Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Mentorship For Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Mentorship For Nursing - Essay Example Consequentially, mentors are responsible for and can enhance the quality of mentoring culture in clinical settings. How to promote effective mentorship is a difficult question, but it is clear that a good mentor will avoid the errors of over-protection and the flaws of the master-protege relationship, but will display appreciation of students’ efforts, demonstrate genuine concern for their successes and promote mutuality and reciprocity in their relations with students. Mentorship is becoming a critical instrument of growing professional nurses. With the shortage of professional nursing staff, mentorship has a potential to expand the pool of professional, caring nurses in healthcare. â€Å"Mentorship initiatives, especially in hospital settings, are being introduced and fostered to attract nurses to healthcare systems with the primary goals of nursing retention and support†(Block et al 134). However, mentorship is not good by itself; rather, good mentorship is the key to developing and retaining professional nursing staff (Jarvis 415). Much has been written and said about factors affecting mentorship and mentored students, in particular. Apart from the fact that students assessed formatively on their hand washing skills experience anxiety and anticipation, formative assessment also exemplifies the final product of the long process of mentoring and can be used to expose the flaws and inconsistencies in student-mentor relations. A student assessed formatively on their hand washing skills is primarily influenced by the quality of their relationship with the mentor, mentor guidance, culture, and leadership style (Bally 144; Bell-Ellison & Dedrick 556-7; Littlejohn 456; Saarikoski 1016). Guidance affects the quality of nursing student results, as it represents routine elements of daily cooperation with students, including problem-solving activities and planning formative assessment of the basic nursing skills (Bell-Ellison & Dedrick 556; Berk et al 70 ). The quality of the student’s presentation is profoundly influenced by their relationship with the mentor; this relationship incorporates a complex set of elements, including student and mentor’s personal problems, worldview, and social activities (Bell-Ellison & Dedrick 557). One important aspect that influences both the relationship and the results of formative assessment is the mentor’s leadership style, as well as the supervision system (Saarikoski 1016). Simply stated, how the student is assessed and what skills he (she) develops as a result of the mentorship program largely depends upon the quality of mentor’s supervision and their understanding of the students’ experiences, contexts, and cultures (Saarikoski 1016). The importance of the mentorship-culture relationship can hardly be overstated. Successful mentors must be able to create a â€Å"full†picture of the organization and leadership, by recognizing a complex interrelationshi p between mentorship, leadership and organizational culture (Bally 144; Callahan & Ruchlin 296; Neuhauser 471). This picture will help nursing mentors to understand how various aspects of one and the same culture interact. The choice of particular leadership style must also depend upon the culture, in which students and mentors interact, since no mentorship will work when there is no leadership-culture congruence
Monday, October 28, 2019
Financial Accountants in Modern Era Essay Example for Free
Financial Accountants in Modern Era Essay Professional accountant: A professional accountant is an educated and experienced accountant who is responsible to keep a check on the company’s money flow. Business accountancy is one of the most sought out occupation in the modern day era. He works as the company’s management to determine how well a company is functioning in terms of financial reporting. The government assesses the professional accountant’s reports to determine the tax owed by the company. The evaluation done by the professional accountant is of significant importance since investors and banks study them to determine if the company is worth investing or not. Accounting is a very diverse field and every person involved in it has a prescribed set of tasks. Some deal with financial reports such as balance sheets and income statements whereas others are more concerned with tax planning and compliance. With more practice, one is able to become an expert in the field and can therefore be of great value to the owner as well as the business. An experienced Professional accountant should understand his importance to the business and be able to recognize the limitations he has to work with. He has to make things work his way in order to make the right decisions every now and then. It’s not the many easy decisions that he has to take but rather the few difficult ones that make him an expert in the field. They need to plan across-the-board and execute it without fail. Exceptional professional accountants have a network of accounting contemporaries, who help them solve the situations outside their areas of expertise. Professional accountants with exceptional skills in the field of accounting pick up opportunities that are of some value to the client and acts as a valuable asset for the business as well. In short, the professional accountant is the backbone of the company and a valuable asset who helps keep things flowing in the right manner. Importance of professional accountants in the modern era: The modern day world of business is dominated by globalization, it has become extremely important for organizations to grow and extend their reach beyond national boundaries. As competition is increasing and geographical limitations reducing, it is becoming more imperative for organizations to keep a stringent check on the finances being used and earned. Therefore as a result, the importance of Professional accountants is increasing proportionately. The primary job of a professional accountant is to prepare the financial reports for the organization, analyze them and present the true picture to the people who are the chief decision makers in the company. Considering the gravity of work involved, it is imperative that the professional accountant be someone who is experienced, versatile, of high integrity and competent enough to handle any situation that might arise related to the financial structure of the company. The evaluation done by professional accountants is then used as a basis by banks and the investors to determine whether the company is a profitable proposition or not. A professional accountant is someone who should be able to comprehend each and every situation in the best possible manner and be able to present a clear picture to the management for better decision making. He is able to understand all the limitations as well as the strengths of the company and can therefore advice the management to make profitable decisions. His purpose is not to make money for himself but to work mutually for the betterment of the company and himself. Reference http://www.accountant-search.com/business-accountants.html
Saturday, October 26, 2019
A Study of the Trans-Texas Corridor and How it Affects Texans Essay exa
A Study of the Trans-Texas Corridor and How it Affects Texans      Everything is bigger in Texas. That’s what a lot of Texans what Americans and people around the world to know – you don’t mess with Texas. In the 1950’s, when President Eisenhower created the first Interstate plan for the country and implemented new roads in almost every single state, it was the largest engineering feat in the modern world. Now, almost half a century later, Governor Rick Perry is set to break that record, with the costliest, largest, and most incredible-sized proportion Texas Trans-Corridor, dubbed the â€Å"Texas Superhighway,†a 4000 mile, $175 billion dollar project that won’t be completely functional for another fifty years (Perry). This project certainly has proponents and opposition. But first, we must understand what the Texas Trans-Corridor’s purpose is in the state of Texas, and how it would affect the rest of the country as a whole.      Governor Rick Perry came into office as George W. Bush’s successor in 2000. Immediately, he laid down his plans for the future of Texas, without having the say of most of Texas’s constituents, since he was appointed based on Bush’s presidency. Perry’s grand vision is nothing short of incredible, even to the opponent’s eyes. At a quarter-mile wide, the Texas Superhighways that will probably soon cross Texas will be the largest transportation commodity in the free world (Stall). Perry’s idea doesn’t just answer problems for congestion on highways – it answers problems for congested railroads in major cities such as San Antonio and Dallas, and it also develops one of the newest concepts to the Texas way of life, high speed rail, which has only dared to compete in the Northeast â€Å"corridor†of the United States. Perry also wants to develop a utility zone next to the highway, which will enable electricit y lines, pipelines, fiber optics, even water pipelines toward any city that is connected to the corridor. (Perry)      Perry’s vision is supposed to answer one specific problem that almost all Texans do know about: How do we curb congestion on the most congested freeway with trucks and vehicular traffic in the United States? I-35, notorious for its bottlenecks between Austin and San Antonio, is part of the NAFTA Superhighway system. I-35 extends all the way to Michigan down to Laredo in South Texas (Associated Press – KBTX). When the NAFTA ... ... on how they drive around this massive state.      Works Cited Palkot, Stephen. "Perry promotes corridor project." The Herald -Coaster 25 Mar. 2005.      14 Apr. 2005      . Osbourne, James. "Trans Texas Corridor in planning stage until 2006." The Monitor 24      Mar. 2005      . Perry, Rick. Texas Department of Transportation. I-69 / Trans-Texas Corridor Study.      2004. 14 Apr. 2005 . Perry, Rick. Texas Department of Transportation. Trans-Texas Corridor. 2004. 14 Apr.      2005 . "What's at stake: Slow down the Trans-Texas Superhighway: Let's LookBefore We      Leap!" Online posting. Texas Action Network. 14 Apr. 2005      . "Texas Superhighway?" KBTX. 14 Apr. 2005      . Stall, Linda. CorridorWatch.org - Challenging the Wisdom of the      Trans-Texas Corridor.. 09 Apr. 2005. 14 Apr. 2005      . Booth, Cathy , and Thomas Hutto. "The Next Wave in Superhighways, or A      Big, Fat Texas Boondoggle?" Time 06 Dec. 2004. 14 Apr. 2005      http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,832224,00.html Texas Legislature Online. State of Texas. 14 Apr. 2005      www.capitol.state.tx.us Slotboom, Eric. Home Page. 17 July 2001. 03 May 2005 Â
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The Great Digital Divide Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers
The Great Digital Divide The digital divide is defined as the gap between the information ‘haves’, the information ‘have-lates’, and the information ‘have-nots’. This disparity has arguably persevered from as early as the advent of the Gutenberg printing press, and continues to be pervasive and to flourish in the present day. There are many individuals who commonly perceive the digital divide to be solely comprised of the disparity of access to computers and the Internet, but this is not the sole case. It is vitally important to recognize that the digital divide is not only comprised of an access inequality to computers and the Internet, but additionally encompasses the right of use to other telecommunications or technological devices; for instance, cellular telephones, satellites, and even spanning into basic cable services for the rather universal activity of television watching. In chronological order, the following expose will present a comprehensive considerati on of the premises of the digital divide, the cohorts affected and stratified by the digital divide, and finally the notions or initiatives that have been taken in an effort to halt this ever-widening gap. As aforementioned, in general, the digital divide consists of a disparity in access to technology. In more complex terminology, it is the abyss in access to technology tools and related learning opportunities, most commonly imposed by socioeconomic status, race, gender, and so forth (Digital Divide Network, 2002). Knowledgeable critics have typically sub-divided those affected by the digital divide into a triad of distinct assemblies; the ‘haves’, ‘have-lates’, and ‘have-nots’ (Globalization: The Reader, p. 81). ‘Haves’ include individuals w... ...obalization: The Reader. Routledge Publishing: New York, 2000. â€Å"Digital Divide.†PBS. (2002). Available Online: http://www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/. â€Å"Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide.†National Telecommunications & Information Administration. (1999). Available Online: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn99/contents.html. Gauntlett, David. Web Studies. Arnold Publishing: New York, 2000. Sargent, Mark. â€Å"Community Technology Centers: A National Movement to Close the Digital Divide.†Digital Divide Network. (2002). Available Online: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/stories/index.cfmkey=245. â€Å"Kofi Annan: IT Industry Must Help Bridge Global Digital Divide.†Digital Divide Network. (2003). Available Online: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/stories/index.cfm?key=272.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Product Summary Essay
