Thursday, October 31, 2019

Kohl's Department store Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kohl's Department store - Essay Example It also has equally impressive house brands that are price competitive. These give variety to the product lines that the department store carries. One of the company’s strengths is that Kohl has a very wide distribution network, with nine distribution centers located in strategic areas. This enables the company to immediately replenish stocks in the stores. Immediate replenishment means there will be minimal lost sales due to non-availability of the products. Having a lot of distribution centers also results to manageable operations costs resulting from having to bring the products from one area to another. However, Kohl’s main weakness is its company size compared to the industry’s larger players. Kohl only has about 1000 stores located in various parts of the US. Furthermore, its area of distribution is only within the US, whereas other Retail stores have reached other countries. As such, Kohl is very dependent on the economic condition of the US. Kohl has the ability to compete heads on with the larger players as it continues to expand, with the target of having 1,400 stores in 2012 (Economy Disrupts Kohl’s Expansion 2009). In spite of the economic downturn, slowing the company’s expansion from its target of 90 new stores per year to only 75, the company is still confident on its expansion plans. And alongside the expansion plans is their innovative marketing plans, among which is the company’s shopping strategy tool, whereby consumers can create and print customized shopping lists that has product images and pricing so that they can compare values and get the most out of their money (Kohl’s Shoppers Can Count on Tremendous After Thanksgiving Day Savings 2009). Another opportunity is that Kohl is now also maximizing online shopping, as the other retailers in the same league. Doing so would attract more consumers, and connecting them on a personal level as the website offers detailed

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Expatriates and the problems associated with international diemensions Essay

Expatriates and the problems associated with international diemensions - Essay Example The interpersonal relationships with the host country staff and cultural differences in the working environment in the foreign location also pose a problem for the expatriates to function at their best. Thus the consideration of several critical contextual, situational, cultural and economic factors relating to expatriation both from the perspective of the host country as well as the parent country is of vital importance to ensure an efficient expatriate performance. On the basis of the feedbacks for the Emaill Survey received from the current and previous expatriate employees of Officecomm, this paper presents a detailed report on the HR problems and issues concerning the expatriate employees. The paper also makes certain recommendations for the improvement of the expatriate employee performance based by reducing the impact of these issues on the analysis of the feedbacks. Black (1988) opines that "International assignments create significant demands that often exceed the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the expatriate" The expatriate's assumptions regarding the social interactions both in the workplace as well as with outsiders do not hold any real ground as he/she is completely alien in the host country. This gives rise to specific challenges in fulfilling his/her assignment successfully. Such challenges may relate to discharging the functions of leading, communicating and imparting technical knowledge to the host country employees.(Tsang, 2001; Wang, Tong, & Koh, 2004). Apart from the social issues there are other contextual and cultural issues the host country may pose to the expatriates. Differences in Languages, communication and feedback methods, other behavioural issues and differences in the management styles as compared to those in the parent country may hinder the performance of the expatriate in the host country. 3.0 Issues Concerning the Expatriate Employees of Officecomm: Apart from the above general issues which affect the expatriate executive performance in Officecomm there are other firm-specific issues which are detailed below: 3.1 Gloomy Future on Repatriation: One of the important but unexpected issues in the global business environment is the repatriation. Repatriation is the reverse process of expatriation. It may be noted that the same characteristic features that made an employee becomes an expatriate make the returning back for them complicated due to the cultural shock they face on the reverse direction (Frazee, 1997; Allard, 1996). Harris et al. (2004) note that despite the importance of international assignments, organisations are not yet able to fully evaluate the benefits associated with their use. Clague and Krupp (1978) suggested that international assignments should be perceived not just as a means to solve specific job crises overseas, but as an integrated part of the employees' careers. Quite naturally the employee before becoming an expatriat

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Change Along The Production Possibility Curve Economics Essay

Change Along The Production Possibility Curve Economics Essay According to McTaggard D et al. (1999), production possibility curve shows all the possible combinations of two goods that a firm can produce within a particular time period with all its resources fully and efficiently employed. What is more, droughts and extreme climate conditions could shift the frontier to the left. However, technological improvement, the capital stock rise and grow in the amount of employees, in their skills and educational levels bring movement to the right. Moreover, increase or decrease in quantity of one goods leads to change along the PPF. When human capital in protest, there will be decrease in workforce. Therefore (→ production possibility curve will shift to within frontier. During the event of protest or strike, there will be drop in human capital. Furthermore PPF shifts to the left. In order to produce more of one goods, we have to give up the other goods because of scarcity. That is why, movement occurs along the PPF (from point A to B). As a mentioned in case c, if we want to increase one goods we have to decrease number of other goods. In that case, we face movement along the PPF(from point C to D) In this situation, female and male both prohibited from entering some occupations. Therefore they have less ability to access which means drop in number of workforce then PPF will shift to the left. Spending less on defence and more on education means they are giving up one good and service in order to increase other one. At a moment change occurs along the PPF (from point E to F). But supporting education level may bring economic growth in the future economy. When government giving higher rate of unemployment benefit, it discourages school-leavers from work. On the other hand, people seem to be preferred being unemployment. As consequence, in the economy there will be decrease in workforce. Therefore, it leads PPF shift to the left. Section 2 To define what is happening in France and Australias economy first lets examine what is supply, demand, and equilibrium and why they do change. Demand According to Begg D et al. (2003) demand refers the maximum amount of a product that consumers are willing and able to buy during a particular period at various prices, holding all other relevant factors constant. What is more, holding all other relevant factors constant as price grows quantity demanded drops and as price declines quantity demanded rises. In addition, demand curve shifts when its relevant factors change such as the price of other products, income, population, preferences and future price expectations. A shift of demand curve is change in demand. The shift to outward represent rise in demand and shift to inward is a decline in demand. Furthermore, when price of good and service change, we face movement along the demand curve. Supply Supply is the quantity of a good and service that manufacturers are willing and able to produce in the market at various prices, all other relevant factors being held constant. The relationship between price and quantity are positive. If price of good and service is high manufacturers are happy to produce more and more. On the other hand, if the price of good and service set low, they will supply fewer. Change in price does not shift supply curve but it leads to movement along the supply curve. Moreover, supply curve may shift because of change in substitutes and complements in production, price of factors of production, technology, future price expectations, effects of the weather and number of producers. Equilibrium According to Sloman and Hinde (2007) supply and demand both together describe market equilibrium. Equilibrium price and quantity exists where the quantity supplied exactly equal quantity demanded for the good and service. Therefore, when demand and supply curves change, equilibrium price and quantity change too. Because of the poor grape harvest the supply of French wine decreased which is supply curve shifted to the left. As a result of supplying fewer quantity of French wine in the market, its price increased. Therefore, equilibrium quantity and price both change as well. The graph below shows decrease in quantity supply leads to increase in products price. As consequence, decrease in quantity demanded new equilibrium price and quantity take place in the market.(E1-E2). Decrease in supply of French wine leads to increase its price. As result, there will more demand for Australian wine (Australian wine demand will shift to the right). Moreover, when demand increases products price and quantity will increase. Also, change in equilibrium price and quantity too.(E0 -E1) Section 3 1. C 2. D 3. A 4. A 5. B 6. C 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. D

