Peppermint Candy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Peppermint Candy - Essay Example The events of the movie coincide with the actual events in the history books. Yeong-Ho, an emergency military member fights the uprising as a soldier. He serves the dictatorial government and tends to uphold the orthodox practice of dictatorship. Yeong-Ho kills a schoolchild. In the real world, the dictatorial military fought against the uprising. This led to mass murder and accidental deaths of innocent bystanders in the same time span depicted by the movie. Historiography as evident in Peppermint Candy serves a crucial role in the society by highlighting the concepts of consciousness and mind. Organizations, governments, individuals and families can understand the motivation behind specific actions by gathering mental experiences within a given time in a process known as consciousness. Additionally, as one studies the mind of an individual, it becomes simple to determine the reasons behind specific actions especially dictatorship. Yeong-Ho tortures the uprising captives. The captiv es are in bad shape as seen in their health. The national historic attack of 1980 where the dictatorial government deployed more than 20,000 troops in Gwanju, documents that many people died, others survived with severe physical or mental impairments while others permanently separated with their family members. The unsettled conscience of Yeong Ho as he transforms from innocence to brutality is clear. However, the perpetrator indicates the universal struggles of South Korean citizens at the time of the dictatorial rule and subsequent attacks. Peppermint Candy story begins in 1970. Soyoung Yeong-Ho emerges as the main character to join the military system of the land. Prior to this period, people were mostly peaceful though there were other earlier uprisings. This accurately depicts that the countries were calm before the Gwanju uprising gained momentum and the country fell into internal wars and massacre of its own citizens. The movie properly describes the dictatorial ideologies and structures employed by the existing government. The claims of upholding anti-communism ideas allowed the dictatorial military to perpetrate their unjustified and inhumane attack on citizens. According to history, after the Korean War, South Korea marked North Korea as its enemy due to its communist ideas. The south forged a National Security Law to foster national security. However, this served to provide a platform for the dictatorial government to classify various social groups that poses threats such as labor societies and advocators of d emocracy. It is evident that enemies of the state experienced imprisonment, detention, torture and death. The movie portrays this fact because the raids were not secretive and soldiers were not worried about their actions because the National Security Law protected them. Soyoung Yeong-Ho takes the audience through the military brutal operations because he is a perpetrator himself. According to Soyoung (63) while the movie describes the period as time of â€Å"ice war†, cold war was taking place. The world’s cold war was characterized by economic race. This was a period of financial crises across parts of Europe that reflected on Asian countries. Korea hit its highest peak of financial trouble in 1997, six years after the USA’s cold war allegedly ends. The timelines in the movie coincide with the actual IMF crises that befell the country after the cold

Water Pollution Essay Example for Free

Water Pollution Essay Water is a necessity to life on earth. All organisms contain it, some drink it, and others inhabit it. Plants and animals require water that is moderately pure, and they cannot survive if their water is affluent with toxic chemicals and/or harmful microorganisms. If severe, water pollution can kill large numbers of fish, birds, and other animals, in some cases killing all members of a species in an affected area. Water pollution is not only hazardous to water-bond animals it also poses as threat to humans as well. The majority of water pollution occurs when people overload the water environment with wastes. Its defined as contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays or oceans by substances harmful to living things. Such things as oil spills, boat fumes, and dumping of trash into the oceans, lakes, and rivers are just a few of the major contributors to water pollution. Throughout the past century water pollution has become a very real problem and solution must be found. First of all, Water pollution presents problems to humans in a few ways. Water pollution makes streams, lakes, and coastal waters unpleasant to look at, to smell, and to swim in, as well as preventing us from drinking it without filtration. Fish and shellfish harvested from polluted waters may be unsafe to eat. People who ingest polluted water can become ill and if theyre exposed for a long time, may develop cancers, or have children with birth defects. There are two types of water pollution; point source and non-point source. Point sources of pollution occur when harmful substances are put directly into a body of water (such as an oil spill). A non-point source is when pollutants enter the water indirectly through environmental changes (like when fertilizer is carried into a stream by rain). The major water pollutants are chemical, biological, and physical materials that lessen the water quality. These pollutants can be separated into seven different classes: Petroleum products, pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals, hazardous materials, excess organic matter, sediment, and finally thermal pollution. The first category is petroleum products. Petroleum products include oil and chemicals from oil are used for fuel, lubrication, plastics manufacturing, and many other purposes. The petroleum products get into water by accidental spills from ships, tanker trucks, and leaky underground storage tanks. Many petroleum products are poisonous if ingested by animals and spilled oil damages the feathers of birds and the fur of animals, often causing numerous deaths among these birds, furred animals, as well as fish. The second category that pollutants can be classified as is pesticides and herbicides. These include chemicals used to kill unwanted animals and plants. An example of this may be something used to keep certain bugs off of fruits or vegetables. These pollutants may be carried into streams by rainwater. If the chemicals in these herbicides and pesticides are not biodegradable they can remain dangerous for a long period of time. When an animal eats a plant that has been treated with certain non-biodegradable chemicals, the chemicals are absorbed into their tissues or the organs. When other animals feed on a contaminated animal, the chemicals are passed up to them. As it goes up through the food chain, the chemical becomes more harmful, so animals at the top of the food chains may suffer cancers, reproductive problems, and death. This can be a very serious problem for many species of animals. The herbicides and pesticides found in some polluted waters dont simple pose a problem to animals; they can also be harmful to humans. More than 14 million Americans drink water contaminated by pesticides, and the EPA estimates that ten percent of wells contain pesticides. These Nitrates can cause a lethal form of anemia called blue baby syndrome in infants. Also there are many other humans that have allergies to these chemicals, and can cause health problems if enough of the contaminated water is digested. Other chemicals that are a problem in the pollution of water are heavy  metals. Heavy metals, such as copper, lead, mercury, and selenium, get into the water from industries, automobile exhaust, mines, and natural soil. Heavy metals also become more harmful as they follow the food chain. When they reach high levels in the body, they can be immediately poisonous, or can result in long-term health problems. They can sometimes cause diarrhea and, over time, liver and kidney damage. Children exposed to lead in water can suffer mental retardation. Fish that have been exposed to mercury can be extremely poisonous to humans if they eat the fish. The fourth classification that is known to pollute waters is hazardous materials. Included in this class are chemical wastes that are toxic, reactive, corrosive, or ignitable. If not treated or stored properly, they can pollute water supplies. Such as in other categories once the hazardous wastes reach one part of the food chain they can be passed on to the animals that depend on them for food. The fifth leading cause of water pollution is excess organic matter. Some examples of excess organic matter are fertilizers and other nutrients used to promote plant growth on farms and in gardens that may fine their way into water. At first the nutrients will help the plants and algae in the water grow, but when they die and settle underwater, microorganisms decompose them, while decomposing them the microorganisms take in oxygen that is dissolved in the water. The oxygen levels in the water may drop so low that fish and other oxygen-dependent animals in the water suffocate, and die, this happens mostly in the Midwest and other such places where there are vast amounts of farm land. Yet another principal cause of the pollution of water is sediment. Sediment is soil particles carried to a stream bed, lake, or ocean, if in large amounts, can also be a pollutant. Soil erosion can damage a stream or lake by adding too much nutrient matter. Sedimentation can also cover stream bed gravel where many fish lay their eggs. Therefore, this can greatly decrease the population of fish in future generations. This is one of the many reasons that soil erosion is trying to be prevented today. The final cause of water pollution, which is often overlooked, is known as Thermal water pollution. Thermal pollution takes place when water is taken from rivers, lakes, or the ocean to be used in factories and power plants. This water is usually returned to the source much warmer than when it was taken. Even a small temperature change in a body of water can drive away the fish and other species that were usually inhabited that particular region, and in conjunction attract other species in place of them. This develops unwanted ecosystems in areas where they should not be. Thermal pollution can speed up the biological processes in plants and animals and/or lower the oxygen level in the water. Fish and other wildlife near the discharge source, may die. So as you can see, water pollution is a very serious problem it is responsible for dramatic decreases of fish and wildlife populations in our, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Water pollutants should also be held accountable for many cases of food poisoning, especially experience in seafood. In order to solve this problem we need to learn about ways for disposing harmful household wastes so they dont end up in sewage treatment plants or landfills. In our yards, we should determine whether or not we need to add nutrients before fertilizers are applied, and look for alternatives where fertilizers may run off into surface waters. We need to preserve existing trees and plant new trees and shrubs to help prevent soil erosion. Around the house we should we need to keep litter, pet waste, leaves, and grass clippings out of gutters and storm drains, and buy as many heavily packaged foods, certain boxes, cartons, bottles, etc that are made with polluting dyes. On a more widespread note, we must be much more careful about the types of pesticides we use, how we transport oil and other harmful materials, and work as hard as we can to prevent soil erosion and excess organic matter. If everyone works together to prevent water pollution this problem can be decreased drastically, if not eliminated. We all depend on water as a part of everyday life, we simply need to make sure that we as humans dont take this for granted, and take every step possible to keep the waters on this Earth as clean as possible. Work Cited Water Pollution, http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/waterpollution.htm. Water Pollution General, http://members.tripod.com/water_pollution_hk/newpage2.htm. Water Pollution, http://www.soton.ac.uk/~engenvir/environment/water/water.html. Sources of Water Pollution, http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/waterpol3.html.

