Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Santanville and its Five Issues Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 94

Santanville and its Five Issues - Case Study Example On the other hand, the employees do not trust their supervisor with the evaluation process since they feel that he favors some individuals. The employees also believe that their jobs have evolved thus they are advocating the organization to upgrade their jobs. Another issue from the case study is how the supervisor treats the Union Workers. He grants permission to other employees to attend some chores, but denies an employee who wanted to attend to a family issue; to attend the daughter’s play. The action has prompted the Union steward to request a meeting with Santa. There is also a problem with the toy designer who is threatening resignation if the company does not offer him pay increment. The Sales Manager is pointing at the abandonment of the company's base salary with minimum discretionary bonus and focus on incentive-based payment approach to the sales staff. The Manager is having difficulties in retaining or recruiting candidates with the inadequate payment plan. Lack of payment incentive is, therefore, the reason as to why many employees are leaving after a short period (Sathyanarayana, & Maran, 2011). There is also a problem with underpayment of workers. For instance, the North Pole and South Pole salary ranges are different. The employees suspect that company is not adhering to the National Labor Salary Range Act Book. Before deciding on the compensation plan, the company should consider the implication of poor remuneration to the company’s performance (Sathyanarayana, & Maran, 2011). Better still, Santa can avoid the secretary's demands by implementing a new compensation policy that will ensure that employees receive more insurance benefits. However, before arriving at the decision, it is imperative to consider implications on the company's competitive advantage. If an increment on employee overtime can convince them to stay, then it will be best to implement it since replacing talents is always difficult. About job evaluation, the supervisor should use  performance-based evaluation strategy rather than depend on the ranks of employees (Sathyanarayana, & Maran, 2011).

Monday, October 28, 2019

Pob Sba Guide for Description of Business Essay Example for Free

Pob Sba Guide for Description of Business Essay Main Objective of doing this SBA To give you an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the study of Principles of Business. 1. 2. How will this be done? The objective will be fulfilled through the examination of a designated business/firm. The data collection instruments will be the questionnaire and the interview. The information gathered will then be analysed and evaluated, with the aim of drawing specific conclusions about the firm. Our staff consists of twenty employees four of who are supervisors of the factory and three administrative staff responsible for accounting, billing and wages. A Production Manager is in charge of all production processes and the supervisors report to him. There is a Quality Control Supervisor who reports directly to the partners. An Inventory Manager is in charge of receiving, storage and issuance of raw materials as well as receipt, storage and distribution of the finished products with a staff of three assistants to help him. The functional areas of the business will include Purchasing/Logistics, Inventory Management, Production, Distribution and

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Life and Accomplishments of Sir Walter Ralegh Essay -- American Am

The Life and Accomplishments of Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Walter Ralegh, unlike his Spanish counterparts, lusted for land not precious metals. Ralegh used the promise of gold to entice his investors and hire his crews, but his real goal was English colonization in the New World. He experimented first in Ireland with his brand of colonization which brutalized the existing inhabitance and exploited the natural resources. He wanted to establish English colonies in order to cultivate new products (tobacco, potato), to increase the power and prestige of the crown (Queen Elizabeth) and to spread the Protestant doctrine to the New World or at least export the unwanted English Catholics and other religious rogues from English soil. Ralegh achieved his goals by his political activity, military escapades and poetic writings. Ralegh's desire for land stems from his aristocratic background. Although his father was a squire in the sea side town of East Budleigh, Ralegh's immediate family owned no land. The estate that his father farmed, Hayes Barton, was leased. Ralegh's vantage point was one of privilege without the common commodity to support it: land ownership. He was a Renaissance man without the money to live like one. This duality between his heritage and his financial situation created, in Ralegh, a desire to own land.(Lacey, 16) His desire for the sea may have come from his half brothers John, Adrian and Humphrey Gilbert who were "sea-crazy youths".(Lacey, 17) His father, in addition to being a squire, was a religious leader for the devout Protestants in East Budleigh. This factor of Ralegh's upbringing may have contributed to his ideas of implanting Protestant people into new lands and shipping the unwanted Catholics out of Engla... ...thrown into the fire before your eyes; then your head to be strucken off from your body, and your body shall be divided into four quarters, to be disposed of at the King's pleasure; and God have mercy upon your soul." (Sale,245) Ralegh had died as he had lived: in a violent world where religion was an excuse for any action. Ralegh left his mark on history and on the worlds in which he collided. Bibliography 1. Lacey, Robert, Sir Walter Ralegh, Atheneum, New York, 1974 2. Pollard, A.F., The Political History of England, Greenwood Press Publishers, New York,1969 3. Rodriguez-Salgado, M.J., England, Spain and The Gran Armada, Barnes and Nobel Books,Savage Maryland, 1990 4. www.devon-cc.gov.uk/tourism/pages/woodbury/raleigh.html Sir Walter Raleigh, of Hayes Barton 5. Sale, Kirkpatrick, The Conquest of Paradise, First Plume Printing, New York, 1990

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Hemp Rediscovered :: essays papers

Hemp Rediscovered â€Å"Make the most of the hemp seed and sow it every where,† a quote by George Washington in 1794 (qtd. In â€Å"Get the Scoop†). In early American history hemp was an essential crop, it was used to make rope, sails, lamp oil, and almost anything else. Henry ford built a car out of hemp than ran on hemp fuel oil. The original Levi jeans were fashioned out of hemp fibers. And even the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were written on hemp paper (â€Å"Get The Scoop†). In fact, hemp was one of the largest produced crops in the US until it’s demise in 1937 under the Marihuana Tax Act. This act of congress was aimed at Americas newest enemy, marijuana or cannabis sativa C, but the bill also criminalized the cultivation of marijuana’s cousin cannabis sativa L, commonly referred to as hemp. Hemp had one more day in the spot light in 1942 when it was called into battle in World War II under a flag that read à ¢â‚¬Å"Hemp for victory† (â€Å"About†). The Tax Act was quickly reenacted after the war and hemp has not been grown legally on American soil since. The reason hemp is such a valuable plant, is that it grows fast, dense, and easily. The germination period for hemp is about one hundred days depending on the application for which it is being used (â€Å"About†). In comparison with other cash crops this is good, but in comparison with some of the resources it can replace, such as trees and fossil fuel, there is nothing better. Hemp provides a much higher yield than other American cash crops, and can be used for so many things that it’s market value should remain stable with increased production. Also, hemp can be grown without pesticides and it actually replenishes the soil so it can be rotated with other crops to produce higher yields of bath (Field 1). The maintainability of the hemp industry relies on demand, but with hemp’s 25,000 different uses this is no great barrier (â€Å"About†). With current processing technology every part of the cannabis sativa L plant is useful. The seeds can he hulled and used in food for flavor and as a protein supplement. These seeds can also be crushed into hemp-seed oil which is used as lamp oil or as a moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics and soaps.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Process When Making an Act of Parliament

