Equal Opportunities Versus Diversity Management - 3631 Words

Individual Assignment Organisational Behaviour (PBSA812) Equal opportunities versus diversity management Executive Summary: To gain insight into equal opportunities and diversity management we will define them. We will then look at the differences between the two statements. By gaining knowledge around the differences we will investigate what affect it has on organisations in their efforts of improving diversity. It will be looked at in the South African context. The next step will be to look at cornerstones reach by organisations this far. As a conclusion we will look at the implications this has on management and the skills they will need to affectively manage diversity. Equal opportunities versus diversity management: To†¦show more content†¦Layer one is one’s personality. This represents â€Å"a stable set of characteristics that is responsible for a person’s identity†. (Kreitner Kinicki, 2008:37) The next layer will be that of internal dimension or primary dimension as per the workinfo.com human resources website. This layer represents those attributes which we have no control over such as Age, Ethnicity, Colour or Race, Gender, physical ability and our sexual orientation. This layer also determines most of our life situations as it mainly dictate with who we interact with, where we want to stay or what we earn. The third layer of diversity is referred to as the secondary dimension or external dimension of diversity. It includes external factors which influence who we are. Examples of this will be income, geographic location (where you live or where you were born), parental status, marital status, political affiliation, believes and work experiences. Other factors will also be our appearances and our personal habits. This layer will be the one that influences your attitude and behaviour towards life and other people. Diversity training in most organisations takes place at this layer. Why? B Vaugh (2007) (as quoted by Wikipedia, 2009), defines diversity training as â€Å"training for the purpose of increasing participants’ cultural awareness, knowledge and skills,Show MoreRelatedWe Must Promote Diversity in the Workplace Essay953 Words   |  4 PagesAs the American workforce continues to become more and more diverse, it is becoming even more important for organizations to recognize the diversity of their employees and adopt policies surrounding diversity issues. The US Department of Labor estimates that more than 75% of workers currently entering the workforce are women, immigrants, or people of color (Clayton, 2010). Today’s organizations are facing a more diverse workforce, and customer base, than they did even as short a s five years agoRead MoreThe Effects Of Culture On Diversity Management Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pageschapter outlines the effects of culture on diversity management in organizations in Kenya. Secondly, it highlights the literature related factors that affect culture and in turn diversity management in organizations in Kenya such as technology, level of skilled workers, policies enforced by organizations in Kenya, and the level of resources available to them. The chapter also analysed literature related to other aspects that effect diversity management in organizations in Kenya. 2.2 To determineRead MoreAnalyzing Diversity Within The Workplace1061 Words   |  5 Pagesreferred to as a â€Å"melting pot† because of the diversity of its people. People from hundreds of countries with different cultures, languages, religious beliefs, and different ethnicities have come to the United States seeking a better opportunities and a better way of life. Melting pot is defined as â€Å"a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole† (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). For the purpose of analyzing diversity in the workplace, it is necessary to also defineRead MoreEssay MBA Assignement 2812 Words   |  4 Pagessignificant amount of population had to change their retirement goals or had to return to workforce to maintain their lifestyles. As an employer it may be challenging to maintain a balance between the energy and advances gained from a younger worker versus the wisdom and maturity of a seasoned aging workforce. Employment relationships and aging population I feel the changes in employment relationship will likely occur in three fronts mainly, flexibility, pay and training (Acas, 2011). 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The Rooney Rule was established to encourage diversity in coaching or any top management position in the National Football League. It required teams to interview a minority candidate before making a head coach or head management hire. Do NFL officials still need the Rooney Rule? Yes, the Rooney Rule has helped force owners to cast a wide net, going from who you know system to who’s the best system. What should be done about the lack of minority coaches and general managersRead MoreThe Top 2015 Best Companies For Multicultural Women1420 Words   |  6 Pagespackages, but also for their business philosophy, ethics, moral standards, and their business vision. Procter Gamble is a company that was named one the top five companies for multicultural women to grow, giving women of color and minorities the opportunity to excel in the corporate world (Working Mother Magazine, 2015). Proctor Gamble, also known as PG, is a public trade company and is also a part of the â€Å"SP500† companies. 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Quality Improvement For Health Care Systems - 883 Words

Quality Improvement: Quality improvement by definition is the use of data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems (Pre-Licensure KSAs | QSEN, n.d.). Having applied the knowledge and skills used for quality improvement in this scenario could not have avoided the occurrence of the seizure, but with proper initial assessments of this patient, the nursing staff would have been on high alert. With seizure precautions instated, technicians that were observing the dayroom could have noted the commotion occurring and would have called the nurses over in a timely manner to quickly intervene with possibly PRN medications to stop the seizure. Since the nurses did not know their patients after report, there was a delay in proper treatment. The nursing staff therefore did not have sufficient information in order to improve the quality of care. From this incident, the staff then collectively ran through the charts, identifying other precautions for other patients, while trying to minimalize missing any details. The nursing staff was able to realize the unwanted outcome that came from the patient having a seizure and reevaluated the plan of care for this patient. Safety: Safety by definition is the minimization of risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance (Pre-Licensure KSAs | QSEN, n.d.). 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However, due to processes thatRead MorePriority Quality Improvement Of A High Performing Health Care System1442 Words   |  6 PagesPriority Quality Improvement Need Identified The advancement of a high-performing health care system that accomplishes improved access, enhanced quality, and more effectiveness, for the susceptible, vulnerable, the uninsured, minority, children, and elderly adult, remain vital (Commonwealth Fund, 2016). The expectations to meet this standard has been adopted by hospitals as they are in continuous review of modalities to provide safe, effective, and efficient care for their community. ConsequentlyRead MoreQuality And Performance Improvement Analysis1145 Words   |  5 Pages Quality and Performance Improvement Analysis Paper Dominique Gray HCA-615 Human Resource Management and Marketing Communication Strategies Dr. Mary Straw February 3, 2016 Health care organizations are complex and require several interconnected parts to operate effectively. 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As a result, the uncertainty in the United States health services industry and the constant changes place significant demand on health care providers and the individuals who lead and manage health care delivery systems (Stowe, Haefner, BehlingRead MoreQI Plan Part 21301 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Quality Improvement Plan Part II September 8, 2014 Lori Stemen Measuring Performance HCS/588 Instructor Jacqueline Sommerville Quality Improvement Plan Part II For health care organizations quality data collection is an essential tool used for data collection. The information produced from the data assists the health care organization in other functions such as effective ways to manage and perform decision making for the organization, this includes theRead MoreComponents Of Continuous Quality Improvement1407 Words   |  6 PagesQuality improvement has philosophical components by emphasizing satisfaction with the consumer (patient, provider, and payer) and health outcomes by focusing on having a mission, values, and objectives to measure performance and implementation (Sollecito Johnson, 2013, p. 11). In order to create this, they review the whole system of service by gathering information from the system operation and patient, so that one can understand the root cause of the information (Sollecito Johnson, 2013, p.Read MoreImportance And Benefits Of Quality Improvement1349 Words   |  6 Pagesand Benefits of Quality Improvement Quality improvement (QI) involves the regular and constant actions that enable measurable improvement in health care. QI results in enhanced health services, organizational efficiency, quality and safe care to patients, and desired health outcomes for individuals and patient populations (U. S. Department of Health and Human Service, 2011). A successful quality improvement program is patient-centered, a collaboration of teams, and uses data in systems. QI helps toRead MoreQuality And Safety Initiatives Throughout The U.s. Health Care Delivery System932 Words   |  4 PagesQuality and safety initiatives are driving important changes in the U.S. health care delivery system. Quality in health care is defined as the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes are consistent with current professional knowledge (Nash Goldfarb, 2006, p. 6). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, To Err is Human, states that most of th e medical errors are resulted from system error and processes. Medical Errors account