Role of the Health and Social Care Worker | Reflection

Role of the Health and Social Care Worker | Reflection Sharon Heather Ferguson-Guy Outcome 1 – Understand working relationships in health and social care 1:1Â  explain how a working relationship is different from a personal relationship: A working relationship is where your attitude is to be more reserved yet professional. You will be placed with people that you would work with as part of a team, each of you will work towards achieving the same priorities of care, working together knowing the procedures of the workplace. You must be aware of your responsibilities for any errors or mistakes, being aware that you are accountable for your actions. You are not in the job to like the people you work with but, having respect for your fellow work colleague is vital as well as obtaining the same in return. So then your personal opinions and feelings are best kept to yourself. A working relationship must have good professional communication skills. A personal relationship is a relationship through your own choices, like a friend that can share the same things as yourself, such as hobbies and interests. You may share your thoughts and opinions, the relationship is reciprocated because of the friendship you have formed with them, also; with a personal relationship you can say what is on your mind without the worry of being reported for stepping out of line. This is where trust bonds a personal relationship and communication is relaxed. 1:2Â  Describe different working relationship in health and social care setting: Two types of working relationships in social care are; Professional relationships i.e. with a doctor, district nurse, service users and the friends or family of them. Working relationships i.e. with my manager, colleagues. (It would be disrespectful to talk to a Doctor for example in the same manner as your work colleague) Outcome 2 – Work in ways that are agreed with the employer: 2:1Â  describe why it is important to adhere to the agreed scope of the job role: It is important to adhere to an agreed scope because by straying outside of this I may put individuals at risk, such as patients in my care and fellow work colleagues. Knowing that I was employed for my skills and qualifications that are in the job description, my employer would be assured in my capabilities for the position. You must not undertake a job role if you are not trained or qualified to do as this can put people in danger as well as yourself, and you will be made accountable. If I was asked to undertake a task that was not in my job role; I would have to refuse as I may not be qualified for that particular task. My colleague should be understanding in my refusal as I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger. 2:2Â  Access full and up-to-date details of agreed ways of working: Agreed ways of working includes policies and procedures. The employer would have given me my role and responsibilities for my scope of practice; this is to make sure that the information given to me for my role is done in the correct manner. They also trust me that I shall do my job within the role with a professional attitude. 2:3Â  Implement agreed ways of working: It is important to update policies to reflect changes in legislation and make sure that staff understands them, as these will give a general guidance on how you should carry out your duties within the workplace. If something changes and you are not so sure on the proceedings then you should ask your senior or workplace manager for advice. They will be pleased that you have taken notice of any changes and asking them for advice. Outcome 3 – Work in partnership with others: 3:1Â  explain why it is important to work in partnership with others: By working in partnership with others we can use their expertise and provide more effective care, as you will be providing more of a holistic type of care. You will be looking at the individual as a whole person and you will be in touch with their family and friends, also you would be in contact with other carers, social workers and Doctors. You are all taking part as a team of support providers that will benefit the individual with their overall care. 3:2Â  Demonstrate way of working that can help improve partnership working: Working in small teams and regular meetings and keeping good communication all improve partnership working. This will include keeping any information to the relevant persons involved. Having agreed values or outcomes. Ensuring confidentiality. 3:3Â  Identify skills and approaches needed for resolving conflicts: Skills needed for resolving conflict include diplomacy, patience, empathy and good communication skills. There will come a time where a conflict will arise between work colleagues service users or others that you may have to encounter. Working together as part of a team you can put together knowledge and any ideas to resolve the matter. There will be social factors, values and also conflicts from differences in opinions; these can add fuel to the fire. Communication problems can arise with a lacking of listening skills; this can build up the walls so lack of information sharing can falter. You must find a quiet area where conflicts can be discussed so things cannot be misread; using mediation skills between parties involved you should therefore use the example below: All importance is to listen to all sides Anything that is said even if it is criticism must responded to, with empathy Being impartial to those involved and the points of conflict Don’t take criticism to heart as it won’t be directed to you personally If help from someone else is needed, ask for it Is the person showing congruence to what they are trying to put across Look for a compromise that will resolve the issue Resolve and defuse for the desired outcome Staying calm Staying focussed and without interruption 3:4Â  Demonstrate how and when to access support and advice about: Partnership working – I should access support and advice about partnership working before taking responsibility for any major decisions. Resolving conflicts – To take advice on resolution before any conflict gets out of hand. References Caroline Morris, 2011. Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma. By Caroline Morris, Val Michie. Edition. Hodder Education. 96-108 Doane, GA, 2002. Beyond behavioural skills to human-involved processes: relational nursing practice and interpretive pedagogy. Journal of Nursing Education, 41 issue 9, 400-404. Higgins, M, 2013. Use your influence for good. Nursing Standard, 27 issue 49, 62-63. Tingle, J, Cribb, and A 2002. Nursing Law and Ethics. 2 Edition. Wiley-Blackwell. 22. 2.2 Webb, K, 2013. Stand up and be accountable care. Nursing Standard, 27 issue 29, 26. Sharon H Ferguson-Guy / NVQ3 Diploma ECA 1 of 2

Philosophy Statement :: Educational Teaching Teachers Essays

Philosophy Statement Education is one of the most important jobs I believe one can do because children learn what they need to succeed in life, along with responsibility, people skills, and leadership. I cannot imagine a job I would be more passionate doing other than teaching, especially since I love children. I want my classroom to be very exuberant and lively. I want to have paintings on the walls, along with educational and motivational posters. My bulletin board will be changed monthly. It will have a place to display students work, and a place to recognize students when they have their birthday. My bulletin board will be very colorful and fun. I will seat my students in either alphabetical order or in a boy-girl arrangement. Students cannot choose their own desks at such young ages because they will sit by their friends and talk all the time. I want to use desks rather than tables because I believe students need their own personal space to work and learn. Any projects that my students do I will display around the room before they can take them home. I want them to be proud of their work and have everyone in the class see how everyone does things differently. Projects that they do might be art or science projects. I would like them to have an art center, and a hands-on science center to do these projects in. I also want them to have a reading center that they can go to and read a book in peace. While I will have library books for them to choose from, I also want to have encyclopedias. Last but not least I would like to have a technology center. I want to have at least 2 computers, with Internet access, that my students can use for a certain amount of time each day. I believe that with all the advances in technology it is important that students learn how to use a computer, and the Internet. My classroom will be run in an authoritarian manner. I will demand respect from my students, and in return I will give them respect.

