Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Fair Trade Coffee Essay

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Fair Trade Coffee - Essay Example Since Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is also known for investing in small coffee enterprises, their target market is therefore the main focusing on the business owner who like to entertain their consumers by providing them with the best brewed coffee so that they can understand the quality of their consumer satisfaction and hence go ahead in having business transactions with them. Even, for the employees it is very refreshing to have coffee with a good brew. Apart from the business owners, when we look towards the consumer’s point of view, it is essentially meant for the families who like to have occasional get together and plan to drink coffee during those quality moments (Rudarakanchana, 2013). The young professionals who have the aspiration to start up with their own enterprises and be professional with their approach is also a target customer for them. Based on the target market, GMCR should also look forward to tapping the regions where there do not have their presence li ke the developing nations such as India and China. The demographic profile of the normal Green Mountain coffee consumer is not promptly accessible by means of market asset information; then again, a few industry patterns may be relevant to the GMCR target consumer. It is accepted that the target consumer is Caucasian and in their initial 20s and/or mid 40s. This consumer drinks a normal of 2-4 containers of coffee every day, which is a perfect focus for a solitary mug blending framework. Coffee inclination has a tendency to change by salary, with higher wage consumers inclining toward premium coffee products. Higher wages are additionally connected to a higher ability to pay for more manageable product characteristics. Considering this, GMCR offers a few lines of natural and reasonable exchange K-Cups and entire bean/ground coffee choices and more maintainable bundling alternatives. GMCR

Effects of Alcohol Abuse Essay Example for Free

Effects of Alcohol Abuse Essay Alcoholism means addiction of alcohol; it could explain as a person who could not stop to drink and craving for it. In fact, alcohol abuse can damage a person’s health and life. Alcohol would affect a person’s mind and body that causes the person did wrong thing. Besides, when a person drunk, he or she might not know what they had done. Which mean, when they are drunk, they could not judge what are right and wrong. Consequences, there are many cases happened because of alcohol abuse since alcohol would impact a person’s mind and cause them loss of control and do wrong things. Signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse: †¢Slurred or incoherent speech. †¢Poor balance and clumsiness †¢Delayed reflexes †¢Stomach pain, vomiting and nausea †¢Blacking-out †¢Redness of the face during or after periods of consumption Slurred or incoherent speech When a person is drunk, he or she might not be able to speak fluently. In the other words, the person who is drunk might not know what they are talking about because the impact of alcohol. Thus, those people who are drunk are usually slurred or incoherent speech. Poor balance and clumsiness The person who is drunk will get injured easily. It is because alcohol would affect our brain and cause us become clumsiness that we could not balance our body. Furthermore, when we could not control our mind and balance our body, we might fall down or bang the wall easily. As a result, the effect of alcohol abuse will cause us become poor balance and clumsiness. Delayed reflexes Alcohol will make people blur and delayed reflexes action since it impairs our brain driver. Therefore, those people who are drunk might not be able to give respond immediately since the alcohol effects. Hence, alcohol abuse could cause a person delayed reflexes action. Stomach pain, vomiting and nausea The other obvious signs of alcohol abuse are stomach pain, vomiting and nausea. Stomach pain might a sign of stomach cancer which cause by alcohol abuse. When this sign occur, it means the cancer already progressed. It is impossible to get cancer easily, only if the person is an alcoholism victim. Alcohol abuse might cause gastritis which is an inflammation of the stomach lining. In a long run, it will become stomach cancer if the person who ignores the sign. Moreover, drinking too much might also lead to serious effect like vomiting blood. As a result, alcohol is harmful to our health. Blacking-out Black-out happened when an alcoholism victim consumed a large amount of alcohol in a long period. Black out is a serious â€Å"disease† in biological that we categories as brain damage. There are 2 types of blackouts. First of all, inability to recall any memories from the period of intoxication is called â€Å"en bloc blackout†. Which mean, the person who could not remember at all what he or she had done when they drunk. In addition, the second type of blackout is called â€Å"fragmentary blackout† which has ability to recall certain part of intoxication period. It means the person who just can remember certain part of his or her memories when they took a large amount of alcohol. Redness of the face during or after periods of consumption Why people who drunk their face will red? It is because alcohol will enlarge the blood vessels whenever we drink. In addition, alcohol will enlarge the blood vessels until they lose their quality or tone then caused those people who drunk will get a redness face. Furthermore, water in our body and skin will evaporate after a long period of alcohol abuse that cause skin wrinkles. Besides that, alcohol abuse will also reduce the level of vitamin A in our body which is an important vitamin can support skin health.

Aquinas? Fifth Way Of Proving Essay -- essays research papers

Aquinas Fifth Way of proving the existence of God Question:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Briefly summarize Aquinas’ Fifth Way of proving the existence of God. What counter-argument does Hume cite in answer to this argument from Design? What is John Hick’s answer to Hume’s argument from Evil? Is he right? Thomas Aquinas theorized five different logical arguments to prove the existence of God utilizing scientific hypotheses and basic assumptions of nature. In the fifth of his famous â€Å"Five Ways†, Aquinas sets forth the assumption that all natural bodies move toward an end. Since bodies are constantly moving in the best way possible to achieve that end, the path must be designed. God, of course, is the ultimate designer of the universe. The natural hypothesis that follows is that God created the universe, including the human race, for a purpose or to achieve an end, and thus the universe and all life moves toward that end constantly and in the best manner possible. Later philosophers who studied Aquinas’ fifth way realized that this theorem is plagued with a problem, the problem of evil. In David Hume’s Design, through the art of conversation and Socratic debate, the two main characters in his essay set forth and decipher the problems of evil and how it may disprove Aquinas’ fifth way among countless other theories of creation by a omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent God. Hume explains that if God created the universe to achieve an end, and if the path toward that end is the best manner to that end, then how does one explain the existence of evils in the universe such as natural disasters, pain, disappointment, anger, sickness and despair. Hume uses the two characters in his essay to display the human point of view regarding the problem of evil, so that he can theorize using actual human experience, feelings, and sensations rather than logical assumptions and scientific hypotheses regarding a universe outside and beyond our own human existence. The essay suggests that the human experience is usually, for the most part, an unhappy one. Hume believes that all humans experience pain, sickness, anguish, nervousness, fear, sadness, embarrassment in some point during their lives. The â€Å"good† feelings humans experience in life, such as joy, love, excitement and pleasure are often few and far between and always less enduring than the â€Å"evil† feelings. For example, I... ... the existence of God and the problem of evil, my mind keeps wandering to one example of human life, Christopher Reeves. He is a man who was blessed with looks, career success as an actor and celebrity, and a happy marriage. One day he becomes paralyzed from the neck down losing everything even the capacity to breath. If God sees this and can change his condition, why doesn’t He? Has is made Reeves a better man or enriched his soul as Hicks would say? Surely Reeves’ life is filled with unhappiness and suffering. Does one have to be aware that they are in the process of soulmaking? And is soulmaking supposed to be good for the individual, for the world at large or just for God? If I could answer these questions, there would be no need for the study of philosophy, as they have no correct answer. I do believe in God, but I do not know why except for a feeling inside which may be inborn or the result of my environment. David Hume’s philosophies are based upon trusting one’s feelings as is evidenced by his reliance on poets instead of scientists. I think I will also go with my feelings on this issue. God does exist but humans may never have the capacity to understand the Hows and Whys. Aquinas? Fifth Way Of Proving Essay -- essays research papers Aquinas Fifth Way of proving the existence of God Question:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Briefly summarize Aquinas’ Fifth Way of proving the existence of God. What counter-argument does Hume cite in answer to this argument from Design? What is John Hick’s answer to Hume’s argument from Evil? Is he right? Thomas Aquinas theorized five different logical arguments to prove the existence of God utilizing scientific hypotheses and basic assumptions of nature. In the fifth of his famous â€Å"Five Ways†, Aquinas sets forth the assumption that all natural bodies move toward an end. Since bodies are constantly moving in the best way possible to achieve that end, the path must be designed. God, of course, is the ultimate designer of the universe. The natural hypothesis that follows is that God created the universe, including the human race, for a purpose or to achieve an end, and thus the universe and all life moves toward that end constantly and in the best manner possible. Later philosophers who studied Aquinas’ fifth way realized that this theorem is plagued with a problem, the problem of evil. In David Hume’s Design, through the art of conversation and Socratic debate, the two main characters in his essay set forth and decipher the problems of evil and how it may disprove Aquinas’ fifth way among countless other theories of creation by a omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent God. Hume explains that if God created the universe to achieve an end, and if the path toward that end is the best manner to that end, then how does one explain the existence of evils in the universe such as natural disasters, pain, disappointment, anger, sickness and despair. Hume uses the two characters in his essay to display the human point of view regarding the problem of evil, so that he can theorize using actual human experience, feelings, and sensations rather than logical assumptions and scientific hypotheses regarding a universe outside and beyond our own human existence. The essay suggests that the human experience is usually, for the most part, an unhappy one. Hume believes that all humans experience pain, sickness, anguish, nervousness, fear, sadness, embarrassment in some point during their lives. The â€Å"good† feelings humans experience in life, such as joy, love, excitement and pleasure are often few and far between and always less enduring than the â€Å"evil† feelings. For example, I... ... the existence of God and the problem of evil, my mind keeps wandering to one example of human life, Christopher Reeves. He is a man who was blessed with looks, career success as an actor and celebrity, and a happy marriage. One day he becomes paralyzed from the neck down losing everything even the capacity to breath. If God sees this and can change his condition, why doesn’t He? Has is made Reeves a better man or enriched his soul as Hicks would say? Surely Reeves’ life is filled with unhappiness and suffering. Does one have to be aware that they are in the process of soulmaking? And is soulmaking supposed to be good for the individual, for the world at large or just for God? If I could answer these questions, there would be no need for the study of philosophy, as they have no correct answer. I do believe in God, but I do not know why except for a feeling inside which may be inborn or the result of my environment. David Hume’s philosophies are based upon trusting one’s feelings as is evidenced by his reliance on poets instead of scientists. I think I will also go with my feelings on this issue. God does exist but humans may never have the capacity to understand the Hows and Whys.

