Work

Work Introduction The society has undergone a significant transformation during the 21st century. These changes have affected different spheres of individual’s life. One of these spheres relates to work. Work demand is one of the major reasons for the increased need of work-life demands. Approximately 50% of the total workforce is comprised of women while 50% of all household adults are working (Chick, 2004, p.2).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Work-Life Balance And Its Influences On Employee Development And Career Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Findings of ‘The 2002 National Study on the Changing Workforce’ revealed that approximately 66% of all American families were dual earners by 1977. This means that these couples were salaried employees. However, the proportion grew to 78% by the end of 2002. Not only are the couples working but they are also required to work for long hours (C hick, 2004, p. 2). In most cases individuals working for long hours experience health problems. In addition to work demands, the demands of life are also influencing individuals to have a balance in their life. For example, the adults are required to take care of their children and elderly parents. From the study, 50% of the respondents interviewed said they do not have sufficient time for themselves while 63% said they do not have enough time to spend with their spouses. On the other hand, 67% of all the respondents interviewed said that they do not have sufficient time to spend with their kids. As a result of increased participation in their work, there is need for individuals to establish a balance. In addition to family life, there is an increase in the number of adults who are attending school in an effort to improve their life. This arises from the fact that workers are aimed at developing their career. Considering these challenges, workers are increasingly being concerned wit h ensuring that there is flexibility within their workplace in order to attain a balance (Romer, 2011, p.1). As a result, human resource managers are increasingly being concerned with work-life-balance as one of the human resource management concepts. This arises from the fact that the profitability of the firm is dependent on its effectiveness in retaining employees (Clutterbuck, 2003, p.34).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Clayton (2004, p.146), the success of organizational leadership is dependent on the effectiveness with which harmony between the organizational goals and employees’ priorities is established. Considering the changes in the society, the researcher appreciated the importance of analyzing the concept of work-life-balance and its influences on employee development and career management. Literature review According to Armstr ong (2006, p.152), work-life balance entails establishing a balance between ones life and his or her work. In their human resource management practices, organizations are increasingly considering adopting strategies that enable their workforce to have a certain degree of flexibility in their duties. Armstrong (2006, p.152) further asserts that the objective of work-life balance is to provide the employees with an opportunity of balancing their work with other personal responsibilities. According to Armstrong (2006, p.152) one of the employees’ needs that organizations are required to take into account is employee development. In order to attain this most organizations have incorporated an employee development policy. The policy is aimed at ensuring that employees continuously develop their skills and abilities. Factors that have contributed to increased demand of work-life balance Financial security The 21st century has been characterized by numerous economic challenges. For example, the recent economic crisis had adverse effects on individuals’ purchasing power. This arises from the fact that some organizations lost their jobs as organizations undertook downsizing. Coupled with the rise in the cost of living, these changes have stimulated the need to attain financial security. As a result, men and women are increasingly being involved in more than one job. Additionally, there has been a change in the perception of work. A significant proportion of individuals are considering work as a source of personal satisfaction and not a component of one’s survival. Currently, individuals are working in order to succeed in their career.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Work-Life Balance And Its Influences On Employee Development And Career Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Demographic changes and diversity in organizations The high rate of diversity within organizations is one of the reasons why human resource managers are faced with numerous challenges. This has further stimulated the need for work-life balance. According to Metusin, and Ooi (2006, p.77), one of the most valuable competences that human resource managers should possess entails understanding and harmonizing the existing differences between the employees. Ghani, Metusin and Ooi (2006, p. 77) further assert that understanding diversity in addition to the growing need for a balanced life amongst the employees has become a prerequisite for a firm attaining sustained performance. Demographic changes such as aging are contributing towards an increment in the amount of responsibilities facing workers. According to Ghani, Metusin and Ooi (2006, p. 77), it is estimated that there will be an increment in the number of workers who are charged with the responsibility of caring for their family members. Ghani, Metusin and Ooi (2006, p. 77) assert that there has been a decline in fertility among st individuals on one hand while on the other there is increment in longevity. The resultant effect is that is emergence of an aging population. Ceiri, Holmes, Abbott and Pettit (2002, p.2) asserts that if the rate of fertility is constant at 1.6 children for every adult lady, the result will be an increment in the proportion of the aging population from 13.9% during the 1990s to 28% by 2030 within the OECD countries. This arises from the fact that the employees have to take care of their loved ones. Additionally, the high rate at which women are being integrated in the workforce is creating pressure to human resource managers with regard to work-life balance and diversity management. Ceiri, Holmes, Abbott and Pettit (2002, p.2) are of the opinion that the current demographic changes means that human resource managers have to formulate and implement human resource policies and strategies that take into account the employees’ work-life needs and also takes into account the div erse workforce.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Influences of work-life balance on employee development and career management Work-life balance plays a vital role in the development of the employees. Employee development entails the various activities are associated with the employee training and development. Employee training is an important component of ensuring that a firm attains competitive advantage. Needle (2010, p.482) asserts that the skills gained through the training act as an organization’s source of competitive advantage. Work-life balance enables an organization employee development program to be effective. This arises from the fact that the fact that the employees become committed to the program. Additionally, work-life balance enables employees to be effective in their career management. From an individual point of view, career management entails the various developmental practices that are undertaken in order to enable the employees execute their job. On the other hand, organizations consider career manage ment to include the various practices and policies that are implemented with the objective of attaining the needs of a suitable proportion of employees who are well trained. Career management is critical in ensuring that an organization has effective staff. On the other hand work-life balance enhances firms in their career management in that it contributes towards a high level of employee retention. On the other hand, work-life balance enables a firm to be effective in their development hence attaining their career objectives. Benefits of work-life balance Currently, a large number of workers are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits associated with an organization having flexible human resource strategies. This has arisen from realization of the fact that it is impossible to separate work and the various life commitments. However, employees are faced with a challenge in their quest to attain work-life balance. This arises from the fact that their workload is increasing as org anizations shift to flat and more participative structures. The resultant effect is that it is becoming difficult for employee’s to establish a balance between their career and life. According to Coussey (2000, p.1), there is a high probability of an individual succeeding in he or she establishes a balance between his or her life and work. Coussey (2000, p.1) is of the opinion that work-life balance entails developing working practices that are beneficial to both the organization and the employees. From an employee’s point of view, work-life balance entails establishing and maintaining a balance between one’s responsibilities at home and work. Considering the competitive nature of the labor market, it has become paramount for business organizations to recruit and retain motivated employees. According to Torun (2007, p.4), employee turnover can be costly to an organization. However, implementation of work-life balance programs can contribute towards a firm improv ing its employee retention rate. A study conducted in Hoechst Celanese which is a Japanese firm revealed that 60% of the employees interviewed said that the firm’s ability to ensure that there is a balance between the employees’ work and their life was a key determinant in their decision to continue working with the firm (Torun, 2007, p.4). Additionally, work-life balance programmes within organizations act as marketing tools that organizations use to attract employees. The need to retain the employees has become a motivating factor why organizations are increasingly incorporating work-life balance in their human resource management practices and policies. Coussey (2000, p.1) asserts that the profitability of businesses is dependent on the level of employee motivation. If an organization does not incorporate work-life balance, there is a high probability of the employees’ attitude being affected negatively. The result is that their morale is diminished. Lockwood (2003, p. 7) opines that incorporation of work-life balance contributes towards an organization minimizing absenteeism amongst its employees. This arises from the fact that the level of stress which is depicted by increased health problems amongst the employees and absences are minimal (Lockwood, 2003, p.7). In the long term, work-life balance contributes towards a decline in the employees health care cost. Findings of a study conducted by the American Institute on Stress revealed that approximately one