Axis I and II Disorders in Children Free Essays

Axis I Disorders include the following: â€Å"adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, impulse-control disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, as well as, somatoform disorders† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. We will write a custom essay sample on Axis I and II Disorders in Children or any similar topic only for you Order Now 345 – 730). â€Å"Axis II†, on the other hand, covers the following conditions: â€Å"personality disorders, mental retardation, as well as, autism† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 27 – 134 679 – 730). Furthermore, â€Å"Axis II† disorders may already emerge during an individual’s childhood life while â€Å"Axis I† disorders usually present itself during the stage of adulthood (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). Moreover, â€Å"Axis II’s† symptoms linger awhile longer than the clinical manifestations of â€Å"Axis I† and that â€Å"Axis II† disorders may negatively impact ones’ life since interaction may be more difficult as compared with â€Å"Axis I† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). In addition to that, â€Å"medical attention is necessitated when it comes to principal disorders† which are covered in â€Å"Axis I† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). â€Å"Axis II† on the other hand, are those â€Å"shaping the current response to the Axis I problem† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). It may also influence the individual to the â€Å"Axis I† dilemma (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). Differences in Treatment Approaches The differences in treatment approaches are as follows: â€Å"Anxiety and phobic disorders† may be treated through the following techniques: â€Å"desensitization, flooding, relaxation† (De Jongh et. al., 1999, pp. 69 – 85). â€Å"Obsessive-compulsive disorder† may be address through the following techniques: â€Å"relaxation and relapse-prevention† (McKay, 1997, pp. 367 – 369). â€Å"Depressive disorders† are treated the â€Å"cognitive behavioral technique, as well as, relaxation† (Ackerson, 1998, pp. 685 – 690). â€Å"Conduct disorders† are addressed through â€Å"positive reinforcement† and â€Å"extinction† (Bailey, 1996, pp. 352 – 356). â€Å"Hyperactivity syndromes† are treated by the following techniques: â€Å"time out, positive reinforcement, and extinction† (Quay, 1997, n.p.). â€Å"Pervasive developmental disorders† are addressed by the following techniques as well: â€Å"time out, positive reinforcement, and extinction† as well as, â€Å"aversive techniques† (Bristol-Power et al., 1999, pp. 435 – 438). â€Å"Encopresis/enuresis† is treated through â€Å"positive reinforcement† (Boon et. al., 1991, pp. 355 – 371). The treatments for â€Å"Mental Retardation† are the following: â€Å"positive reinforcement, extinction and time-out, prompting and shaping, as well as, aversive techniques† (Jones, 2006, pp. 115 – 121). â€Å"Tics† are treated by massed practice (Sand et. al., 1973, pp. 665 – 670). Working with Different Children from Axis I, Axis II, or Both In case I would need to address a child’s case wherein Axis I and Axis II Disorders both occur at the same time, I will make sure to consider the â€Å"development of cognitive, social, and motor skills† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). In addition, â€Å"the one that initiated evaluation or clinical is regarded as the principal diagnosis† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). Most Important Things to Consider when Working with Children The most important things to take into consideration when working with children are the following: first of all, the ethical and professional issues that emerges in mental health work with children; second, the culture that the child and his or her family believes / practices / grew up in; third, the proper treatment/intervention; fourth include the following contemporary structure of â€Å"services, evidence-based practice, and psychopharmacology† (American Psychiatric Association et. al., 2000, pp. 1 – 744). References Ackerson, J. et. al., (1998). Cognitive Bibliotherapy for Mild and Moderate Adolescent Depressive Symptomatology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66: 685 – 690. American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association Task Force on DSM-IV. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. Bailey, V.F.A. (1996). Intensive Interventions in Conduct Disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 74: 352 – 356. How to cite Axis I and II Disorders in Children, Papers

Global Warming a serious threa Essay Example For Students

Global Warming a serious threa Essay Is global warming a serious threat?As human technology has been developed by scientists and researchers, we not only get a comfort in living throughout our life but it also helps people to find more jobs and less popery. However, on the other hand, there are some increasing problems on our planet earth due to human activities. They increased the global temperature about 0.5F to 1.1F (0.30.6C) since the last half of the 19th century (Global warming 1). The increase in global warming causes the raising sea level, changing precipitation, and other local climate conditions (ESP impacts of Climate Change 1). The ESP states that changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also threaten human health, and harm birds, fish, and many types of ecosystems.The threat to human health is due to local climate. The reason why local climate threatens human health is that extreme temperatures can directly cause the loss of life. And also many serious diseases appear in warm places. But not only is it that warm temperatures can increase air and water pollution, which in turn harm human health (ESP Health 1). The hot temperature, which could be the most direct effect of climate change, causes the heat problem. Because their cardiovascular system has to work harder to keep the body cool during hot weather. The temperature causes harmful effects to human health and another is cause of lung problem. Higher air temperatures also increases the concentration of ozone at ground level. When this happens, the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the upper atmosphere reach es the earths surface. The ESP states that Ozone damages lung tissue, and causes particular problems for people with asthma and other lung diseases. Even modest exposure to ozone can cause healthy individuals to experience chest pains, nausea, and pulmonary congestion. The data from ESP shows that heat wave killed 700 people in the Chicago in July 1995 and U.S., only 1000 people died from the cold each year, while twice that many died from the heat (ESP Health 1). Global warming also creates warm areas more which causes the certain harmful disease to appear. The ESP points out that:Diseases that are spread by mosquitoes and other insects could become more prevalent if warmer temperatures enabled those insects to become established farther north; such vector-borne diseases include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Some scientists believe that algal blooms could occur more frequently as temperatures warm -particularly in areas with polluted waters-in which case di seases such a cholera that tend to accompany algal blooms could become more frequent. The agriculture could be harmfully affected by global warming. The only success of harvesting is really dependent on climate because crops grow in the moist soil most of time. The data from ESP points out that during extended droughts such as the 1930s Dust Bowl, crop failures have been widespread. The crop failures also occurs because of the increasing heat stress, flooding, and effecting of soil with salt due to sea level rise. (ESP Agriculture 1) There are some bad and good sides of agriculture because of the global warming. The bad side is that in some cold places, warm temperatures could lengthen the growing season. And also according to ESP higher CO2 levels also increase the efficiency with which plants use water, which may tend to offset some of the adverse effects of drier soils. The good side of it is that warmer temperatures would make it profitable to cultivate new lands, potentially in creasing production by 0.2-1.2 percent. Other studies have concluded that the 12C warming expected in next 50100 years may lead to increased agricultural production (ESP Agriculture 1). However, the changing climate condition could make some places wetter and other area drier. And also it can affect badly to the environment that some cultivate areas where cold could eliminate ecosystems (ESP Agriculture 2). .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .postImageUrl , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:hover , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:visited , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:active { border:0!important; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:active , .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947 .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4e8c4736c75fda4d7a69007942479947:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Good Man Is Hard To Find Essay Due to global warming, sea level has been changed. Global sea level was about 100m (328 feet) lower than current levels at the coldest point of the last ice age about 18,000 years ago (Policy Implications 25). The reason why sea level has been arise so much is

