Friday, November 29, 2019

Technology, Privacy, Accounting, Finance, and Governance Values Analysis

Introduction Nowadays, privacy in the workplace has become a prominent concern for many organizations. The issue of privacy has become a subject of concern as a result of an increased rate of employees monitoring in the workplace. The high rate of electronic monitoring of employees has caused a conflict between the rights of employers to safe guard their business, versus employees’ privacy.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Technology, Privacy, Accounting, Finance, and Governance Values Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The legal rights of employees as well as rights of the employers’ varies from one state to another which affects the strategies that firms adopt in enforcing the monitoring rights. Nonetheless, most federal and state laws support employees monitoring which has made many firms to adopt employee monitoring systems. Employees monitoring is very controversy as it goes beyond l egal rights to encompass moral obligations of employers and employees which are difficult to differentiate (Hartman DesJardins, 2011). Employers versus Employees Rights Employees monitoring in United States of America was legalized as early as in 1986 with the enacting of Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). The act allows employers and system administrators to monitor activities in their computer systems. The enacting of ECPA allowed employers to have legal rights to monitor employee’s activities in the workplace. Generally, an employer is mainly the owner of workstations, phones, servers, software and communication devices that employees use. The employer provides these devices in order to facilitate business operations. Therefore, an employer has an interest to monitor activities on these systems for liability and security reasons. An employer can opt to monitor employees’ telephone conversations, emails as well as non-personal telephone calls made on busi ness phones without giving prior notice to employees, unless in the State of California where employees’ monitoring is highly regulated by the government. Whereas the enacting of ECPA protects employers from insecurity and liability associated with illegal use of employers electronic systems such as pirating, fraud or sale of company trade secretes. The act also provides protection for employees’ privacy. The act does not allow monitoring of employees’ personal communications that are made over the company systems.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, the act does not allow employers to monitor conversations of their employees that are made though the employees’ cell phones. Thus, the act is very effective as it tries to safe guide employers’ rights as well as the rights of employees in ensuring that employees’ personal affairs are not interfered with (Hartman DesJardins, 2011) How Does Technology used at Daimler Affect Employees Privacy Daimler corporate has a very efficient and effective technology that ensures privacy of its employees who use its systems. The company has installed its servers, as well as users’ workstations with appropriate password and other security measures to safeguard information that is received or transmitted over its systems from unauthorized external access. To enhance the protection of employees’ privacy, its systems encrypt personal data that is transmitted over public networks. Private and application-related access protection has been installed in order to safe guard personal data in Daimler corporate database. These protection measures have been adopted by the organization as its strategy to ensure safe data management, which controls responsibilities and authorization to safe guard the privacy of employees. How Daimler Protect Employees Personal Inf ormation At Daimler Corporation, it is only its authorized personnel that are allowed to collect process or use personal data. Authorized personnel monitor emails, voice mails and telephone conversations that are transmitted over the company’s systems, for those employees it suspects to wrongly use the company’s systems. However, the company does not allow its system administrators to use employees’ personal data for private purposes, transmission of such data to unauthorized people, or making available of such data to unauthorized persons. Accounting Principles Financial performance of an organization is considered as a significant part of an entity as it is responsible for determining how other departments and processes within the organization are run. In U.S., Organizations are required to abide by the General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) that were enforced in 2002 through the enacting of Sarbanes- Oxley Act (SOX).Advertising We will write a cus tom assessment sample on Technology, Privacy, Accounting, Finance, and Governance Values Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The act requires companies to report specific data in their financial annual reports. In being compliant in honoring SOX act, Daimler Company has been consistent in disclosing its internal controls, audit committee structures as well as codes of ethics and conduct. In order for Daimler to be SOX compliant, its CEOs and CFOs sign an attestation that make them liable for any financial data reported. Signing of this document verifies that its officers have reviewed all financial data reported and verified that it is correct. Signing of this document makes the officers to be responsible for any internal controls that have occurred. This requirement is contained in section 302 of the act (Taylor, 2012). On the othe4 hand, section 204 of the act requires organizations to monitor how overall financial processes a re run. This entails how organizations’ information systems are run and secured. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is the body that helps external auditors decipher if an organization they are auditing is SOX compliant. Those companies that have reported false data are penalized and declared as incompliant. Thus, that is why it is imperative for employers to electronically monitor employees’ activities to avoid any liability or insecurities as a result of their employees’ misconduct. Conflict of Interests Many organizations are concerned about conflicts of interests for their corporate board members and executives. Board members should concentrate on the concerns of their companies and not on outside interests. Therefore, board members should not let their personal interests surpass the decisions they make as directors (Murray, 2012). Executive Compensations The Federal law requires clear disclosure about compensations of CEOs, CFOs as well as th ree other high ranking officers. The company should disclose amount and type of compensation given to CEO, CFO as well as three other most highly paid officers. In addition, the company should disclose the criteria it uses to come up with executive compensations as well as the degree of relationship that exist between executive compensation practices versus corporate performance (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2012).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Board Members Board members in Daimler Company are required to abide in honoring the duty of care that requires them to discharge their duties in good faith and in a manner that they believe to be of maximum benefit to the company. They are also required in honoring the duty of royalty. Board members should avoid using their positions or the assets of the company in a manner that will result to their monetary benefits or monetary gains of their family members. Lastly, the board members should honor duty of obedience. Board members ought to make sure that they follow the company’s governing documents while exercising their powers and duties. They should ensure that the company’s assets are used lawfully. They should also make sure that they comply with the states laws that dictate how business should be run (Levy, 2012). Areas of Compliance and Improvements Daimler Company is compliant in accounting practices according to SOX, execu tive compensations, Legal and Ethical responsibilities of board members, but the company will require enforcing its management of conflict of interests by adopting a conflict of interest policy and make every director to sign and abide by it. Conclusion Employers should ensure that they monitor electronic activities of employees in order to protect themselves from any liability and security problems associated with illegal use of electronic systems. The employers should ensure that they have a policy that regulates employees monitoring process that all employers are aware of before, even before being hired. The employers should avoid intruding in private matters of their employees, but limit their monitoring to work related issues. Daimler has a very effective internal and external control that effectively manages the various stakeholders who are involved in its business transactions. However, the company requires adopting a conflict of interest policy. Reference List Hartman, L. D esJardins, J. (2011). Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal  Integrity and Social Responsibility (2nd ed.). New York :McGraw-Hill. Levy, J. (2012). Ethical and Legal Responsibilities of Board Members. Web. Murray, J. (2012). What Should a Conflict of Interest Policy for My Corporate Include? Web. Taylor, C. (2012). SOX Compliance- Regulatiting Accounting Standards. Web. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2012). Executive Compensations. Web. This assessment on Technology, Privacy, Accounting, Finance, and Governance Values Analysis was written and submitted by user Shatterstar to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Free speech in music essays

Free speech in music essays I think that every American citizen will agree with me when I say that freedom of speech is an essential part of democracy. This right encompasses many different areas of American life including but not limited to actual speech, clothing, what we read, what we see on television, and also what we hear in out music. But where do we draw the line on what we can and cannot say in music? I say that anything goes. It is after all only music. When I say its only music, I dont want to make it seem like I think music is not an important thing. Far from it. My life would be completely different and far less enjoyable without it. What I mean is that it really isnt something that people need to get all worked up about. If one group or one parent has something against one kind of music or what kind of message that it is supposedly conveying, then I think it is their responsibility to ignore it or boycott it as they see fit, but it is ridiculous that everyone should have to suffer because one person is easily offended. And how does one group decide that music is profane or offensive without knowing anything about it? It is impossible for someone who does not listen to heavy metal or any other similar tasteless style of music to understand what is trying to be said. I believe that half of the time these fogies are letting the loud sound impair their judgment. If these people would turn their hearing aids down and open their eyes they might see the truth rather than what they want to hear all the time. Another thing that I find amusing is that while many times people are trying to stop this music from getting out into the public, a lot of times all the fuss only serves to help record sales of these so called offensive musicians. If people would just calm down and let everyone make their own decisions on what is right and wrong musically, the country would be a lot better off. First off, why ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Common stock evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Common stock evaluation - Essay Example Stock valuation also enables potential investors gauge the performance and value of stock in the securities market. Establishing the worth of shares helps one make informed investment decision. The managers use this valuation in the analysis of the worth of their business. This information is also useful to creditors in gauging the credit worthiness of a company before advancing credit (Hoover, 2005). This method values the share price by use of forecasted dividends and discounting them. When the figure obtained from the DDM is higher to value of shares presently trading then the stock is considered undervalued (Hoover, 2005). The anticipated earnings price (E/P) ratio is the measure of the firm’s cost of equity. A stock calculated on the zero-growth model can vary in value when the capitalization rate varies as it viewed risk changes (Hoover, 2005). The constant-growth method is essential in valuing stock of stable companies with dividends rising steadily over time. This model estimates an intrinsic stock value stock using the average dividend growth and forecasting it to dividend rises. The denominator remains the same when the rate of capitalization and dividend growth remains unchanged yearly. The stock’s basic value rises per annum by the proportion of the rise in dividend. Both the share price and the dividend amount will rise by the steady -growth factor, g. The model considers only the quantitative and not the qualitative values. Future changes are ignored in calculations.  This model is unfavorable for firms and market with quick changing dividend

