Awhile versus A While - Commonly Confused Words

'Awhile' versus 'A While' - Commonly Confused Words Its easy to confuse the adverb awhile with the two-word noun phrase a while: the main difference between them is grammatical.The adverb awhile (one word) means for a short time: Stay awhile. The noun phrase a while (two words) refers to a period of time: I sat for a while and waited. Also, see the usage notes below. Examples Before removing the radiator cap, wait awhile for the engine to cool.I havent been to a football game in a long while. Usage Notes Awhile is an adverb, with the same meaning as the adverbial prepositional phrase for a while: Lets rest awhile; Lets rest for a while. When for a while cannot be substituted for awhile, awhile should be a while: spend a while with me. When for occurs, awhile should not follow; Stay for awhile should be Stay for a while or Stay awhile.(Edward Johnson, The Handbook of Good English. Washington Square Press, 1991)As a noun, spell it as two words:  a while. As an adverb, spell it as one:  awhile.(Bryan Garner, Garners Modern American Usage. Oxford University Press, 2009) Practice (a) Lifes short. If you dont look around once in _____ you might miss it.(Ferris Bueller in the movie  Ferris Buellers Day Off, 1986)(b) Merdine invited me to stay ____ longer, but it was getting late. Answers to Practice Exercises: Awhile and A While a) Lifes short. If you dont look around once in a while you might miss it. (Ferris Bueller)(b) Merdine invited me to stay awhile longer, but it was getting late.   Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words