Leadership and Influence

Table of Contents Introduction Initial Reflection on Unit Context Organizational Dynamics Leader as a Social Architect Conclusion Reference List Introduction According to Northouse (2009, p. 3), â€Å"Leadership is a process whereby an individual influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal†.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leadership and Influence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Considering leadership a process implies that it cannot be defined as a characteristic or trait that is typical of a leader, but a transactional phenomenon that arises from the communication between a leader and followers. Defining leadership from this perspective provides greater understanding of the influences and interactions between leaders and their subordinates. Hence, leadership cannot exist without influence because it constantly occurs in groups, the context in which leaders operate and influence indivi duals to achieve a common purpose. In the course of development, leadership practices have evolved into multiple models and theories. This is of particular concern to transformational leadership and situational leadership models. There are also frameworks that are premised on such aspects as personality traits, skills, and behavior. All these approaches provide a wider picture of how leadership can be characterized, as well as what dimensions are the most efficient ones in managing an organization. Initial Reflection on Unit General analysis of leadership is closely associated with the contexts in which leaders operate, trends in organizational dynamics, and discussion of traits, skills, and competencies that a leader should possess. Engaging in formative activities, specific attention has been given to the analysis of personal skills, experiences, and activities that relate to leadership analysis. Multiple tests and procedures have provided awareness of pitfalls and benefits that c an further be considered in self-evaluation tests.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In particular, self-assessment is designed to assist leaders with determining what skills are needed to develop new leadership competencies. Context Because leadership can refer to process and influence, the contextual dimension of understanding this phenomenon is vital. Introducing new models, techniques and approaches to leadership educations has strong connection with social environment, political aspects, as well as the dynamics of human nature. More importantly, due to the fact that leadership as a process that refers to various cultural contexts and personal dimensions, specific attention should also be given to self-reliance and personal growth initiatives, being the main drive forces of developing leadership skills. Leadership evaluation is closely associated with evolution of social and organizational change. In this respect, Rost and Barker (2000) emphasize that, at the threshold of the twenty first century, leadership perspectives are more oriented on individualistic training of leaders as a superior class. Focus on leaders’ and ignorance of followers, however, does not contribute to the development of efficient management environment because the influence and interaction stand at the core of the relationship. In this respect, Rost and Barker (2000, p. 4) assume, â€Å"leadership education†¦is goal oriented, where the goal is defined by some level of organizational performance; †¦it is centered on self-interest; it is founded in materialism†. Such a perspective has dramatically changed nowadays since more models are oriented on individuals rather than on goals. Leaders should develop a set of values and goals that can suit the employees’ culture and generate profitability, commitment, motivation, and high performance in an organ ization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Leadership and Influence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ability to adopt new approaches is closely associated with change management. It is also inherent condition for promoting leadership perspectives. In this respect, Dawson (2008, p. 1) stresses, â€Å"evaluating the extent and depth of company change allows us to classify change from small development activities and routing modifications through a large-scale transformational initiatives†. Apart from the evident connection between external aspects of change and its influence of organizational development, change management should be consistently applied to individuals working with an organization. In this respect, Dawson (2008, p.) insists, â€Å"†¦the importance of communication, employee involvement and ensuring that behavioral change is rooted within the culture of an organization has a relationship has longstanding history in the field of Organizational Development†. Therefore, both organizational environment and human potential are important factors triggering new trends in leadership styles. With regard to the above, leadership contributes greatly to formation of workplace setting, which influences the level of individuals’ achievement, purpose, and security. Therefore, leaders should realize that the turnover level and recruitment culture depend largely on personal characteristics and approaches that they to improve organizational culture.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this respect, Hull (2003, p. 3) understands workplace leadership in terms of â€Å"how the immediate supervisor, team leader, manager or coordinator presented himself or herself†. The focus is made on leadership and individual potential, but not on administration and management. Hence, the employed environment should be effectively organized to enhance employees’ motivation and increase their competence (McDonald n. d.). In addition, leaders should be able to organize their followers in teams to operate effectively and achieve the established goals. Within a cultural context, it should be acknowledged that most leadership styles are oriented on western models that are characterized by a narrow-focused orientation. In this respect, Mellahi (2000) advises to think beyond western stereotypes and promote new, unconventional approaches to business management. Diverse leadership practices, therefore, are vital for creating a universal scheme. Similar to Mellahi (2000), Av ramopoulos and Thomas (2007) also discuss leadership in the context of Greek traditions. In simplistic terms, understanding Greek context does not imply focusing on historic analysis of specific leaders. Rather, the tradition is associated with â€Å"the interference of cultural factors and key principles relating to leadership development as evidenced within broader literary source of ancient Greek figures† (Avramopoulos and Thomas 2007, p. 52). Within this perspective, the leadership style illustrates social ideology and qualities that ancient leaders tried to achieve. At an individual level, the myth aims to outlinine an important process of searching for the self through struggle and effort. During the struggle, potential leaders should be guided by an appropriate mentor who can provide viable advice. Therefore, the Greek mythology closely relates to gods and goddess who accompany mortal heroes in their pursuit of goals. Finally, at the threshold of the technological era, leadership should be connected with the development of online communication, which requires leaders and supervisors to inquire new skills and experiences, including instant messaging, technological competence, and constant interaction with several subordinates (Martinsons et al. 2009). In this respect, the virtual context also influences the modes of negotiation and supervision. Organizational Dynamics Organizational dynamics and development is closely associated with individuals’ performance, group working, and organizational culture. All these components should be harmonized through efficient leadership and supervision. The research on organizational dynamics, therefore, aims to define the extent to which individuals should be involved in teamwork, as well as how group cooperation, should concern how close leaders should follow the firmly established goals. Team culture is an important element of successful interaction and cooperation, but focus on individual achievement i s not less important. Finally, lack of support and inability to adjust to quickly changing environments does not contribute to innovation and improvement. Team building is an indispensible factor affecting corporate cultures. It defines duties and responsibilities that each team member should take. In this respect, the role of a leader is confined to taking control of the processes held within the team and providing team members with enough space for creativity and critical thinking. The individual potential should be appraised by leaders. In this respect, Thomas and Walker (2010, p. 189) insist, â€Å"the sharp end, where policy rhetoric meets organizational reality, is an ideal opportunity to examine leadership and its handmaiden failure†. The failure to conform to a specific end should not be regarded as a disability of a team leader to achieve the desired goals. The problem is that leaders are not flexible enough to recognize alternative solutions to the problem that have been offered beyond the established framework. As a result, the organization fails to response to the rapidly changing external environment, which can also lead to low competence. The value of team working should not be underestimated because it provides a number of benefits for employees’ performance and productivity. In particular, team building is primarily premised on constant support, assistance, and interaction, leading to generation of new ideas and thoughts. As an example, Smith (2012) on the Olympic games held in Australia when Australian swimmers failed to achieve the results just because no one expected they could win the game. Reluctance to make the effort refers, first of all, to the prejudices and biases shaped within the coach’s team. According to Smith (2012, p. 2), â€Å"this relatively dismal showing has come to be seen as the inescapable product of poor administered sport in sharp decline†¦weak leadership and double standards†. Strong de pendence on authority, however, prevents individuals from developing their professional skills, as well as cognizing personal abilities and skills. Such a perspective explains the dark side of supervision and leadership that is concerned with cult of a leader, rather than adherence to specific goals (Dark Side of Leadership n. d.). More importantly, self-destructive behaviors of leaders can cause the decline of corporate culture. Leader as a Social Architect It has been defined that leadership is connected with the social and cultural environment in which leaders can be regarded as social architects. Hence, managers and supervisors should be able to scan the external and internal setting for delivering new mechanism to face challenges of constantly changing market. Product innovation, knowledge management, human resources are among the priorities that leaders should consider before engaging into organizational development. Cultural diversity is another phenomenon that has penetrated the management landscape and has shaped new perspectives on leadership. Cross-cultural communication is indispensible for leaders to reach consensus with their employees and find the motivating factors increasing employees’ engagement into the organizational process. According to Abbasi and Hollman (1989, p. 19), â€Å"managing involves dealing with people who have unique emotions, interests, attitudes, perceptions, cultural experiences, and socio-economic backgrounds†. In other words, leading an organization successfully, managers should control organizational processes as they believe they should be controlled. Regardless of personality traits, executives should consider a number of rules and principles of managing people. To begin with, leaders should demonstrate high integrity, which possible through trust, honesty, and respect. Second, fear should be removed from the employed setting because employees will be more productive in case they are not under the pressur e. Third, open communication and open channels of interaction and information exchange is another successful solution to the problem. Finally, providing objective recognition of employees’ achievements can also generate higher rates of job performance. There are number of opportunities for leaders to adjust to constantly changing working setting. Leading change effectively, executives should be more concerned with developing a new outlook on performance that emphasizes team-based models to cope with the transition to a new model (Kaplan and Norton 2001). The task of a leader lies in developing a new set of values and structures that can contribute to the development of a new management system that introduce measurement to articulate change (Lussier and Archua 2009). In additional, the evaluation of behavioral patterns within an organization is also important because it influences strategic thinking, trustful relationships, progressive stability, and considerations for others. While deliberating on similarities and differences of leadership across cultures, Taormina and Selvarajah (2005, p. 314) pay attention to Asian leadership by stating â€Å"the East-West cultural different on t his factor may be noticed in practice†. For example, western leaders expect their organizations to undertake risk and, therefore, they accept risk as an important condition for conducting daily operations. In contrast, Eastern leadership focuses more on a well-planned activity that ensures the security of subordinates who are involved in specific ventures. Individualistic biases, universality, and readiness to adjust to new challenges should create the basis of change management and organizational progress. According to Sturdy and Grey (2003), leaders should be able to quickly react to the emerging problems, as well as pay attention to employees’ needs, values, and beliefs to define what styles should be employed to improve the situation. More importantly, the i nteraction between transformational leadership style and organizational change will allow the leaders to establish successful modes of performance (Boga and Ensari, 2009). In such a manner, executives will be able to stand the competition successfully. Conclusion A multi-dimensional analysis of leadership education and development has provided a wider picture on cultural, political, social, and economic aspects of its influence on organizational culture and employees’ performance. More importantly, the analysis has provided new theoretical and empirical perspectives of leading change within an organization through introducing innovation. All the above-presented themes are interdependent because one dimension influences the outcomes of another. Communication and individual-centered approach are also important for sustaining a competitive advantage. Reference List Abbasi, SM, and Hollman 1989, ‘KW Incompetence Bosses: Are You One of Them?’, IM, pp. 17-19. Avramopou los, S, and Thomas, KV 2007,‘Leadership Odyssey’, The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture, and Change Management, vol. 6, no. 9, pp. 51-60. Boga, I, and Ensari, N 2009,‘The Role of Transformational Leadership and Organizational Change on Perceived Organizational Success’, The Psychologist-Manager Journal, vol. 12, pp. 235-251. ‘Dark Side of Leadership Revisted’ n. d., pp. 3-26. Dawson, PM 2008, ‘People and Process: Making Sense of Change Management’, ICOMS Asset Management Conference, 1-11. Hull, D 2003, Simply the Best Workplaces in Australia, University of Sydney, pp. 2-41. Kaplan, RS, and Norton DP, 2001, ‘Leading Change with The Balanced Scorecard’. Financial Executive, pp. 64-66. Lussier, RN, and Archua, CF 2009, Leadership: Theory, Application and Skill Development. Cengage Learnng, New York. Martinsons, MG, Davidson, RM, and Martinsons, V 2009, ‘How Culture Influences IT-Enabled Organizational Chan ge and Information Systems’, Communications of the ACM, vol. 52, no. 4., pp. 118-123. McDonald, R n. d., ‘Core Skills for Work – A Framework’, Ithaca Group, pp. 1-13. Mellahi, K 2000, ‘The Teaching of Leadership on UK MBA Programs: A Critical Analysis from an International Perspective’, Journal of Management Development, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 297-308. Northouse, P 2009, Leadership: Theory and Practice, SAGE, New York. Rost, JC, and Barker, RA 2000, ‘Leadership Education in Colleges: Toward a 21st Century Paradigm’, Journal of Leadership Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 3-12. Smith, W 2012, That Sinking Feeling, The Australian, pp. 1-7. Sturdy, A and Grey C 2003, ‘Beneath and Beyond Organizational Change Management: Exploring Alternatives’, Organization, vol. 10 no. 4, pp. 651-662. Taormina, RJ, and Selvarajah, C 2005, ‘Perceptions of Leadership Excellence in ASEAN Nations’, Leadership, vol.1, no. 3, pp. 299-322. Thomas, KT, and Walker AD, 2010, ‘The Sharp End: Real Life Challenges in a Complex Activity Space’, Journal of Public Affairs, vol. 10, pp. 186-199. This report on Leadership and Influence was written and submitted by user Luciano O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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How Effective Korean Air Hr Strategy Is Management Essay