Managing Conbini- Case Study Custom Research by Essay Writers

Culturally speaking, Japanese consumers have an interest in utilizing American inventions because of an overall desire to capture the flavor and feel of Western culture, as Japanese citizens experience the joy of having disposable income to purchase goods   that they are seeing for the first time in many cases (Ellington, 1992).   Specifically in the instance of the American convenience store concept, the popularity of it in Japan, beyond the cultural associations, also has a practical element to it, as space in Japan is at a premium, which makes it difficult and impractical for the average Japanese to store lots of consumer goods in their homes.   Therefore, the convenience store allows them to quickly obtain needed items if they cannot be kept on hand at home. Evolution of the Original Concept of the Convenience Store Space is at a premium in Japan, and retail stores are no exception.   Even the Conbini (convenience store) lacks enough shelf space to display all of the goods that are offered.   Because of this, the original concept of the convenience store has evolved through the use of e-commerce; for example, in the Conbini, Internet terminals exist whereby the customer can order products and have the products delivered to their homes.   This allows for the offering of many goods in a limited space environment. Aside from the obvious convenience and product availability that Conbini provides to the Japanese consumer, there is another important aspect of Conbini that the Japanese particularly like, which can be found in the e-commerce element of the stores themselves.   Because many Japanese do not have Internet access in their homes, the possibility of buying online from the terminal at Conbini is very appealing (Bloomberg Business News, 2004). What Other Kinds of New Products/Services Could be Introduced in the Conbini? How Should the New Offerings be Distributed? Conbini represents an excellent opportunity to introduce new products/services.   Because of the space crunch in Japan, there exists a promising opportunity for the provision of the kinds of entertainment (DVDs, videocassettes, etc) that previously required large retail spaces, but can be ordered using the Internet technology that now exists. These new product/services should be distributed via home delivery due to the convenience and practical considerations that are dictated by the space restrictions that exist in Japan itself. Technology can also play a bigger key role.   The Conbini innovations in E-commerce could be adapted to E-tailing in the United States in many ways, and have been to some extent in the past, evidenced by American retailers like Circuit City, which has embraced the Internet as a sales tool and used it to rescue the firm from low profits over the past 5 years or so (Bhatnagar, 2004). To strictly follow the Conbini model, the typical American convenience store could reduce the costs associated with huge retail locations by utilizing Internet technology as Conbini has to make convenience stores smaller and more cost/space efficient.   Given certain concerns in the United States at this time as well, Conbini models can reduce the crime associated with the typical American convenience store and conserve natural resources by disturbing less land and using less utilities and building materials. References (Bhatnagar P 2004 Circuit City-No More Excuses)Bhatnagar, P. (2004). Circuit City-No More Excuses. CNN Money.com, , . Retrieved September 10, 2006, from Money Magazine and CNN Web Site: http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/26/news/fortune500/circuit_city (Bloomberg Business News 200404 Japan's Convenience Stores add E-Commerce to Milk and Management)Bloomberg Business News. (2004, April). Japan's Convenience Stores add E-Commerce to Milk and Management. Retrieved September 10, 2006, from CNET News Web Site: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,13027570,00.htm (Indiana University Clearinghouse For US-Japan Studies 1992 Japanese-U.S. Economic Relations)Indiana University Clearinghouse For U.S.-Japan Studies/Lucien Ellington, author (1992). Japanese-U.S. Economic Relations. Japan Digest, 4(2002), .      

Persuasive Essay on Overpopulation Essay

Overpopulation is becoming one of the most preeminent problems facing human civilization. This complicated, pervasive issue will come to be a problem of the utmost importance for people of all races, religions, and nationalities. Our planet now provides for approximately 5.8 billion people, with projections of around 10 billion by the year 2050. Two billion of these are extremely poor, the poorest of which live in absolute poverty and misery. One very serious effect of the population explosion is its detrimental effects on the global environment. Increasing amounts of food, energy, water, and shelter are required to fulfill the needs of human society. Much of our energy is derived from the burning of fossil fuels-releasing millions of metric tons of toxins into the atmosphere annually. The amount of land required for food production will grow increasingly larger, while the amount of available land will grow increasingly smaller. The affects of overpopulation on human society are many. Suffering from a lack of resources, people are often driven to war when they become too numerous for their available resources. Ethnic and racial differences will grow increasingly frequent and unresolvable. Increasing numbers in urban areas will lower quality of life in cities around the world. The precipitators of this complex issue are unlimited. Factors such as poverty, food distribution, and government corruption are all important aspects. No one will be unaffected by the repercussions of an overpopulated world. This highly sensitive and complex issue demands the attention of all who reside upon this planet, particularly those who have the ability to work for change.

How to Get a Birthday Cake Delivered to a College Dorm

How to Get a Birthday Cake Delivered to a College Dorm Whether youre a parent or a friend, sending a birthday cake to a students dorm room can be one of the most thoughtful things you can do during those stressful college years. Parents worry about their kids while theyre away, and friends want to celebrate in style with fun surprises. Whether youre long distance or just want to make your kid or friend smile, sending a little celebratory gift can make all the difference. Delivering Birthday Cakes to Dorms The first thing you want to do is see if the college you want to send a cake to offers special orders for birthday treats through their dining halls or student life services. This would be a fast solution, so scouting out the possibilities is key. Simply inquire when you visit the campus during orientation or give them a quick call. At the University of Delaware, for instance, you can send a YoUDee Gram –a 10 to 15-minute visit by the school mascot, who is a giant blue chicken that arrives at the students dorm with balloons, an autographed photo, and more than a little comic pizazz. Parents and friends can also call the University of Delawares dining hall to order a personalized birthday cake for dorm delivery or pick up. In fact, other colleges like Stanfords parent association  deliver birthday cakes, balloons, and flowers, as a fundraiser for the college endowment fund. Bakery Deliveries Some college town bakeries deliver on campus. However, if you cant find a local patisserie, there are plenty of bakers who will ship their wares overnight or via two-day mail. Simply check in with the campus mail room to see if any restrictions apply. Some accept FedEx or UPS overnight, while others prefer US postal service deliveries. Get creative with all the fun possibilities for your cake send by drawing inspiration from other colleges: Arizona’s Fairytale Brownies  mails a birthday box with brownies, a teddy bear, a kazoo, and a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game for around $50.The Delaware-based SAS Cupcakes ships assorted vanilla, triple chocolate, and red velvet cupcakes decorated for birthdays or Greek life events, accompanied by little flags with your child or friends Greek letters. Delivered by the dozen, this delivery costs around $45. A Homemade Birthday Box Forget all the headaches and assemble your own birthday-in-a-box. Frosted cakes dont do well in the mail, so you can bake a cake. The moister the cake, the better. Consider flavors like  pumpkin, carrot, or banana. Once youve baked your cake, youll want to make sure its wrapped before you ship it off. Include little additions to your care package, like a simple can of supermarket frosting, a box of candles, and a birthday tiara. Alternatively, you can bake up a batch of chocolate cookies that are  decorated to look like cupcakes, and ship them off. For something extra, add a birthday card or a small gift.