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Movie Carrie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Carrie - Movie Review Example On one hand, he understands that Carrie White's night of revenge is motivated by the brutality of her classmates. On the other hand, his exoneration of Carrie is equalled in his contempt for the boy-men, girl-women who torment her. King's truest sympathies are always with the high school rejects; they are not only victimized by the cruelty of the majority, but because of their status as pariahs they often possess a level of intelligence and sensitivity sadly missing in their more popular peers. Carrie becomes doubly pitiful, because ... she can only wait to be saved or damned by the actions of others. Her only power is her telekinetic ability, and movie eventually arrives at the same point: King seems most unfavorably inclined toward the superficially well-adjusted, popular student with an overly active libido and a underdeveloped value system. His class presidents, football quarterbacks, and prom queens bear an unmistakable resemblance to the street punks who attend the same school system as a stopover on their way to jail: both groups of adolescents have completely severed their bonds with childhood innocence. In their vicious lust to exploit sex, alcohol, and violence (for they inhabit an exclusively physical plane of existence), their behavior is modeled on an extreme conception of adulthood. They want all the pleasure of worldly experience, with none of the responsibilities. Thus, they are simply young versions of the corruption which animates King's adult society. Horror films like Carrie is, primarily, produced and consumed by men. Why should this be It would seem that the experience derived from horror fiction (as opposed to the experience of horror in "real life") is peculiarly fascinating to men, or rather to the masculine subject, i.e. the subject constituted as masculine through the particular nature of his/her experience, particularly in early childhood. For the masculine child, the movement away from the mother, expressed as it is through abjection and the passage through the Oedipus complex, seems to be more traumatic than for the feminine child. For the feminine child there remains at least a possibility of reunion with the mother through identification; also, the feminine subject is actively encouraged to retain links with the maternal semiotic through the cultivation of such qualities as "intuition." The masculine subject by contrast depends for his very identity on the effectiveness of his repression of the maternal semiotic and o f desire for the mother. Carrie is dominated by those images of waste, putrefaction and decay which can be associated with abjection: these are, so to speak, the staple of horror. When we think of "the horrid" we picture blood, corpses, the violation of bodily limits. Via these images horror fiction returns us to the scene of primary horror in the abjection of the mother, a scene which, however, particularly for the masculine subject, possesses fascination, the power of the taboo. Images of abjection lead the masculine subject back not only to the movement away from the mother but also to the original repressed desire for the mother, which returns with all the force of the repressed, of that which can be allowed no place in adult life. Carrie seems to be designed

Monday, November 18, 2019

Build and Sustain an Innovative Work Environment Assignment - 2

Build and Sustain an Innovative Work Environment - Assignment Example The principle aligns those of Virgin Atlantic Red’s business needs since it depends on customers to buy the services. Another underlying principle is that innovation should drive the core business process (Davila, Epstein, & Shelton, 2012). Virgin Atlantic Little Red is always in a constant need for new ways of providing goods and services to their customers thus the principle aligns with its business needs. In addition, the innovation plan relies on the principle of becoming ten times better with the new ideas (Boons, & LÃ ¼deke-Freund, 2013). The new idea should prove better than the previous and even far much better than those of the competitors. There are many domestic flights in the UK and Virgin Atlantic Little aims at becoming a leader in the industry thus the principle serves its business interests. A major area, that requires the pilot program, is the service provisions especially the flight services. Onboard services like inflight entertainment and connectivity will suit the pilot program since it proposes the provision of unique experiences to the passengers on board. The program might as well suit booking services with a strong emphasis on quick and reliable booking system to the customers. The plan begins notifying the management to know how best the staff can implement the proposal. In the implementation stage, it is also imperative to develop time frame for all activities specifying duration for their completion. On the other hand, the plan will have performance indicators to notify the implementing team on the success of the plan in meeting set goals and objectives. Moreover, the implementation plan should have a monitoring mechanism and assign duties to specific individuals. The communication plan in this proposal entails developing a comprehensive plan that states where chains of command come from and those who take the orders. Commands should come from the executive management who also has to state clearly the objectives and