million workers do not attend work daily as a result of stress complications (Lockwood, 2003, p.7). The resultant effect is that the employees’ productivity is enhanced culminating into an improvement in the probability of the organization attaining its goals. Not only is work-life balance being advocated by human resource managers but also by researchers and governments. During the 21st century, work-life balance is being considered as a strategic human resource management i ssue. As a result, human resource managers are integrating the concept of work-life balance in their employee retention strategies (Martin, 2010, p.35). In order to survive in the long term as going concern entities, organizations should appreciate the changes in employees needs. This will play a vital role in formulating flexible work-life balance strategies. Problem Work-life conflicts According to Bird (2006, p.3) asserts that the changes within the society have presented both workers and organizations with a challenge. The challenge emanates from existence of a conflict between the workers personal life and their work. The employees’ personal responsibilities and their work may be mutually incompatible to some degree. Needle (2010, p.482) asserts that employees’ personal responsibilities usually conflict with the needs of the organization. This has made management teams of firms in different economic sectors to shift their focus to employees as their core concern. The shift towards the employees arises from the fact that organizations recognize the fact that they can lose the employees. Additionally, organization can also be sued if they fail to address the employee’s needs. Discussion Human resource management strategies to enhance work-life balance There are a wide range of strategies that human resources managers can integrate their management practices in order eliminate work-life conflict. Integration of work-life balance will give the employees a high degree of flexibility. The following are some of the strategies that organizations can integrate in order to attain work-life balance. Part-time work This strategy entails a permanent form of employment whereby individuals are required to work for fewer hours per week. The employee is required to fulfill the responsibilities assigned within a specific duration. This strategy is more appealing to workers who prefer to have more leisure time and parents who need to be with their chil dren. By incorporating part-time work, an organization can enable its employees to achieve work-life balance. Job sharing According to Pride, Hughes and Kapoor (2010, p.295), job sharing entails an employment arrangement in which tow employees share a single full-time job. Job sharing is attained by dividing the number of hours that each party works. For example, one of the job-sharer may be required to work from 8.00 am to 12 noon while the other party works from 1 to 5 p.m. alternatively, the employees may decide to alternate the days that each one works. By incorporating the concept of job sharing, an organization is able to attract highly skilled employees. For example, some professionals may not be available fulltime. Job sharing gives an organization an opportunity to have a strong work-force. However, this strategy is only applicable to some jobs. Telecommuting The 21st century has been characterized by a growth in the rate of technological innovation. Organizations are incre asingly incorporating technology in their human resource management practices. According to Pride, Hughes and Kapoor (2010, p.295), telecommuting entails allowing employees to work at home either full time or for a number of hours every week. Some of the technologies that facilitate telecommuting include modems, personal computers, cellular phones, fax machines, and voice mails. Additionally, the emergence of overnight couriers is also enhancing the growth in telecommunication. Telecommuting presents a high degree of flexibility to the employees. This arises from the fact that the employees have the discretion of determining the most appropriate time to work. This means that they can have more time to spend with their families. Pride, Hughes and Kapoor (2010, p.295) assert that organizations that have incorporated telecommuting experience minimal employee turnover and absenteeism. Another benefit relate to increased work-life balance. Flextime strategy In this strategy, human resour ce managers give the employees an opportunity to determine the number of hours that they prefer to be working. However, the hours have to be within certain limits that are predetermined by the employer. In this strategy, the human resource manager sets two main time bands. These include the flextime and core time. The flextime relates to the time when the employees may prefer to be working. On the other hand, the core time entails the specific hours within which the employees must be at work. For example, the core hours may range from 8 am to 11 am. This strategy gives the employees an opportunity to work for a certain number of hours and then have the discretion to attend to their personal responsibilities (Pride, Hughes Kapoor, 2010, p.295). This means that employees can be able to attain work-life balance. However, this strategy is guided by a condition that stipulates that employees must work for a predetermined number of hours. Compressed schedules According to Kaiser (2011, p .212), compressed schedules entails a working arrangement whereby employees are required to work for a predetermined number of hours weekly. However, instead of the working hours being distributed evenly throughout the week, the employees have the discretion on how to distribute the working hours throughout the week. Through this strategy, employees can work for more hours on a particular day in order have take an off on a particular day. Holidays, leaves and career breaks Human resource managers should also consider incorporating company-paid holidays annually. Other strategies which human resource management should consider include integration of leaves. There are a wide range of leaves that human resource managers should consider in their human resource management practices. One example of such leaves include leave without pay. Additionally, human resource managers can also consider implementing an extra leave in which the employees receive a proportionate compensation during the leave period. According to Raddon (2005, p.50), integration of career breaks would also play a vital role in enhancing work-life balance. Career breaks are an important component of ensuring that employees develop their skills. Career break give employees an opportunity to address their economic needs. The resultant effect is that the employees remain competitive within the work environment. During the career breaks, an employee is able to address other family commitments. Conclusion The study has illustrated the importance of incorporating work-life balance as one of the human resource management practices. Currently, the society is characterized by numerous changes which are affecting workers in executing their duties. Some of these changes relate to increased responsibilities amongst the employees. The workforce has also experienced a significant transformation as a result of increment in the number of women who are employed. These women have to take care of their families. Othe r changes relate to demographic characteristics of the society. For example, there has been an increment in the proportion of the aging population which has to be taken care of. Additionally, employees are faced with a rise in the cost of living and hence the need to attain financial security. As a result, most employees including women are working for long hours. The study has also illustrated that diversity within the workforce is stimulating organizations to consider incorporating work-life balance. The increment in the amount of responsibilities that employees are facing has stimulated the need for work-life balance. This arises from the fact that employees are increasingly experiencing work-life conflicts. Integration of work-life balance as a human resource management strategy is beneficial to both the employees and the organizations. Some of the benefits associated with work-life balance include increased employee retention, increased productivity, and improvement in the empl oyee well being and reduced labor costs. In the long run, an organization’s profitability is improved. On the other hand, work-life balance contributes towards the employee developing their career. This arises from the fact that organizations are forced to incorporate employee development and career management strategies. Additionally, the employees have sufficient time to develop their careers through various means such as going back to school. The study has illustrated that there are a wide range of human resource management strategies that organizations can adopt in order to ensure flexibility. Some of these strategiesinclude part-time works, job sharing and telecommuting. Alternatively, human resource managers can also consider developing compressed schedules, flextime, holidays, leaves and career breaks. Through these strategies, there is a high probability of an organization being successful incorporating work-life balance. The resultant effect is that the organization is able to eliminate work-life balance. Reference List Armstrong, M., 2006. A handbook of human resource management practice. London: Kogan Page. Bird, J., 2006. Work-life balance doing it right and avoiding pitfalls. New York: Wiley Incorporation. Chick, E., 2004. Fundamentals of work-life balance; career development. Alexandria, V.A: ASTD Press. Cieri, H., Holmes, B. Abbott, J. Pettit, T., 2002. Work-life balance strategies:  progress and problems in Australian organizations. Sydney: Monash University. Clutterbuck, D., 2003. Managing work-life balance: a guide for HR in achieving  organizational and individual change. London: Chartered Institute of Professional Development. Coussey, M., 2000. Getting the right work-life balance; implementing family-friendly  practices. London: Chartered Institute of Professional Development. Clayton, D., 2004. Leadershift; the work life balance program. Camberwell Vic: ACER Press. Ghani, A., Metusin, A. Ooi, K., 2006. HRD for developing st ates and companies:  proceedings of the 2005 Brunei. Singapore: ISEAS. Kaiser, S., 2011. Creating balance? International perspectives on the work life  integration of professionals. New York: Springer. Lockwood, N., 2003. Work-life balance; challenges and solutions. New York: Society for Human Resource Management. Martin, J., 2010. Key concepts in human resource management. Los Angeles: Sage. Needle, D., 2010. Business in context; an introduction to business and its  environment. Andover: South-Western Cengage Learning. Raddon, R., 2005. Your career, your life; career management for the information  professional. Aldershot: Burlington. Romer, C., 2011. Work-life balnce and the economics of workplace flexibility. New York: Diane Publishing. Torun, F., 2007. Work-life balance- any improve for business? Berlin: Munchen Grin Verlag.