Management is Comprised of Four Functions

Management is Comprised of Four Functions Free Online Research Papers Management has become as the significant part of our society and it is also one of the most important human activities. The field of management grew in our society during from the time human beings began in the form of social organizations to achieve the goals they could not accomplish as individuals, managing has been essential to ensure the coordination of individual efforts. A French industrialist named Henry Fayol proposed all managers perform four functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling that. As the development of society on group effort, and as many organizations have become large, the task of managers has been increasing in importance and complication. That’s why, this essay is going to describe and discuss about this four functions. Planning is the first functions of the management process. Planning has defined as the process of setting performance objective and determining what actions should be taken to accomplish them. Though planning, a manager identifies desired result and ways to achieve them. There are four key elements to plan: objectives, actions, resources and implementation. Planning is the logical thinking through goals and making the decision as to what needs to be complete in order to achieve the organizations’ objectives. Managers use this process to plan for the future, as the blueprint to predict problems, choose the actions to avoid the difficult problems and to response the competition. As an example of planning in decision in action, consider the situation Tsuneji Uchida as President and COO Canon Inc who have lead Canon Company become the overwhelming No.1 position worldwide in all current core businesses.. Uchida must live by it values which clarify the company’s objectives an d goals. First, he decided that objectives were the maintaining canon’s position as the best company in the world; expand the business operation by diversification; get high profit for company. Second, He decided to choose the course of action. He decided to create the new digital camera with the good design and new technology for sustaining in marketing competition He decided on the lowering production costs through innovation to get higher profit. He decided to find new business domains for expand the company business. In order to reach the aims of the organization, managers are also responsible for arranging work to accomplish the organization’s goal. Organizing is the process that managers use to establish a structure of working relationships that allow organization members to impact and cooperate to achieve organization’s goal. A manager must know their ability of inferiors in order to organize the most valuable resources of the company. Then, managers will coordinate work activities, set up the training for the employees, acquire resources, and organize the work group into a productive team. Moreover, the manager must go over the plans the team; divide the projects into units that each person can complete, link jobs together in an understandable organized and distribute the jobs to individuals. Tsuneji Uchida faced the issue of how to structure the organization. He provided the flexible direction for the staff. First, he was continue develop the strength in producing camera to bui ld up Canon’s brand. Second, at the same time, Uchida coordinate the other team manufacture office imaging equipment like copiers generate earnings for company, and optical equipment, such as the steppers, used to produce semiconductors, boast cutting edge technology. Every organization includes people, and management’s job is to work with and through people to accomplish organization goal. When the managers motivate subordinates, influence individual or team as they work, select the most effective communication channel or deal in any way with employees’ behavior issues, they are leading. Leadership is the power of persuasion of manager to motivate the subordinates achieving organization’s goals. For example, the managers at Canon’s company encouraged workers to fulfill the goals of the company. Leaders had contacted with workers by using open communication and were able to give awareness about the position of the company and motivated them more cooperation in production. That attributed Canon’s success to smoothly adapting to the emerging environment of digital world. Management is there to inspire subordinates to step up to the plate and find innovative means to solve organization problems. The last function is the controlling process that guarantees plans are being supplemented properly. Controlling involves monitoring actual performance, comparing actual to standard, and taking action if necessary. This allows for the performance standard within the group to be set and communicated. At Canon’ company, the maintaining Canon’s positions and high profitability structure represent two very important management objectives to ensure continuous future growth. So, to guarantees the improvement of Canon firmly, Uchida identified the potential business in displays and in the field of medical equipment like X-ray systems capable of displaying moving images. Through this vast potential, Uchida have expanded the company business in the new field that ensured the maintenance and improvement of Canon’s business. Overall, through the definition of four functions’ management and the virtual example about the Canon’s company, that show us these classical functions provide clear and discrete methods of classifying the activities that managers use for achieving of goals. Moreover, a research named Henry Mintzberg identified the set of the management roles about informational roles, interpersonal roles, and decisional roles. His conclusion that the typical are not a systematic person who carefully decides how to plan, organize, lead, and control. So, the four function’s Fayol and the management roles’ Minztberg which one is correct? In fact, each has their own merit. Fayol’s approach is quite similar to Mintzberg’s way of classifying manager’s jobs. Mintzberg suggests that managers have quite similar roles as they have to be able to be a leader and communicate well. In additional, Fayol said that one of the four functions of management was organizing. Mintzberg, as well as most theorists have said that organizing is a crucial part of managing. Without organizing there would be no need for a manager. So, Fayol’s traditional approach was the frame of the underlying management that the theorists got his ideas an d then expanded on them. However, there are also some differences between Fayol’s and Minztberg’s theories. Fayol stated that there is a hierarchical chain of command in control. So if the workers only take control from one person then everyone above that person does not have control of them. So, a manager of a department is in charge of their workers but as it is essential to take control from only one person that means that the store manager cannot give the department managers workers orders. Whereas Mintzberg suggests that managers have interpersonal roles and are just a liaison for the owners of the organization. They are used purely to get across the main objectives of the business and to get the workers to do what they are supposed to do, so they are also motivators. Mintzberg doesn’t just look at the internal factors that influence managers but he also looks at the external influences as he uses the systems approach. Managers do not just spend their time planning, organizing, le ading and controlling, they also do other important tasks such as dealing with customers, going to meetings and building interpersonal relationships. Overall, the role of managers will depend on the type of organization you are working for. Therefore, there is a variation of the types of fucntions and the types of roles that managers have in an organization. As a result there cannot be one theory that can work for every single organization. The closest theory that can is Fayol’s, but that is only because he uses a broad range of what the managers role is Fayol’s theories can be said that they were the foundation thoughts for all the theorists. Fayol’s functions still represent the most useful way of conceptualizing the manager’s job. Research Papers on Management is Comprised of Four FunctionsThe Project Managment Office SystemMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanLifes What IfsIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalResearch Process Part OneInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

The 3 Steps to Convert Decimals to Fractions (and Back)

The 3 Steps to Convert Decimals to Fractions (and Back) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Wondering how to convert decimals to fractions? Or how to convert fractions to decimals?It’s easier than you think! Keep reading to see the steps for decimal to fraction conversions (including why you need to follow different steps if you have a repeating decimal), steps for fraction to decimal conversions, a handy chart with common decimal/fraction conversions, and tips for quickly estimating conversions. How to Convert Decimals to Fractions How do you convert a decimal to a fraction? Any decimal, even complicated-looking ones, can be converted to a fraction; you just need to follow a few steps. Below we explain how to convert both terminating decimals and repeating decimals to fractions. Converting a Terminating Decimal to a Fraction A terminating decimal is any decimal that has a finite other of digits. In other words, it has an end. Examples include .5, .234, .864721, etc. Terminating decimals are the most common decimals you’ll see and, fortunately, they are also the easiest to convert to fractions. Step 1 Write the decimal divided by one. For example, say you’re given the decimal .55.Your first step is to write out the decimal so it looks like ${.55}/{1}$. Step 2 Next, you want to multiply both the top and bottom of your new fraction by 10 for every digit to the left of the decimal point. In our example, .55 has two digits after the decimal point, so we’ll want to multiply the entire fraction by 10 x 10, or 100.Multiplying the fraction by ${100}/{100}$ gives us ${55}/{100}$. Step 3 The final step is reducing the fraction to its simplest form. The simplest form of the fraction is when the top and bottom of the fraction are the smallest whole numbers they can be. For example, the fraction ${3}/{9}$ isn’t in its simplest form because it can still be reduced down to â…“ by dividing both the top and bottom of the fraction by 3. The fraction ${55}/{100}$ can be reduced by dividing both the top and bottom of the fraction by 5, giving us ${11}/{20}$. 11 is a prime number and can’t be divided any more, so we know this is the fraction in its simplest form. The decimal .55 is equal to the fraction ${11}/{20}$. Example Convert .108 to a fraction. After putting the decimal over 1, we end up with ${.108}/{1}$. Since .108 has three digits after the decimal place, we need to multiply the entire fraction by 10 x 10 x 10, or 1000.This gives us ${108}/{1000}$. Now we need to simplify. Since 108 and 1000 are both even numbers, we know we can divide both by 2. This gives us ${54}/{500}$. These are still even numbers, so we can divide by 2 again to get ${27}/{250}$. 27 isn't a factor of 250, so the fraction can’t be reduced any more. The final answer is ${27}/{250}$. Converting a Repeating Decimal to a Fraction A repeating decimal is one that has no end. Since you can’t keep writing or typing the decimal out forever, they are often written as a string of digits rounded off (.666666667) or with a bar above the repeating digit(s) $\ov {(.6)}$. For our example, we’ll convert .6667 to a fraction. The decimal .6667 is equal to $\ov {(.6)}$, .666666667, .667, etc. They’re all just different ways to show that the decimal is actually a string of 6’s that goes on forever. Step 1 Let x equal the repeating decimal you’re trying to convert, and identify the repeating digit(s). So x=.6667 6 is the repeating digit, and the end of the decimal has been rounded up. Step 2 Multiply by whatever value of 10 you need to get the repeating digit(s) on the left side of the decimal. For .6667, we know that 6 is the repeating digit. We want that six on the left side of the decimal, which means moving the decimal place over one spot. So we multiply both sides of the equation by (10 x 1) or 10. 10x = 6.667 Note: You only want one â€Å"set† of repeating digit(s) on the left side of the decimal. In this example, with 6 as the repeating digit, you only want one 6 on the left of the decimal. If the decimal was 0.58585858, you’d only want one set of â€Å"58† on the left side. If it helps, you can picture all repeating decimals with the infinity bar over them, so .6667 would be$\ov {(.6)}$. Step 3 Next we want to get an equation where the repeating digit is just to the right of the decimal. Looking at x = .6667, we can see that the repeating digit (6) is already just to the right of the decimal, so we don’t need to do any multiplication. We’ll keep this equation as x = .6667 Step 4 Now we need to solve for xusing our two equations,x = .667 and10x = 6.667. 10x - x =6.667-.667 9x = 6 x = ${6}/{9}$ x = â…” Example Convert 1.0363636 to a fraction. This question is a bit trickier, but we’ll be doing the same steps that we did above. First, make the decimal equal to x, and determine the repeating digit(s).x = 1.0363636 and the repeating digits are 3 and 6 Next, get the repeating digits on the left side of the decimal (again, you only want one set of repeating digits on the left).This involves moving the decimal three places to the right, so both sides need to be multiplied by (10 x 3) or 1000. 1000x = 1036.363636 Now get the repeating digits to the right of the decimal. Looking at the equation x = 1.0363636, you can see that there currently is a zero between the decimal and the repeating digits. The decimal needs to be moved over one space, so both sides need to be multiplied by 10 x 1. 10x = 10.363636 Now use the two equations,1000x = 1036.363636 and10x = 10.363636,to solve for x. 1000x - 10x =1036.363636 -10.363636 990x = 1026 x = ${1026}/{990}$ Since the numerator is larger than the denominator, this is known as an irregular fraction. Sometimes you can leave the fraction as an irregular fraction, or you may be asked to convert it to a regular fraction. You can do this by subtracting 990/990 from the fraction and making it a 1 that’ll go next to the fraction. ${1026}/{990}$ - ${990}/{990}$ = 1 ${36}/{990}$ x = 1 ${36}/{990}$ ${36}/{990}$ can be simplified by dividing it by 18. x = 1 ${2}/{55}$ How to Convert Fractions to Decimals The easiest way to convert a fraction to a decimal is just to use your calculator. The line between the numerator and denominator acts as a division line, so ${7}/{29}$ equals 7 divided by 29 or .241. If you don’t have access to a calculator though, you can still convert fractions to decimals by using long division or getting the denominator to equal a multiple of 10. We explain both these methods in this section. Long Division Method Convert ${3}/{8}$ to a decimal. Here is what ${3}/{8}$ looks like worked out with long division. â…Å" converted to a decimal is .375 Denominator as a Value of 10 Method Convert ${3}/{8}$ to a decimal. Step 1 We want the denominator, in this case 8, to equal a value of 10. We can do this by multiplying the fraction by 125, giving us ${375}/{1000}$. Step 2 Next we want to get the denominator to equal 1 so we can get rid of the fraction. We’ll do this by dividing each part of the fraction by 1000, which means moving the decimal over three places to the left. This gives us ${.375}/{1}$ or just .375, which is our answer. Note that this method only works for a fraction with a denominator that can easily be multiplied to be a value of 10. However, there is a trick you can use to estimate the value of fractions you can’t convert using this method. Check out the example below. Example Convert â…” to a decimal. There is no number you can multiply 3 by to make it an exact multiple of 10, but you can get close. By multiplying â…” by ${333}/{333}$, we get ${666}/{999}$. 999 is very close to 1000, so let’s act like it actually is 1000, divide each part of the fraction by 1000, and move the decimal place of 666 three places to the left, giving us .666 The exact decimal conversion of â…” is the repeating decimal .6666667, but .666 gets us very close. So whenever you have a fraction whose denominator can’t easily be multiplied to a value of 10 (this will happen to all fractions that convert to repeating decimals), just get the denominator as close to a multiple of 10 as possible for a close estimate. Common Decimal to Fraction Conversions Below is a chart with common decimal to fraction conversions. You don’t need to memorize these, but knowing at least some of them off the top of your head will make it easy to do some common conversions. If you’re trying to convert a decimal or fraction and don’t have a calculator, you can also see which value in this chart the number is closest to so you can make an educated estimate of the conversion. Decimal Fraction 0.03125 ${1}/{32}$ 0.0625 ${1}/{16}$ 0.1 ${1}/{10}$ 0.1111 ${1}/{9}$ 0.125 ${1}/{8}$ 0.16667 ${1}/{6}$ 0.2 ${1}/{5}$ 0.2222 ${2}/{9}$ 0.25 ${1}/{4}$ 0.3 ${3}/{10}$ 0.3333 ${1}/{3}$ 0.375 ${3}/{8}$ 0.4 ${2}/{5}$ 0.4444 ${4}/{9}$ 0.5 ${1}/{2}$ 0.5555 ${5}/{9}$ 0.6 ${3}/{5}$ 0.625 ${5}/{8}$ 0.6666 ${2}/{3}$ 0.7 ${7}/{10}$ 0.75 ${3}/{4}$ 0.7777 ${7}/{9}$ 0.8 ${4}/{5}$ 0.8333 ${5}/{6}$ 0.875 ${7}/{8}$ 0.8888 ${8}/{9}$ 0.9 ${9}/{10}$ Summary: How to Make a Decimal Into a Fraction If you’re trying to convert a decimal to fraction, first you need to determine if it’s a terminal decimal (one with an end) or a repeating decimal (one with a digit or digit that repeats to infinity).Once you’ve done that, you can follow a few steps for the decimal to fraction conversion and for writing decimals as fractions. If you’re trying to convert a fraction to decimal, the easiest way is just to use your calculator. If you don’t have one handy, you can use long division or get the denominator equal to a multiple of ten, then move the decimal place of the numerator over. For quick estimates of decimal to fraction conversions (or vice versa), you can look at our chart of common conversions and see which is closest to your figure to get a ballpark idea of its conversion value. What's Next? Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius?We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa). Are you learning about logarithms and natural logs in math class?We have a guide on all the natural log rules you need to know. Did you know that water has a very special density? Check out our guide to learn what the density of water is and how the density can change.