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Maesrsk Line Company

The Maesrsk Line Company The Maesrsk Line Company is the global containerized division of the A.P. Moller. The company delivers its services across the world through ocean transportation services. They built their vision and their mission from a strong constant care, heritage of uprightness, and innovation, and this vision has made a path for their business operations since Maersk lines first vessel sailed in 1904. The focus and commitment to this vision made them able to expand the business and become largest ocean carrier of the world. And they are constantly recognized as the most reliable container shipping company. A.P. Moller Maersk Group headquarters at the waterfront in Copenhagen, Denmark The fleet of the maersk line is consist of more than 600 vessels and the total number of containers is more than 3,800,000 TEU*. This shows a comprehensive and reliable coverage worldwide. Maesks Lines Philosophy: We share the same values and principles of business with the maesks line group to be a known, highly respected and world-class group. The founder Mr. A.P. Moller wrote Loss should not hit us, and constant care is needed for it. These words are highly followed and having deep meaning at the company. Word constant care is highly focused on the safety and good health of the employees and others in the industry and environment around them. Our Values: The core values of the Maersk line group are the demonstration n of constant care, regard for our employees, humbleness and uprightness and the protection of the name of the company. The success lies in the fulfillment of these values while carrying out the business. Our business principles: The maersk fundamental business principles is comprises of how do we conduct our business, these principles are applicable on national as well as international legislation. Environment: Our constant care also revolves around the protection of environment. We maximize the use of the resources and handle the waste. The policy regarding environmental protection is we focus on the protection of the environment and environmental consideration is our first priority in conducting our business. Our mission: We provide opportunities in global commerce. Company facts and information: Maersk Line is the leading container shipping company all over the world. It has more than 600 vessels and more than 3, 800, 0000 (a container is 20 feet long). It shows the comprehensive and reliable coverage all over the world. http://www.maerskline.com/globalimage/?path=/media_room/company001 What is container shipping? Containerization, it is large and worldwide system of intermodal cargo transport by using standardized containers. This can be sealed and reloaded onto container ships, trucks and planes, railroad cars. Before the containers were introduced, it was time consuming and expensive to handle the cargo for sea transportation. The containers have brought change in that and it made transport easier and affordable than ever before. All the types of commodities and the type of goods can be carried and loaded in the box; as a result the modernized container shipping has changed the ways of transportation around the world and played a vital role in globalization. Sustainability: Since it is a biggest shipping line in the world, Maersk Line plays a vital role in facilitating efficient and reliable supply chains for many companies. It is recognized that the position of maersk line as an enabler of global trade have brought great opportunities. Global trade of manufactured goods has increased over 100 times, from 95 billion USD to 12 trillion in the last 5 decades. Today 90% of global trade is done through ocean transport and containerization have played very important role in this development. Awards and Recognition: Maersk Line wins Shipping Company of the Year award in the Middle East 14 December 2012 Maersk Line takes home two Global Freight Awards 26 November 2012 Maersk Line wins Lloyds List Environment Award for the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent 19 October 2012 Maersk Line wins Clean Excellence Award 25 September 2012 Maersk Line wins Social Media Campaign of the Year Award 17 September 2012 Maersk Line wins 2012 Best Global Shipping Line Award 7 June 2012 Maersk Lines à gnes Hernà ¡d wins Best Young Manager of the Year 20 February 2012 Maersk Line Wins Shipping Line of the Year Award 1 December 2011 Maersk Line wins two awards at AFSCA 2011 Maersk wins European Business Award 2010 Maersk Line Best Global Shipping Line, Best Shipping Line for Asia-Europe, and Best Green Service Provider Shipping Line 2009. Maersk Line awarded Container Shipping Line of the Year 2007 Maersk Line wins Best Global Shipping Line 2006 Maersk Sealand named Best global shipping line 2005 Best Global Shipping Line award 2004 HR Processes: Recruitment and selection at Maersk Line: Maersk Line strictly follows the Equal employment opportunity Law while hiring candidates for a particular department. They make sure no discrimination take place throughout the procedure of hiring an employee. The advantage of strictly following such law is that Maersk Line never face any problem pertaining to legal complexities and law suits regarding the hiring of candidates. The recruitment process starts with the submission of online application by a candidate and a confirmation pop-up appears on the screen. A reply will be sent within few days so that the applications can be reviewed carefully. Applications are reviewed on the basis of some standard tools so that company can make it sure that a candidate is eligible for giving interviews. The mediums of recruitment which they prefer are: Employment Agencies: These agencies make links between the employers and employees. Internet: The advertisements on different job websites, which capture the a huge pool of candidates who can apply in the company to get the job they are capable for. Employee Referrals Its an internal recruiting method which identifies their potential candidates from the existing workforces social networks. This scheme encourages existing employees to choose the suitable candidate for a particular job from their social networks. A referral bonus is given to referring employee as a reward. It is the most efficient and cost effective method for recruitment. Announcement on the official website They Announce the new jobs on their official website i.e. www.maerskline.com. Website has the particular portion of vacancies and the whole process of how to apply is mentioned. Evaluation of internal labor supply They prefer Internal Labor Supply over External: Those positions which are at higher levels and become vacant due to transfers, deaths, demotions and promotions, are filled by the internal employees who are already familiar with the required managerial roles and responsibilities of those positions. These positions are then posted on the notice boards throughout the PSO offices and are also posted on a software device that is displayed on almost every computer desktop at PSO offices. The interested employees are screened, interviewed and positioned. The criteria of selecting the internal employee depend on requirements of the qualification, age and experience recommended by the line manager Selecting and interviewing Process: Selection process: Advertise Test 1st Interview 2nd Interview HIRE There is a predetermined criterion for hiring of candidates, which includes Logical and personality Test It is the standardized instruments of testing individuals character of psychological makeup. It also reveals the aspects of how logical the candidate is. These tests play an important role in making the selection process easier. Behavioral Interviews These interviews discover the behavior of an interviewee. It reveals that how an interviewee acted in particular situation faced in the past. And it will predict that how he or she will act in the future. In traditional interviews there is a series of question asked, that has the straight forward answers Like what challenges did you face? How did u handle them? Or what are your strengths and weaknesses?But in the behavioral interviews questions are more pointed and more specific than questions in the traditional interview. Like describe any example of a goal reached by you and how did you achieved it? or how did you work effectively when you were under pressure? In order to get selected, candidates must fulfill the criteria they are tested upon. English Grammar: English comprehension Basic Mathematics: Identification of Resources required in particular Department: Need Analysis Departmental Goals Organizational Goals Interviewing Process: Two structured interviews are generally conducted of a candidate at Maersk Line. The first interview is conducted by Human Resources which are focused on the candidates personal skills and capabilities. They use online or hard copy assessment tools to try to form an objective picture of candidates personal characteristics and logical capabilities and a feedback is provided as a part of the process. The second interview is normally conducted by the hiring manager who makes the final hiring decisions and focuses on the specific qualities and skills which are required for the particular job. The whole recruitment process usually takes 4 to 6 weeks; it could be vary depending on the locations. Orientation and Trainings: Training and development is a continuous process, and is designed to bring about a change in attitude of employees with respect to the job they are doing, the people around them, the new procedures, the new techniques and skills that they can use. It is also to make them more conscious of their responsibilities and how to perform them effectively. Therefore, all training is planned and coordinated in a systematic manner by the company, in term so identifying following needs and the skills required in the company. The training and skill development efforts are not confined to a formal class room course but extended in all directions, hence, helping to improve the productivity of employees by imparting useful knowledge and training in the areas, which are neglected, and to add up to the most of their strengths. The growth of the employees is not only a short term vision of enhancing inputs through skills based on training but also an effort for the long term development of employees by education and planned management development inputs. Types of Training at Maersk Line: Orientation Program: Newly inducted employees are given a short orientation course to familiarize them with the company, organizational functions, activities, policies, procedures and programs. This type of training program may be arranged on individual basis or group class room training, depending on number of participants available. The duration and contents of the course is determined to meet the needs of individual concerned in consultation with respective departmental heads. Depending on the type of job, newly hired employees, as well as the promotes assigned to new field of activities, are given on the job training for a period ranging from one week to four weeks, as may be deemed necessary. They make sure that people are empowered to do their job well Indoor simulators: Job knowledge is an essential part of everyones responsibility in any position. Since technology, methodology, processes are changing at a fast pace, it is imperative that employees should learn new skills and techniques through specialized and technical courses organized within the company. Seminars and constructive discussion groups: seminars are conducted to spread the awareness regarding different programs plus it provides a platform for the employer and the employees to socialize. Group case studies play an important role in a constructive discussion between the employees. Practical exposure and experiences: As a trainee in their company an employee will be given a responsibility from day 1 and will be provided with a proper toolkit enabling him to experience a real job. The Maersk group runs a trainee program which provides opportunities to get