Low Cost Strategies of QuickFlight Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Low Cost Strategies of QuickFlight - Essay Example QuickFlight has no formal HR department and any room for staff development and training; this is something that the organization should look into, considering the increase in size will need an integration of forces. The expertise from Gone can help the organization streamline a strategic HR policy, including the personnel from QuickFlight as well to ensure proper representation of all stakeholders. To solve this problem, the organization should practice effective communication strategies in the company. In times of change management, effective communication plays a vital role in the success of the changing processes. Proper information dissemination to all stakeholders, equal intake for solutions from them would help the policy makers to gain knowledge from the valuable expertise of the Human Capital. In order to capitalize on the diverse features of both the organizations, the human resource should be encouraged to work in teams and work their way out of problems. Job rotation is an other management development that helps to train employees and provide them with exposure to the entire organization. All these activities will introduce a high sense of commitment in the employees towards the newly formed organization and will help fill the gap between the two cultures (Raymond, 2000). Â  With the addition of call center labor in the organization, the company should embark on formal training procedures to train the employees to boost their sales through call center bookings. Training and development in this area are bound to help the employees boost the sales; also, recognition for the hard work that they put in is important. Clearly, compensation that is being awarded can work as an incentive, along with recognition. Therefore, to reduce turnover and boost sales, the company should introduce a basic pay for all, adding performance-based rewards, depending on the sales that the personnel makes.

The Easycar Company Report Essay Example for Free

The Easycar Company Report Essay The Easycar company like any other business venture with an aim of maximizing profit, is been faced with the normal business environment. Achievement of the profit goal of such business involves diagnosing problems and making forward movement in improving its performance. The company has taken off smartly with attraction of many customers and still at a competitive market in Europe: Although it monopolizes in the use of a single type of vehicle at the start in each of its location, it’s a smart move to its management though such service monopoly may far outweigh the different customer requirements. It has a high quality mode of booking which to the management serves as a first hand system though it may have different inconsistencies of been expensive despite its mission to offer a cheap transport service. Therefore, it should diversify such a method to include other methods like counter booking. Easycar is however, been faced with it bureaucratic mode of administration in its financial authorities about customers getting the service. It has many unstable car service charge requirements which are often changing depending on the nature type time and other illogical requirements. Although such attentions are taken to ensure the best business fit in this competitive environment; this compromises the effectiveness of quality service delivery. Rather than providing a cheap service, costs of such services are becoming too expensive. It’s important that the company streamlines the cost of services delivery to become cheap to the customers. Perhaps the other companies are doing better, because of their diversification in agency and intermediaries. To Easycar, however, doing the business directly on its own is seen as its best solution for growth and expansion. Like the other companies in this industry, Easy car should also aim at diversifying its customer’s targets and increasing the range of its vehicles. Perhaps it would even achieve its motive not by its one car service monopoly and strict destinations but by diversification in such areas. Though it has the intention of providing high quality car services and improve the growth of the company, but such maximum profit may not be recognized by the use of these too expensive mercedes cars which require high capital input. The system of car renting by its own depicts and wide range of inconsistencies, where its policies are changing without regard to any specific regulations. It thus forms a basis of inconveniences to the customers where customers have to keep mobility in the change of regulations about the renting and its charges. It’s important that the company maintains stability in renting management otherwise this would be a gate pass to customer inconvenience Problems facing the company Easycar is challenged by a number of problems. The company’s mission can only be attained subject to the address of these problems that highly inhibits its performance. Firstly, the company is renting only one type of car, which is at a high risk of service monopoly. Either, these cars are too expensive which implies that low customer requirement may not be met. The company is operated directly through direct internet or company phone service for its booking. However other companies in the industry are using intermediaries and broker agents. Perhaps this is a key contribution to these companies success. These agents and intermediaries can function to promote to reach many customers. It’s not optimally exploiting its resources where it’s not leasing all its parking spaces. Some spaces are found vacant when most of the cars have been rent during the day. Either it has not optimally exploited opening new sites where more locations can be opened by hiring smaller staff, driving fan to the location and adding these locations to company’s website. The company depicts a broad range of booking inconsistencies where time of service is determined at booking. The rental prices are charged at times of picking. The system also require many customer requirements are unrealistic (Printed copy of contract and a credit card) There is delay in picking up of vehicles where a customer can even spend 30 minutes waiting for processing of transactions and receiving their vehicles. This was due to the low staff level who cannot give service adequately. The contract of picking up a car involves too expensive cost of a refundable fee upon fulfilling the service requirements of the car contract. This would have perhaps, passively challenged some customers who for reasons could not manage to afford this refundable contract fee. Empty fueled vehicles are still a problem which would lead to further customer inconveniences in fueling the tanks. Also there were many requirements regarding the return back level of cars fuel. Since customers are to drive for them this would have highly inconvenienced customers who never knew some places despite provided with a map. Either non-driver was totally limited to this service since a customer was to drive the car for himself. The cleaning car policy before returning was a big drawback of inconvenience to customers. This was an inhibitor in the service rendering of this company. Otherwise the previous higher cost levy without regard to cleaning the car was far economical than the penalty levy to the customer when they returned the car dirty. The stringent strictness in the number of kilometers the car traveled at the renting period worked to demoralize some of the customers. Booking of the cars itself constituted a range of expenses, where using the phone system was charged â‚ ¬0. 95 a minute for a call and â‚ ¬5 for using credit card. Inconsistent levy for returning the car late was a problem. Mismanagement in the high cost of advertising had no economies of scale. It even chose to double its marketing effort to â‚ ¬3million in 2003 in featuring the founder of the company Justification of the problem facing company The company was established to provide the same type of car service in all its locations across its markets. It had signed a contract with the General Motor Show to purchase 5000 A-class Mercedes cars which cost the company over â‚ ¬6. million . Its mission was to use brand new Mercedes cars in the same way that easy jet uses brand new Boeing aircraft. By 2002, its fleets consisted of 6000mercedes A-class vehicles across 18 sites The company operated directly through its website and phone system and never transacted with any intermediaries or agents. Its entire sites were manned by its employees. However, the other car companies operated with agents and intermediaries which helped to have a broad catchments area for its customers. Example, companies like the sixt, Eurocars, Avis and Hertz targeted both vocational and business travelers and offered a wide range vehicles for rent. Despite the fact that Easycars where rented 90 percent of the time, only 15-20 spaces were required at an average, with a fleet of 150 cars. It could still open other locations by hiring less staff adding locations to its website and driving a van to its location. Booking prices usually changed with time and space. Customers who picked their cars early in the morning were paying more then those who picked the cars late in the day or at busy times. Processing the booking also required many requirements where customers were supposed to produce a copy of contract credit card. It also involved a long process of new customer’s identification. (Kirkegaad, 1997) Customers were highly delayed in picking up vehicles. This could go as long as 30 minutes and the company staff are described as been slow. To pick a car, a customer was made to put down a refundable contract fee of â‚ ¬80 before signing and moving away with the car. Customers were also expected to maintain the fuel tank at a level. Empty or less tanks were charged a fuelling fee of â‚ ¬16. The employee in charge would investigate and if finds the low-fuel indicator, the customer was supposed to pay this low fuel levy. The office of the Fair Trading (OFT) accused the Easycar Company as not been a transport company because its customers drove for themselves unlike other transport companies. However, the management of the company had filed a suit of appeal in the court that its service system was to ensure a low price to its customers. Such case was even to reduce the companies plan for the 2004 IPQ. At the beginning the policy required that customers were to pay â‚ ¬11 at booking for preparation of the car. However, the new policies required customers to maintain the car clean or pay the cleaning levy. The company provided customers with maps showing car washing points which could however inconvenience the customers very much. A customer was only supposed to drive 100 kilometers per day and any additional kilometer was charge a rate of â‚ ¬0. 12 per kilometer. Above this, customers were required to return the cars on time. Returning the car late imposed an instant charge of â‚ ¬120 and a subsequent â‚ ¬120 for every 24 hour period if the car was not returned. To book a car by itself was a problem which cost â‚ ¬0. 95 a minute for a call and â‚ ¬5 for using credit card. Customer was also charged a â‚ ¬16 charge fee if they wanted to change their booking. The company advertising system comprised of a mismanaged system where advertising was made in an abrupt manner and using very local methodologies. Offering the mercedes cars only, may be too costly for some customers who perhaps may not afford its cost. Either, expansions of its market may serve to attract a diverse number of customers with different service requirement. Rather than to dwell, on only some few stations it should seek to expand its markets like the other companies. This is aimed at reducing any monopolistic effects of dwelling on only few markets. (Write, Robbie, 1999) If possible, the company should seek to merge with other companies in order to diversify its resource mobilization. Through such merges, the company can have more bargaining power in the industry attracting a better income share from the market. Either, through merging, there is diversification in the company risks. This helps to ensure that, any possible losses do not fall on the shoulders of one company but rather shared between the parties. Trough merging, greater inventions and business market researches can help them to perform better than one company. By sharing of resources, brings about greater economies of scale which help to run the business at relatively lower costs. This is because market researches can be done for one business expenses such as advertisements, consultant and market research can be done for one business which constitutes many business. (Sunden, Stratton, 2006) The company can choose to improve its technology as a way of improving its business. Firstly, technology implies quicker service delivery, efficiency and more consistent. Either, improving technology has a lower cost to business performance at the long run trend of business cycles. This implies that, it will cost less for high technologies business after it has attained cost-benefit equilibrium. It should use better technology in its customer service provision where lower time is taken in processing the customer requirement before picking the car. Its mode of advertising still lags behind as a developed system which can influence more customers, where it uses posters at different stations. Such mode of advertisement needs improvement probably to use television or internet. Due to the company’s extensive business transactions, it should improve on its database system to enable faster processing, identification of customers and improving efficiency in monitoring its financial transactions. (Gutterman, 1994) Improvement in its human resource capital, where more qualified staff should be employed. The problems of slow service to customer by the company workers can only be improved by employing more qualified workers. This improves efficiency in the company’s operations. Above all, the company should also re-structure its mode of operations where a customer is let to drive for himself and employ its driver. This can lead to a better service provision. (Lipsy, Chrystal, 1997) The company costing system is faced with many bureaucracies where charging prices of services without rigidities to permanent regulations. Such costing methods need to be revised so that there is simplicity in pay requirement of a customer picking a car. Broadly, it should maintain simpler terms of service costs that should seek to even attract more customers. There is a diverse immobility in customer payment to their service delivery. Either, the company can monitor its expensive mode of its operations to achieve more profit. Basically, it spends a lot of money in purchasing its cars where there are still alternative of other cheaper cars. It solely dwells on one type of expensive car. Costing regulations should be emended to secure lesser company expenses and earn more profit. High costs of business operation are also revealed by its mode of advertising and booking which tend to be too costly for both the business and the customers. The business can therefore achieve its mission through amendments of its cost variable. (Bjerke, 1999) From one perspective the business is doing well, with good service provision. Therefore the business can still continue its operation in the same standard manner it is operating in. Since it seen improving, and opening even more branches, it implies that the business mission will still be achieved. It should seek to streamline its operations in line with its current system. However, the business should not be closed down. Since it depicts a continued and outstanding performance, closing such a business would be doing away with a prospective business entity. Since the former goals were to start a car industry, which is now expanding, it should be let to continue in its operations. (Warner, 2001) Either, the management should not seek the alternative of selling up the business. Perhaps, selling such a business which is acquiring such a good expansion would even earn the company lesser profit than if let to operate.