Friday, October 25, 2019

Essay --

Until the mid 1900’s the knowledge that the world had of chimpanzees was so little. People thought chimpanzees were simple mammals that were not unique in anyways. Researchers were only able to study the chimpanzees in laboratory environments. This type of research led to little information. Scientists realized the best way to learn more was to go live with them. Finally a young lady, Jane Goodall, spent more than 30 years in Africa living with these animals. On April 3, 1934 Jane was born and still continues to live today. Jane grew up in London, England, but then spent more than 30 years in Africa studying chimpanzees. One toy that Jane received one Christmas had changed her life forever. One Christmas she had received a stuffed animal, a chimpanzee, and immediately fell in love with chimpanzees. Jane would do research on chimpanzees every day for a long time until she was twelve. At age twelve she invented a society that helped animals and she would let anyone join in to help. She got through grade school and graduated high school in 1952. Jane and her family could not afford for her to go to college. Instead of Jane going to college she got a job as a waitress and worked as a secretary at Oxford University. In 1956 Jane was invited by a friend to come to Kenya and stay on their farm with them. She had lived with them for about five years and then got asked to go to the Gombe forest to study the chimpanzees. Jane had started her research in the Gombe forest in the 1960’s. The people that had sent Jane said she was not allowed to go by herself, so Jane brought her mother. They had started at the top of a mountain and slowly moved down to observe the chimpanzees from every point of view. Jane would put bananas out o... ...e to know about the chimpanzees and her experience. If Jane had never spent more than thirty years in Africa doing all this hard work for chimpanzees, chimpanzees would be extinct or endangered. Little information would be known, and people would still think chimpanzees were just simple mammals. Instead, Jane did this all for the world and environment. She found out plenty of information and brought that knowledge back to share with the world. Jane found out that these animals were so unique and so very humanlike. She is a very hard worker and puts in so much effort in all she does. She has a great experience with animals and can work great with them. This is why researchers chose Jane to study chimpanzees and do all this hard work for the people. Jane encourages everyone that they can change the world in anyway and wants people to follow in her footsteps.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Barriers Can Limit Access to Opportunity

Barriers can limit access to opportunity (Health and Culture diversity) When it comes to achieving opportunity, many people have to face barriers or challenges. For example, a child from a poor family background might have a goal of going to medical school and graduating with a medical degree. But in this case, the barrier could be financial. Likewise, a person moved from his country to another country for work. He found difficulty in understanding his colleagues who speak a strong regional or national accent.This could be a communication barrier and might be challenging to him. These barriers can limit access to opportunity. Nurses work with patients from a range of ethnic, cultural and religious groups and a people from diverse social backgrounds. So nurses need to know enough about diverse groups to develop an awareness that enhances planning and caring for patients. According to the nursing code of ethics, her primary commitment is to the patient whether an individual, family, gr oup, or community.She is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimum patient care. For example, a language barrier can be a challenge while provide quality care to patient. According to the nursing code of ethics, a patient has right of appropriate care, hence the nurse can confront with this barrier by assigning an interpreter who can work as a communicator between the nurse and the patient. It helps the patient to explore the real problem that is he facing.And a nurse can apply an appropriate method for his promotive, preventive and curative services which are the basic right of the patient. A Patient can also be from a different culture than that of the nurse. Hence, this could also act as a challenge while providing quality care. So she has to confront this situation by gaining more knowledge about the culture of the patient and respecting the patie nt’s morals and values. Failure to understand and manage social and cultural differences may have significant health consequences for people of diverse backgrounds.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Unme Jeans Case Analysis