Mcdonald’s Market Structure

Introduction By the late- 1990s fast-food chain McDonalds had enjoyed 40 years of exceptional performance. McDonald's brand mission is to be a customers' favorite place and way to eat. McDonald's worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience – People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. They are committed to continuously improving theirs operations and enhancing customers' experience. McDonalds place the customer experience at the core of all they do. McDonald’s customers are the reason for their existence.So, McDonalds’s demonstrate appreciation by providing them with high quality food and superior service in a clean, welcoming environment, at a great value. Their goal is quality, service, cleanliness and value for each and every customer, each and every time. McDonalds are committed to people. They provide opportunity, nurture talent, develop leaders and reward achievement. They believe that a team of well-trained individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, working together in an environment that fosters respect and drives high levels of engagement, is essential to continued success.McDonald’s business model, depicted by three-legged stool of owner or operators, suppliers, and company employees, is foundation, and balancing the interests of all three groups is a key. McDonalds operate their business ethically. Sound ethics is good business. At McDonald’s, they hold their selves and conduct the business to high standards of fairness, honesty, and integrity. McDonalds are individually accountable and collectively responsible. McDonalds give back to our communities.They take seriously the responsibilities that come with being a leader. McDonald’s help their customers build better communities, support Ronald McDonald House Charities, and leverage their size, scope and resources to help make the world a better place. McDonald s grow their business profitably. McDonald’s is a publicly traded company. As such, they work to provide sustained profitable growth for their shareholders. This requires a continuous focus on McDonald’s customers and the health of our system. McDonalds strive continually to improve.They are a learning organization that aims to anticipate and respond to changing customer, employee and system needs through constant evolution and innovation. Task 1 History of McDonalds The  McDonald's  restaurant concept was introduced in  San Bernardino, California  by  Dick and Mac McDonald  of  Manchester, New Hampshire. It was modified and expanded by their business partner,  Ray Kroc, of  Oak Park, Illinois, who later bought out the business interests of the McDonald brothers in the concept and went on to found  McDonald's Corporation.In October 1948, after the McDonald brothers realized that most of their profits came from selling hamburgers, they closed down th eir successful carhop  drive-in to establish a streamlined system with a simple menu of just hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, shakes, soft drinks, and apple pie. The carhops were eliminated to make McDonald's a  self-serve  operation. Mac and Dick McDonald had taken great care in setting up their kitchen like an  assembly line  to ensure maximum efficiency. The restaurant's name was again changed, this time to simply â€Å"McDonald's,† and reopened its doors on December 12, 1948.In 1960, the McDonald's advertising campaign â€Å"Look for the  Golden Arches† gave sales a big boost. Kroc believed that advertising was an investment that would in the end come back many times over and advertising has always played a key role in the development of the McDonald's Corporation. Indeed, McDonald's ads have been some of the most identifiable over the years. In 1962, McDonald's introduced its now world-famous Golden Arches logo. A year later, the company sold i ts billionth hamburger and introduced  Ronald McDonald, a red-haired clown designed to appeal to children.Arise of Burger King In the late 1970s, competition from other hamburger chains such as  Burger King began to intensify. Experts believed that the fast-food industry had become as big as it ever would, so the companies began to battle fiercely for market share. A period of aggressive advertising campaigns and price slashing in the early 1980s became known as the â€Å"burger wars. † Burger King suggested to customers: â€Å"have it your way† and had attracted many customer and affected McDonald's sales and market share.The predecessor to what is now the international fast food restaurant chain Burger King was founded in 1953 in  Jacksonville, Florida, as Insta-Burger King. Inspired by the  McDonald brothers'  original store location in  San Bernardino, California, the founders and owners, Keith J. Kramer and his wife's uncle Matthew Burns, began searchi ng for a concept to open a new restaurant around. After purchasing the rights to two pieces of equipment called â€Å"Insta† machines, the two opened their first stores around a cooking device known as the Insta-Broiler.The Insta-Broiler oven proved so successful at cooking burgers, they required all of their franchises to carry the device. After the original company began to falter in 1959, it was purchased by its Miami, Florida, franchisees James McLamore and David R. Edgerton. The two initiated a corporate restructuring of the chain; the first step was to rename the company Burger King. The duo ran the company as an independent entity for eight years, eventually expanding to over 250 locations in the United States, when they sold it to the Pillsbury Company in 1967. |McDonalds| Burger King| The first original McDonalds opened in 1948, a restaurant created by Mac & Dick McDonalds in St. Bernandino| Burger King was founded in 1953 in  Jacksonville, Florida, as Insta-Burger King by , Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns| Establish a streamlined system with a simple menu of just hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, shakes, soft drinks, and apple pie. |   Equipment called â€Å"Insta† machines, the two opened their first stores around a cooking device known as the Insta-Broiler| In 1962, McDonald's introduced its now world-famous Golden Arches logo. Expanding to over 250 locations in the United States| Delight each customer with unmatched quality, service, cleanliness and value every time| Dedicated to supporting and investing in our people – employees, franchisees, suppliers and restaurant guests  | Place the customer experience at the core| â€Å"Customers always right†Ã‚  | Comparison of purposes of McDonalds & Burger King Task 2 McDonalds Internal Environment The most important factor comes from the internal company or precisely the management itself.Managers must work closely with other department to come out with a strong marketing plan to boost McDonalds sales and efficiency of the operation. For example, the company management has a clear goals regarding importance of retaining customers by offering satisfaction to all its customers. Supplier Supplier is an important factor in the relation with McDonalds and its consumer. To have a good, continuous and no disruption supply, McDonalds must build a strong relationship with the suppliers. McDonalds must also consider that in the business market environment, it is competing with other fast food operators.Any strike, supply shortages and increasing of prices in market must be monitored closely by McDonalds to ensure it will not affect its bottom line performance. Simple economic rules, the more the input cost, the more the company’s overall cost and pricing will be and thus it affect the volume of sales to customers. However, pricing is not as important as close relationship and integration that McDonalds must achieve with vendors to ensure sust ainability of supplier. Distributers Marketing intermediaries are company that helps other company to promote, sell and distribute the goods to final buyers.McDonalds is a franchise-based business, which headquartered in United States and with franchisee around the world. Franchise system is part of marketing intermediaries to actual corporate McDonalds in United States, which helps to popularize, distribute and expand McDonald’s business concept around the globe. However, in the midst to expand the marketing of its brand around the world it must choose a strong creditable franchisee to ensure their business performance is in line with standards set by corporate. McDonalds also need logistic or physical distribution firm especially to help in distribution nd transportation of goods and materials around the country to its restaurant. Customers Customers whether it is business or household buyer are important factor in microenvironment where McDonalds operates. For McDonalds it is more on household consumers, which is changing fast in the market trend. McDonalds must have a clear market segmentation to differentiate the consumers group and has a special marketing attention to each of them such as kiddies, adult, working professional and teenagers with different taste of its food.Every consumer’s trend will affect the company bottom-line performance and if McDonalds cannot change or adapt to the changes of consumer behavior it might risk losing the market. Competitors Fast food industry has a wide range of competitors from small to big size in term of financial capabilities. For example in Malaysia, we have Kenny Roger’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W and Marry Brown and to smaller scale, we have Ramli burger stall around the street corner serving the niche market. These are competitors of McDonalds, which McDonalds must compete by offering a differentiation in term of value and satisfaction to its customers.Any values and benefits that McDonalds can u tilize to differentiate it apart from all can be a strong marketing point to reach and conquer the market. Marketer must constantly understand ever-changing customer’s needs, needs by special group and develop strategies to strengthen the company positioning in domestic market. Employers The good things for this company is it provide a good training to all staff and especially to those involve in management level. Even in Malaysia, many management staff sent to Chicago to training on managing the operation of McDonald’s outlet.Hamburger University in Illinois Chicago has graduated more than 70,000 managers who leads and manage the operation of McDonald’s outlet in the standard push upon them. Culture of training also prevails at McDonalds with over 32 hours of training for all new employees to ensure they understand the requirement and aspiration of McDonalds for continuation of best fast food restaurant service provider to the customers. McDonalds keen to train its own people and mission to be the best talent developer of people with the most committed individuals to Quality Service, Cleanliness and Value (QSC&V) in the world.Task 3 McDonald’s Pestle Analysis McDonald’s is comprised of more than 30,000 local restaurants and serves 52 million people in more than 100 countries each day. The company is the largest food retailer in the world and is part of the current way of life. In order to remain competitive and an iconic, McDonald’s has developed programs and strategies for organizational behavior in its market environment. As a result, McDonald’s presented an excellent opportunity to observe external macro environment which called Pestle. Pestle stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors.POLITICAL FACTOR The international operations of McDonald’s are highly influenced by the individual country’s policies enforced by each government. For instance, there are certain groups in Malaysia, Europe and the United States that take actions pertaining to the health implications of eating fast food. They have indicated that harmful elements like cholesterol and adverse effects like obesity are attributable to consuming fast food products. On the other hand, the company is controlled by the individual policies and regulations of operations.Specific markets focus on different areas of concern such as that of health, worker protection, and environment. All these elements are seen in the government control of the licensing of the restaurants in the respective states of the country. For instance, there is an impending legal dispute in the McDonald’s franchise in Malaysia where certain infringement of rights and violation of religious laws pertaining to the contents of the food. There are also other studies those points to the infringement of McDonald’s Stores with reference to the existing employment laws in the target market.Like an y business venture, these McDonald’s stores have to contend with the issues of employment procedures as well as their tax obligations so as to succeed in the foreign market like Malaysia. Since it is apparent that the company is expanding continuously, it is wise to deal directly with the proper authorities in the respective markets that they intend to operate in. This way, the company can adopt a good way of establishing good relationship with the government. It is advisable that the company rests on the good graces of the government on which they will be penetrating.To do this, all they have to do is accomplish all the prescribed acts and satisfy all the prerequisites for doing business. The company must also be acquainted with the law in order to know what their responsibilities and their possible liabilities. Also McDonalds should protect its workers by ensuring all the hiring, compensation, training or repatriation in accordance to the labour laws. ECONOMICAL FACTOR Orga nizations in the fast food industry are not excused from any disputes and troubles. Specifically, they do have their individual concerns involving economic factors.Branches and franchises of McDonald’s have the tendency to experience hardship in instances where the economies of the respective countries are hit by inflation and changes in the exchange rates. The customers consequently are faced with a stalemate of going over their individual budgets whether or not they should use up more on these foreign fast food chains like McDonalds. Hence, these chains may have to put up with the issues of the effects of the economic environment. Particularly, their problem depends on the response of the consumers on these fundamentals and how it could influence their general sales.In regarding the operations of the company, McDonald’s tend to import much of their raw materials into a specific country’s territories if there is a dearth of supply. Exchange rate fluctuations wi ll also play a significant role in the operations of the company. The company’s international supply as well as the existing exchange rates is merely a part of the overall components needed to guarantee success for the foreign operations of McDonald’s. Moreover, it is imperative that the company be cognizant of the existing tax requirements needed by the individual governments on which they operate.This basically ensures the smooth operations of the McDonald’s franchises. In the same regard, the company will also have to consider the economic standing of the country on which they operate on. The rate at which the economy of that particular country grows determines the purchasing power of the consumers in that country. Hence, if a franchise operates in a particularly economically weak country, their products shall cost higher than the other existing products in the market, then these franchises must take on certain adjustments to maintain the economies of scale.I deally before penetrating the market, the company must carry out a well conducted market research, especially in the movements in the economic environment which McDonalds had done before entering the global market due to which the company has been able to bear the frequency of the shifts in the inflation rate as well as the fluctuations in the exchange rates which affects the operations of any company. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS Articles on the international strategies of McDonald’s seem to function on several fields to guarantee lucrative returns for the organization.To illustrate, the organization improves on establishing a positive mind-set from their core consumers. McDonald’s indulge a particular variety of consumers with definite types of personalities. It has also been noted that the company have given the markets such as the United Kingdom and Malaysia, an option with regards to their dining needs. McDonald’s has launched a sensibly valued set of food that t enders a reliable level of quality for the respective market where it operates.Additionally, those who are aged just below the bracket of thirty-five are said to be the most frequent consumers of McDonald’s franchises. The multifaceted character of business nowadays is reflected in the harsh significance of the information on the subject of the existing market. This procedure is essentially identified in the field as market research. Information with regards to the appeal and potential fields of the market would double as obstructions to the success of the company if this area of the operations is neglected.In the case of McDonald’s they establish a good system in determining the needs of the market. The company uses concepts of consumer behavior product personality and purchasing decisions to its advantage which is clearly evident in case of Malaysia as the company was quick in removing their Pork products from Malaysia’s menu. It is said to have a major influe nce on the understanding of the prospective performance of the organization in a particular market. McDonalds should obtain the relevant information from the target market in addition to the individual customers of the organization.It is imperative that before a franchise is granted to a particular market, a well drafted and comprehensive market research should be conducted initially so as to establish the acts that would conform to good customs, public policies, and morals of the said Country’s society. Similarly, the company should find out the shifts in areas like the consumer behavior and purchasing patterns of the market. Fundamentally, this is the key condition for executing a suitable customer relationship management system.Also the company should constantly survey and learn about local culture to better understand and design the best product for them. TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS McDonald’s generates a demand for its own products. The company’s key tool for mar keting is by means of Online Facebook and Google ads, Collaboration with these websites to promote sales in India, television advertisements, banners and hoardings. There are similarly some claims that McDonald’s are inclined to interest the younger populations more. Other demonstration of such a marketing strategy is apparent in the commercials they use.They employ animated depictions of their characters like Grimace, Ronald and Ham burglar. Other advertising operations employ popular celebrities to promote their products. The ‘like’ has become endorsers for McDonald’s worldwide â€Å"I’m loving it† campaign. Moreover, the operations of McDonald’s have significantly been infused with new technology. Elements like the inventory system and the management of the value chain of the company allows for easy payments for their suppliers and other vendors which the individual stores in respective markets deal with.The integration of technolog y in the operations of McDonalds tends to add value to their products. Basically, this is manifested in the improvements on its value chain. The improvement of the inventory system as well as its supply chain allows the company to operate in an international context McDonalds use the internet to their advantage. The cost-effectiveness, interactivity and real- time effects of the communications are a good way to find suppliers. It is also a good way to correspond with the respective McDonald’s headquarters in every Country.The company must also look into the use of IT to enhance their inventory operations. As the operations in its inbound and outbound logistics improve, the company will expect significant savings and reduction of costs in the operations. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS The social responsibilities of McDonald’s on the country are influential to the operations of the company. These involve accusations of environmental damage. Among the reasons why they are charged with such claims is the employ of non-biodegradable substances for their drinks glasses and Styrofoam coffers for the meals.Several civic groups in Malaysia have made actions to make the McDonald’s franchises in Malaysia aware of the rather abundant use of Styrofoam containers and the resultant abuse of the environment. The company should find out the environmental regime that governs the operations in every market. It should also monitor the waste disposal of the company. McDonald’s should minimize the use of Styrofoam materials and plastic cups. Constant updating of the social corporate responsibility is imperative and implements â€Å"Go Green†.This should also entail that the headquarters should take in hand, a manner of internal control of those that would infringe upon this company objective. LEGAL FACTORS There has been the recurrent bellowing in opposition to the fast food industry. This has similarly made McDonald’s apply a more careful considera tion on their corporate social responsibilities. On the whole, this addressed the need of the company to form its corporate reputation to a more positive one and a more socially responsible company. The reputation of McDonald’s is apparently a huge matter.Seen on the website of the company, it seems that they have acquired strides to take in hand the key social censures that they have been berating them in the past decades. The company has provided their customers the relevant data that they need with reference to the nutritional substances of their products. This is to attend to the arguments of obesity charged against the products of the company. In the same way, the consumers provided freedom in choosing whether or not they want to purchase their meals. This is tied up with the socio-cultural attributes of the market on which they operate.For instance, operations in predominantly Muslim countries require their meat to conform to the Halal requirements of the law. In the sa me regard, those that operate in countries in the European Union should conform to the existing laws banning the use of genetically modified meat products in their food. This was prime reason which forced McDonalds to eliminate beef, pork and Mutton out of India’s product menu. Other legal concepts like tax obligations, employment standards, and quality requirements are only a few of important elements on which the company has to take into consideration.Otherwise, smooth operations shall be hard to achieve. As a certified fast food operator, there are many regulations and procedures that McDonalds should follow. McDonalds should protect its integrity and consumer confidence by ensuring all materials and process are as claimed or must followed. Other legal requirement that the business owner should follow as stipulated in laws are such as operating hours, business registration, tax requirement, labour and employment laws and quality & environment certification (such as ISO) in which the outlet has been certified.The legal requirement is important because the offenders will be fined or have their business prohibited from operating which can be disastrous. The company should hire local counsels to deal with the legal conflicts in individual markets on which the company may encounter. This shall ensure the company that the lawyers that will handle their legal affairs are more versed with the legal regime that would ease out certain problems on their operations. Task 4 Impact of European Union’s Policies on McDonald The European Union (EU) is a unification of  27 member states united to create a political and economic community throughout Europe.Though the idea of the EU might sound simple at the outset, the European Union has a rich history and a unique organization, both of which aid in its current success and its ability to fulfill its mission for the 21st Century. The European Union Policies have an impact on McDonald’s market environment . Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Cooperation on economic and political matters is based on several forms of cooperation procedures. A fundamental principle when coordinating their economic policies is that Member States are responsible for their national economic policy.As a result of the crisis, Member States have strengthened the coordination of economic policy. However, Member States continue to place strong emphasis on national sovereignty in economic matters while adhering to common rules. McDonalds Cooperation is registered under (ECOFIN) and has to seek for consultation or in co-decision with the European Council every year. Although each EU Member State is responsible for determining its own tax policy, the EU still cooperates on relevant aspects of taxation. This applies especially to policies which affect international trade and trade among the Member States.The Member States therefore cooperate on certain aspects of taxation with cross-border effects. For instanc e, McDonalds have differentiated taxation rate in various country based on the country exchange rate. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) From the very beginning, the free movement for workers has  been one of the basic rights within the European Community and this was the focal point of the first social and employment policy of the EU. The McDonald normally makes decisions in co-decision with the European Council.This procedure applies for instance when the Council passes legislation about the working environment, conditions at work, and the free movement of workers of McDonalds. The EU has the mandate to compliment McDonald’s initiatives in the area of health for the purpose of protecting people from health threats and diseases, promoting healthy lifestyles and helping national authorities in the EU to cooperate on health issues. This is especially relevant when it comes to burgers of McDonalds which is high in cholesterol and may lead to heart disease.Therefore, McDonalds have to modify the ingredient of the burgers. Competitiveness (COMPET) The McDonalds has to follow with industrial policy since the establishment of the EU. A milestone in the EU industrial policy is the establishment of the Single Market, which created a large home market for industry providing businesses with the opportunity to mass produce and profit from large-scale operation like McDonalds. Today, industrial policy is subject to the co-decision procedure, meaning that Competitiveness in business is legalistic. For an example, Burger King is legal competitor for McDonalds.The European research and innovation cooperation and the close connection between research, innovation and education play a decisive role in securing future growth. Therefore, the EU gives high priority to this area and allocates considerable funds annually to finance the McDonalds research programmer. Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRI) Through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the EU wants to ensure an economically viable agricultural sector that produces safe, high-quality food based on environmentally sustainable production. Moreover, the CAP contributes to ensuring good business and living conditions in rural areas.By requiring farmers to deliver public goods in return for the financial support, the Common Agricultural Policy is to ensure that beneficiaries deliver public goods on a range of relevant aspects, such as an improved environment and climate, innovation, technology and food quality of McDonalds. EU consumers should be confident that the foods on the market are healthy, safe, of high quality and produced with respect for animal welfare. Improvements of food safety levels in the EU through the harmonization of standards will be of high importance of McDonalds.EU countries have adopted common rules for McDonald’s hygiene and self-monitoring and common rules for authorities’ monitoring of the food industry. An EU inspectorate also mon itors whether the McDonalds implement food legislation correctly. Task 5 Global Factors That Affect McDonalds Businesses are affected by an external environment as much as they are affected by the competitors. Global factors influencing business are legal, political, social, technological and economic. Understanding of these factors is important while developing a business strategy. Social factorsThese factors are related to changes in social structures. These factors provide insights into behavior, tastes, and lifestyles patterns of a population. Buying patterns are greatly influenced by the changes in the structure of the population, and in consumer lifestyles. Age, gender, etc. all determine the buying patterns and understanding of such changes is critical for developing strategies which are in line with the market situations. In a global environment it is important that McDonald’s business strategies are designed keeping in mind the social and cultural differences that va ry from country to country.Consumer religion, language, lifestyle patterns are all important information for successful business management. Legal factors These factors that influence McDonalds business strategies are related to changes in government laws and regulations. For a successful business operation it is important that the businesses consider the legal issues involved in a particular situation and should have the capability to anticipate ways in which changes in laws will affect the way they must behave. Laws keep changing over a period of time.From the point of view of business it is important that they are aware of these changes in the areas of consumer protection legislation, environmental legislation, health & safety and employment law, etc. Economic factors These factors involve changes in the global economy. A rise in living standards would ultimately imply an increase in demand for products thereby, providing greater opportunities for McDonald to make profits. An eco nomy witnesses fluctuations in economic activities. This would imply that in case of a rise in economic activity the demand of the product will increase and hence the price will increase.In case of reduction in demand the prices will go down. Business strategies should be developed keeping in mind these fluctuations. Other economic changes that affect business include changes in the interest rate, wage rates, and the rate of inflation. In case of low interest rates and increase in demand McDonald will be encouraged to expand and take risks. Therefore, business strategies should have room for such fluctuations. Political factors This refers to the changes in government and government policies. Political factors greatly influence the operation of McDonald. This has gained significant importance off late.For example: McDonalds is operated in the European Union have to adopt directives and regulations created by the EU. The political arena has a huge influence upon the regulation of bus inesses, and the spending power of consumers and other businesses. Business must consider the stability of the political environment, government’s policy on the economy. Technological factors These factors greatly influence McDonald’s strategies as they provide opportunities for businesses to adopt new innovations, and inventions. This helps the McDonalds to reduce costs and develop new products.With the advent of modern communication technologies, technological factors have gained great impetus in the business arena. Huge volumes of information can be securely shared by means of databases thereby enabling vast cost reductions, and improvements in service. Organizations need to consider the latest relevant technological advancements for their business and to stay competitive. Technology helps business to gain competitive advantage, and is a major driver of globalization. While designing the business strategies firms must consider if use of technology will allow the fir m to manufacture products and services at a lower cost.Firms can select new modes of distributions with the help of technology. It has become easier for companies to communicate with their customer in any part of the world. Conclusion From the beginning in 1948 as a fast food restaurant in Southern California, McDonalds grew by the end of the twentieth century into the world’s largest food service organization, having served up more than 100 billion hamburgers in half a century of operation. In conclusion, McDonalds are executing all these customers’ service improvement programs to constantly portraying itself as a friendly, healthy and quality food provider to customers.McDonalds is trying to build long-term relationship with customers to ensure the retention rate in the market where competition is tough between all the fast food restaurant operators. The purpose of this paper work is to analyze McDonald’s with its competitor; Burger King, internal microenviron ment, Pestle analyze, impact of EU Policies and global factors on McDonalds. Hereby, I strongly believe that I have reached your expectation on this case study. References McDonald (2012). A short history of McDonald. Available from: http://www. articlesbase. com/a-short-histoty-of-mcdonalds03920. tml [Accessed on 20/2/13] Frank Newman (2009). Burger King: A short Story. Available from: http://www. 21e5-11e4-dsas3-00134fascesds04. html. [Accessed on 20/2/13] Edita Novana (2003). McDonald’s Cooperation Analyze. Available from: http://www. mcdonalds. com-analyze-cooperate-profile-corp. [Accessed on 22/03/12] Edward Dean (2009). European Union Policies. Available from: http://www. ec. europa. eu/policies/index-en. html. [Accessed on 26/2/13] Anita Cameron (2011). Global Issues that affect Business. Available from: http://www. enziarticales. com/? Global-Issues-That-Affect-Business. html. [Accessed on 28/2/13]