The commercialization of the internet proves to be a major opportunity of for business organizations in the global arena. It should be noted that this technology has allowed the creation of new business model where companies can become more efficient and generate more revenue by establishing online presence. The internet has become a venue where sellers and buyers meet for purchases. Some business organizations have opted to augment their brick and mortar strategies by having online outlets while still others have opted to solely operate online. Perhaps three of the most successful business organizations which utilized the advancement of internet technology are retailers like eBay, Amazon, and Walmart. All these industry players have gained the reputation of being the top in internet retailing both in the number of visitors and the amount of sales generated.            If I am given the chance to be a competitor of these giant retailers, I will utilize the individual strengths which they display while staying away from their weaknesses. In order to avoid direct competition from these already established players, I will specialize catering to a small segment instead of going after the whole market. This will help me in building the right image for the company and establishing public awareness for the product and service that I would offer.            eBay represents one of the purest market in the world today where buyers and sellers can directly transact with each other. The website is a very good place to buy products because buyers and sellers can negotiate on the price, payment, and other service. However, I believe that an online retailer should have a fixed price and rules when dealing with its customers. Before entering a transaction, the customer should be adequately informed on the price which is most acceptable in the exchange of product and service. The establishment of a fixed system of payment, delivery, and price will eliminate the necessity of having to answer queries for each customer when they find details to be unclear. However, I will consider the user-friendly and frequently upgraded website of the company in order to attract buyers.            Amazon is remarkable because of its being purely an online entity. What I will adopt with this company is its system of recording customers’ details which they can use in their future purchases. I believe that this is a very much essential value-added feature because it really makes customer more convenient as they don’t need to type information again and again. Amazon should also be applauded for its customers’ reviews which aids prospective buyers in making their purchase decisions. I will integrate this when putting up an online retailing entity.            Walmart is known as the market leader when it comes to price and quality. The company also extends this in its website which showcases all its affordable products. The website of the company is very extensive almost comprising its entire product line which it has in store. What I like about Walmart is the warmth of experience even in online shopping. Customer service is still very remarkable and consistent both in its outlet and its online store. This consistency makes shopping very relaxing in an online marketspace where customer emotions are not often considered. References Kotler, P 2002, Marketing Management, Prentice Hall: New Jersey
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
When Is the Next ACT Test Date
When Is the Next ACT Test Date SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Here's the most updated info on when the next ACT test is happening and when you have to register. At this moment, the next ACT test date is September 10, 2016. Make sure you prep correctly, using our top 5 ACT prep strategies. Thenext ACT registration deadline is August 5, 2016. The late deadline, with extra fees, is August 19, 2016. Make sure you know how to sign up for the ACT and how much it costs. Scores for the next ACT test will be released September 10, 2016. Do you know what a good ACT score is? Make sure you have the right target score in mind. It's important to do well. Here are our best strategy guides to get you on track to improving your ACT score. How to get a perfect ACT score, by a 36 scorer Perfect score guides for ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, and ACT Science Learn our complete set of ACT grammar rules Make sure you know all the most important ACT vocabulary words Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:
Monday, October 21, 2019
Fight Club (analysis of great essays
Fight Club (analysis of great essays You are not your job. You are not how much you have in the bank. You are not the contents of your wallet. You are not your Khakis. You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. In Fight club, we meet our main character that comes to us without a name. He can be referred to as, Jerry, but his name is not important. He comes to us without a name because he represents any one man of those Generation X males living in our society at present. Jerry is a thirty-year-old man employed as a recall coordinator for a major automobile company. He lives in condo that is furnished with all the comforts of modern society, namely mass-produced furnishings that can be found in the homes of millions across North America. Jerry owns a car and has obtained a respectable wardrobe for himself over the course of time, but despite all those things, Jerry is not satisfied with his life. This is because Generation X males are dissatisfied, unhappy, confused or lost. Many people find that it is impossible to o btain a job or career where they are not part of the service industry in some way, shape or form. As societies priorities have become more and more materialistic and consumer-driven, people are finding themselves more and more distracted with their possessions, rather than with others. Relationships fail because of an increase in the number of single-parent families, in which there is predominately only a mother to act in a relationship, the situation brewing in this film. As we progress through the movie we find that Jerry fells unfulfilled, and trapped in the depths of chronic insomnia. Jerry asks his doctor for help and his doctor advises him to attend some of the support groups at a local church. Jerry attends these supports groups regularly and in doing so grow to have a sense of belonging. In a quote from the movie Jerry says, This is why I loved the support groups so much. If people thought you were dying, they gave yo...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
NJ
NJ Introduction Bahrain, just like any other financial center, provides an environment where domestic and international trade is conducted on large scale. The Bankers’ Society of Bahrain (BSB) (n.d.) states that Bahrain has been known to be a strategic trading point between the East and the West.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on NJ International Finance Management Mids of these industries include oil, gas and aluminum. However, most industries are being privatized. Therefore, all industries are now open to foreign investors (Ernst and Young, 2012). For instance, in 2006, government of Bahrain privatized electricity production and transferred control of parastatals to a quasi-independent holding company (USDC, 2012). This reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment in running profitable businesses. Moreover, foreign companies receive the same incentives as companies from Bahrain (Ernst and Young, 2012). Additionally, Bahrain’s commercial and legal laws are consistent with international standards. Commercial laws are also reviewed from time to time to accommodate any changes made internationally (Ernst and Young, 2012). For that reason, Bahrain should be an emerging market of choice for many businesses regardless of their place of origin. Ernst and Young (2012) also add that companies operating in Bahrain are required to present their financial reports using internationally accepted Standards. In addition, Bahrain’s modern laws provide favourable environments for doing business. Some of the best laws include labour and commercial laws (USDC, 2012). For instance, expatriates can change jobs more easily in Bahrain than in most countries in the Gulf region. This brings about flexibility in the labour market. Workers also have the right to join unions to fight for better terms. In addition, there are laws that protect foreign workers from abuse (USDC, 2012). According to the USDC (2012), Bahrain’s gross domestic product ( GDP) has been on the rise. Recent reports indicate that Bahrain’s has enjoyed an economic growth of between four to five percent yearly. In 2010, Bahrain’s GDP stood at $21.3 billion (USDC, 2012).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, Bahrain has been able to maintain price inflation at low levels (USDC, 2012). For that reason, this financial center’s currency has remained stable. This is an added advantage to Bahrain as a financial center. English is also spoken widely in Bahrain. This makes easier for most people to express themselves. However, a few factors discourage investors from investing in Bahrain. For instance, there are no clear differences between the government and the private sector. As a result, there has been conflict of interest (USDC, 2012). The USDC (2012) also adds that the tendering process has not been transparent enough in some cases. In other cases, the government has been found to favour certain business men (USDC, 2012). This act disadvantages other competitors who are not highly connected with government officials. In addition, foreign investors who do not have local partners are discriminated upon. There are also few incidents of bureaucracy and poor coordination among ministries (USDC, 2012). Moreover, the government of Bahrain forces a company to employ a certain number of Bahrain citizens (USDC, 2012). Failure to do leads to a fine. Furthermore, the government of Bahrain intentionally makes it difficult for foreign firms to secure work permits and visas for foreign employees (USDC, 2012). This forces these companies to employ Bahraini citizens. As a result, the firms produce goods and service of low quality. In addition, these firms lack the required experts in various fields. In some cases, companies are forced to relocate from Bahrain. Finally, a few months ago Bahrain was on the international media for the wrong reasons. Bahraini citizen were protesting due to political and economic injustices. Such scenes kept investors away from Bahrain. However, Bahrain has been able to overcome these unrests (Albawaba, 2011) Degree of Success and Future Prospects Bahrain is recognized by its prowess in financial management. This makes the central bank o f Bahrain one of the most respected financial institutions in the Middle East (Albawaba, 2011). Apart from being the first country to indentify the need to diversify the economy, Bahrain was the first country to discover oil in the Gulf region in the modern era (BSB, n.d.). Bahrain’s transportation and communication are also in standards that attract and foster investments (USDC, 2012). Likewise, other types of infrastructure are of standards that encourage business development. Therefore, any form of investment will survive in Bahrain. Compared to eighty three economies, Bahrain is ranked 38th by the World Bank on the ease of doing business (World Bank, 2012). This makes it the 4th best economy in the Middle East. The World Bank report also places Bahrain on 82nd and 126th position on ease of starting a business and getting credit respectively. Additionally, this financial center is ranked 7th in dealing with construction permits, 18th in paying taxes , 25th in resolving ins olvency, 30th in registering property and 49th in trading across borders. Furthermore, Bahrain is ranked 79th in protecting investors, 49th in accessing electricity and 115th in enforcing contracts. This shows that Bahrain fairs well as compared to other countries where doing business is not a complicated matter. Bahrain has experience a steady increase in the number of financial institutions. Despite fluctuations in oil prices, these institutions have continued to post profits and positive growth (BSB, n.d.). In March 2006, the International Monetary Fund Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP) conducted a review of the financial sector in Bahrain (BSB, n.d.). The results of this review indicated that Bahrain’s financial regulations were modern and effective. In the same year, Fitch Ratings changed Bahrain’s credit outlook from stable to positive (BSB, n.d.). This rating meant that the world recognized Bahrain’s financial and economic strength. In 2010, Th e Global investor Magazine named Bahrain as the best financial center (BEDB, 2010). The Global investor Magazine is a publication associated with the Euromoney (BEDB, 2010). For that reason, this award cannot be disputed. The award was given to Bahrain because of providing excellent financial services for a long time. Additionally, the award recognized the good work done by the Central Bank of Bahrain. This reward, hence, portrayed Bahrain’s leadership in the financial sector. Bahrain has