1. What problem confronts UNMe? The brand manager was trying to make a decision whether to advertise her brand in emerging social media. She has to consider the benefits and risks, how the new channel will work with the original media plan and what results she can expect. 2. What are the positives and negatives of UNMe’s current media plan? Current media plan: * 30-second TV ad on most popular programs for teenage girls * Full-page magazine print ad in beauty & fashion magazines * 60-second radio on Top 40 A corporate website * Online banner and display ad on the most popular websites for teenage girls * â€Å"key word† Google Positive: multiple ways can make UNMe reach maximum targeted market of women 12 to 24. The media she chooses are consistent with the style of UNMe, like Gossip Girl, American Idol, Top 40 radio and other online banner ad on girls’ favorite websites. She spends most money on TV ad, on which people spend most time on ad. Negative: audiences watching TV are declining. Consumer’s media habits were rapidly changing.They are turning from traditional media, such as TV, magazines and radio to new media choices. Consumers were devoting much more time to online channels. Since there is advertising clutter, the percentage of advertising that consumers remember was as low as 1% to 3%. So having more channels may lead to more costs than revenue.3. What are some potential benefits and risks to utilizing Web 2. 0 media tactics for UNMe? Benefits:   consumer co-creation, social affiliation, digital self-expression, sharing.Consumers can directly contribute to the online conversation. Women of 12 to 24 can create their own design of UNMe jeans on Facebook and share their designs. Web 2. 0 makes consumers more like participants with other people than being individual. They can also comment on other people’s design and forward it to more people, which increase the influence of UNMe. It’s an easy way to connect with their friends and family. MySpace and Facebook allow people to create their own profile online so that they can have social network and link with other friends.Young women have an enthusiasm in expressing their identities online. Web 2. 0 makes people to â€Å"be online † rather than â€Å"go online†. We can see from the exhibit 6, visitors of Facebook, YouTube are increasing quickly each year. 47% of teenagers and 69% of young adults have a profile and contact users and the majority of them visit social websites everyday. (Exhibit 7) The typical members of Facebook are high school and college students, highly matches the targeted market of UNMe.Risks: investment in new advertising channel is risky. Foley has to be sure that the money she spends on social media will make higher or comparable revenues as traditional TV, magazines and radio. There might be a lack of control over the content online. Some information on Facebook, youtube, Zwinktopia is inappropriate for UNMe and may have a negative influence on consumers.4. How specifically should Foley integrate social media into her media plan (if at all)? Why?

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Essay Sample on Ancient Athenian Politics and Its Effects on Ancient Greek Civilization