How Effective Korean Air Hr Strategy Is Management Essay This report discusses the details of suggested HR scorecard for Korean Air that shows how effective HR strategy is crucial for the successful achievement of its own strategic goals with appropriate measurement system HR Scorecard. Development process began with a clear statement of the companys strategy and operational goals with a strategy map showing the causal linkages in the value creation process. As next steps of process, workforce competencies and behaviors and strategically relevant HR system policies and activities are identified to create HR scorecard and the process concludes with presenting suggested HR scorecard with measurement. >During analyzing HR system and the organization, some points to be improved were emerged and these are mentioned with recommendation. If the HR concerns are solved, the company will be more resilient to face external environment with competitive workforce. HR Scorecard helps employees know and understand the organization strategic goals, encour age them to have skills and responsibilities in accordance with the goals, and guide them to achieve goals with measures. To make measurement system, the cooperation of HR managers and line managers for choosing proper metrics is very important. As strategies and goals are changed, the metrics and measurement system of HR Scorecard should be updated to be an effective and influential tool for strategic success. ii I. INTRODUCTION Many CEOs agree with the concept People are the most important assets and the fact that the companies with more effective HR management systems outperform their competitors, however, HR function and influence on companys performance are difficult to measure. Besides professionalism in Human resources are challenged to take a more strategic perspective and HR professionals are requested to prove Human resources are competitive advantages with measuring HRs performance corresponded with corporate strategy and its contribution to the company. Effective HR measurement system shows a clear and consistent view of how the company can implement its strategy in the organization and how HR can contribute to companys success with discovering and solving current HR problems. To start with defining corporate strategy of Korean Air, it will be evaluated how HRM play a strategic role, produce core values and interrelated with every level in the organization for achieving companys strategic goals using creating its own HR scorecard. II. BACKGROUND OF KOREAN AIR 1. Company overview Korean Air is an international airline headquartered in Seoul, Korea. As Koreas first private airline in 1962, it has grown into the worlds largest air cargo carrier and the thirteenth largest airline in the world. According to World Air Transport Statistics, Korean Air is the worlds largest commercial airline cargo operator since 20041. and was rated as the best airline in Asia for the third straight year, having the best business class on routes to Asia in 2009. 1 2. Corporate Vision and Mission Keeping with its vision To Be a Respected Leader in the World Airline Community, Korean Air is committed to provide best service that customers can value and trust and make a corporate culture that encourages innovation upon their mission Excellence in Flight 2). 3. Major Business Processes Passenger service takes the biggest part, however, cargo service gives the company considerable profits with a reputation as the largest international air cargo carrier. Korean Air has developed catering, maintenance, and unusually for an airline, an aerospace manufacturing business with researches and development programs for general aviation craft, military trainer and satellite since 1976 3). The aerospace division generated revenues of $470 million in 2008 and employs a little over 2,500 staff.4) 1) Business Review 2) (As of 2008) [Unit: Hundred Million Won, 1 US Dollar à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 1,150 Won] 2) Operating Results 2) (based on 2008 IATA standards) 4. Structure Korean Air reorganized a corporate structure with new promotions for divisional responsibility management in 2003. It offers flexible management for planning, budget, recruiting and other key functions to all divisions. Every head of divisions would take a firm responsibility for outcomes and be appraised based on achievement.5) 2 a) Employees 2) (Total: 18,600, As of January 2009) b) Organization chart 2) 5. Business strategy Korean Air takes improved business strategies to implement corporate missions as below. 1) Globalization: To be ranked as global leading carrier with globalized manpower, service, and brand image. 2) Knowledge management : Encouraging learning and continuous improvement. 3)E-Business: Introducing more e-Commerce solutions and constructing upgraded Intranet for training and fast communication. 6. Relationship with external entities 1) International competitors : Business travelers who still consider Singapore Airlines with its young fleets and strong branding and Cathay Pacific which has a superior hub location due to its geographical proximity to China as superior in service and quality to Korean air.6) 2) Global airline alliance SkyTeam: Korean Air is a founding partner in SkyTeam, the worlds second largest airline alliance of eleven members and three associate carriers and expands its operations by code sharing and seat trading.7) Recently, Korean Air helped Uzbekistan airway and Garuda Indonesia to be joined.8) 3 III. HR SYSTEM AND THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF HR IN KOREAN AIR 1. HR system of Korean Air 1) Job Grade system Job Units are divided largely as Administration, Engineering, Cockpit crew and Cain crew. 9) Administration and engineering units operate a Course system for training and application purposes. Each unit has job grade scheme organized differently for every job unit and course to fortify expertise competencies. 2) Development training system à ¢-   Training organization Korean Air has developed and operated various training programs.10) Human resources development department and center take a charge of establishing training plans and integrated education. Professional training organization offer enriched education. As an implementation of Ubiquitous learning, Cyber campus is used. à ¢-   Training programs The training programs are prepared for each job grade and divided as Management development training, global competency training, job skills improvement training, and organization revitalization training. 4 3) Appraisal system 11) The appraisal system is based on measuring a contribution to company and individual work competency including performance, job aptitude and leadership. As Total analysis with giving feedback, they use appraised data for granting differential rewards or training and development. 4) Compensation and welfare system 12) Korean Air provide incentives, benefits (housing, medical and education support and culture leisure benefits) and favors such as discounted tickets and easier ticket purchase as a privilege of being with airline. 2. The Strategic Role of HR in Korean Air The long term strategies of Korean Air can be defined as follows; à ¢- ² To be ranked among top 10 international passenger airlines Developing new routes and reinforcing SkyTeam network Heighten global image awareness with excellent quality service and culture sponsorship 1) Korean Air will reopen the route to Saint Petersburg and launch Irkutsk, Russia this year. When Tunxi international airport in China opens this March, a route will be put on Huang Shan line. It is planned to expand a route network to Central Asia, Europe and Africa and extend the number of destination cities to 140 cities by 2019 through SkyTeam. To attract more customers, more investment for ordering A380 Airbus fleets and changing new luxury and upgraded seats for all classes is drawn from revenue. 13) 2) As global cultural sponsorship, Korean Air tries to cultivate different type of brand image. Korean Air sponsored the multimedia guide at the Louvre Museum in Paris and Russias State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in 2008. It is spread out to the British Museums new set of handheld Multimedia Guides.14) 5 à ¢- ² To make China its biggest Market Korean air has strategic relationships with China Airlines and China Southern Airlines and makes an effort to expand it more with other Chinese airlines. Routes to Guangzhou, Dalian, Weihai, Yantai, Changsha and Shenzhen were added and its route network has covered 19 Chinese cities with more than 150 flights. It is one of the most expansive networks in the China among non-Chinese carriers and chosen as The best foreign airline in China. 15) Korean Air established a Chinese-only counter China Express in Incheon International Airport and began its operation to enhance convenience for a growing number of Chinese tourists.16) For brand awareness, outdoor billboards in Kunming, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou were built. Book donations to poverty schools and inviting children in earthquake damaged cities to Jeju island are one of its social responsibility activities in China.17) à ¢- ² To be a leading air cargo carrier Korean air made a contract to create Central Asian logistics hub with Uzbekistan government and Navoi airport in 2008 with cooperation from Hanjin Transportation Co., Ltd. (ground transport) and Korea Airport Service (airport ground handling). 18) By 2013, constructing an airport infrastructure and attracting investments from global logistics companies will be kept up. Whole project is planned to be finished by 2018. In China, cargo terminal in Tianjin will be completed until the end of 2010 for activating the market.19) HR Strategic roles for these major strategies All strategies are global related and to achieve these goals, it is necessary to recruit manpower with international competency and train its employees with various and differential programs per position as long term system. 1. Recruiting As the demand of international professional staffs for conferences with SkyTeam and developing Chinese market is increased, fluent English speakers, China regional experts and MBAs with proper educational backgrounds are highly needed to improve business competiveness. Common recruitment is by internet, headhunters, employment agencies, internal sources and college recruiting. 2. Training : Korean air operates Global online education system around 50 branches in the world. The systems handle the hands-on skills of reservation, ticketing, customer service, transportation, maintenance, and language study. Yet, it is needed to be more practical and wide ranged for employees to solve their problems encountered at work. 1) Foreign languages: New flight attendants take 4-week training included correcting pronunciation and aviation English and Japanese at cabin crew training center. Every employee depends on online education system afterwards. 6 2) Management knowledge: Customized MBA courses developed with Seoul National University for executives are offered. Manager level complete AMS courses which cover specialized knowledge of air transportation industry and management theories.20) 3) Overseas regional specialists: To enlarge global network, area specialists are indispensable. 1 year of Overseas services- short term international assignment for senior managers and managers is executed to send them to foreign branches for experiencing local languages, cultures and operating systems. New employees go to Mongolia as volunteering activities to plant trees for desertification for brand image and giving opportunities to look around the Mongolia as a next market. 3. Corporate culture: Korean air has reformed hierarchical culture which caused serious accidents as creating a central clearinghouse for monitoring and investigating safety reports and audit findings so that all divisions are ordered to share and coordinate data. In 2009, Koreas Ministry of Gender Equality signed an agreement with Korean Air to promote a women-friendly corporate culture and support career possibilities for women. 