The Customer Journey Is Dead A Dawning Of Behavioral Data With Judd Marcello From Cheetah Digital [AMP 137] - CoSchedule Blog

The Customer Journey Is Dead A Dawning Of Behavioral Data With Judd Marcello From Cheetah Digital [AMP 137] Blog Marketers try to map and meticulously outline their customer’s journey to convert a lead into a paying customer. Instead, maybe they should focus on behavioral data to deliver the right message on the right channel at the right time.    Today, my guest is Judd Marcello, executive vice president of global marketing at Cheetah Digital. He believes the customer journey doesn’t exist. Instead, figure out why data is important and how to leverage it between brands and customers. Judd’s Career Journey: B2C to B2B martech firms; it’s all about your contacts and who you know As the number of channels increase, buyers jump around brands on their journey Fallacy of falling into trap of using phrases that become commonplace Consumers, not marketers now predict the path they take from researching to buying a product Marketers can still be proactive by using data to drive smart insights and technology from an AI perspective to provide a great customer experience Customers are going to do whatever they want to do; marketers should: Create unique, compelling, and consistent brand experience Deliver the right messaging Hyper personalize efforts    Create connection between your brand and customer Deliver personal and custom experience through data management Cheetah Digital’s Website revised to reflect how prospects look for information Indicators of Success: Team members, content, client summit; digital evolution What’s working and what’s not; prioritize performance to identify gaps Links: Judd Marcello on LinkedIn Judd Marcello’s Email Cheetah Digital ExactTarget Experian Friction by Roger Dooley Write a review on iTunes and send a screenshot of it to receive cool swag! If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Judd Marcello: â€Å"Consumers have more tools than they’ve ever had before to either research or access products or be influenced by other consumers.† â€Å"I don’t think it is a journey, I don’t think it is any one tool that can actually deliver on what a consumer wants. I actually think it’s a number of things.† â€Å"If you are a company that lives and breathes your purpose, your clients will feel that. They will want to be a bigger part of your overall offering or way forward.† This idea of unique value exchange and making that a personalized value exchange is really what our job is today, and why people are going to keep coming back to you or stay with you.