Essay Sample on Ancient Athenian Politics and Its Effects on Ancient Greek Civilization Current essay deals with important and at the same time very problematic issue of ancient Athenian politics and its effect on the stability of Ancient Greek Civilization. There is no denying the importance of the fact that Ancient society produced the dominant patterns of modern politics and democratic rule in the first place. Athenian democracy was one of the main factors that created the patterns of polity, politics, law and society in Ancient World and strongly influenced political traditions of Ancient Greece. Athenian democracy was a historical formation which developed in close link with other existing forms of governance such as tyranny, oligopoly etc. prevailing in Sparta and other Greek city-states (Hasebroek). Besides this as this essay will try to show Athenian democracy and political mechanism existed in difficult conditions of permanent assault of tyranny waves as in the case of 30 tyranny and Pissistratus rule. Furthermore, one should remember that external threats to Athenian society and its intrinsically aristocratic nature were those factors which significantly hindered the development of genuine democracy and made it unstable and non-inclusive. Athens was a leading city-state which formed larger Ancient Greek civilization and engaged in external political relations with other states such as Persia, Sparta, Egypt etc. Hence, deep difference between Athenian internal and external politics were in place and it makes necessary to examine these controversies in detail. Athenian politics are to be analyzed historically by integrating culture, traditions, and main events in the wider fabric of analysis. As a result we hope to produce genuine research addressing the role of Athenian politics and Athenian democracy in shaping the contours of Ancient Greek Civilization and affecting political stability in this particular region. Ancient Greece and the formation of Athenian politics The formation of Athenian political system and the mechanism of internal and external politics were deeply affected by two opposite trends which were characteristic of Ancient Greece civilization: the opposition between democracy and tyranny (Stanton). The social structure of Athenian society was very complex and differentiated which created significant instability affecting Athenian and other city-states politics. Therefore the problems of stability/instability should be discussed through the prism of Athens state formation, its political ties with other city-states and civilizations. But before analyzing these issues it is necessary to outline the basic developments in Athenian political and social realms which resulted in the creation of classic Athenian society. There is no denying the importance of the fact that dominant position of Athenian state in Greek politics affected relatively independent development of Athenian civilization which was characterized by permanent struggle between tyranny and democracy. Opposition between aristocratic clans represented by rich strategists, rich people and statesmen and demos was particularly bitter contributing to the instability not only in Athenian society but also in other Greek city-states (Kaloudis 239). As Plato’s dialogue Euthydem suggests Athenian aristocracy was among the most aggressive elements in Athenian society whose lust for power and wealth pushed them to wage wars and conquer other states and peoples (Plato 123-156). These aristocratic wars were one of the main factors of instability in Ancient Greece but notwithstanding this fact they should be regarded as a crucial element of Ancient Greece stabilization under the reign of Athenian state. Here, as Wood claims we have a dialect ical unity of stability and instability in Ancient Greece which are not to be analyzed separately (Wood 145). The formation of Athenian democracy was not a linear process but it followed several important stages connected with the policies of Solon, Cleisthenes and Ephialtes who one of the greatest Athenian politicians (Hignett). During Solon times before his reforms Athenian state was controlled by tyrannoi (tyrants), the representatives of noble people who fought for power against each other and neglected the interests of ordinary people. Theagenes in Megara for instance usurped power on behalf of Ionian minority and Cleisthenes the Athenian noblemen tried to seize the power in 632BC but failed (Stanton 67). Before Solon the political relations in Athenian society were controlled by aristocratic organ Areopagus which was formed on the basis of nobility, social status and wealth. It chose nine archons who ruled the country on its behalf. There was no way for archons to be hold accountable for their actions, hence using Aristotle classification this model of governance can be described as oligopoly (Barnes). Solon thus tried to redress situation and pursued constitutional reforms seeking to install stable system of aristocratic democracy (Hignett). Solon created the Council of Four Hundred which significantly enhanced the political representation of lower class people in Athenian society. He divided society in four distinct groups depending on the level of their social status and ascribed different political and social rights to them. Solon released all Athenians citizens who were enslaved and provided them with some civil and political rights. Besides this Solon placed the order on political practices and procedures and introduced economic legislation which provided premises for transformation of Athens into one of the leading city-states and becoming Ancient Greece hegemony along with Sparta and Corinth. It goes without saying that Solon’s reforms were directed by large on combating sectarian rivalries among aristocracy which hindered the effective development of Athenian state. Hence it may be claimed that stabilization though temporal was important in terms of Athens enhancing their political positions visvis other Ancient Greece states (Ober and Hendrick 45). The democratic consolidation continued with Ephialtes weakening of Areopagus powers by putting its influential leaders to trial. His political reforms created preconditions for considerable limitation of Aristocratic power in Athens. For instance, Areopagus before Ephialtes had authorities to process crime trials without jury but new reforms allowed citizens to be represented in jury and influence its decisions through the mechanism of voting and discussion (Stanton). These democratic achievements considerably affected political and social relations within Athenian society and spread far beyond the territory of Athenian states. These reforms became the triggers of mass upheavals and clashes between aristocracy and demos in other city-states such as Sparta (where helots fought against repressive tyranny) and Corinth (Pomeroy, Burstein, Donlan, and Tolbert). All these once again prove the fact that the political situation in Athenian society affected other political units of Ancient Greece and this was even without any significant channels of communication that we have nowadays (Hasebroek). Though these reforms were cancelled by thirty tyrants they resulted in a significant political progress and formation of Athenian political and Ancient Greece political culture. Pericles rule is very important since he introduced some important political innovations which significantly affected the stability of Athenian democracy. Under his rule the aristocratic privileges were sufficiently reduced through the reform of citizen status. He prohibited aristocracy from making marriages outside Athens if they wanted to stay Athenian citizens. This move was designed to equalize the political status of all Athenian citizens. Besides this one of his