It’s Time for America to Build a Moonbase Essay -- Argumentative Persu

It’s Time for America to Build a Moonbase On May 25, 1961, Congress met in a joint session to hear the American president, John F. Kennedy, address them in a speech he referred to as a second State of the Union. In his speech, the young president geared America for a race that would send men to the moon. Kennedy challenged America to â€Å"take longer strides† and to take a â€Å"leading role in space achievement, which, in many ways, may hold the key to our future on earth† (Burrows 330-331). America rose to the challenge, and within a decade, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were walking on the moon, becoming the first of the human race to walk on a world besides our own. The giant strides of which Kennedy challenged us soon slowed to a crawl, however, and after a few more missions, America would not go back again, possibly for good. America would soon turn its attention to other earthly issues, and its moon program would become nothing more than a memory. This gives rise to an inevitable question : should humans return to the moon? This question has haunted us for years, continuously rising and then fading away again. In recent months, new discoveries have brought it to the forefront, and with these new discoveries, the answer becomes obvious: humans should once again set their sights for the heavens, and putting a civilian lunar base and colony on the moon should be our next step. Many reasons exist for such an undertaking, one being that the moon contains resources that could possibly be mined and used here on Earth for our own benefit – and profit. Also, the resources on the moon could be used as materials to build a lunar colony. The lunar crust is composed of many valuable elements, including uranium, ... ...nited Nations. United Nations Populations Information Network (POPIN). Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Revision of the World Population Estimates and Projections. United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration. Lunar Base as a Precursor to Mars Exploration & Settlement. By Wendell W. Mendell. United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration. Ice on the Moon – Mining the Gold. United States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration. Lunar Geology. â€Å"Agents Plot to Ship the Rich Into Outer Space.† Yahoo! News. 16 November 1999.

Aliens and Faith Essay

There are many religions throughout our world. Some are even based on the actual worship of what these believers call, Aliens from outer space. The majority of religions though do not believe in intelligent life outside of human beings on planet Earth. Christianity is a main religion practiced worldwide; part of its belief for most believers is just that, that we are the only intelligent life created by the Christian God. The possible existence of extraterrestrial life though does not give reason that religious beliefs are not true. The belief of an omniscient creator of all things, including our never ending expanse of Universe and the possibility of what it holds, show that an omniscient creator’s power is never ending and our faith should be as well. All religions require you to have faith, and with faith we can accept any possibility. When people entertain the idea of extraterrestrial life they feel it casts doubt that the gods or God of many religious beliefs cannot coincide with the reality of life. Quoting an anonymous source, here is one opinion: Christians claim that the Bible has all the knowledge of how, when, where, what and why life was created and everything that God has done. The Bible explains that God created angels and humans and animals on earth. That pretty much covers everything God has created from earth to heaven. If God doesn’t mention aliens in His creations and only speaks of how He sacrificed Himself for us it could be claimed that God did not create any other life form outside earth. I think it would be absurd if God created other life forms in other parts of the universe and gave them free will and then going through another self-sacrifice. Besides, there is only one evil source, namely Satan that serves as our earthly test. This Satan only dwells on earth and not in other worlds. That is why aliens cannot exist. If aliens exist or come to earth it directly proves that Christianity is a fake (QTD). Yet we are taught in this religion in particular to have faith in the God of Christ. That our faith can move mountains or raise the dead, if we just believe, then it can be done. In Him all things are possible. Aliens can still be a possibility even with religious beliefs, extraterrestrials and religion can still exist together. Keeping in tune with the Christian religion, also being the popular religion worldwide, we hear that the catholic faith of Christian belief states that they believe and are researching the existence of extraterrestrial life being a reality. In my opinion this possibility exists,† Funes, the director of the Vatican Observatory, told L’Osservatore Romano. † Astronomers believe the universe is made up of 100 billion galaxies, each of which consists of 100 billion stars,†¦ Life forms could exist in theory even without oxygen or hydrogen. † (News). The Catholic Religion is the oldest Christian based religion historically and is very dominant and deeply rooted with many assets. They will have scientist, astronomers, and researchers continuously providing facts and reasoning behind this coexistence. Ted Peters writes: â€Å"During the formidable period of medieval Scholasticism, despite the forceful impact of Aristotelian philosophy, Christian Theology was by no means wedded to the idea that God created only one world†¦ Not only did some of our best minds affirm the idea of multiple worlds, some even spoke positively regarding the existence of extraterrestrial life. † (Delio 250) There is the belief that any other life forms created where angels or demons and that aliens are not part of these creations. We can show that alien life forms can coexist with even these creations and it not disprove religion still. There are few places in the bible that speak of life outside of humans and none mentioning aliens or extraterrestrial life, but they are there. â€Å"praise ye him , all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts†¦for he spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created† (Psalm 148:2). Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not say that the only intelligent beings populating the universe are humans, in fact God created countless â€Å"non-human intelligent beings† before mankind. God is known throughout the Bible as the Lord of Hosts (Flynn). To show faith in the God of Christ we can believe in the possibility of these beings and it not disprove them. Even in scriptures it does not come out and say it but it gives seed to the idea and possibility that God did create other hosts of this life. On a more general level the fact that alien life exists would mean that we are not the center of the universe. Most religions now recognize that the earth is just a lump of rock, they still believe that WE as human being are the most important thing in creation, that we occupy a special place in God’s plan. The existence of aliens would seem to make this implausible especially if they are more advanced than we are (on all levels, intellectually, spiritually) This would mean that God has acted in the development of the aliens in a away he did not act in ours, which in turn would mean that we do not occupy the paramount role in God’s creation, which as I said is a fundamental idea in religions. For Christianity, Judaism and Islam the existence of aliens is especially problematic. All these religions are based on the idea of a covenant between us and God. Weidemann, a self-confessed Protestant Christian, mentioned a few potential answers. Maybe aliens are not sinners, like human beings, and as a result are not in need of saving. On the other hand, the principle of mediocrity – the notion that own case in point is most likely standard except if there is proof to the opposite – casts skepticism on this, he pointed out. Weidemann stressed that if there are extraterrestrial rational creatures at all, it is safe to believe that virtually all of them are sinners as well. He added that if aliens are sinners Jesus did not save them too. Weidemann asserted that their position among intelligent creatures in the universe would be very outstanding (Delage). With extraterrestrial life in the universe being seen as a possibility and many biblical references giving seed to this as truth, believers maybe are being tested with this theory as another way that we are tested in our faith. We are asked to have faith without seeing, and to believe without question the infinite intelligence of God the infinite possibilities he has, to let the unknown exist and still believe with a faith unfounded.

In the Devil’s Snare Essay

There have been several interpretations of the Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692. Like every issue that has come up, everyone has their own take on it. Mary Beth Norton chose to lay out her version of the witchcraft trials in her book, In the Devil’s Snare. It is a tremendously ambitious book. Throughout the book, Norton is trying to lay out connections between the experiences of settlers in Maine, the accusations of the afflicted in Salem, and the actions and decisions of the colony leaders. I’ll admit, I don’t know much about the Salem Witchcraft Trials, if anything at all. I had the choice of reading The Crucible in high school, but I turned it down and chose to read a different book. Therefore, I really had not choice but to believe Norton when she said that her approach to examining the witchcraft crisis was a new one. Instead of looking at events case-by-case, she starts at the very beginning (the first whisper of an accusation) and moves chronologically through the entire episode. When it was needed, Norton would pause to add background information. Mary Beth’s point of view of the Salem Witchcraft Crisis is that it all was triggered by from the results of the Indian Wars. She believes that the only way this crisis could be understood, is if you looked at the military conflict between the English settlers and the Native Americans from that region. By the specific attention paid to Tituba, Martha Corey, and Abigail Hobbs, Norton shows how these individuals contributed to the linkage between the witchcraft crisis and the military conflict with the natives. In my opinion, I think Norton’s conclusion should have been put at the start. This is where she explains her thesis, which was that witchcraft crisis of 1692 was in large part a reaction to King Philip’s War and King William’s War, clearly and concisely. Mary Beth does a good job at connecting the participants to the Wars; however I don’t think she’s very convincing when it came to showing how the lack of military and leadership in the w ar was a driving force to the creation of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Mary Beth Norton’s, In The Devil’s Snare, was very well written piece of literature. I commend her on stepping outside of what other authors had written about and creating her own version of the Salem WitchCraft Crisis of 1692. Norton has a substantial amount of supporting material that she’s gotten from other sources. The amount of the research involved to write her 304 page book is quite impressive and is ultimately breathtaking. I can only imagination how time consuming it was to lay out all the researched material and piece it together with her side of things. Just the thought of management needed to piece this book together gives me a headache. However, all this information did make the book less interesting to me. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a book that had 86 pages of endnotes! It made the book a drag because I had to continuously keep flipping back and forth between the story itself, and the side notes. Sometimes a reader can get away with skipping the end notes; however, I felt it was necessary to going back and forth because if I didn’t, I don’t think I would have understood most of it. Sometimes Norton’s side notes helped clarify what I was reading. All in all, In The Devil’s Snare was a decent book. I don’t think I ever found it really interesting at any point, nor was there a place that made me want to keep reading and not push the book aside for a little. My recommendation to others would be limited. This isn’t a book I would recommend to those that want something to read in their free time. I feel like all of her background information, and the tedious amount of flipping back and forth would put many people to sleep. I had a hard time reading more than 30 pages at a time! I think the only people I would recommend this book to would be those who take certain interest in this time frame of history. I think this would be a book they’d like, just because it’s given at a different angle.