Why Smoking Should Be Banned in Public

Smoking should be banned in all public places to protect people from second-hand smoke and stop promoting the visual to minors. The cigarette is a small but deadly habit enjoyed by 45. 3 million Americans. Smoking is illegal inside most public restaurants and buildings as well as on school property. But, why should cigarette smoking be banned in all public spaces, including outside public establishments? The most obvious reason is second-hand smoke and the damage it causes to others who don't want to be exposed to cigarette smoke. A ban on all public smoking would improve the air quality in each town, spare people from smoke exposure, decrease the overall amount of smoking, and make it less visible to children and teens as an accepted norm. The negative effects of second-hand smoke are scientifically documented and provide a valid reason for banning all public smoking. This proposal would likely upset many people since it may seem a bit constraining and overly invasive at first. Why are people not allowed to drink alcohol on the streets, walking throughout a town or city? If someone were to do this they would get a ticket or arrested for public intoxication. It is unhealthy for the person drinking and dangerous for everyone else around the person drinking. The same principle applies for smoking cigarettes. It is unhealthy for the person smoking and for everyone around them that happens to be outside. The people who aren’t smoking deserve the right to clean air and the right to not be exposed to harmful chemicals found in nicotine. This individual right outweighs the individual right to smoke in an outdoor, public place. The smoking addiction is undoubtedly just that, an addiction. If people truly grasped what they were doing to their bodies, then everyone would quit smoking unless they wanted to die young. This addiction, like any other addiction, needs outside action taken to prevent the person in addiction from further harm. In this case, each state and/or city should enact a ban on smoking in outdoor public places. This ban should exclude peoples homes or personal property but it should includes all buildings, establishments, streets, parks, and anywhere else that people gather. The only exception to banning someone from smoking in their own house should be if they have children. It may seem like an invasion of privacy and too much government control but the more important issue here is the safety of children. If there are children under the age of 18 living at home then it should be illegal to smoke in the house or car or within a certain distance of them, even at home. The second-hand smoke that these children are inhaling is not their choice and they are being subject to life-threatening disease and illness. In addition to being exposed to harmful chemicals, children who are around smoking will become more likely to smoke themselves. The deadly cycle will continue and more people will become addicted to smoking cigarettes. Without government intervention, this is an issue that will not change and lives will continue to be lost due to the negative effects of cigarette smoking. Portland, Oregon is taking this issue seriously. Public smoking is banned within 25 feet of a playground or picnic table. This city understands the health concerns for people who choose not to smoke. The beauty of living in a free country is that any individual may choose whether to smoke cigarettes or not. An individuals choice is taken away from them when people are allowed to smoke on streets and in outdoor public spaces. A law that prevents people from smoking in any public space, whether indoor or outdoor, would truly give non-smokers the choice not to inhale cigarette smoke. At a professional sporting event, even an outdoor one, smoking is banned almost everywhere. It is accepted as the social norm not to smoke while sitting in your seat and watching the game because it might bother another person sitting nearby. This same concept should be used to ban smoking while walking on a sidewalk or standing outside a building. One of the biggest and most important reasons to ban all public smoking is the safety of children. Our government and states have made extensive laws, and rightly so, to protect children from abuse and neglect. This includes entering some ones private home if there is reason to believe the child is in danger. Children have no say whether or not to be abused and no child wants to or should be. No child wants to be addicted to cigarettes or chooses to have the lasting, harmful effects that cigarettes bring on a person. Our government seems to be taking small steps in the right direction but is still focused on only one part of the issue. According to the FDA, â€Å"Every day nearly 4,000 kids under 18 try their first cigarette and 1,000 kids under 18 become daily smokers. Many of these kids will become addicted before they are old enough to understand the risks and will ultimately die too young of tobacco-related diseases. FDA is working to protect the health of America’s children and ultimately reduce the burden of illness and death caused by tobacco use. † (â€Å"Save†) The stats are alarming as to how many children are smoking. A public ban on smoking would reduce the amount of cigarettes smoked and the amount of people who begin smoking due to lack of public exposure. Every time someone smokes a cigarette they are giving free advertising to the tobacco industry. If you watch an old movie you will notice that smoking was socially accepted and even a part of being sophisticated. We have come a long way since the 1930’s and 1940’s but still have a large room for improvement. The visual aspect is the greatest one to overcome. If we can eliminate public smoking, it will decrease the amount of people who being smoking while also creating a healthier environment for everyone to enjoy.

Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent

Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent Brief Article Overview The article Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent by Jackson Eric sets out to highlight the reasons why major companies find it hard retaining staff. The article begins by stating that while large organizations have vast resources that they can use to retain their best staff, they still fail to keep their most talented staff from leaving.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Loss of talented staff negatively affects the organization’s performance and for this reason, it is important to know the reasons why employees leave. Jackson (2011) therefore goes on to provide a list of ten reasons for this failure in staff retention by large companies. The reasons articulated range from those that are as a result of the company being large to personal reasons by both the mana gers and the staff. The article concludes by noting that with a scarcity of talent being expected, organizations need to overcome this issues that cause talented staff to leave. List in order of Priority Big Company Bureaucracy Who’s the Boss? The Missing Vision Thing Poor Annual Performance Reviews No Discussion around Career Development Failing to Find a Project for the Talent that Ignites Their Passion Lack of Accountability and/or telling them how to do their Jobs Shifting Whims/Strategic Priorities Lack of Open-Mindedness Top Talent likes other Top Talent How to know if these things are happening Being able to know if these things which cause top talent to leave are happening is of great significance. If the activities mentioned below are taking place, then you will know that these things are happening in your company. The organization has inflexible procedures and demands that a rigid hierarch and chain of command be followed at all times and decision making is entrus ted only to the top company employees. In addition to this, the companys vision and strategy is come up with by the top management and then imposed on the rest of the employees who have no say in the companys vision. The company’s managers are overwhelmed with work and therefore do not have any time to engage in conversations with the employees to find out their passions or even provide feedback on their performance reviews. The company lacks clear goals and objectives and it keeps on moving the top talent to work on the latest project without giving them time to complete previous projects they may be interested in. The organization also lacks any well defined career development plan for its employees and the talented staff cannot see any clearly set out career path for them. Promotions and advances are also given in a haphazard manner and at the discretion of top management.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company avoids hiring top talent since they demand more competitive payment packages and as a result of this, the company is filled with average employees and a few talented staff who end up feeling frustrated. When hiring managers, the company does not deeply review the competence of the new manager in dealing with high talent. The company also does not providing executive coaching for the new manager and he/she is expected to be adept at working with his staff. Action Plan to prevent the 10 Things An action plan is needed to ensure that the reasons for talented employees leaving are mitigated or eliminated altogether. Decision making should be more decentralized with employees being given an opportunity to voice their suggestions. This will demonstrate that the organization values the input of its staff and appreciates them as valued players in the organization. In addition to this, the organization should inform of even con sult employees when changes that affect them are about to take place. While money is a major motivation for employees, they are also concerned about their professional growth (Donaldson-Feilder, et al. 2011). This is in line with Herzbergs two-factor theory which states that in addition to monetary rewards, work conditions also act as incentives for workers to be more productive. The organization should therefore come up with schedules for career advancement and managers should take on mentoring roles to the employees and encourage growth. The organization should also carry out regular evaluations of the performance of their employees and the evaluations should be focused on improving the productivity of individual employees. Moss and Sanchez (2004) assert that feedback on the evaluations is therefore crucial since without feedback, employees will not be able to improve on their shortcomings. Selection of managers should not depend entirely on skill-based analysis. A competency anal ysis should also be engaged in to ensure that the candidate has solid authoritative personality and prior managerial experience. The managers in the organizations will be encouraged to adopt leadership styles that do not alienate them with the employees. For example, transformational leadership which looks for â€Å"potential motives in followers, seeks to satisfy higher needs, and engages the full person of the follower† will be most appropriate (Harris Nelson 2007, p.356). Such a leadership style will raise job satisfaction and increase employee performance and productivity. Managers will also be required to take time to foster relationships with the employees. Research by Kellerman (2007) demonstrated that when managers showed concern for their staff, the staff reciprocated by increased productivity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Measuring Success There have to be specific and measurable goals and objectives in order to tell the effectiveness of the staff retention action plan. The first measure of success will be in the evident behavioral change in the company staff. There will be reduced rates of turnover and the company will be able to attract more talented staff who will express interest in working for the company due to the favorable work conditions. An even more important measure of success will be in the increase in organizations productivity as the talented staff gets even more involved in the affairs of the organization. The companys quarterly financial statements will attest to significant improvements which may be caused by the innovations by the talented staff. The company will become a market leader in innovation as its key talent come up with novel products for the organization. Conclusion In this paper, I have carried out an analyses of the article Top ten reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent by Jackson Eric. From It, I have learnt the major reasons why top talents leave major organization. Remedies to these problems have been proposed so as to help organization’s maintain their talented staff and hence increase their competitiveness. Some of the major lessons that I have learnt from this case study is that making employees feel valued is of great importance in not only increasing their performance but maintaining them in the organizational workforce. References Donaldson-Feilder, E., Lewis, R. Yarker, J. (2011). Preventing stress in organizations: how to develop positive managers. Boston: John Wiley Sons. Kellerman, B. (2007) ‘What Every Leader needs to know About Followers.’ Harvard Business Review 85, (12) 84-91. Harris, T.E. Nelson, M. (2007). Applied organizational communication: theory and practice in a global environment. London: Taylor Francis.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Jackson, E. (2011). Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail To Keep Their Best Talent. Web. Moss, S.E. Sanchez, J.I. (2004). Are your employees avoiding you? Managerial strategies for closing the feedback gap. Academy of Management Executive, 18 (1), 34-54.