most important innovations was paying members of jury for the time spent performing civil responsibilities. This also helped encourage more people to engage in the judicial system of Athens. Pericles was a proponent of populist policy by defending political and social rights of poor classes. Pericles started his political career with allowing poor people to watch theatrical performances (Hignett 145-167). Later he abolished discriminative laws prohibiting low-income citizens from taking public office positions and considerably widened the scope of humble people privileges. There is no denying the importance of the fact that these decisions were politically motivated by Athenian external politics. As Samons notes, Pericles connected widening democratic rights of demos with Athenian political dominance in Ancient Greece since he regarded demos as a crucial element of Athens military strength (for instance Athenian fleet was formed from low-class people) (156). Hence, these democratic reforms shouldnt be regarded as a one-folded phenomenon. In contrast political developments in Athenian society were deeply connected with Athens political ambitions of controlling all Ancient Greece and even projecting its dominance to other nations. The motivation of low-class people was one of the main factors contributing to forming well-equipped army which took part in Greece-Persia and Peloponnesian wars. To sum it up, political development of Athens influenced much the development of Ancient Greece and its stabilization under Athens rule. Through political and economic instruments such as trade and commerce Athens projected their political and cultural patterns to other city-states and formed different alliances that served their political interests. Later as the current essay will show the deterioration of Athenian democracy and losing its military strength will result in entire Ancient Greece destabilization and its successive demise as a constellation of independent states. Political system of Athens perished with the invasion of Macedonians in 322 BC. Problems of Athenian democracy as the source of political instability Political developments within Athens were often affected by situation in Ancient Greece. The failures of Athenian democracy such as the rule of 30 tyrants should be regarded as a consequence of Peloponnesian war between Sparta and Athens which increased political weight of Athenian aristocracy using difficult political conditions to neglect democratic rights of ordinary people. The aristocratic group named 400 hundred usurped power in 411 BC and considerably reduced the size of electorate and introduced property census on the franchise (Hasebroek). These representatives of aristocracy claimed that democracy is ruining for Athenian political preeminence in Athenian world since only aristocracy has sufficient knowledge and skills to take necessary and reasonable decisions. The absence of meritocracy was regarded as the main cause of the Athens power decline but in fact this aristocratic discourse was nothing else than the desire to reassert the power of nobility (Ober). Further deter ioration of Athenian democracy continued even after it was reinstalled. Furthermore, there is no denying the importance of the fact that Athenian democracy was aristocratic in essence though some major democratic reforms were made by Solon and Pericles (Pomeroy, Burstein, Donlan, and Tolbert 67). It is connected with Athenian imperial status in Ancient Greece which prohibited low-class citizens from participating in ‘big politics’. Elites controlled political agenda being dominant in decision-making on economy, strategic matters and distribution of imperial wealth. Besides this they dominated numerically in legislative organs and judicial system. Athenian democracy was considerably flawed in terms of peoples representation. Only adult Athenian men were eligible in participating in political matters and had a right to vote (Pomeroy, Burstein, Donlan, and Tolbert 57). Thereby the majority of Athenian population was excluded from the political process. Those excluded were children, metics (resident foreigners), slaves, and those who didnâ€⠄¢t possess enough money to pay debts to the Athenian state. To sum it up it should be said that Athenian democracy was considerably flawed from the start and its further deterioration was connected with reducing regional stability as a result of wars between Greek cities and other states. Athens political positions in Ancient Greece and its implications for stability The dominance of Athens and other influential city states such as Sparta, Thebes and Corinth were important consolidation and stabilization factor in the development of Ancient Greece civilization and was destabilizing at the same time. Athens united many small tribes, cities and villages under its rule making them more safe visvis Persian and other invaders. This dominance resulted in a creation of strong, centralized state which projected military strength to defend the borders of other allied Ancient Greek city-states which in its turn rose the influence of Athens among them and alien cultures. Besides this the political dominance of Athens was one of the main reasons for the flourishing economy and trade in Ancient Greece since Athens required various goods for the development which in its turn stimulated the economic development of other Greek city-states (Powell 56-78). Among the basic sources of instability in Ancient Greece connected with Athens were their permanent rivalry with Sparta which was a dual militaristic monarchy controlled by landed aristocracy. It dominated other cities of Peloponnesus. In 510 Spartan troops took active part in overthrowing Athenian king and installing their own oligarchs which became one of the triggers of further Ancient Greece instability resulting in Peloponnesian wars between Sparta and Greece (Powell). Political influence of Athens was exerted through the Delian League which in fact constituted Athenian empire (a number of satellite states serving Athenians interests). The growth of domination in this League after the end of Greco-Persian war resulted in worsening political relations with Sparta and entire Peloponnesian League which finally led to Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). This war resulted in greater instability and the growth of authoritarian trends in Athenian society. Its naval supremacy was challenged by Sparta and it faced up with the threat of bankruptcy as its trade relations with the outside world were halted. As a result of Sparta’s ultimatum Athens have lost all their overseas territories and fleet. The decline of Athenian power led to the invasion of Macedonians which installed there rule in Balkans. The dispossessions of Athens resulted in recession of its economy, agriculture and state infrastructure. Moreover, Athens lost all their overseas possessions which was particularly destructive if we remember that Athens were an imperial state. Finally, with the decline of Athens came the end of Ancient Greece political status as it was invaded by Romans in 145BC. Conclusion Current essay showed that Athens political system was an important factor in its longstanding preeminence in Ancient Greece. It transformed this region into the centre of military, cultural and economic development. But the relations among city-states were very difficult which caused permanent wars and instability used by alien states as a precondition for conquering Ancient Greece. Hence, it may be said that historical logic of this period shows that Athens were an important factor in Greek politics and their decline resulted in the demise of Ancient Greece civilization.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Comparative Criminal Justice Essays (Varied)