solid and a broad shipping knowledge. The applicants will be the part of business represented in many countries they are looking for energetic, passionate about shipping and eager to learn individuals who can apply as a Chartering or Operation Trainee in this program. Chartering Trainee: as a chartering trainee, he or she will be responsible for fixing the vessels and cargos. You are to ensure that the vessels sail with the right cargo. Operation Trainee: as an operation trainee employee will be responsible to make sure that the operations of vessels are efficient and safe. And will have to perform following tasks. Issuing voyage instructions Appointing agents Planning bunkering Market voyage analysis Handling insurance and legal matters The trainee will have a broad network of stakeholders including agents, ship managers, port captains and charters. Performance Management: To maintain a sustainable Performance of an employee, Maersk Human resource management measures some of the main factors which has a high impact on employees performances. Work output Personal Competency Goals achieved Performance appraisal Methods at Maersk Line: HR managers should be very careful while selecting methodology used to measure performance of an individual. Maersk Line uses the following methods. MBO Each employee is assign with the specific tasks and goals, and then the progress of those goals is reviewed periodically. Goal setting is done by mainly focusing on the Organizational goals. Secondly the departmental goals are assigned to different departments working in the company, then these goals are discussed with the employees and employees get to know what is expected from them, which defines their individual goals. Finally the progress of these goals is reviewed and employees receive feedbacks. Paired ranking method ranking employees by making a chart of all possible pairs of the employees for each trait and indicating which one is the better employee of the pair. Forced distribution method similar to grading on curve; predetermined percentages of rates are placed in various performance categories. Example: 15% high performers 20% high-average performers 30% average performers 20% low-average performers 15% low performers Goals achieved The process starts when HR throws performance appraisal forms to different departments. This appraisal form has two sides: Employee Development Report-1 (EDR1) Employee Development Report-2 (EDR2) EDR-1 In EDR1 employee he identifies the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the employees themselves set the objectives and targets for the following year. EDR-2 In EDR2 it is the line manager who rates the employee performance by quoting significant performance achievements and deficiencies for the past year. He indicates what development and training will employee need in the future according to the highlighted areas in the current year. When both of them end up the negotiation then the appraisal form is sent to HR department for further follow up of the respective training or development arrangements. This way the Performance appraisal system reaches to end. These performance appraisal methods are very useful in order to maintain competition and for employees to focus on Key performance indicators (KPIs). And the results extracted from these methods become the basis of promotion, rewards, incentives, bonuses, or layoff and punishment for an employee. Compensation Benefits: Since the Maersk line is very careful in maintaining the equality among their employees, they never face any equity issue. The wages and salaries are set on the basis of employees Education Experience Market conditions Human capabilities The pay raise is given to an employee on the yearly basis. Maersk line negotiate the salary with a candidate on his own terms and conditions only when the job is highly skilled, when company wants to retain its loyal employee and when an employee is an exceptional performer. Career Development at Maersk Line: Maersk line is highly involved in investment in training and education. Over the years A.P. Moller maersk group has its own training system which is implemented over the years and constantly updated. And it is directed towards meeting the global and international organizations particular requirement. Their experience shows that the employee cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of written applications and the examination results. It is essential that the personal impression of the individual behind the papers should be evaluated. Everybody who is formally eligible and has the qualification required for the certain position, can expect to be invited for the interview with Human Resource Department at Maersk line. Maersk Line believes that career development is one of the most important steps in maintaining organizational performance. Maersk Line always helps its employees to build their career and achieve their personal goals by giving their best. And contribution which is made by the company is: Job enlargement Job Rotation Career Path Defined It is important to recognize when the employee is ready for promotion, because if an employee will not be promoted at the right time he might get demotivated. Maersk line recognize such employees when there is availability of position and employees exhibition of competencies for performance in the new role. In case, when the employee leaves the organization when his/her promotion plan is ready, the HR gives someone else dual responsibilities for the time being. PROBLEMS: There are number of potential drawbacks in different stages. One of the greatest concerns regarding relying too much on employee referrals could become the reason of limited diversity at workplace. Hiring from the same existing networks may bound a company to capture diverse pool of candidate, it is good for reducing cost expenditure but on the other hand it could become the big hurdle for the company if the company is relying on such method too heavily. This simple method could have many risks, e.g. when there is a need to fill particular Job the simple question is asked from the existing employees i.e. Is there anyone in your mind who can fill this Job? In response to this question employees may think of the potential benefits for their close ones in their network, rather than thinking constructively for the organization. It is not necessary that every time a new employee comes in through reference is beneficial for the company, it carries risks with it, it could take time to measure his/her effectiveness, and if the new employee is not prod uctive, eventually it will increase the cost of the company and employee will become the liability on the company. Solution: There is certain planning and strategies which can save the company from these problems Communicate the benefits to employees for the successful referrals; give them rewards, incentives and bonuses for the successful referral. This strategy can change the way employees think when they are asked to bring the best candidate for the particular job, now they will think of the best candidate in their mind, who will serve the company most efficiently and effectively. The reward amount should be sufficient enough to motivate the employees who make referrals but not too much that may lead them to make referrals of unqualified candidates. The bonuses should be given in installments because the effectiveness of the new employee cannot be measured in few days, it may take time. In order to be safe from a big loss company should make payments of bonuses in installments. The company may limit the number of bonus qualifying referrals that is made by each employee per year. This will reduce the number of employee referrals per year. The mandatory qualification and specifications should be clearly mentioned and delivered to the employees who make referrals. It will reduce the risk of getting unqualified employees. All the requests for employee referrals should be added to the pool of the candidates. Problem: 3 The advertisement for the Job which is offered by the company is very much important in order to gather a better pool of candidates. Maersk Line is highly dependent on the internet as medium of advertisement for the jobs. They dont prefer NEWSPAPER for the advertisement of their Jobs; as a result they are missing a large number of candidates who prefer Newspapers to find jobs. Solution: In order to get better employees a company must have a large pool of candidate so that it can be used for hiring employees when there is a need to fill the job in emergency. Newspaper plays an important role in spreading awareness among public. Since its an oldest and most popular medium of advertisements civilized and educated people read newspaper as a matter of habit in all over the world. Therefore it has a wide and general appeal. The message can reach a large number of audiences quickly. Choosing the best newspaper is also important, so the Maersk line can improve its pool of candidates by spreading word through Newspaper. Problem: 4 When we asked them; Has it ever happened that an employee might have left the Organization due to some reason; while the HR had plans for his promotion ready? Yes No They chose YES, And then we asked the next question; With Reference to the above scenario, what did the HR do? (If the above Question is answered as a NO, then suppose a scenario with the above details answer this question, what would the HR do?) Promote an immediate subordinate Bring in a Contingent Employee Give someone dual responsibilities for the time being Hire an individual from a pool of already collected CVs. They chose the third option which is Give someone dual responsibilities for the time being It may create a problem we identified, because in case of fulfillment of the job which has been left empty by the previous employee due to any reason, Maersk Line shifts the tasks to other employees. This creates a burden on them. Assigning dual responsibilities to an employee may become the reason of his/her demotivation. The workload given to someone more than his/her capacity may push them towards demotivation. As a result that employee may leave the Job which actually creates a problem for the company. Solution: It is normal that when employees get better options and more secured jobs they switch their jobs. If we see the answer of first question we asked, it shows that maersk line has issues with their employees regarding their promotions. The timing of the promoting employees is not accurate, that is why it leads employees to leave the job right before the promotion. The main problem is to put dual responsibilities on existing employee rather than promoting him/her to that post. The Maersk line lacks the succession planning; they prefer distributing the responsibilities instead of immediate fulfillment of the empty position. Because it is the best time to get benefit, by promoting the employees to fill the job and if the company doesnt find any potential candidate among the existing employees who can fill the post, then they should focus on the pool of the candidates. It ensures that the collected CVs are not useless PROBLEM: 5 Maersk Line doesnt have any well defined strategy to retain their employees who are really important for the companys growth. It usually happens in Maersk Line that employees leave the organization due to some reason; while the HR had plans for their promotion ready. Recruitment is an expensive process, and when employees leave the jobs it is actually a loss in the cost incurred in the recruitment process. SOLUTION: Hiring employees is an important stage but to keep them in your organization is also very important to be safe from the high employee turnover costs. In order to retain the employees, maersk line should create some tactics to retain their employees. These tactics may include: Offering competitive benefits: Providing your employees life insurance, health insurance and a retirement savings Give rewards and incentives Provide some small perks: Conduct stay interviews in addition to exit interviews Promote whenever possible Create open communication Get managers involved:

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Fountain Head: Individualism :: essays research papers

The Fountain Head: Individualism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Individualism, the only element which makes a person's character unique. In the Fountain Head, a character binds true to this belief and goes by the name of Howard Roark. This young architect who had his own viewpoint of the world and how he envisioned it, was condemned by the media and the public by doing so. Roark's lifestyle completely perpendiculates the mundane lifestyle that the average citizen lives. Roark conforms to only what he considers valid in his own conscience. The novel opens the door to lead the way against the oppression of conformity. The environment which Howard was placed into didn't help in his situation to freely express his thoughts on certain subjects. This was mainly made possible by the people who he had come in contact through out the years. Many examples of this type of movement are shown by the actions taken by Roark during his career as an architect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of the actions taken by Roark had a deep profound effect on one key player in the novel, Toohey. Toohey with all the power he had with the public and through the newspaper, was not able to manipulate Howard into his way of thinking. The general public who read the Banner had been convinced that Toohey new what he was talking about on all subjects. His plan to manipulate the public and gather them as a whole was directly countered with every move that Howard made. One of these major moves was the building of the Stoddard Temple. With the temple, Roark had the freedom to build whatsoever he choose. This gave him a medium to express his viewpoint without having any restrictions. After the delayed unveiling of the temple, it was condemned by the public. At the head of this group was no other than Toohey. He wrote articles in the newspaper on how the temple in no way represented the human spirit. The temple allowed Howard to display his individualism, his uniqueness, and his self being. This temple was looked down upon because it did not conform to the ancient styles of architecture. Due to the amount of uniqueness found in the temple, it opposed the conventional view that life required conformity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Howard's special relationship between himself and Gail came about because of their unique individualism. They both believe in the same ways of thinking and therefore they are very much on the same plane of conscienceless. The reason why Gail conformed to society was to play against their trust in the future. When the Banner first got started, it ran two stories to test which