Life At the Bottom Of The Pyramid

Life At the Bottom Of The Pyramid Free Online Research Papers Life of poverty is like life in imprisonment. When you are in imprisonment you do not enjoy the freedom that those outside the jails enjoy. Imagine someone whose mother was convicted for a certain crime. The mother was convicted while she was still pregnant. Then later on she gave birth in the cells. From thereon the child lives in imprisonment. Such an enclosure. That is what poverty is to millions of people the world over. Probably the saying of one great philosopher holds water. The saying that,† men are borne free but everywhere they are in chains†. Maybe one of the chains would be poverty or the effects of poverty. Think of many people in the developing world where basic services such as clean water, electricity, proper clothing and accommodation are in scarcity. These are the people that Prahalad referred to as the bottom of the pyramid. The use of the word pyramid must not be taken for granted. The bottom of a pyramid is the widest of that structure or shape. And w hat Prahalad wanted to put across is the fact that the majority of the people in the world are the poor. According to his definition the bottom of the pyramid refers to the more than two and a half billion people who are in abject poverty. This discussion will look at the distribution of global wealth, how to eradicate poverty, how to find sustainable ecological solutions to ecological problems as well as how to make the private sector assist the poor and the vulnerable. The current distribution of wealth shows amazing inequalities. The first thing to note is that the wealth, when we talk of the usable for of it, is more concentrated in the developed world. Generally the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is far much higher in the developed world than in the developing world. The current figure shows that in most developing countries the average income which a person uses per day is US $2.50. But as a person who lives in one of the developed countries I would assure the rest of the world that the figure could be as pathetic as less as US $1.00 per day. The average of US$2.50 is in relation to another component of those that make the bottom of the pyramid. Wikipedia.org says, â€Å"In economic terms the BOP is the largest socio-economic group. This is 2, 5 billion people who live on less than $2.50 (US Dollars) per day.† However a number of people in the developed world also live below the datum poverty lines of their respective nations. From the above discussion there is a question that emerges? The question is now how the poor could be saved. And who should assist them? There are several ways in which the poor can be assisted. Before answering these questions let’s identify some of the main problems which the poor face. These include: illiteracy, hunger, natural catastrophes, diseases, traumas, lack of basic facilities among others. The natural calamities that worsen the poor’s plight currently include; HIV/AIDS pandemic, floods, hurricanes, and earth quakes, among others. There are, however, more diseases other than HIV/AIDS. Some common disease includes cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, measles and many others. There are also some new disease, such H1N1 Influenza, and Ebola that are affecting millions of people in developing countries. Some of the basic facilities the poor don’t usually access include, clean supply of water, clothing, decent accommodation electricity and medication. Th e cost of these is beyond the reach of many poor people. This is supported by the Indian case study, where at least half the population was illiterate; half the population had no clean water, no electricity, among other basic facilities. Let’s look at the main global problems that have been noted by the United Nations. The choice of the United Nations has great significance as it is a global organisation that tries to bring peace, stability, equity, social justice and development through out the whole world. The assumption in choosing the UN here is that it has records of major global problems and developments. In one of its report quoted in Poverty Reduction and The World Bank: Progress in Operationalizing The WDR 2000/2001 (2001: 2) it says, â€Å"Attacking persistent poverty in low-and middle- income countries is the greatest challenge facing global development community as the world moves forward in 21st century† In passing this statement the united Nations knows the challenges ahead. The following problems were identified in the same report. These include: â€Å"Over half a million women continue to die each year during pregnancy or child birth, The poor people every where continue to suffer from unacceptably low social conditions and lack of access to services, Malnutrition rates are systematically higher for the poor than the better off The AIDS crisis is having a devastating impact on developing countries, especially in Africa Life expectancy in the region (Africa) fell from 50 years in 1987 to 47 in 1999, Child mortality rate increased from 155 per 1000 in 1990 to 161 in 1999 in Sub Sahara Africa.† Unfortunately the UN’s report on some of these issues is even outdated, the new figures recently reviewed, even paints a gloomier picture than this. For example, in Zimbabwe, with the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 25%, the latest report shows that the expected life expectancy has dropped down to 37 years. What a calamity, poverty has put humanity into! How could such dehumanizing conditions be overcome? The only answer lies in poverty reduction. Before getting into how poverty could be reduced, let us look further at what exactly poverty is. Poverty is when a person, family or country fails to have its basic human needs. In the above quoted report (2001:2) the World Bank defines poverty as,† income level below a socially acceptable minimum.† It adds that, â€Å"the condition of poverty has been interpreted conventionally as one of lack of access by poor household to assets necessary for a higher standard of income or welfareeducation, financial† Poverty reduction is not an aspect that can be achieved by an individual, one company or a small group of people; it requires large conceited action from various stakeholders, who use various strategies or interventions based on the cultural, political and economical needs of a particular people or society. The following groups and agencies must be involved among others: the local community, rural institutions, the government, the private sector, local government, donor agencies and non-governmental organisation; using various strategies and mechanisms including changing the basic assumptions, innovation, partnerships, venture capital and micro-financing among others. The rest of this discussion will look at these aspects. One key to poverty reduction is community involvement. The community is made of all the people in a geographical area. Usually a community is a group of people who share a lot in common. This may include the problems they have, their aspirations as well as shared resources and vision. To alleviate the problem of poverty in an area, the people in that area must be involved in finding ways to alleviate it. The people must be actively involved. One way to do that is to form community committees. In, Zimbabwe a group of about one thousand household make what is called a ward. All the community development projects are done at ward level. The ward has a ward committee that is headed by a councillor. The councillor liaises with the headman who is the traditional leader in that area. So any proposed projects and funding comes through the ward committee. The ward committee holds meetings with all the residents to identify immediate problems to be solved, proposed developmental projects, and how to source funding. Most non-governmental organisations bring developmental project funds through that basic community committee, whom they sit down with and discuss how to carry on with the projects. So the use of such participatory activities means that the community is involved. Sabburao (2004: XVI) says,† The broad conclusion is that community driven interventions at the household level appear to be the most cost effective way.† This means the coming together of various stakeholders would assist in making the running of projects less expensive. For example if it is a farming community they can buy their inputs in bulk and they get discounts. They can have a cheaper transporter to carry their inputs and produce as may be compared to how expensive it could be for individuals to buy and transport. Another essential aspect of community involvement is to find local solutions to their problems. If a consultant has to come all the way from New York to a local community in Zimbabwe to find a solution to a problem it would be both expensive and time-consuming. After all, the solutions may fail to work due to some cultural and political barriers which a foreign consultant might not know. For example if there is poor agricultural production in a certain area, it is the local people who should come together and search for solution, they may know the rivers around, they may know some traditional crops that are disease and drought resistant in their areas. That can not be known by some one who comes from a far away place. Tamsin (2006) says, â€Å"A participatory approach ensures the full involvement of all groups in the development process†. Again if the people are involved in the planning and implementation stage, they become emotionally involved. With emotional involvement it m eans that they are motivated to achieve what they set out to achieve. If the community comes together and succeed more than once, soon a culture of togetherness, hard work and success develops. These are the ingredients of future prosperity and ultimately the reduction of poverty. There is one thing that will affect the people once they begin to experience success in what they do as a group. Ultimately their self esteem and self confident develops .People who have self esteem and self-confidence will definitely do much more than before and later achieves excellence. The concepts of self realisation, self-fulfilment and self actualisation, at that stage can be seen to be at work, and new personalities and a new community that is success- driven develops. From that point, on the road to poverty- eradication starts and extends. With success in a few areas, more success stories come as they introduce more projects. One projects lead to the next. In a certain community, in Zimbabwe the community introduced a garden project that ran successfully. From there, they introduced poultry project which in turn succeeded, they again introduced diary farming. Now they have developed into one of a successful venture in Zimbabwe. Poverty reduction in that area came about du e to the income generation as well as employment creation. It is important to note that these developments were as a result of the community coming together and come up with some solutions. The innovation was a community based and run. One essential facet that enhances development is innovation. McAdam and Moffett (2010:2) define innovation as, â€Å"the creation of any product, service or process which is new to a business.† It is important to note for it to be called an innovation it should have a positive and measurable impact on the community. From this definition we have to look at the types of innovation. The first one is a process innovation. It means there is a new way of doing an activity. For example in an account department of a company if the procedure for processing voucher papers was that the vouchers are written by a clerk, checked by a senior clerk, then passed on to the Accounting Technician and then to the assistant accounting. There can be change in the process or procedure. For example the completed voucher papers, completed by a junior clerk would be directed straight to the Accounting Technician; it means there have been a paradigm shift and a process innovation. Process innovation coul d be in the processing of farm products. At Makandi Estates, in Zimbabwe, where macadamia nuts are grown. They used to send the shelled nuts to their export market. However they had to change the process, whereby they had to dry the nuts and roast them in their own plant and they, now, send out as ready products for consumption. It means there was a change in the process. The other form of innovation is called technological innovation. This means the introduction of new technology or technical way of doing things. This type of innovation usually takes place in manufacturing sectors. One example of innovation is the introduction of cable tractors in agricultural sector. At Chipinge Banana Company, harvested bananas used to be carried by tractors from the fields to the Pack shed. But the new system was introduced where overhead rail lines were introduced and cable tractors ferry bananas from the fields to the Packshed. This led to the improved quality of bananas, which have less bruises and it is faster and more efficient. This is an example of a technological improvement. It means more production comes about and more income is generated. If this was done as community project then there would be increased income generation and subsequent poverty reduction. The other innovation could be product innovation. This is where a completely new product is introduced. The communities could come up with new products. It may not necessarily the introduction of a new product, but an improvement on an existing product. An innovation recently introduced in the area was the manufacturing of flour and animal food from bananas. This is an innovation, as bananas were not used for making flour in our country. Since there are a lot of bananas in the area, the people in the local community started making flour and animal feed from bananas. A lot of buyers are flocking the area in search of such products and the local community has an improved inflow of income which has impacted positively on their lives. Such a development at community level, which has been an initiative of the local people means their monthly per capita has increased, with regard to the involved community. With respect to poverty reduction, another useful innovation could be in terms of marketing. This may deal with the introduction of cheap and more affordable products to the people. An example could be in terms of beer products in my country. Beer has been a very expensive product that used to consume a large amount of income from the residents .For example the normal price of a 250 ml of imported spirits is about US $3.00. This has been the price for a long time. However recently new imports of a brand of beer has been introduced that is coming in from the nearing Mozambique. The cost of the new spirits (250ml) is US $1.00. These new imports have a higher content of alcohol. Whereas individuals could consume beer worth $9.00 per day they now consume beer costing $3.00 per day. So a change in marketing strategy and introduction of new products can be an innovation. From the above example of beer it has shown that about $6.00 is now being saved from alcohol consumption per day per ind ividual, just because of the new type of beer. That extra $6.00 per day per person can now be channelled to other usage. If there is an influx of products with that money saving impacts then poverty reduction could be achievable, over a longer period of time. Hang (2010) emphasise that the introduction of cheaper goods for the rural communities would assist in the community members having to spend their current income on more goods and services. Another necessary innovation is the introduction of affordable units of products. It may be necessary to alter the packaging side, so that the consumers choose the quantity that is in line with the amount of money which she/he has. We have several such innovations in Zimbabwe. Traditionally the packaging of fertilizer used to be 50 kg packs. Until recently some fertilizer vendors started to repack the fertilizers. They would buy a 50 kg bag of fertilizer and repackage these into two kg packages. This became very viable. As a result the fertilizer manufactures realised the new developments. And now they have introduced new packs from 2kgs, to 5 kg, 10 kg and 50 kg. The consumers choose the amount they want. Previously if you needed 10 kg of fertilizer you could be forced to buy a 50 kg of fertilizer, after using the 10 kg you would put the rest in store, but you could have pumped out the money which you could be used to buy other products and services. At Chipinge Banana Company, we run a tuck-shop for the workers and we have realized that they buy the smallest units in most cases. The area is a farming community where the workers income is very low. Most employees earn US $30.00 per month. The best they could do is to buy the smallest unit around. This also applies to the local community around. Most of them are communal farmers and their incomes are very low. The other necessary thing is to introduce a variety of brands of the same product in an area. Most low income earners are branding conscious. They do not get worried about the quality that they buy but the prices. Even if two products have a difference of ten cents in prices they would go for the cheapest. So it would assist the BOP consumers if variety of a product type is introduced. The other important tool for fighting poverty is the use of micro-finance in poor communities to start income generating products.Wikipedia.com defines micro-finance as, â€Å"the provision of financial services to low income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self employed, who traditionally lack funds.†In simple terms that is where someone or a company wishes to give out small loans to would be investors. Those people or small enterprises that need funding borrow the funds to develop their small businesses. This is a noble idea and most people have gained from this facility. In Zimbabwe, there are lot of these micro-financing businesses, and they have assisted many people to start their own businesses. Many entrepreneurs have started small welding businesses, carpentry shops, tailoring shops, candle making business, vending business, and small scale agricultural operations. Many people who have been very poor at least have something to live on. The government has also come in to give soft loans to their employees. A lot of small to medium businesses have grown up in Zimbabwe since 1999. The re has been a huge growth in the informal sector due to such cash injection. There has been a lot of development in the communication sector. Many people who accessed such funds started phone shops, internet cafes, among other small businesses. Hossam and Tonya (2008) said that micro-finance has been a poverty alleviation mechanism. This is an acceptable observation, if we follow the current trends in many developing countries. Ford (2007) concurred with the above observation when he commented that although the sum disbursed to individuals may be small but that has managed to make a massive difference on small traders. The Zimbabwe economy for the past ten years depended heavily on the small scale investors and informal trading, including cross-boarder traders. In the past ten years most industries collapsed in Zimbabwe. The rate of une mployment rose sharply. It is currently unbelievable that the unemployment rate in the country is about 90%. Most people started self-employment projects. These are the ones that sustained the country for a long time. However whereas microfinance seems to be a noble and ideal instrument for poverty reduction it has its own problems , which if not addressed means the exploitation of the poor, which can even bring the conditions of these poor to even worse levels. Some of these problems according to Hossam and Tonya (2008) are, difficulty in repayment of loans, high interest rates, exploitation of women borrowers, unchanging levels of poverty and failure to cater effectively to target group. From the experience in Zimbabwe I can concur that the problems of high interest rates and failure to cater for a target group are serious ones. Related to micro-financing are other financial services that can assist tremendously in poverty alleviation. There has been an increase in rural finance institutions in strategic alliances with small entrepreneurs, whether as individuals or as a group or as cooperatives. There has been the emergence and growth of credit unions, cooperative financial institutions, agricultural banks, postal financial services. Additional facilities that have assisted in poverty alleviation are payment facilities such as ATM, VISA cards, increased use of checks and smart cards. These are among the innovations that have revolutionised the way business is done in developing countries by ensuring that quick transaction is concluded. For example with a VISA card a person in Zimbabwe can make a quick transaction with some in the United States. It shows as well the impact of globalisation as a means to eradicating poverty. The other trend that has been very vital in poverty alleviation has been the use of partnership. The poor, as individuals and particularly at community level have been able to forge partnerships as a means to harness funds and expertise that is essential for developmental drives. Gallardo et al (2006:2) says, ‘Strategic alliances comprise a new theme in rural finance† He cited the example of Guatemala where alliances were very helpful in poverty alleviation through partnerships. These were partnership to overcome obstacles and barriers. These alliances as well assisted in introducing new products, expansion of market coverage. Such developments were also significant in India and Ghana, according to Gallardo (2006). He further says (2006:2), â€Å"the alliances and partnerships enabled the rural finance institutions to access significant capital resources, manage transaction costs, and acquire technical and management skills, linking up with banking technology and infrast ructure.† This partnership included engaging rural finance institutions, cooperative financial institutions, postal services, credit unions and rural banks. In Zimbabwe there has been a great development and introduction of rural banks. These rural banks have been in partnership with various groups and individuals involved in certain projects. For example Agriculture Bank of Zimbabwe has been working with small scale farmers in providing capital to buy farming equipment and inputs. The People’s Own Saving bank (POSB) has been loaning out, money to all government workers who want to start their businesses. Some Non –governmental organisations are also involved in starting partnership. For example the International Organisation for Migration has been assisting rural communities by sending their representatives to be trained in farming through out the country. Those who were trained have come back and started agricultural projects that have assisted in sustaining co mmunities. Poverty alleviation in a country could not be completely achieved without the involvement of the government. The government assists in several ways. One of the ways the government assists is in developing policies and guidelines on how, NGOs, government departments should operate in order to achieve sustainable development. The government acts as a coordinative and monitoring agency in the process of poverty alleviation. Cabbello (2008:421) says, â€Å"Policy change is presented as an ongoing process in which the choices available for agents are heavily influenced by contextual factors.† In this discussion he was referring to the policies that are created by the government. By government we also include the local government. Hong (2010) cited the examples of legislation that could be put in place by the government. He cited the statutory changes that were put in New York. These include; ‘Smart Growth and Flexible Zoning Techniques (FN7)’ ‘Codification of cas e law and modernization of Basic Enabling Statutes (FN8). These are example of laws where the local authorities have introduced to affect economic growth and the citizen’s welfare. Bach (2010:239) says, â€Å"State targeting has taken different forms, for example the creation of a legislative commission or issuance of reports†. According to Bach, in 2006 the State of Minnesota in USA created a commission to end poverty† and in 2006 Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in New York convened the commission for Economic Opportunity. The commission was composed of business and community leaders. The point here is to illustrate how government can be involved in poverty alleviation. The better policies and legislative frame work they make the better investment and poverty reduction initiatives are done. The government is also involved in infrastructure development. Among these is the construction of roads, airports, boarder posts, among others. The government can also appoint the p ersonnel who monitor rural development and poverty eradication initiatives. This includes establishing ministries to deal with such issues. In Zimbabwe we have ministries such as, Ministry of Economic planning and Development, Ministry Of Commerce and Investment, Ministry of Child welfare and social services, Ministry of Empowerment as well as Ministry of Urban and rural planning and Development. These are the government agencies to assist in development, growth and poverty alleviation. When we look at the government’s role in poverty alleviation, one main thing to emphasise on is on its political role. The government is probably the main actor in promoting peace and political stability in the country, which will subsequently affect investment. Without an unstable political system there is no development, there is no economic growth and poverty sets in. Political stability and its impact on development and on poverty reduction do not require much detailed written case studies. Probably not! What is necessary to look at is the current state of countries in political turmoil. Somalia, in Africa, probably is a country that has political instability for a long time, and the effect is that there is abject poverty. People are dying from malnutrition. There is no proper education system; the health system is almost now non-existent .In countries like Iraq, despite being naturally rich there is a lot of suffering and the state has been reduced to a begging state. Pe ople in Afghanistan, Pakistani and Democratic Republic of Congo are in a sorry state. The reason being political instability. In other words the governments, there, have failed to create political stability. Poverty alleviation can also be dealt with through the involvement o fAid agencies and NGOs. Aid agencies and NGOS usually have their roots in developed countries. There are many aid agencies in Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. We have international organisations such as Red Cross society, World Vision, Care International, Plan International, OXFAM, among others. They have initiated and developed community projects such as toilet construction, building schools, building roads, starting projects in rural areas and child feeding programs. These NGOs have done various other projects. In Zimbabwe currently such organisations have assisted in paying salaries for government departments to ensure that there is sufficient delivery of public services such as education and health care. We also have the United Nations and its agencies such as UNICEM, UNICEF, ILO, and UNESCO among others. These have done a tremendous job in alleviating the suffering of the poor. Then there is the role of the private sector in poverty alleviation. The private sector plays an influential role. Firstly the private sector is a major employer in any country. Thousands of people are employed and earn a monthly income. This assists them to have decent medication, educating their children and providing other basic necessities. What most private companies however fail to is paying their employees an amount that is above the poverty datum line. For example in Zimbabwe the current poverty datum line is $500.00, however most employees are paid between US $30 and $150.00. This means although the people are working they are not able to move above the poverty line. It also means individuals can not set aside a small amount of money for investment. The private sector is also the one that have micro-finance firms. Some private organisations also donate money towards community development projects. For example in the year 2010 Chipinge Banana company assisted in renovating sc hools and donated funds towards road construction. An estimated US $2000.00 has been set aside towards community development projects. A lot of companies are doing the same. The other ways in which some companies assist the community is through doing joint projects with the local communities, in business partnerships. Many agricultural companies in Zimbabwe have out grower’s projects. The out growers project is whereby the company assist the local communities to start some agricultural projects, similar to what the company does. For example Chipinge Banana Company has out grower’s schemes with local residents. What the companies does is to assist with technical expertise required in growing bananas, it also provides seeds, fertilizers and chemicals to the community. When the banana is ripe and ready for selling the out growers sell their produce to the company. The company deducts what it has expended towards the out growers ‘project. So out grower farmers are as sisted. With five or more years the farmers will be able to farm such crops without the assistance of the company. In Zimbabwe there are a lot of out growers in citrus fruits, gum tree projects, coffee and tea growing as well as in sugar cane production, among others. So the private sector, the agricultural sector in particular gets in partnership with the local communities. Other partnerships are in the mobile phone business, where mobile phone operators have the money cards sold by vendors on commission. Vending commissions are also found in sale of stamps, newspapers and magazines, soft drinks and agricultural projects, such as fresh fruits. These are all ways in which the private sector can assist in poverty reduction. Venture capital is another way which can be very important in poverty reduction. Wikipedia. Com says, â€Å"venture capital is financial capital provided to early stage, high potential, and growth start up companies.† Therefore it is essential in assisting very small companies to raise the required money to start businesses or even to increase viability and cash flow, if it is already a going concern. Usually venture firms operate as partnership. Venture companies own equities in the companies in which they invest. Wikipedia.com says,† venture capital firms are typically structured as partnerships, the general partner of which serve as the manager of the firm and will serve as an investment advisor. † Venture funds usually comes from some companies that have excess funds, these are especially from pension funds and insurance firms. According to recent reports venture capital has assisted in many nations world-wide including the first world countries. The following statistics come from Wikipedia.com: In the United States Of America the venture capital for the third quarter of 2006 only was $6, 6 billion and 797 deals were made. The report was quoted from Money Tree Report Pricewaterhouse, coopers, data having provided by Thompson Financial. In the same report, in Europe in 2005 the venture capital exceeded 60 billion British pounds. Whereas Israel had a venture capital of $1.9 billion in 2008. These are just a few examples of how much venture capital is used. Using the principle of the multiplier effect it means the benefits reaped in these countries were tremendous. If a global trend of venture capital is maintained and even increased the poverty reduction goal stated in the United Nations Millennium plan will be met by the year 2020. Another vital element that can assist in bringing growth and stability, and ultimately reducing poverty is the need to change basic assumptions on several issues, ranging from governance system, investment methods, social trends, economic outlook among others.Wikipedia.com defines an assumption as ,† a proposition that is taken for granted, as if it were true-based upon presupposition without preponderance of the facts.† Assumptions can be like blinkers, as they can make you fail to realise the reality and the surrounding facts. So people must develop an inquiry mind when faced with issues that they have done for a long time. Each aspect of business or aspect with great political, social or economic significance must be scrutinized to find as to how workable those long standing practices and view points are. Tamsin (2006:140) argues that,† the new approaches must be found that focus on listening to the diversity of needs that exist in any community† There an e mergence of is a new approach based on the need and importance of having to listen to the generality of the people involved. Presently most governments and companies still hold on to a lot of bureaucracy. This means that to implement positive changes it takes a lot of time and effort. There must be a paradigm shift in terms of governance and participation of the majority. Sharma (2008: XV) says, â€Å"along with economic liberalisation, austerity programs, privatization and participatory governance, empowerment is now an accepted part of the development orthodoxy.† This statement emphasizes the need for shift in thoughts and assumption. The first issue is on participatory governance. To be very honest participatory governance is still a dream in many spheres of life. How many fledgling democracies are in the world, with political leaders not willing to involve people at the grassroots level just for a simple reason to hold on to power and to abuse the people and squander res ources?. The other concept of empowerment, although is a new development is not easily accepted in organisations that range from corporate, to educational ,social institutions and even in the religious circle. The reason is that there are a few people who place themselves in aristocratic organisational or political system whose interests need to be protected at all cost, even at the expense of the majority. From a personal perspective this is the area where development is hampered. Until a time that people and organisations and nations accept to involve all the stakeholders at the fullest level can we expect meaningful development and further reduction in poverty. This participation must not be on a superficial level, it must be practical and with a lot of sincerity from all those involved. So there is need to have a shift in the way people do things. They need to run away from the traditional way to pragmatic approaches to deal with problems and new challenges. Bach (2010: 341) say s,† Accompanying shifts in policy are radical shifts in governance.† With that, the vision for poverty reduction by 2020 may be realised in those areas where there is paradigm shifts in certain fundamental areas. To conclude at this matter let us quote the words of Bach (2010: 240), who says, â€Å" through a process of deep democratic participation and continual experimentation and redesignthe governing enterprise will produce a set of policies that are more responsive to real needs of those in poverty.† Finally Cabelb (2008:3) says, â€Å"The main hypothesis that this article raises is that, implementing successful economic reform is not a technical process but a political process.† Before we look at the final issue of globalisation let us deal with the issue of ecological sustainability. For the goal of real poverty reduction to be achieved there is need for sustainable development. Tom wells through his BlogSpot, the philosopherbeard.blospot.com says, â€Å"sustainability concerns the relationship between humans and their natural environment.† â€Å"Sustainability means not to harm.† Gro Brundtland’s influential report (1987) suggests that sustainability deals with the need to meet the current demands and yet not compromise the future generations’ needs. What we do today must not be detrimental to the human race tomorrow. If what we do today compromises what the world will be tomorrow in a negative way, it means it is not sustainable. We can not reduce poverty today to create even greater poverty tomorrow for our grand children. So in order to reduce poverty in a real sense we must be ecological friendly. This means that we must no t damage the environment. About sustainable ecology ezineArticles.com says that there is need to have,† ecological production that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of farm in puts and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. So our poverty reduction strategies must not be at the expense of environmental degradation. In our business activities we must evaluate the activities that we carry and find out if they are ecological friendly. Those activities that can damage the environment now or in the future must not be carried out. That is why, where there is need for huge developments that can affect the environment there is environmental assessments from experts. There is also the need too use renewable resources so that we can not deplete the non of renewable resources is that of solar energy or wind energy being used as source of energy in industries or at home. This will mean that development will continue for a long time or for ever, without compromising future prospects. The final issue to be discussed is the issue of globalisation and its impact on poverty reduction. Before expanding further it is important to note that most of all the other things that we have discussed in this paper are related to globalisation or has a link to it. All the issues discussed in here have a global focus and are a part of a global trend, hence are linked to globalisation. To show the global spectrum, were the examples that were cited from across the entire worlds of such things include the internet, the cell phones, the existence of micro-financing, commercial banks, agricultural banks; internationalisation of the education system through e-learning, medical methods among others Globalisation is a great invention to fight poverty. The increasing influence of globalisation means that all inequalities will one day be overcome. Imagine how the inequalities in education system has been reduced through online education, the use of VISA cards means a person can buy medicati on anywhere in the world. If the medicine is bought in United States it can be in Zimbabwe within six days due to fast courier services such as DHL or FedEx. The use of internet and mobile phones means people anywhere in the world can easily communicate and facilitate business. International migration has also been made easy due to some agencies that now can process required documents. An example of how globalisation will assist in poverty reduction can be a case of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe went through a period of economic melt down since 1999 up to date. Because of global access to information, infrastructure and institutions many people left Zimbabwe. Many are now working in America, Europe, and Australia and in other African Countries, mainly in South Africa. Those who work in United States send money home through the new inventions such as money grams, bank transfers and western union. What it means is that a lot of things could be bought from abroad, anywhere in the world and transp orted into Zimbabwe. Through that system a lot of people who work outside the country have invested in a lot of businesses and some have build a lot of infrastructures, particularly houses. So wealth is now being externalised from developed countries into the developing countries. With these few examples it can be verified that globalisation has a positive impact in poverty reduction. However it must be noted that globalisation has its own serious negative effects. These effects include, environmental degradation, spreading of diseases such as HIV/AIDs, H1N1 influenza, it can assist in causing global financial crisis, and it does bring about alienation, family disintegrations, moral decadence and cultural integration. Although there seems to be so many problems related to globalisation it can be concluded that globalisation is a necessary devil as it is vital for the global reduction of poverty. The writer’s final perception is that globalisation is instrumental for poverty reduction. There is transfer of expertise through the globalisation of the education system. Wealth can be transferred from one country to the other. There is a new trend in international migration. The existence of NGOs and the arms of the United Nations mean that there is internationalisation of problem solving, innovation and standard of living. There is now the introduction of a global legislative framework for problem solving through The Hague International court. The World Bank is a serious instrument that is driving poverty reduction through the harmonisation of financial regulation, policies and procedures. The existence of international economic blocks furthers the globalisation agenda and poverty reduction. We have powerful economic blocks such as The European Union, ECOWAS, COMESA and SADC. Of all these SADC seems to be weakest of them all. Doing away with globalisation will no longer be an achievable goal. Globalisation is here to stay, because it was not created at a conference table or a political forum; it is a result of evolutionary state that can not only be linked to economics but to the social, political and technological developments, the world over. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS A McAdam, R and Moffett, S(2010)University Of Ulster Innovation. Shirley Ann Hazzlet: Belfast Tamsin, B( 2006). Challenging NGOs: Women, Religion and Western Dialogues in Indian York I.B: New York Sharma, A (2008)Logics of Empowerment: Development, Gender, and Governance in Neoliberal India. Minneapolis University: Minnesota World Bank(2001) Progress in Operationalizing The WDR 2000/2001.World Bank: Washington D .C. Weiss , J(2005) Poverty Targeting in Asia. Edward Elgar Publishing: Northampton. Subbarao, K(2004) Reaching out to Africas Orphans: A Framework for Public Action. World Bank: Washington D. C MAGAZINES Atkins, M. Five Key Concepts For Sustainable Innovation. India Week 259 No 7 July 2010. Penton Media: Cleveland Bach, A: Accountability and the New Poverty Agenda.Winsconsin Law Review 2010 No 2 Cabello, M. G. Merilee Grindle and the Reform of Financial Institutions: The Micro-finance Regulation in Elsavado. International Development Review 30 No 4 (2008) Finn, N. Mission: Sustainability: Local Industry Takes on Green Hue. New Orleans Magazine No 4 July 2010. Ford, N The Grameen Experience in Africa. African Business No 330. April 2007 Gallardo, J .S et al.Strategic Alliances to Scale up Financial Services in Rural areas. World Bank Paper No 76. world bank, 2006. Hang, C. C .Developing Disruptive Products For Emerging Economies: Lesson From Asian Cases. Res Technol Manage 53 No4 July/ August 2010. Industrial Research Institute: Arlington. Hossam, F and Tonya, K: Can Micro-finance Credits Improve the Livelihoods of the Poor and Disadvantaged: Empirical Evidence From Bangladesh. International Planning Review 30 No 2 (2008) Katz, R. Community E-banking : An Online Service Model for Not-to-Profit Sector. Journal os Internet Banking and Commerce 15 No 1. April 2010 Magada, D Madagascar: Path to Self-sufficiency. African Business no 330 (2007) Zach, F.Beyong Philanthropy. Eoromoney. Euromoney publications. (2006) WEB PAGES Paradigm shift www. Aswers.com/topic/ paradigm shift. Globalisation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/globalisation Tom wells. Department of Philosophy. (Erasmus University. Rotterdam. http://thephilosopherbeard.blospot.com/ environmental friendly http://EzineArticles .com/?Expert=Joan baston Research Papers on Life At the Bottom Of The PyramidPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeStandardized TestingMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductCapital PunishmentAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