also been able to establish a transparent business environment (Albawaba, 2011). Its laws are non-discriminatory and the tendering process is not questionable in most cases. Moreover, Bahrain overcame recent unrest brought about by bad economic policies (Albawaba, 2011). This showed that Bahrain has the capability to offer instant solutions to any situation that threatens to disrupt its economic progress. Bahrain faces stiff competition from other financial centers such as Dubai and Qatar. T herefore, to increase its competitiveness, Bahrain targets to improve six economic sectors†(USDC, 2012).These sectors include â€Å"tourism, health care, information and communication technology, education and training, business service and financial services†(USDC, 2012). Moreover, one of the growing sectors in Bahrain is Islamic banking (Albawaba, 2011). Although Islamic banking has been associated with the Middle East for a long time, Western countries are adopting it. This is something that Bahrain can present to foreign investors who want to diversify. Conclusion Throughout history Bahrain has been known to be a strategic trading point between the East and the West (BSD, n.d.). Therefore, Bahrain is one of the most renowned financial centers in the Middle East. Bahrain future as an economic center looks bright. Bahrain’s economic and financial policies have laid a solid foundation for future investments. Additionally, to increase its competitiveness, Bahra in has prioritized six sectors. These are the sectors that Bahrain wants to improve in order to consolidate its position as a world and regional financial center (USDC, 2012). References Albawaba. (2011). Bahrain still a leading financial centre: capinnova. Retrieved from albawaba.com/bahrain-still-leading-financial-centre-%E2%80%93-capinnova-380888 Bahrain Economic Development Board. (n.d.). Bahrain- the center of financial services in the Gulf and Middle East. Retrieved from bahrainedb.com/bahrain-financial-services.aspx Bahrain Economic Development Board. (2010).Bahrain named financial center of the year. Retrieved from bahrainedb.com/press-bahrain-named-financial-center-of-the-year.aspx Bankers’ Society of Bahrain. (n.d.). Bahrain an international banking and financial centre. Retrieved from www.banksbahrain.org/media/pdf/BSBBrochure-reduced.pdf Businessdictionary.com. (n.d). Financial center. Retrieved from businessdictionary.com/definition/financial-center.html Ernst Y oung. (2012). Doing business Bahrain 2011. Retrieved from http://emergingmarkets.ey.com/doing-business-in-bahrain-2011/ Security Industries Association. (n.d.).The key building blocks of world class financial centers. Retrieved from www.ita.doc.gov/td/finance//World_Class_Financial_Center.pdf http://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/63624/formationoffinan00kind.pdf?sequence=1 United States Department of Commerce. (2012). Doing business Bahrain: 2011 country commercial guide for U.S. companies. Retrieved from http://photos.state.gov/libraries/embassy/164325/2011pd/2011%20Bahrain%20Country%20Commercial%20Guide.pdf World Bank. (2012). Economy profile: Bahrain. Doing business 2012. doingbusiness.org/~/media/fpdkm/doing%20business/documents/profiles/country/bhr.pdf
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Overview of Perry Street Restaurant Found in New York Essay
Overview of Perry Street Restaurant Found in New York - Essay Example The paper will give the restaurants URLs date and time of our reservation, people we will be dining with, our dining experience expectation and other pertinent information about Perry Street restaurants. Going through different reviews, I could only find a few negatives and so many positives. Additionally, the restaurant was crowded even though their prices were a bit higher than expected. This is usually an indication of quality services and or good food. Most Jean Georges establishment has a reputation for quality service and good food. This made me feel that Perry Street would not disappoint. Also, the ambience and atmosphere at Perry Street were more than I expected; even though the restaurant was crowded, you could see that the place was neat and well arranged. This usually signals a good restaurant. The servers at the restaurant knew what was in their menu, they were not mealy doing recitals about the food they are serving. Also, the servers were formally dressed and clean, a clear indication that the restaurant cared about how its people looked like. These factors and others made me decide on Perry Street. Perry Street is located in the Richard Meir Towers on 176 Perry Street New York. It is a fairly new restaurant and was opened in 2005. Their URLs are www.perrystreetrestaurant.com and www.jean-georges.com. The websites employ an easy to use, fun, clear and informative interface. Perry Street is a bit casual dining restaurant with a mix of fine dining. Its head chef is Jean Georges Vongerichten and the restaurant belongs to the Jean Georges establishments. Jean Georges establishments are three and four-star restaurants of savvy restaurateur and businessman Jean Georges Vongerichten.
Friday, October 18, 2019
United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 1099 v. Southwest Ohio Essay
United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 1099 v. Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, 163 F.3d 341; Rita Miller V. Clinton County, 544 F.3d 542 - Essay Example enged SORTA’s decision to reject the planned wrap-around advertisement, which they (SORTA) termed as aesthetically unpleasant and too controversial. Among SORTA’s commercial ventures is the sale of advertising space on the buses and bus shelters it owns. However, UFCWU’s proposed wrap-up advertisement, which portrayed protesting union workers fleeing from the police and boarding a bus belonging to SORTA was rejected. In its ruling, the district court concluded that UFCWU was favored by the balance of equities and, therefore, granted the preliminary injunctive relief (Moore 1). Case number 07-2105, Rita Miller, Plaintiff, vs. Clinton County; Honorable Richard Saxton, Appellant, was argued from May 13 2008 and decided on October 1 2008. The civil rights action was brought against Richard Saxton, the Court of Common Pleas’ President Judge, by Clinton County’s former probation officer, Rita Miller. It was asserted by Rita Miller that Richard Saxton violated her right to free speech (First Amendment) and right to due process (Fourteenth Amendment) by firing her after she wrote him a complaint letter claiming hostility and intimidation from her supervisor. Miller appealed against Saxton’s decision to fire her, and a district court permitted the wrongful termination case to proceed. However, the case was dismissed by a federal appeals court, effectively reversing the ruling made by the district judge. Miller had alleged that her supervisor had acted unprofessionally by stating the probationers were a scum and did not merit the money spent on them by the probation office. In his move to dismiss the claims, Saxton wanted to be granted a summary judgment motion and alleged to be immune to suit. In the UFCWU v. SORTA appeal case, the court stated that a preliminary injunction aims to avert irreparable injury and uphold a court’s capacity to deliver significant decisions based on merit in reference to Canal Authority of State of Florida v. Callaway, 489 F.2d
Match day staff retention and turnover Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Match day staff retention and turnover - Essay Example The study conducted by The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) provided conclusive evidence of how outsourcing human resources personnel and various HR functions could cut average company costs on HR spending and free them from other legal risks. The retention of human resources for long time and then giving training to them is the only issue which is very costly and time consuming. More specifically, good training programs leads to improve the capability of employees and thus increasing the confidence in employees. Employees who are sure of themselves work faster, commit fewer errors and produce more output. Thus we can say that the existence of a human resources department is vital to overall productivity and efficiency of the strong work force in any thriving company. In most professional organizations, the role of the human resources department is not sidelined. In fact, good human resources can be one of the most valued and respected departments in an organization, their job is people and people are the company's most important asset. 1. Dissatisfaction with salary or benefits - Salary dissatisfaction can be predicted using company maintained information commonly to salary administrators. Predictors includes years of service, educational level, performance report, career potential, a measure of the most recent salary increase and employee gender. Benefits are not up to the mark which pleases the employees at fullest. 2. Dissatisfaction with training or working conditions - It is the second biggest reason for leaving the current working place. Using old and casual methods of training and working environment is not suitable. This means that one can't adjust with his current working environment i.e. working staff and conditions are not expelling healthy and positive vibrations. Training methods and modules are insufficient. Due to time constraints; the new employees are often not corrected. This oversight leads to a proliferation of bad practice. 3. Change of industry or profession - Sometimes employees change their profession or shift themselves from one industry to other industry due to higher scope of improvement and learning opportunities because according to their thinking forward looking sector or industry has better future prospects or growth. Even new opportunities comes up to you as easy as knocking the door to fulfill the dreams. 4. Others Lack of development - An individual always wants growth, power and success in life but if one's career comes to a stagnant position, he wants to leave his current job and take a new one with full positive attitude and motivation which is very useful and important like flowing water in the river because it symbolizes development at every point of time in life. Development can be in terms of salary increment or extra responsibility given by the seniors due to faith and carried over by the individual in the company. Better position elsewhere - In this scenario, companies are offering good positions to the employees who are experienced and have good communication skills which are the utmost traits of personality. Some companies are offering internal tests programs conducted to stabilize good employees which is
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Discuss the reasons for the emergence of China as a global trading Essay - 1
Discuss the reasons for the emergence of China as a global trading power in the light of international trade theories - Essay Example There are various theories behind the rise of China as one of the strongest economies in the world. This work will look into and discuss the reasons behind the emergence of China as a global trading power in the world in the light of International Trade Theories. China has remained one of the strongest Communist countries in the world and after the fall of USSR, it has emerged as the center of the Political ideology in the world. However the subsequent reforms saw the start of the country’s transition to the market economies. The economic reforms into China started during 1978 and are considered as most successful as compared to the other controlled economies of Eastern Europe. A comparative study of the transition economies would suggest that China has been able to perform better than other transition economies of Eastern Europe mainly because of the rise of private firms into China. The emergence of Private firms into China has been extra-ordinary despite the fact that State has protected the state owned enterprises. The rise of China therefore is also attributed to the unplanned rise of private firms into the country besides the government reforms. From 1978 to 1992, the gross national product in China grew at an average rate of 9% and in 1992 and 1993, growth accelerated to over thirteen percent, giving China the worlds fastest growing economy. In 1994, even with attempts to cool down the economy, growth remained above ten percent.Error: Reference source not found. However it also must be noted that the largely held misconception that the Mao Zedong was behind the economic rise of China is not correct in its true sense as many believed that a great Opportunity to fulfill the Chinese dream remained unfulfilled during his era however the Mao era also saw the changes into health, education and other sectors of the economy however on the whole it remained largely under achieved economy during
ENGLISH LEGAL HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