Monday, November 11, 2019

Commerce Education and Employability

COMMERCE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYABILITY It is commonly agreed that education should aim at ‘holistic development’ of the individual. Further, such development should be in harmony with the society and the nature. To quote the great Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo, education should aim at â€Å"all round development of the personality, which includes education of the sense, body, mind, moral and spiritual education. † The concepts of ‘all round development of personality’, or ‘holistic development’ include all the aspects of development-intellectual, spiritual, moral, economic, etc.However, some philosophers have defined the economic aims of education. Christopher Winch1; a British scholar says ‘education is broadly, although not exclusively concerned with preparation for life or for particular phase of life’. He gave three aspects to this concept of education, which are ‘fulfillment’, ‘civic participationâ₠¬â„¢ and ‘vocation’ and specifies that the individual conception of education, as they can be found in particular societies at particular time, consists of distinct combination of these different aspects.In order to define the objectives of commerce education, it may be important to go a little into its history. The origin of commerce education can be traced to the 19th century. It started with the teaching of skill based courses of ‘typing’ and ‘book keeping’, to meet the emerging manpower requirements in these areas. With an increase in commercial activities and expansion of banking, insurance, transportation and other related services, the nature and scope of commerce education changed. From a vocational bias in the initial years, the focus changed to providing liberal business education.Some experts even gave different objectives for different stages or levels of education. For example, Prof. Dasgupta (1959) used three different expressions to indicate ‘business education’, at three different levels. At the junior level (higher secondary stage), it was referred to as ‘commercial education,’ covering specific skills programmes; at the first degree stage, the term used was ‘commerce education’, to cover general stream courses for preparing semi professionals and at ‘post graduation’ level, it was termed as ‘Professional Business Education’, with the aim of preparing experts in specific areas.In other words, commerce education, at less than degree level was referred to as ‘commercial education’ or ‘vocational business education’. However, the commonly accepted view at present is that commerce education at higher secondary stage is not merely to satisfy the skill or vocational needs of pupils but provides basic understanding of the various principles, procedures and practices related to business. It also fosters an understanding of the economy, of the community in which activities related to business and industry takes place. It prepares the learners to take up business career.The secondary schools should therefore, provide the students with knowledge of the background of commerce and of the way it affects the life of the community, apart from the commercial knowledge and skills. This integrating approach to the liberal and vocational education has the support of many modern thinkers on education. It is argued that education should turn the people to something he knows well and can do well. Thus, commerce should be taken as both a knowledge subject and a skill subject. The specific objectives of academic stream of commerce education i) To provide knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, etc. bout business, trade and industry and its relationship with the society; ii) To provide basic knowledge of technological tools including computers and its application in business; iii) To develop an understanding of the environment in which we live and undertake various activities relating to business; iv) To develop basic skills needed to undertake different commerce related activities; v) to educate learners in different functional areas and develop their basic understanding about the same; vi) To develop right aptitude and qualities for undertaking business and commerce related activities; and vii) to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and prepare learners to enter into a business career. Linkage with the Industry The present curriculum has been found to be only moderately useful to the industry. In order to make it more useful it is suggested that the students should be exposed to practical knowledge, a) by engaging them on project work, or attachment with industry, and b) establishing interaction with industry through field visits, involving professionals in teaching, and organising lectures by industry experts/successful entrepreneurs.It was generally perceived that the present cur riculum offered low degree of opportunities of skill development to the students of commerce As a result, the pass-outs of higher secondary course only have theoretical or conceptual background of various aspects of business and trade. When it comes to the practical knowledge when they are asked to perform an activity, the results are rather poor because the required skills have not been developed in them. This is a common situation, which affects the acceptability of the students by the industry as well as the users of services. The industry looks for skilled people who have a practical exposure to various commerce related activities and possess generic skills like communication skills, problem-solving skills etc. As the present curriculum offers low opportunities of skill development, need for rectifying the position has been strongly felt.Various suggestions received to improve the situation in this regard include organization of field visits, on the job training of the students, improving the infrastructural facilities and provision for establishment of commerce laboratories in the schools. Strengthening linkages Any serious effort to make the commerce curriculum relevant to the industry and increasing its acceptability would require strengthening of linkages between the school and the industry. Various suggestions have been received in this regard, from the responding stakeholders. These are discussed as follows. Firstly, it is strongly felt that organising field visits to business ecommercial establishments etc. would be of great help in exposing the students to the real work of business.For example, the student may be taken to a factory and shown how goods are being manufactured or packaged. This will give them a real feel of the various processes and an opportunity or relating these to what is being taught in the class. This is very important for sustaining their interest in the subject and making them useful to the employers as well as to the society in general. Second, it is suggested that industrial internship, to three to four week’s duration, during the summer vacation (or some other vacations), would be quite helpful in providing the students an opportunity of actually working in an office or in the field environment.Third, the students may be assigned some project work relating to the subject of study. Let us say while teaching the chapter on marketing, the students may be asked to go to their local market and find out which brands of a particular product, say toothpaste or toilet soap are available in a retail outlet; which of these are preferred by a particular class of buyers (say people belonging to lower income group) and why? Further, the schools may regularly organize seminars, workshops and discussions where experts from industry are invited to participate and interact with the students. For example, sharing of experiences by successful entrepreneurs may be of great interest and utility to the student.Fifth, the schools may be encouraged to set up commerce laboratory where the students can practice through charts, models, computer games, exploration on internet, etc. some of the practical aspects of what is taught in the class. Other important suggestions received for strengthening the linkages include making a provision for extensive training of the teachers and inducing industry for adoption of schools so that the course can run efficiently. If the teachers are not trained regularly, they would not be able to impart knowledge and skills about the latest developments in their field. Moreover, the role of teachers is changing fast. They have to work like facilitators, in the present day world of information and fast changing technological and economic environment.Thus, periodic training of teachers is very important for effectively running a course. As regards the strategy for development of linkages, it is agreed enterprises, it is agreed that the industry should be persuaded to coope rate with the schools. Entrepreneurial Values The present curriculum was perceived to be offering low degree of opportunities for development of entrepreneurial values, attitudes and skills. As a result most of the pass-outs were included to look for some wage employment opportunities, after completing their studies. This creates a lot of stress on the already soaring list of unemployed youth in the country and need improvements. The students may be induced towards entrepreneurship.The entrepreneurial values, attitudes and skills should be groomed from schools days so that the pass-outs can be prepared to set up their own ventures instead of looking for wage employment to improve the situation, various suggestions. Include organization of field visits, adoption of case study approach, teaching of biographies of successful entrepreneurs, use of small Business Games and Mock stock exchange proceedings for teaching these aspects and bringing change in the orientation of curriculum and textbooks, to incorporate entrepreneurial value and attitudes. Commerce Education needs the infusion of fresh ideas so as to provide a stimulating, supporting and sustaining environment. The Social Context of Education The education system does not function in isolation from the society of which it is a part.Hierarchies of caste, economic status and gender relations, cultural diversity as well as the uneven economic development that characterize Indian society also deeply influence access to education and participation of children in school. But at the same time, globalisation and the spread of market relations to every sphere of society have important implications for education. Business Studies Syllabi and Textbooks The syllabi and textbooks in commerce have been prepared according to the principles of the National Curriculum Framework. 1. The chapter on Social Responsibility of Business discusses how a business unit has to take care of the society of which it is a part.Every busi ness needs to act in a socially desirable manner and respect its employees, the community and the environment in which it operates. Our objective is to sensitise the student to social issues and concerns and the fact that business can do a lot for society, while fulfilling its social obligation. Environmental Protection also forms part of the chapter where conservation and industrial pollution are discussed. Business Ethics is also included to make students aware of ethical and responsible behaviour of a business. This also instills in a student value of personal ethics and standards and a code of conduct which can be applied in personal life also.Interrelationships however between business ethics and individual ethics need to be drawn by the teachers. 2. The global and local perspective and rural development needs to be taken care of. Small Business has been included in the syllabus and covers tiny and cottage industries and assistance to business provided by the government to smal l business reasons of including this in the syllabus. Rural Development and growth is a priority area and has been given a special emphasis in the latest year plans and all documents pertaining to economic development. In fact, marketers are depending on the rural demand and markets. Examples from rural business have been given throughout the book to sensitise children to the rural aspect of the country.Local perspective needs emphasis as a student is always able to relate to his local surroundings, therefore, local examples are better understood by them. 3. Connecting knowledge to life outside school. The environment in which a business operates forms an important aspect of management. A business unit has to constantly interact with the economic, political, legal and social environment. The business environment is dynamic in nature and examples can be taken from all around us, newspapers, business magazines, business TV programmes and the internet. Management has to respond to all these changes and this chapter has been specially included so that students are aware of what is going on in the economic, political, legal and social environment.A business has to analyse the environment before taking decisions. 4. Projects, activities and case problems have also been included to ensure that learning is shifted from rote methods. Creativity is a value that needs to be fostered. At the end of each chapter projects, activities and case problems have been given. 5. Boxes includes enrichment material taken from newspapers, business magazines and the internet. We hope these will enable students to connect textual knowledge to the business world Students should draw interrelationships between the text and the news in the print and electronic media. The Objective is to give students an idea of what is happening inside a business. 6.We live in an age of unprecedented violence, local regional, national and global. Values of love, cooperation, non violence, peace are univers al and need to be emphasized again and again. Social equality and justice is an integral part of peace education. Our chapter on social responsibilities emphasizes social equality and justice but teachers need to revisit the concept and connect it to place in society. The topic on cooperative societies and international business are based on the spirit of cooperation. Cooperation as a value needs to be re emphasized by teachers and then lead the student to imbibe the value of cooperation. International agreements, WTO and GATT are all based in international cooperation.Since management involves doing work systematically and resolving conflict situations, while we are teaching management we can revisit the idea of maintaining peace and harmony within an organization. Coordination of activities ensures harmonious relationships which is what manage motivation which again is related to peace and harmony. The teacher in the class needs to draw interconnections between the text and values of peace and non-violence. This has become almost an essential and moral duty of every teacher. 7. India is a multicultural society and all groups have equal rights to coexist and flourish. In our texts we have tried to give business examples from all regions.When the social environment of business is taught then certain examples can be taken up so that students have a fair idea of the pluralistic society in which we live. 8. Any economic development affects the Financial Market and ultimately every business unit in some way or the other. The role of major financial institutions and banks are becoming prominent in the financial markets. The fluctuations in the capital market are due to a variety of reasons. How the political, economic and social changes affect the markets can be studied, it will be going beyond the textbook. However, students will find it very interesting. These topics are important, current issues and students need to be aware of such topics as they shape the coun try’s future and economic development.In fact, the whole world is looking at India and China since they are relatively strong economies because of the regulatory mechanisms in the financial markets. Reference 1. www. ncert. nic. in/programmes/teacher_edu/pdfs/Commerce. pdf In Service Teacher Education Manual for Teachers and Teacher Educators in Commerce. 2. Emerging Trends in Commerce and Management, Santosh Gupta, Published in University News41 (05) 2003 3. Recent Trends in Commerce and Management Education, Dr. V. V. Khanzode, Strling Publishers Private Limited. 1990 4. National Policy on Education1986 an Appraisal, DoabaHouse, New Delhi. 