Food Culture or food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Food Culture or food - Essay Example There are people that say that Africa has the largest range of food. This is attributed to the fact that the continent has many rural areas where people carry out substantial farming to produce different foods, but they have not been able to make it available to the outside regions due to poor infrastructure. Egypt is one of the countries known to have a wide range of foods and most commonly known for a dish known as ful. Countries such as Morocco have a reputation for dishes such as Couscous (Albala 27). This type of food is served with vegetables and to add flavor an individual can add meat to the mixture. Kenya is another country in the African continent that amazes many people. This is because restaurants in the country know how to mix the dishes such that they can get a combination that can leave the visitors wishing to get some more. In a country such as Botswana, sorghum and millet is one combination that has led to the vast acknowledgment of the country’s porridge. How ever, if you compare the Biltong in South America that is their staple meat shows a kind of superiority in South American culture and their cuisine. A continent such as North America is one that is argued to have the least number of dishes, and the reason is the fact that the continent only has three countries and thus limits the number of dishes that the continent can produce. Moreover, it is argued that most of the dishes present in the country are imported and that for the people that cook these meals they have the meals got from different regions in the world and get to mature or rather grow the food with adjusted environments given the continent’s advancement in technology (Albala 32). For example, Corn is one of the most recognized meals in the United States. Researchers have argued that the growth of corn is an aspect that came from Africa and particularly from countries that grow maize. The

NATIONAL LIBERATION, INTERNAL STRIFE AND INTERNATIONAL MACHINERY Essay

NATIONAL LIBERATION, INTERNAL STRIFE AND INTERNATIONAL MACHINERY - Essay Example The oil industry went ahead to create an industrial proletariat, but the numbers remained quite low in the capital-intensive industry. When oil workers made demands on their flushed proprietor, they did not earn any redress. The foreign management recycled prejudices that did not respond to the workers aspirations. W. T. Wallace, who was the vice president of Venezuela Gulf at that time, felt that taking care of these workers did not matter much, and there was no need for listening to their demands. In the 1950s, the country’s oil production doubled. Between 1948 and 1957, the oil industry managed to earn the government $7 billion in terms of revenues (Prashad 177). This amount was the highest compared to the previous public revenues ever since the country became colonized by Spain. This money gained from revenues and the enormous capital from foreign investment flooded the country. It was used in the construction boom at the Caracas city. Freeways circled the valley, enclosing European-style apartment buildings and enormous shopping arcades which included the world’s most profitable branch of Roebuck and Sears (Prashad 178). Between 1952 to1958, Venezuela’s dictator Marcos Perez used the revenues gained from the oil industry for reconstructing urban Venezuela. The rich created a paradise Caracas valley while an enormous migration began to settle on the hillsides. These were not oil workers, which in most cases lived in company housing near the oil field to the west of the country. The migrants came in response to the great social upheaval in Venezuela, caused in large part by the rapid economic growth which resulted from the steady growth in oil profits. The country experienced an enormous increase in its gross national product that hit 95 percent, and this was a great boost for the construction trade and the service industry for the wealthy (Prashad 178). From 1950 to 1965, the country experienced an

Hearing Loss Attributed to the 21st Century use of Personal Music Player Essay Example for Free