21) 7 IV. HR SCORECARD OF KOREAN AIR Step 1: Define Business strategy 21C leading global airline with globalized human resources, services, and brand image To be ranked among top 10 international passenger airlines To make China its biggest Market Leading air cargo carrier Step 2: Value chains of each division Step 3: Outline a strategy map and identify the strategically required organizational Outcomes Strategy map 8 Outcomes 1) More customers choose Korean air because of excellent service and flight convenience. 2) Korean air will leap to global brand not restricted to an airline in Korea. 3) Empowerment and teamwork will help to be a Learning organization. 4) Improved revenue is expected owing to transport increase of passengers and cargos Step 4: Identify the Required Workforce Competencies and Behaviors Speaking good level of English, Chinese or other languages to deal with foreign customers and doing business with international companies Fast operation based on participation and empowerment immediate feedback, open communication Service-oriented and committed employees for attracting and retaining customers Top management who educated with efficient and practical management knowledge Continuous trained maintenance and engineering manpower for safety Creating a powerful corporate brand with full understanding competitors and the future direction of company.22) Deepened knowledge about other countries to start or have projects with. Professional service training force for satisfying every needs of passenger service Step 5: Identify the Strategically Relevant HR system Policies and Activities 1. Inspiring allegiance to the company and raising morale 1) Setting up firm policies of compensation and benefits for motivation Specify pay per performance, rewards, recognition, retirement, family friendly benefits, time off with pay, maternity leave and safety health protection programs. 2) Rewarding individuals and teams, team development 3) Encouraging organizational commitment, job satisfaction and job security 2. Professional training schemes for cabin and customer services Reinforcing on-line and OJT programs, participation in related seminars of experts, comparison with those of competitors, refined grooming and etiquettes. 3. Provide segmented and enriched education for required job skills and the knowledge improvement of all level from in or outside. University-industry collaboration for academic programs Arrangement of related reputable institutes to short term education Job rotation for internal training by superiors Increasing overseas dispatch for studying languages and cultures Support to study abroad for highly performed employees. 4. Recruit right employees Select candidates with language proficiency, proper educational backgrounds and global experiences under conditions of detailed job description and specification for reduction training costs and fast adaptation to the organization. 9 Step 6: Design the HR Scorecard Measurement System Applied assessing measures for HR activities about workforce competencies and HR systems for HR scorecard are as follows; Assessing HR system 24) 10 Step 7: Periodically Evaluate the Measurement System It is hard to manage all of HR systems with interrelated metrics as the organization is bigger and its business is diversified. Currently Balanced scorecard, a computerized model, help top management track and monitor HR data with marketing and finance metrics for companys strategic success. With establishing customized software system (refer to http://www.activestrategy.com or http://senalosa.com), it is expected to have improved effectiveness for updating and evaluating HR information periodically. Yet, it should be implemented on the premise that creating Scorecard team to select and validate measures and collecting data with cooperation of all departments. 11 V. Conclusions and Recommendations 1. Conclusions Below suggested HR scorecard process of Korean Air shows how the scorecard measures the organizational outcomes, workforce competencies and behaviors and HR system policies and activities aimed at implementing the corporate strategy 21C leading global airline with globalized human resources, services, and brand image. Basic themes are 1. Create service-oriented workforce, 2. Provide enriched training for global competency, and 3.Raise morale and create positive corporate culture. For example, the theme Create service-oriented workforce is implemented from Recruiting and selection. The metrics for recruiting can be chosen among No. of applicants per sources; No. qualified applicant/position, proportion of employees selected based on validated selection methods. After selecting, the step would be moved to Training and appraisal with related metrics. Outcomes also can be measured upon 3 major tiers of customer responses, international corporate image, and inner communication derived from the strategy. 12 With metrics for each process combined with strategic goals, HR performances can be objectively and quantitatively. It is easier to see and check from the start to the final purpose of company increased revenue from the point of view of HR. The scorecards will be a more efficient tool to evaluate HR system when proper measures are added, refined and connected as the organizations strategic goals are achieved and developed. Besides, periodically revising the HR Scorecard help HR managers assess how well it supports the organizations strategy implement efforts. 2. Recommendations Despite aggressive strategies to grow, Korean air hasnt been identified as distinctive global airline. Among business travelers who still consider Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific China as superior in service and quality to Korean air. HR should play a pivotal role for reinforcing employee development one of an organizations competitive advantages more than ever because the competencies will be determined as Human resources with definite strategic goals ultimately. 1) Training Foreign languages and academic learning Company puts a huge energy to China market so speaking Chinese is another challenge. Furthermore their English proficiency is still rather below compared with Singapore airline, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways as Asian airlines. It is important to create competitive environment with rewards or punishments through taking a test regularly and prepare for efficient language learning system with qualified teachers and teaching methods. Speaking languages with proper level is not accomplished within short period so it should be planned as long term schedule or to save relative costs, hiring international manpower at the first step should be considered. 2) Corporate culture: Chronic top down and secretive management style due to primogeniture and reluctance to outsiders is one of organizational factors in Korean Air to be improved. The solution of safety concerns and increasing customer expectation of broad and excellent services is satisfying employees as internal customers. Research has long shown that accidents and poor service quality are rooted primarily in social aspects not technology such as inferior management, decision making, teamwork, employee motivation or communication, can translate into loss of customers, market share, organization assets and, above of all, life. 26) High quality service is principal for differentiating among airlines and influential in customer choice. HR need to check whether the company has positive corporate culture encourages innovation, improvement and responsibility of each employee. Supervisors open door policy for communication, treating employees with respect and dignity can be a start. 3) Appraisal and compensation Fair compensation with appraisal will strengthen the organization. Regular in-house training for the system by HR department will be helpful for understanding and participation. Compensation should have its own schemes to prevent further grievances. Fairness of salaries and promotions should be kept because pay equity is connected to job satisfaction. 13 These three HR factors should be complemented with validated measures and implemented into HR scorecard soon for achieving strategies efficiently. HR managers need to cooperate with line managers to select effective measures for evaluating required HR activities and revise HR scorecard as the strategies are changed. It is important to have a comprehensive human resources measurement policy which enables to collect consistent information relevant with overall business strategy. With a solid HR metrics program, HR management can make business decisions that are based on facts and use the exact figures to support company performance. *Word count: 2,933. 14 Notes 1) International Air Transport Association (2008), World Air Transport Statistics. 52nd ed. Canada: IATA. Section 4: Airline ranking 2007. p.95-96. 2) http://www.koreanair.com/local/sg/gd/eng/au/ci/eng_au_ci_ov.jsp, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 3) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/kal.htm, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 4) http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/18/328529/interview-korean-air-chief-executive-cho- yang-ho.html, accessed Feb 16, 2010. 5) http://www.airportal.co.kr/life/history/lee/LfLeeGu010.html, accessed Feb 16, 2010. 6)http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/profile/2009-08-23-travel-airlines-korea_N.htm, accessed Feb 16, 2010. 7) http://www.skyunionvirtual.co.cc/about/carriers/koreanair.html, accessed Feb 16, 2010. 8) http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Indonesia%3a+Korean+Air+expands+codeshare+with+Garuda.- a0218567145, accessed Feb 16, 2010 9) http://recruit.koreanair.co.kr/personal/personal_b.asp, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 10) http://recruit.koreanair.co.kr/personal/personal_d.asp, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 11) http://recruit.koreanair.co.kr/personal/personal_e.asp, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 12) http://recruit.koreanair.co.kr/personal/personal_f.asp, accessed Feb 15, 2010. 13)http://www.etimes.net/service/etimes_2007/ShellView.asp?LinkID=6001ArticleID=201002041 8164103144, accessed Feb 17, 2010, The replacements will be in 32 B777s and A330s, which have recently been furnished with Kosmo Suites (First Class), Prestige Sleeper (Prestige Class) and New Economy (Economy Class) seats. 14) http://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/02/17/2009021700672.html, accessed Feb 17, 2010. 15) http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-136897605.html, accessed Feb 18, 2010. 16)http://news.mk.co.kr/english/newsRead.php?rss=Ysc=30800011year=2009no=461130, Korean Air Puts Effort to Attract 1.3 billion Chinese Tourists, accessed Feb 18, 2010. 17) http://www.newswire.co.kr/newsRead.php?no=452353lmv=A02 , Korean air is the best foreign airline in China, accessed Feb 19, 2010. 18) http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/4128479/, Korean Air Builds A Logistics Hub In Central Asia, accessed Feb 19, 2010. 19) http://www.sgtusa.com/detail.php?number=7280thread=22r07, Interview with COO Lee Jong hee, accessed Feb 19, 2010. 20) http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?type=2aid=2009110446921nid=910sid =0001, accessed Feb 19, 2010. 21) http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2900768 On board, gender equality still up in the air, accessed Feb 19, 2010 22) Steven Howard, Corporate Image Management: A Marketing Discipline for the 21st Century 23) Gary Dessler (2008), Human Resource Management: 11th ed. Singapore: Prentice Hall. Chapter 2: Strategic HRM and the HR scorecard. p.62 24) Gary Dessler (2008), Human Resource Management: 11th ed. Singapore: Prentice Hall. Chapter 2: Strategic HRM and the HR scorecard. p.67 25) Brian E. Becker, Mark A. Huselid, Dave Ulrich (2001). The scorecard: Linking people, strategy, and performance. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. p.66. 26) Steven H. Appelbaum, Brenda M. Fewster (2003). Human resource management strategy in the global airline industry A focus on Organizational development. Equal opportunities International. Vol. 21. No.7. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). p.70.