The Process When Making an Act of Parliament Making law is one of the core functions of Parliament. Laws begin as bills and must progress through a number of set stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Only Parliament can make new laws, or change existing ones, that affect the whole of the UK and so proposals are brought to Parliament by the Government and by individual Members of Parliament . These are called ‘Bills’. There are 3 different types of Bills, these are Public Members’ Bills, Private Members’ Bills and Hybrid Members’ Bills.Most Public Bills are introduced into Parliament involve public policies which will either effect the whole country or a large section of it, these Bills are known as Public Bills, for example, the Legal Services Act 2007. Public Bills change the law which applies to the population and are the most common type of Bill in Parliament Government Bills, and those put forward by MP’s or Lords, al so known as Private Members’ Bills. A Private Bill is a Bill designed to pass a law which will only affect individual people.A Private Bill does not make law for the whole country. However, a Private Members Bill is a Bill which is introduced by an indivual Member of Parliament. Very little Private Member Bills become laws, but there have been some important laws passed, for example the Abortion Act 1967 and the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003. MPs and Lords can introduce as many bills as they want, but most of them will have little chance of becoming laws. A ballot is present at the start of each parliamentary session.Sometimes an MP will use the Ten Minute Rule to make a short speech on the advantages of a bill they want to introduce, which is often a way of drawing attention to an issue rather than saying the advantages of their chosen bill. Bills can be introduced to either the Commons or the Lords first, every Public Bill has to be passed through stages in both Houses until it can become a law. The first stage is the bill’s official introduction to the House. It is made up of the short title of the bill being read out by the Clerk in the chamber.Then, then bill is given a date for the second stage, which is the second reading and an order made for it to be officially printed, making it available to all Members and the public. The second reading is when the main purpose of a bill is discussed and voted on. This is the first opportunity for MPs or Lords to say their concerns on areas where they think changes are needed. If the bill passes this stage, it moves on to the committee stage. The committee stage is where a detailed examination is said. It usually starts within a couple of weeks after the bill’s second reading.A Public Bill Committee is appointed which is usually able to take evidence from experts from outside Parliament. Changes for discussion are selected by the chairman of the committee and only members of the committee c an vote on the changes. This is when it is agreed on, changed or removed from the bill. A small amount of bills are dealt with by a Committee of the Whole House which takes place in the main chamber, where every MP is able to take part. The Lords Committee stage usually takes place in the main chamber and there is no time limit on discussion of amendments.The report stage is when a bill is returned to the House after the committee stage, this is where the whole House reviews the amended form of the bill. The third reading is the final opportunity for each House to debate and to vote on the bill as a whole. Debate on the bill is usually short, where changes can’t be made at the third party reading. The third party reading is the final vote on the Bill as a whole. There is a further debate on the Bill if six or more MP’s request it. If this happens, the Bill passes to another House where it will have to go through the same stages again.The power of the Supreme Court is l imited. When the Supreme Court makes changes to the Bill, the changes will be considered by the House of Commons before the Bill goes to its final stage. If the Supreme Court refuses to pass a Bill, the House of Commons can introduce the same Bill in the next Parliamentary session, if it is passed by the House of Commons for a second time it can then receive the Royal Assent and become a law without the agreement of the Supreme Court. The Royal Assets is a monarch has to approve the Bill and give their agreement for it to become a law.The last time the Royal Asset was refused was in 1707 when Queen Anne refused to agree to the Scottish Militia Bill. The doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty means that any statute passed by the Parliament can’t be challenge. It is associated with Dicey, who defines sovereignty as the right to make any law and the principle that there is no competing legislative body of Parliament. Parliament does not have time to debate every small detail of c omplex regulations. Making regulations through delegated legislation saves Parliamentary time.Society has become very technical, this makes it impossible that members of the Parliament cold have all the knowledge needed to control technology, ensuring environment safety, dealing with different industrial problems or operating complex taxation schemes. Delegated legislation allows the Government to make changes to a law without needing to push through a completely new Act of Parliament. Consultation is important for rules with technical things, where it is necessary to make sure that the regulations technically work.The process of passing an Act of Parliament can take time and in an emergency Parliament may not be able to pass law quick enough. However, Orders in Council can be made very quickly. Delegated legislation can be revoked easily when necessary so that the law can be kept up to date. This can be useful when monetary limits have to change each year, for example the minimum w age or the limits for legal aid. The main criticism is that delegated legislation takes law making away from the House of Commons and allows non-elected people to make law.This criticism can’t be made of laws made by the local authorities since there are elected bodies and accountable to the local citizens. Another problem is sub-delegation, this means that the law making authority is handed down another level. The large amount of delegated legislation is also a disadvantage as it makes it difficult to discover what the present law is. The delegated legislation shares with the Acts of Parliament the same problem that can cause difficulty in understanding the law. The UK joined the European Union on 1st January 1973.European law is mainly concerned with trade and work, but this affects areas of law, such as agriculture, company law, consumer rights, employment rights and environmental law. Since the UK joined the European Union, the highest court in our legal system is the Eur opean Court of Justice. The European Union law is made by the European Court of Justice is binding on all courts in England and Wales. The European Union doesn’t affect all area of our law, such as our criminal law, for this law the highest court is the Supreme Court. Parliament is seen as being the supreme law maker for England and Wales.The UK entering the European Union has affects Parliament’s supremacy, as the European laws take priority over any national law. This was decided even before the UK joined the European Union in the Dutvh case of Van Gend en Loos in 1963. Parliament can still be said to be supreme, since it is only through Parliament passing the European Committee’s Act 1972 that European law has effect in the UK. The Human Rights Act 1998 joined the European Convention on Human Rights in British law. This means that anyone taking a court case in the UK can rely on the rights given in the Convention as part of their case.The Act makes it impossi ble for a public authority to act in a way that is incompatible with a Convection right. Public authority is anyone who has some public function, this does not include Parliament. The right to life is the most fundamental of human rights. This is everyone’s right to life and is protected by the law, if this is breached then there is a breach of the Convection, this was seen in the case of McCann v United Kingdom in 1995. The aim of the Human Rights Act 1998 is to give  further effect to rights and freedoms under the European convention on human rights.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on School Prayer

Should school prayer be allowed in public schools? Introduction Since this country’s establishment, there have been several debates over the issue of religious prayer in school. Religious sects and other groups feel that prayer should be mandatory in public schools; however, many people believe it to be our right to have church and state remain separate. If we allow prayer in school, then it will indoctrinate our unsuspecting children’s minds and devastate the United States Constitution. Religious prayer must not be allowed into public schools. The destruction of our constitution through prayer in schools raises a group of children with no independence of their own thoughts and beliefs. The research that is presented in this paper will prove indefinitely why the use of prayer in public schools is illegal. Government’s Position Public schools are for all children, whether Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist, Quaker, or Atheist. Schools are supported by all taxpayers and should be free of school prayer and religious observances. It is the duty of the parents and churches to instill religious beliefs. It should not be the governments’ job to help instill these religious beliefs. School prayer is a time where all children are required to pray. Justice Black sees the First Amendment as, â€Å"a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer American people can say† (Bach 128). When government attempts to promote, support, establish, or use religion in any way, both church and state suffer (Bach 128). Newt Gingrich’s belief on voluntary school prayer is thus, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any State to participate in prayer. Neither the United States nor any State shall com... Free Essays on School Prayer Free Essays on School Prayer For many years, American public school students have been denied the right of religious freedom that the Constitution's First Ammendment established. A section of the First Ammendment reads, "Congress shall make no law restricting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof," but yet, court rulings have, in many cases, prohibited students to take part in certain religious activities. As a result, prayer has been banned from many public schools throughout the country. Those who are pro-separation of church and state argue that prayer should be banned from public schools, but I, being a religious person, believe prayer should be allowed. The doctrine of the separation of church and state, as it has been articulated in the past years by our courts, is an inaccurate misinterpretation of the Constitution that actually provides the framework for immense violations of our First Ammendment rights. The First Ammendment was never meant to eliminate all references to God and religion from our public life or government. The most certain sign of the craziness of this doctrine is the fact that the Declaration of Independence itself can only be taught as a historical artifact rather than as a living expression of our moral identity as people. Starting a school day off with a prayer will not harm society. Prayer may be a way of allowing students to clear their minds. It gives students a peaceful way to start the day, instead of a teacher having to quiet an annoying group of students. Prayer does not only help make the transition into learning smooth, it also helps students resolve personal issues. It gives students a time every morning when they can think about values and faith to help them through life. Many students have problems, and prayer gives them time to think about their issues. Many ask, "What is... Free Essays on School Prayer Should school prayer be allowed in public schools? Introduction Since this country’s establishment, there have been several debates over the issue of religious prayer in school. Religious sects and other groups feel that prayer should be mandatory in public schools; however, many people believe it to be our right to have church and state remain separate. If we allow prayer in school, then it will indoctrinate our unsuspecting children’s minds and devastate the United States Constitution. Religious prayer must not be allowed into public schools. The destruction of our constitution through prayer in schools raises a group of children with no independence of their own thoughts and beliefs. The research that is presented in this paper will prove indefinitely why the use of prayer in public schools is illegal. Government’s Position Public schools are for all children, whether Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist, Quaker, or Atheist. Schools are supported by all taxpayers and should be free of school prayer and religious observances. It is the duty of the parents and churches to instill religious beliefs. It should not be the governments’ job to help instill these religious beliefs. School prayer is a time where all children are required to pray. Justice Black sees the First Amendment as, â€Å"a guarantee that neither the power nor the prestige of the Federal Government would be used to control, support or influence the kinds of prayer American people can say† (Bach 128). When government attempts to promote, support, establish, or use religion in any way, both church and state suffer (Bach 128). Newt Gingrich’s belief on voluntary school prayer is thus, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any State to participate in prayer. Neither the United States nor any State shall com...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Social Psychology essay

Social Psychology essay Social Psychology essay Social Psychology essayThe history of social psychology can be described as the history of social science that reflects multiple efforts to explain social conditions, social actions and the relationships between society and its members (Fenestra, 2013). The history of social psychology helps to better understand the nature of social world. In fact, social psychology plays an important role in helping individuals to have a better understand of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of other individuals. It is necessary to understand not only social, but also political and material influences on the conceptions of individuals. The history of social psychology is closely connected with the political history because the discipline helps to explore human nature through the application of certain scientific methods. A number of key research developments have helped to define social psychology and differentiate it from other fields of study, including ethical, cultural, behavioral and other types of research developments.   The following theoretical constructs are inherent in social psychology principles include the â€Å"commonality corollary, the sociality corollary and the fragmentation corollary† (Rogers, 2013, p. 157). The role of ethics in behavioral research is crucial because any form of behavioral research requires not only observation, analysis of human behavior, but also it requires the analysis of by-products of human behavior, such as public opinions. Ethics in behavioral research influences the attitudes of personnel, the behavior of the participants, and other aspects that may have certain impact on society. Some of the ethical dilemmas that researchers face include the issues associated with specific national or cultural context, maintenance of the respect for privacy and confidentiality, etc. One of the examples of an ethical violation that occurred in a human research study includes the violation of moral principles in the form of racial ineq uality, which leads to racial discrimination and racism. The study well-known as the Tuskegee Syphilis study demonstrates the actual violation of moral norms in relation to African Americans. The methodology used by researchers was observational. Considerable changes could have been made to improve the ethical nature of the research, including the improved ethical standards and the proper control.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Ontario Teachers Strike Essays - Strike Action, Teacher, Trade Union