ENGLISH LEGAL HISTORY - Essay Example Such a long experience of many generations has given this system the depth no legal systems in the world can match. The process of going through ages of human civilization has evolved this system in such a way that it not only meets the legal standards of practicability but also the human side of it. British legal system is consistent with the thinking of its citizens. Traditions and conventions are at the heart of it making the law and the folk wisdom compatible with each other. This traditional approach has given rise to certain inherent principles of British legal system e.g. the doctrine of rule of law, independence of judiciary and habeas corpus. These principles –just like the legal system itself- have evolved over a period of centuries and form the basis of British system of Justice. The fact that most of the modern day world has also benefited from the British common law principles, make these traditional laws a sound base for many universally accepted rules now. In the below discussion we will look at some of these principles in detail. We will highlight their evolution, their importance in the development of legal system and their implications in the modern age. We will also see how the tradition side of these rules still reflects itself in the developed laws. Habeas Corpus is a Latin word which means ‘you shall have the body’. In legal sense it represents a method through which any person can claim relief against unlawful attest or detention from any other person or even the legal system itself. In other words, it is a system through which the court can order to bring a detained person so that it may be ascertained whether he was detained lawfully or not. The petition of Habeas Corpus can be brought by the person himself or if he is unable to seek such remedy because of being in detention, then by any other person. Habeas Corpus is originally an English concept which originated in the early
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Discuss the reasons for the emergence of China as a global trading Essay - 1
Discuss the reasons for the emergence of China as a global trading power in the light of international trade theories - Essay Example There are various theories behind the rise of China as one of the strongest economies in the world. This work will look into and discuss the reasons behind the emergence of China as a global trading power in the world in the light of International Trade Theories. China has remained one of the strongest Communist countries in the world and after the fall of USSR, it has emerged as the center of the Political ideology in the world. However the subsequent reforms saw the start of the country’s transition to the market economies. The economic reforms into China started during 1978 and are considered as most successful as compared to the other controlled economies of Eastern Europe. A comparative study of the transition economies would suggest that China has been able to perform better than other transition economies of Eastern Europe mainly because of the rise of private firms into China. The emergence of Private firms into China has been extra-ordinary despite the fact that State has protected the state owned enterprises. The rise of China therefore is also attributed to the unplanned rise of private firms into the country besides the government reforms. From 1978 to 1992, the gross national product in China grew at an average rate of 9% and in 1992 and 1993, growth accelerated to over thirteen percent, giving China the worlds fastest growing economy. In 1994, even with attempts to cool down the economy, growth remained above ten percent.Error: Reference source not found. However it also must be noted that the largely held misconception that the Mao Zedong was behind the economic rise of China is not correct in its true sense as many believed that a great Opportunity to fulfill the Chinese dream remained unfulfilled during his era however the Mao era also saw the changes into health, education and other sectors of the economy however on the whole it remained largely under achieved economy during
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Gender and Politeness in an ESL Language Academic Context Research Paper
Gender and Politeness in an ESL Language Academic Context - Research Paper Example Politeness made by non-native English speakers varies depending on the language background of an individual. This may be studied through ranking and contextualizing conditions. The use of semantic features is key in this analysis in the theoretical literature. There exists a correlation between native English speakers and non-natives. When it comes to politeness there is an evident perception of the high level of politeness among non-native speakers than native speakers. This is an indication of oversensitivity to semantic distinction forms. The hierarchy of politeness indicates that there should be different grammatical patterns emphasis when handling natives and non-natives in an educational environment (Leavell & Hong-Nam 2006). There are cultural values that still implicit in a composition of non-native authors. Through a review of four principles of and practices, the individualism of the non-native authors may be determined in terms of voice, critical thinking and peer reviews of the texts. A comparison of the findings made with those of native indicates a variation in politeness. The cultural approaches adopted by non-native speakers may not comport with the principles and practices in different ways. The cross-cultural writing research rationale leads to self-knowledge of non- native speakers. In writings done by non-native speakers, there are often inappropriate elements evident in the pieces of writing according to judgments made by teachers or lecturers who are native speakers. An analysis of essays written by non-native speakers supports the view that the aspect of politeness dominates among non-native speakers. The choice of words with unintended results does not depict rationality for readers. The advancement of factual claims in linguistics within the word sentence and beyond indicates politeness. Through a study that involves investigations on interaction styles, videotaped compositions for non-English native speakers was conducted. This was don e for consecutive weeks and the individual videotaped were met for interviews. This was done for Chinese and Spanish speaking students for comparison. A recursive examination of the patterns and themes in the language command and characteristics for the students was done (Atkinson & Ramanathan 1999). The Chinese scripts reflected a social goal while in maintaining harmony in the group. This included a high level of politeness in the group. The Chinese students always appear to be reluctant in initiating comments. At any point they made comments they appeared to be careful about making mistakes in their composition and speech. The monitoring of self-led to the evasion of criticism from peers who are native speakers. They also appeared to avoid disagreement with comments made by peers in the writing. The reason behind the position taken by non- native speakers is the lack of confidence among the students compared to other students who are native speakers. The Chinese students opt to u se polite words for acceptance among peers. The language learning strategy applied by students who are not English native speakers include the application of different linguistic backgrounds and culture. The key consideration is the interpersonal communication skills that encompass knowledge in cognitive academic language proficiency. There are differences applied across gender and nationality in becoming proficient in English. According to Snow, Met, & Genesee (2012), the use of metacognitive strategies and memory strategies aids in the learning process.  Â
Womens Struggle for Equality Essay Example for Free
Womens Struggle for Equality Essay Both Mary Oliver and Lucille Clifton are feminist women who fight for gender equality. By reading their poems the fight for women to be considered equals to men is evident. Both poems â€Å"Singapore†and â€Å"wishes for sons†were written in 1990-1991. During this time period women were fighting for equal rights in the world. They wanted men to see them as their equal rather than lesser. In â€Å"Singapore†Oliver reveals how difficult a woman’s job can be. In â€Å"wishes for sons†Clifton shows her strong desire for men to experience the embarrassments and difficulties that women face every day. In the poem â€Å"Singapore†Oliver writes about a woman who walks into a public restroom and finds a lady knelt over a toilet cleaning it. â€Å"A woman knelt there, washing something in the white bowl†(Oliver, 1990, line 5). The lady is at first disgusted with what she sees, but then as the lady turns to face her she sees the beauty in her. She realizes that even though this lady has a very disgusting job she is still a human and deserves to be happy. Oliver is showing that despite life’s difficulties women can find the strength to be happy and live a great life. She wants the reader to know that women can have the most disgusting jobs and still be beautiful on the inside and outside â€Å"the light that can shine out of a life†(Oliver, 1990, line 35). In the poem â€Å"wishes for sons†Clifton writes about her strong desire for men to experience the difficulties and embarrassments that women face. Clifton expresses her anger about the way women are viewed as the lesser of the two genders. She wants men to experience what women have to face regularly. â€Å"I wish them cramps†¦I wish them a strange town†¦and the last tampon†(Clifton, 1991, lines 1-3). She wants men to experience these difficulties in an embarrassing manner. Clifton is writing about all the physical things that women have to face. She desperately wants men to see how difficult it is to be a woman. While it is impossible for a man to actually have to go through these things Clifton wants them to realize what women face and to treat them as equals. Mary Oliver’s poem â€Å"Singapore†alluded a lot to nature. â€Å"Rivers are pleasant, and of course trees†¦A waterfall, or if that’s not possible, a fountain rising and falling†(Oliver, 1990, line 10). The symbols of nature go hand in hand with women’s nature and beauty. Lucille Clifton’s poem â€Å"wishes for sons†was a more straightforward approach. She wrote about a woman’s menstrual cycle and how unpleasant it is. Both of these poems hit on the theme of gender equality. In both poems the authors write about a woman’s role in a man’s world, the nature of women, gender equality, and the relationships between a man and a woman. Both of these poems reveal the struggle that women faced when trying to win the battle of equality with men. They fought so hard to show men that they were equal. During this time period women had rights but not the same rights as men. Women were expected to stay at home and take care of the house. Since they were the ones cleaning at home the type of jobs they could get involved cleaning. Women were not happy with the way they were treated in this time period. Men were the ones who went out and worked in the business world.. These two poems showed the type of hardships that women face. From the type of jobs women were given to the physical things they had to deal with. All women wanted were to be treated as equals of men.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Business
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Business 1. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging Business Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive medical imaging modality that has emerged in the first half of 1980s and become a preferred tool in detecting a wide range of diseases (Yildirim, et al., 2015)[1]. Since its invention, MRI has undergone a continuous flow of innovations and proven itself as a versatile tool that addresses an increasing number of clinical problems and enables research in a growing spectrum of clinical and technological fields. Over the course of its evolution MRI has proven itself has a well-established diagnostic tool and enabler in particularly neuro-radiological applications, functional and anatomical imaging of the brain, imaging of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system and the spine, and a strong contender in cardiovascular imaging, breast imaging and imaging of the abdomen and pelvic region. As a result of its versatility and non-invasive nature, MRI enjoys an increasing demand (Wilson, et al., 1999; Al-Kwifi McNaughton, 2013) and becomes a strong alternative to less costly modalities such as X-ray and Computed Tomography (Semelka, 2004). Despite all the innovations, and the advantages it offers with respect to other techniques, MRI remains the most expensive medical imaging modality, both in terms of production costs and cost of ownership constitutes a global market that is currently about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 5 billion, and is expected to exceed à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 7 billion by 2021 (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). Figure 1 MRI, applications areas and competing technologies. 