The Lord of the Flies1 essays

The Lord of the Flies1 essays In the story it best explains that there was a nuclear war going on. There was a plane in flying out of the nuclear war and crashed and the pilot dies but most of the children survive. First some boys find each other they names are Ralph and Piggy. When Ralph and Piggy find a conch and piggy tells Ralph to blow in it and the kids will hear it and come to see what it is. They find several other kids and determine who the leader is going to be. Some of the main characters in the story are Simon, Jack, Littuns, and the Bigguns. Everyone votes for Ralph to be the leader and Jack to be the hunter. Ralph decides to build a big fire so that a passing ship will see it but the fire gets out of control and the little boys that was complaining about a monster ends up missing. Why and how Golding wrote the Lord of Flies? Golding moved to London to be a social worker so he knows how kids act without any supervision. He also became a teacher and knows how kids act when they are together for a long time. Golding joined the Royal Navy and he also served on a cruiser. That gave him some knowledge about war and maybe some nuclear war. At the end of his career com7anded a rocket launching He saw action against battleships, submarines, and aircraft. He was in the D-Day invasion on Germany. Golding active participation in world war two influence on the novel The Lord of Flies. Then Simon and Eric tell Jack that there is a beast on the Island and that they should go kill it. Everyone goes crazy and decides to hunt the pig. The hunters kill Simon because they thought he was the pig. Jack kills Piggy by pushing him off a cliff. Piggy was only trying to get his glasses back. Ralph escapes death from Jack and runs to the navel officer. Why and how Golding wrote the Lord of Flies? Golding moved to London to be a social worker so he knows how kids act wi ...

buy custom Obligations to Help the Poor essay

buy custom Obligations to Help the Poor essay An Ethical dilemma refers to a complex condition that involves mental conflict between different moral imperatives in which individuals are unable to choose one without inflicting or transgressing another. Ethical dilemma can also be referred to as an Ethical paradox because it plays a central role in debates concerning ethics especially in moral philosophy. Ethical dilemmas are mostly used to reject an ethical system as well as the worldview that results from it. In most of the societies, reasoning is always guided with rationality; each and every person is expected to carry out himself or his activities in a given manner. Philosophy plays a significant role in shaping the moral behavior of people in a given society. People have always to consider issues pertaining reasoning and logic; that for one to make a decision he/she has to think clearly, exceptionally well and clarify the whole issue plus weighing the consequences of his stand on the welfare of those around him/her. Ethical studies are truly fundamental in our lives as the society members because it tends to deepen our reflection on the key aspects and questions of life. It is also essential in the sense that it helps us to think better about morality as we are able to make moral judgments and decisions of which we can be held accountable. Ethical studies have been credited for sharpening general thinking of individuals because it enables them to learn essential intellectual skills, which enable them to think rigorously about fundamental questions surrounding their lives, they are able to understand and evaluate conflicting issues with ease. The dilemma here refers to the conflicting ideology or agenda between individuals and society, at large; this might be the case where the ethics held by individuals fail to fully comply with the moral standards set by the society. The society might expect people to go an extra mile and do certain things of which the individuals might not be able to accomplish due to their personal constraints; when such a situation is observed then it may be argued that there is an ethical dilemma. Ethical dilemma may also refer to a situation where individuals are indifferent between achieving their own personal objectives and helping the society to achieve its goals. The dilemma experienced in this case is that the society members especially the rich have to meet their own individual needs but the society expects them to help their poor collogues who are less fortunate; the dilemma is, should the rich carter for their own needs at the expense of the poor or should they extend a helping hand to the poor. This is a conflict that the society has to address in a fair and human manner, the poor have to be helped but the rich should not be left to bear the entire burden, mechanisms have to be put in place to help the poor despite the conflict at hand. Cultural Relativism Cultural relativism refers to the argument that holds bad and good that are relative to culture; that for something to be referred to as good, it must be socially approved in a given society or cultural setting. Peoples moral obligations must be strictly based on the norms of the society; the society may dictate its members moral obligations in a given way. For our case, we have to look for ways on how to address the problems encountered by the poor people in the US. Here, the society has the obligation of improving the living conditions of its poor members; it has to make each, and everybody to e responsible in uplifting the economically less fortunate individuals, the contradiction is that individuals want to improve on their own personal welfare regardless of what others are undergoing. The society views individuality as unethical measure and calls for individualism where people, who are wealthy have to come up and distribute part of their wealth to the less fortunate individuals. The system of cultural relativism has some weaknesses accompanied by it; a key among them is that the principle forces individuals to conform to societys obligations irrespective of the individuals personal stands. This is unfair as it denies individuals a chance to carry out their issues according to their wishes. Another thing is that cultural relativism cannot always be true in the sense that something can be socially approved, but it is not good according to the individuals. Subjectivism Subjectivism argues that moral judgments describes how people feel that for something to be viewed as bad or good the individuals concerned might have felt it. It goes a step further to propose that moral judgment shows how we may feel if we were totally rational. Idealism refers to a situation where an individual has supreme moral wisdom; a person who is fully informed and who is believed to have a lot of concern for everyone. The principles of subjectivism and idealism are very helpful in any given society since moral judgment can help the individuals in that society to help those who are poor by applying the moral principles of helping the needy. Idealism is of great help when it comes to addressing the plight of the poor in the US since the rich individuals, who are well informed and have impartial concern for their poor fellows can come in and offer substantial help. For the poor, to receive adequate help, the society has to be informed fully about the situation, feel the situation and develop an impartial concern for those individuals so as to help them. This means that the two principles can be of great help to the poor citizens of the US. Just like any other strategies or ideologies, the subjectivism tends to have a number of shortcomings that includes the following; the condition of impartiality is substantially unclear since it does not stipulate the limits of peoples concern, people ask that should they be concerned about the issues of their close relatives or total strangers? The idea of being fully informed seems to be unrealistic since it means that people have to access an infinite amount of knowledge, which is a rear situation in the real world, and it even doesnt make sense to conclude that if people are well informed they will tend to have the desire. Supernaturalism Supernaturalism is an argument that argues that moral judgment represents Gods will; here people tend to believe that, what the society perceives to be morally significant is the manifestation of Gods desire. When it comes to relating it to the plight of the poor in the US, it shall imply that the society has a moral responsibility to help the poor individuals because it views it as the desire or wish of God. People will respond by helping their colleagues to improve their lives as a result of the supernatural circumstances surrounding the whole issue. It is difficult for the non-believers to agree with the society about the issues pertaining to supernaturalism (Goudena et al, 23). Golden Rule This rule argues that we must treat others the way we would expect them to treat us; this is a very human argument because we never know what tomorrow holds for us and so we should always be willing to help others; this can be used by the rich people in the US to help their poor countrymen. The rule requires empathy and appreciation of future consequences of our current actions; people might not be more concerned about the future because they feel that they have enough wealth to see them through the future. Consequentialism It requires us to do things that lead to good results/outcomes for the whole society; this means that the people of America will decide to help their poor counterparts to move out of poverty traps. The major disadvantage of this approach is that it is difficult to determine the consequences of a given initiative early enough, before giving it a try. Non-Consequentialism This implies that individuals have to help others in the society without necessarily looking at what they will achieve in return or what the consequences shall be. Here the poor can be helped to overcome their challenges easily because the wealthy members of the society are not concerned about the consequences of their initiatives. The weakness of this principal is that it fails to incorporate the effects of help to the helpers; helpers must establish the cost benefit analysis of their aid (Maxi et al, 292). Aristotles Ethics of Virtue Aristotle argues that man is a rational being and that virtue is between two extremes; the rationality and virtue can be very significant in propelling people to respond to the plight of the poor. One of the limitations of this principle is that we are imperfectly irrational, and at times, the inconsistency of will can occur (Kiehil, 56). Natural Law It refers to a tradition that views basic moral laws as objectives based on the nature and knowledge through natural human; this can be of great help to the poor because people views it as their responsibility to help others. The law is non-consequential in nature and may be subjected to the same shortcomings like those affecting the latter (Green, 67). According to Alan Saars, the disadvantage tends to have structural interests that are negative with the status quo of which once they are assumed, will eventually lead to social change. Thus, the less fortunate are viewed as agents of change rather than objects that the rich shall feel sympathy for. The information is obtained from Sears, A, (2008). A Good Book, In Theory: A Guide to theoretical Thinking. Virtual Printers. Interviewed Dr. Tom who is one of the leading philosophers and Critical thinkers; I wanted him to clarify how the ethical dilemmas can be avoided in our contemporary societies and he responded that the way out is to address the inequality by transforming the existing relations in the society. He drew his statement from following book: Malcolins, J. (2011). Society, Sociology. New York. Prentice Hall. Conclusion Have observed the issues pertaining the ethical dilemma and the plight of the poor in the US, I can confidently argue that it is the responsibility of the federal governments to put measures in place that shall improve the lives of the poor rather than depending on the society. Buy custom Obligations to Help the Poor essay