Ontario Teachers Strike Essays - Strike Action, Teacher, Trade Union Ontario Teachers Strike Education is probably the most important resource in our society. The education System determines our future, by educating the youngest segment of our population. For this reason, it should be of great concern when there is a problem or an issue like a Teachers' strike. The Ontario teachers' strike that began on Monday October 27 involves 126,000 teachers and affects 2.1 Million students in the province. This strike is North America's largest, right ahead of the 1975 New York City strike when 60,000 teachers walked off the job . The main issue of debate is over Bill 160, which is all about who holds The Power to set education policy in the province of Ontario. Bill 160 centralizes control of the education system, putting it in the hands of the provincial government. It eliminates the authority of school boards and teachers' unions to set classroom and teaching conditions locally through collective bargaining. The bill allows the government to regulate class sizes, education property tax rates, teachers' preparation time, the amount of time teachers and students spend in school and the use of non-certified instructors. The issue is whether teachers should have a role in educational reform. The strike is illegal, because most of the te! achers have existing contracts. Ontario premier Mike Harris said that reforms are needed to stop a decline in student performance. Although the same government announced that the bill will allow the education ministry to cut 7,000 teaching jobs and up to $700 million from the $14-billion education budget. The strike is not a typical one, because it's not really a labor issue. It's not about teachers fighting a school board over a collective bargaining agreement. It's a strike protesting against the Harris government and Bill 160. While the teachers want to protest Bill 160, they also have an obligation to teach their Students. Many teachers are caught in this dilemma; do you go to the classroom, or do you go to the wall to defend education? Are teachers responsible first and foremost for their students or should they be loyal to the union? Many teachers in Ontario feel that they should be there for their students, although they're Scared To cross the picket line. Eileen Lennon, president of the Ontario Teachers Federation, has said that teachers who cross picket lines won't be sanctioned. However, they might take heat from individual co-workers when they get back on the job. The Teachers feel that they have to show solidarity with the union, or they will be alienate! d. "Parents should be on the alert that their schools may be closed in the very near future," Lennon said. "When we do it, it will be province wide." Union members met with education minister Dave Johnson over changes to Bill 160, although nothing was resolved. Johnson said he was discouraged following a one-hour meeting with representatives of the five major teachers' unions. He said he would not make changes the unions demanded. "I was presented with a list of issues to pull out of Bill 160," Johnson said. "I've been presented with an ultimatum to take these sections out of Bill 160 and further discussions, according to the Ontario Teachers' Federation, are not able to take place until those sections are taken out of the bill." Union leaders said they asked Johnson to remove some provisions that would allow the province to use non-certified teachers in classrooms and to regulate class size, teacher preparation time and the amount of time teachers spend in the classroom. Johnson says the changes are necessary to improve the quality of education. The government and the unions have each spent over 1 million dollars in advertising, trying to win over the support of the people of Ontario. The most recent polls show that the unions have a slight edge over the government as they prepared for the illegal strike. Though the longer the strike lasts, the opinion will shift to the government. "The question is: How long will people put up with the inconvenience in light of the over-arching motives? "Right now, tone and character become extremely important." Opinion on the issue is constantly changing, with a shift of two or three percentage points a day

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Sales Letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sales Letter - Assignment Example The manufacturer will have to adjust to new consumer needs because of new interactive market place conditions. This depends upon where and how the company markets its products or services. In addition, when it comes to marketing or promoting a service or product, one sixe does not fit it all. I will introduce a new sales technique to the company in order to attract more customers. In addition, it will be my responsibility as a salesperson to ensure that the sales department is working in line with the company objectives. In order to increase sale of goods, I will do the following as a salesperson; ii. The sales department can use just in time method of supplying goods as this ensures that goods are delivered on time to avoid inconveniences in the production process. This type of system ensures that the delivery trucks are operating on a scheduled time plan and that they deliver goods at the stipulated time. iv. Just in time, technique is efficient because it does not need too much supervision in order to accomplish. This is because the truck drivers follow the schedules, which means there is no need to supervise their work. I am writing to you this letter because I believe I have all the necessary qualifications, experience and qualities that would help your company prosper. In addition, I know your are targeting customers from Asian countries especially India. I have worked as a salesperson for renowned companies such as BMW in India. This means I clearly understand Indian perceptions and behaviors towards a new product. Therefore, as explained above, I will ensure that you will not regret choosing me as your salesperson because your product will receive a positive reception in new market. I m looking forward to your positive

Friday, October 18, 2019

Successful Reintegration into the General Education Setting Research Proposal

Successful Reintegration into the General Education Setting - Research Proposal Example Teachers and parents of these students will help in providing necessary information such as the challenges that are deemed to hinder reintegration process. The proposed study will span for three months whereby participants who are students with special needs will be undergoing the normal intervention therapies provided by their respective educational organizations. Students with special needs learn for five days with majority of them being in boarding schools and the researcher will try as much as possible not to disrupt the normal school schedule. Therefore, researches will be conducted from break time up to lunchtime. Participants will receive training as a group for three hours per day in five days, which will be an additional training since they are taken through such sessions by their trainers. The researcher will have a team of trained personnel who will assist him in providing this training to the children with special needs. Training sessions will be starting immediately after the introduction and familiarization whereby the team of IEP will be beginning to train the students using the approaches explained under subheading â€Å"analysis†. Effective application of these approaches will help in evaluating the teachability of these students among other behaviors that the research team might find important to monitor. Various approaches will be used so that the research team can analyze them later and establish the most effective one. The researcher will get information from agencies taking care of these students by requesting them to answer questions that will be submitted via email. After these three months sessions, the researcher will recommend students who will be found to be ready for reintegration to the general education. Assessment of the programs for students with special needs will be administered by researchers who are not

The best parenting style Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The best parenting style - Research Paper Example Several studies discovered that parenting style can affect the personalities and behaviors of their children (Evans, 2012; Baldwin, McIntyre, & Hardaway, 2007). To determine the best patenting style, a number of secondary sources and one primary source have been used. In several cases, the best parenting style is authoritative parenting, although other factors, including culture, family dynamics, and children’s traits can affect the decision for choosing the style that fits the context and individualities of children. Authoritarian parents are not very good in raising happy, confident, sociable, and high-achieving children. These parents integrate high control with low warmth or parental involvement (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010, p. 250). They want to nurture the values of hard work, compliance, and discipline among their children (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2010, p.250). Clinical psychologist Block described that authoritarian parenting focuses on maintaining control and authority (personal communication, October 20, 2012). She stated: â€Å"[Authoritarian parents] use their authority to control their children. They make rules that are explained through the need to be obedient to authority† (personal communication, October 20, 2012). She explained that authoritarian parents are strict and demanding because they expect their children to act as adults. Their punishment tends to be physical and punitive: â€Å"They punish children who do not follow their rules, sometimes through spanking them† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Furthermore, authoritative parents rarely show warmth toward their children because â€Å"many think that warmth will make their children weak† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Authoritarian parents think that control and less emotional interaction is the best way to raise children. Kail and Cavanaugh (2010) noted from their review of studies that authoritarian parents raise children who tend to be unhappy and overly aggressive, while permissive parents tend to have children with poor self-control and are very impulsive. Block explained that the children of authoritarian parents can have extreme behaviors (personal communication, October 20, 2012). On the one hand, some are â€Å"rebellious and have been involved in alcohol and drug abuse† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Some have developed â€Å"bullying behaviors† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). On the other hand, others are very â€Å"obedient and efficient in following rules† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Block underlined that they follow because of â€Å"fear for punishment, and not because they believe that it is right† (personal communication, October 20, 2012). Happiness is elusive too: â€Å"I have interviewed these children and none of them are happy. They may project high self-esteem, but they are very uncert ain in discussing their goals and identity† (B. Clock, personal communication, October 20, 2012). Hence, children of authoritarian students are not always happy and successful in their chosen fields, probably because of their reaction to their parents’ authoritarian control on their lives. Permissive parents may be too lenient, although they can raise self-assured and disciplined students too. Permissive parenting has little rules and demands; these parents are very responsive to their children’s emotional needs (Shaffer, 2009, p. 378). The idea is to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Obesity and Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Obesity and Smoking - Essay Example 935). Smoking has been estimated to account for 8% of total healthcare costs in the US, 3.8% in Canada, and 3.7% in Germany (Chang et al, 2005, pp. 2122 -2125). Dramatic variations in rates and trends of smoking are evident for specific subpopulations of women in Canada. There has recently been a disturbing trend whereby smoking rates among teenaged girls exceeded smoking rates among teenaged boys for the first time. Among girls aged 15 to 19, 25.1% reported being daily smokers in 1998 - 1999 and 26% in 2001, as compared with 18.5% and 20% respectively for boys in this age group (Chang et al, 2005, pp.2126 -2128). Girls also started smoking at a younger age, 41% of girls aged 15 to 17 reporting having smoked their first cigarette before age 13 as compared with 29% of boys. In the last decade, daily consumption increased for girls aged 15 to 19 from 11.5 cigarettes per day in 1990 to 12.7 cigarettes per day in 1999; this has decreased to 10.8 in 2001 (Statistics Canada, 2000, pp. 238- 245). In this paper we would be discussing the two issues faced by the Canadians - Obesity and Smoking. The simplest definition of obesity is an excessive amount of body fat. It must be distinguished from overweight, which refers to an excess of body weight relative to height. Obesity is probably best assessed by the visual judgment of an experienced observer. If a man, woman, or child looks fat when undressed, he or she is probably obese. Measurement of sub scapular and triceps skin-fold thicknesses with calipers is the simplest objective way to assess body fat. Data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) indicate an obesity rate for Canada of 23.1% and an overweight rate of 59.1%. U.S. data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 -2002 show that 65.1% of the American adult population is overweight and 30.4% are obese (Hedley et al, 2004, pp. 2847- 2848). The problem of obesity does not affect all populations equally, particularly in the U.S. The obesity rate in the U.S. is higher for women at 33.2% compared to the rate for men (27.6%). By race, these gender differences are exacerbated. F or example, the obesity rate among non-Hispanic white women is 30.7% compared to a rate of 49% among non-Hispanic black American women, whereas obesity rates across race for men do not differ significantly (Hedley et al, 2004, pp. 2849- 2850). In Canada, obesity rates do not vary substantially by sex (23.2% for women and 22.9% for men). However, obesity rates are higher for white women (24.8%) and white men (25 .5%) compared to their non-white counterparts (Hedley et al, 2004, p.2849). An estimated 80-90% of persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Canadian population are overweight or obese. Obesity is also a growing problem in children with type 1 diabetes (Hypponen et al, 2000, pp.1755-1760). Furthermore, intensive insulin therapy is associated with weight gain. Weight loss has been shown to improve glycemic control by increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and diminishing hepatic glucose output (Chou et al, 2004, pp. 565-587). The risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and some forms of cancer increases with excessive body fat (Calle et al,