Hearing Loss Attributed to the 21st Century use of Personal Music Player Essay In the recent few years leisure noise has become one of the threats to the hearing as it can reach high volumes and an increasing number of people are exposed. The danger is not only exposed by the music from the clubs but also it has been extended to the new generation of music players which are known to produce sounds at high volumes. Across Europe it is estimated that millions of people are using personal music players on a daily basis and in most of the cases these gadgets are being used inappropriately putting the user at a great risk of ear damage. This is a serious concern as the emerging technology may cause numerous problems to the people who are fond of using these entertainment gadgets. To add salt into the injury the users are exposing themselves to this particular danger for a long time as they are spending substantial time listening to music using ear phones. The amount of time one exposes to the sound of loud music from the personal music players increases the chances of hearing loss. The children and the youth are at risk as they have been noted to constitute the highest proportion of users. In this paper I will discuss the dangers involved in the use of personal music player and at the same time bring into the understanding who should be blamed for the hearing loss as a result of the constant use of these gadgets. Is it the makers of the personal music players or should we blame the users for putting their life at risk? A scientific study that was carried out for the European Union revealed that noise from the personal music players is a routine pollution for many people. It threatens permanent damage of the ear to as many as hundred million people in Europe and other parts of the world. The report indicated that those people who listened to the music for a continuous five hours per week on high volume were exposing themselves to high noise than it is allowed in the factory work places. This means that users of the personal music player who prefer to listen to their music on high volume are at a worse position than workers who are located in a noisy factory in an industrial hub. (Linkov,I and Steevens,J 2009 359) Experts argue that the maximum volume from these equipments can generate as much noise as an aero plane that is taking off. That kind of noise is enough to make a person have a quick and permanent hearing loss. The worst thing according to this report is that the users do not realize the problem until very late. This is the time when the damage has already been caused and nothing can be done about it. It is a very sad situation where a young person with bright future prospects losses his or her ability to hear at such an early age, it can be a very devastating experience but whom do we blame? Do we pass the buck to the manufacturer of these gadgets fro their neglect or do we blame the users for sometimes knowingly exposing themselves to dangers through their constant use of the music players. (Jameson,P and Romer,D 2008 347) The MP3 generation is headed for permanent hearing impairment in the cause of their lives. The youth are at the greatest risk as well as the older people too, in twenty seven countries across Europe it is estimated that fifty to a hundred million people out of five hundred people may be listening to a portable personal music player at any given time. Equivalents of five percent listeners who expose themselves to these new generation entertainment gadgets for more than one hour are at the greatest risk. These statistics have raised fears among some people prompting them to take some actions so as to avoid a future generation which has numerous problems which has been caused by things which can only be described as luxurious. In the year 2006 a man in Louisiana sued one of the manufacturing firms, The Apple claiming that this company had failed to take enough steps to prevent the problem of hearing loss among the users of one its popular product, the iPod. The suit which was filed in a federal district court in California city of San Jose claimed that iPod produces a sound which is as loud as one hundred and fifteen decibels when the maximum sound that is considered safe for listening is eighty five decibels. To this man the Apple Company was to blame for the problem that is threatening to have millions of deaf people in some years to come. I tend to disagree with his sentiments as it is clearly evident that the ipods sold by this company and many other manufacturer comes with a warning in the manual where the users are warned about the dangers they expose themselves into through playing the music in high volumes from their personal music players. It is blatantly clear that the users expose themselves to the risk of hearing loss through ignoring the warnings given by the manufacturers. The companies can not escape blame too, such warnings are printed using very tiny fonts such that not all the users might get a chance to read the small inscriptions which are usually placed on a page where the user might not even see. (Kirk,R and Mayshork,C 2007 73) The risk involved do not only come from ipods, the portable phones and personal stereos pose a similar problem as their earphones leads to a high sound exposure than any other type of a listening device. It has been stressed that young people who continue to expose themselves through listening to the high volume music from their music devices usually run into the risk of developing some hearing complications by the time they hit their twenties. Problems such as persistent tinnitus which is induced by high volume music has been reported common among the people in their youth and are constant users of the personal music devices. Despite this problem the same people continue using these devices. Therefore the problem squarely lies with the users, they are clearly aware of the risks involved, they have gone through numerous problems which have been as a result of their insatiable appetite for entertainment but they still continue to expose themselves to the risk. This can only be termed as deliberate move by these users to harm themselves and it is for this reason we can not blame the companies for the problems that are being experienced by the MP3 generation. The manufacturing firms only came to fill the gap that existed; they offer satisfaction to the people who are keen on entertainment especially when they are on move. They have clearly indicated the dangers one can expose him or herself to if the device is not used properly, that is if it is put on high volumes but the users choose to ignore such information for their personal reasons. (Tulchinsky,T and Varavikova,N 2000 285) The choices we make in life determine the direction we head, if we make the right ones we will always be on the right direction, if we happen to take the wrong choices as we mostly do then we are bound to blame others for the trouble we may get ourselves into later in our lives. It is extremely important for us to make the right decision as pertaining what we do as the opposite can lead to devastating effects. People have a choice of either buying a personal music player or any other similar device, they make a choice as to whether they will listen to the music high or low, it is basically a matter of choice. There is nothing about MP3 technology that can directly lead to hearing loss. It is the choice we make. For those users who choose to always put their devices at manageable and recommended sounds the problem of hearing impairment might not affect them but for those who choose to ignore the warnings given by the manufacturers, this problem will affect the rest of their lives. They just make a mistake of listening to the music on loud volumes for too long therefore exposing themselves to al manner of dangers associated with the noise. (Chan,S and Kwok,S 2003 34) The European Union is planning to regulate the volumes on personal music players and other stereos due to the fears that usage of these devices is causing the damage to the ears. This action has been precipitated by the findings of the scientific commission which was given a task of coming out with ways in to which this problem that is threatening the ability of million to hear can be tackled. In normal circumstances the personal music players are allowed to go up to one hundred decibels but when it used with an inbuilt headphones the sound can go up to one hundred and twenty. This is way above the recommended safe sound volumes which are close to eighty five. The recommended sound levels by the European Union committee are eighty, a figure which has been pointed out as safe enough to warrant any fears. This clearly points out that it is only a matter of educating the users on how they are supposed to go about listening to music using their sophisticated technology. If someone decided to ignore the message, he or she can not blame the manufacturing company for the problems that hearing problems which might occur later in life due to inappropriate use of the device (Linkov,I and Steevens,J 2009 359) For the sake of those who ignore the information given by the manufacturers, the makers of these devices should be advised to limit the volume levels so that they do not exceed the recommended limits. Though this might affect their sales it is the right thing to do as it will save those who have a problem following the given instructions. The company will in the short term suffer minimal losses but in the long term they will have more users as they will have expanded the markets as the effects of these devices to the ears will be minimal. The users will have won the confident of the music players as they have been set according to the standards which are considered safe for average use. (Davis,G 2004 40) The government can not limit the time a given person will spend on the personal music player. This is an individual choice; we spend as much time as we can get on these entertainment gadgets. Therefore it is up to the users to limit themselves as to how long they are going to be exposed . The user should ensure that they spend less time listening to the music through their devices to minimise the risk involved. All these points indicate that the manufacturing companies have no role to play as far as the usage of the personal music player is concerned. Their duty is to inform the users of the dangers involved through playing it loud and continuos exposure over a long period. The rest lies with the person using the gadget to decide how much time he or she is going to spend listening and on what volume they will get their music. If one decides to put his or her health at risk you can not turn at the company and blame it for the presonal problems which were as aresult of own volition. The government has the responsibility of ensuring that the manufacturing company follow the standards as far as making of the personal music players is concerned. This will go a long way in saving the users who are conscious about their health. The recommeded standards should include limiting the volume settings to a particular level which can not harm the user even if the decide to ignore the warnings. People need to take a responsibility as far as their actions are concerned. There is a need for every user to take precautiosn as far as usage of these devices is concerned. Inappropriate use can lead to devastatiting health effects which would have been prevented if the user was careful. Technology advancement has come to make our lives easier and more enjoyable. This can only be achieved if we use this technology appropriately,use of personal music player beyond the recommended sound volume can lead to seroius effects which are not related to the manufacturing. The user have all the responsibility to ensure that this piece of sophistication does not harm him or her rather it serves the right purpose which is entertainment. (Markel,G 2007 25) The manufacturing company should carry a warning on the users who violate the instructions which comes along with the product. They have a responsibility to save the end users from their own ignorance. They can do this through offering and sponsoring sessions where users get to be taught on the proper methods of handling these entertainment equipement. This can help save some people but the biggest part should be played by the end user,they must use the device responsbly so as to avoid complications that might be brought by high sound volumes besides the time spent listening to the music at the expense of other important actiivities such as studying. The sole responsbility of the hearing loss as a result of inappropriate use of the personal music player and other related devices lies squarely on the user. He or she has the ability to control its use and therefore ealding a healthy life. (Anderson,B 2004 103) Work Cited Tulchinsky,T and Varavikova,N The New Public Health:An Introduction for the 21st Century,Academic Press (2000) Linkov,I and Steevens,J Nanomaterials ,Spring Publishers (2009) Davis,G How to do Everything with your iPod and iPod Mini,Mac Graw Hill Professionals (2004) Chan,S and Kwok,S Culture and Humanity in the new Millenium:the Future of Human Value Chinese University Press (2003) Kirk,R and Mayshork,C Personal Health in Ecological Perspective,Mosby (2007) Markel,G Defeating the 8 Demons of Distraction,Geraldine Markel (2007) Jameson,P and Romer,D The Changing Portrayal of the Adloescents on the Media Since 1950,Oxford University Press (2008) Anderson,B Bringing Business to Life:Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility,ASQ Quality Publishers (2004)