Introductions for ESL - Advanced Level Classes

Introductions for ESL - Advanced Level Classes The beginning of a new class is a good time for a global review of the tenses and forms that you will be studying during the coming course. The idea of this exercise is not to intimidate the students, nor to have them learn everything in one go. Most students will have already studied most of these forms and the following year serves to improve and build upon the set of English skills that they have already acquired. The following conversation exercises serve the double purpose of introducing students to each other and getting them to converse from the get-go, as well as reviewing the number of more advanced structures that they will be working on during your course. This spoken exercise can also work well as a means of review. For lower-intermediate or false beginners. Aim: Introduce students to each other while introducing/reviewing a wide range of tenses Activity: Interviewing activity in pair work Level: Advanced Outline Ask students to break up into groups of three or four and write down the names of all the tenses they can remember including an example for each tense. You may want to help them as this exercise is just a way of introducing structures that they will be working on during your course.Talk quickly about the structures that are mentioned. You may also want to write the names of the tenses on the board so that students can refresh their memories.Ask students to get up and find a partner.Have the students take short one or two-word notes on the questions from the first worksheet. Students dont need to write full answer notes but should focus on replying in full sentences to the questions asked by their partners.Once students have completed the task, ask them to quietly read through the notes they have taken about their partner.Have students get up again and find another partner. Distribute the second worksheet and have them answer questions about their partners. Once again, students dont n eed to write full answer notes but should focus on replying in full sentences to the questions asked by their partners. Make sure to point out that this exercise is intended to remind them of what sort of elements go into using English (i.e. tenses in this case) and that you will be taking your time going through all the points so quickly covered in this lesson.After you have finished the exercise, have a class discussion about the differences between the first person I and a third person he, she (i.e. s on the third person singular, etc.) Getting to Know Your Classmates Questions For Your Partner What were you doing this time last year?What will you be doing this time next year?What do you hope you will have improved by the time you finish this course?What do you think will happen during this course?What do you do?How long have you been working/studying at your present job/course?Remember the last time you were interrupted at work/study. What had you been doing before you were interrupted?What would you change about your job/school if you were in charge?When did you choose your job/school? Is there any one thing that had happened to make you choose your line of work/field of study?What would you have done if you hadnt chosen your current profession/field of study?What are you currently working on/studying?How long have you been doing your favorite hobby?What did you use to do that you now miss?What must have been the reason for your stopping what you used to do? Questions About Your Partners Partner What was he/she doing this time last year?What will he/she be doing this time next year?What does he/she hope he/she will have improved by the time he/she finishes this course?What does he/she think will happen during this course?What does he/she do?How long has he/she been working/studying at his/her present job/course?Remember the last time he/she was interrupted at work/study. What had he/she been doing before he/she was interrupted?What would he/she change about his/her job/school if he/she were in charge?When did he/she choose his/her job/school? Is there any one thing that had happened to make he/she choose his/her line of work/field of study?What would he/she have done if he/she hadnt chosen his/her current profession/field of study?What is he/she currently working on/studying?How long has he/she been doing his/her favorite hobby?What did he/she use to do that he/she now misses?What must have been the reason for his/her stopping what he/she used to do?

Comparative Analysis of Nurse-patient Ratio Mandates for the Hospital Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Nurse-patient Ratio Mandates for the Hospital Setting - Research Paper Example Legislation has passed in California, and will be presented in other states to mandate a specific ratio of nurses per patient that must be maintained at all times. The goal of this study is to identify a balance between adequate levels of nurse-personnel while maintaining hospital efficiency both in terms of cost, and the time-resources of medical professionals. A Comparative Analysis of Nurse-Patient Ratio Mandates For the Hospital Setting INTRODUCTION The possibility of nursing shortages is a relevant concern for hospitalists, patients, and the general public alike. Years past have produced numerous concerns of under-staffed, overburdened hospitals as a barrier to adequate care. This paper will endeavor to examine the conventional wisdom that more patient responsibility will yield lower quality care from nurses and other healthcare professionals; and the extent to which such a decline in patient outcome can be quantified. But is is true that patients will receive better care, with fewer medical errors under a system of precise nurse-patient ratios? Are nurses doing a better job under such a system? How would such a change extend to doctors and other medical practitioners? Over a dozen states are now considering some form of mandate that will enforce specific ratios of nurses for every patient under the hospital's care, it is worthwhile to examine critically the available research on the balance between caregiver and patient. It is in the interest of everyone to seek the ideal balance between nurse staffing levels and the cost-effective management of the time-resources of medical professionals. CASE STUDY â€Å" Celeste examined the patient's chart; she had to remind herself that Mr. McGillicuddy wasn't just a disease; he was a case of full-blown nephrotic syndrome; based on the protein-cysts found in his urinalysis, plus a chronic case of trigeminal neuralgia on top of that. Oh, and a living. breathing person. But with his age and prognosis, personhood would n't cut much slack with the transplant committees. The experienced Nurse was not optimistic that he would retain his living status much longer; in part because the very lab results that Celeste found so damning took as long as they did to arrive; compounding the bad news they were reporting. On the one hand, in preparation for the new regulations mandating more nurses for every medical center in the county, patients would get more attention from nurses like her; the problem being – a hospital as small as hers had to cut corners somewhere; so they'd hadn't been able to hire that new med-tech they'd been needing for months now. So the doctors were probably lucky to get their results as soon as they did – as late as it seemed to her. But adding more nurses was about to be required by law; not something she could whine about to the head-nurse. She patted Mr. McGillicuddy's hand in reassurance. Well, it would fall to her – and the new blood they were hiring to pick u p the slack; make up for the corners cut...† PROS More nurses equals better care; in order to ensure the best possible patient outcomes during hospitalization, nurse-to-patient ratios must be mandated by law. The correct ratio will lead to happier nurses, and healthier patients. It seems an obvious solution; more nurses certainly can't hurt, More eyes to watch over

Analysis of the Business Cycle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of the Business Cycle - Essay Example The United States unemployment rate in May 2011 was 9.1 percent slightly higher than that of April 2011 which was 9 percent. Employment rates in government sectors continued to decline while job opportunities were generated in private sector, health care and mining. The number of unemployed person in May 2011 was 13.9 million. Inflation rate in United States has a continuously rising trend. It has systematically increased from 1.6 percent in January 2011 to 3.13 percent in June 2011. While in April and may it sustained on 3.2 percent. United States economy growth rate has greatly decelerated since last few years the above analyzed data shows that United States economy is in a phase of slow recovery with its 3.3 percent GDP growth rate. There had been fluctuations in inflation and unemployment rate- slight increases and decreases and some times the rate sustained at one level. The growth rate here is very slow and it is insufficient for the recovery of United States economy. With the same growth rate it can be projected that the recovery of the economy will speed up in 2015. By bringing down the inflation and unemployment rate and increasing the GDP growth rate United States can fasten up its recovery stage. There had been high rising trends in United States GDP growth rate. It was the highest in the year 1990 with an amazing growth rate of 10.5 percent. A monopolistic firm has to analyze the GDP growth rate, inflation rate and unemployment rate of the economy very carefully as these aspects can have a direct effect on its labor cost and sales rate. As we can see a rising trend in GDP growth it shows that the whole economy is in function and there is an increase in aggregate demand which in turn increases the inflation by demand pull and cost push. At this stage a competitive monopolistic firm must increase its sales as there is a huge amount of money facing a little amount of goods. An increase in sales can occur when the GDP growth rate is increasing along wit h the inflation rate. But when there is a negative trend of gross domestic product a monopolistic firm may face a reduction in its sales rate. Because the economy is functioning in a slow manner the aggregate demand decreases and therefore the firms have to cut down their sales in order to avoid losses. The functioning of a competitive monopolistic firm here would be that it would increase its sales because the data shows an increase in GDP growth rate from 1.8 percent to 3.3 percent which in turn has increased the inflation rate as well from 1.6 percent to 3.13 percent. The monopolistic firm should also cut down its labor cost very cautiously. The wages cost is comparatively lower when the unemployment rate is low and it is slightly higher when the unemployment rate is high. Here the unemployment rate is increasing, as it was 9 percent in April and 9.1 percent in May and the monopolistic firm can cut down its cost but the firms should keep in concern that the labor or wage cost inc reases with the increase in GDP. If the firm will not keep an eye on increasing GDP rate and will cut down its cost to the minimum limit then a competitive firm will become uncompetitive because when the economy picks up and the Gross Domestic Product rises the increase in labor or wage cost may faster than the increase in sales of the firm. Under the present circumstances the firm can cut down its cost slightly and should keep a precautious look on GDP growth rate and unemploy