How has the Invention of Contact Lenses affected peoples Sight Essay Example

How has the Invention of Contact Lenses affected peoples Sight Essay Example How has the Invention of Contact Lenses affected peoples Sight Essay How has the Invention of Contact Lenses affected peoples Sight Essay People with sight troubles have had the possibility of wearing glasses for a really long time, but the new technology made available contact lenses. In this essay, I am going to look at the different contact lenses types that exist, at who invented them and when, for which vision problems they are solution, at how to take care of them, at how common they are in our society and finally, I will write about my own opinion.What contact lenses areAccording to the Macmillan Dictionary (2002), contact lens may be defined as a plastic lens that you wear in your eye to help you see more clearly.A very wide variety of contact lenses are available in todays society, including hard and soft (even if soft is by far more common now), disposable and extended wear; this makes it easy for each person to chose the appropriate type of contact lens for her. The main types of contact lenses are listed below:* Soft lenses: As these lenses are soft, they are made of a large percentage of water, and this al lows oxygen to pass through the lens and reach the cornea. They are also more comfortable and easier to adapt to.* Rigid-gas permeable lenses: these lenses are not made of water so they are not as comfortable as the soft ones, but they do allow a larger amount of oxygen to pass through them. Their best advantage is that they offer a excellent sight correction.* Disposable lenses: Disposable means that the lenses are worn for a definite period (from two weeks to six months depending on the lenses) of time before being thrown away and replaces by a fresh new pair. The fact of throwing out the lenses helps making sure the lenses are always very clean, so healthier and more comfortable.* Extended wear lenses: these lenses are made to be worn 24h a day, and up to seven days on a row (a new type made of silicone hydrogel allows more oxygen to flow in so that they can be kept for up to 30 days without taking them off).* Bifocal contact lenses: this type of lens has two major functions: to correct distance vision and to correct near vision. There are two main designs: the power or seeing far is concentrated at the top and the one of seeing nearby at the bottom, or the different powers are blended on different parts of the lens.* Coloured contact lenses: they can be used to correct existent sight troubles, but also just to look prettier, as they come in a large variety of colours, from hazel to blue, passing by grey, purple and green.However the lenses type that is mostly used today is a combination of both soft and disposable lenses, simply called the disposable soft contact lenses, because they are the healthiest ones, more comfortable, and major prices differences from an average model of these different types of lenses do not exist.When and by who they were inventedThe famous Italian inventor Leonardo da Vinci was the first one to come up with contact lenses sketches and explanations, at the beginning of the 16th century. It is only in 1801 that Thomas Young develo ped the idea Rene Descartes had had more than 150 years before. Thomas Young, who was a British physician, took small lenses from his microscope, covered the edges of them in soft wax and put them into his own eyes to correct his vision.In 1887, the glassblower F.E. Muller produces the first lens designed to be seen through and tolerated; (however, according to the book 100 greatest medical discoveries, it is the American Louis J. Girard who developed the first contact lens this same year). Almost half a century later, the American William Feinbloom is the first one who creates an US-made contact lens and introduces the use of plastic in it.After few improvements such as making the inner-surface of the corneal lens follow the eyes shape (instead of sitting flat) or also the use of a new material, a softy water absorbing plastic, it is in 1971 that the soft lens became available for commercial distribution in the United States. New models of lenses, each time with more improvement, w ere then created and commercialised (around a new model every two years).In 1987, a great evolution can be established: disposable soft contact lenses and the first multipurpose lens care product (explained in more details further) were available for commercial distribution, as well as a soft contact lens able o change the eye colour: this is the start of contact lens use in fashion.For who (explanation of vision troubles)Contact lenses were designed for people who cannot see properly, and nowadays they are definitely developed enough to be able to correct almost all the vision troubles. The 5 main vision conditions are the following:* Astigmatism: this condition usually affects both nearsightedness and farsightedness because the corneas curvature is rather oval when it should be round. Their sight is not prà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½cised and for example, they can confuse the letters M, N and H, or B and D. It is often associated to myopia or hyperopia.* Hyperopia: this is a long-sightedness cond ition, and people affected by it have difficulties to focus on close objects, while the sight of distant objects stays correct. It might be because the cornea is too bulging, or because the crystalline lens (see eye diagram) of the eye is too flat.* Myopia: also known as short-sightedness, people affected by this condition are able to do tasks that require a vision of nearby objects, such as reading or sewing; but they see distance objects blurred so for example, they cannot read highway signs.* Presbyopia: this long-sightedness condition cannot be avoided because it touches everyone at some point in life (usually around 40-50 years old). It is due to a loss in flexibility of the lens and loss of power of the ciliary muscles and it cause the person to have difficulties in focusing on nearby objects. A person affected by this condition will for example hold her newspapers further away from her eyes to see it better (we say that the arm grows shorter because it is not able to hold the object at a distance long enough for these people to see anymore).* Strabismus: this condition, also called lazy eye, makes us squint; there is a lack of coordination between the muscles of the two eyes, and this means that the vision axes of our two eyes are not parallel so they dont point out at the same direction. This affects our depth perception.The following eye diagram will help understand which parts of the eyes are damaged by the previously explained conditions:How to use themYou definitely need to consult a specialist who will tell you the type of contact lenses that are the most appropriate to your case: the optometrist will prescribe the lenses to you and the oculist will provide them. Your ophthalmologist will explain you how to put them on; it might look hard at the beginning but its just a matter of getting used to it. But two rules are still primordial: to make sure you have clean hands before you put your lenses in your eyes and not to wear them for than the indica ted time.It is very important to take care of you contact lenses; indeed they need regular cleaning and disinfecting to retain clear vision and prevent infections. Eyes were not designed to have a foreign object in them. Plus this foreign object prevents the air to reach the eye, while this sight organ needs to receive oxygen. Contact lenses make your eyes vulnerable to all sorts of things so by cleaning them, they are less likely to breed bacteria and they are more air permeable. A large variety of products is nowadays available to clean, rinse and disinfect your lenses:* Saline solution: once the lens was cleaned, this solution is used to rinse it.* Daily cleaner: this cleaner is used once a day, to clean the lenses. With a few droplets of the cleaner on it, the lens is rubbed for about 20 seconds on each side. Long nails mean to be extra careful with the rubbing!* Multipurpose solution: this solution is used for rinsing, disinfecting, cleaning and storing the lenses. It can be us ed only for disinfection and storage if it is associated with another rinsing product (eg: Saline solution) and a cleaning one (eg: daily cleaner).Some products may contain preservatives such as thimerosal. To avoid any kind of problems due to these preservatives (even if many brands no longer use products that contain preservatives), it is safer to chose products with the label for sensitive eyes, and these products usually have an expiration date.How common they are in todays societyContact lenses are greatly used in todays society. Even if they are basically made to cure vision troubles, they are more and more used for appearance aspects: many people would rather wear contact lenses than glasses because they look prettier, and because you have fewer troubles with them. few examples include the nerd stereotype changing from glasses and becomes beautiful, or the athlete who can play sports without fear of shattered glasses, or also the actor able to switch his eye colour from brown to red, passing by blue, depending on the role. Teens are the main people wanting to switch their glasses for contact lenses, for cosmetic reasons: they will feel more self-confident and good looking without their glasses. But before contact lenses are prescribed to this category of people, it is important to make sure that they are responsible enough to take care of their contacts. Teens are also the best costumers to buy colour contact lenses in order to change their appearance: more than just changing the colour of your eye, special contact lenses are now available for special occasions, such as Halloween with contacts that give you cats or vampires eyes.So it is very common nowadays to see people wearing eye contacts even though they dont need them for their sight. However, a prescription is always needed because wearing contact lenses is still considered as a medical application. And the fact that they are more and more common in todays society should not make us forget their first aim was for helping see and so they need special care, even if they are only being used as a fashion accessory. More than that, secondary effects might happen, such as fatigue and headaches, and those are stronger if it takes time for the eyes to adapt to the contacts.Also be careful when putting make up on: always put your contacts before the make up and take them off before you use makeup remover. Also it is preferable to use non-allergenic makeup.Own opinionI personally dont wear contact lenses because I dont have any vision troubles and I dont resent the need to change the colour of my eye or anything, but I really think that they are very useful and helpful. I do know some people who hated wearing glasses, and after they tried contact lenses, they felt prettier and better. I also think that contacts are helpful for people who play sports; even in the schools basketball team, few girls wear contacts and it is very useful because this way they dont get hurt; also there is a French commercial for contact lenses that is performed by three famous French athletes, proving that athletes do use contacts. I also think it is nice that actors are able to change their eye colour in order to add little details that make the character more reliable.Nevertheless, contacts are still foreign objects put into your eyes, they might cause secondary effects (such as headaches, seen before) and they need special cleaning equipment. So I think that we have to be careful because if they become too common only as a fashion accessory, then people are going to forget a little bit the medical side of contacts and so they might damage someones eyes if they are not being used properly.ConclusionIn conclusion, the invention of contact lenses has greatly affected peoples sight: eyeglasses are not the first solution to solve vision troubles anymore, because contact lenses have replaced them. They have been so successful because they are easier to use, more discrete and practical as well. And it is more and more common to see people wearing coloured ones them only for the fashion side.However it is important to remind that their first purpose was for medicine, and they require special care that people have to follow, even if they just contacts as fashion accessories.