Greener house Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Greener house - Essay Example Its utilization enables individuals to preserve ground water, which is currently estimated to be consumed at 6.2 liters a week per square meter of land. 1-3 How to get Gray Water from the House to the Garden? †¢ One method of transporting the water is to utilize buckets to transport the water from the sink or the shower to the garden area. The downside of this method is the physical demands of the water transportation. †¢ Another method is through utilizing pressure transfer from the bathtub or water source using a hose to the garden. This method does not function with larger homes. †¢ Perhaps the most effective and efficient water transfer method is through a pump system that transports from an irrigation system. The connections must be sanitary and can be structured when the home is constructed. 2- Solar  Home Power System 2-1 Advantages and Comparison In Kuwait solar energy constitutes one of the greatest sources of energy. Solar energy produces minimal pollution compared to more traditional power sources and is also dramatically more cost effective. Figure (2-1-1) investigates Kuwait potentials for solar power. While utilizing solar energy requires solar panels, chart no 2-1-1 demonstrates that the prices for these panels are cost effective and function as a viable source of alternative energy. In further evaluating elements related to implementing solar power Table No. (2-1-1) breaks down energy per home averages. 2-2 Solar Cells ( Photovoltic Cell ) 2-2-1 Definition Solar cells are referred to as photovoltaic (PV) cells. This name refers to the cells function converting sun energy into electric power. A solar panel consists of groupings of photovoltaic cells that are electrically connected. These panels are demonstrated in Figure (2-2-1-2). 2-2-2 Theorem In terms of composition, photovoltaic cells are made with semiconductors. Silicon is one such semiconductor. These semiconductors function by absorbing sunlight and converting it into ene rgy. The electrons within this system then flow through a metal link current into usable devices. 2-2-3 How much Solar Panels create Electericity 7-10 m2 of solar panels produce 1000 watts of electricity. This amount of electricity is generally sufficient for a household. In terms of the specific house being examined there is a section on the roof to support the solar panel. 3- Save Energy 3-1 Electricity Use †¢ Furniture within the house should be oriented according to air conditioning needs. Altering object placement can have a significant impact on cooling. This alters overall energy expenditures. †¢ Fig (3-1-1) illustrates the importance of implementing occupancy sensors that monitor household heat, air, and lighting. These mechanisms will further reduce energy expenditures. †¢ Use light colored paint on the homes exteriors for maximum light efficiency. 3-1-2 LED Lights Fig. (3-1-2-1) demonstrates the use of LED lights. It’s shown that these lights as much as 90% less electric power than traditional lights. LED lights also produce less heat, aiding cooling of the home. These lights also last significantly longer than traditional light sources. It follows that implementing LED lights rather than traditional lighting sources within the household can reduce energy from approximately 40% to 30 3-2 HVAC System †¢ Fig (3-2-1) demonstrates that this system will improve insulation and subsequently limit wasted heat. †¢

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Obesity and Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Obesity and Smoking - Essay Example 935). Smoking has been estimated to account for 8% of total healthcare costs in the US, 3.8% in Canada, and 3.7% in Germany (Chang et al, 2005, pp. 2122 -2125). Dramatic variations in rates and trends of smoking are evident for specific subpopulations of women in Canada. There has recently been a disturbing trend whereby smoking rates among teenaged girls exceeded smoking rates among teenaged boys for the first time. Among girls aged 15 to 19, 25.1% reported being daily smokers in 1998 - 1999 and 26% in 2001, as compared with 18.5% and 20% respectively for boys in this age group (Chang et al, 2005, pp.2126 -2128). Girls also started smoking at a younger age, 41% of girls aged 15 to 17 reporting having smoked their first cigarette before age 13 as compared with 29% of boys. In the last decade, daily consumption increased for girls aged 15 to 19 from 11.5 cigarettes per day in 1990 to 12.7 cigarettes per day in 1999; this has decreased to 10.8 in 2001 (Statistics Canada, 2000, pp. 238- 245). In this paper we would be discussing the two issues faced by the Canadians - Obesity and Smoking. The simplest definition of obesity is an excessive amount of body fat. It must be distinguished from overweight, which refers to an excess of body weight relative to height. Obesity is probably best assessed by the visual judgment of an experienced observer. If a man, woman, or child looks fat when undressed, he or she is probably obese. Measurement of sub scapular and triceps skin-fold thicknesses with calipers is the simplest objective way to assess body fat. Data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) indicate an obesity rate for Canada of 23.1% and an overweight rate of 59.1%. U.S. data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 -2002 show that 65.1% of the American adult population is overweight and 30.4% are obese (Hedley et al, 2004, pp. 2847- 2848). The problem of obesity does not affect all populations equally, particularly in the U.S. The obesity rate in the U.S. is higher for women at 33.2% compared to the rate for men (27.6%). By race, these gender differences are exacerbated. F or example, the obesity rate among non-Hispanic white women is 30.7% compared to a rate of 49% among non-Hispanic black American women, whereas obesity rates across race for men do not differ significantly (Hedley et al, 2004, pp. 2849- 2850). In Canada, obesity rates do not vary substantially by sex (23.2% for women and 22.9% for men). However, obesity rates are higher for white women (24.8%) and white men (25 .5%) compared to their non-white counterparts (Hedley et al, 2004, p.2849). An estimated 80-90% of persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Canadian population are overweight or obese. Obesity is also a growing problem in children with type 1 diabetes (Hypponen et al, 2000, pp.1755-1760). Furthermore, intensive insulin therapy is associated with weight gain. Weight loss has been shown to improve glycemic control by increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and diminishing hepatic glucose output (Chou et al, 2004, pp. 565-587). The risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and some forms of cancer increases with excessive body fat (Calle et al,

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

E-commerce and the world wide web an evolving relationship Research Paper

E-commerce and the world wide web an evolving relationship - Research Paper Example The inauguration of e-commerce could be pursued way back when telegrams, telex, telephones and fax were being used for commercial activities. In 1980, with the use of EDI, efforts were made in order to systemize the business information. The network between businesses were planned and based on value added network (Amor, 2000). The efficiency of carrying out the business was improved; however the commercial growth was limited because of the costly network. In 1990s, due to the internet being commercialized and arrival of computer technology, the network became economical for businesses as well as for the individuals (Amor, 2000). World Wide Web was formed due to the interrelationship. Businesses began approaching their customers by using the internet and to give the information related to marketing or online directory of product. Since then World Wide Web has emerged as a potential place for e-commerce practices (Gundry, & Kickul, 2010). E-commerce is expanding across the globe, which is opening the challenges and opportunities for a group of websites that are able to give e-business development. ECOMMERCE AND WORLD WIDE WEB E-commerce has been increasing all over the globe. Today many businesses are using the internet, websites, extranets and electronic data interchange to carry out e-commerce. E-commerce has been emerging, and whether it is a manufacturing company, a service organization or a retail store, e-commerce is being used by almost by every firm (Smith, 2011). E-commerce through the internet has been a valuable source which could be any source like online advertising, websites, blogs, videos, YouTube, or social media etc. Today businesses form their official websites to carry e-commerce or online transactions. These websites promote the information gathered from the decision making of the consumers regarding their purchases. E-commerce websites assist in building a relationship with consumers by offering usual communications (Smith, 2011) The internet or World Wide Web is not only considered to be an excellent source of communication among the people around the world, but it is also becoming one of the fastest and the most preferred sources for business transactions. Many successful business titans around the globe are addressing e-commerce in order to operate their businesses. Not only business titans, but also many small firms are also making full use of e-commerce and websites that could allow online shopping facilities (Gundry, & Kickul, 2010). World Wide Web has the ability to recognize a huge availability of market potential. Internet is one of the most secured channels to carry out the financial transaction that is the reason why it is attracting many people. The range of e-commerce is as wide and diverse as the internet is. Today anything can be bought through the internet, from the smallest needle to the biggest jumbo airline. Hotel reservations concerning flights have now been a reality. As the population is increasing , more and more people are using these types of facilities which make them comfortable, and it is the most secured means. This field has been emerging like any other field. Businesses make strategies in order attract consumers towards their web. Internet constantly has been broadcasting as the source of communication for the transactions of commerce (Gundry, & Kickul, 2010). In 1999, out of total retail sales, e-commerce was approximated to be $15 billion, which included both business to business and business to consumer (Gundry, & Kickul, 2010). The numbers are constantly increasing after that analysis as the demand has been increasing for the online goods and services. Another reason for the evolving relationship between e-commerce and World Wide Web is that the recognition of the internet as a resource for information and commercial transaction has been on the rise (Gundry, & Kickul, 2010). For the past decade, organizations perform their businesses through the inter