Comparative Criminal Justice Essays (Varied) Free Online Research Papers Our world is no longer defined by its borders; financial transactions, business meetings, and personal communications between people half the globe away can all be done within milliseconds thanks to the technology we have, literally, at our fingertips. The advent of this technology has also yielded another by-product, other than the ability to communicate at speeds Edison and Einstein only theorized about: the need to study and understand the systems of justice that exist in the many corners of our world. Since modern technology allows for nations to interact considerably more freely than they did even 10 years ago, the ability to understand and compare the many justice systems of the world is paramount. One reason why the need to study the various justice systems of the world is paramount to students, is that the status quo should never be allowed to exist unchecked. For example, a student of the American criminal justice systems does themselves a disservice if the only system of law they study and find acceptable is their own criminal justice system. â€Å"A comparative view of legal systems allows us to understand better the dimensions of our own system† (Reichel, 2008, p.4-5). Another reason to study the justice system of other countries is that it allows the student the benefit of understanding how other societies deal with various crimes and social ills. For instance, a student who only has been exposed to a legal system who imprisons those found guilty of drug offenses, should not believe themselves to be well-rounded on the subject if they do not expose themselves to other legal systems where these types of crimes are handled differently, and include alternate forms of punishment outside of their own model of criminal justice. Lastly, by studying the justice systems of other countries allows for a student to create ways in which the legal system of their own country may possibly be modified to function more effectively and efficiently. â€Å"A technique used in one country to combat crime might be successfully adapted for use in another country† (Reichel, 2008, p.5). For example, can the conflict resolution techniques for the crime of theft by the Aboriginal people of Australia be adapted into the restorative justice practices used in Houston, Chicago, or Seattle (Reichel, 2008)? It seems our world becomes smaller and smaller each passing day. However, as much as modern technology has allowed us to communicate and execute business transactions between countries as never before, it has yet to familiarize the various criminal justice systems of the world in quite the same manner as technology has allowed people in California to share computer files with people in Finland. 2. The legal traditions recognized throughout the modern world are mostly creatures of the alpha-male societies of the ancient world. As the ancient world was claimed and re-claimed by various civilizations, one lasting impression that was left, even after some civilizations changed roles from conquerors to those who became conquered, was their respective system of law. Although the maps of the world have changed, scholars recognize that four legal traditions exist in our world today. One of these traditions is the common legal tradition. Rooted in ancient Roman society, the common legal tradition is centered on three tenets: feudal practices, customs, and equity. Even after the Romans hold over the ancient world became untenable, this one facet of their legal system remained, especially in the lands of their northwest conquests, such as present day England and Wales. During the Middle Ages in Western Europe, society was clearly demarcated into three realms: the king, nobles, and peasants. The king ruled supreme over a designated country or large geographical area, the nobles were charged with ensuring that the king’s lands were governed as the king saw fit, and that taxes were also collected. The peasants’ role was that of laborers and to maintain the king’s lands. As time progressed, this class system came to include more and more layers. â€Å"By the 1200s, when feudalism was on decline, several layers of feudal relations existed, f or example, the vassals of an important baron (the vassals’ lord) were in turn the lord of their own vassals† (Reichel, 2008, p. 107.) Since the crops and the land still had to be maintained, peasants remained a constant. However, as disagreements between lords and lords, and lords and their underlings began to occur, some measure had to be in place so that each layer of the feudal world had a form of legal remedy. Borrowing from Anglo-Saxon customs, William the Conqueror (1066-1087) introduced a system by which royal courts were created where barons presided over disputes between lesser nobles, and disputes among peasants were heard by the lord of their manor rather than in a royal court (Reichel, 2008). The use of custom is also rooted in the Anglo-Saxon and English feudal epochs. During these periods there emerged a reliance on the previous decisions a court had made in deciding a case that was presently before a court. This became a practice that was more frequently used and accepted, and laid the groundwork for the current practice of allowing precedent to govern how a court decides a case, or stare decisis. Lastly, the use of equity (or fairness) also defines common law. For too long those at the bottom of the social strata, seeking a legal remedy, found that those in power either provided too little punishment or an excessive amount of it. This became most prevalent during the mid-1350s, when â€Å"the people turned to the king and asked him to add fairness to the law† (Reichel, 2008, p. 110.) With the addition of equity as a free standing and permanent facet of the common law, this legal tradition has remained viable to the present day in such countries as the United States and Australia. Another legal tradition is called the civil legal tradition. Historically, this tradition is attributed most to the ancient Romans. The Romans delineated their justice system into three bodies. These legislative bodies enacted statutes for the nobility, senators, and the common people to follow. â€Å"The earliest form of written Roman law dates to 451 and 450 BCE, when a council of 10 men inscribed 12 bronze tablets with specifics concerning the rights of Roman citizens† (Reichel, 2008, p. 112). Another ingredient of civil law is canon law. Roman civil law was the universal law of the worldly empire, and canon law was the universal law of the spiritual realm (Merryman, 1985). Whereas civil courts administered Roman civil law, ecclesiastical courts managed the canon law (Reichel, 2008). Since Roman civil law and canon law were centered on existing via statutes, the codification of each provided for the final ingredient to this type of legal tradition. â€Å"Roman law and canon law provided a tradition of codification that, in turn, emphasized a revolutionary nature of law and stressed its written form† (Reichel, 2008, p. 114-115). The polar opposite of law driven by custom, codification gives civil law a revolutionary character and written format that adds to its separate identity among legal families (Reichel, 2008). Today, civil law is used by such countries as Italy, Colombia, and Holland. A third type of legal tradition is the socialist legal tradition. This legal tradition, created by the Roman Empire being split into an Eastern and Western Empire, distinguished itself from the Roman civil legal tradition in the west mainly because of geography. â€Å"Russian legal history borrows from the Eastern or Byzantine Empire, primarily because Russia’s contact with the eastern Romans did not occur until the 10th century† (Reichel, 2008, p. 117). Prior to Russia falling under Mongol rule in the 13th century, the main source of law came from the Russian Code of Laws which was written by Grand Prince Iaroslav the Wise (Reichel, 2008). During the Mongol control of Russia, Russian princes still retained their positions as judges, since keeping them in such positions allowed the Mongols to keep control and maintain law and order of a very vast and diverse country. â€Å"Control by Mongols essentially ended by 1490, and in 1497 the Grand Prince of Moscow issued a new Code of Laws for all territories subject to Moscow† (Reichel, 2008, p. 118). These laws echoed those of the Russian Code of Laws, but they also formed the foundation of Russia’s monarchical regime, which gave the power of interpreting the law to the grand prince who, in time, became known as the czar. Another hallmark of the socialist legal tradition is the belief of law as being artificial. This mindset was cultivated by many years of the common people witnessing the law benefitting the Bourgeoisie (the nobility) while alienating the Proletariat (common people). This manner of thinking existed for a long time, so long that by the time Marxism-Leninism took over Russian society one of its main teachings was that the need for law, any law, would cease to exist. After Marxism-Leninism became the focal point of post-revolution Russia, â€Å"the primary principle directing the new Soviet law was the idea that law is subordinate to policy† (Reichel, 2008, p. 120). The thought process here was that if the concept of law is artificial, it can be applied or disregarded as policy dictates. ‘The policy to which law is subordinate places the rights of the collectivized economy and the socialist state above the idea of law or the rights of an individual† (Reichel, 2008, p.120). With the demise of the Soviet Union and the independence of many former Soviet controlled countries, the socialist legal tradition appears to be the one tradition most likely to fade away. Today, this legal tradition is used only by a few of countries (Cuba, North Korea, China, and Vietnam). The final legal tradition centers on religion, more specifically the Islamic religion. Although this tradition can encompass other religions, such as Hinduism and Judism, with more than 1.3 billion followers Muslims represent about 20% of the world’s population, and as such deserve to be selected over other religions (Reichel, 2008). Islam is based on the teachings of their recognized god Allah and his messenger named Muhammad. Whereas Catholics, Protestants, Christians, and Lutherans are all religions that in some form govern the way a person should act towards themselves and others, none of these religions are as all encompassing of a person’s life the way Islam is. â€Å"Islam recognizes no distinction between a legal system and other controls on a person’s behavior, in fact Islam is said to provide all answers to questions about appropriate behavior in any sphere of life† (Reichel, 2008, p. 123). The Islamic faith has two sources of Islamic law (referred to as Shari’a). The primary source is the Qur’an. According to Reichel (2008), â€Å"The Qur’an contains rules for the religious, personal, social, economic, and all other aspects of Muslims’ lives†. The second source is called the Sunna. It is from this source that Muslims learn of the teachings of Muhammad. This is done via statements (or hadith) Muhammad made that have been handed down through the millennia from one trusted source to another. â€Å"A hadith contains three important parts: the statement itself; an indication of its authority by reference to the chain of reporters (i.e., A heard it from B who heard it from C who heard it from a companion of Muhammad); and a comment regarding the report as being something Muhammad did, said, or approved â€Å" (Reichel, 2008, p. 125). Islamic law is divided into five schools (or madhahib) of law: the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’I, Hanbali, and Fa’afari. Each of these schools of Islamic law recognizes the four basic sources of Islamic law (the Qur’an, the Sunna, qiyas, and ijma). â€Å"Cases not seemingly answered by the Qur’an or Sunna were to be handled through a consensus of legal authorities (the ijma) and by a process of reasoning by analogy, or qiyas† (Reichel, 2008, p. 126). However, the five schools are differentiated in the manner in which they interpret the teachings of Muhammad. Today, only Afghanistan and the Maldives practice strict Islamic law, while countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, India, and Saudi Arabia practice a combination of Islamic law and other traditions. Research Papers on Comparative Criminal Justice Essays (Varied)Capital PunishmentThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionOpen Architechture a white paper