A Culture Of Compliance

A Culture Of Compliance What makes a good compliance culture can be deconstructed into multiple components yet it is instantly recognizable. It is strong and functional yet in no way hinders the development of profitable new business and can adapt to market, technological or regulatory change. A good compliance culture is represented across all levels of the organization ensuring a coherent and integrated approach to compliance throughout the company. The essence of how staff, managers and executives interact and work is towards a common goal and value system based on mutual respect, integrity and ethical behaviour focused on the long term health of the business, not just short term gains. In the wake of the financial crisis, good compliance culture and ethics are commonly touted by regulators and governments alike as key to promoting both trust and confidence within the financial system and regulatory bodies charged with their oversight. Equally without the credible threat of regulatory enforcement, it is questionable whether a good compliance culture would be possible. So what are the key ingredients? The framework for organizations that are serious in embedding a good compliance culture within their business is based on the following: Tone at the top: Corporate strategy partnered with legal, risk and compliance Tolerance statements aligned to policy measures and triggers, including swift remediation and proactive compliance risk management Governance and accountability with supervision, discipline and swift investigatory processes tied to performance management Risk assessment, ongoing monitoring, testing and reporting (internal and external) Ongoing Training, guidance and development aimed at all levels of the organization Robust regulatory and active supervisory regime Tone at the Top The tone at the top sets an organization’s guiding values and ethical behaviour. Executive commitment to invest and empower those in compliance, risk and legal resources creates the appropriate oversight and encourages staff to do the right thing. Legal, risk and compliance staff must be viewed as important and critical partners in the business and not simply as support functions. Their views are sought and followed through with respect to new business, operations, business models and planning, pricing and product development. Legal, compliance and risk staff have visible reporting lines into the Board, where breaches for non-compliance are taken seriously and are met with swift investigatory and disciplinary action and accountability. It then follows that the Executive which should include the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Legal Counsel are duly qualified, credible leaders and can take action. A corporate strategy committed to compliance, risk and legal requirements must therefore be more than a statement of mere good intentions and must be continuously reinforced. Judy O’HanrahanIt is where the executive takes decisive leadership and ownership of a corporate strategy strongly aligned to regulatory, legal requirements consumer protection providing a safe and fair environment for staff implementing active deterrents of unethical or unlawful activities and protecting institutional assets from data theft, financial crime, fraud or business disruption promoting ethical behaviours that foster respect, integrity, consistency and concern for the organization’s core values. This should be the experience of every employee, from new starter to those that seek to exit. It should be clear to both new and veteran employees that those who represent the core endorsed compliance values and principles are promoted or hired to leadership roles and/or appropriately rewarded. Creating and maintaining the right tone at the top aligned with a corporate strategy partnered in legal, risk and compliance offers can and will increase client and employee retention, ultimately leading to the establishment of a good reputation. Tolerance statements aligned to policy measures A good compliance framework is not only designed to address events as they arise but also to pre-empt them by taking steps to address potential issues. In organizations that have zero tolerance for actions or lack of action that could lead to breaches in compliance, swift, specific, measureable, realistic and time-bound actions are taken by management to address exposures. Limits and warning levels should be built into processes and procedures with clear escalation policies that are adhered to. Notification of breaches and reporting should be well defined and transparent within an agreed structure characterized by a hierarchy up to the Board. Policies are widely understood and followed by staff who can attest to each by aligning their procedures with them and taking an active role in their review through a governance structure. Governance and Accountability In order to foster a good compliance culture, good governance is established through a robust and credible three lines of defense model. The First line All managers and staff take ownership of a consistent compliance approach supported by far sighted incentive structures, where recognition of staff doing the right thing for consumers and for the business and each other is recognized and rewarded and actively promoted. Each business unit has embedded risk and compliance partners who are knowledgeable about their business processes and are senior and independent enough to influence or change behaviours and reward positive outcomes. Primarily accountable for development of controls in tandem with procedures and policies to prevent, detect and respond to compliance failures, they can also test their effectiveness. Middle management are empowered to turn compliance values into practice and encourage employees to come forward with legal, compliance and ethical questions without fear of retaliation, building trust and increased levels of employee engagement. Judy O’Hanrahan Senior leaders hold themselves and others accountable for complying with the ideals of the agreed norms of what makes a good compliance culture. Bad behaviour such as circumventing policy or procedure must have negative consequences. It is clear to all that positive behaviour is rewarded and new recruits are screened against agreed principles and values. Finally, internal issues or matters must be adjudicated with fairness, transparency and integrity, and whistle-blowers are protected when they make a disclosure. The Second line Legal, risk and compliance departments are asking questions about conduct, ethics and culture and not just providing assurance on regulatory and legal technical questions. Their oversight of the effectiveness and integrity of the compliance value system must be established in every aspect of the business. Embedding compliance within the processes and procedures in business units must extend not only to laws, regulations and business principles but to best practice and proactive risk management. Their message must be consistent with that of the business and must be endorsed by the executive. They are seen as critical partners in protecting the reputation of the organization, involved in operational and strategic decisions, testing and compliance monitoring. Chief Compliance Officers play a strategic role in the organization, cultivate the right stakeholder relationships, are trusted advisors to the business, have access to the board, drive and influence the culture and are viewed as authentic leaders and role models. The Third line Audits are measuring the corporate compliance strategy and success of implementation of a good compliance culture based on agreed tolerance statements. An annual compliance charter, plan, policies, monitoring and reporting should be tested for effectiveness and accuracy and process related testing. Employee surveys on culture conducted internally or externally by third parties are helpful in measuring the cultural pulse of the organization. In essence, a good compliance culture is underpinned by good behaviour which must be linked to goals and an incentivized scheme that rewards respect, dignity at work, integrity and trust. Risk assessment, ongoing monitoring, testing and reporting A compliance risk assessment helps an organization understand its risk exposure, prioritize risks, assign ownership and adequately resource and mitigate risks, starting with those that have the highest potential for violations of laws and regulations. The application of a risk methodology based on impact and likelihood identifies the inherent risk combined with controls, highlights the residual risk. This must be authorized and agreed with business partners together with an appropriate response that is monitored and reported up the hierarchy, presented in a dashboard against defined tolerances. Audit and Compliance plans should be complementary and monitoring reviews carried out by risk, compliance and audit serve as an early warning system to potential compliance issues by taking samples of business unit activities, products or output. Ongoing Training, Guidance and Development Individuals will need additional reinforcement on ethics and compliance programs through innovative training or workshops so that staff can connect to the values through Judy O’Hanrahan information sharing and story-telling. New starters, higher risk staff, management and operational staff should have specific training geared towards their needs. Encouraging staff to enrol on professional compliance courses run by external parties and to become industry leaders by participating in external committees or federations contributes to further reinforcing a positive compliance culture supported by external validation. Robust regulatory and active supervisory regime A sharp supervisory approach by an active regulator supports organisations looking to create a positive compliance culture and provides the assurance to consumers that they will be protected. Bernie Madoff’s victims, for example, would wonder how did regulatory agencies such as the SEC, FINRA, which are charged with monitoring financial institutions, fail in their supervisory duty to uncover the largest Ponzi scheme in history. After all, there were warning signs and tip-offs that were ignored, missed or misunderstood. Examiners had sat in Madoff’s offices for two months in 2005 without a complete understanding of the firm’s activities. Regulators who understand how these organisations operate and are able to unravel what appear to be complex activities promote ethical behaviour and protect consumers. By focusing on matters associated with good corporate governance and operational risk with a credible threat of enforcement wake organisations up to the realities that created the perfect storm that was the financial crisis of 2008. In conclusion, organisations with a good compliance culture create lasting relationships with clients, customers, employees and suppliers. This ultimately leads to a good reputation in the market and a positive brand that in turn will attract long term investors. It is evident from scandals involving high profile companies such as Madoff, Enron or Anglo-Irish Bank that implementing and maintaining a positive compliance and ethical culture ensures organisational survival and contributes to the stability of the financial system, something that regulators recognize and are therefore scrutinizing as part of their supervisory regime. It is a reciprocal relationship between organisations and their regulators. Without the credible threat of regulatory enforcement extending to personal liability of senior management, compliance and ethics may be mere check the box exercises or seen as obstacles to new business. Nonetheless, organisations that encourage mutual respect, dignity at work, integr ity and honesty among staff and management lay the foundation for not just a good and positive compliance culture but a truly sustainable work environment that is recognisable by its outperformance and endurance.

Assignment2-503 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assignment2-503 - Essay Example The officer has a responsibility of ensuring that schools are provided with sufficient financial resources to carry out their mandate as academic and social institutions. In regards to tutors, they are licensed by the City Council to operate. However, in private schools tutors are selected by the mandate of the school. In addition, the schools determine the level that a tutor may be viable for education. Public academic institutions in Ashland are limited in regards to their hiring mandate. The institutions do not directly hire tutors as qualified tutors are provided for the school. The role of the tutors is dictated by both the school administration and the council educational department. The main duty and responsibility of tutors is to provide educational experience to students as required by the curriculum and their institution. Other staff members in institutions are hired by the institution management. For instance, caterers, drivers, security personnel and secretaries are provided by the administration. However, the city council requires a free and fair employment system that would provide equal opportunities to all viable candidates. The mandate of these staff is also directed by the school administration. The district has also provided schools with specifications on ways to cope with bullying and safety. In regards to safety the district provides safe routes for student to use when going to school. Each school in Ashland City has an accessible website. The website is provided by the school and contains information about the school. Information provided include programs offered, fee structures, location, mission and objectives. Apart from these websites, the district contains a website that includes the schools located in Ashland City (City of Ashland, 2014). The website contains schools at all levels and provide their location. The rate of

How far do the merits of selection by interview explain the fact that Essay

How far do the merits of selection by interview explain the fact that it is the most widely used method of selection - Essay Example he side of the employees who are going to give in their best and thus benefit the organization in the long run, not to forget do themselves a favor in terms of their future growth and exposure levels. However all this is easier said than done since the problems do arise from time to time and it is significant that both the organization and the employee understand that they have to co-exist for the betterment of each other. No one of these two entities could exist in vacuum and thus it is of paramount importance to understand the very same. The end result would be in terms of success both for the organization as well as the employees who are very much a part of his organization itself. Then there is the aspect of interventions which crop up every now and then and which in essence mar the real motive of hiring the best possible candidates for the job. These include references from people who are in close association with the management who are there to make decisions but end up hiring their own acquaintances and relatives. This brings a bad name to the organization and also creates a sense of animosity within the employees since they think that the relatives could have their own say by using their relationships to full effects. To this day, interviewing has remained as the cornerstone of achieving the best results envisaged when it comes to recruiting and selecting individuals best suited towards a particular job, task or duty. This is due to its very direct manner of putting the interviewer and the interviewee in close association with each other. They have an eye ball to eye ball connection where the interviewer easily gauges the amount of confidence that the interviewee possesses within him and how he copes up with the pressure of giving an interview as well. It costs thousands of dollars to hire and train employees. How do managers attract top talent that supports the corporate culture? How do they keep these employees engaged? After investing in this talent,

Career Coaching & Personal Development Assignment

Career Coaching & Personal Development - Assignment Example The week’s lecture involved the use of questionnaire one of which had been prepared by our lecturer. The module highlighted Person-environment (P-E) fit theory of organizational behavior, which forms the basis for assessing and predicting our personality, determine our skills and our preferable careers. The first questionnaire was about scoring myself on my skill. We first filled a questionnaire followed by adding up our scores. I scored highest on People Skills, which suggested that I like carrying out activities such as management, guiding others, in addition to activities that require persuasiveness.These traits suggested that my preferable careers were management, as well as other jobs in the field of business. This was encouraging since I had never considered myself persuasive. These findings made me realize that I had more potential than I had previously thought and needed to be open-minded since I could do other jobs other than management. The next questionnaire was on Career Directions Indication, which was based on the model of John Holland in the form of a hexagon, depicting the six different personalities or themes, which include Realistic, Investigative, Artistic Social, Enterprising, and conventional. People who share the same personality prefer working together and have a specific work environment in which they perform best.   Holland’s model is based on Person-environment (P-E) fit theory and denotes the congruence, match, or connection between the personalities and environment. Understanding one's personality is important in that it helps one choose a career that provides the appropriate environment.  It was intriguing to learn that all individuals may be associated with this model of personality types and that one can fall in up to three of these themes. The model is hexagonal and the different personalities are arranged such that personality types that are neighbouring share some similarities while those lying oppositely diff er more. I eagerly completed the questionnaire and the results proposed that I fall into is ‘Enterprising’, ‘Social’ and ‘conventional’ themes. This was captivating since the three personality types lie adjacent to each other. Being in enterprising category meant that I prefer managerial and sales type of jobs, which is true.