1.1. The Market Over the past three and a half decades, the MRI business has evolved into a nearly mature market, particularly in terms of number of installations and users, which mainly consist of academic hospitals and research institutes, public and private hospitals and specialized clinics and centres (Oh, et al., 2004; MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). The MRI market is dominated by three vendors, namely Siemens, General Electric (GE) and Philips, which cover about 75% of the market, and followed by smaller firms like Toshiba and Hitachi as well as relatively smaller firms and new entrants such as Fonar, Alltech and United Imaging (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). Geographically, the MRI market is dominated by North America and Europe, which happen to be the birthplaces of the modality (Lauterbur, 1973; Mansfield, 1977), with respective shares of 31% and 29% (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). These, so to speak, old regions are followed by a younger and dynamic region, Asia, which has a share of 25% and observes a demand that is rapidly increasing (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). The remainder of the MRI market is populated by emerging markets such as Latin America, the Middle East, the Pacific and Africa (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). Figure 2 Global MRI market (Adapted from MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). The industry is governed by fast technological change and substantial heterogeneity in terms of technology and implementation among vendors (Krieg, 2004; MarketsAndMarkets, 2015). While products can roughly be categorized into groups representing magnetic field strength expressed in Teslas (e.g. 1.0T, 1.5T, 3.0T) or architecture (e.g. open versus narrow-bore or wide-bore cylindrical) (MarketsAndMarkets, 2015), differentiation among products and vendors is dictated by features, clinical applications and research techniques that come integrated with a MRI system (Krieg, 2004; Al-Kwifi McNaughton, 2013). In recent years, the business has observed a significant development that manifested itself as a clear split in market segmentation, with premium (or high-end) products catering to the upper half of the market and value products (or low-end or low-cost) catering to the lower half (Donoghue, et al., 2012; Global Industry Analysts Inc., 2015). This split, which was initially caused by the demand structure seen in the Asian and emerging markets, also found acceptance and support in Europe and North America, particularly in sectors where cost began to assume a primary role in purchase decisions as well as reimbursement policies (Proval, 2014; Global Industry Analysts Inc., 2015). In older markets such as North America and Europe, and also in Japan, the business seems to have reached a certain level of maturity (AuntMinnie.com, 2013). In these regions, the market shows a declining growth rate, mostly as a result of substantial market saturation and negative environmental influences such as declining reimbursements resulting from more stringent policies implemented by governments and insurance companies (Proval, 2014; Global Industry Analysts Inc., 2015). Another development that challenges the vendors is the increased number of brand switching, which, to some extent, can be related to market saturation (Al-Kwifi McNaughton, 2013). Customers moving from one vendor to another as such is observed to accelerate price erosion and hurt profitability significantly. In developing markets and markets showing a positive growth rate, like the emerging markets and Asian regions such as China and India (AuntMinnie.com, 2013), cost of investment and operation emerges as the primary factor affecting the business (Global Industry Analysts Inc., 2015). Additionally, the business, particularly of the incumbent firms (i.e. the big five) is challenged by governmental policies that directly or indirectly favour local competition, particularly in the low-end segment (Torsekar, 2014; Rizzo, 2016; Business Standard, 2016). Access to a larger portion of these markets is blocked by either complicated bureaucratic procedures (Torsekar, 2014), elevated import taxes (Business Standard, 2016), or by directly backing local manufacturers by means of targeted subsidies or privileged contracts (credible source needed).    1.2. Product Innovation Historically, MRI has been a technology driven industry, and as it is typical for high-tech businesses, product innovation has been critical to market performance and central to sustainability of the business (Krieg, 2004; Paladino, 2006). Different than most high-tech industries, however, MRI has strongly benefitted from a co-creation culture where most innovations have emerged from interactions and partnerships between vendors and key, and mostly academic, users (Figure 3). This culture led to a symbiotic vendor-user relationship that resulted into a rapid pace of product innovation, which, in turn, boosted demand for more advanced and specialized products (Krieg, 2004). Figure 3 A history of co-creation in MRI (Adapted from Philips Healthcare, 2016) However, the rate of ground-breaking and truly differentiating innovations is facing a slowdown (Holloway, 2014). In the last 10 years very few breakthroughs led to a significant or long lasting technological and competitive advantage, or have opened new areas of application and research. In the fields where MRI has proven itself as a mature diagnostic apparatus, such as neurology, MSK and brain imaging, all major vendors products are known to deliver very similar performances and adequate quality as far as general purpose use is concerned. Only in case of very specific needs, a particular vendor is seen to differentiate itself from the others and gain advantage in winning a bid or public tender. This situation, which can be defined as technological equilibrium, and relatively long presence of the modality in old markets, with an average age of about 15 years in North America, is believed to propel brand-switching (Al-Kwifi McNaughton, 2013), and more importantly, to move the accent of product innovation away from revolutionary breakthroughs to more evolutionary changes that particularly improve ease of use, patient comfort and productivity (Global Industry Analysts Inc., 2015). 1.3. Established Marketing Strategies Almost every major MRI vendor is part of a multi-national conglomerate that is active in multiple areas of business. Therefore, the strategies followed by individual companies draw a lot from the business group they belong to, and show differences particularly in cultural background, brand positioning and messaging. Yet, over time the medical device business, and particularly MRI, has developed its own common ground and generally accepted and practiced traditions. The business commercial heart-beat is primarily set by the annual gathering of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), which is held towards the end of the year and known to be the stage for new product launches, and secondarily the annual meeting of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), which takes place in spring time and lays the emphasis more on scientific and technological advancements in the field. While aligning their annual activities with these two events, vendors seem to show little indifference in the marketing strategies they follow, resulting into an equilibrium state very much similar to that seen in product innovation. Even, marketing materials, such product brochures and whitepapers give the impression as if they originate out of same hands, aside from small nuances in messaging, branding and company culture[2]. Inferred from marketing materials and product pricing, target market definition is predominantly based on pricing, which is strongly correlated with hardware characteristics (e.g. field strength, gradient system, receiver architecture etc.) and applicatory capabilities (Figure 4). Figure 4 In practice, however, the market seems to be far from consisting of two segments clearly separated from each other, as such. In his empirical study investigating the effectiveness of marketing strategies in medical markets, Brian Smith (Smith, 2003) identified that the segments are divided into sub-segments based on varying behavioural and preferential characteristics of users. However, the study also established that, despite such variation, the market does not show a continuum of homogeneous and distinct motivator based sub-segments, as seen in most consumer businesses, but rather consists of a discrete segmentation with limited degrees of freedom, which most possibly arises from the rather rigid, dominant and costly hardware characteristics of the modality and the highly regulated nature of the business environment. Of course, the relatively low number of incumbents, and their close collaboration and interaction in determining the industry standards under the directive of the Inte rnational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), also plays also a significant role in the setting and rigidity of the boundaries of the business. Despite the constraints inherent to the nature of the modality and business environment and financial boundaries set by the customers budgetary considerations, vendors seem to seek strategic strength and competitive advantage by recognizing behavioural and preferential differences and formulating value propositions that match the specific needs of the users (Smith, 2003). In MRI, this is mainly done by fine-tuning the product composition, particularly the applicatory capabilities, which, while being very dependent on the underlying hardware platform, are defined by the software capabilities, namely data-acquisition routines (a.k.a. pulse-sequences), image reconstruction algorithms, and post-processing tools. The value-proposition is further augmented with service and support, as well as more intangible offerings and benefits of secondary and tertiary importance, such as membership of strong user network, participation in advanced research activities etc. Such customization approaches , however, are mostly left to the discretion of the local marketing and sales teams, and observed to show strong variation depending not only on the needs of the customers, but also on the specific circumstances of the negotiation and/or bidding process and position with respect to competition. From general and global marketing activities perspective, the business seems to rely on downstream activities, which centralize around new product offerings in terms of new hardware platforms and configurations, and applications consisting of novel pulse-sequences, reconstruction algorithms and post-processing methods and focus mostly on the RSNA, and upstream activities, which involve input gathering from the customer base, particularly from the so called key opinion leaders (a.k.a. key users), research collaborations with a select number of sites as well as general user surveys, feedback from local marketing and sales teams, and competitive analysis of market changes. While downstream marketing and the show to be put on stage during the RSNA help the vendors catch the attention of the market, and, more importantly, the prospective customers, it is mostly the upstream activities, and the subsequent product definition and development process, that paves the way of success, and embodi es the governing dynamics the organization. 1.4. Governing business model While exact implementation may vary from one vendor to another, it is observed that the majority of the major players follow product definition and development processes that are quite similar in the general sense. According to this, input gathered from upstream activities are converted into a user requirement specification, which subsequently is translated into one or more product definitions, and evaluated as a combined or individual business cases, with market and sales projections based on feedback from local marketing and sales teams and competitive analysis. Based on the value offered by each case product proposals are accepted to the annual operations plan (AOP), and are programmed for feasibility studies, if any needed, and product development. Most vendors, divide their annual plan into two parts, first spanning the first half of the year and catering to the installed base in terms of service releases and product updates, and second spanning the second half of the year and f ocusing on the new product introductions intended for the RSNA. 1.5. Changes in the Market Historically, the target audience of medical devices in general, and MRI in particular, has been the medical practitioners (e.g. radiologists, specialists), administrators of medical institutions and clinics and research scientists from various medical and engineering. In the earlier years of the business, the composition of this audience was mostly dominated by researchers and medical professionals with strong understanding of the physics and engineering of MRI, and driven by the desire of exploring new fields of research and application disciplines (van den Brink, et al., 2015). However, as the modality matured, the market evolved into a state where the focus shifted more to utilizing MRI as a robust and reliable diagnostic tool, than just a research platform (Holloway, 2014). Paired with this change, the proportion and influence of the medical professionals, including administrators, started to exceed those of researchers and scientists disciplines (van den Brink, et al., 2015). Over the years, and driven by increase in demand for clinical MR scans, the business also saw the entrance and influence of a new type of user, namely the operator, also known as the technologist or radiographer. In time, in the clinical, as well as in a considerable portion of the research settings, the day-to-day of operation of the systems were seen to be taken over from highly knowledgeable medical professionals, engineers and scientists, by operators whose sole responsibility was to operate the MRs disciplines (van den Brink, et al., 2015). Hence, as a combined result