Comparison of relative validity of nutrient intake estimated by Article

Comparison of relative validity of nutrient intake estimated by comprehensive and grief-type self-administered diet history questionnaires against 16 d dietary records in Japanese adults - Article Example for the calculation of energy-adjusted values using regression and also used the Pearson correlation coefficients hence making the results more valid and reliable (78). The nutrient intakes deprived from the first DHQ and the first BDHQ was compared with the intake from the 4 day DRs. (80). The correlation coefficients were then compared using the Meng-Rosental-Rubin method to identify overlapping correlation coefficients (93). The study design was appropriate in assessing the relative validity of the DHQ and BDHQ. First, through the DHQ, the statisticians were able to estimate the dietary intake, behavior and consumption frequency of the participants during the preceding period. The study design used the DHQ that was able to ask for the consumption frequency and the portion sizes of the 150 food and beverages (60). On the other hand, the BDHQ provided the researchers with the opportunity to compare the dietary intake of some selected foods, although not based on the portion size (58). In addition, the reasonable sample size for a validation study is between 200-300 participants with three days of dietary measurements. In this case, the number of participants was 182 and the dietary measurement days were 4 which fall within the reasonable sample size. 4. The two energy-adjusted methods are relatively similar in results. From the findings, in the case of the crude intake of the 42 nutrients and the residual method, the researchers observed that the differences were insignificant. It was observed that energy adjusted nutrients by residual methods produces better results for women while energy adjusted by the density method produces similar outcomes for both men and women. From the first method, the DR and BDHQ1 nutrients intake were at 67% and 43% for women respectively and 26% and 64% for men respectively (101). For the energy adjusted for nutrient density, there was no significant differences that was observed in 13, 16 for the DHQ, BDHQ. Conceivably, it means

Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Final Exam - Assignment Example You use the following article from ABI/Inform Complete in your research paper: Teaching Managers to Appraise Performances by Donna L. Mitchell and Esther Green in Nursing Management, Mar. 1996, Vol. 27, Issue 3, pages 48-49. The URL for the journal ishttp://www.nursingmanagement.com. How would you cite it in APA 6th edition format? If you were researching telecommuting and its effect on productivity and your search using the search term, telecommuting, produced too many irrelevant results, how might you change your search statement to cover the key concepts more thoroughly and find the most relevant search results? Your small business is the support unit for various learning software products sold by other vendors and purchased by academic institutions. With the increasing popularity of these software solutions, growing your business requires reviewing current research and information on new products, product performance, and statistics on the market. What type of resource will best keep you up-to-date? You are doing research on the use of mobile technology such as cell phones or PDAs in patient care. Which of the following groups of subject terms would be the best for searching the subject field of a health database like Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition on this topic? You are using a chapter from an edited book in your research paper. Published in 2007, the book is called The Handbook of Mentoring at Work and is edited by Belle Rose Ragins and Kathy E. Kram.

Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Capital Asset Pricing Model - Essay Example This model has been heavily criticised and debated over the past decades, and many of the economists are of the opinion that this framework is not adequate enough to assess various risk factors comprehensively. However, none of the opponents could introduce a potential alternative to this concept till date. This paper will critically analyse the applicability of the CAPM in corporate finance applications in the context of modern business environment. Corporate applications of CAPM Hillier et al (2008, section 5.1) provide a detailed view of the corporate applications of the capital asset pricing model. Through a well integrated theoretical concept and empirical evidences the authors give readers an easy understanding of the applicability of CAPM in corporate finance. Through this section, the authors address the misconception that the CAPM theory is applicable only to investment purposes. The application of capital asset pricing model together with mean variance analysis is greatly s upporting corporate managers in decision making process today (Grinblatt & Titman 2003, p. 132). The author argues that a manger is most likely to lose his job if his organisation is continuously struggling with declining stock prices (ibid). Hence every corporate manger is forced to improve the firm’s stock prices at any cost. For this, the manager needs clear understanding of the different elements that determine share value. Such knowledge would greatly assist corporate managers to determine what actions would improve the stock value and thereby serve the interest of stockholders and directors. For instance, the combined application of CAPM and mean variance analysis may help firms to hedge their risk elements to a great extent and â€Å"diversify their portfolios of real investment projects† (Grinblatt & Titman 2003). The CAPM model also benefits multinational corporations to scrutinise their capital expenditure decisions. Management theories and historical evidenc es clearly indicate that thoughtless capital expenditures would lead to corporate failures. Top executives are extremely concerned with the firm’s capital expenditure strategies as they determine the organisation’s levels of sustainability. At this juncture, CAPM assists regulators to frame their capital expenditure strategies by focusing on various factors affecting capital expenditure. This concept is also useful for financial managers to arrive at reasonable conclusions on how to value real assets. Although many of the critics claim that CAPM model cannot be used for valuing real assets, majority of corporations are still cantered on this model. However, scholars like Lee et al (2009) strongly believe that CAPM can be very useful in real asset valuation. While analysing the historical growth phases of CAPM, it seems that corporate managements have been using this model in their all areas of financial analysis and planning since the development of this concept. Schol ars opine that capital budgeting is one of the major corporate applications of the CAPM. If it is possible to predict the systematic risk associated with a project accurately, then the CAPM can be applied to compute the risk adjusted discount rate which is essential to compensate the organisation for the risk elements of the project. â€Å"