1989 5. Commerce and Management Education in India,Ed. K. V. Sivayya,Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi. 1990 Commerce Education and Employability COMMERCE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYABILITY It is commonly agreed that education should aim at ‘holistic development’ of the individual. Further, such development should be in harmony with the society and the nature. To quote the great Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo, education should aim at â€Å"all round development of the personality, which includes education of the sense, body, mind, moral and spiritual education. † The concepts of ‘all round development of personality’, or ‘holistic development’ include all the aspects of development-intellectual, spiritual, moral, economic, etc.However, some philosophers have defined the economic aims of education. Christopher Winch1; a British scholar says ‘education is broadly, although not exclusively concerned with preparation for life or for particular phase of life’. He gave three aspects to this concept of education, which are ‘fulfillment’, ‘civic participationâ₠¬â„¢ and ‘vocation’ and specifies that the individual conception of education, as they can be found in particular societies at particular time, consists of distinct combination of these different aspects.In order to define the objectives of commerce education, it may be important to go a little into its history. The origin of commerce education can be traced to the 19th century. It started with the teaching of skill based courses of ‘typing’ and ‘book keeping’, to meet the emerging manpower requirements in these areas. With an increase in commercial activities and expansion of banking, insurance, transportation and other related services, the nature and scope of commerce education changed. From a vocational bias in the initial years, the focus changed to providing liberal business education.Some experts even gave different objectives for different stages or levels of education. For example, Prof. Dasgupta (1959) used three different expressions to indicate ‘business education’, at three different levels. At the junior level (higher secondary stage), it was referred to as ‘commercial education,’ covering specific skills programmes; at the first degree stage, the term used was ‘commerce education’, to cover general stream courses for preparing semi professionals and at ‘post graduation’ level, it was termed as ‘Professional Business Education’, with the aim of preparing experts in specific areas.In other words, commerce education, at less than degree level was referred to as ‘commercial education’ or ‘vocational business education’. However, the commonly accepted view at present is that commerce education at higher secondary stage is not merely to satisfy the skill or vocational needs of pupils but provides basic understanding of the various principles, procedures and practices related to business. It also fosters an understanding of the economy, of the community in which activities related to business and industry takes place. It prepares the learners to take up business career.The secondary schools should therefore, provide the students with knowledge of the background of commerce and of the way it affects the life of the community, apart from the commercial knowledge and skills. This integrating approach to the liberal and vocational education has the support of many modern thinkers on education. It is argued that education should turn the people to something he knows well and can do well. Thus, commerce should be taken as both a knowledge subject and a skill subject. The specific objectives of academic stream of commerce education i) To provide knowledge of principles, practices, procedures, etc. bout business, trade and industry and its relationship with the society; ii) To provide basic knowledge of technological tools including computers and its application in business; iii) To develop an understanding of the environment in which we live and undertake various activities relating to business; iv) To develop basic skills needed to undertake different commerce related activities; v) to educate learners in different functional areas and develop their basic understanding about the same; vi) To develop right aptitude and qualities for undertaking business and commerce related activities; and vii) to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and prepare learners to enter into a business career. Linkage with the Industry The present curriculum has been found to be only moderately useful to the industry. In order to make it more useful it is suggested that the students should be exposed to practical knowledge, a) by engaging them on project work, or attachment with industry, and b) establishing interaction with industry through field visits, involving professionals in teaching, and organising lectures by industry experts/successful entrepreneurs.It was generally perceived that the present cur riculum offered low degree of opportunities of skill development to the students of commerce As a result, the pass-outs of higher secondary course only have theoretical or conceptual background of various aspects of business and trade. When it comes to the practical knowledge when they are asked to perform an activity, the results are rather poor because the required skills have not been developed in them. This is a common situation, which affects the acceptability of the students by the industry as well as the users of services. The industry looks for skilled people who have a practical exposure to various commerce related activities and possess generic skills like communication skills, problem-solving skills etc. As the present curriculum offers low opportunities of skill development, need for rectifying the position has been strongly felt.Various suggestions received to improve the situation in this regard include organization of field visits, on the job training of the students, improving the infrastructural facilities and provision for establishment of commerce laboratories in the schools. Strengthening linkages Any serious effort to make the commerce curriculum relevant to the industry and increasing its acceptability would require strengthening of linkages between the school and the industry. Various suggestions have been received in this regard, from the responding stakeholders. These are discussed as follows. Firstly, it is strongly felt that organising field visits to business ecommercial establishments etc. would be of great help in exposing the students to the real work of business.For example, the student may be taken to a factory and shown how goods are being manufactured or packaged. This will give them a real feel of the various processes and an opportunity or relating these to what is being taught in the class. This is very important for sustaining their interest in the subject and making them useful to the employers as well as to the society in general. Second, it is suggested that industrial internship, to three to four week’s duration, during the summer vacation (or some other vacations), would be quite helpful in providing the students an opportunity of actually working in an office or in the field environment.Third, the students may be assigned some project work relating to the subject of study. Let us say while teaching the chapter on marketing, the students may be asked to go to their local market and find out which brands of a particular product, say toothpaste or toilet soap are available in a retail outlet; which of these are preferred by a particular class of buyers (say people belonging to lower income group) and why? Further, the schools may regularly organize seminars, workshops and discussions where experts from industry are invited to participate and interact with the students. For example, sharing of experiences by successful entrepreneurs may be of great interest and utility to the student.Fifth, the schools may be encouraged to set up commerce laboratory where the students can practice through charts, models, computer games, exploration on internet, etc. some of the practical aspects of what is taught in the class. Other important suggestions received for strengthening the linkages include making a provision for extensive training of the teachers and inducing industry for adoption of schools so that the course can run efficiently. If the teachers are not trained regularly, they would not be able to impart knowledge and skills about the latest developments in their field. Moreover, the role of teachers is changing fast. They have to work like facilitators, in the present day world of information and fast changing technological and economic environment.Thus, periodic training of teachers is very important for effectively running a course. As regards the strategy for development of linkages, it is agreed enterprises, it is agreed that the industry should be persuaded to coope rate with the schools. Entrepreneurial Values The present curriculum was perceived to be offering low degree of opportunities for development of entrepreneurial values, attitudes and skills. As a result most of the pass-outs were included to look for some wage employment opportunities, after completing their studies. This creates a lot of stress on the already soaring list of unemployed youth in the country and need improvements. The students may be induced towards entrepreneurship.The entrepreneurial values, attitudes and skills should be groomed from schools days so that the pass-outs can be prepared to set up their own ventures instead of looking for wage employment to improve the situation, various suggestions. Include organization of field visits, adoption of case study approach, teaching of biographies of successful entrepreneurs, use of small Business Games and Mock stock exchange proceedings for teaching these aspects and bringing change in the orientation of curriculum and textbooks, to incorporate entrepreneurial value and attitudes. Commerce Education needs the infusion of fresh ideas so as to provide a stimulating, supporting and sustaining environment. The Social Context of Education The education system does not function in isolation from the society of which it is a part.Hierarchies of caste, economic status and gender relations, cultural diversity as well as the uneven economic development that characterize Indian society also deeply influence access to education and participation of children in school. But at the same time, globalisation and the spread of market relations to every sphere of society have important implications for education. Business Studies Syllabi and Textbooks The syllabi and textbooks in commerce have been prepared according to the principles of the National Curriculum Framework. 1. The chapter on Social Responsibility of Business discusses how a business unit has to take care of the society of which it is a part.Every busi ness needs to act in a socially desirable manner and respect its employees, the community and the environment in which it operates. Our objective is to sensitise the student to social issues and concerns and the fact that business can do a lot for society, while fulfilling its social obligation. Environmental Protection also forms part of the chapter where conservation and industrial pollution are discussed. Business Ethics is also included to make students aware of ethical and responsible behaviour of a business. This also instills in a student value of personal ethics and standards and a code of conduct which can be applied in personal life also.Interrelationships however between business ethics and individual ethics need to be drawn by the teachers. 2. The global and local perspective and rural development needs to be taken care of. Small Business has been included in the syllabus and covers tiny and cottage industries and assistance to business provided by the government to smal l business reasons of including this in the syllabus. Rural Development and growth is a priority area and has been given a special emphasis in the latest year plans and all documents pertaining to economic development. In fact, marketers are depending on the rural demand and markets. Examples from rural business have been given throughout the book to sensitise children to the rural aspect of the country.Local perspective needs emphasis as a student is always able to relate to his local surroundings, therefore, local examples are better understood by them. 3. Connecting knowledge to life outside school. The environment in which a business operates forms an important aspect of management. A business unit has to constantly interact with the economic, political, legal and social environment. The business environment is dynamic in nature and examples can be taken from all around us, newspapers, business magazines, business TV programmes and the internet. Management has to respond to all these changes and this chapter has been specially included so that students are aware of what is going on in the economic, political, legal and social environment.A business has to analyse the environment before taking decisions. 4. Projects, activities and case problems have also been included to ensure that learning is shifted from rote methods. Creativity is a value that needs to be fostered. At the end of each chapter projects, activities and case problems have been given. 5. Boxes includes enrichment material taken from newspapers, business magazines and the internet. We hope these will enable students to connect textual knowledge to the business world Students should draw interrelationships between the text and the news in the print and electronic media. The Objective is to give students an idea of what is happening inside a business. 6.We live in an age of unprecedented violence, local regional, national and global. Values of love, cooperation, non violence, peace are univers al and need to be emphasized again and again. Social equality and justice is an integral part of peace education. Our chapter on social responsibilities emphasizes social equality and justice but teachers need to revisit the concept and connect it to place in society. The topic on cooperative societies and international business are based on the spirit of cooperation. Cooperation as a value needs to be re emphasized by teachers and then lead the student to imbibe the value of cooperation. International agreements, WTO and GATT are all based in international cooperation.Since management involves doing work systematically and resolving conflict situations, while we are teaching management we can revisit the idea of maintaining peace and harmony within an organization. Coordination of activities ensures harmonious relationships which is what manage motivation which again is related to peace and harmony. The teacher in the class needs to draw interconnections between the text and values of peace and non-violence. This has become almost an essential and moral duty of every teacher. 7. India is a multicultural society and all groups have equal rights to coexist and flourish. In our texts we have tried to give business examples from all regions.When the social environment of business is taught then certain examples can be taken up so that students have a fair idea of the pluralistic society in which we live. 8. Any economic development affects the Financial Market and ultimately every business unit in some way or the other. The role of major financial institutions and banks are becoming prominent in the financial markets. The fluctuations in the capital market are due to a variety of reasons. How the political, economic and social changes affect the markets can be studied, it will be going beyond the textbook. However, students will find it very interesting. These topics are important, current issues and students need to be aware of such topics as they shape the coun try’s future and economic development.In fact, the whole world is looking at India and China since they are relatively strong economies because of the regulatory mechanisms in the financial markets. Reference 1. www. ncert. nic. in/programmes/teacher_edu/pdfs/Commerce. pdf In Service Teacher Education Manual for Teachers and Teacher Educators in Commerce. 2. Emerging Trends in Commerce and Management, Santosh Gupta, Published in University News41 (05) 2003 3. Recent Trends in Commerce and Management Education, Dr. V. V. Khanzode, Strling Publishers Private Limited. 1990 4. National Policy on Education1986 an Appraisal, DoabaHouse, New Delhi. 1989 5. Commerce and Management Education in India,Ed. K. V. Sivayya,Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi. 1990