of these changes, the practical knowledge of utilizing MR in a clinical setting increased, together with the demand for clinical MR scans, and number of MR installations, and the average knowledge of MR physics and engineering of the people sitting on the operators chair declined (Yildirim, et al., 2015). This, together with the demand for higher productivity (i.e. higher number of scans per day) and desire for shorter training investments brought new factors into the equation of product formulation, namely, workflow and usability (Holloway, 2014; Duszak, 2012). Aware of the increasing importance of workflow and usability, the vendors have implemented marketing strategies that emphasize the productivity and efficiency of their existing products, in addition to the technical capabilities. At the same time, vendors introduced product changes that focus on higher patient throughput, simplified patient handling, improved usability of the MR console etc. As a consequence of these changes the jargon governing product and marketing materials slowly shifted from a technically savvy language to a softer language expressing customer excellence, efficient workflow, easy scanning. In addition to the changes in market demographics and demand structure, which mostly arose from the internal dynamics of the market, the MR business is also observed to be influenced by external changes, particularly advancements in mobile communications, information technologies (IT), the internet and social media. As mentioned before, the MR business is based on a strong co-creation culture and close interaction between customers and vendors. As an integral part of this culture, there is strong empathy among MR users for the complexity of the technology and challenges vendors face during product development and manufacturing. However, the empathy of MR users may not last very long. In a recent survey conducted among MR users (Yildirim, et al., 2015), it was observed that the MR user becomes less tolerant to lengthy product service update cycles and new product introduction cycles that are measured in months to years. There is a significant lack of empirical studies addressing this change. However, this behavioural change believed to be an extension of the observed impact of technological advancements on consumer behaviour, particularly in e-commerce, online services, IT and telecommunications products. Studies conducted in these businesses have shown that the consumers have become more and mor e accustomed to high responsiveness from companies in acquiring goods and services, as well as prompt feedback in case of inquiries and complaints. 2. Purpose of work 2.1. Problem Statement In light of the changes and trends observed in the market, as well as the level of maturity reached in about 65% of the global market, the number of challenges the MR business is facing, and will likely continue to face in the foreseeable future can be summarized as follows: High costs associated with high-end scanners Increasing demand for low-end scanners Slowdown in ground-breaking innovations Homogenization of technology Brand-switching in mature markets Changing market demographics and declining technical proficiency of users Shifting of demand from novel applications to clinical utilization and efficiency Weakening of co-creating culture and increasing impatience of users On global scale the MR market is far from stagnation. However, challenges above make maintaining market share and gaining new grounds a difficult task. Some of these problems, particularly those related to high costs of innovation, manufacturing and ownership, are not new to the industry. But problems arising from the changes in the market, particularly those related to the maturation of the market, changes in user profile and behaviour and demand structure are new. Strategies based on technological innovations, while being helpful in preserving brand image and presence in high-end segment, will not suffice to address these issues and sustain competitive advantage and profitability. In order to stay afloat, the business, and particularly an incumbent, will need to explore new strategies and solutions to deal with the emerging problems. This work, aims at contributing to such an exploration by addressing the following problem statement: How can the MR business, particularly an incumbent, overcome the challenges arising from market changes, without resorting to costly technological innovations? Obviously, such a statement is very broad and may require a comprehensive solution, also including product innovations, and probably a total overhaul of the business strategy. But in respect to imitations inherent to a dissertation, the scope of the work presented will mostly focus on solutions that will address changes in demand structure and user profile. 2.2. Proposed Solution Reducing manufacturing costs and cost of ownership, improving robustness and usability and introducing products that meet the needs of the low-end segment will require solutions that greatly rely on innovations in product design and manufacturing. However, these issues, and specifically issues related to changes in demand structure, demographic composition, focus of utilization as well as competitive elements involving homogenization and brand-switching can also be addressed by innovations in organizational and operational approach to the business. Today MR vendors seem to focus too much on the future in terms of the next novel technology and new markets or users to be conquered. The business process is almost sole based on this focus. Next to being future oriented the business may also find benefit in focusing on the past, or more accurately, the existing installed base. This idea, encouraged largely by the level of maturity of the market, entails learning from collective experience of users, and on the larger scale, from the collective experience of the whole MRI world, and formulate product improvement, marketing and sales strategies based on this learning. Learning as such can be realized in many ways and, in fact, is not new to the MR business. Vendors, collect information from their customers through regular and structured surveys, or occasional direct contact by marketing and sales teams. Also annual events, like RSNA and ISMRM, form a viable platform for information and feedback gathering. Next to these, firms also collect information and receive feedback from third party sources like Net Promotor Score surveys and market research reports, which also contribute to the business intelligence activities of the companies. In addition to such business and market oriented feedback gathering, vendors also receive feedback from another type of source: customer complaints. A customer complaint, as the name implies, is an expression of dissatisfaction (Landon, 1980), and is a formal and regulated entity in MRI in particular, and medical imaging in general. Customer complaints, may entail actual product defects, that is, unintended behaviour or malfunction of the product or a component thereof, or annoyances that arise from the intended behaviour or design of the product. Regardless the reason, customer complaints are issued using formal tools, and monitored by regulating bodies with strict rules regarding handling and processing (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2015). While in general, a low number of customer complaints, is very much desirable, feedback as such is an invaluable opportunity for vendors to learn from their mistakes. Sources mentioned so far, while all beneficial, have one character in common. They are, in one form another, expressions of explicit feedback, which is known to mostly capture the part that is immediately visible, and therefore is prone to being incomplete or insufficient in uncovering actual user experience and value (Vargo, et al., 2007; MacDonald, et al., 2011). As a complementary source, this work proposes the utilization of implicit feedback, which is tacit in nature and captured in various forms of data generated by the user, or more accurately, the use of MR systems. The data consists of so called machine-data, which are mostly log files that are generated by the MR systems automatically, as well as human-data, such as clinical protocols that are created by users and reflect preferred ways of system use, and scientific output in the form of publications and conference contributions, particularly generated by academic users. Currently there are about 35 to 40 thousand operational MRI systems, with a yearly expansion of 2500-3000 systems. That means that, currently, a major incumbent would have had about 10 thousand operational systems, and over the past 10 years about 7500-8000 in average. Considering has been producing at least one log file per day, the minimum number of log files estimated to have been accumulated would be about 30 million. Assuming that each file is of 100 MB ins size, such a collection will yield 3000TB of data, large enough to fill more than half a million DVDs. Adding, protocols, publications and other sources to this, the data will multiply massively in size reaching the zettabyte scale (Raghupathi Raghupathi, 2014). In information science, datasets of such size and complexity are defined by the term Big Data (Russom, 2011; Singh Singh, 2011; Madden, 2012) whereas the processes and techniques used to structure and analyse such complex data and retrieve meaningful information out of it are brought together under the term Data Analytics (Russom, 2011; Singh Singh, 2011).   The proposed solution relies heavily on Big Data and Data Analytics, or shortly Big Data Analytics. But rather than being an exercise of solely academic nature, the work aims at defining a framework that integrates Big Data Analytics into the operational and organizational structure of an incumbent MR vendor. The work also includes practical examples of how to utilize Big Data Analytics in identification of implicit and hidden user needs, product formulation as well as, and particularly, in marketing and sales and create value for both the company and customers. 3. Big Data Analytics Big Data is a term used for massively large data sets with complex and heterogeneous structure that cannot be handled, i.e. stored and analyzed, using conventional techniques (Russom, 2011; Singh Singh, 2011; Madden, 2012). Data Analytics, on the other hand, is a collection of techniques and procedures that are used to process and analyze massive amounts of data. Brought together under the name Big Data Analytics, the purpose of this toolset is to identify hidden correlations and patterns in data, and convert a seemingly unordered pile of data into meaningful information and insights (Russom, 2011; Singh Singh, 2011). Although the concept of Big Data has emerged no longer than a decade ago, the use of data analytics in business practices is not a new idea. In 1950s businesses were analyzing information captured in electronic spreadsheets manually in order to uncover and understand trends and changes in data (Handfield, 2013). With the advances in of computer technology, the spreadsheets have been evolved into large electronic databases and later into data-warehouses, whereas the labor intensive manual processing practices made room for computer programs capable of running complex algorithms in an automated and efficient manner. In time and with technological advances particularly in computing and communications, the number of events and amount of information worth recording increased dramatically, and with decreasing cost of electronic storage, so did the record keeping. It is even said that, more than 90% of what is described as Big Data, has been created in the past few years (Dragland, 2013), and has the potential to transform business, provided that it is processed and consumed properly (LaValle, et al., 2011). Nevertheless, handling Big Data, and converting it into meaningful and actionable insights is not a trivial task. In their field work, LaValle et al. (2011), identified that there are three levels of capabilities, or stages, in which organizations go through on their Big Data Analytics journey: aspirational, experienced and transformed. Organizations in aspirational stage are described to be furthest of achieving the analytical targets they set, and lacking some of the essential requirements such as expertise and tools. Organizations that are described to be experienced, are those have managed to lay down a basis that enable better ways to collect data, conduct analytics and act upon insights. These organizations, also look to go beyond the immediate benefits of Big Data Analytics, which is typically in cost management, and create value in other domains as well. It is however the transformed organizations that make most of Big Data Analytics. Transformed organizations are those that have passed the stage of acquiring expertise, implementing tools and exploring new uses of Big Data Analytics beyond cost management. Instead, they are deemed to be proficient in data driven resource management and optimization of tools and processes and they use Big Data Analytics to create competitive advantage (LaValle, et al., 2011). 3.1. The Five Vs of Big Data Analytics In order to progress from the aspirational stage towards the transformed stage, a business first needs to develop a solid understanding of Big Data and what makes it big and challenging to deal with. Technically, Big Data is characterized by a set of attributes, which are called the Vs of Big Data: Variety, Velocity and Volume (Laney, 2001). As the name implies, Volume represents the amount of data, whereas Variety represents the heterogeneous composition of data sources and data originating thereof. It is particularly Volume and Variety that make Big Data really big and complex (Laney, 2001; Qureshi Gupta, 2014). Velocity, on the other hand covers the flux of data inflow, as well as the rate of change. Velocity also has implications regarding the speed of processing and analysis of data, and is a source of a different type of challenge that manifests itself in constraints and complexities in operational implementation and execution (Qureshi Gupta, 2014). Beyond the basis laid down by Laney (2001), recent studies in the field have extended the Vs of Big Data further by adding Veracity (Morgan, 2012) and Value (Qureshi Gupta, 2014). Veracity mainly deals with the quality and reliability of data. Expectedly, and particularly considering the high volume and velocity, Big Data is far from being 100% correct and usable. Nonetheless, it has to be valid and of good quality at a certain level to be useful. Without Veracity inte