Market Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Market Research - Essay Example The paper has been linked to the various literatures that have been provided in the past and this provides a basis for the entire paper. Various aspects like the scaling methods, the data collection methods, and also the data analysis methods have also been discussed herewith in. Conducting a quantitative research is very beneficial as it allows the researcher to gain a better view of its customers and enables the company to improve its services based on these feedbacks that are gained. The market research attempts to find answer to the following questions: a) What is the relative importance of various factors that customer expect from their hotel stay? b) What is the level of customer satisfaction towards their hotel stay in the chosen hotels? Based on the literature analysis of similar studies in the past, the researcher has identified some of the factors that seem to be important as expectations from the customer. Hence the information that is required at this stage of the research is the customer’s views on the following elements of the business: For the company to be able to attain this information there are a few methods that the hotels can adopt. The methodology used to conduct the research is referred to as the ‘research methodology’. There are a number of different approaches that are available for research methods. The research approaches used in the study comprises a mixture of both the â€Å"phenomenological paradigm† which is also referred to as a â€Å"qualitative† approach, and the â€Å"positivistic paradigm† also known as the â€Å"quantitative† approach (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 47). With the positivistic paradigm, the emphasis is on using measurement to find out the relationships between facts and causes of the phenomenon. This is â€Å"an essential element of the research process under this paradigm† (Collis & Hussey, 2003, p. 57). This

Developing Global Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Developing Global Managers - Essay Example Applying one management style or theory because of its success in one place does not necessarily result in similar success in other countries. This concept has been explained based on various characteristics associated with societal beliefs, national cultures, and impact of management policies and practices in cross-national and cross-cultural settings. Therefore, before applying the management theories that originated in one country or culture, it is important to assess its implications on other cultures and countries. 2. Explain the difference between individualistic cultures and collectivist cultures and your personal experiences with culture shock. The difference between individualistic and collectivist cultures is that people in the former type, it is generally assumed and accepted that every individual is responsible for him/herself and that individual is responsible for all rewards and repercussions for his/her actions. Individual decision making is highly emphasized and do no t entertain indulgence in others privacy. The latter type believes in family or team culture in which responsibilities and repercussions are shared by the group/family. These individuals let others invade their privacy because that is thought to be respectful, and group decision making is common.

What is the role of management information systems in the reporting Essay

What is the role of management information systems in the reporting process in a multinational enterprise Discuss the statement, Inadequate MIS in foreign affiliates can become a control problem for MNEs - Essay Example Therefore, these management information systems and the information produced by them are usually considered as crucial components of sensible and practical business decisions. For effective management in the organization, an MIS provides decision makers with facts and supports and enhances the overall decision making process. For top management and local managers, it provides the data and information that is needed to assist the board and management in making strategic decisions. At other levels, management information system offers the capabilities for monitoring and distribution of information to the management, employees, and customers (Comptroller of the Currency, 2000). Information management with in an organization is a sequence of processes that assists the organization in managing the information that flows across organizational units, identifying information needs, obtaining the information, storage and organization of information, developing information products and services, distributing information, and using information that information for effective decision making. Managing the information in this way proposes new strategies for getting the most out of the value of information in organizations, and for a redefinition of the roles of organizational professionals, be they top management, local managers, employees, or other staff (Choo, 1995). Now a days Managers have to cope with high information-processing demands in various circumstances because of the uncertainty of environmental factors and the increasing complexity of organizational activities. Operating in international markets has resulted in significant increase in information- processing demands for top managers. International growth may also cause increased proper information management demands because of the reasons such as: more complex organizational structure of MNEs, communication problems, and the geographical distance between the head office

Developing Global Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Developing Global Managers - Essay Example Applying one management style or theory because of its success in one place does not necessarily result in similar success in other countries. This concept has been explained based on various characteristics associated with societal beliefs, national cultures, and impact of management policies and practices in cross-national and cross-cultural settings. Therefore, before applying the management theories that originated in one country or culture, it is important to assess its implications on other cultures and countries. 2. Explain the difference between individualistic cultures and collectivist cultures and your personal experiences with culture shock. The difference between individualistic and collectivist cultures is that people in the former type, it is generally assumed and accepted that every individual is responsible for him/herself and that individual is responsible for all rewards and repercussions for his/her actions. Individual decision making is highly emphasized and do no t entertain indulgence in others privacy. The latter type believes in family or team culture in which responsibilities and repercussions are shared by the group/family. These individuals let others invade their privacy because that is thought to be respectful, and group decision making is common.

The Nazi Doctors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Nazi Doctors - Essay Example In fact, they had a task of eliminating people that were considered unfit for work, while others were sacrificed for others to live. Therefore, this period entails complications regarding rules that were altered frequently in accordance with camp commandants. Nevertheless, the paper will focus on analysing this issue based on the idea whether the famous philosophers, Aristotle, Kant, and Mill would agree with the practices in which Nazi doctors were involved. Aristotle, Kant, and Mill do not agree with practices conducted by the Nazi doctors through the agreement of their medical professional. In this case, they were chosen to take role of concentrating camp doctor and saving lives of numerous people while making decision regarding condemning others to death. On the other hand, both Aristotle and Mill would support the argument that the Nazi were not in a position to decline the offer of position offered by the Nazi regime. In fact, the doctors were bound to admit these offers as a w ay of saving their own lives. Others agreed with the notion that they would increase the possibility of benefiting numerous people. As a utilitarian, Mill has a conviction that actions are considered right based on their aspect of promoting happiness while wrong leads to grief or unhappiness ((Mill, 2010). Therefore, causing death for innocent people created a difficulty, thus failing to comply with the Greatest Happiness Principle. Moreover, Aristotle sought to offer a better notion to support this idea, whereby indicating that wise people are able to bare kinds of fortune in a seemly way thereby acting in an aristocrats way in various situations (Amemiya, 2007). However, Kant disagrees with the idea of doctors agreeing to the mandates given to them by the Nazi regime. This is due to his maxims conviction, which is universalized without inconsistency (Cahn, 2012), whereby if it prevailed; the doctors would not have had a chance to make their Faustian bargain. Moreover, Kant (1964) argued that a man’s dignity is lost by lying; thus, decisions, which concern determining, people who will live or die does not require to be accommodated in the law or universalized maxims. In this case, the three philosophers were advocating for a world that facilitated coexistence whereby every human being lives without being subjected to death that would be caused by another human being. Difficult choices regarding establishment of a substantial number of choices was made by Aristotle and Mill, whereby they stood for consequentialism. In this case, there was not chance for Kant to establish a philosophical justification of the murder for some people for the sake of saving others. In fact, he advocates for deontological ethics that focuses on people’s intentions (Honderich, 2005). Therefore, Kant’s convictions do not support the killings perpetrated by Nazi doctors despite the idea of saving other people’s lives. Furthermore, this is an attitude, which can be supported through a verse in the Bible at Matthew 7:12, â€Å"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.† Concerning the choice of whether I would support the actions of Nazi doctors or the offer that was presented to them by the Nazi regime is a problem that required deep thinking. However, the analysis on the three philoso