Black Militia’s Formation Essay -- American History, The Civil War

In such a controversial period regarding the spread of slavery and state’s rights, the Louisiana black militia’s formation and involvement during the Civil War was not one without strife. The Union and Confederacy were both divergent in issues regarding the black population. It was only innate the black population would assist in the struggle which would determine their future to be free from subrogation. In order to review the history of the Civil War, it is only practical to view the involvement of black men during this struggle. James G. Hollandsworth, Jr. explores the social, political, and military aspects of the first, second, and third regiments of the Louisiana Native Guards during the Civil War. This topic of black militias is a rare narrative due to its lack of precedent over that of the white participants. The author begins with the Louisiana Native Guards representing the Confederacy during the siege of New Orleans and continues through the time of reconstruction. The basic initiative of Hollandsworth is to illustrate the discrimination of black soldiers by their white Union counterparts. By tracing some of the involvement of the Louisiana Native Guards during the Civil War, Hollingsworth is able to address some historical questions regarding the different sentiments towards blacks in the north and south. There are several smaller factors which Hollandsworth explores. One of these factors is the differences in sentiments amongst the white participants of the Union militias. The determination of the participants in the black militias is also exemplified to account for their devotion towards the conflict which surrounded the Civil War. Hollandsworth also explores the continued struggle and determination of the black... ...are that of superior authority, such as officers. Since a militia unit contains different hierarchies of participants, to contain the superior and not the inferior provides insufficient evidence on the topic at hand. In order to fully understand history, it is beneficial to gather information from both perspectives and all participants. A biased tabulation of history is compared to that of a victim and its offender. Historical events contain factual elements which may never be fully discovered, especially during times where documentation was some times scarce. Since history sometimes repeats itself, in order to learn lessons, one must identify all the elements which caused the initial conflict. Hollandsworth revives a portion of history which brings about a new perspective to his readers and with this a possible evolution in black military historical literature.

American Dream Narrative

Georgeanne Harter AP Language and Composition Tlumack – 2X 11 March 2013 My Personal American Dream In the book, The Epic of America, written in the year of 1931, author James Truslow Adams was the first to give a â€Å"clear† definition of what the American Dream really is. He stated that the American Dream is â€Å"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement† (Truslow 214).Although his definition describes what the American Dream is, it does not explain what everyone’s American Dream is throughout the world. This is because each person has their own idea of a perfect life, therefore giving them their own distinct Dream and ways to achieve it. For some people, the ideal and perfect life may mean finally leaving their home country and traveling to America to be successful and prosperous. For others, it may mean getting married, having two beautiful chi ldren living in a three bedroom house with a white picket fence.Although several people may have the same outcome they would like to accomplish, it is how they get there that distinguishes them from the rest. As a young, only child, I determined what I wanted my American Dream to be and that was to grow up underneath the influence of my parents and have the perfect family with a dog, but I still have yet to make it there. Sometimes, some people just have to wake up and realize that their American â€Å"Dream† is more like an American â€Å"Nightmare. † I was doing everything in my power to make sure I kept a good realtionship with my mother and father.Seeing as I was only in first grade when I realized what I really wanted my life to be like, I made sure I did everything possible to keep my parents happy, which in turn would be a cause for a good relationship. I was doing well in school and I very rarely ever got into trouble so I figured I was on the right track. It w as one day after I came home from a wonderful day at school, when I noticed things at home were rapidly rolling downhill. Immediately, I came home to two annoyed parents, who no sooner became to argue leading to them both screaming at ach other at the top of their lungs. These arguments came to be more frequent. At that point, being so young and an only child, I thought these occurrence were all my fault and thought it would be best to try and fix things. That plan quickly backfired on me when, one day, my father stormed out of the house with rage. I was lost and confused and wanted things to be better so I could continue with my idea of a perfect life, but it seemed as though my parents did not want to partake in my efforts. I figured sooner or later one of them would give in and that ended up being my father.I knew that he still loved me no matter what but he had to get out of the house. He began to realize the mental damage that these arguments were causing me. When I was seven y ears old, my parents were officially separated and when I found out, it crushed me. Rather than holding my head up high and keeping a positive mindset, I let it hang and attack every perfect thought I ever had in my mind. Immediately following the loss of my father’s presence in the house, I went into a stage of shock. It took me a little while to bounce back because I missed him.He was my best friend and I was his. A while later, the feeling of not wanting to be with my mother grew inside of me, more and more each day I woke, and I was having a hard time figuring out why. Not too long after, my parents officially got divorced. It wasn’t until much later when my family isolated the problem. As hard as it was for me to believe, my mother, Eileen, was actually diagnosed with a mental disorder. It is called Psychosis which is known for its loss of contact with reality. It is marked by delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, and distorted perceptions of reality.Although it was extremely unfortunate for all of us to experience, the disorder answered my question as to why there were so many screaming matches between my parents. Although her mental health was not deteriorating at a fast rate, I quickly realized that I was not interested in living with her anymore. Even though my â€Å"Dream† was pretty much shot, I just was not living my childhood the way I wanted to when I was with her. In the summer of 2006, when I was nine years old, I decided that I missed my father too much and wanted to move in with him.It was nice because I was still attending the same school and still had all the same friends. I loved Eileen very much and I know she loved me too, it’s just that her mental disorder did not allow her to convey it properly. Being at such a young age, I did not realize that she can’t help it. This disorder is who she is and there is really nothing that can stop it. As I tried very hard to free Eileen from my mind, I began to foc us more on my school work and continuing my life with my father and it was great. I was the happiest I had been in a very long time.Several months after I had moved in with my father, he told me that he had met someone while he was at work. He had been talking to her for a while without me knowing of it because he wanted to make sure that it was someone he was interested in having in our life before he introduced me to her. Her name is Mya. When I met her, I immediately noticed everything he loved about her. She was and still is a beautiful, intelligent, and strong woman who didn’t let anything or anyone else define her and I quickly understood that those were the reasons why he was so enamored by her.Before really thinking about everything that was so quickly occuring, I was just estatic for my father because he was finding someone to love and is happy with again. I took a step back and realized that I no longer seemed like my father’s first choice, although he told m e I was. I was acting extremely immature and began to grow a large attitude towards Mya. In my mind, I had to compete with her for my father’s attention. One evening, the three of us decided to go out for dinner. This way I could get to know Mya a little bit better. Needless to say, I blew up and the three of us had an all time low point.We had a long talk about whether or not I could handle something like this in my life. As I was crying my eyeballs out, I expressed my true feelings; that I really wanted her to stay in my life but more importantly my father’s. I was so happy to see him happy and she was the reason why. We agreed on that night that we would focus on building a family bond because not too long later did my father propose to marry her. In the summer of 2007, my father and I moved to Virginia where Mya lived and the three of us found the best house to move into.I was really grateful for her stepping in and taking over as my mother figure, especially since I was at such a young age. Although I still had several attention and attitude problems, they were becoming far and few in between and we were working on having a great realtionship. It was definitely a difficult task, though. Starting my American Dream over again sounded like a good idea so I did just that. I focused in school and did everything I was supposed to do, making my parents happy and also setting up for a great relationship. To this day, I am still experiencing a struggle with Eileen.Due to her mental state, I have a hard time having the mother-daughter relationship that I have always wanted. Even though I know she cannot help the way she is, I have pretty much ceased all communication with her. Her brain is just not wired the same as mine and there is nothing I can do to change that. We think differently and that hinders my plan to becoming successful. It’s just what’s best at the moment. I have Mya now to look up to and although it will never be the same because she is not my biological mother, it is pretty darn close and that’s all I can ask for.Of course I miss and love Eileen, she’s my mother and always will be, but I have to do what I have to do to ensure that I set up a successful life for myself in the future and keeping her out of my everyday life for the time being will allow me to accomplish that. Back then, I thought thought my life was turning into the American â€Å"Nightmare† but I guess the most recent occurrences was just God’s way in telling me to keep my head up because currently, I am on my way to getting back on track to achieve my American Dream. Works Cited Adams, James Truslow. The Epic of America,. Boston: Little, Brown, and, 1931. 214. Print.