One size doesn't fit all situational approaches to leadership slp Coursework

One size doesn't fit all situational approaches to leadership slp - Coursework Example My supervisor had the expertise to use the supporting or participatory leadership approach. This was her style when handling employees who were/are in situations akin to mine. I could certainly undertake the task assigned to me, but something was holding me back from competently doing the contracted job I had. Instead of ostracizing my attitude, I was received with a friendly attitude, which I soon after came to fathom was her way of concerning herself with investigating the root of the halfhearted effort I was involuntarily putting up. It was a typical case of the M3 maturity level coupled with bouts of the D3 development levels. In complete words, I was capable of undertaking the task at hand with high competence, but was jittery about actually doing it, consequently rendering me variably committed to completing any other task handed to me. Thus by focusing less on the tasks awarded to me, she focused on the work place relationship I was going to build with her. It ensured I progre ssed from the unwilling to perform tasks and having a low commitment to being confident and proficient in any future undertakings that I received. As I progressed from a D3 category of development level to a D4 level, so did my confidence and willingness to handle any and all appropriate workload strewn my way. Not only did I not complain due to the increasing workload, I found it encouraging that the important drudgery was strutting my way. My supervisor became less frequently seen on-site. I figured it was due to the gradually snowballing workload. I was however, graced by impromptu worksite calls from her twice a week with talks about work and the occasional concern about self and the family. The third week of the same routine twice a week made me aware that it must have been a strategy of keeping an eye on me and the work I was undertaking, to ensure that everything was running effortlessly and on all cylinders. I was not really perturbed

Case report need to add theory relvent to the discussion Essay

Case report need to add theory relvent to the discussion - Essay Example The next section deals with the analysis of the case. The analysis begins by listing down the organizational structure being followed by the organization before 1995 when restructuring took place. This is followed by the shortcomings of this organizational structure. The changes which were done by the organization as result of these shortcomings in the organizational structure are discussed next in the case. The benefits which were obtained by the firm as a result of these changes are also discussed. The last section of the report deals with recommendations to the Shell group in order to make the process of restructuring much more efficient. The paper concluded with the conclusion section which provides us with all major learning’s that have been obtained from the case. Royal Dutch Shell PLC is a multinational joint venture corporation comprising two founding companies, Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. of The Hague, Netherlands. And Shell Transport and Trading Co., PLC, of London. Although starting as rivals, the two companies merged in 1907 as Royal Dutch/Shell Group, which acquired producing concerns in the Middle East, the Americas, and Eastern Europe, including Romania and Russia. It is engaged mainly in oil and natural gas. At present its five business segments are as follows: 1) exploration and production (E&P), an upstream activity that explores, recovers, and produces oil and natural gas worldwide; 2) gas and power, where it liquefies and transports natural gas to customers, as well as turns natural gas into cleaner-burning synthetic fuels; 3) oil sands, where bitumen is extracted and converted into synthetic crude oils; 4) oil products where a range of petroleum-based products are sold for domestic, transportation and industrial use; and 5) chemi cals, which produces petrochemicals for industrial use. The case deals with the organizational changes that the company had to go through.

Why I want to work in Critical Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why I want to work in Critical Care - Essay Example Most patients who are in Intensive Care Unit are not only in severe pain but also have life threatening condition. It is in this situation where patients need the utmost critical care because their lives and well-being are at stake. Without a nurse that would attend to the patient, their health condition will not only deteriorate but worst could also end their lives. As a nurse, my profession matters the most in this situation because the patients needed me the most to save their lives.I am aware that working in Intensive Care Unit will not be easy. Patients who need critical care must have health professionals who are competent and compassionate to look after them to make them better. As a nurse, this job would be very demanding because most cases that we will be handling are life threatening and extreme. This, however, will make me become better as a professional because I will be exposed to difficult cases that would stretch my professional capability thus making me a better nurse .As a personal health professional, I do not only want to excel in my profession but also would like to make a difference in other people’s lives. The best way to make a difference in other people’s lives is to be there both as a professional and a person during the patient’s direst situation. The satisfaction that will be derived from of making patiently’s better during their life-threatening situation cannot be remunerated by any form of compensation but can only be had by a unique opportunity to work.

The Growth of Jim Crow and Racial Segregation as a result of the Research Paper

The Growth of Jim Crow and Racial Segregation as a result of the American Civil War - Research Paper Example Numerous social disadvantages were evident during the period when the Jim Crow laws were followed in the Southern America, and this contributed to fewer developments from both state and local levels. The Blacks were not offered significant opportunities in political sectors, educational sectors, and also they were not allowed to make investments in the regions. The greatest major reasons for the American Civil War were to eradicate racial segregation in the United States, and this was to be achieved through removal of the Jim Crow laws of racial segregation. The laws mandated the discrimination of public schools, public transport, and surprisingly the public places. They allowed for segregation of restrooms and the restaurants for the whites and the blacks. Jim Crow laws created various feeling from Americans and other parts of the globe, because being the most superior nation in the world America was expected to be showing solidarity and unity between the blacks and the whites. However, the laws were overruled in 1964after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was established. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 remained significant in the discarding of Jim Crow laws. Thus, the main focus of this paper is to investigate the consequences the American Civil War on the issue of Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in southern states of America. Racism is a term that has been in use for millions of years, where people tend to discriminate other due to the color of their skin and ethnicity. In the United States, racism was famous in the 17th and 18th Century colonial era, during the time when assumption was made on the North American as associates of the global British Empire. One of the powerful consequences of the racism as retrieved from Southern America when Jim Crow laws were being exercised was an uneven quality of education in the

Why I want to work in Critical Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why I want to work in Critical Care - Essay Example Most patients who are in Intensive Care Unit are not only in severe pain but also have life threatening condition. It is in this situation where patients need the utmost critical care because their lives and well-being are at stake. Without a nurse that would attend to the patient, their health condition will not only deteriorate but worst could also end their lives. As a nurse, my profession matters the most in this situation because the patients needed me the most to save their lives.I am aware that working in Intensive Care Unit will not be easy. Patients who need critical care must have health professionals who are competent and compassionate to look after them to make them better. As a nurse, this job would be very demanding because most cases that we will be handling are life threatening and extreme. This, however, will make me become better as a professional because I will be exposed to difficult cases that would stretch my professional capability thus making me a better nurse .As a personal health professional, I do not only want to excel in my profession but also would like to make a difference in other people’s lives. The best way to make a difference in other people’s lives is to be there both as a professional and a person during the patient’s direst situation. The satisfaction that will be derived from of making patiently’s better during their life-threatening situation cannot be remunerated by any form of compensation but can only be had by a unique opportunity to work.

Chi-Globalization Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chi-Globalization - Term Paper Example Chi globalization encompasses the creation of a society with various specific features such as pragmatism, inter-culturalism and multiculturalism. This concept is basically a demonstration of a process that involves china’s engagement in the diverse aspects of civilization and development of globalization. Concerns revolve around the creation of globally enlightened world with the aim of facilitating and enhancing the lives of people from the point of view of a Eurocentric model. Chi globalization can be viewed as being both intercultural and bicultural. From the bicultural viewpoint it basically has its foundation on the emergence of the Chinese model that followed from china’s fusion with western and eastern cultures (Killion, 2006, p.45). The fusion of the different cultures has its origin from the opium war which took place in the 1850’s. In this case chi globalization occupies quite an integral part in the history as well as the current state of china in rel ation civilization and development (Alon, Ilan and John 2008, p.37). A study of what drove forth towards the existence of Chi globalization indicates that Anglobalization is a major factor. On the other hand Chi globalization being understood as being something that is intercultural two processes are involved. The first process presents that it is an opportunity created for china to open and embrace other cultures form other people. The second process demonstrates that chi globalization is involves the identification and incorporation of other cultures into the Chinese culture for instance the African culture, Latin American culture among others. An in-depth analysis of chi globalization presents some unique factors that have played quite a major role in its development. The globalization of America forms an important in this discussion. This is due to the fact it is the fundamental basis in which chi globalization grew out of. In connection to this the United States has acted as a model for china from the economic, cultural and social perspectives. Most aspects of civilization and development in china have simply been a reflection of what is happening in the United States (Veeck, Pannell, Smith and Huang 2007, p.60) For years America has been a major consumer of china made goods providing a reliable market even when the state is hit by a financial crisis such as the Wall Street crisis. On the same not America has had interest and created ties with china through engagement in foreign direct investment. Most of the ideas and strategies that have been used to drive china’s development have sourced from the United States thus making America a major source inspiration for the state of china. Up to this point on the higher side the American dream is in a way the dream for china. Therefore china has some fundamental values similar to those understood to facilitate the development of globalization in the United States. Such values include the free flow of both ideas and information and free flow of capital and goods. Despite Chi globalization borrowing a lot from Ameriglobalization and Anglobalization there are some unique values that make it differ in a way. This is due to the fact that it highly relates more to the culture in china. Increased identification with the world of Ameriglobalization and Anglobalization makes the way of life for the Chinese people a global model aimed at fostering development that fits the