Burn out of social workers in the work place Essay Example for Free

Burn out of social workers in the work place Essay Social workers are people committed to better the lives of others and this is done through varying capacities. Some work with families, children as well as in school while others work in the medical field especially those dealing with mental health. They assist people to amicably deal with domestic conflicts, disabilities, challenging health conditions, economic problems that precipitate housing problems, unemployment as well as issues like drug and substance abuse. (www. bls. gov). Their role in policy making can also not be underscored given their efforts in conducting research and making relevant recommendations as to the best or appropriate strategies. Social workers are also quite influential in the adoption processes as well as single parent assistance. Medical and public health social workers are committed to offering psychological support to people with life threatening conditions for instance HIV Aids and Alzheimer’s disease patients. Social workers can also work in local authorities as well as in government. In pursuit of making the lives of others worth the while, social workers in their respective fields are faced by many challenges. (www. bls. gov). They have to be in constant movement from their offices to where their clients are located and back to their offices where clerical work is done. Most often than not they experience burn outs while in their work a condition that affects their productivity levels. The focus of this paper is to explain why burn out occurs among the social workers, it will illustrate how it occurs, its effects on the organization and thereafter suggest that appropriate solutions to resolve it. The term ‘burn out’ is used to refer to the process or state of mental exhaustion that has a high impact on one’s productivity. In the book Handbook of human factors and ergonomics in health care and patient safety, Carayon presents some signs and symptoms of burn outs in the work place. Burn outs leads to anxiety and lack of zeal. It causes depression and mental exhaustion, poor concentration and memory as well as increased instances of absenteeism and general poor productivity. (Carayon P, 2006). Burn outs are not good for any profession in any organization. They cause a negative impact on interpersonal communication among the various employees in an organization would definitely have a bad effect on the company’s output. (Azar T, 2000). Burn outs increases people irritability and minor issues are magnified and this can be a source of conflicts among the various employees. The overall effects of burn outs are transferred from the individuals affected to the organization as a whole. Organization risk registering high dissatisfaction levels, increased job turn over as well as low morale. In Carayon’s book burn out is defined as ‘the persistent negative work related state of mind that is characterized by exhaustion which is accompanied by distress, a sense of reduced effectiveness and the development of dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors at work’. (Carayon P, 2006). This psychological problem develops gradually and may initially be unnoticed. It arises from the contrast between one’s objectives or intentions and the reality at the job. In most cases burn outs are caused by the adherence of inappropriate or rather inadequate stress coping mechanisms. Prolonged job stress leads to burn outs among the employees in question. Burn outs lead to decreased motivation and creates anti work attitudes. (Carayon P, 2006). Social workers in the various fields experience burn outs while in their work places. This occurs when the organizations they work for fail to meet their high goals and expectations. They feel dissatisfied with their work and this dissatisfaction leads to feeling of disappointment and grief. (Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B, 2003). According to a 2006 research it was clear that most social workers are not contented with their work. A high percentage reported high levels of job dissatisfaction and were ready to leave their various organizations. According to them, the value of the work they did was not equivalent to the pay they received. (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2006). Social workers suffering from burn outs may feel detached with their clients and this will definitely affect their productivity levels. (Takeda F et al, 2005). Although different people will react differently to burn outs some could isolate themselves and have poor eating and sleeping habits. Others may find solace in alcohol or smoking all of which has a negative effect on their health. The relationship between the social workers experiencing burn outs and their clients as well as with fellow workmates is negatively affected by burn out as it triggers anger. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Organizations suffer economically whenever social workers leave due to the burn out problems. They incur the costs of hiring new employees and training them to be effective. This is made worse by the fact that they have the constraint of scarce resources. Organizations or agencies that fail to address the issues presented by their employees in this context the social workers are more likely to register higher incidences of job turnover which translates to increased costs. (Lewandowski A, 2003). A major cause of the increased instances of burn outs among the social workers is attributed to lack or failure by some agencies to involve them in the decision making processes. The lack of autonomy and the increased bureaucratization in their work place makes them feel alienated or isolated. (Lundy C, 2003). The problems to be handled by social workers become difficult by the day and this demands that the organizations adjust with the changing times if amicable solutions are to be arrived at. In her book, Social work and social justice, Lundy explains that social workers have a challenging job. Financial constraint is a major set back hindering their efficiency or productivity. They have to undergo or rather face job related stress as they try to allocate the minimal resources to match the overwhelming demands. The structure of the social welfare delivery, the mandate of the agencies they work for as well as the needs of their clients also lead to increased stress which precipitates burn outs among the social workers. (Lundy C, 2003). Most social workers are in the job due to a call or vocation to help others and the failure to involve them in the decision making process hinders their effective performance. (Kreisher K, 2002). Great control of funding sources also has a negative effect on the level of satisfaction that social workers derive from their work. The reduced commitment by the government to boost the welfare sector has led to the reduction of funds which makes social work a very challenging profession. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Without the autonomy or involvement in the decision making process they are denied the chance to apply their findings or expertise to directly affect their practice. This hinders the effectiveness of various welfare programs and on not realizing their goals they are frustrated and feel helpless. The ineffectiveness of the sector that they work for may have a direct negative impact on the social workers. They may place themselves in the shoes of their clients who could be victims of abuse or violence and live in fear especially with the knowledge of how ineffective the system is. (Kreisher K, 2002). Given the emerging social and economic conditions, the involvement of social workers in the decision making process would be more of a necessity then a requirement. This would ensure that there is effective division of labor and the work load could be minimized. Workload has negative effects on the employees’ health. This can be backed by a 1999 survey by the Canadian Union of Public social workers which established that increased work load among the social workers in the development services in children aids societies had a negative impact on their well being. To a tune of 87% social workers in the various fields confessed that the increased work load had a negative on their health. (Kreisher K, 2002). Work overload precipitates burn outs. With minimal finances at their disposal, agencies or organizations dealing with welfare hire fewer people than would be required a condition that sees the social workers with a large work load at their disposal. The social workers job predisposes them to risks of physical and verbal abuse and threats at work all of which have negative implications on their mental, physical and social well being. It also has an effect on their job satisfaction levels. In the article ‘Burned out’ Kreisher Kristen argues that the poor pay given to social workers dealing with children and the youth, in the face of the tough economic times has a big role to play in boosting ‘burn outs’ among the social workers. Their job demands are increasing while their reward or pay is dwindling and this is a major disincentive for them. There is need for the welfare organizations to adjust the compensation rates to match the difficult economic times. (Kreisher K, 2002). As Lewandowski in Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout notes disappointments among the social workers have also been aggravated by the fact that their roles or responsibilities have changed and are in contrast with their expectations. Instead of spending more time with their clients in the field they spend more time carrying out clerical work. (Lewandowski A, 2003). For the agencies or organizations accountability is of essence as they are under pressure from the financiers to show how their resources are spent. In other words the agencies are more concerned with the number of people served while the social workers are more concerned with the quality of services provided. The social workers pay is at times affected by gender bias where for instance women dealing with children are lowly paid. (Kreisher K, 2002). The burn out problem can be resolved if appropriate strategies are adopted to help the social workers face the challenges in their work effectively. Prevention of burn out can be handled both at an individual level as well as at an organizational level. Social workers can be advised to take well balanced diets, have enough sleep, talk with their workmates and share their challenges as well as create some time away from the stressful conditions. Social networks are vital as they enable one to connect with their friends and make the stress that they face easier to deal with. Identifying hobbies that would ease the work tension and pressure is also an effective way of reducing the effects of burn outs. Of mush significance is the role of organizations in resolving burn outs among the social workers. Organizations must adapt all inclusive strategies where social workers have a significant role in the decision making process. (Azar T, 2000). This makes them feel appreciated for the roles they play in the organizations. To enable social workers better manage the challenges attached to their work it is important that the social work curriculums be modified to train them on the appropriate ways to handle complex situations. Spending more time training would also ensure that they acquire immense knowledge on how to deal with real life situations. Mentorship programs would also suffice in resolving the problem of burn outs. Strong mentorship where older and experienced social workers share their experiences with younger and inexperienced social workers will provide them with adequate knowledge on how to deal with difficulties while in this job. It will reduce their job stress as they will understand that it is part of their job. Mentorship also provides them with relevant solutions to would be problems while in their jobs. Strong supervision is also vital in ensuring that work load problems that cause burn outs are effectively handled. (Kreisher K, 2002). An organization culture is also crucial in creating or reducing burn out in the work place. Positive cultures must be embraced by all means. Organizations with positive cultures go the extra mile to ensure employee retention. They make them feel that they are part of the organization and involve them in the decision making processes. They also provide financial incentives like paid vacations and health benefits. Team work is also embraced in such organizations and it ensures that job stress does not have adverse effects on the employees. Supportive co workers are essential in reducing job related stress. (Kreisher K, 2002). Organizations must also invest in making the work place safe such that the risks of being physically harmed are minimized. They can train the employees on how to deal amicably with incidences of violence. The effects of social workers burn outs on the individuals, clients and on the organizations are not desirable. The organizations must by all means ensure that employees are retained as increased job turn over sees them lose skilled, experienced and dedicated employees. They must therefore be committed to minimize the job stressors in the work environment to curb burn outs. References Azar T. 2000. Preventing burnout in professionals and paraprofessionals who work with child abuse and neglect cases: A cognitive behavioral approach to supervision. Psychotherapy in Practice, 56, 643-663. Colleen Lundy. 2003. Social Work and Social Justice: A Structural Approach to Practice. Broadview Press. Fumi Takeda. Naoko Ibaraki, Eise Yokoyama, Takeo Miyake and Takashi Ohida. 2005. The Relationship of Job Type to Burnout in Social Workers at Social Welfare Offices. Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 47 (2005), No. 2 119-125 Kristen Kreisher. 2002. Burned Out Childrens Voice Article, July/Aug 2002. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. cwla. org/articles/cv0207burnedout. htm. Lewandowski A. 2003. Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 4, 175-185. Pascale Carayon. 2006. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care and Patient Safety. Routledge Publishers. Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B. 2003. Burnout in social work. Social Work, 40, 638-647. Social Workers. Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Editions. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos060. htm The Royal College of Psychiatrists. 2006. Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 75-80. doi: 10. 1192/bjp. 188. 1. 75.

Employment and Its Effect on Economics :: Economy United States Essays Business

How has the level of employment/unemployment and national minimum wage legislation impacted on the economy as a whole and how will this effect the economy in the years to come? What is the current state of our economy? Well many economists think that this year the economy will slowdown. In the last ten years or so our ecomony has been driven by factors such as high consumer spending and the soaring property market, our economy has have already witnessed the housing market slowing down this in turn will have an effect on household spending. As for our manufacturing industry this has reported its worst fall in output in more than 10 years, increasing fears over the health of the UK economy. Also Factory production it is reported fell by 4% in the year 2002, This is the largest annual slump since 1991, this is according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Britain's manufacturing industry is going through its worst recession since the early 1990s, however high consumer spending has so far protected the wider economy. 2004 has seen a rise in economic growth both in the UK and worldwide. Britain has had what economists call full employment for quite some time the problem for the future is that this could soon change and we could end up like germany with 10.5 % of the population out of work. The reason that this could happen is that many jobs that exist today were created by the boom in the housing market in the 90?s however in the last four years or so house prices have doubled which has resulted in lower consumer spending growth this in turn has an knock on effect on the on the level of employment required in the retail industry and this is a problem. How can employment be classified? There are four types of job. These are primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary jobs. Primary jobs involve getting raw materials from the natural environment e.g. Mining, farming and fishing. Secondary jobs involve making things (manufacturing) e.g. making cars and steel. Tertiary jobs involve providing a service e.g. teaching and nursing. Quaternary jobs involve research and development e.g. IT. Employment Structures Employment structure means how the workforce is divided up between the three main employment sectors - primary, secondary and tertiary. Employment structures change over time. Developing Countries usually have a high percentage of the population in primary employment.