UK Sportswear Industry Analysis Essay Example for Free

UK Sportswear Industry Analysis Essay There exists a separate sportswear sector which is spiritually owned by few colossal players in the market. In the recent trends sportswear are being used as a mean of fashion rather than for a specific function or performance and very few are used for sports purpose. During the last one year those parents who have less than 15 years of age children as compare to those who do not have children are 50% more likely to purchase sportswear, equipments and sports clothing. The research entails that consumer spending has increased because majority of the sportswear are being used as casual wear and the increased endorsements of celebrities and world-class players has heightened the sales to the peak specifically in case of sports clothing. Unfortunately majority of the retailers get crowded towards those areas which seem emerging and profitable and it results in worst scenario of price competition. UK Sportswear Industry Analysis: Current Size and Value of the Sportswear Sector: They perform as stimuli for majority of the consumers and lead buyers. Different festivals are organized which amplify demand all through summer. The entire economy is dealing with a critical situation where there exist credit crunch which has immensely affected the consumer behavior. During the economic upheaval consumers remained highly cautious and spending pattern has changed drastically. During 2009 major cut-back can be seen in non-essential spending specifically in case of sports footwear, sports casual and sports clothing. Furthermore the episode of FIFA World Cup in 2010 imposed fierce price competition among major retailers of UK where each one of them consistently focused on in-store revenue generation and profit maximization. It has been anticipated that the upcoming Euro and London Olympics in 2012 will surely boost the sales across diverse sports (like golf, skates, tennis, water sports, fishing and many more) and will create opportunities for major businesses operating the sports sector. It was also highlighted that the market share of sports clothing sector will amplify due to upcoming different festivals and events and new generation is also inspired by modern fashion trends. It was also highlighted sports clothing and performance wear had outshined sports casual wear and important performance wears like Nike footwear for football games remained preeminent as compare to casual Nike T-Shirts. According to Report Linker (2007) consumers spent 9. 7 billion pounds in the sportswear sector during the year of 2006. The amount was spent on diverse sports comprising of footwear, equipment, subscriptions, clothing and even participating in live sports events. The intact amount represents just 1. 2% of the consumer overall spending. Moreover it has gradually declined since 2002. One of the important facts reveals that the overall expenditure on sportswear sector is much higher as compare to consumer spending where government provides subsidies to the sector so that less well off customers can effectively participate. The government along with DCMS (department for culture, media and sports) give funding to local authorities and different sports councils. It also invests in schools, parks, leisure areas and pools. National lottery has also contributed a major amount in the industry. It has been estimated that just half of the population of adults dwelling in UK effectively participate in competitive sports otherwise majority of them simply perform general activities in order to keep them healthy and fit. Previously during 1970s and 1980s general activities comprise of swimming, aerobics, gyms and jogging. Later on expensive health clubs were formulated which provided collective service at one place. However the market is gradually moving towards saturation. Very few prefer challengeable and competitive sports like football and golf. Diverse specialized firms are providing services in the category of outdoor games. It has been estimated that the consumer expenditures on sportswear will gradually increase in 2011. According to Mintel (2009) sportswear was at the boom during 1990s however in the recent days the market is being consolidated. Most of the well known brands are being used for fashion and casual wear. The market is getting polarized and businesses are left with performance wear, fashionable cloths and comforting cloths while others are facing wobbly circumstances and challenging phase. However several opportunities have been highlighted and London Olympics is being considered as emerging golden days. During the period specialized businesses like Lyle Scott are continuously making efforts to sustain and further expand across the emerging markets and few firms are also highlighting the importance of heritage and nostalgia. It has been found that the consumer economy will boost and spending will increase towards performance sportswear which seems to provide prosperous environment in case of major retailers. Notwithstanding with the recent economic upheaval, the market value of the sports good industry accounts for 5,646 million pounds in 2010 as compare to 5,600 million pounds during 2006. It has been estimated that the market will grow at 4-6% from 2011 onwards. According to Verdict (2008) the intact sportswear market of United Kingdom faced sudden decline in the recent years. The key constituent of the overall market include outdoor equipments, sports gears and bicycles. The consumption pattern has decreased and majority of consumers are concerned about finances. They purchase cost effective outdoor equipments in order to sustain health fitness. Moreover bicycle buyers considered it as an effective mean of transportation. During the last five years sports footwear and clothing has increased from 4. 7% to 4. 9% however the market share of sports clothing sector has declined from 35. 2% to 32. 9% during 2003-2008. The government has introduced a green transport plan where it has provided tax incentives on bicycles. Consumers can save up to 50% of the price of bicycles through national insurance saving and unique tax programs. Moreover major sports events like World Cup, Ashes and Olympic stimulate the sales during seasonal purchases. Throughout the year sports events contribute a lot in reaching sales troughs and peaks. The sales forecast entails that the market growth rate in sports sector during 2008-2013 will sustain between 14. 7% and 13. 8%. In comparison to USA, dwellers in UK prefer own brands a lot. Due to prevailing adverse market conditions more and more buyers have opted own brands casual wears due to which retailers also decided to place their own brands in the retail stores. Prior to the economic upheaval, profit margin was high on own brands nevertheless due to the recent increase in the price of electricity and fuel sudden decline can be seen in the profit margin as well. Unfortunately the discretionary nature is too less and retailer cannot cut back on branded products. Moreover the level of competition is so intensive in own brand market of casual wear due to the oversupply from retailers of fashion based clothing therefore retailers have to rely on unique collections of branded sportswear in order to create a point of difference. Trends Analysis: Infomat (2008) presented the following trend analysis of UK Sportswear market: †¢ A move towards mid-prize market: More and more customers are moving towards the budget end of the market. †¢ Designs and Outlets: Discount retailing is gaining prominence in UK. In USA businesses gives discounts for 30%-50%. Although the concept is still immature in UK and it has been forecasted that as soon as specific brands like Gap, Marks and Spencer will expand in UK, the price competition will further get intensive. Moreover branded sportswear will be more preferred in UK in the upcoming years. †¢ Informality: Although there continue strict dress code policy in corporations, restaurants and other sectors even then management and subordinates believe that the policy must be eradicated and reflects that the entire industry is gradually moving towards informality. †¢ Sportswear: Slowly and gradually consumers understand the importance of sports and are moving towards sports sector. It is being considered as a leisurewear market and it is tending toward informality. The UK sportswear will expand as USA key players like Foot Locker and others have entered the market. †¢ Brand Extension: As businesses are introducing own brands, meanwhile they are also opting for brand extension to further extend the product width. †¢ Textile preference: More and more customers opt for textile garments due of comfort, and durability. It has forecasted that major technological changes in the textile sector are taking place and price will also increase in the nearest future. †¢ Prominence across fashionable sportswear: The younger generation gives more importance to trendy clothing and fashionable sportswear. It has been estimated that majority of the retailers will combine both function and fashion in order to meet the needs and requirements of potential customers. Global Analysis: Just-Style (2009) instigated that instead of uncertainty in workplace consumer showed positive attitude towards performance sportswear. They actively participated in soft sports. The research examined the magnitude impact of economic downturn on the industry and found that for the consecutive 4-years from 2003-2007 the market growth rate was 9. 4% where athletic footwear market contributed the major portion. In comparison to this fact, the worth of the industry declined from $144. 91 billion in 2007 to $142. 13 billion in 2009. The sales declined by 2. 2% from 2007 to 2009 in the category of athletic footwear. Worst situation was faced by North America, Europe, Korea and Japan and key analyst forecasted that the industry will gradually recover during 2009-2012. It has been assumed that the industry will further improve as the demand for sports trainers will gradually increase. The brief analyses of supply chain management in sportswear industry reveals that China owns the leading position in the export of textile and clothing. However Bangladesh is competing face to face with weekly wage rate half of that of China. About 40% of the world’s sportswear market and athletic market is captured by Nike and Adidas. Moreover globalization, preference towards casual wearing and observing sports at television will further boom growth in number of developing countries. Key Players in the Sportswear sector: According to Biz Ed (2004) all the way through finest streets of UK major changes have been made during the past 20 years. New names became prominent and dissolved however several brands successfully accepted change management and exist in the country as the major retailers in the sportswear industry. The top notch players in the retail sportswear business are as follows: †¢ JJB Sports plc: JJB Corporate (2010) acknowledged that the business was started in 1971 by John Broughton. Afterwards it was purchased by JJ Braddock which later on sold to JJ Bradburn. Subsequently David Whelan purchased the business and decided to keep the prior name of JJB. It owned 4 stores in 1976 which expanded into 120 stores till 1994 and meanwhile the company got listed in London Stock Exchange. During 1998 JJB Sports opted for the acquisition of a separate sports division and finally transformed into the biggest sports retailer across the country. Today it owns 250 different stores in UK and has further expanded into republic of Ireland. The average selling space ranges to 13,000 sq ft which resembles a large superstore involving finest layout management tools. The product portfolio comprises of bicycles, footwear, equipment, accessories, textile, golf and many more. The key proposition remains with quality brand and leisure services. It also stocks well known brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, New Balance, Speedo, Puma, Asics and many more. The business caters for Men, Women, juniors, Children and Infants as well. The business provides encrypted e-commerce platform for the convenience of its customers. One can also customize the color of the chosen brand online. †¢ John David Group plc: According to JD Sports (2010) the business was established in 1981 by John David. In 1996 it got listed in London Stock Market and at that time it owned 56 retail stores across different areas of the country. It is well known for its innovative visual sportswear collection. In 2002 it further expanded into 200 retail stores through different acquisitions which later on transformed into JD Sports. The corporation acquired 70 major stores from All Sports and provides finest casual and fashionable sportswear. The firm deals in both UK as well as in Ireland. It also acquired Scotts and Bank Fashion in 2004 and 2007 which provides online services to potential customers. The business also owns 57% share in Pentland Group. Today it operates 400 mega stores in UK and Ireland. It caters for Men, Women and Junior. They deal in clothing, footwear, stocks well known brands and many more. †¢ Pentland Group: Pentland (2010) instigated that the business was started in 1932 as a Liverpool Shoe Company which sold fashionable footwear’s. In 1973 it got listed in London Stock Exchange and during the same year it was renamed as Pentland Industries Limited. During 1984 it owned 55% share of the International Reebok and during 1989 the name changed to Pentland Group plc. In 1991 it sold all the shares of Reebok and acquired major UK brands like Berghaus, Speedo, KangaROOS, Mitre, Brasher, Red or Dead and Ellesse. Later on it also purchased Franco Sarto, Lacoste, Ted Baker, Box Fresh, One True Saxon, Hunter Boot, Radcliffe and Gio-Gio. It specifically caters for men, women and children. †¢ Blacks Leisure Group plc: According to Black Leisure (2010) the business was founded in 1985 by D Crawford Black. It was a dream of Thomas Black, the grandfather of D Crawford Black, who had a gold fever and entered into a ship building industry. Thomas Junior started the trading business. It gradually acquired major businesses like City Camp and Sports, Jackson and Warr and Milletts. The business later on merged with Greenfields and introduced Blacks Leisure Group plc. In 1988 the corporation acquired Alpine Sports. Today it owns 313 stores both in UK and republic of Ireland. The business specifically caters for adults. As per 2002, the worth of UK Sportswear market was calculated as 4. 05 billion pounds out of which sports clothing accounted for 2. 9 billion pounds and footwear accounted for 1. 15 billion pounds. The market is dominated by chief brands comprising of Nike, Adidas and Reebok. Moreover other specialized brands like Pentland, Hi-tech and Umbro also reflect prominent position in the potential market. For the past 10 years competition has further intensified and major players faced financial problems. In the last 20 years business operations have been further complicated and it has been estimated that major changes will place in the sportswear industry as trends are continuously changing and businesses need to consistently update and control business processes and operations.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Threats and Opportunities for Insurance Companies