Country profile of Italy's media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Country profile of Italy's media - Essay Example Mediaset initially expanded its services outside Italy by acquiring 25% shares in a Spanish broadcaster called Telecinco in 1997 and increases the shares to 50.1% in 2003 (Mediaset a). In relation with the increasing demand for the use of the Internet, Mediaset decided to become active in managing web-based activities of Canale 5, Italia 1, Rete 4 and TGCOM6 by establishing the Mediaset.it (Mediaset.it b). Eventually, the media company decided to consolidate all of its digital activities under the Mediadigit before As part of analyzing the micro-environment of Mediaset, the total population in Italy including the number of households with television sets and the number of people who patronizes satellite, cable, or free TV will be thoroughly identified. Eventually, the most important media players including the current trends behind television broadcasting will be tackled followed by discussing the role of AGCOM in the extent wherein the media’s freedom of the press in terms of content restrictions being practiced in Italy. Prior to conclusion, the extent in which American programming affects the home-grown programming in Italy will be examined. As of July 2008, the total population of Italy is 58,145,320 (Central Intelligence Agency). Considering that Italy is one of the countries with the most advanced economy (Central Intelligence Agency b), almost 95% of Italian households have television. (Eurobarometer, p. 1) Back on November 2007; E-Communications Household Survey conducted an interview with a total of 1,039 research participants. Based on the results, E-Communications Household Survey revealed that as much as 79% of Italian household are dependent on the use of aerial television followed by 18% who has an access over satellite TV, 10% with access to cable TV network, and 8% on digital terrestrial television which is a