Pearl Buck: The Bridge Builder :: essays research papers fc

Pearl Buck: The Bridge Builder Humans fear and loathe that which they do not understand. This fact has been true for ages and still exists today. Fortunately, there are people such as Pearl Buck. People like her see the injustice in this simple fact and work to break down the walls of separation between other people. She took on the seemingly impossible task of building a â€Å"bridge† across the Pacific Ocean to China from America and broke down many walls through her writings, doing a great service to many. Biographical Information Pearl Sydenstricker Buck started her eventful life as Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker in Hillsboro, Virginia on June 26, 1892. Important events took place before this that made her birth even more special than a normal birth. Theodore Harris says that Buck’s mother Carie married a man named Andrew Sydenstricker, a Presbyterian missionary in China. The couple had a daughter and raised her there. When the child was four years old, she and her mother contracted cholera. Only the mother survived (18). Buck was born two years after this tragedy while the family was on hiatus from their mission work in China. When Buck was three months old, they returned to Chinkiang, China. According to Theodore Harris, Buck spent her whole childhood there with many Chinese influences. Wang Amah, a Chinese nurse, assisted her mother. She played with Chinese children and lived in a house along the Yangtze River (30-31). These influences later played an integral role in Buck’s success as a novelist. The Encyclopedia Britannica Online says Buck’s early schooling was received in Shanghai. Later, she returned to the United States and graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in the year 1914. After graduation, Buck went back to China and became a college professor in Nanking (1). According to Dr. Bette Reagan, Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker married John Lossing Buck, also a missionary in China, and became known as Pearl Sydenstricker Buck. The ceremony took place in China in 1917. During their marriage, the couple had a daughter named Carol. While delivering the baby a uterine tumor was found in Buck, forcing her to have a hysterectomy. This left her with no possibility of bearing children again. To add to the pain of this blow, Buck later noticed that their only child was mentally retarded, suffering from a disease called PKU. The family decided to return to the United States to place Carol in a care facility in Vineland, New Jersey (1).

Louisa May Alcott-Term Paper Essay

Many authors use experiences from their life as a guide to their writing. It’s a way to express their feelings and emotions, and it’s something in which they can be passionate. Writers and authors think on a different level than anyone else. They are constantly thinking of different ideas for novels, poems or stories. The best writing comes from those who use their own lives as a basis for their writing. They know what to write about and how to describe it perfectly. The best thing about writing from experience, I think, is that, since it’s still a fictional story, you can have an idea about what you want to write about, but you’re still able to add the interesting and fun details you want to. I believe that Louisa May Alcott has written from her own life experiences. In Eight Cousins, Rose Campbell’s father passed away and she went to live with two of her aunts and her uncle, closely surrounded by her seven male cousins, as well as their mothers. She was a sickly girl and the only cure her uncle could think of was to get active, whether it was considered ladylike or not. When the two first met, he immediately got her to be outside more and to spend a little less time thinking about her health. Alcott was perceived as a tomboy and would often play outside, climbing trees or running around. She had a boy neighbor, about her age, with whom she would often play. The two were almost inseparable for a while, and he was described by Alcott as the brother she always wanted. Continuing in Eight Cousins, Rose befriended the maid of the household, Phebe, and eventually adopted her as her own sister. Rose believed in a good education, as did Alcott, and would teach Phebe all sorts of different school subjects on her own time. Rose was well educated in Latin and loved to read. She very much enjoyed school, and was extremely smart, though most of the young women in her time weren’t educated. Both Rose and Phebe looked forward to the times when they would get to study together. Phebe was never educated before, though she wished to be, and really appreciated Rose for teaching her. â€Å"For women such as Alcott, the world in which they live included women who needed to move beyond the traditional domestic ideal.†(â€Å"Unsexed†) Rose was part of the family living in a house with a maid. She was expected to clean up after herself, as was everyone else, but she went beyond that, offering to cook or clean, even when the help wasn’t asked of her. She made sure she was educated and healthy, yet still humble at the same time. Rose always wanted to help. In Eight Cousins, it was prominently noted that once Rose went to live with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, there was a major improvement in her. â€Å"In an era when women had few options for earning money, Alcott determined to overcome her family’s poverty through her prolific writing.† (â€Å"Louisa† 3) Alcott’s family struggled when it came to money, but after moving several times, things got a little easier, especially when Alcott herself started making money on h er works. â€Å"In the later juvenile novel Rose in Bloom, the theme of women’s rights is interwoven throughout the lives of its characters.†(â€Å"Louisa† 3) Alcott never married, and part of the reason was that she didn’t want to give up her independence. This was an era where women weren’t given as much respect as men, and hardly had any freedom for themselves. Alcott was very much a pro-women’s rights advocate. She did everything she could to try and get a say in society. She joined clubs and groups, and protested against the treatment women were given. â€Å"Alcott was always a strong advocate for social reforms including abolition, prison reform, and temperance, but her primary efforts were directed towards the cause of women’s suffrage.† (â€Å"Louisa† 3) In Rose in Bloom, Rose returned from a two year voyage overseas and decided that she was going to leave her mark in this world. She was a wealthy girl, so she used a lot of her money to open up homes for women and children in need. Rose too believed that women deserved an equal say in this world. â€Å"Her juvenile stories emphasize self-sacrifice and devotion to duty.†(â€Å"Louisa† 2) â€Å"Such novels have remained extremely popular for over a century† (â€Å"Louisa† 1) Alcott was a classic writer and she used her writing as a way to speak up for herself. Both Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom can be considered almost auto-biographical, but her main story that related to her own life was Little Women, for which Alcott is most famous. Little Women was about four girls who went through their life experiencing different events along the way. When Alcott was writing, she received a request from her publisher to write a novel about a typical American girl. She was skeptical at first, but then agreed. Alcott used herself, as well as her three sisters, as her inspiration for the four main characters. â€Å"The heroine of Little Women, for example, is a rebellious young woman who strives for independence and personal achievement as a writer, but ultimately modifies her dreams when she gets married- a fact that has caused this novel to be regarded as antifeminist by some critics.†(â€Å"Louisa† 1) Although not all of the things that happened in the book happened to her, many of the events did occur in her own life. â€Å"A prominent theme in much of Alcott’s fiction is the conflict experienced by women who must choose between individuality and the bonds of family responsibilities and social traditions.†(â€Å"Louisa† 1) Alcott went beyond what was expected of her and chose to be an individual. She didn’t appreciate how women were treated, so she stood up for herself and used her books and writings to tell about it. â€Å"Her subversive sensational stories not only defied 19th-century values of womanhood, but also rebelled against the teachings of her father, Bronson Alcott, who believed in traditional ‘femininity’ and sentimentalism, in a search for human perfectionism.†(â€Å"Louisa† 2) Alcott truly used her life and feelings as her basis for writing, which is evident in her books. I believe that is why she turned out to be such a great writer. She wrote from her heart and wasn’t afraid to let people know who she really was. WORKS CITED Alexander, Lynn. â€Å"Unsexed by labor: middle-class women and the need to work.† bNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2011. . Ditchfield, Christin. Louisa May Alcott: Author of Little Women. Scholastic Inc., 2005. Print.