Haircuts Case Study Essay

Strategic Business Area to Improve through IT. The most important aspect of the haircutting business model that can be improved in UMUC Haircut situation has to be customers (customer demand). The entire profit model revolves around two truth. The first is that people want to come get haircuts here at UMUC. Second, these customers will be repeat customers at a rate that facilitates profit. In order to meet both of  these goals for profit the use of a comprehensive scheduling tool is needed to both benefit customers and manage employees. A cloud-based open schedule application allows for simple transparency and has a secondary feature of using old scheduling data to form a more profitable business model. Being able to have a constantly evolving schedule provides the perfect amount of flexibility for Myra Morningstar. Specific Solution To best apply information technology to the scheduling problem a robust program will be developed. This programs first major feature is that it will be cloud based. So for a 7 day work week there will be open hourly blocks that can be filled with customer appointments. These blocks are of course able to be filled at the main counter on the central computer in the system but can also be filled via the web. Customers will be able to submit request for blocks which will be approved by management. At the same time, in the same program these blocks will correspond to individual chairs, in the sense that the chair represents an available stylist being able to perform the styling or cut. This program will be real time so that everyone is one the same page. Ultimate control will fall on Myra Morningstar. The program will run through the UMUC Haircut website. IT Infrastructure Requirements Services- Myra and staff will be required to learn and manage this program. Although not overly complicated it will require dedication of use to be successful. It will be tempting to use the paper scheduling method but this will need to be cut out. The initial construction of the program and subsequent upgrades to the program will be the work of a clever programer for hire and should not require constant technical support. Hardware- Any internet connected device will be able to access to the program. It would be a sound investment to have a small command terminal or server inside the store able to handle backing up this data constantly and allows a level of redundancy. (To both handling the data and backing it up) Software- A application will have to be purchased or designed to facilitate this online scheduling. An example of a pre-existing software package would be Appointment-plus, this service already includes customer self-booking. Telecommunications- A high-speed internet connection will be required at all times so that the program can communicate changes back and forth at all times. This need can be handled by fiber-optic or a dsl network from a local provider. Most of the information here will be data. Facilities- The main desk computer station will be the facility for housing the center server. This software, if uniquely designed for UMUC Haircuts will be entirely in-house but if a generic version it is applied it will be managed from that companies facility. How Online Scheduling will Improve the Process. As UMUC Haircut conducts business now there is no single method for managing both employee staffing times and customer appointments. Customers have to come in or use the phone to schedule an appointment or come for a walk in unsure of availability. This new program will allow for the front desk, all the stylist, and customers to access the scheduling tool at all times. This will stream line the process of getting into a chair and cut down on the almost guess method of scheduling employees. Online Scheduling Impact on Generic Strategy. The generic strategy goal that is strived for at every step in this process is Broad Market/High Value-to-Cost Ratio. With an affective online scheduling tool more customers will be able to access appointment opportunities that fit their schedule. This gives them the ability to plan ahead. at the same time the scheduling application also cuts down on the hours that stylist are getting paid even though there are no appointments. Being able to cut down on these wasted hours will make the cost drop which will indirectly rase the Value Ratio. Reaching more people online, at a  cheaper price will be the driving force to adopt an online solution for scheduling. References: Schmidt, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.businesscaseanalysis.com/business.html http://www.appointment-plus.com/product/how_it_works.php