Contemporary Middle Eastern History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Contemporary Middle Eastern History - Essay Example I believe that some of his ideas are a stark reflection of the underlying reality and can offer some insight into present religious/cultural relations. That is, there is actually a tension of sorts between identifiable groups of humanity in the present day. However, Samuel Huntington makes a gross oversimplification of things without an in-depth understanding of the nature of present-day conflicts and the complex characteristics of cultures. So, there is no ‘clash of civilizations’ as such. Significantly, his theory fails to satisfactorily explain the post September 11th world. Samuel Huntington outlines a future where the â€Å"great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural† (Huntington 1993:22) and on this basis divides the world into seven civilizations. I agree with his broad idea of the significance of culture and that this is the basis upon which humankind can be differentiated. But, his differentiation is largely based on religion with some exceptions and the fact that he has ignored Buddhism altogether. Also, he puts Israel together with the West, thereby combining Jews with Christians, which is strange if we look at history. He does correctly identify nation-states as a relatively new phenomenon, and that economic and military power drives conflicts. He is also correct in saying that the concept of a global or universal culture is a relatively recent on originating in the West and that the West considers its own policies as positive for the rest of the world and therefore to be imposed upon it. As far as human rights is concerned this does not hold water because Islam conferred human rights over a thousand years ago, so this is more a reflection of the changed times rather than differences. Also, we could give examples of the not too distant past when for example inter-racial problems were severe, civil and women’s rights was obtained. So, America has no strong foundations