National Association of Home Builders Essay Example for Free

National Association of Home Builders Essay Purpose and Background The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a trade association whose mission is to enhance the climate for the housing and building industry. A top goal for the NAHB is to provide and expand opportunities for all potential home buyers to have safe, affordable and decent housing. The NAHB also works with federal agencies on regulations affecting the housing industry in areas such as mortgage finance, codes, energy and the environment. According to the NAHB, about eighty percent of the homes built in the United States are constructed by NAHB members. In 1993 the NAHB and Reed Business Information, publishers of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines established the National Housing Quality Awards (NAHB website). The National Housing Quality Awards (NHQ) was modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program and represents the housing industry’s highest recognition for achievements in total quality management. The NHQ award promotes and rewards best practices throughout the home building industry. It recognizes home builders for being focused on quality for the customer in construction, business management, sales, warranty service and design. The NHQ award is open to all U.S. home builders that believe their company meets or exceeds the qualities above. The home builder completes an application process and goes through an extensive interview process that requires a high level of commitment from the company and their management team. According to the NAHB application, every applicant will receive a written report and applicants that are chosen for site visits will receive detailed reports that provide objective benchmarking for quality improvement. The program is more than an award; many home builders use the award as a process for improving their processes to build a better home for the customer and a better company for their shareholders. In the home building industry, the expectations for high performance from the customers gets higher every year. Especially in the current housing market it is becoming more critical than ever that builders look for new products and processes that help to improve  their companies in areas such as leadership, performance management, customer satisfaction, strategic planning, construction quality, trade partner relationships, business results and human resources according to Steve Carroll of the NAHB. Award Criteria The NHQ awards are judged by a qualified experts who evaluate all the applicants and selects finalists who demonstrate high levels of quality achievement based on leadership, strategic planning, performance management, customer satisfaction, human resources, construction quality, trade relationships and business results. The experts can request additional information during the application process, including customer satisfaction surveys, company references and other information related to judging the criteria. In the Leadership category the panel experts will look at the company mission and values to determine if they guide the organization toward a common purpose. They review how senior management reinforce and instill the mission, values and vision in the company as role models and through empowering employees. They will also look at how the company demonstrates public responsibility and good citizenship while improving the home building industry. In the Strategic Planning categor y the experts will look at how your company assesses and will address the key strategic challenges that the company faces in the next one to five years. They look at how the challenges are identified and analyzed and the overall plan development, deployment and feedback for the company including how the plan is tied to the mission, vision and values. They will review how the plan leverages the company’s skills, experience, knowledge and the lack of skills, experience, knowledge and resources. In the Performance Management category the experts review how the company develops, manages, measures, and improves the key processes to achieve performance excellence. The Customer Satisfaction category allows the experts to look at the company’s design and delivery of products and services with a high level of customer satisfaction. The applicant will need to address how the company identifies market segments, the level of focus on the market segments, how product features and service are selected to best serve the market segments that were identified, how the company develops customer relationships, key factors in customer satis faction and how the company obtains and utilizes  customer feedback to improve performance. The Human Resource category addresses employee selection and development practices, motivation, satisfaction and compensation as it relates to the growth and success of the company. The experts will review the work environment, the morale of the employees, the benefits and the company culture. The applicant will need to address workforce development, staff performance management, and how both align with the company’s goals. The Construction Quality category will allow the experts to review the methods that the company uses to drive quality in the home construction process and ensure high performance and trouble free products and services. Applicants will have to discuss the quality standards that are communicated and demanded from the trades and how the company continues to educate and reinforce the quality standards to both employees and trades. The experts will ask how new plans are reviewed for quality and how the customer is involved in this quality review process. Applicants should be prepared to describe the customers’ post closing experiences, quality recognition programs and the company’s warranty processes. The Trade Relationship category allows the expert panel to review how the company creates high performance relationships with the trade partners. The applicant should be prepared to discuss how the company establishes mutually beneficial relationships, trade partner selection process, problem avoidance through trade involvement and trade partner feedback. The final category is Business Results. Applicants need to present the measurements of the business benefits resulting from the company’s high performance practices in the financial, operational, customer satisfaction and warranty areas. The experts may ask for customer satisfaction results from the last one to three years including the customers’ willingness to refer other buyers, financial results, employee satisfaction, trade satisfaction and operating metrics for the last three years. Benefits of the Award Many of the home builders that prepare the NHQ application feel that the application process and the experts’ comprehensive evaluation report are valuable tools for planning change to improve their business regardless if they win the award or not. Many of the award recipients find that the greatest rate of improvement occurs in the year following their application  or win (NAHB). Shea Homes and Pulte Homes found that the NHQ award process helped them identify opportunities to improve and allowed them to perfect processes that improved the quality of their product and service. Improving total quality management can lead to streamlining processes that will reduce costs, improve the quality for the customer, reduce warranty calls and increase the bottom line for the company. The NAHB encourages award winners to publicize and advertise the achievement to distinguish the company from the competition, establish the company as a top quality builder and raise the company’s re putation as an industry leader. Winners are featured in Professional Builder magazine articles that highlight their quality management principles and will participate in a NHQ award panel discussion at the International Builders show which is the largest home builders’ convention in the United States. Benefits to applying for the award are endless for home builders that are willing to commit the time and effort needed to complete the application process. The application process forces many of the applicants to look at the processes in the company that contribute to ensuring total quality and make changes to allow the company to improve and focus on the company’s mission, vision and values. The drawbacks to the NHQ award process is that it will take a commitment of time and energy to look at the quality processes in the company to analyze if it is moving the company in the direction of the mission, vision and values. Some companies may feel that this is a waste of time and energy or can be over whelmed at what processes need to be improved to get the company on track to improve quality. Past Winners Winners are recognized in three categories: gold, silver and honorable mention. The gold award is given to companies that have achieved a national benchmark level in each area of evaluation. According to the NAHB website, gold award winners have mature, fully integrated quality management principles and consistently demonstrate high level sustained financial results. The silver award is given to companies that are industry leaders in most evaluation areas, they have refined business practices and they exhibit good financial results. An honorable mention is awarded when companies are recognized that demonstrate an understanding of quality management principles, show an improvement process and good financial  results are achieved in most areas. Below is a list of winners, the award that was received and the year it was awarded (NAHB website). Many of the applicants that have participated in the NHQ process, whether the company was awarded or not, have said that the application process helped the company by having to look at all processes critically and make changes to improve the quality management for the company overall. Scott Thistle,  president of Brookstone Homes, said, â€Å"The award is a critical component of our commitment to customer satisfaction. By going through the NHQ program for the second year, it has enabled us to continually fine-tune our quality assurance systems and see a direct positive impact on our customers and their experience (Brookstone Homes).† Home Builders that apply for the NHQ award know that the process requires a lot of time and effort prior to submitting the application to the NAHB and could involve potential changes to the operational processes of the company to keep the company focused on total quality management. Grayson Homes president, Cindy McAuliffe said â€Å"At Grayson Homes, we differentiate ourselves from others with a deserved reputation for quality homes and products, processes, service, and people. Our participation in NHQ programs keeps Grayson Homes and its trades focused on product, process and experience improvement (Mid-Atlantic Builder).† Conclusion In reviewing the NHQ award and the process involved in applying for the award I found that it was a benefit to each of the home builders that took the time, energy and efforts even if the company did not win an award. Each of the companies that applied where able to review the quality processes that were in place, review the experts written report and modify the processes to achieve a higher level total quality management that improved the company’s quality focus for internal and external customers. While I do feel that this would be a benefit for my company I believe that we would have a lot of work to do in streamlining processes to ensure that company wide we are using the same quality processes that will allow us to grow while following our mission, vision and values. The company was a small company based in two markets that grew quickly to fourteen markets prior to the housing market boom. This fast growth did not allow for the company to ensure that quality processes were being handled in the same manner from division to division. The company has in the past three years established a strategic mission for the company and continued with the values that has allowed them to achieve the ranking of the 24th largest builder in the United States. The NHQ award process would force the management team to review what processes where in place in all divisions and get on track with companywide policies and procedures so a customer buying a home in one  division could expect the same great product and service in another division. References Brookstone Homes Newsroom. BrookstoneHomes.com. 15 Mar. 2008. http://www.brookstonehomes.com/newsroom/2006_august2.asp. Carroll, Steve. Telephone interview with National Association of Home Builders Research Center. March 14, 2008. Mid-Atlantic Builder Corner Newsletter. Mid Atlantic Builder. 16 Mar. 2008. http://www.homebuilders.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/48/folder/40005/ MBX_0105_60-70.pdf. National Housing Quality Award. National Association of Home Builders Research Center. 15 Mar. 2008. http://www.nahbrc.org/technical/awards/nhqa.aspx. Stromberg, Meghan. NHQ Best Practices. Professional Builder. September 2001. 1 Sep. 2001.