Threats and Opportunities for Insurance Companies Climate change has become one of the most important aspects of our daily lives as it has a deep impact on our systems and the general well being of humanity. Such unprecedented change in the climate has resulted in extreme catastrophes such as hurricanes, floods, wild fires, etc. The loss caused by such accidents is not limited to the general public, but is further passed on to industry, which thrives on the concept of underwriting assets. The industries core belief is to quantify the uncertainty of an unforeseen event. But as these events are growing in frequency and size, it will continue to challenge the sustainability of insurance companies. Inevitably, it will transfer the burden to the insurance purchaser, as insurance companies will seek higher premiums for their products, which will only make it less affordable for the masses to afford essential insurance coverage. In this essay we will discuss the various challenges that the industry faces due to climate change, the possible ways to mitigate the threats, and then the scope of more opportunities arising out of the given change. Climate change can be seen as a threat to many insurance companies in the long term as well as the short term. IPCC (2007) has confirmed an increase in the frequency of the catastrophe in the recent years. Insurance claims running into billions of dollars can cause a huge dent in this industry, which makes up up-to 10% of the US economy. It is only natural for insurance companies to charge higher premium for those asserts. Which are exposed to high risks, making it less affordable to the market. The chairman of Lloyds of London quoted that climate change is the number- one issue for that massive insurance group. And also Europes largest insurer, Allianz, stated climate change stands to increase insured losses from extreme events in an average year by 37% within just a decade (Hawker, 2007,p.28). In the past, insurance companies have relied on previous data to formulate policies. But such a practice has only caused high losses as the climate is changing in a rapid way. Warren buffet pointed out insurance companies cant simply extrapolate past experience. If there is a is truly global warming, for example, the odds would shift, since tiny changes in atmospheric conditions can produce momentous changes in weather patterns'. Therefore new techniques such as risk management system (RMS) are used extensively by insurance industry for assessing and managing risks. Hurricane Andrew caused a loss of $23 billion to insurers as they based their policies after relying on past data. However, the same industry had a much smaller impact when hurricane hit the US coast in 20004 and 2005, as they used future risk models such as RMS to formulate policies (Herweiger et. al., 2009). Climate change leads to increase damage and costs as ever increasing level and long lasting wildfires are causing more claims and property damages. Such frequency and magnitude of potential losses can jeopardize the solvency of insurance and reinsurance companies. Sustainability can be insured if the given threats are dealt with adequately. Insurance industries have a history of fostering practices and technologies to reduce risks. Some of the possible and effective ways to mitigate risks are, firstly, a lesser premium can be charged from customers of motor insurance who drive hybrid cars or use pay as you drive scheme. Special benefits can be given to customers who buy vehicles jointly to use them under car pool system. Secondly, a close association with government agencies to improve land use planning, better management of forestry agriculture and wet lands can help in having a well balanced growth that does not put to much pressure on natural resources. Collaboration with private builders to promote, improved building codes, which insure minimum damage to the environment, lower energy requirements and long-term durability. Thirdly, building awareness amongst clients and formulation of public policy. Companies can provide information and edu cation to customers about the harmful effects of violating laws of nature. Consultation should be given to primary and secondary industry to reduce their impact on their immediate environment. . Many insurers have already made investments in green projects like renewable energy, energy efficiency, forestry projects and green funds to ensure that their customers receive protection and also saving them from large claims (Mills, 2007,p.7). Promotion of voluntary energy saving and energy efficient codes can help reduce our dependence on state electrical supply. Active participation from insurers such as AIG offer its Private Client Group a service in which crews are deployed to apply fire retardant in areas such as Colorado which are threatened by wildfire. Climate change can prove as a very big opportunity for insurers as the unpredictable climate can threaten their customers and lead them to insuring their assets. However they must adapt timely successfully. Responding to change is important as it brings opportunities. Insurance companies should develop new solutions and introduce insurance of new assets and risks for their customers changing needs. It is also seen that the Insurance industry is in constant search of better returns for its vast investments. In this regard it could take advantage of the opportunities available in alternative energy sources as it is a good investment as constant technological developments make this it more affordable and attractive for the public. Introducing new products such as risk based pricing under which insurance premiums are charged as per their risk exposure. For normal policies, premium is charged by keeping various factors in hand, but the premium is standard for all, no consideration is given to a policy holders risk exposure. For example- buying car insurance in UK, Any individual above the age of 21 is charged a basic insurance premium which is more or less standard. However when it comes to providing insurance cover to an individual below the age of 21, the policy premium is charged at a much higher rate, as the possibility of an accident is much higher as these new drivers are mostly inexperienced. Another opportunity comes from state help, in form of promotion, because If the majority of the population do not insure their properties then in case of a catastrophe, the financial burden will fall on the state insurers, so to save from this burden, governments promote and favour private insurance companies. Thus making it profitable for private insurers as well as the government. Some of the possible ways to tap the available opportunity are firstly by energy saving insurance, which is given to promoters of energy efficient projects to protect them from loss due to underachievement of predicted energy efficiency. Secondly by motor insurance where packages such as pay as you drive insurance are given, in which cover is given for the miles driven. This helps to reduce miles driven by 10 % to 15 % and also reduces accidents. Thirdly by green building insurance, insurance schemes for buildings that comply with green, eco friendly codes. Fourthly by micro insurance, where the majority of the population living below poverty line, cannot afford insurance of any sort. Therefore new packages for this section of the society can help to capture a very large customer base. Fifthly by investing in alternate energy sources As they can help to get a much higher returns to the surplus investable capital of insurance companies, as this sector holds great promise for better, cleaner greener energy, through technological innovations. And lastly by improved identification of flood plains will help to promote insurance purchasing in the marked areas. After exploring the implications of climate change on the insurance industry, I have shown above, the threats opportunities that the insurance companies face. By comparing both sides of the argument, I believe that the insurance industry faces more threats than opportunities due to climate change. An ever-increasing catastrophe rate, sparked by excessive climate change has lead to increased financial losses, reduced customer base in some case cases complete wipe out of companies. Therefore it is only right for these companies to mitigate these risks in order to insure sustainability. In the given scenario, there also exist enough opportunities to develop new business models and increase revenue through new policies, revised competitive rates. Many untapped market segments, which remain untouched by industry, can provide high revenues. Adequate investments in research and technology will be beneficial for the industry. Above all, a close association with the general public, government agencies private sector enterprise will help the insurance industry to protect itself from the dangers of climate change and provide sufficient opportunity to grow in size.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Gladiatorial Contest In Rome Essay example -- essays research papers