''FRESCA company-TWO recommendations for improvements for any part of Essay

''FRESCA company-TWO recommendations for improvements for any part of the marketing mix - Essay Example The asset of the company which exceeds 48 million pounds and the annual growth in return of over 393 million net profits presents the need for the company to go public. In so doing, the company products will get more demand especially once they harness the opportunity in the market as the confidence of consumers towards the company will increase. Furthermore, many customers will purchase the shares and they will help in developing and promoting the products image through innovation, contribution, reaching out to the consumers and lifting up the reputation of the firm. To enhance production of quality and healthier produce, the firm source and secure the best and reliable partners. Reputation is an important tool in promotion of a product that will improve once the firm succeeds in going public. The company will be forced to invest more in the creativity and innovation of their products to ensure that ethical trading, quality products, employee development as well as effective customer service are met. The demand for its products will rises, calling for more qualified staff to be employed in the firm as in so doing the quality of their product will not be altered due to overworked staff. The products of the company will be placed to more public attention and scrutiny especially in terms of health and quality standards and due to the fact that the company observes these requirements, hence, its market is sure to grow as Fresca Company observes these requirements. Health is important to the survival of mankind and this is what the company offer, healthy products. Success in increased sales is attributed to the highest quality of produced which surpass the expect ations of customers through embracing a quality product line. As an international company, Fresca Company should take advantage of the virgin, fertile and huge piece of agricultural land in Africa and partner with African countries in the production of