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Make Glowing Printer Ink

How to Make Glowing Printer Ink You can make homemade glowing ink that you can use in your printer to make glow in the dark letters, signs, or pictures. Its easy to do and works on all kinds of paper or even for making iron-on transfers for fabric. Glowing Ink Materials glow powder (sold in craft stores; if you cant find it you can substitute glowing paint)printer ink refillempty printer cartridgesyringe (available at any pharmacy) Prepare the Glowing Ink Basically, youre adding a chemical to normal ink that will cause it to glow in the dark. Ink formulations, especially for printers, are complex, so the resulting ink may not print as smoothly as it ordinarily would. You may wish to adjust the ratio of ingredients to get just the right ink for your needs. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 teaspoon of glow powder with 3 teaspoons of ink from your refill ink cartridge.Microwave the ink for 30 seconds to help it mix better.Use a syringe to draw up the ink.You may be able to locate the refill holes on the cartridge (often under the label) and inject the ink into the cartridge without breaking it open, but it you cant find the holes then remove the cap from an empty printer cartridge and inject the glowing ink. Re-seal the cap back onto the ink cartridge (if necessary) and insert it into your printer.Print a few pages to give the ink a chance to flow, then print out your glowing document.Charge the ink by shining a bright light onto the printed image for about a minute. Sunlight or a black light works best, but you can use any bright light source.Turn out the lights and see the glow! The glow from the ink will fade after a few minutes in the dark, but if you keep the ink exposed to black light it will continue to glow.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

ART101 MOD 2 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART101 MOD 2 SLP - Essay Example Delacroix was inspired by the art work of Rubens also of the Venetian Renaissance painters. He put a lot of emphasis on movement and color unlike the neoclassical perfectionists who put emphasis on carefully modeled forms and clarity of outline. These were the beginnings of romanticism in art. As he grew into a more reputable artist, romantic and dramatic content dominated the themes of his work. As a result, he never delved into the classical and traditional models that were the roman and the Greek art. Instead, he opted to travel and explore Northern African lands for the exotic. Delacroix also sought inspiration from Lord Byron. Together, they strongly identified with the forces of the sublime – the forces of nature at their most violent action. Delacroix’s Romanticism was not that of bombast nor was it that of sentimentality. He was taken to romanticism of an individualist. The most influential of his works was Liberty Leading the People. He painted it in 1830. It is the painting that clearly demonstrated the differences between the neoclassical and the Romantic style of art. Lion Hunt by Delacroix shows a scene of lion hunting in Morocco, North Africa; where he had visited in his times as a painter looking for inspiration and the exotic. He visited North Africa with the then French embassy in the year 1832. The painting catches the eye at the first glance at it. There is strong use of color that draws viewers to it. In the painting, there are at least eight painters who are dressed in bright red mantle and have white vests on. The hunters also have turbans on their heads. They are evenly spread in the Lion Hunt painting as they engage two lions in a violent fight. Delacroix painted the lions in yellow. The lions are showing fierceness and strength towards the hunters. A male lion that is in the foreground is grabbing a hunter by the chest. The hunter’s shoe has been lashed off already, and as it seems, the angry

Friday, October 18, 2019

Cango Third Analysis Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cango Third Analysis Report - Essay Example Performance appraisals are often done by the company in regards to motivating the employees to engage, align and act in proper synchronization with regards to the company’s goals and objectives (Grubb, 2007, p. 2). The subjective measure of performance takes into account, the various influencing factors that can affect an employee’s performance. But at the same time, since they are dependent on human judgments rather than judged from the objective point of view, there is a tendency of errors. The reason for the errors can be mostly attributed to the human’s ability of judging an employee’s capability and performance (Jones, Steffy & Bray, 1991, p. 307). It can be clearly seen from the transcripts that Clark has confessed to the fact that he is having a serious problem of evaluating his subordinates on the basis of their performance while following the company’s normal scale of subjective performance evaluation. It is quite evident that while evaluating his team members, Clark is making errors related to the factors of leniency. As per the transcripts, Clark prefers to recommend employees with a higher rating on their subjective type performance appraisal rather than giving them a lower rating. This clearly highlights his erroneous evaluation of performance reports, due to his lenient nature of evaluation, while providing the subordinates and team members with a benefit of doubt. Clark’s habit of providing handling performance appraisals on the basis of benefit of doubt also highlights his ability of judging his team members abilities, while using the subjective scale of performance. Clark’s Way Out There can be a number of ways in which Clark can handle this problem while still following the company’s subjective performance appraisal system. Training In an attempt to handle this problem, Clark can opt for help from fellow managers who are working at Cango. Taking this approach of seeking help will lead to an informal form of training from his colleagues, thereby making him more efficient in the handling of the performance evaluation system of the company. Better judgment Another way to tackle his existing problem is through the fact of going for a one on one interview and feedback session for his team members with regards to the targets and assignments they have achieved. This will enable him to make an informed and well justified choice, thereby removing his option of benefit of doubt, while evaluating his team members. 2. Clark’s Suggestion and Its Implication It can be commonly said that the performance management system is done with the sole aim of motivating the employees. It involves the process of defining performance of the employees with regards to the competency required to perform the specified tasks. Performance analysis is also related to the process of determining and understanding the various factors that effectively contributes to the performance of the employees as well as managing them for the purpose of developing their skills and competencies thereby converting them to highly valued resources for the company. (http://books.google.co.in/books?id=qCZTEPI52pkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=performance+management+system&source=bl&ots=YB_a0Dlos7&sig=HEKfKSExUpmHdDu2Yvut9Rv17hk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=u5tyUKLbEOPEmAW6-YDgBQ&ved=0CEUQ6wEwAg#v=onepage&q=performance%20management%20system&f=false, p. 53) Performance management system can be either subjective or objective based in nature. Objective based performance manag