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Essay --
CHAPTER ONE - ‘If you don’t like something, change it.’ As said by Maya Angelou, ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.’ And it seemed like he would have to opt for the latter, because there was no chance he was going to get anywhere with the former. For James, change was almost a foreign concept, because everything was fine as it was. Or at least he thought it was. He couldn’t really be sure about anything in his world, because there was still so much he had to learn about it. He was young, just turned seventeen, and still finding his feet. There was no way he could ever lead an army for any cause. It would just be moronic. People who knew him called him a dreamer, and he agreed. He did like to exit reality sometimes, when it all got too much. It was his escape valve. He thought that everyone had to have at least one, but maybe they did not. He did not know. But that was his way of dealing with the world, and it worked for him, no matter what anyone else said. He knew that most did not take whatever he said seriously. It was only natural, he was young. But the fact that they called it a ‘democracy’ had always annoyed him. A democracy. From the Greek ÃŽ ´ÃŽ ·ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ºÃ ÃŽ ±Ã„Î ¯ÃŽ ±, which means ‘the rise of the people’. He did like to learn what others called things. Everything was always so fascinating because of the fact that he knew barely anything. He was not from Greece. His world was one where he stood at a disadvantage in more ways than one. He was ‘white’, as they called it, people called He had grown up in a secluded area, because his parents were heterosexual. He sometimes found it difficult to remember to always say that one of his ‘mothers’ was on a business trips or ill or so, be... ...rrect?†He had expected Elias to detonate in his face, but that was not so. All he got in response was a finger pointing towards Mother’s side of the house, and he walked over and up the stairs. He stopped before the ladder that would take him up into the attic. He had never climbed the ladder before. Elias had told him never to do it without his permission, and he had never dared to ask. He drew a deep breath in, and released it again. And he started to climb. The climb was longer than he thought it would. Perhaps it was because he was so afraid he would fall off. It was rather frivolous, as even if he were to fall, it would only be a drop of around four meters. He could take that. Pushing open the flap, he ascended into the attic. It was spacious, if a little damp. Had he not had a job to do, he might have spent a little time sitting there. It seemed awe-inspiring
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Taking Care of Your Pet Essay -- Animals Essays
Taking Care of Your Pet Many of you received your first pet when you were three. Buddy was his name and he was your cat. He was your companion. He would curl up beside you for a nap. He would listen when you talked. Though he wasn't very good for giving you advice, you enjoyed his company. You loved that cat and showed your appreciation by carrying the cat around everywhere you went. You had tea parties with him, you dressed him up in you doll clothes, and made sure to tell him goodnight before you went to bed. So by the time you were five the cat was really broke in and knew how to hide from you. Now you were telling your parents you wanted a dog. Their response was that it is a big responsibility to take care of a dog. Responsibility was a big word to you when you were five. You were determined to prove to your parents you could do it. Because cats are more independent than dogs there is more to taking care of dogs than just loving them. Cats are a loner type they come to you when they want attention and hide when they want to be alone. Dogs crave your attention from their owners and act out when they don't receive attention. Taking care of your pets are a responsibility that you need to have. Pet care involves taking you pet to the vet, giving your pet a nutritious diet, and giving your pet plenty of exercise. First of all, it is recommended that you take your pet to the vet at least once a year. Dogs and cats alike can both benefit from regular yearly checkups. This ensures that your pet can have a healthy life. Also you can get many medicines that your pet might need from you vetinarian. Like heartworm medicine for example. Heartworm medicine should be given to your pet at least o... ...ove you unconditionally. Remember these three important things about pet care, and your closest friend will be with you for a long time. You will have learned the responsibility of caring for your pet. Sure at five you are not really going to understand the full meaning of responsibility but you will learn as you grow and your pet grows with you. Over the years you will strengthen the bond and when it comes to a time that you have to depart from your pet it will be hard. But then you will have your own children and you get them a pet to teach them responsibility, just like your parents did for you. Having a pet enhances the lives of the pet owners. It helps children learn responsibility. But most of all having a pet that you have grown to love can lead to a happier, fuller life. Full of memories of a special bond that formed between you had your pet.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Most Americans can trace their predecessors back to some country across the oceans or the Mexican-American or Canadian-American borders. Each ethnic group has enriched American culture with its own particular types of music, food, customs, and dress. It usually takes two or more generations for the members of a new immigrant group to become sufficiently absorbed into the life of a community that they lose their separate identity. Some ethnic groups – mainly those of dark skin colors – never achieve total acceptance.People concerned about improving group relations in their organization must guard against such clichà ©s as â€Å"I'm not prejudiced†and â€Å"I treat all people the same. †Even the most â€Å"liberal†individuals do not treat all people the same. Moreover, they should not. All people are prejudiced for or against other people. However, it is behaviors, not attitudes, which comprise the major group problems confronting managers and sup ervisors. There are many laws against discriminatory behaviors, but there are none against prejudicial attitudes.The ethnic prejudices found in neighborhoods, schools, and jobs come from two main sources: (1) the values and beliefs individuals learn from others, and (2) the tensions and frustrations all people experience while competing with other people, especially those who are culturally different. Race and racism, outgrowths of prejudice, disrupt organization behaviors (Shepherd & Penna 34). Cultural diversity changes the organization by providing new human resources and managerial challenges to employers.As the United States experiences shortages of skilled workers, most organizations should to find ways to optimally utilize multicultural workers. This often entails dealing with employees who have different attitudes toward time, status and roles, relationships, responsibility, decision-making, and technology (Goldstein & Leopold 45). In addition, as the nation's workforce is r eshaped with respect to age, sex, racial composition, and national origin, the challenge to managers and supervisors is magnified; managers must take strong leadership in eliminating discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Abbasi & Hollman 96).If organization devises an innovation strategy to cope with discrimination and sexual harassment the result will be the successes an organization will experience. First, managers should play role: in the management of diversity initiatives in order to deliver permanent change in organizational culture, systems, and structures; should work in an integrated partnership within their organization to implement diversity successfully; second, cultural and gender diversity includes every employee, so, managers and supervisors must be aware of their values, motivations, communication styles, attitudes, and needs.Arguments that support the thesis 1. Helping across cultures at workplace can be accomplished only with the assistance of well -trained manager Most discrimination and sexual harassment problems are rooted in the organization culture. Certainly, group therapy is an alternative. Another alternative is affirmative action designed to change jobs. One of the reasons managers and supervisors are continually frustrated is because the social problems they are called upon to solve are themselves the products of a larger social environment.Frequently, for example, an alienated worker's problem resolution depends not on his or her adjustment to an existing situation but instead on being moved to another job or another company. This kind of environmental change is modeled after milieu therapy. It is clear that many minorities and women do not get the help they need because company resources are not attuned to their needs. The more effective employers behave in the following manner: 1. They regard each employee as a vital part of the organization.2. They view all personnel positively, because whatever diminishes anyone 's self (e. . , humiliation, discrimination, degradation, failure) has no place in a culturally sensitive organization. 3. They allow and provide for individual and cultural differences. 4. They learn how employees see things. Since sensitivity to their own feelings is a prerequisite to effective leadership, it is beneficial for administrators to have maximum self-insight. For some administrators, this is an integral part of their personality; for others it must be learned. A growing number of administrators are participating in some type of sensitivity training.If it is true, that helping across cultures can be accomplished only with the assistance of a healthier person. A worker does not need guidance from an administrator who is a racist. Nor does a female employee need a sexist supervisor. The more effective administrator is a mature person who functions with compassionate efficiency, who is able to assist his or her subordinates to solve their problems without resorting to pity , panic, or resignation. This type of administrator maintains professional balance and keeps his or her perspective with self-insight and humor.Once diversity-related problems are identified, managers should move with great care when implementing change. Some actions, although well intentioned, will only exacerbate the problems. Anything that disrupts the existing flow of work activities can cause additional complaints and stress. 