Gladiatorial Contest in Rome   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rome was a warrior state. Since the state was a great fighting state in their time, the wars sort of formed the gladiatorial contest in ancient Rome. The Romans were fascinated and pleasured by violence, bloodshed, and human suffering the gladiatorial games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The gladiatorial contests began at the reign of their first emperor Augustus to pay tribute to their warrior traditions. The Romans built artificial battlefields within amphitheaters in cities and towns for public entertainment. It is very obvious that gladiatorial contest were important because of the enormous size of the amphitheaters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In A.D. 80, the Colosseum, which seated fifty thousand people, was used to accompany a hundred days of games. On one of the days three thousand men fought and on another day nine thousand animals were killed. The public killings of men and animals were a Roman rite believing that this was a religious sacrifice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Everyone in Rome was not entertained by these barbaric acts. The philosophers and Christians lobbied against such events. To little effect the gladiatorial games continued until the early fifth century A.D. and wild-beast killings went on until the sixth century.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Evidence suggests that the contest was part of the Roman funeral process. A Christian critic named Tertullian at the end of the second century wrote, â€Å"Once upon a time, men believed that the souls of the dead were propitiated by human blood, and so at the funerals they sacrificed prisoners of war of slaves of poor quality bought for the purpose.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 246 B.C., two nobles in honor of their deceased father, held the first recorded gladiatorial event with only six gladiators. But over the next two hundred years, the contests started to become common and gain popularity resulting in the increase of gladiatorial shows. An example of a gladiatorial show was in 46 B.C. when Julius Caesar dedicated the games to his dead daughter and the victory over Gaul and Egypt. Caesar didn’t have only the traditional individual fights, but also he had fights between whole detachments of an infantry and between squadrons of cavalry who were mounted on horses and elephants. The games consisted of professional gladiato... ...ll of the animals were killed for entertainment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gladiators were heroes to their culture. Even though most of the gladiators were slaves, women were attracted to them. But gladiators were also degraded by society. They were not allowed to be buried in normal burial grounds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Women also fought in gladiatorial games also. The women fought in the arena were men fought. An example of women fighting was found on a small stone relief, depicting two female gladiators, with one breast bare, called Amazon an Achillia. Sports today are on a much milder basis than gladiatorial games in ancient Rome. Today those type of games would be considered insane, but for Rome this was part of their religion and probably the most entertaining shows they had. Boxing and hunting presents violence similar to the gladiatorial games, but I don’t think it is as barbaric. For instance, boxers don’t fight to the death, only 12 rounds, and hunters can only kill plentiful animals, such as, deer and ducks during certain times of the year. Between these two different society, violence is proved to be the number one entertainment source in the two cultures.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

American Indians Essay -- essays research papers

“’Indians’: Textualism, Morality, and the Problem of History';, an essay written by Jane Tompkins, a professor of English at Duke University, outlines Tompkins dissatisfaction on how American Indians are portrayed throughout history. As children, we are taught that in “1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue';, and that Peter Minuet bought all of Manhattan Island from the Indians for only twenty-four dollars worth of trinkets. In high school, we were taught that in World War II, the Germans were all heartless savages, and that the best course of action to end the war was to use the atomic bomb on Japan. It is seen that “the victor writes the history books.'; In other words, the dominant cultures and societies that conquer and overshadow lesser societies have the privilege of writing history. For example, if Germany won World War II, would the history books have mentioned the holocaust of the Jews? The problem with history is that history is defined in terms of the author’s point of view. There is no scientific process by which history is written; therefore we must discern what is the real truth versus someone’s biases and point of view. “The problem is that if all accounts of events are determined through and through by the observer’s frame of reference, then one will never know, in any given case, what really happened,'; (Tompkins, 410).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tompkins researched s...

Friday, October 11, 2019

Life Stressors Essay

Many daily hassles have contributed to a certain level of stress in our lives. For life to continue or achieve the set objectives, then the hassle must be there, no way we can avoid them. If we can not avoid these hassles, then we can manage then responsively for our well being and sound health. â€Å"Examples of the daily hassles are; regrets over past decisions, money worries or concerns and not enough time for family, relaxation or entertainment† (Coon & Mitterer†¦167). The pressures and demands that cause stress are called stressors. There are so many life stressors including, death of a close family member for instance the mother, divorce, bad health or a changing behavior of a family member. There are various symptoms that are visible to enable recognize that he or she undergoing stress. Stress causes mental, physical and emotional duress. To get a handle in stress, one needs first to learn how to recognize it. Incase of these daily hassles, a person needs to get used to then and prepare his/her psyche that without them there may be no tomorrow. If a person develops this mentality that the hassles are normal his /her conscious will not be bothering about the hassles. Incase of money, the rich who have the money are not satisfied, therefore a plan i. e. the budget in using the little money can save a person too much stress. The issue with lack of time to relax or be with family can solely be solved by good management of time resource and strictly adhere to the timetable or schedules. â€Å"Issues of the past can easily be avoided by getting occupied actively in the wok place and or focusing in the future† (Zautra†¦. 93). Stressors are the hardest to cope with but one must be occupied with no time to sit idle, talk to as many people as possible including counselors, pastors, close friends, workmates, and family members. To crown all these, â€Å"physical exercises are commendable to any kind of stressor or stress† (Cohen†¦57). Works Cited: Coon, Dennis & Mitterer, John, O. Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. New York: Wadsworth Publishing, 2003. Cohen, S. Measuring Stress: A Guide for Health and Social Scientists. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Zautra, A. Emotions, Stress and Health. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Business issues and the context of HR Essay

