing which in turn means that most employees may have very little contact with anyone beyond their shift. In these circumstances employees have less of an opportunity to form a collective view. Simply meeting together can be extremely difficult in such organisations, let alone having the resources and confidence to develop their own ideas and concerns. Therefore it is clear that in most cases employees are unlikely to become equal and effective partners when they do not have the time or the means to generate their own agenda. A dependable and experienced trade union means that employees can enter into partnership properly supported and resourced. To achieve this, a real commitment is required from employers to supporting trade union membership, as the best way for their staff to be given a voice and more importantly the confidence to use it. Basically partnership needs partners. But how will social partnership actually change things in real terms for employees and the unions? By answering this question I will hopefully be able to assess if social partnership is a viable way forward in the new millennium. Firstly, unions need to take a positive approach, for them social partnerships should be about: Co-operation, not confrontation. Improving the quality of working life. Employers listening to and respecting unions and vice versa. Employees developing their own agenda through their trade union. If they agree on the above terms then hopefully it will mean: Moving away from the common practice of the union only talking to companies once a year. At the moment, even with companies with whom there exists a good relationship, unions often only talk to the organisation at the time of the annual wage negotiations. Many unions feel that the annual wage round sometimes becomes a little tired and predictable, with companies offering the lowest increase that they feel they can get away with. However, partnership is different. For the unions, it means talking to companies throughout the year. It means having a constant dialogue with employers about what is happening at all levels of the company. It should also mean that the union is consulted on a wider range of issues. Companies are used to contacting unions when they are implementing redundancies or sell offs. Mainly because there is a legal obligation on them to do this, but unions have not in the past been consulted on the overall direction of a company or about strategic decisions that may affect employees. A Social Partnership means that the union should be consulted on a far wider range of issues than they have been used to. It means earlier and better consultation sessions, theoretically no more being told about something when it has already been implemented.

Benefit Plan Design Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Benefit Plan Design Analysis - Essay Example However, it has been identified that despite several competitive employee benefit programs, American Airlines Incorporation has certain lacuna in its benefit plan. The issue associated in the benefit plan is that the company does not allow its employees to travel free of cost until and unless they have completed a period of ten years with the American Airline Association. The company also seems to be lacking in providing the other benefit plans in comparison to its competitors such as SouthWest Airways, Delta (AACareers, 2010). There are many cases filed against the company’s benefit plan such as ‘Robert T.Miller Appellant V. American Airlines, Inc,; American Airlines, Inc., Pilot Retirement Benefit Program Fixed Income Plan (A Plan); American Airlines, Inc Pension Benefits Administration Committee under case number 10-1784 on 1/25/2011’ (Third Judicial Circuit, 2011). The other case filed against the company has been ‘George W. BONIN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v . AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. and the American Airlines, Inc. ... Part Three: Literature Review Role of Benefit Plan in an Organization The reliability and the accuracy of the benefit program depend upon the two factors. The first factor relies upon the fact that the benefit program needs to be capable of identifying the needs of the employees during the upliftment of the organizational objectives. The soundness of the benefit program also stems from the fact that the program is capable of effective management of such kind of programs (Bohlander & Snell, 2009). It can be worthy of mentioning that the biggest issue for the HR managers is to attract as well as retain the excellent talents in the organization. Therefore, it becomes important for the companies to implement numerous strategies along with the techniques so that they can cope up with this kind of human resource related issues. It is identified that the high performance organizations tend to surpass in relation to their competitors by implementing numerous human resource related strategies that include openness among the members, opportunity to learn and provide training to the employees. When a company tends to realize the fact that it is the human resource’s effective management that determines the competitiveness of the firm, the companies develop the above mentioned strategies (Hiltrop, 1999). In a next few decades most of the workforces in the organizations will be women and this tends to have an impact on the corporate employers. There will be two kinds of workforce, one of them will be career-primary and the other might be career and family. If the organization wants to retain their best talents in the organization they are supposed to identify the importance of both kinds of women and thus provide them a flexible working