2. Diversity-related leadership is an important organizational factor determining the extent of discrimination Without the full commitment of upper-level leaders in an organization, discrimination and sexual harassment initiatives are likely to fail and thus discriminatory practices are unlikely to be ended (Cox& Blake 8).However, it is also necessary to look below the upper-most levels to examine the ways in which the behaviors and decisions of mid-level management and direct supervisors may also perpetuate discrimination and sexual harassment. Upper-leve l management at the highest levels of leadership in organizations, the CEO, the top management team (TMT), and the corporate board are instrumental in determining the direction that the organization will take with regard to discrimination and sexual harassment.Leaders must first recognize the potential for discrimination in traditional organizational practices and structures and must believe in the need to value all employees and remove obstacles to their success (Stoner & Russell-Chapin 13). The CEO and top management team make important decisions regarding organizational strategies and resources, and they communicate the organization's priorities to all members and stakeholder groups (Chevrier 45).The extent to which leaders choose to emphasize inclusiveness in the organization's strategy and the extent to which resources (i. . , personnel, money, time) are devoted to eliminating all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment are indicators of leaders' priorities and of which à ¢â‚¬Å"types†of employees are valued (Morrison & von Glinow 67). Top-level leaders can also discourage discrimination and sexual harassment by implementing systems of accountability that make rewards contingent upon meeting diversity goals. After the corporate board and TMT have decided to pursue an organizational change strategy throughout the organization, the role of the CEO is particularly important.Cox and Blake (1991) argued that for champions for diversity are needed to enact changeâ€â€and the CEO is in a very good position to passionately pursue change, to role model the behaviors required for change, and to help the organization to move forward. Such a leader can help to establish an inclusive organizational culture through persistent communication of and visible support for all programs and policies aimed at reducing discrimination and sexual harassment (Morrison & von Glinow 89). In addition, when successes occur, he or she would provide rewards and interpretati ons consistent with the desired values.In this manner, a CEO who demonstrates commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment throughout the organization may play a crucial role in transforming an organization from monolithic (unicultural) to multicultural. The quality of leader-subordinate relationships is also an important consideration for discrimination and sexual harassment in organizations. High-quality leader member exchanges (LMX) may be less likely to develop between leader subordinate dyads composed of individuals who are demographically different (Hiller & Day 34).Yet, because LMX relationship quality is thought to be pivotal for the access that subordinates receive to resources, information, important networks, and opportunities, high-quality LMX relationships with diverse subordinates are one key to combating discrimination sexual harassment in organizations. Ultimately, those managers who establish high quality LMX relationships with all of their employees without discriminating against minority subordinates will be in a better position to utilize all of their human resources (Douglas et al. 8). Indeed, recent evidence demonstrated that departments in which racial minorities reported high-quality LMX relationships with their managers had higher profits than departments where minorities reported low-quality LMX relationships (Nishii, Mayer, Goldstein, & Dotan 19). 3. Without integration of equality goals within the broader business diversity-oriented strategy the organization will not develop open communication, mutual trust, and confidence in managementWhen strategies for advancing diverse employees and creating a culture of inclusiveness are embedded within an organization's strategic business plan, consequent levels of discrimination and sexual harassment conflict tend to be lower. Actually including EEO as part of a company's business strategy is important because statements of non-discrimination are a very tangible and salient sign that discrimination is not tolerated within an organization (Morrison & von Glinow 167).Further, publicly stating the importance of diversity as a basis of competitive advantage and human resource quality fosters the belief that diversity represents an opportunity for the organization rather than a problem. There is also a theoretical basis for expecting that organizations that pursue an innovation strategy will be motivated to capitalize on the diversity of behavioral scripts that result from a diverse workforce.This is based on the evidence that diverse groups are more likely to produce a diverse set of ideas compared to homogeneous groups (Milliken & Martins 78), and the wider set of ideas is expected to translate into better decisions. An organization that perceives the differential competencies and experiential bases of diverse employees as a source of competitive advantage is less likely to engage in practices that discriminate against diverse groups. Argumen ts on the other side 1. People form different backgrounds and cultures tend to form unhealthy teamwork with diversity-related problemsWorkplace harassment which entails the use of abusive language or isolation of specific workers may result because of their diversity (disabilities, performance record, sex, or place of birth) which will hinder the efficient formation of teamwork (Broadnax 13). People are more susceptible to workplace harassment and discrimination, which is bad for the organization. However, people form different backgrounds and with varied skills when effectually managed tend to form a strong teamwork. Teamwork is useful for an organization in that people are able to share their ideas or problems, thereby, providing workable solutions to issues.The use of cross-functional teams and employee participation are key to success of the organization. This is because they provide a more firm platform on which to exchange knowledge and information. Therefore, managers who tak e strong leadership in this area are essential. Workplace harassment practices such as sexual harassment are so inhuman that it results in the breakdown of individual and team relationship in an organization and in most cases; it results because of ones race, disability, or gender. Harassment is not only directed to junior employees but it can be directed to a senior member of the group.The consequences of workplace harassment and surveillance are normally severe in that it results in mental, physical, and emotional illnesses. Therefore, the managers in this case have a lot to lose if they do not act quickly. 2. People solve nothing, time solves problems Most managers are reluctant to admit that there diversity-related problems that should be solved. While managers must be supportive and allow a reasonable period of time for problem abatement, it is important to remember that managers do not help employees or the organization by neglecting problems.Nor do problems go away or resolve themselves if given ample time. If a business is managed poorly, it loses profits and eventually fails. If cultural conflicts and sexual harassment are handled poorly, valuable employees are lost. Avoiding financial and human resources losses tests the leadership mettle of managers. Central to conflict resolution is mastering the processes of problem solving, the dynamics of which are threefold (Nishii, Mayer, Goldstein, & Dotan 78-90): 1. The facts that constitute the problem must be understood. Facts usually consist of both objective reality and subjective reactions. 2.The facts must be thought through. They must be probed into, reorganized, and turned over in order for distressed employees to grasp as much of the total configuration as possible. 3. A decision must be made that will result in resolving or alleviating the problem. This usually involves a change in behavior and, if possible, attitude. Succinctly, the three operations of problem solving are fact-finding, analysis of facts, and implementation of conclusions. For the maximum effectiveness, the people involved in the discrimination and sexual harassment conflict must be fully involved in the efforts to solve their own problems.It is possible for a manager to define the problem and prescribe solutions, but when this happens the self-responsibility of the employees involved in the conflict is weakened. It is always better if the employees who have problems are able to assist in bringing about the resolution. A problem cannot be solved if the necessary information is missing. A manager may want to understand his or her subordinates' conflicts but be unable to do so because some of the data are missing or distorted. In some situations, administrators are not privy to all the information. In other instances, the information may have been misinterpreted.Like any puzzle, missing pieces of information in a human relations problem will render it insolvable. Information alone is seldom enough. Too much inf ormation can freeze negative attitudes and reinforce dysfunctional behavior. Conditioned by organization and peer group norms, contradictory information may cause a manager to say to a complainant, â€Å"I understand what you have said but I don't believe it. †For example, a sexist supervisor may disregard documentation of a female's abilities to do male-oriented jobs. An individual with delusions of male superiority is not likely to believe reports documenting female competence in male jobs.Thus, in order to be helpful, information must be believed by the manager. All of this underscores the crucial importance of managers taking strong leadership in order to eliminate harassment and discrimination. Sensitivity is the capacity to identify and empathize with the values, aspirations, and feelings of subordinates. Today, more than ever, organization needs culturally sensitive administrators. Without being able to see employees as they see themselves, to dispel fears of cultural differences, and to communicate with their subordinates, managers will turn their organizations into socially and psychologically destructive battlefields.If they are unable to put themselves in the minds of their subordinates, there will be little help for the aggrieved persons. Frequently, managers are problems themselves or causes of problems. As noted earlier, the ability of managers to achieve and maintain a condition of objectivity when dealing with their subordinates' problems is important in the conflict resolution process. If a manager is wrapped up in his or her own inner world, he or she will not be able to perceive clearly the feelings of others. The challenge to administrators is awesome: They must empathize with subordinates but not to the point of losing their objectivity.In many instances, aggrieved workers do not know how they really feel about their situation until they have communicated these feelings to someone else. Distressed workers may only be aware of inter nal discomforts. Providing opportunities for them to tell how they feel is usually the first step in isolating negative feelings and related behaviors. They may have previously communicated internal discomforts by arguing with, laughing at, or avoiding contact with other workers. Talking about negative feelings can provide a better view of them and a better chance for managing them.While allowing an employee to ‘tell’ is a valuable technique in resolving problems, it is only a first step. Telling should be related to some end and not merely an end in itself. Solutions must be sought. Perhaps the major distinction lies between talking about the discrimination and sexual harassment conflict and talking through the discrimination and sexual harassment conflict. In the first instance, usually nothing more than random talk, free association of ideas occurs. In the second instance, more structured thinking occurs: a problem is acknowledged, its implications and related behavi ors examined, and solutions pondered.Talking through a problem excites all the body processes, often causing increased heartbeat and sweating. The whole person is caught up in it. It is imperative that distressed workers focus on problems that can be solved. This is by far the most efficient use of one's energies. For example, an older worker who focuses on his age, a woman on her gender, and a Hispanic on his ethnicity are all wasting valuable time and energy, as they cannot alter those things. However, if they focused on ageism, sexism, and, racism, then something constructive is possible. Managers must also focus on problems that have the potential of being solved.Some of the questions to be answered by managers and supervisors during this process are: †¢ What is the problem? (Who did what, when, where, what happened? ) †¢ Who senses (feels) the problem? (Only the aggrieved, co-workers, supervisors? ) †¢ How are you personally affected? (Emotionally, socially, econ omically, professionally? ) †¢ What was the immediate cause for what happened? †¢ What organization rules and regulations pertain to the problem? †¢ Who can act to resolve this problem? †¢ What do you want to happen? †¢ What are your options? †¢ What will you do? ConclusionDiscrimination and sexual harassment management in the organization is a reflection of how the changing world and market place will be in the future. Diversity will enhance respect for individual differences within the organization and hence make it able to create a competitive advantage in the organization. Discrimination and sexual harassment management in the organization is able to benefit associates through the creation of safe and fair environment for all. Future research is needed to examine the consequences that the alignment among organizational processes and structures has for levels of organizational discrimination.This is critical because an intervention into a single proc ess or structure is unlikely to effectively reduce discrimination and sexual harassment. For example, if top management leaders adopt a strategic business plan that explicitly involves reducing discrimination and sexual harassment, but fail to also build a culture of inclusion, their efforts are likely to be ineffective. It would be useful to examine how individuals perceive the alignment of organizational processes. More generally, research needs to take a systems approach to discrimination and sexual harassment. Restate your thesis somewhere near the end of your paper.
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