Research skills and techniques education essay

Research skills and techniques education essay This report highlights and evaluates my personal, academic and professional reflections throughout this course and applies the learning to consideration of my professional practice and ongoing future development. It explores opportunities for career paths within and outside of the prison service and how my range of skills can advance my aspirations as well as enhance the environment in which I work. To this end, I have critically evaluated my transferable skills and their development through this learning journey together with opportunities to enhance these further. In looking to the future, a revised Professional Development Plan (PDP) for ongoing future development has been compiled and included in Appendix I. Many of the learning outcomes have been already been covered in some depth within my PPD5 assignment and I have sought to elaborate on key areas of these within this paper. Background When first offered the opportunity to undertake further education through a Foundation Degree, I was initially excited at the prospect. However, this soon gave way to dismissive thoughts of successful completion as unattainable and self doubt about my ability to pursue such a venture which resulted in me not collecting the application form. It was only when a colleague, who had done so but decided not to take this forward, passed it to me, that I took the plunge. A lot of self talk was required to consider how valuable this opportunity was for me. I considered that several of my peers would have similar experiences and feelings which would make a natural and powerful support network meaning that I would not be learning in isolation. Later, I was able to reflect and realise that procrastination is a particular trait and pattern of behaviour for me, deep rooted in negative schema (Beck 1967:233) which I have been able to reflect on and write about at some length throughout my further e ducation. Even coming towards the end of the Honours Degree (which I undertook with greater enthusiasm), it is still evident and something to guard against. This has been particularly important in considering what has held me back from pursuing advanced career development until recently. Reflective Practice: Applying a range of reflective models throughout my further education studies, I now appreciate how analysis of my skills can help towards the goal of professional advancement and, importantly that of job satisfaction. I apply Gibbs (1998) Reflective Cycle readily to areas of my personal and professional life developing skills of evaluation and analysis, both of self and situations which has led to effective problem solving and informed conclusions as will be illustrated below. Doing this effectively, I have found, can widen the scope for a more in-depth and wider encompassing plan for ongoing development which hitherto, has been somewhat narrow in its view. In other words, from being resigned to thinking this is my lot, Ill just get on with it, to an active desire to apply new learning, seek more and become motivated for career progression. Straker (2008:172) whose work builds on the research of Gardner (1983 and 2006) summed up the importance of purposeful reflection for me Knowing yourself includes knowing that there are parts of yourself that you do not know and being ready to listen and explore these. It also means considering what parts of yourself you should expose or hide, based on how it will help your purpose rather than simply based on personal preference. The danger of reflection is that, for a procrastinator such as myself, one can get stuck in self analysis without doing anything about it or use the results of ones analysis to stay within a comfort zone. Kolb (1984) helped to evaluate my experiences and test hypotheses about myself, values and work ethics but it did not spur me on to action whereas Gibbs sets out the plan for ongoing development which is crucial for me so as not to remain procrastinating. In PPD5, I considered how Moon (2004) has been a useful resource on reflective practice, in particular reminding me that reflection is important but it must always lead to action and the making of positive changes. She stresses the importance of experiential learning which includes reflection but qualifies this to incorporate active learning, ensuring intent to learn and mechanisms of feedback to ensure the whole process is effective and meaningful for development (p.122). SchÃÆ'-n (1983) explains how, as one becomes more experienced, it becomes increasingly possible to reflect in action rather than simply after action. This is something I am becoming more accomplished at and is particularly evident in critical incident situations in my role as a hostage negotiator where this has immediate and practical as well as personal value. Interestingly the Cycle of Change by Prochatska and Diclemente (1982), illustrated in Appendix II, highlights the phases which I can identify with through my learning, professional and personal journey. I can often remain in contemplation and need to find the drivers and motivators to avoid lapses but, I am encouraged that these now exist more in abundance which are sourced from many areas and the Honours Degree has been one of these. I am mindful that the grades and feedback I have received throughout my further education have been of a consistently good standard and this has served as a source of encouragement and measurement of progress and achievement. I must maintain measurements and goals for my future development and there are means in place such as the Staff Personal Development Record (SPDR), in Appendix III and Professional Development Plan (PDP) which I can use as signposts and yardsticks. It is important that, as the current period of study draws to an end, this motivation to achieve continues and I now feel best placed to ensure this happens. . As mentioned in my PPD5 essay, in the past I have questioned the decision making processes of management though this is being reshaped into a desire to gain a holistic overview of the work environment. Overcoming objections to understanding others, for fear that this might disprove our own theories about ourselves and the world, are key hurdles for which I must continually be mindful. (Elliott, 2011) This has also enabled me to evaluate what I can offer to roles to enhance the establishments performance. In my first Reflective Essay from January 2007 (Appendix IV) I described schema theory and the work of Beck (1967). From this I have developed an interest, not only in interpretation of situations which influence our beliefs but, particularly, how to develop the stimuli and positive emotional and cognitive drivers for professional and personal well-being. In observing what gets in the way, rather than being stuck in analysis, to move beyond and set goals for positive development has been essential learning for me and reading this first essay shows how far I have come. The focus of this paper is skills evaluation but moreover, the action phase of my development, identifying opportunities and the practical steps required for ongoing development. Employability Skills and Development Needs A range of self analysis tools have proved helpful in ascertaining and evidencing personal skills which pave the way for ongoing professional satisfaction. This has involved being critical as to what is and may realistically be attainable as well as widening the scope for a range of career advancement opportunities. Using a range of self analysis tools I have been able to evaluate my employability skills and an example is in Appendix V. Examining these proved personally gratifying and formed the basis for an in-depth critique in a personal SWOT analysis (Appendix VI) which I had only ever previously applied to businesses within the scope of the Honours Degree. On completion of this, it seemed logical to me that the values which businesses ascribe to should find their roots in the personnel employed by the organisation as, ideally, they should embody the same corporate beliefs, ethics and work practices. As I will highlight later, this has brought me into conflict with my own work establishment where, using newly honed skills of assertiveness and corporate awareness, I am more readily able to challenge what I may perceive to be unsafe practices. This has been possible through balancing my potential weakness of being mission-focussed and developing this alongside effective and robust empathy towards management decisions At the time of writing my Performance and Development record for this year has not been recorded but as my SPDR for last year (Appendix III) illustrates, I can remain pleased that I continue to meet targets set and work collaboratively with others to ensure that the benefits of development are felt personally and by the organisation. I have expanded this further with creation of a new Development Plan (Appendix I) in order to maintain continuity and ongoing development. In order to consider the range of skills necessary to achieve my goals and aspirations, I completed a Career Values Tool and the report can be found in Appendix VII. To help with this I referred back to a Personality Type Questionnaire competed for the PPD5 assignment. This was an important analysis as it accurately highlighted the potential careers which fitted my profile. The role of Counsellor featured prominently which is something I have long been interested in (incidentally, Musician and Actor which are personal interests and also featured high in the analysis). My roles in offending behaviour treatment over the years have been the source of immense personal satisfaction as they met the values and skills which I have enjoyed developing the most. Using the Career Values Tool, I input Counsellor as an alternative career choice and it was interesting to note how this featured against the profile which had me as balanced between intuitive and logical in my approach to work. Feature d highly were communication skills and my ability to work alongside people and knowing that my work benefits others. When seen alongside my white knight mission schema of wanting to help others, which can potentially be unhelpful, the balance of taking a logical, measured approach to problem solving is something I now know I possess and is to be worked on continually. The development of analytical skills in my reflections and projects throughout this last year have helped to redress this balance whereas before, if I had taken the Career Values Tool, I might have been much further along the intuition side of the continuum which, is not healthy or helpful for one seeking to develop a managerial role. As well as reflective and study skills, it is important to develop the practical skills required for current and potential roles. At my SPDR review later this month I can explore the options for this with my line manager. The need to develop business awareness, in order to understand corporate strategy in the workplace and enable promotion prospects, is ongoing and the last few months have proved to be a testing time in that regard. This has largely been due to having to take a grievance procedure against the Programmes and Psychology management for what I perceive to be discriminatory and unethical behaviour against myself. Having weighed up the options over the last 12 months or so, this action was the only possible course and has required a measure of focus, assertiveness and an analytical overview of the situation to make this decision and take this forward. Without this, I would have reverted back to how I was prior to undertaking further education and left the situation unresolved and dwell in unhelpful rumination which would have affected my work and well being. The grievance is proceeding at the time of writing this report and, whatever the outcome, I can be satisfied that I have taken appropr iate steps to ensure best ethical practice and well being for the workforce and organisation as a whole. This has not been without an emotional response (acknowledging this is a strength identified in Gibbs Reflective Cycle, 1998) as I dont like conflict or rocking the boat but then, appropriate levels of assertive management and effective analysis are crucial management skills which I have developed over recent years and is ongoing. This is particularly important as I consider options for my future and it is gratifying that I can take the positive skills development learning from even the most testing of circumstances. The best measure of how appropriate ones actions are in the workplace, I have found, is ones own values of decency, ethics and responsibility and, in the above situation, to have these confirmed and used as my yardstick for decision making and professional integrity, has proved rewarding and strangely comforting. No one should ever consider themselves to be the finished article and being confident in pursuing continued development is a positive trait. In my case, this helps to overcome the schema driven low self-esteem and has certainly enhanced a more positive belief for the future. Among the key learning experiences for me, alongside the above, are a recognition of the roles of others, networking and effective communication. My career path has involved working closely with and taking an interest in people, both clients and colleagues alike. In Appendix X I have conducted my own skills self appraisal which covers a range of academic and professional areas. This was motivated by a definition of entrepreneurship by Rothstein and Burke (2010) as one who is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦skilled in recognizing opportunities, exploiting those opportunities and creating value (p.217). Whilst I will never be an Alan Sugar or Duncan Bannatyne, I can be just as entrepreneurial in my skills base so as to add value to the organisation. The fact that funding was made available to allow this period of study serves as a reminder that, to some degree, this has already been recognised and how I choose to utilise this for mutual benefit is now being considered. Career Appraisal and Development During the Foundation Degree I was able to undertake and pass the selection examination for Senior Officer though I was unsuccessful in role play assessment. I was, however, able to take that experience and, rather than berate or chastise myself and dwell in self-doubt as I previously would have, I have decided to take the step of applying for and undertaking the assessment again later this year. For this, I will seek to use my Line Manager as mentor together with the training department as immediate point of reference and begin to research prison policy, security and management skills. I am now feeling positive and motivated to succeed in this not only from a practical, self-development perspective, but also the pride and sense of achievement this will bring. Following the disappointment of having to step down from Sex Offender Treatment work last year, I have reappraised my personal development and, using reflective skills developed on the degree studies, particularly Kolb (1984) to help evaluate the experiences and Beck (1967) to understand how I was interpreting them. Having specialised in Drug offender rehabilitation for the last twelve months I can take the benefits of new learning and role experience forward as I return to Sex Offender therapy later this year. Drawing together the range of experience and interests I have enjoyed over successive years keeps me, first and foremost, actively engaged in working for and alongside others. This