Training And Development In Infosys Management Essay

Training And Development In Infosys Management Essay This essay aims to provide a critical review of Performance Management and Training and Development of HRM in a typical high-tech company: Infosys. Infosys is a Fortune 500 company which specializes in IT services. The company has clients all cross the world and provide expertise in various industry sectors. Infosys integrates its Performance Management and Training and Development to better facilitate its workforce and to help the firm achieve its strategic goals. 1.2 Aim of this essay This essay aims to provide a critical review of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys. It identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys, and provides proper recommendations for future improvement. 1.3 Structure of this essay Chapter 1 gives a brief background and the aim of the essay. Chapter 2 gives introduction of Infosys. Chapter 3 talks about Performance Management and how this part of HRM functions in Infosys. Chapter 4 deals with Training and Development and its function and role in Infosys. Chapter 5 provides a critical review of the Integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys. Chapter 6 offers some recommendations for future improvement of Infosys Training and Development as well as Performance Management. Chapter 7 is the conclusion of the whole essay. 2. Brief Introduction of Infosys Infosys was started in 1981 by seven people with US$ 250. Today, they are a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing with revenues of US$ 7.075 billion (LTM Q1 FY13). Many of the worlds most successful organizations rely on Infosys to deliver measurable business value. Infosys provides business consulting, technology, engineering and outsourcing services to help clients in over 30 countries build tomorrows enterprise. Infosys has a global footprint with 68 offices and 70 development centers in US, India, China, Australia, Japan, Middle East, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Canada and many other countries. Infosys and its subsidiaries have 151,151 employees as on June 30, 2012. Infosys helps companies derive the measurable business value that they have always been looking for from business and IT investments. The company delivesr measurable business value in 3 ways: 1. Transform Infosys can transform the fundamental shape of your business PL. Regardless of which team our clients engage with; the company has a best-practice process for delivering value. In Infosys it is called IMPACT to ensure a clear line of sight from process change to bottom-line impact, ensuring that you receive the business value you were promised. 2. Optimize Beyond transformation and innovation, it boils down to execution delivering on time, on budget and on value. Infosys can optimize clients core operations to drive best-in-class efficiency and help fund the transformation and innovation. 3. Innovate Infosys can inject a level of product and service innovation into clients business to create new revenue opportunities through collaboration and co-creation. The foundation of its innovation capability is our core lab network Infosys Labs and the new thinking that our team of over 600 researchers brings to the table. The Vision and Mission of Infosys are: Vision We will be a globally respected corporation. Mission Strategic Partnerships for Building Tomorrows Enterprise. 3. Performance Management and its Function in Infosys 3.1 Academic review of Performance Management Levit (2008) suggest that performance is a multi-layer structure, and depending on different measuring factors, the results may be different also. Thus, if we want to measure and manage performance, we must first define it and know exactly what performance management means. Usually performance management can be defined from three perspectives, and with different perspective, the contents, influencing factors and measuring methods that performance management includes differs. From the individual perspective, the definition of performance management has not come to a universal conclusion as various experts on HRM give their own definitions. At the current stage, there are two main views. One view believes that performance is equal to result; while another view suggests that performance equals behavior. Bernadin (1995) suggest that performance should be defined as the outcome of work, because these outcomes of work are closely related to organizational goals, strategies, customer satisfaction and investment. Kane (1996) points out that performance is the things that an individual leaves, and such things relatively independently exist. Hence, it is not difficult to see that the view of performance is equal to result believes that the outcomes that performan ce gets are the records of how well one employees work is. The relative concepts about performance results include: Accountabilities, Key Result Areas, Results, Duties, Tasks and Activities, Objectives, Goals or Targets, Outputs, Critical Success Factors. Nowadays, however, an increasing number people have accepted the concept that performance equals behavior, and they have posted challenges against the view of performance is equal to result. Campbell (1990) suggests that performance is a set of behaviors that are related to the organization that a person works for or the goals that the organization has. His definition of performance in 1993 is that performance is the synonym of behavior, and it is peoples actual behaviors and it can be observed and measured. Performance management is the process through which managers ensure that employees activities and outputs are congruent with the organizations goals. It is used to establish measures of performance to allow clear targets to be set and is a continuous process that enables us to improve delivery of business. Performance management plays a key role in Human Resources Management because an organizations performance goals are designed according to the organizations development plan, strategy and organizational goals. Today there are various tools for how to manage performance such as Balance I believe that in practical performance management, the broader concept of performance should be employed that is, the concept of performance should include both two aspects of behaviors and results. Such a perspective is well reflected in the definition of performance according to Brumbrach (1998): performance means results and behaviors. It tells us that when we conduct performance management, we should take into consideration of both input(behaviors) and output(results). Performance management should include the two aspects of what to do and how to do. 3.2 Performance Management in Infosys Infosys is a Fortune 500 company whose main service is in IT industry. Today it is the leading firm on the market providing various IT solutions to its clients. The business scope of Infosys ranges from Telecommunication, Banking, Financing, Retailing to Manufacturing. Like most international firms, Infosys has a matrix organizational structure. The companys base is in India, but it is not strictly the headquarter of the company. Its various braches across the world work together to reach the organizations strategic goals. The types of employees in Infosys are divided into two catalogues: regular employee and contractor. Thus, performance management in Infosys has two different management methods for regular employees and contractors. Infosys definition for Performance Management is that performance management is a constant, on-going process of communication. During this process, employees and managers reach a consensus on the following questions in forms of collaboration partners: Tasks that employees should complete; How can the work that employees do make contribution to realizing the companys goals; Use detailed content to describe how to do job well; How can employees and managers work together in order to help employees to improve their performance; how to measure performance; The obstacles that hinder the development of performance and how to conquer them. Meanwhile, Infosys believes that performance management is: The core part of the companys overall human resources strategy; One method to measure an individuals performance; Emphasis is put on the process of improving employees integrated skills; A tool to connect individual performance with the companys strategy and goals. There are three aspects in Infosys performance management: Performance Plan. In this part, managers and employees reach a consensus on following questions: What should employees do? How should work be completed? Why this work item should be done? When should this work item be done? Other relevant questions: working environment, capability, career prospects, training etc. During this process, managers and employees constantly communicate about above questions, and eventually sign on the records of their communication, and use it as the performance goals of the employees. These performance goals are the base of the whole performance management and performance measurement; thus they play a pivotal role in performance management. The process of setting performance goals usually takes a quarter of the year. Performance goals usually include two parts: one is Business Goals; the other is Behavior Standard. According to Pinson (2004), a business plan is a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals. business plans may also target changes in perception and branding by the customer, client, taxpayer, or larger community. When the existing business is to assume a major change or when planning a new venture, a 3 to 5 year business plan is required, since investors will look for their annual return in that timeframe. Infosys uses business goals as part of employees yearly performance goals, and they help enhance employees performance and help achieve organizational goals. 2. Constant Communication of Performance. Communication should be through the whole process of performance management. Only once or twice communication between employees and managers are far from enough, and it does not obey the principles of performance management. As Montana Charon (2008), a business can flourish when all objectives of the organization are achieved effectively. For efficiency in an organization, all the people of the organization must be able to convey their message properly. 3. Performance Appraisal Meeting. Infosys performance appraisal meeting is highly efficient, and it is normally held within an hour when all managers get together to discuss yearly performance evaluation. It mainly includes four aspects: 1) Employees self-evaluation; 2) Reaching a consensus on employees performance, according to facts instead of impressions; 3) Deciding performance levels; 4) It is not only to evaluate employees; it is also a good opportunity to solve problems. Cederblom (1982) suggests that a performance appraisal is typically conducted annually. The interview could function as providing feedback to employees, counseling and developing employees, and conveying and discussing compensation, job status, or disciplinary decisions. It is often included in performance management systems and performance management systems are employed to manage and align all of an organizations resources in order to achieve highest possible performance. 4. Training and Development and its Function in Infosys 4.1 Academic review of Training and Development Training and development (TD) is an indispensable part in human resource management, with the purpose of enhancing the performance of individuals and groups in organizations. Training and development has a number of names, such as human resource development, and learning and development. As to its definition, there are several popular explanations. According to Rothwell Kazanas (2004), training and development, part of human resource development, is the process of changing an organization, its employees, its stakeholders, and groups of people within it, using planned and unplanned learning, in order to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage for the organization. The main body of training and development is adults, and the way adults learn and develop is different from the way students do. Adults training has more specific purposes, and is usually more practical, with the aim to solve practical questions. Hence, the organization or department that are responsible for developing training programs need to know about theories of adult learning. In the 1950s, Malcolm Knowles developed a new theory for adult learning, which is called Andragogy. Andragogy is in the context of adult learners which is contrasted with definition of childs learning (called pedagogical learning). Michael (2007) suggests that the central idea in the context of adult learning is that it is only after convincing oneself of the rationale of learning that an adult will decide to (and be able to) learn. Hence, adults cannot be treated like children if one hopes to see learning. Therefore it is assumed that workshops and seminars organized by the students themselves create a better learning environment than those organized externally. This has led to a flurry of recent teaching innovations like student-led tutor groups and supplemental instruction programs led by above average students. Another important theory about training and development is Learning Organization which was created by Peter Senge. Pedler Boydell (1997) defines that a  learning organization  is the term given to a company that facilitates the learning of its members and continuously transforms itself. There is no a single model of learning organization. Learning organization is about an attitude toward or ideology of employee and organization and is a new way of thinking about organization. In leaning organization, everyone needs to identify and solve problems, so that the organization is able to constantly try new things, enhancing and improving its capability. The basic value of learning organization is solving problems, whereas in contrast, the focus of traditional organization is efficiency. In any learning organization, employees need to take part in identifying problems, which means that employees need to understand customers requirement. Employees also need to solve problems, and this m eans they need to think about customers requirement in a unique way. Learning organization enhances organizations value by new ideas and information, instead of material production. 4.2 Training and Development in Infosys Training and development is mainly carried out in Infosys by its HR department. Currently the whole company has more than 20,000 employees, and training and development has always been a key function of all HR department in all branches. The company is willing to provide excellent training opportunities for its employees. Though the leading department of training and development in Infosys is its HR department, other departments also take part in and collaborate with HR department. Training and development is carried out by HR personals according to various requirements of different departments which are located in different geographic locations. There are training and development specialists who are responsible for certain training contents, such as technology, business knowledge, company policies, marketing etc. HR department plans yearly training and development schedule together with experts from other departments, and is responsible for carrying out these training schedules. Training courses in Infosys are presented by subject matter experts(SMEs) in the company or by experts from other organizations and universities. Training specialists need to record teachers performance during the training sessions. After training sessions, feedback from employees are collected and analyzed, in order to better the quality and efficiency of the companys training programs. The company creates its training policies which is part of the companys HR policies. And violation of training policies will be reported to the employees reporting manager. This ensures the quality of training and development in Infosys. Training and development plays an important function in Infosys daily operation and strategy development. The HR department divides training and development mainly into four levels. The first level is for senior management and candidate senior management; the second level is for normal employees and normal managers; the third level is for first-line sales personals; the forth level is for new hires and fresh graduates. According to the needs and requirements of different levels, training sessions are designed by different teams. Garavan, Costine, and Heraty (1995) notes that training and development (TD) encompasses three main activities: training, education, and development and that these ideas are often considered to be synonymous. In Infosys, training and development can also be view from these three parts: 1. Training: This activity is both focused on the job tasks that an employee currently handles. It is usually conducted through the form of classroom training, on-the-job training, and competition in Infosys. 2. Education: This activity focuses upon the jobs that an employee may potentially handle in the future. Infosys provides books and self-pace learning courses for such activity, and employees have more flexibility to study on their own paces and they can choose to learn during work time or at weekends. 3. Development: This activity focuses on the activities that the organization employing the individual. In Infosys, every new employee needs to attend the New Hire Orientation Development Program within the first three month after they are employed by the company. Such activity helps new employees know about the corporate culture, policies, dress code and so on and so forth. At the end of each year, Infosys holds several lectures to summarize the whole training and development programs in the passing year, identifying any problems and figuring out solutions to these problems. This helps HR department better plan next years training programs, thus helping the company achieve its short-term and long-term strategic goals. 5. Integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys 5.1 How Performance Management and Training and Development work together in Infosys In Infosys, Performance Management and Training and Development are closely linked. The company creates a computer-based system to manage performance and career development of staff. It is easy for managers to see at what level the employee is currently performing and what kind of training the employee needs to take. This system also helps with a staff training and development strategy to enable employees to help them progress to the top level possible in their current job. It can also provide guidance about the possibility of further training and/or mentoring to assist them to develop their career within the organisation. Employees performance is evaluated according to several aspects, and among these aspects, employees training and development is taken into consideration and could affect employees final performance appraisal. Infosys require its regular employees to take at least five training sessions in one years, to make sure every employee is equipped with latest skills and knowledge so that they can better make contribution to the company and help the company achieve its strategy goals. Employees need to complete the Job Skills Workbook which includes the skills that employees must have to complete their job tasks. This workbook is used as the basis for the performance evaluation. Both employees and managers will have to agree on the type of skills that are included in the Job Skills Workbook and which training level the employee needs to take. Besides, a group of employees can work together to identify their individual and collective training and development goals. Then these goals will be disc ussed with training specialists and their managers, and HR department will try to arrange according training programs for these employees. This, without a doubt, strengthens the companys capability and improves productivity. In Infosys, several activities are undertaken each year in order to develop key skill elements identified. These could include new work experiences, responsibilities and challenges, mentoring, coaching or more formal training. Once identified, these elements will also be included in the performance evaluation of employees. So training and development help identify new skills and responsibilities of employees, and performance management functions as a monitor and evaluation mechanism for these new training and development needs. After training sessions, the manager or team leader needs to provide the employee with feedback about their current performance and their goals for the next agreed time period which is usually one year. Finally, at the end of the agreed time period the employee needs to once again talk with his or her manager or team leader and discuss how they have performed and whether there are any changes in their training and development schedule. 5.2 Strength and Weakness of the integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys Such integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys has several strengthens: 1. It creates a multi-level mechanism for performance management. By discussing with managers about what kind of skills and performance employees agree to achieve in advance, employees can know clearly what both them and their managers expect from them. Employees can attend various training programs to reach their goals and use what they have learned in their daily jobs, thus improving their productivity and job performance. 2. Employees have more choices about what they want to develop in Infosys and what their career paths are. The value of Infosys is to make every customer satisfied. It is only through excellent work that the company can win high trust from customers. When Performance Management and Training and Development work closely together in Infosys, each employee can have the choice to decide which career path they like to take, such as technical experts, people managers or delivery managers etc. With a clear target and purpose in mind, employees are more motivated to take training and development programs provided by the company and their learning results are later directly reflected in performance evaluation in performance management of the company. On the other hand, however, there are some weakness of the integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys: 1. It puts too much focus on job skills but ignores management skills. Infosys is a large international company and its services in IT industry are among the best. The company focuses too much on the skills of its first-line employees, and almost 80% of the training and development program are about job skills. The performance evaluation of employees also mainly evaluates what new skills employees have learned through such training programs and how they perform. But in the long run, management skills are also required by employees as some of them are potential managers in the future. 2. The training sessions in Infosys are only for regular employees, not for contractors. So the result is that contractors, that occupy more than 40% of all employees, cannot receive proper training in time. Because contractors are not allowed to participate in the training and development activities, when they discuss with their managers about their performance evaluation, there is no section for training and development. This hinders contractors from developing their skills and could probably hinder the companys strategy development in the long run. 6. Recommendations Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the integration of Performance Management and Training and Development in Infosys, these recommendations could be taken into consideration when the management makes future decisions. 1. Management skills should also be included in Infosys training and development activities, and more first-line employee should have access to it. These employees would become managers in the future, and providing proper training programs on management skills would enhance their productivity and make their work more efficient and effective. 2. Training and development should cover contractors. In Infosys, there are two types of employees: regular employees and contractors. Currently most training and development programs are for regular employees only. By providing contractors the same training and development opportunities, the overall workforce of Infosys can be strengthen, and the companys productivity on the whole can be enhanced. 7. Conclusion This essay reviews both the Performance Management and Training and Development in the company of Infosys. It first provides academic review of the concepts and theories of Performance Management and Training and Development in HRM, then links the concepts and theories with the actual case of Infosys. It provides a critical review of how Performance Management and Training and Development work together in Infosys and analyzes the strengthens and weaknesses of these two HRM functions integrating in Infosys and provides relative recommendations.