life :: essays research papers

The magazine's editors chose the nameless soldier to represent the 1.4 million men and women who make up the U.S. military, which led the invasion of Iraq nine months ago and a week ago captured deposed leader Saddam Hussein. About 130,000 U.S. soldiers remain in Iraq, with others deployed in Afghanistan, South Korea and elsewhere. Soldiers were singled out as the top newsmakers of the year because "the very messy aftermath of the war made it clear that the mission had changed, that the mission had not been completed and that this would be a story that would be with us for months, if not years, to come," Time Managing Editor Jim Kelly said. The selection echoes 1950, the year the Korean War began, when editors picked the American GI for the cover, writing that "it was not a role the American had sought, either as an individual or as a nation. The U.S. fighting-man was not civilization's crusader, but destiny's draftee." The 2003 Person of the Year package, which hits newsstands Monday, focuses on a 12-person artillery survey unit stationed in Iraq to tell the story of the American soldier. Two Time journalists embedded with the platoon were injured in a grenade attack this month. Three soldiers with the unit -- Marquette Whiteside, Billie Grimes and Ronald Buxton -- are shown on the cover. The magazine glorifies soldiers but not the Bush administration for putting them in Iraq, calling troops "the bright sharp instrument of a blunt policy," and leaving it to scholars to debate "whether the Bush doctrine is the most muscular expression of national interest in a half-century." The justification for a U.S. military presence in Iraq has been widely questioned, as coalition forces have found no weapons of mass destruction, which President Bush had argued Saddam was stockpiling. Guerrilla attacks against U.S. and allied forces stationed there have escalated over the months since May 1 when the president declared an end to major combat. More coalition troops died in November than in any other month: 104, including 79 Americans. "A force intensively trained for its mission finds itself improvising at every turn, required to exercise exquisite judgment in extreme circumstances," the magazine said. "They complain less about the danger than the uncertainty -- they are told they're going home in two weeks, and then two months later they have not moved." The Pentagon has said it expects to reduce the number of American troops in Iraq to just over 100,000 by May.

Post Colonialism in Skin of a Lion

Eng Seminar Post-colonialism – is an academic discipline that comprises methods of intellectual discourse that present analyses of, and responses to, the cultural legacies of colonialism and of imperialism, which draw from different post-modern schools of thought. Post-colonial Literature – addresses the problems and consequences of the de-colonization of a country and of a nation. The characters of his novels are mainly among the immigrants, the colonized, and the oppressed that are suffering from the loss of true self and identity.Therefore, it is demonstrated that colonialism will continue its banal effects on individual’s lives and identities by entangling them in an unhealthy state of mind like double consciousness. In the novel, In the Skin of a Lion, Patrick who is the main character finds himself an outsider in the society and tries to measure himself through the other’s look —————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Top of Form Bottom of Form Postcolonial criticism, like postmodern criticism, rejects the universal and large scale in preference for the local and specific.In  In the Skin of a Lion  Ondaatje challenges the dominant narratives and gives a voice to the untold stories of the colonized. Ashcroft et al in  Key Concepts in Post-Colonial Studies  define post colonialism as dealing with â€Å"the effects of colonization on cultures and societies† (p. 186) and post colonial reading as â€Å"a way of reading and rereading texts†¦ to draw deliberate attention to the profound and inescapable effects of colonization on literary production; anthropological accounts; historical records; administrative and scientific writing† (p. 92). A postcolonial reading also rejects the universalism inherent in the liberal humanist readings of traditional criticism in favour of an acceptance of issues of cultural difference in literary texts. Culture itself is seen as a web of conflicting discourses. Thus it champions a celebration of hybridity and encourages a writing back from the margin or periphery to the centre. Canada has a history of resistance to colonialism.If you are applying a postcolonial reading then you should examine the novel for what it says about the dominant political and economic structures and how these serve the interests of the dominant class. Of course this leads us into a  Marxist reading  of the novel which would focus on the conflict of class interest and the oppression of the working classes. Marxist critics would say that all texts must be read in relation to the society in which they were composed and because writing is a political act criticism should be political as well. Patrick sat on a bench and watched the tides of movement, felt the reverberations of trade. He spoke out his name and it struggled up in a hollow echo and was lost in the high air of Union Station. No one turned. They were in the belly of the whale† (54) â€Å"The form of a city changes faster than the human heart† (109) â€Å"The southeastern section of the city where he now lived was made up mostly of immigrants and he walked everywhere not hearing any language he knew, deliriously anonymous. The people of the street, the Macedonians and Bulgarians, were his only mirror.He worked in the tunnels with them† (112) Temelcoff is a navy: â€Å"a man is an extension of hammer, drill, flame† (Ondaatje 26) Nicholas Temelcoff is famous on the bridge, a daredevil. He is given all the difficult jobs and he takes them. He descends into the air with no fear. He is a solitary. He assembles ropes, brushes the tackle and pulley at his waist, and falls off the bridge like a diver over the edge of a boat. The rope roars alongside him, slowing with the pressure of his half-gloved hands.He is burly on the ground and then falls with terrific speed, grace, using the wind t o push himself into corners of abutments so he can check driven rivets, sheering valves, the drying of the concrete under bearing plates and pad stones. (34) â€Å"I will tell you about the rich,† Alice would say, â€Å"the rich are always laughing. They keep on saying the same things on their boats and lawns: Isn’t this grand! We’re having a good time! And whenever the rich get drunk and maudlin about humanity you have to listen for hours. But they keep you in the tunnels and stockyards. They do not toil or spin. Remember that. † (132)