Key aspects of legislation Essay

Summarise key aspects of legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice relating to own role and responsibilities. (7.1.1) The BTEC PTLLS award is necessary before a person can teach at a Further Education institution such as Aylesbury College. To support this qualification Lifelong Learning UK has published a new set of overarching professional standards 1 that any teachers in this sector will need to adhere to. This describes in generic terms, the skills knowledge and attributes for those that perform roles in this sector. It is disconcerting to hear that the qualification will soon be replaced following the Lingfield review. Other areas of legislation, that is important in the teaching context is the Health and Safety at Work act 1974, which states how all employers and employees need to take responsibility for their own safety needs. Key legislation that also needs to be considered for the learning environment is the Data Protection Act 1998. The collection and analysis of personal data is intrinsic to any learning institution and this act defines UK law on the processing of data on identifiable living people. It is the main piece of legislation that governs the protection of personal data in the UK and in practice it provides a way for individuals to control information about themselves. It is not just in the IT area but for all systems and paperwork when dealing with personal data, within the IT area it is especially important to consider when teaching the design of systems security and access procedures. Another area relevant to teaching IT are the Display Screen Regulations 1992/2002 which is an amendment to the Health and Safety act, this requires all employers who require their employees to use display screens to ensure that the seating position and lighting is properly adjusted and that the employee can take regular breaks from the screen. Other blanket legislation that applies in the workplace but not specifically to a learning institution are: * Race Relations Act 2000. * Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and 2005 (DDA). * Equality Act 2010. This brought together the numerous array of Acts and Regulations, which formed the basis of anti-discrimination law in Great Britain. This was, primarily, the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and three major statutory instruments protecting discrimination in  employment on grounds of religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. Regulations more specific to the teaching environment are the following: * Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. The act required education providers to make reasonable provisions to ensure people with disabilities or special needs were provided with the same opportunities as those who were not disabled. * Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. A key point here is that only about 10% of any published document can be copied and circulated for educational purposes before copyright is infringed. * IfL Code of Practice for Teachers (2008). This is a straightforward code of practice for teachers to gives boundaries on their professional integrity, behaviour etc. * Safer practice, safer learning (2007) – responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults in the learning and skills sector – published by NIACE and DES. Analyse own responsibilities for promoting equality and valuing diversity. (7.1.2) In the class discussion on this topic, we discussed that equality is not treating everyone the same, it is rather treating everyone as unique to enable them as far as possible to have equal opportunities to learn, this is what myself as a teacher will have to work to achieve. Promoting equality should remove discrimination in all of the areas covered by the Equality act. Bullying, harassment and victimization are also considered as equality and diversity issues. Diversity aims to recognise, respect and value people’s differences, and their ability to contribute. A teacher should aim to help them reach their full potential by promoting an inclusive culture for all students (and staff). Equality and diversity is becoming more important in all aspects of our lives and work for a number of reasons. Where I was previously working, the employees were recruited globally and could be posted anywhere, they were selected because they showed potential. Inclusivity and diversity was heavily promoted as it was recognised that having a diverse workforce enhanced the company commercially. People with different backgrounds bring different approaches to solving problems or commercial negotiations which is reflected in the company’s performance. In a college, recognising, embracing and valuing difference will lead to improvements for everyone, including: * A more vibrant staff and student  population; * A better working and studying environment; * Attracting and retaining the very best staff and students; As a teacher I can promote equality and diversity by: * Treating all learners fairly. * Creating an inclusive culture for all learners. * Ensuring equal access to opportunities to enable learners to fully participate in the learning process. * Enabling the learners to develop to their full potential. * Equipping learners with the skills to challenge inequality and discrimination in their work/study environment * Making certain that any learning materials do not discriminate against any individuals or groups * Ensuring sure policies, procedures and processes don’t discriminate It was discussed in class that equality can be promoted in different ways, such as discussing privately with a student if they have problems with dyslexia, which could be helped by the simple use of different coloured backgrounds to the powerpoints or handouts. A teacher must be aware of continually promoting inclusivity in all the course material and class discussions, some actions that can be positive are for instance, prior to the class, check the names, ages and any other details of the learners and if possible try to find photos or material that will hopefully be more relevant to their background. Although this shouldn’t be done to such an extreme to alienate others, it’s a fine balance. Also it is good to make sure that different types of learners are covered in the lesson plan by differentiating for learning styles. This also helps to keep the lesson interesting as one form of lesson delivery could get fairly dull. One key point would be to be careful of my language, jokes about stereotypes and casual comments could easily cause alienation. It is also necessary to have a plan on how to deal with inappropriate remarks and behaviour by the learners. Within a college there will also be other internal organisations available to meet the potential needs of learners such as : * Student services / welfare / financial aid / student support * Careers services / advice and guidance * Learning mentors / teaching assistants * Learning difficulties and disabilities assessment and support * International office for overseas learners * Chaplaincy or medical services including sexual and mental health Tutors will be the main point of contact for anything for a learner so it is important to understand how to get in touch with the various people working in the roles for my organisation. Evaluate your own responsibilities in lifelong learning (7.1.3) In class we discussed the role and responsibilities of a tutor in lifelong learning, a number of key roles were identified, such as a tutor needs to be knowledgeable about the subject, but not necessarily an expert, they need to be confident and communicate their points well, they need to be well organised with planned lessons and good timekeeping. The tutor must set an example with their behaviour, and direct the learners, but in further education, as opposed to compulsory education, you will not be acting as a leader and counsellor, rather a facilitator. Of key importance is establishing a contract with the learners at the start of the course, so that they understand the boundaries that are set and what my expectations of them are. In the FE sector this is more important with young adults (16-18 years) than in adult education. Bearing in mind that all learners will be slightly different and work at different levels and may have different needs, it is important for me as a tutor to understand this and if necessary give additional help and guidance as required. Without regurgitating the full list of responsibilities, some key ones to additionally pick out are: * Keeping up to date with developments in the core subject as well as keeping up to date with any new teaching guidelines or changes to the curriculum. * Encouraging the learners to progress and develop their careers by giving constructive feedback. * Continually reflect on my teaching performance and evaluate each session taught and change if necessary. Review own role and responsibilities in identifying and meeting the needs of learners. (7.1.4) A key responsibility would be to get to know the learners in the class as individuals, and to understand their different abilities and learning styles. The techniques already used in the first lesson would be a  very good start, such as the learning styles questionnaire (although interpretation of the results is very subjective.), the basic skills testing, and the group introductions. The group introductions and the personal interview prior to starting the course was a way of understanding the motivation of the learners, and why they are undertaking the training. With this knowledge the tutor can aim to ensure that the lesson delivery is varied to suit the different needs of the learners and give personal help if necessary. These activities are part of the ‘Identifying Needs’ stage of the Teaching and Leaning Cycle and are documented by Gravells 2, although she has the roles and responsibilities a little confused. As the course progresses, the tutors understanding of the needs of the individual learners will become clearer as they get to know them, changes and adjustments can be made to the lesson delivery. This is an application of Kolb’s Reflective Cycle, to put it simply – Planning, Doing, Reviewing, Learning and back to planning. References 1 Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) New overarching professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector. 2 Gravells, A., (2011) Preparing to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector Websites www.excellencegateway.org www.ptllsresource.co.uk http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/equalityanddiversity/

Management: Human Resources Essay

Human Resources are perhaps the most important factors in attainment of organizational objectives. For years, this aspect of management has been overlooked or in a sense has not been given the importance that it deserves. During the course of this particular paper, the author shall try to focus over the points which make human resources the most crucial point for organizational prosperity and what a manager shall do in order to increase the efficiency of the workers. Undervaluation of intellect capital: The businesses rely on a number of resources in order to attain various goals and objectives. But this has been a proven fact that no other resource is so crucial in organizational progress like that of the human resources. The human resources bring along with them knowledge and information which are perhaps pretty crucial in achieving overall objectives. It is so crucial for the organization to make sure that the relevant data and information flows in the current direction and is present in almost all parts of the business organization. Even though the organizations have not been giving too much of importance to the intellectual capital as of today, still future belongs to this factor only. The managers need to develop proper models for developing, retaining and managing the intellectual resources of the business organization. As the General Manager, the author would like to propose a model for managing the intellectual capital of the business organization. The author proposes a simple model for management of intellectual capital of the business organization. The model consists of the following major elements:  · Strategic Direction and Vision: This element could be derived from the human resources of the business organization. The strategies are formulated by human resources and the vision of the organization is also decided by the human resources.  · Focus on the customers: The prime source of organizational prosperity.  · Products and processes: which the organization is dealing in.  · Culture of the organization These elements together constitute the intellectual capital for any kind of business. It becomes so crucial for any business form to ensure that all the four elements are managed in best possible way in order to make sure that overall intellectual capital is retained within the organization. Intellectual capital, in both the structural and human forms, comes together with customer knowledge. It is a winning combination. Capabilities Audit: Contribution in assessing the performance of the organization: In today’s business environment, the identity of any organization is not restricted to the output which they are producing, neither on the quarterly results or any related issues. The organizations are known for their capabilities. The manager should have the knowledge about the potential of the workforce and overall capabilities of the organization. Ulrich and Smallwood have suggested a pretty powerful and efficient way to assess the intangible resources of the business organization. A capabilities audit â€Å"provides a high level picture of an organization’s strengths and areas for improvement.†Ã‚   (Smallwood, Ulrich, 2007) The scope of capabilities audit is huge and it could really help in increasing the efficiency of the organization as it includes a number of points which cover almost all the concerned areas of the business organization. A custom capabilities audit includes the following points:  · What are the competencies and capabilities of the workforce: Are they able to deliver the products and services in accordance to customer’s expectations.  · Can the organization change in accordance to the ever dynamic business environment.  · What is the work culture of the organization? Are both customers and employees part of the organizational culture?  · What is more importance for the organization: High performance or following the strategies?  · What are the ways by which both efficiency and leverage could be attained?  · What is the level of the organization as compared with the changing global environment?  · The quality of leaders and the leadership styles in the organization.  · What is the amount of trust which we share with the customers?  · Do our employees share an intellectual, behavioural, and procedural agenda for our strategy?  · The amount of innovation in various aspects of the business.  · How important is cost reduction and cost management for the organization. Evaluation of HR functions in the organization: Talking about the author’s organization, HR happens to be one of the most important functions of the organization. Traditionally the organization concerned HR as a cost centre and something which could not be considered as a profit generating centre for the organization. But with development in management ideas, it was found that HRM is most crucial aspect in attainment of organization’s strategic objectives. HR function actively contributes in attaining organizational objectives. Every organization should have the capacity to retain the talent and knowledge which are crucial in context of the organizational success. Each person has got a different perception, attitude and outlook in life. These three factors are those, which he carries with him all the time, even while working in an organization. A manager has to make sure that he takes a different approach while dealing with different people. And this is where the real challenge lies—an HR manager has to make use of maximum skills, even in pettiest situations. Of course, the task of HR manager becomes even more difficult when the size and complexities of business increases. HR manager’s task also becomes so difficult due to diversity present in the workforce. HRM includes a series of activities that includes the staffing and recruitment of the people required for an organization, along with deciding the source and method to hire the people. (Bratton, Gold, 2001).