Organic Food †Is It Worth Its Price? Essay

Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity (Rubin 1). The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade (Marcus 1). That is over ten times the rate of their conventional counterparts (Harris 1). There are 10 million consumers of organic food in the United States, yet organic food represents only one percent of the nation’s food supply. This year organic food sales are expected to rise to six billion dollars (Rubin 1). So what is organic food? Organic food is that which are grown without hormones, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Also, the soil in which organic food are grown must be â€Å"clean† for three years (Howe 4). Nearly 70 percent of the American public believes that the organic label on food products means they are safer to eat and better for the environment according to a survey by the National Center for Public Policy (Cummins 1). Organic farming does have its advantages: it conserves water and soil resources, recycles animal waste, releases fewer chemicals, improves soil fertility, promotes diversity of crops, and protects farm workers, livestock, and wildlife from potentially harmful pesticides (Rubin 4). But is organic food safer than conventional foods? Not only can organic food be contaminated with bacteria and pesticides, but also they are more expensive than conventional foods, yet do not offer a better nutritional value or significantly better taste. Sir John Krebs, a zoologist appointed to head the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom said that â€Å"people who bought organic food thinking it was safer or more nutritious were wasting their money† (Jones 1). Critics of organic farming claim that it is dangerous, environmentally damaging and, above all, incapable of feeding an overpopulated world because crop yields are lower than in conventional agriculture (Jones 2). If you are looking for health benefits from organic food, save your money. Organic food is not necessarily safer than conventional foods. Eileen White, owner of a health food store that sells organic products, says, â€Å"I can’t guarantee that organic food is safer than regular foods, but that is just a risk that some consumers are willing to take. † ABC’s â€Å"20-20† reported finding higher concentrations of bacteria on organic produce than on conventional produce (Tierney 1). Organic food can be contaminated with salmonella, Listeria, or E. coli. These microorganisms can cause illness and even death (Rubin 2). Also, since organic food is grown with manure, there is a greater risk of bacterial contamination. Animal waste is used as a fertilizer instead of synthetic chemicals on organic food, and this animal waste may contain dangerous bacteria (Tierney 1). Although the manure is composted to kill the bacteria, uncertified farmers may not always follow the proper procedure. Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California at Davis, states: â€Å"We know that animals are shedding bacteria that can make people sick if the manure hasn’t been treated properly. Personally, if I knew something was grown with conventional chemical fertilizers, I would feel extra safe. But we don’t have any data to show that organic food is more or less safe† (Tierney 2). Many consumers buy organic food because they think that they are pesticide free, but this is not true. Organic farmers can use natural pesticides such as sulfur, copper, nicotine, and plant extracts (Rubin 2). Synthetic pesticides can also be found on organic food. Synthetic pesticides can be carried by wind, ground water, rain, or soil from other farms to organic farms and contaminate the organic food being grown there (Rubin 2). Eighty-nine to ninety percent of all pesticides drift from their point of application, which increases the risk of nearby areas being exposed (Howe 2). Also, synthetic pesticides used before may not have disappeared from the soil and therefore can contaminate organic crops (Rubin 2). Many people do not notice a significant difference in the taste of organic food and conventional foods. Some organic food taste very different as compared to conventional foods, like organic milk (White). Sue Gebo, author of â€Å"What’s Left to Eat? † explains: â€Å"studies do not show a significant taste difference between organic and conventional crops† (Rubin 3). U. S. News held a blind taste test to determine if organic food tasted better than conventional foods. Winter tomatoes, both organic and conventional, were equally tasteless. Conventional carrots and blueberry yogurt tasted better than their organic counterparts, but organic orange juice tasted better than conventional orange juice (Marcus 3). Agricultural Secretary Dan Glickman states that organic food is no more wholesome or nutritious than conventional foods (Marcus 1). Although organic food is almost completely free from synthetic chemicals found in synthetic foods, they are no richer in vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They are not less likely to make a person sick either (Marcus 2). The higher grocery price only buys a person peace of mind, not better nutrition. The cost of organic food can be 20 percent to 50 percent more than conventional foods due to limited supply, special handling, and required certification (Rubin 1). All organic food must be produced without synthetic pesticides and genetic engineering. The use of sewage sludge as fertilizer and irradiating food to preserve it will be banned also, as will hormones and antibiotics in organic meat and dairy products (Marcus 1). Not using these technologies makes organic farming more labor intensive, therefore making organic food more expensive. Organic food also has other disadvantages. One disadvantage is a short shelf life. Cereals, breads, nuts, seeds, and oils should be refrigerated. Also, meats cured without nitrates and nitrites should be frozen (Rubin 2). Organic farming also yields fewer crops because insects, weeds, and fungi often damage a larger portion of organic crops than conventionally grown crops (Howe 5). Finally, only about half of the states regulate organic food and little exists to stop organic farmers from labeling any food they wish as â€Å"organic† (Howe 4). Recently, the safety of conventional foods has been questioned. The use of pesticides supplies higher crop yields, reduces the cost and labor of farming, and produces relatively unblemished, visually appealing produce (Howe 3). However, some scientists think that pesticide residues in conventional foods could, over many years, raise the risk of cancer and other illnesses. Hard evidence of this is scarce (Marcus 1). Pesticides are only dangerous if they are present in toxic amounts. Our food supply is safe because the Environmental Protection Agency controls the levels of pesticides used (Rubin 2). A panel of the National Research Council concluded in 1996 that tiny levels of chemicals in the food supply are â€Å"unlikely to pose an appreciable cancer risk† (Tierney 2). A similar report released in the same year by the National Academy of Sciences stated that pesticides pose little risk to humans because they are consumed at such low levels (Rubin 2). The health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables such as lower rates of cancer, stroke, and other diseases far outweigh any potential risks. Still, the thought of pesticides on fruits and vegetables may still concern some consumers, so here are some ways to reduce exposure to pesticides. One should choose foods that are free of dirt, cuts, insect holes, decay, and mold. Also, selecting produce that has thick skins, husks, or hulls (like bananas, melons, and citrus fruits) reduces exposure to pesticides because the skins are harder to permeate. Before eating fruits and vegetables, they should be scrubbed using a hard produce brush and washed under cold water. Cooking or baking foods will also reduce pesticide residues, as will canning, freezing, or drying foods. Finally, one should eat a varied diet to reduce exposure to any single pesticide (Rubin 3). It is foolish for one to believe that just because a product is natural it is better than conventional products. E. coli and other microorganisms are natural too. Organic food is not any safer than conventional foods. They still can contain bacteria and pesticides, and are no more nutritious or delicious than conventional foods. Yet people are still willing to spend nearly twice as much on organic food. If one wants to buy foods that are more environmentally friendly, then organic food would be a good choice; but if one is looking for immediate health benefits, save your money. An apple is an apple, whether it is organic or not, and people should not have to pay twice as much for peace of mind.

Butterflies in Catawaba

Summer Reading: Things Fall Apart by China Achebe Seniors: Your summer reading assignment is China Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Get a copy as soon as you can from the School Store at Lamar High School for $9. 00. Also, if you qualify for free/reduced lunch, then you can get a voucher for the novel from the Business Office. As you read your book, please annotate. Annotate meaner to use a pen or pencil to take notes directly in the book as you are reading. (You might want to use a slighter, too, at times. You should have notes about characters, plot, literary elements, vocabulary, and the like. You may make your notations in the margins of your paperback or underline or circle details of importance. You might even want to use â€Å"sticky notes† for various pages which contain pertinent information. As well, for English AAA, you will have the following assignment to turn in to Mrs.. Hammond or Mrs.. Similar (Recommended B senior English teachers) the first day of school—Au gust 26, 2013.Assignment: Read each question carefully and respond on notebook paper to each one. Use the Modern Language Association (MEAL) heading for your paper. An example of the MEAL heading is included at the end of this page. 1. Flashback is a plot device in which an author pauses to present a scene that occurred earlier in the story or before the story began. It is often used to give a new insight into a character or explain an element in the plot. How does China Achebe use flashbacks to reveal different aspects of Ginkgo's life? . Foreshadowing is a hint or clue an author gives about something that may happen later in a story. How does the author foreshadow what is going to happen to Snakeskin? 3. China Achebe uses proverbs to help tell his story in Things Fall Apart. Select one (1) proverb from the novel that you particularly like and explain its meaning. Please make note of the chapter number and the page the proverb appears in the classic. Butterflies in Catawba By denyi ng

British Parliament essays

British Parliament essays The House of Commons and the House of Lords The British parliament consists of the Queen and two chambers, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The functions of the parliament are to pass laws, to provide taxes and to control the actions of the government. The Queen still plays a role, but only a formal one. In law, she is the head of the executive, a part of the legislative and the head of the judiciary. The members of the house of commons are elected directly by general majority in geographically defined parliamentary constituencies.The minimum age for franchise is 18 since 1969. At present, the house of commons is consisting of 659 MPs which are distributed on the base of the number of inhabitants (around 60.000 in each constituency in the United Kingdom) and the total number of MPs which is fixed only by the house of commons itself. The parliament has a quorum when 40 MPs are present. The legislative period lasts 5 years by law in case of special national crisis, for example war, there can be exceptional decisions to break up the period earlier or lengthen it. All of the members of the house of commons can be elected again. It is not possible for any member of the house of lords, certain clericals, employees of the government, peace lawyers or officers charged with realization of elections to be candidate for the house of commons. Theoretically every member of parliament can initialize bills of law, practically most of the bills are initalized by the ministers in charge.The bills passed by parliament are mostly rather general they get passed more detailed either through royal prescriptions(decrets) or are prepared by the ministries in charge and then proclaimed by the crown. The cabinet appears along the pinciple of collective responsibility as a unit. If the parliament votes against an important legislative intiative or puts up a vote of no confidence, the consequence i ...