Free Essays on Technology Vs. Evolution

, all of us have two agendas: one hidden in the recesses of our minds, and one that we sell to ourselves and others† (De Waal 662). What this is saying is that even if someone has no thought in their head that what they are about to do is unselfish; the... Free Essays on Technology Vs. Evolution Free Essays on Technology Vs. Evolution Technology Vs Evolution Until the recent discovery of cloning, no one thought that technology was in any way related to morality. In reality isn’t technology against the morals of the natural world to begin with? But is there even such a thing as a purely selfless act? Sure there are actions that seem selfless, but the reason for doing them is consciously or unconsciously selfish. Evolution is a natural occurrence that one would think is unselfish and completely moral, however in reality the process of evolution is very selfish. It is a species genes changing so that the species will ultimately survive, this is an act that only helps that species. Technology is created to conform to how far evolution has gone. Technology is the next step in the evolution process for humans, and it is making all humans a little more immoral. A tribal shaman â€Å"ensures that the relation between human society and the larger society of beings is balanced and reciprocal, and that the village never takes more form the living land than it returns to it – not just materially but with prayers, propitiations, and praise† (Abram 5). While this seems to be natural and morally thanking the earth for what is has given, the shaman are doing this because the â€Å"scale of a harvest or the size of a hunt are always negotiated between the tribal community and the natural world† (Abram 5). This seemingly selfless act is really only to help the amount of food they can grow or catch that season. This leads to the thought that there is no such thing as a purely moral person. â€Å"If people think they are at times unselfish, so the argument goes, they must be hiding the selfish motives from themselves. In other words, all of us have two agendas: one hidden in the recesses of our minds, and one that we sell to ourse lves and others† (De Waal 662). What this is saying is that even if someone has no thought in their head that what they are about to do is unselfish; the...

Medicare essays

Medicare essays The publicly financed and universally accessible Canadian healthcare system has been a source of pride and delight to many Canadians since 1947, when Saskatchewan first adopted the policy of Medicare. In fact there was so much enthusiasm for publicly financed, universal healthcare that within 14 years, all 10 provinces and two territories had public insurance plans that provided comprehensive coverage for in-hospital care. (Health Canada) However over the past ten years, the perceived quality of health care has markedly decreased and an increasing number of Canadians are crying out for Medicare reform. The healthcare situation is perceived to have become so grave that in 2000, Ipsos-Reid surveyed Canadians on the state of Medicare: 78 percent of Canadians suggested that the system is in crisis. (Gratzer 18) Many Canadians find even the current level of service inadequate. Further, as the average age of Canadians increases, the cost of maintaining even todays level of service wil l undoubtedly increase. Most Canadians agree that some reform is in order, however the nature and extent of such reform remains a hotly debated subject. A question that arises in Medicare debates is: whether American-style privatization would be preferable to our publicly funded system? Advocates of the former view argue that the American brand of healthcare offers its users maximum flexibility (Gladwell and Gopnik 366) and that allowing the healthcare sector to be controlled by the market will solve its inefficiencies and will ultimately give you all the things markets give you: innovation. (Gladwell and Gopnik 368) Conversely, others argue that socialized medicine must continue to be maintained in its entirely, i.e. 100 per cent. One such advocate, Adam Gopnik, asserts that completely socialized medicine is the ideal system in part because users need not worry How much will th...

How do diplomacy,economic policies and military action work together Research Paper

How do diplomacy,economic policies and military action work together in the United States foreign policy - Research Paper Example To date, we consider the US as the strongest economic power on the global sphere as well as the strongest nation in the entire world in terms of wars. She has the most sophisticated machinery and military personnel’s than any other country in the world. She has as well the strongest army in the world. Above all, the economy of America has overtaken any economy in the entire world at present. The world’s economic base is pegged on the dollar monopoly whereby the US dollar is used as the world’s medium of exchange and for business transactions across the entire globe. It is only the United States currency which has been accepted as the medium of exchange for all international business transactions and not the other currencies. Even though the European pound is also used for international business transactions, it is the US dollar which dominates the global market. The European pound has only been used to a limited scale especially among the nations making up the Eu ropean Union and a few of her colonies. Heo and Karl (2004) argue that the stability of the United States monopoly of the world has however been threatened by some other rising world economies (Heo and Karl 2004). These other small economies which have been rising to keep at purr with the US economy include that of Japan and China. These economies however have not reached the levels of being able to control the world economy as the United States has managed. There is power in the extent or the area of land and the total population commanded by a state to be considered powerful. The small economies mentioned above have not been able to make it to the global sphere because of their small land sizes as well as their small populations. In terms of military specialization and war dominations, the world has been looking forward to the development of nuclear weapons for purposes of war. Many nations considered to be among the strongest nations in the world have developed very technical and sophisticated war machines. Wang has listed some of these such as South Korea among others. These countries have as well developed very lethal nuclear weapons which have been considered a major source of threat to the entire world (Wang 1999). As a result there have been rumors of wars as well as some other wars fought between various nations of the world. The rumors of wars are what the political analysts and war experts refer to as the cold war and begun some years ago. In order to maintain the economic, political and military power, the united states knows very well that she has to employ certain techniques to enable her survive in her position. This paper will investigate how the United States of America has been using her political, economic and diplomatic mechanisms in her foreign policies to rue the entire world and to establish herself as the world’s super power. 2 The monopoly of the US economy and military power has been threatened by some countries today forcing t he US to revise her stand on how she controls and rule the world. Some of the states which have posed threats to US of late include Iran, Syria among others (Kegley 1998). These are mostly the Arab nations. These countries have made America to realize the need to strengthen her missions abroad and change the overall process of monitoring the world’

Virtual Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Virtual Management - Essay Example It is important for virtual teams to connect their daily activities with the strategy and objectives of the business to remain committed and engaged over time. This in turn contributes to the success of the organization. High performing virtual teams establish better decision-making and better problem solving process than low performing ones. Decision making and ensuring that the rightful information reaches the right people is challenging for virtual teams whose members are located in different time zones or who converse through email or phone. It is important for virtual team leaders to establish communication processes early and revisit them over time. Most of the virtual teams have little face-to-face contacts with their members or work under different time zones. That is why they face challenges in communication with their members. High performing teams always have a way to work around these challenges unlike the low performing virtual teams. High performing virtual team members respond quickly to problems, providing each other with the required information, involving each other in decisions making and providing each other with necessary feedback. They have various technologies of communicating with each other and updating one another. Good communication strategy with each other increases the success of the virtual teams with ample face-to-face meetings every now and then. It is important for the virtual team members to exercise trust with each other since lack of trust can lead to unsuccessful virtual work arrangements (Zofi, 2011). Trust is important for the success of the virtual team members because most of these members rarely see one another and others have never met in person. Thus, they relate on inter-personal trust based on their personal relationships. Virtual teams rely on the task-based trust where they believe that members will do their jobs in the

General George Washington Calls for a Standing Army, 1783 Assignment

General George Washington Calls for a Standing Army, 1783 - Assignment Example This is in line with the military whose overall goal was to maintaining the peace and tranquility of the American people. The militia is to be observed and governed by a certain code of conduct that would regulate their operations and use of arms. Military schools equipped to train people on the arts of weaponry, engineering and science with their utmost goal being manufacture of advanced military weapons was also another proposal by George Washington. This kind of information was at the time scarce and difficult to obtain. Establishing such institutions, would give more advantage to the American military in comparison to that of Europe. George Washington goes on to say, â€Å"It may be laid down, as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.† 1 Chambers John Whiteclay, Piehler Kurt, General George Washington calls for a standing army, Major Problems in American Military History: Documents and Essays, (Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company,