The organisation is the background within which the HR function works. Understanding the deep nature of the organisation has to be the main goal for HRM as the nature of the organisation has a huge impact on how people are managed in the business. The organisation is defined as the planned coordination of the activities of a number of people for the achievement of some common, explicit purpose or goal, through division of labour and function, and through a hierarchy of authority and responsibility (Schein, 1980). Historically, there have been many definitions of organisations, depending on whether they focus on: †¢Their size: SMEs, Large and Public Sector. (Curran and Stanworth, 1988); †¢Their prime beneficiaries: members, shareholders, users, the public. (Blau and Scott ,1962 – Maltby, 2003); †¢The degree to which they are mechanistic (highly structured organisation with centralised policies, rigid hierarchical ranks, a strong emphasis on administration and clear boundaries between departments) or organic (a flattened structure, colleague, rather than command and control relationships as the predominant mode, short lived and flexible administrative systems and mobile departmental boundaries (Burns and Stalker ,1966); †¢Their structure meant as the relationships between employees at vertical and horizontal level (tall or flat/lean, hierarchical, matrix, flexible, virtual) (Leatherbarrow et al., 2010). Thinking about a mixed economy such as UK, organisations can be classified in: †¢Public organizations, generally providing essential services such as health, education, social services, policing. They are responsible to central government and those who run them are accountable to the public (Taylor and Wilkinson, 2012). The nature of their funding (taxpayers) requires them to prove their responsibility with the public money. Their HR department tend to be large and able to provide HR specialist support in different areas. Because of the accountability to the public, HR tend also to be bureaucratic and inflexible. †¢Private organizations are those owned  by private individuals/families/stakeholders (Taylor and Wilkinson, 2012). These are industrial and commercial companies that respond to the demands of the market and exist to make a profit for their shareholders. In the private sector, HR tend to be a small department with more room for innovative strategies. †¢Third sector organizations are understood to be non government and non profit. Non distribution of profits to shareholders is a defining feature, as is a degree of volunteerism. They tend to fill in the gaps in areas of state and market deficiencies, and are nowadays growing in global significance (Crampton et al, 2001). They are typically a mix of government funding, gifts, grants and earned income. Examples of third sector activities are found in international aid, culture, recreation, social services, education, religion and health. Staff is frequently very mission-focused and gains a lot of job satisfaction by just being committed to the cause. Large organisations in the third sector are likely to have specific HR departments while smaller organisations are unlikely to have specific HR departments and HR functions may be ‘tagged’ on to the role of managers or staff more generally (Venter and Sung, 2009) The nature of organisations and the style used to manage the people in it are strictly related, as the management style highly depends on the particular business. However, as seen for the definition of organisation, the definition of management and its classification have long been debated. At the beginning of 19th century the most important of the classical Management theories was the scientific approach or Taylorism which involved breaking down the components of manual tasks in manufacturing environments, timing each movement so that there could be a scientifically proven â€Å"best† way to perform each task. Employees could be trained to be ‘first class’ within their job by their managers. In the 60’s, there was a new approach focused on the â€Å"human factor†. In â€Å"The Human Side of Enterprise† by McGregor, he distinguished between: †¢Theory X, that adopts the authoritarian view that people normally abhor working and must be forced to work with punishment for failing to meet the objective. These people actually prefer to be directed and lack ambition. †¢Theory Y,  adopts the participative management style, which operates on the idea that people are inherently motivated to work if they find the job fulfilling The System Theories focused attention on organizations as ‘systems’ and on the complexity and interdependence of relationships of their inter-related sub-systems. This approach attempted to synthesize the classical approaches (organizations without people) with the later human relations approaches that focused on the psychological and social aspects (‘people without organizations). The Contingency theory, developed in 1950s, argues that there is no ‘one best way’ to structure an organization and we face different possibilities when determining how it should be structured and how it should be managed. Successful organizations adopt structures that are an appropriate response to a number of variables, or contingencies (Enoch, 2006). Practically speaking, management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. There are several different resource types within management, such as: Human, Financial, Technological and Natural resources. HRM BACKGROUND AND ROLE OF HR HR is part of the overall management of an organization, but again, providing a conclusive definition of contemporary HRM is quite challenging. â€Å"There is no generally agreed framework for understanding and analysing the HR function; there are only competing models. In practice, the HR function within organisations is infinitely flexible, organisationally contingent over time and driven principally by the external contexts of the age; and these often change within short periods of time†. (Farnham, 2010, pg 4). During the years, we assisted to an evolution from what have been traditionally labelled as ‘personnel management’ to a distinctive HRM. The HRM was characterised by a different philosophy and approach to the management of ‘people at work’ (Storey, 1989) and was putting an emphasis on  performance, workers’ commitment, and rewards, based on individual or team contribution. Figure 1: From Personnel Management to HRM: a Summary (Farnham, 2010, pg. 7) The two main developments in the HRM have been the continued delegation of some HR activities to line managers and the outsourcing of large areas of the traditional personnel management. These changes have had particular consequences in the HRM and HR roles, increasing the need of highly specialised HR, technical experts who act as consultants either internally or externally. On the other side, these developments required more investment in training for Line Managers (also coaching) in order for them to be able to face HR issues and communicate with HR specialists. Changes in HRM have led to change in the structure of HR especially in large organisations in both private and public sector. It has been noticed that many organisations adopted the Ulrich’ ‘s ‘Multi-legged model’ (Ulrich, 1997) of HR structures in which HR functions become more focused on outcomes, rather than processes, more specialised and divided in Strategic partners, Expert, Champion for employees and Agent of continuous transformation. (details in appendix 1) This model has been reviewed by Ulrich in the ‘Three – legged model’ with HR divided in: †¢HR business partners (or strategic partners) – senior or key HR professionals working closely with business leaders or line managers, usually embedded in the business unit, influencing and steering strategy and strategy implementation; †¢Centres of excellence –small teams of HR experts with specialist knowledge of leading-edge HR solutions. The role of centres of excellence is to deliver competitive business advantages through HR innovations in areas such as reward, learning, engagement and talent management. †¢Shared services – a single, often relatively large unit, which handles all the routine ‘transactional’ services across the business such as recruitment administration, payroll, absence monitoring and advice on simpler employee relations issues. The responsibility of shared services is to provide low-cost, effective HR administration. (Ulrich and Brockbank, 2005) Behind the division in the HR roles, experts recognise organisations’ request for an HR more involved in the business and able to contribute to the business strategy with a tangible and cost effective results. In the CIPD’s 2001 ‘Next Generation HR: Insight driven’, it is explained that where the ‘Three-legged stool model’ is used, HR’s sphere of influence can be narrowed and there may be less opportunity for teams and individuals to be insight-led. The report highlights that while the main HR role is to maintain people and performance strengths, HR needs to be more integrated to the business. HR needs to speak the business language and need to have a full knowledge of it (of both internal and external factors) only in this way HR will be able to deliver deep organisational insight. Basically, HR needs to understand and fully use the ‘business savvies’: †¢understanding the business model at depth †¢generating insight from data and evidence †¢connecting with curiosity, purpose and impact †¢leading with integrity, consideration and challenge Finally, the report highlights that while the ‘Three-legged stool model’ is more appropriate for larger organisations, the ‘Business savvies’ it is appropriate for all sizes and shapes of organisation. (CIPD, 2001) BUSINESS STRATEGY AND HR STRATEGY (details in appendix 6) DATA SOURCES If the HR objective is to be integrated into the Business, it is then crucial for HR having a clear data sources, a strong competence in interpreting the information and presenting them to the business. HR can find data from internal and external sources. Examples of Internal sources in COMPANY NAME are: Employees (listening and talking to them), Focus Group, Climate Surveys, Employees Data Base, KPIs, Budget, Performance and Leadership Management System, Payroll data. Example of external sources are:  Customers’ reports, Customers’ surveys, Recruitment agency reports, CIPD Magazine, Employment law updates, Industry Magazines, Census Information, EHS Magazine. KPIs Once an organization has analysed its mission, identified all its stakeholders, and defined its goals, it needs a way to measure progress toward those goals: KPIs are those measurements. Key Performance Indicators KPIs, also known as Key Success Indicators (KSI), help an organization define and measure progress toward organizational goals. (Reh, 2005) The role and use of KPIs is crucial in COMPANY NAME. Here, every month a meeting is held during which every department presents its KPIs and discusses any progressions or need to improve them. Also HR has its own KPIs which are related to: hours worked, overtime hours (to be kept at 20% maximum level) and sick days (in order to monitor long sick periods). (details in appendix 6) Performance & Leadership Management (PLM) In addition to the KPIs, COMPANY NAME has adopted a specific system in order to measure, develop, evaluate and reward people’s performance: the Performance & Leadership Management system. This system is a management process that aims to establish a transparent and a bi-lateral communication with the employees to define together how they can contribute to the organization results, if they are working effectively towards achieving the agreed objectives and finally providing them with adequate support to improve and develop. The PLM process consists in 5 main phases: 1.Objectives Setting 2. Half Year Review 3.Self – Assessment 4.Evaluation and Calibration 5.Feedback phases. The PLM cycle is annual and at the end of it, the company may decide to assign a PLM Bonus to employees. Finally, the PLM is also uses to identify Talents, employees with high level of P&L skills, able and willing to accept positions of growing responsibility. This assures continuity to the business and a draw up succession plans for all key positions (details in appendix 7) SWOT and STEEPLE In addition to KPIs and the performance measurement, HR can also collect data and plan for its strategy by using two particular technics: The SWOT analysis and the Steeple Analysis. The SWOT analysis, developed by Ansoff in 1987, it is a data capture exercise which focuses on organisations Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (for an example of SWOT analysis in COMPANY UK, see appendix 8). The STEEPLE analysis is like an audit of the external environment which is focused on the external factors than can influence the organization and affect its long-term survival. If the organization has a full understanding of the environment and all its factors, it has the possibility to take advantage from potential opportunities and minimize possible risks. Below an example of STEEPLE analysis in COMPANY NAME realised in June 2013 during a Focus Group meeting: †¢SOCIOLOGICAL: Changes in culture, Cultural Barriers, Language barriers, Lack of educated people, Lack of technical skilled people, Immigration; †¢TECHNOLOGICAL: New Payroll System, SAP System, Skype, Conference call System, Computer Software, Blackberries, Outlook; Company Intranet; †¢ECONOMIC: Financial Crisis, Recession, Globalisation, Prices, Employment rate, Unemployment Rate, Banking Crisis; †¢ENVIRONMENTAL: Carbon footprints, Sustainability Report, Sustainability Plan; †¢POLITICAL: Government changes, Pension Reform, Sector regulation, EU regulations; Local regulations; †¢LEGAL: Employment law, European Law, European Court of Justice, Local authority; †¢ETHICAL: Local Community Interest, Stakeholders Interests, Anti-corruption Law, Equal opportunities, Human rights, Promoting employees welfare, Well working environment. HOW HR CAN RESPOND TO EXTERNAL PRESSURE? As shown in the STEEPLE analysis, the Lack of technical skilled people, it was perceived as a big external risk for the business. The role of HR in facing this problem was crucial and requested lots of curiosity, research and resourcefulness. The HR department had to concentrate on a short term need, which basically was focused on finding candidates with the right skill-set for the (many) uncovered positions, but they also had to think about a long term plan able to strengthen the presence and knowledge of COMPANY NAME in the Midlands area. After some research, the HR department found out that, the lack of high qualified people in the Midland, it was due to the fact that the particular skills required were either absent in the area or the few people who have them had already a job. Therefore, HR had to concentrate on different ways to recruit candidates. They then started to: †¢Using social network to advert company positions (in order to reach people in all over the world); †¢Using Skype for first and second interview stage; †¢Increasing the use of relocation and sponsorship for candidates coming from other countries; †¢Advertising all the uncovered position internally first, this in order to give to all employees the possibility to apply personally or to propose someone they knew (Word of mouth) The long term plan to create more visibility and awareness about COMPANY NAME and its business in the Midlands was achieved by: †¢Taking part in Colleges and Universities open days – this in order to attract the future generation of engineers; †¢Use of a work experience program – open to students from technical colleges who can spend one month in one of COMPANY ’s departments; †¢Selection and sponsorship of four graduates to be sent to the COMPANY Business School in Detroit or Shanghai for three months. It is important to highlight that some of the above initiatives, in  particular the ones in recruitment, made COMPANY save money. In 2012, COMPANY spent in recruitment (using agencies)  £30,000; in 2013, the cost for recruitment (using social network and word of mouth) dropped to  £22,000 with a saving of almost the 30% in budget resource. Recently, HR had to deal with another issue coming from the external context: The Pension Reform in UK. HR was particularly involved in designing an effective communication plan in order to spread to the UK team information about the changes. The communication plan was quite a delicate step as it was not only about the legal changes but also about the COMPANY UK’ s decision to change the pension provider (moving from Legal & General to Scottish Widows) and the contributions level (starting from January 2014). The first thing HR did, it was to select two champions among the most senior and influencing employees, trained them on the reform and invite them to share the news with the team. This approach was useful to create a good feeling about the reform and all the changes related to it. Then, during the sixty day consultation period, HR organized workshops during which, financial expert from Capita, presented and explained the reform and its consequences and gave personalized advice to the employees. Finally, HR provided employees with brochure, leaflets and posters. It is important to highlight that, behind the COMPANY’s decision to change Pension provider and level of contributions (well above the minimum required by law) there was the HR idea not to use the Pension Scheme as a compensation and benefit tool anymore, but to consider it and use it as a powerful tool to retain current employees and to recruit more of them by increasing the appeal toward COMPANY UK. Finally, as a consequence of the introduction of the new scheme, in less than one month, the number of enrolled employees has almost doubled, increasing from 34 (enrolled in L&G) to 60 (in SW) on a total of 72 COMPANY UK employees. This was a great result for both the business and HR.