Friday, November 8, 2019

TEENAGE PARENTS essays

TEENAGE PARENTS essays STRESS AND COPING MANAGEMENT OF TEENAGE PARENTS Life is a series of choices. Deciding whether to marry, whether to have children, whether to have two careers in one marriage, and whether to view a situation positively are among the more important choices you will ever make in your lifetime. And besides of all this choices, problems may appear and turn to stress that people encounter in daily living. Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of loved one, the birth of the child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. Moreover, stress is, of course, an inevitable part of every one's life. Some stress is essential, and some is actually energizing. As a leading researcher said, "comple te freedom from stress is death" ( Selye, 1980). On the other hand, early marriage can lead to a couple a number of potential problem. Couple should be aware all the possible difficulties which could lie ahead. There's a lot of problems that may arise in early marriage. Like for instance, the problem of adequate financial support is obvious. Although money does not buy happiness, it is true a tight financial situation can create tensions, which can undermine an otherwise happy relationship. While some financial problems are to be expected in almos...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Television Impact on Children Essay Sample

Television Impact on Children Essay Sample The Impact of Watching Television on Children Essay The Impact of Watching Television on Children Essay Watching television is steadily evolving into the most preferred pastime, irrespective of viewers’ age and gender. However, despite its unlimited entertaining and informatory opportunities, viewing television entails both positive and negative outcomes. Specifically, this activity is detrimental to language development in young children. Watching Television and Language Development Currently, television greatly influences the formation of children since their birth (Pagani, Fitzpatrick, Barnett Dubow, 2010, p. 426). Moreover, â€Å"The average amount of screen time increases with age† (Duch, Fisher, Ensari Harrington, 2013). Numerous research studies indicate that enormous children’s exposure to computer games, TV-based entertainment, playing programs, and television reduces their level of critical consciousness (Christakis et al., 2009; Tomopoulos et al., 2010). Moreover, such activities change their perception of the world, transform moral and ethical values, deteriorate their abilities to analyze and synthesize information, and retard language development (Christakis et al., 2009; Tomopoulos et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013). In spite of the presence of insightful and educational programs, television does not promote sustained interest to the world, other people, diverse phenomena, and so forth. It evokes natural curiosity, which is immediatel y satisfied with superficial, distorted, or even completely incorrect information. The inner world of young children is still in its infancy; everything that they receive from communication and activities shared with adults plays a significant role in shaping their identity (Pempek, Kirkorian Anderson, 2014). Uncontrolled consumption of media information characterized by poor quality and inappropriate content prevents the formation of speech and articulation; it does not provide children with incentives necessary for the formation of motor skills and senses. Those who watch television too often are at a great risk of remaining without knowledge of the world. They experience difficulties in distinguishing reality from fiction, acquiring new knowledge, reading, and writing. Moreover, they are sometimes characterized by increased anxiety in conjunction with spontaneous aggression. In accordance with recent research studies, such as those by Christakis et al. (2009), Pagani et al. (2010), Duch et al. (2013), Pempek et al. (2014), frequent and long-term television viewing has multiple negative effects, replacing concrete sensual experience and hindering the development of language skills in young children. A child’s early involvement in watching television adversely affects one’s development, significantly lowers curiosity, and makes one passive (Pagani et al., 2010, p. 426). Children learn to speak by communicating with people not television. Their developing brain does not handle television speech with the same intensity as a conversation with a living person. Successful language development depends on a child’s psychophysical health, including one’s state of higher nervous activity, mental processes (attention, memory, imagination, and thinking), as well as physical (somatic) state. Prolonged TV viewing is fraught with slower devel opment of language, depletes vocabulary, worsens figurative speech, and decreases abilities to accurately articulate thoughts. In addition, watching television is associated with a sedentary lifestyle, which potentially leads to overweight, obesity, and other disorders. Furthermore, when a person utters words, all one’s body is involved in the process of speaking, making certain micromotions. Engaging one’s entire being (literally and figuratively) in the process of communication, an infant learns to speak at the level of consciousness, uttering various imitative sounds: cooing, babbling, to list a few. Before he or she promotes one’s first word, a baby trains the muscles of his body and face and learns to coordinate more than a hundred of muscles involved in articulation, focusing on adults. On the contrary, when he or she hears speech from TV loudspeakers, his or her body does not react to sounds. In the process of young children’s language development, live communication and interactions with family members cannot be substituted with watching television. During viewing television, children’s mentality is more directed towards visualization than verbalization (Christakis et al., 2009). Children watch TV silently; they do not communicate with others or practice speaking. Moreover, viewing television not only prevents the formation of speech and articulation. It blocks spontaneous creative games and natural movements, not giving children incentives, much-needed for the formation of motor skills and senses. A child develops through his or her bodily experience. A TV screen is an imaginary reality that cannot turn into a tangible experience necessary for the development. Unlike statements, television images cannot be confirmed or denied; they are visually presented to a viewer and not reality-oriented. Broadcasted information is designed for the anonymous audience since it does not require selective, logic, and critical thinking, appealing directly to emotions and abilities to recognize patterns. TV programs are often stereotypical ly constructed and do not encourage a child to develop one’s own imagination and creativity. Stories represented by animated cartoons do not encourage children to dream. Therefore, children’s vocabulary becomes scarce. They predominantly use exclamations, such as those occuring in TV comics, disjointed fragments of phrases, and ridiculous imitations of noise, accompanying them with robotic movements. Insufficient diversity of external stimuli can lead to the deficiency in the formation of brain functions. Being caused by watching television, language delay entails far-reaching detrimental ramifications (Tomopoulos et al., 2010, p. 1106). Language development is inextricably linked with the formation of cognition and thinking abilities in young children. Human cognitive skills and abilities to think conceptually form in the process of language development (Owens, 2010, p. 97). Speech, emanating from TV screens, remains a poorly understood set of strange sounds. According to research findings provided by Tomopoulos et al. (2010), long-lasting infants’ exposure to television results in worsened language development (p. 1108). Such an outcome negatively influences further development of young children. The researchers state that â€Å"lower effects on expressive compared with receptive language tests may reflect limited expressive language at age 14 months; it is possible that greater effects on expressive language might be seen for older children† (Tomopoulos et al., 2010, p. 1106). Researchers have identified that television affects the development of language skills because watching television dramatically distracts parents from communicating with their children (Christakis et al., 2009; Duch et al., 2013; Pempek et al., 2014). Communication is a â€Å"process of encoding, transmitting, and decoding signals in order to exchange information and ideas between the participants† (Owens, 2010, p. 436). As a result of redundant television viewing, children constantly experience the lack of communication at their early age though it is essential for the development of all mental processes, including speaking. Children’s development is characterized by their active exploration of the world and acquisition of practical and informative activities. In early childhood, communication with parents is vital and plays a key role in children’s cognitive development. Numerous research studies have confirmed that communication with parents and other family m embers positively affects the development of children’s speech (Christakis et al., 2009; Pagani et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013; Pempek et al., 2014). Furthermore, cooperative games help a child fully realize his or her abilities and talents. Psychologists point out that parents should take part in games with their children instead of watching television. A child’s verbal behavior (language acquisition) evolves due to one’s interactions with family members and, thus, language is a product of verbal statements selectively supported within the first years of life. Beginning with simple forms of babbling in infancy, children’s verbal behavior gradually develops until it reminds adults’ language. According to Christakis et al. (2009), parents do not communicate with infants in a perceptible way, and television frequently leads to â€Å"significant reductions in discernible parental word counts, child vocalizations, and conversational turns for childre n 2 to 48 months of age† (p. 556). A recent research by Pempek et al. (2014) has estimated that background TV also makes detrimental impacts on language development in young children. For two years, scientists have closely monitored and analyzed the development of language skills in young children exposed to background noise of television. The researchers have obtained persuasive evidence that exposure to television violates the natural development of language skills in young children. According to Pempek et al. (2014), even if a child does not watch TV, he or she experiences difficulties in perceiving parents’ words due to extraneous sounds produced by background television. Parental teaching is interrupted by television noise and not effective. The study has confirmed the fact that the duration of dialogues and the number of words and phrases uttered in a television program do not promote language development. Childhood is associated with high emotional responsiveness to external sounds. Background television noise, especially speech, results in children’s slower reaction and lower concentration: a child cannot focus on communication with parents or other occupations. Audible speech of background television does not cause any images and sustainable experiences in young children. In conformity with the research findings, background TV is not only â€Å"distracting and disruptive to infants and toddlers, but it also reduces the quantity and quality of parent-child interactions† (Pempek et al., 2014, p. 219). Television has become an integral part of life for most of average families around the world; many parents do not consider it necessary to turn it off while communicating with their young children. The longer a TV set is on, the less attention parents pay to communication with their children. Background television can negatively affect the dynamics of language development and diminish the quality of relationships between parents and children. Therefore, the researchers s trongly recommend that parents turn off TV sets when they interact with their children (Pempek et al., 2014, p. 220). Contemporary studies have determined that, irrespective of their age, children spend a larger part of their vigilance on watching television in comparison with all other occupations, including homework assignments, communication with family members, and games with peers (Christakis et al., 2009; Pagani et al., 2010; Tomopoulos et al., 2010; Duch et al., 2013). Anyone who has turned out to be immobilized by television since one’s infancy will be silent while growing up. Verbal communication creates necessary conditions for the development of various forms of activity, cognition, and participation in teamwork, contributing to human successful socialization. Moreover, information obtained from TV programs does not promote the expansion of young children’s outlook. On the contrary, it is often extremely counterproductive, complicated, striking, or banal. In conclusion, although modern life is impossible without watching television, this extremely popular occupation is associated with both positive and deleterious consequences for young children. Recent research studies, such as those by Christakis et al. (2009), Pagani et al. (2010), Tomopoulos et al. (2010), Duch et al. (2013), have determined that the average amount of time spent on viewing TV programs increases with age, posing a threat to the development of children in general and their language skills in particular. Prolonged young children’s exposure to television decelerates their language development, impedes meaningful communication with family members, and diminishes cognitive abilities. Even background television is detrimental to language development. Taking into consideration the necessity for children’s harmonious development, it is essential to monitor and thoroughly control their exposure to television. Children Who Watch Television Spend Less Time Reading or Drawing Than Children Who Do Not It has always been thought that family plays the most important role in a child’s life; however, the situation has recently changed, and much influence is made by television. It is hardly possible to find a household without a television; usually there are even more than one screen in a house. Many children have TV sets in their rooms and consider sitting in front of a screen to be much better way of spending time than any other activity. In his article, Hoffman (2003) mentions that â€Å"the average American child spends every day about 3 hours in front of television and only 45 minutes he or she devotes to reading†. A six-month old baby can also stare at the screen without understanding anything. Baby’s attention is drawn by a number of changing pictures accompanied by sounds. By the age of seven-eight, watching television becomes more comprehensive; the child is able to realize what is real and what is not. At the age of eleven, the child is able to make concl usions, correlate deeds of characters with his/her own deeds, in other words, to distinguish good from bad and analyze the situation. However, it is necessary to be aware of the fact that if to allow watching television from the early childhood not limiting time, the child will spend the whole day in front of TV. As a consequence, it will be difficult for the child to distinguish reality from television story. Today’s children grow up with a stream of entertainment, and there is no space for reading and drawing. There are emerging concerns regarding time children spend watching television since it can make a huge effect on the development of a child’s perception. According to David (2013), in 2005, there were 40% of children, who read daily; however, in 2011, the percentage has reduced to 30%. It is caused by the fact that children’s eyes are glued to different devices. Children are no longer interested in reading books. However, we cannot blame them for spending time in front of screen rather than reading a story or drawing. In his article, Shapiro (2013) claims, â€Å"parents do not provide children with good reading behaviors, children do not feel comfortable with books†. There is no doubt that if parents start buying books and start reading themselves, this will encourage children. It is also necessary to add that drawing also plays a very important role in children’s development. With the help of drawing, children are taught to express their emotions and become more confident; however, within time, they lose enthusiasm for drawing, so it is vitally important to encourage them to draw. Since parents are usually very b usy and do not have enough free time to spend with their children, they are also expected to be busy; thus, this gap is filled with screen time. In her research, David (2013) claims, â€Å"children who read and draw for pleasure, have good memory, confidence, greater self-esteem and general knowledge. Reading and drawing build empathy, improve imagination and language development†. In the time of technological progress, parents should preserve the art of reading and drawing for pleasure. However, even though children spend not much time in front of television, it is necessary to control the quality of the programs. American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) claims that â€Å"even innocuous children’s programs use specific effects to concentrate children’s attention†. Usually, children who watch much TV are not able to concentrate since there is often much noise and silly voices on television. While watching television, little concentration is required. However, if you are reading or drawing, it is necessary to maintain attention for a long time. Concerning age peculiarities, children under 2 are not recommended at all to watch television. At that age, it would be much better to explore the world around and socialize with people. Nowadays, children have to teach to be still – to have a still mind and be able to concentrate on a story. The rhythm of life is really fast; as a result, children simply do not have a habit to read or draw. In such a s ituation, it is necessary to control time children spend in front of television. What is more, it is vitally important that parents review all the programs their children watch. Undoubtedly, there are some educational TV programs that make a positive impact on language development. Owing to this, children enlarge their vocabulary and become able to express their thoughts. It is recommended to stick to 2-hour limit, but it is also necessary to offer children alternatives to watching television. For example, children can be offered listening to music, reading, drawing, or even playing outdoors. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) consider †amount of time spent on watching television interferes with time spent in activities, that have positive influence on the children’s health and development, such as interacting with parents, reading, drawing, doing homework and active playing†. The ease of watching television is undoubted; as a result, children prefer being glued to television than engage into creative play. To play some games inside, children are required to prepare for the game and clean everything after. Regarding watching television, everything is much simpler: turning on and off. There is no doubt that watching television deteriorates children’s creativity. The research proved that children brought up in the community with no television were much more creative than those who had a TV set. It is necessary to engage children in appropriate activities. Again, it all depends on parents, because very often when they are under stress, they l ack desire to interact with children and simply put them in front of television. However, it would be much better if the parents devoted more time to reading or playing together with children; otherwise, there might occur such social ills as children’s lack of attention and concentration. At the same time, it is necessary to emphasize on the fact that electronic media is not always related to the amount of time spent on reading or drawing. On the contrary, television has not always contributed to television watching. In reality, there is a thought that the time children have spent on watching television has remained almost the same, but children started to read more. Viewing television in its turn makes an impact on the following media use: going to the cinema, listening to the radio, and reading comics. It means that children prefer spending little time reading and drawing. Reading for fun can be triggered by parents’ encouragement to read books, children’s motivation and intelligence. Undoubtedly, American children are not reading a lot; however, there is no chance to make children read and draw more by unplugging computer. It is important to mention that our culture is a text-based culture, and parents need to encourage reading in all possible ways. T he affordability and availability of different gadgets turned reading into a fun activity. Watching television has become an American national pastime. However, it is a well-known fact that there are a lot of activities that would make much better impact on children’s well-being. Television viewing is considered to interfere with such activities as interacting with parents, reading, drawing, and playing. It is easier for the child to perceive and remember the information he or she saw on screen than the information he or she heard. There are usually visual images on the screen. However, a lot of parents are confused about the fact that their child does not want to read, does not listen to the teacher in the class, and does not interact with other children. The explanation is very easy: the child is not interested in it, he or she is not used to creating his/her own images, and analyzing the situation on his or her own. It is also difficult to make decisions and a choice. Every person has to possess such skills and abilities to develop successfully. It is necessary t o encourage children to create their own show for the family audience. Children should be taught to do and create rather than be a consumer. A lot of children are no longer interested in arts and crafts since they got used to spending hours viewing bright entertaining commercials, which are trying to convince that happiness comes with the things they buy (Huffman, 2013). In that situation, it is recommended to expose children to a different type of entertainment that is not influenced by advertising. Billions of dollars are spent on marketing, which is aimed at making children loyal to their products. However, if the child spends too much time viewing television, then the risk of damaging brain is very high. According to the research, unlike reading and drawing, watching television does not advance cognitive functioning to a higher level.