A&P by John Updike Essay Example for Free

AP by John Updike Essay The short story entitled â€Å"AP† by John Updike was published in 1961 and confirmed the author’s reputation as a master of detail. In reality, the author merely expressed the spirit of the 1960s, which includes decadence, transformations of polity and society, which ascended certain people, but spiritually impoverished others, as well uncertainty in the next day. The short story thus reveals multiple contexts, all of which can be tied to its title. The present paper is intended to discuss the narrative in relation to its short and simple title.   The plot of the short story takes place in a provincial grocery store â€Å"AP† and is narrated by the protagonist, 19-year-old Sammy, who works there as a checker. â€Å"One Thursday afternoons the store is empty for the most part. The only people that inter the store are old woman and woman with six children whom he refers both to as sheep, when three girls walk in dressed with nothing more that bathing suits. This catches his eye and he watches them closely and studies each one of them with great detail† (Luscher, 1993, p. 168). Furthermore, the youth distinguishes the leader of the group and refers to her as Queenie, as she seems to behave with great self-confidence and social competence, and the two other girls simply follow her. . Sammy is aware of the fact that the girls violate the rules of this store concerning outfit, but doesn’t begin confrontation until his manager Lengel, who informs the girls abut the internal rules of â€Å"AP†. Queenie states that they are not doing shopping, as they seek to purchase only one product, but Lengel still continues blaming the girls for the abuse of the regulatory policy. Queenie responds that they are decent and do not intend to abuse the other customers’ convictions concerning morality. Sammy finally allows them to make a purchase, but observing the manager’s behavior, he concludes that he is not going to work for this shop any longer and announces that he   is quitting. Thus, the idea of the short story circles around the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the growth of the ability to make one’s own moral judgments, which can be free and independent from any redundant formalities (Luscher, 1993). The period of adolescence is usually associated with the formation of role models, which might dictate behavioral patterns to follow (Luscher, 1993). In this sense, both his professional identity as an employee of the AP and his self-awareness have been nurtured under the influence of two adults: Stokesie, a major breadwinner in his family, and Lengel, the store manager, whose career began in this place. Sammy, in this sense, seeks to imitate the relaxed behavior, demonstrated by Stokesie, who exclaims â€Å"Oh Daddy, I feel so faint!† (Updike, 2007, at http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/). Similarly, â€Å"Sammy whittles away his days looking at pretty girls and thinking about the ways of people. He hardly realizes that this is how he will spend his entire existence if he doesn’t soon get out of this job. During this day that will prove to change his life, he makes the step towards his realization† (McFarland, 1983, p. 95). In fact, he originates from a working-class family, as his parents served at cocktail parties, and at first he decided to make a career, connected with the service sphere, but on the day of argument with the three girls,   the youth begins to build his own superstructure over the foundation of convictions, imposed by parental desire to penetrate into middle class and by the corresponding values, which view job as the sense of existence, regardless of the agent’s attitude towards this employment (McFarland, 1983; Luscher, 1993). Thus, his competition for store manager’s position finally appears to him pointless, similarly to the movements of the â€Å"sheep†, who make purposeful actions (do shopping) in order to satisfy their basic and not always conscious needs. Sammy, on the contrary, begins hard cognitive work on his own goals and makes his first conscious decision to leave the job. Furthermore, the young man seems to realize the responsibility he should take for his actions. In fact, his second role model, Langel, influences this decision in the most notable way (McFarland, 1983; Porter, 1972). After Langel’s appearance at the scene, Sammy concludes that he doesn’t wish to grow into such snobbish and arrogant manager, who regards himself as the last resort in all moral dilemmas and successfully combines preacher’s duties with his professional responsibilities.   Langel highlights one phrase in his admonition: â€Å"This isn’t the beach† (Updike, 2007). Sammy believes the way the executive firmly repeats this phrase look â€Å"as if it had occurred to him, and he had been thinking all these years the AP was a big sand and he was the head lifeguard† (Updike, 2007). As Porter notes, â€Å"his â€Å"sand dune† is the world of work, whereas the girls’ is the world of play† (Porter, 1972, p.1156). As one can understand, the first approach to the interpretation of the title derives from the central idea of the short story. In this sense, the AP appears a place, where the protagonist’s psychological maturation takes place, so   the emphasis upon the name of the shop can be alleged as the author’s natural desire to prioritize the settings, including the social context (the desirable shift from one social class to another), which puts the main character on his path to the insight. Another approach to the title is aesthetic or spatial. The author might have sought to prioritize the place itself rather than the most important idea, primarily – in order to provide the reader with sample environment, in which contemporary teenagers perform their working duties. This means, the concept of the AP as shop, which stores not merely goods, but also human fates and aspirations, is also valuable and deserves a more detailed examination. Due to the fact that this approach requires focusing upon senses and perception, it is important to include the atmosphere, depicted by the author. As McFarland notes, â€Å"to a large extent, the aesthetic pleasure in â€Å"AP† depends upon the reader’s sensing this dramatic irony. Sammy’s words resonate and gain meaning through a larger artistic context out of which he comes (Updike’s knowledge and imagination) but of which he, the fictive character, is unaware† (McFarland, 1983, p. 96). Importantly, two scholars, McFarland (1983) and Shaw (1986) compare the method of building the relationship between the imagery and the protagonist’s inner world to the allusion, depicted in â€Å"The Birth of Venus† by   Sanrdo Botticelli. Similarly to all Renaissance paintings, it depicts a nude woman, who comes from sea spirit. The protagonist also focuses on the appearances of three females, who have merely bikinis on and therefore to great extent resemble to Renaissance patterns of depicting female body. Furthermore, Sammy concentrates his attention on the leader of the group, who appears a queen in his eyes, because of her unique step, movements and gestures. The protagonist thoroughly fixes all these details about the girl and she seems a source of aesthetic pleasure for the protagonist, rather than merely a person, who belongs to the opposite gender (Shaw, 1986) Sammy soon begins to describe the nature of femininity and indicates that girls’ inner life is always a puzzle for him. He upgrades his perception of the girl, as the essential aspect of their appearance is the alteration of the atmosphere and the emergence of the spirit of freedom in the air, rather than merely the girls’ clothing and the way they communicate with one another. In Sammy’s opinion, Queenie fills the store with her aura, comprised by charm, self-determination and ingenuousness. In order to improve the reader’s understanding of all these emanations, which saturated the accommodation, Sammy poetically describes the young girl: â€Å"If it hadn’t been there you wouldn’t have known there could have been anything whiter than those shoulders† (Updike, 2007). The protagonist’s description of Queenie to certain degree reminds Venus by Botticelli: white body, high shoulders, bare feet and pride in the eyes.   When the girl brings her purchase to the cashier, Sammy feels as if he has just been chosen by Fortune (Shaw, 1986): â€Å"Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold: Kingfish Fancy herring Snacks in Pure Sour Cream: 49. Now her hands are empty, not a ring or a bracelet, bare as God made them, and I wonder where the money is coming from† (Updike, 2007). The thorough depiction of all details, associated with the girls’ visit to the shop implies that the event was so meaningful to the protagonist that he memorized it completely, primarily, because of the surrealistic alteration of the place into the scene or arena of theatrical performance. After Langel confronts the girl, the sense of theatricality reinforces, as the manager explicitly plays hi professional role, whereas the girl behaves naturally and appears a â€Å"positive character† of the play. The girl, similarly to the Greek goddess in the ancient literature, inspires the protagonist and brings him into a different dimension of cognition, primarily through   participating in the affected episode, initiated by the executive, which in fact occurs at the workplaces like the AP. Sammy thus understands that the service area turns employees into dull puppets, which perform uncreative job and inhibit inspiration, embodied by Queenie (Shaw, 1986). After the girl leaves, Sammy begins to feel the pressure of his workplace and finally decides to quit the job. The final interpretation of the title derives from the protagonist himself, especially when taking into consideration the fact that he is a teenager, who uses to simplify his life and at first doesn’t disclose any deep reflection. In this context â€Å"AP† points to the teenage perception of the event, i.e. if a 19-year-old man like Sammy wrote this story he would probably given it this title. The reminder about the protagonist’s teen age can be found in the vocabulary he uses. As Grainer suggests, the narrator is defined primarily by his â€Å"tones and vocabularies† (Grainer, 2007, at http://www.enotes.com/and-pa/11435). Furthermore, â€Å"No one else supplies background information or details to round out character [†¦] when he [Sammy] describes the girls, we wonder if his lyrical flights of language expose the inadequacy of his slang as he stretches to show why these teen-agers deserve his sacrifice† (Grainer, 2007).   Furthermore, beyond the typical colloquial language, the protagonist behaves as impulsively as teenagers often do when they suddenly discover something fundamental and make corresponding decisions. Thus, the title perfectly fits the protagonist’s personality and the psychological features of his age. To sum up, the essay has outlined three major perspectives, from which the title can be interpreted. Firstly, the viewing the title through the prism of the central idea, the AP appears a place, where the protagonist’s philosophy of life evolves. Secondly, approaching to the title in terms of the atmosphere in the store, one can conclude that the author also attempts to describe an ordinary shop, as a place which determines human fates. Finally, the short title matches the teenage psychology and the author’s simple and understandable reasoning. Works cited Greiner, J. â€Å"Sammy’s Colloquial Voice in â€Å"AP†Ã¢â‚¬ . Retrieved   April 17, 2007, from: http://www.enotes.com/and-pa/11435 Luscher, R. John Updike: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne, 1993. McFarland, R. â€Å"Updike and the Critics: Reflections on ‘AP’.† Studies in Short Fiction, 20 (1983): 94-100. Porter, M. â€Å"John Updike’s ‘AP’: The Establishment and an Emersonian Cashier†. English Journal, 61 (1972): 1155-58. Shaw, P. â€Å"Checking Out Faith and Lust: Hawthorne’s ‘Young Goodman Brown’; and Updike’s ‘AP’†. Studies in Short Fiction, 23 (1986): 321-23. Updike, J. AP. Retrieved April 17, 2007, from: http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/