Free Essays on Suave Market Segmentation Analysis

â€Å"Suave† Market Segmentation Analysis Introduction Market segmentation is the division of a market into distinct groups of buyers who might require different products or marketing mixes (Kotler et al, 1994). It is the division of a heterogeneous market consisting of buyers with different needs and wants, into homogeneous segments of buyers with similar needs and wants. The markets may be divided by geographic region, demographics, psychographic, benefits sought, and behavioristic. The segmentation process involves five steps (Belch pg.40): 1) Finding ways to group consumers according to their needs. 2) Finding ways to group the marketing actions-usually the products offered-available to the organization. 3) Developing a market-product grid to relate the market segments to the firm’s products or actions. 4) Selecting the target segments toward which the firm directs its marketing actions. 5) Taking marketing actions to reach target segments. I researched a few products that are made by â€Å"Suave† and their motto is that â€Å"looking great doesn’t have to cost a fortune.† Suave believes that consumers should bring the same shopping savvy to health and beauty products that you bring to food or household goods. When two products offer the same benefits and have similar ingredients on the label, give the less expensive one a try. A higher price may only reflect fancier packaging and not necessarily product quality. But having said that, it's wise to go with names you recognize and trust. Price is only one part of the equation, and it's not a value if you're not getting the quality you thought you were buying. I believe Suave’s target market are value minded consumers whose attitudes are that value priced items give the same results as high priced items. As you can see from the grid below that Suave’s products are considered high quality with a low price. Hi Price Nexus X ... Free Essays on Suave Market Segmentation Analysis Free Essays on Suave Market Segmentation Analysis â€Å"Suave† Market Segmentation Analysis Introduction Market segmentation is the division of a market into distinct groups of buyers who might require different products or marketing mixes (Kotler et al, 1994). It is the division of a heterogeneous market consisting of buyers with different needs and wants, into homogeneous segments of buyers with similar needs and wants. The markets may be divided by geographic region, demographics, psychographic, benefits sought, and behavioristic. The segmentation process involves five steps (Belch pg.40): 1) Finding ways to group consumers according to their needs. 2) Finding ways to group the marketing actions-usually the products offered-available to the organization. 3) Developing a market-product grid to relate the market segments to the firm’s products or actions. 4) Selecting the target segments toward which the firm directs its marketing actions. 5) Taking marketing actions to reach target segments. I researched a few products that are made by â€Å"Suave† and their motto is that â€Å"looking great doesn’t have to cost a fortune.† Suave believes that consumers should bring the same shopping savvy to health and beauty products that you bring to food or household goods. When two products offer the same benefits and have similar ingredients on the label, give the less expensive one a try. A higher price may only reflect fancier packaging and not necessarily product quality. But having said that, it's wise to go with names you recognize and trust. Price is only one part of the equation, and it's not a value if you're not getting the quality you thought you were buying. I believe Suave’s target market are value minded consumers whose attitudes are that value priced items give the same results as high priced items. As you can see from the grid below that Suave’s products are considered high quality with a low price. Hi Price Nexus X ...

Embracing Change The Season is Changing - Are You

Embracing Change The Season is Changing - Are You The first hints of Fall are creeping in. The mornings are crisp, and leaves are starting to turn. More than any year that I remember, I’m in a state of change myself as this season of change comes upon us. Most people resist change. We humans are creatures of habit, and even when we know we need to change in order to grow or be successful, we fight to hold on to our old ways of being. I am no different. One of the biggest things I have been changing is how I am as a team member. I have been doing a lot of work on being fun to work with – choosing, even when things are not going the way I want them to go, to be delightful instead of resentful and unpleasant. Making this change has entailed taking in some painful feedback, and getting on a core level that this feedback is for me, delivered with good will, and meant to make my life better. The Implications of Change This growth edge is extremely important for me as a business owner and as a speaker. My newfound attitude has helped me create a better customer experience for an important corporate client, maintaining their confidence even when we had some breakdowns. Any unwillingness to change on my part could have meant the end of that relationship. I am also seeing results in my speaking career. I’ve known for a long time that I have been weak in obtaining clients through speaking; people get a lot of information from me and then take it and go home, most often never contacting me again. I have not liked this. I have wanted it to change! But I kept doing things the same way I had been doing them, which all of us know is NOT a recipe for different results. Biting the Bullet Two months ago, I finally decided to hire a speaking coach, Denise Hedges, in hopes that I could turn things around. With a major presentation coming up September 20, this seemed like the right time to get serious. Now 4 sessions into a private coaching with Denise, I am finding out why I took so long to tackle this issue! This might surprise you, but Denise did not just tweak a few things here and there. She had me write a brand new introduction, delete half my slides, and craft a completely different offer, along with a new, unfamiliar script. And now I am having to practice all these things by myself, trying to remember the new phrases and organization. I’m feeling scared and very uncomfortable. I have been procrastinating. I do not like this! I don’t wanna!! And yet, I have done what she asked me to do, without (too much) complaint. Reaping Rewards When I practiced my new script with a friend, he said it was way better than anything he has heard from me before and that it addressed an issue he had noticed but hadn’t ever quite identified. He heard my offer as my truly wanting to be there with him, understand him, and help him, and he found me very relatable in my delivery. I’m expecting this presentation to be my best ever, and to create excitement in my audience about working with me that I have never created before. And I still want to cry every time I think about delivering my talk in a new way, or about practicing it – again. Here’s the thing. Growth is painful. It’s usually not fun, or at least it’s not fun until you get the results of your new way of being. Then it all becomes worth it. Your Turn The question to ask yourself is not whether you are resisting change, but how and where you are resisting it. I invite you to choose one area, as the leaves turn gold and purple, in which you will take a risk and weather the pain to get a new result in your life. Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinSeptember 12, 2016

Writing negative messages Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Writing negative messages - Assignment Example To that effect, the waiver will reduce the fee charge by two percent. In addition, the bank kindly advises you to consider regular contact with the personnel especially when you need to make transactions. It avoids cases of overdrawing when your account balance is insufficient and promotes significant transactions without running your account to zero balance. Moreover, the charges will be lower and considerable after you receive sufficient information on the best methods to make transactions through the account. Instead of using the branch for your cash withdrawals, make proper use of till points for withdrawals. The bank has tills located at major retailers such checkers, spar, and pick n pay. Using the till for withdrawal reduces any transactions when the bank account has insufficient balance. It also lowers withdrawal fees and charges. In your scenario, the bank will charge waiving fee since your transactions were at the branch, thereby, increasing charge fees. Kindly note that your objections not to charge weaving fee on the transactions only applies to one transaction and the other transactions will remain

Bendix Policies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bendix Policies - Case Study Example Their reactions showed that they greatly feared the loss of their position and reputation. This is due to the fact that William Agee’s method of leadership, which is decentralizing powers and his own spontaneous style of meritocracy, is both in contrast and in conflict with board members and other managers’ style of corporate handling. It is ethically wrong for them to treat her rise to the ranks with much sour judgment. At the same time, it would have been to Mary Cunningham’s best interest to have shown some measure of respect toward the board members. Even though the board members were wrong from the start, she should have at least shown some degree of politeness. Also, prudence would have worked well for her advantage. If she was more discreet with regards to her closeness with William Agee, there would have been less scrutiny and suspicion coming from other managers. William Agee should have also put an effort to avoid such scrutiny by showing some professional distance between him and Mary Cunningham. That way, both would have less trouble with regards to the position placing issues and resistance from the board