is encouraging and, in this period of change, I have come to realise the importance of job satisfaction as a key motivator for me. Pursuing a Counselling qualification would serve as a path to an alternative career should personal circumstances change for me in the future. This could be due to cutbacks in the public sector or an establishment transition to the private sector. This could also potentially be utilised in my current role should a counselling or mediation function become available which I can argue would value to the establishment. A significant area of personal development has been in key skills of assertiveness and negotiation. These were identified early on in my reflective practice as things I needed to work on. I was able to negotiate a role within drugs support having originally offered an office based assessment position which I would have found unfulfilling. Alongside this, within my current grievance procedure, I have assertively requested a clear professional development path from senior management which also ensures that all officer grades in the Programmes team are offered the same which has, hitherto, been lacking. Learning and Continuing Professional Development The Honours Degree has been immensely challenging and rewarding and, despite early fears, has worked in with my social and work life and has encouraged me to ongoing learning and consideration of developing career prospects. There has been useful overlap of the various modules of this course in which the learning and reflections from each have been transferable. An example is in studying Effective Management Decisions has been important for my dissertation which evaluates Crew Resource Management. Learning to examine the former, in an objective way, has enabled a critical approach for the dissertation ensuring the focus remains on the advantages to business performance and not just to areas of personnel safety which I might otherwise have concentrated. It has been gratifying that I have been able to use the modules of this course to look at areas which I find personally interesting and challenging which included designing projects to create best practice in offender management. Also, I have long been interested in the commercial aviation industry and to explore competitive advantage of an airline was good fun, whilst also rewarding in the study skills that were required. Similarly, the dissertation which looks at human factors in critical incidents arising from aviation accidents takes that same personal interest but analyses the learning points from that sector and explores what the prison service can benefit from this within its own operations. This seamless learning extends to the previous Foundation Degree which I frequently refer to including the module on ethics, cultural awareness and diversity where the strong principles I ascribe and have documented, are continually evaluated and applied to my work practice. It forms the basis of my mission statement for development as recommended by Covey (2004) where focussing who you want to be and what you want to do should be on the values you ascribe to each (p.106). I am currently exploring options for Higher Education such as a Masters Degree as well as qualifications in counselling. At this stage, I am unsure as to whether I should these at the earliest opportunity and continue the momentum of learning or have a year break in order to spend time focussing on my personal life which does need some attention. Whether I choose immediate and specific training at this time or not, I can develop and enhance the skills required for possible future roles in my current position utilising the training department, mentors and line management. All of these are part of my ongoing Professional Development Plan so I can maintain the motivation to keep personal and professional aspirations at the forefront of my future work. I am now certain that my further education will continue as will the depth and breadth of my career development. With the ongoing role in Drugs Support, a move back to Sex Offender Treatment later this year, together with the Senior Officer assessment in October and exploring accelerated promotion prospects in the prison service, I have much to keep me motivated and stimulated. These are key drivers for me as I have learnt in my four year journey and I can now realistically consider a managerial position and explore such options. The Honours Degree is regarded as a valuable qualification both for its relevant content to the Criminal Justice System and Business and Management but also symbolises the desire and commitment I have and have shown for continued self development. For me, this highlights how seamless the transition has been through the learning journey and that it will continue to be so. This awareness has made further education and career progression options less of a mountain to climb but a gentle path to enlightenment as some learned and revered man of faith probably once said. A helpful resource has proved to be www.CIPD.co.uk which I have accessed throughout my studies. This organisations definition of learning is a self-directed, work-based process leading to increased adaptive capacity. http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/learning-talent-development-overview.aspx [Accessed 18 February 2011]. This highlights the importance of personal responsibility in using employer resources to develop an ever-widening scope for career development. Appendix VIII shows an extract which proved helpful in critically evaluating my development plan and ensured it was appropriate to my needs and abilities as well as offering value to the workplace. Conclusion: I regard my new Curriculum Vitae (Appendix IX) as a valid working document whereas I had considered my old one, prior to commencing Further Education, to be somewhat archaic, irrelevant and out of date. The core skills I have developed over the years and significant achievements are included which serve as a reminder that, just as I have now added the Honours Degree (final result permitting), more is to come. As I look over it now, the transition and learning process which has brought me to this point in my life now is clearly evident. I can see the journey of learning and experience I have been on and, with a renewed and positive view of myself and professional development potential, I will enjoy and apply myself to the opportunities that lie ahead. Appendices: I. Personal and Professional Development Plan II. Cycle of Change (Prochaska and Diclemente, 1982) III. Staff Performance and Development Record (SPDR) IV. Reflective Essay (Jan 2007) V. Study Skills Self Assessment VI. SWOT Analysis VII. Career Values Tool VIII. Extract from CIPD website IX. Curriculum Vitae X. Research and Employability Skills Appendix I Personal and Professional Development Plan Appendix II Cycle of Change (Prochaska and Diclemente, 1982) Appendix II The Cycle of Change: Prochatska and Diclamente (1982) This example is taken from the internet and the source is in the bibliography. The cycle of change has 6 phases and, for me, this diagram highlights well the areas at which I can lapse, particularly contemplation and, therefore am encouraged to maintain motivation. In pre-contemplation, the person does not see any problem in their current behaviours and has not considered there might be some better alternatives. In contemplation the person is ambivalent they are in two minds about what they want to do should they stay with their existing behaviours and attitudes or should they try changing to something new? It is this area which I need to be particularly on my guard to as not to lapse. In preparation, the person is taking steps to change usually in the next month or so. In action, they have made the change and living the new set of behaviours is an all-consuming activity. In maintenance, the change has been integrated into the persons life they are now more enterprising. Relapse is a full return to the old behaviour. This is not inevitable but is likely and should not be seen as failure. Often people will Relapse several times before they finally succeed in making a (more or less) permanent to a new set of behaviours. Appendix III. Staff Performance and Development Record (SPDR) Appendix IV. Extract From My First Reflective Essay (Jan 2007) Extract From My First Reflective Essay (Jan 2007) My earliest employment from leaving school was within the travel industry. From the outset, I sought to improve my practical skills base and enjoyed the challenge of meeting the needs of customers, budgetary targets, training of staff, problem solving, through to the opening and management of a travel agency branch several years later. Apart from the GCSE qualifications gained at school, any further academic or professional learning has been gained whilst in employment. Copies of certificates attained, both school and work based can be found in the appendix. The skills and achievements I have attained in my personal life are equally transferrable to my work life. For example, as Chairman of a genealogical society for several years and public speaking engagements both serve as reminders that I have organisational, research and presentation abilities which I can and should be utilising and developing along my career path. I have had no formal management training, yet gained significant supervisory experience through showing aptitude and dedication to task, client base and personnel. It is important for me to demonstrate, through the Foundation Degree and subsequent training that I can learn management and personal development skills, but also show I am able to apply this learning in my work and personal life. At the same time, I need to focus on a specific career path which includes, in the first instance, promotion to Senior Officer. The next logical progression will, therefore, be to apply for and undertake the senior Promotion Examination later this year. For this, I need to obtain details of the main job requirements for this role and, using my Line Manager as mentor and the training department as immediate point of reference, begin to research prison policy, security, management skills and training opportunities. Whilst I have considered undertaking this before, I am now feeling positive and motivated to succeed in this not only from a practical, self-development perspective but also the pride and sense of achievement this will bring. On successful completion of this examination, I can seek to specialise in either offender rehabilitation or staff training which I would relish. This draws together the range of experience and interests I have enjoyed over successive years and keeps me, first and foremost, actively engaged in working for and alongside others. It is important for me to develop assertiveness skills and, whilst these have been improved upon over recent years, I am aware there is a continued need for development in this area. I need to be pro-active in my own learning, seeking opportunities and not over-relying on others to simply recognise my needs or opportunities and make recommendations. Part of this includes my need to develop and seek out management training and practice/demonstrate the skills I have. It is equally important for me to enlist the help of others in my development. My personal statement highlights how I can become too self-reliant when I perceive no one understands my needs or are genuinely interested in my development. Seeking a more collaborative approach to my learning will not only engender positive belief in myself and others, it will make the next stage of my career more rewarding, satisfying, creative and productive as well as opening up a wider range of opportunities in all areas of my life. The Study Skills Self-Assessment which I completed on 23 October 2007 (Appendix) highlighted three main employability skills I need to develop as: Improving own learning and performance Application of number (data collection and interpretation) Information and technology proficiency Alongside these, to develop, are my personal attributes of Self confidence Flexibility and adaptability Judgement In this self assessment I also reflected on my own specific weaknesses which include being too self-critical and not praising my own achievements enough which can affect my ability to be objective about my performance. I have a strong underpinning need to defend others and leap to their rescue which I have come to see as a hindrance to my own development and of those I seek to help. This is a particularly important area for me to address as future management roles will require me to allow others to take their own personal responsibility and only offer guidance as appropriate. This rescuer style I have is schema-related and I will write a piece for my portfolio on schema theory and how this applies to me. Beck, 1967 described a schema as ..a cognitive structure for screening, coding, and evaluating the stimuli that impinge  on the organism. In short, schemas are the filters or core beliefs we have about ourselves or the world around us and, thereby, how we interpret different situat ions in our lives. The nature of the work I do in offender rehabilitation requires me to undertake regular de-briefing, supervision, yearly health reviews and bi-monthly counselling. This, together with schema theory and other therapy models I use with prisoners, which I have also applied to myself, means I spend a lot of time being introspective and sharing this with colleagues. Add to this, the personal development elements of the Foundation Degree, means I need to be mindful of balancing this wealth of introspection with practical steps for a successful future. One of the handouts for self-appraisal from this course has helped me consider what can get in the way of things I want to do. These include poor time management and a lack of structure and balance in and between my work, study and private life. This is important as I can become frustrated by unnecessary last minute attempts to meet deadlines. By having a clear coherent plan I can plan my work and life more effectively and, this alone gives me a sense of excitement and motivation. Appendix V. Study Skills Self Assessment Dowson, Paul., (2004) Study Skills Self Assessment, Leeds Metropolitan University Appendix VI. SWOT Analysis Appendix VII Career Values Tool Report Appendix VIII. Extract from www.CIPD.co.uk {Accessed 18 February 2011) Possible benefits of development planning Relevant learning and development is more likely to happen in practice when you are goal directed. Learning that is planned is more efficient. Unanticipated learning opportunities are more likely to come to your attention when you are prepared for them. The choices of learning methods are more likely to be appropriate following completion of a development plan and their use can be designed and managed to provide a tailored fit with your needs and interests. Motivation and confidence in taking responsibility for ones own learning can be enhanced. Possible limitations of development planning The quality of a completed development plan can suffer without timely and relevant diagnostic information from others. The creation of a valid and useable plan is particularly difficult to achieve without the active support and agreement of others who are relevant to you in your current role. The successful implementation of even a well-crafted plan is not guaranteed without continuing support and challenge from others. Operating hints Ensure that there is ready access to relevant and valid diagnostic data in the identification of learning needs. Ensure t