Average Salary Guide How Much Do Pharmacists Make

Average Salary Guide How Much Do Pharmacists Make SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Thinking about becoming a pharmacist? Or maybe you’re just wondering how much the person filling your prescriptions is making? How much does a pharmacist make? We have all answer all of your questions about pharmacist pay! In this guide, we go over average pharmacist salary overall and in each of the 50 states.To help put these numbers into context, we also explain what factors affect pharmacist salary, why pharmacists make so much, what work they do, and how you can become a pharmacist yourself. What Is the Average Pharmacist Salary? How much does a pharmacist make each year? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pharmacist in the US earned an annual salary of $120,270 in 2016, or about $57.82 an hour. The chart below (from the US Dept of Labor) shows the percentile wage estimates for pharmacists in 2016 so you can get a better idea of the range of pharmacist salaries. Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90% Annual Wage $87,120 $109,400 $122,230 $138,920 $157,950 There are several factors that determine how much a specific pharmacist makes. Experience: Pharmacists who have worked in the profession longer make more money than pharmacists just starting out, since more experienced pharmacists typically have more responsibilities and expertise. Geographic Location: Some parts of the country have a higher average pharmacist salary than others. We discuss this more in the next section. Employer Type: The type of pharmacy job you have will also affect your pay. Pharmacists at mail-order pharmacies had the lowest annual salary (average salary $7,000) while clinical pharmacists were, on average the highest paid ($128,000). Retail pharmacists generally earn less than pharmacists working in hospitals or other clinical settings. How Much Do Pharmacists Make a Year in Each State? Depending on which part of the country you live in, you might be making more or less than the national pharmacist salary. Below is a chart showing the average annual salary for pharmacists in each of the 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. This data comes from the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment Statistics for 2016. You can use this chart to get a better idea of what the average pharmacist salary is in the state where you live or would like to live. State Average Annual Salary in 2016 Alabama $120,000 Alaska $138,000 Arizona $9,000 Arkansas $7,000 California $136,000 Colorado $8,000 Connecticut $121,000 Delaware $8,000 Florida $8,000 Georgia $6,000 Hawaii $5,000 Idaho $6,000 Illinois $7,000 Indiana $7,000 Iowa $0,000 Kansas $9,000 Kentucky $122,000 Louisiana $3,000 Maine $123,000 Maryland $120,000 Massachusetts $131,000 Michigan $5,000 Minnesota $123,000 Mississippi $121,000 Missouri $121,000 Montana $2,000 Nebraska $109,000 Nevada $123,000 New Hampshire $129,000 New Jersey $7,000 New Mexico $120,000 New York $9,000 North Carolina $121,000 North Dakota $3,000 Ohio $5,000 Oklahoma $121,000 Oregon $123,000 Pennsylvania $4,000 Rhode Island $2,000 South Carolina $123,000 South Dakota $2,000 Tennessee $120,000 Texas $124,000 Utah $3,000 Vermont $128,000 Virginia $9,000 Washington $124,000 Washington D.C. $121,000 West Virginia $8,000 Wisconsin $124,000 Wyoming $6,000 As you can see from the chart, the average annual salary for pharmacists ranges from $109,000 (Nebraska) to $138,000 (Alaska). Differences among states in average pharmacist salaries can be due to multiple factors, including cost of living, demand for pharmacists, and where the pharmacists are employed. Why Are Pharmacist Salaries So High? Now you know that most pharmacists are bringing in six figures a year. Why is pharmacist pay so high? There are three main reasons: Lots of Schooling Required As you’ll see in the next section, you can’t wake up one day and decide to start applying to pharmacist jobs. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree as well as a PharmD degree. For most people, this means eight years of university and graduate-level schooling, and the high level of education required for pharmacists contributes to the high salary. Requires Specialized Knowledge and Attention to Detail To be a pharmacist, you must have a lot of knowledge specific to the field, and you must also have a high attention to detail. Pharmacists spend much of their time preparing and dispensing medication, and if they make a mistake, it can literally affect other people’s lives. Therefore, they must always be careful when they are working. Additionally, many pharmacists are balancing multiple duties and many clients/customers which can cause a hectic work schedule. Because the work pharmacists do is so important, and because they are the only ones who can do it, they have a high average salary. High Demand for Pharmacists Another reason pharmacists make so much is that there is a high demand for pharmacists in many parts of the country. As the population gets older and healthcare expands, more people need the services pharmacists provide, which drives up demand. The number of pharmacists in the country is fairly small, so some employers will often offer higher salaries in order to entice pharmacists to work for them. What Do Pharmacists Do? So, what exactly do pharmacists do? It’s far more than just dispensing pills. A pharmacist’s work depends a lot on the specific field they’re in, although all pharmacist jobs involve understanding the impacts and potential risks of different medications. There are three main types of pharmacists: Retail pharmacists spend a majority of their time processing and filling prescriptions, interacting with customers, and watching for potential side effects and interactions of the drugs they prescribe. Clinical pharmacists typically work in hospitals or other medical settings, and a lot of their duties involve working directly with medical professionals and patients, either by choosing which medications to prescribe for a patient, monitoring patients, and other additional duties. Research pharmacists usually work for drug companies, although they can also work for government agencies or universities. They spend the majority of their time developing new medications and conducting drug studies. How Can You Become a Pharmacist? In order to become a pharmacist and start making the big bucks, it’ll take several years of schooling and hard work. Below are the four main steps you need to complete to become a pharmacist. #1: Take the PCAT To begin your applications and get the ball rolling, you’ll need to take the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test), a standardized test for pharmacy school admissions, and submit your scores as part of your application. Not every pharmacy school requires PCAT scores, but most of them do. #2: Get Admitted to a PharmD Program The next step to becoming a pharmacist is being accepted into a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. You’ll need a Bachelor's degree to apply. Most of the time, your degree doesn’t need to be in a specific field, but you’ll need to have certain prerequisite classes (usually two years worth) completed before you’ll be admitted, and you have a better chance of already having taken them if you majored in a science as an undergrad. The prerequisites required vary by program, but often include chemistry, biology, physics, and statistics. It’s also possible to get accepted into an accelerated PharmD program while you’re in high school. In this case, you’ll complete your undergraduate degree and PharmD degree in a total of six years. It’s worth noting though, that these programs are not very common, and they’re very competitive to get into. #3: Complete the PharmD Program It typically takes four years to complete PharmD school, which means most people are in school for eight years to become a pharmacist (four years of undergraduate + four years of PharmD school). A few pharmacy schools do have accelerated programs that allow you to complete PharmD school in three years. Even if you already have a graduate degree, even one in the sciences it’ll likely still take you four years to complete PharmD school since the course requirements are very specific to the program. At PharmD school, you’ll take courses that will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a pharmacist. Many programs also allow you to specialize in a specific area of pharmaceutical sciences such as clinical pharmacology or rural pharmacy services. You’ll also get hands-on experience through internships, rotations, and/or work placements during your time in PharmD school. #4: Get Licensed as a Pharmacist After you’ve completed PharmD school, you still need to get licensed before you can work as a pharmacist. Licenses are issued by individual states, so each state has its own requirements. However, most of them are follow the same basic set of guidelines. In every state, you’ll need to pass the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination), and most states require you to pass the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) as well. Your state may also have additional requirements, such as other tests you must pass, a certain number of practical hours you need to complete and/or consenting to a criminal background check. Once you’ve completed all of your state’s requirements, you’re able to begin working as a pharmacist! Review: How Much Do Pharmacists Make, Really? So, how much does a pharmacist make? The average pharmacist salary in the US is $120,270. A pharmacist’s salary depends on multiple factors, such as where they live, the type of pharmacy work they do, and how many years of experience they have. Pharmacists living in different parts of the country have different average salaries. Pharmacist pay is so high because pharmacists must attend fours years of PharmD school in addition to undergrad coursework, the profession requires specific expertise and a variety of skills, and because demand for pharmacists is growing. In order to become a pharmacist, you’ll need to: Have a Bachelor degree Complete the necessary prereqs for the program(s) you’re applying to Take the PCAT Complete (typically four years of) PharmD school Become certified (usually by passing the NAPLEX and MPJE exams)