Mod 3 Pre-trial and trial procedures Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mod 3 Pre-trial and trial procedures - Assignment Example In December 7 1993, Colin Ferguson from Jamaica started shooting passengers on a commuter train at random killing six and injuries 16 people; after he stopped to reload, the passengers restrained him. When appearing in court, he self-represented himself but the eyewitnesses and the prosecutor managed to convince the magistrate to sentence him to more than 200 jail terms in New York Attica Prison. The critics of this case argue that he was not in his sane mind to stand trial hence the court was wrong to convict and sentence him (People v Ferguson248, N.Y App 1998). In the Poucell v Alabama, 287 U.S case, fourteen African youths were unfairly charged by the court for reportedly raping two white women, the case which was popularly known as the ‘Scottsboro case’ where within two weeks of arrest, they were convicted, tried and sentenced to death; the Supreme Court reversed this conviction. In Indiana a defendant was found competent to self-represent but the trial court did not allow him to, even though he was competent. An attorney was appointed to represent him, but he was sentenced, following a Foreta, a similar case wherein it was held by the Supreme Court that the accused was competent to self-represent. The disposal of petty offenses; these cases guarantee that either a fine or a short jail term is imposed. Cases such as common traffic laws and breaking of local regulations fall into this category. The Preliminary hearing is where the magistrate hears the state’s case and determines if it can appear before the grand jury or not. The functions of grand jury include: preventing baseless, discriminatory and overzealous charges by examining hearings and evidence presented before it. The grand jury also has power to order the witnesses to appear before it, issue immunity or hold the individuals in contempt. The jurisdiction and venue: before a court hears a case and rules, it

Personal statement Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal statement - Outline Example For this undoubted reason, I considered it ideal to apply for the program in your institution. I am fully informed of the outstanding reputation of your institution. My certain interest has been intensified by positive encouragement and recommendation from some of your alumnae, who among other credits cite your outstanding quality of education, which attracts many people. Apart from coming from an oil producing country, my enthusiastic interest in the field of law is driven by my principle of adherence to the rule of law and justice. Being one of the top producers of oil in the developing countries category, my country still lags behind in many aspects of development. I believe that achieving my master’s degree in oil and gas law will offer me a suitable opportunity to assist my country deal with intrigues that face the oil industry. Therefore, it is true to argue that your program will not only help me acquire the knowledge in oil and gas law, but also equip me with the necessary skills that will help me serve the

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Stem Cell Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Stem Cell Research - Essay Example It is nobody's case that stem cell research is a bad thing. Each one of us hopes for a day when no disease will be categorized as incurable', and the potential in this line of work to realize that dream is plain for all to see. The controversy that stem cell research has provoked - sharply dividing public opinion and placing the government and President Bush in a quandary -- has to do with an ethical concern over the use of embryos. Why must embryos be utilized Why not depend on adult stem cells instead and get on with the research without causing any harm to the subject Scientists have good reason for this. Stem cell research has at its core a kind of cell called pluripotent' -- essentially an innocent' cell which has not begun to develop into any specific tissue - such as blood or brain or heart cells. But this state of innocence lasts only three to five days, and if scientists can seize on this small window of opportunity, they can isolate and coax it to develop into any of the 220 types of human cell lines. Which in turn can be used to repair or replace specific tissue and treat any disease that involves tissue degeneration - such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, afflictions in the central nervous system, Type 1 diabetes, liver malfunctions etc. Adult stem cells do have some relevance in this research, but they are not so pliant and therefore they cannot be programmed to differentiate into more than a few of the necessary 220 cell lines. Scientifically, an airtight argument in support of the use of embryos - which, alas, does nothing to address the moral and ethical concerns. What right do we have to play God, snuff out a life and willfully deny it of its potential to grow into a healthy human being Life, according to Christian belief, begins at conception, and no matter whether that life is sparked off in a womb or in a Petri dish, its destruction amounts to murder. So, are we willing to commit murder in the name of science And if we are, then where does it end By pushing the limits of morality, we are only helping to create a society where life is so cheap that one person can use another without compunction or accountability. As the late Pope John Paul II pointed out to President Bush (2001), "In defending the right to life . America can show the world the path to a truly humane future in which man remains the master, not the product, of his technology." Scientists counter this charge by pulling cold facts out of the trash can. Stem cells, they reiterate, can be extracted from the surplus frozen embryos left over at fertility clinics. Typically, these embryos - numbering in hundreds of thousands -- are discarded as medical waste after an infertile couple's desire for a child has been fulfilled. So where's the sense in arguing on behalf of an embryo which is destined to perish anyway It must come as a relief to stem cell researchers that more and more people are shaking off their knee-jerk response to the emotionally-loaded issue and finally buying into this view: the results of a Harris Poll (2004) showed that 73 per cent of the people interviewed approved of the research, compared to 61 per cent in 2001. Celebrities too - a major voice in these media-driven times - have mostly come out in support of stem cell research, and the involvement of actors such as the late Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox,

PTC PROPOSAL Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PTC - Thesis Proposal Example As compared to males, the study that was presented by Bartoshuk, Duffy and Miller (1994) strongly suggest that there is a higher taste sensitivity for PTC/PROP among the females. In line with this, Fareed, Shah and Hussain (2012) made a confirmation that there are literally more female PTC tasters as compared to male. Women in general can be classified as taster or non-taster of PTC. Specifically the main purpose of this laboratory proposal is to analyse the PTC threshold of my female classmates. As such, this study aims to answer the question as to whether or not ethnic or racial considerations could somehow affect the ability of women to taste PTC. Likewise, it will also answer whether or not PTC concentration affects the tasters’ and non-tasters’ ability to taste PTC. In other words, the proposed laboratory test will seek to address the following research hypothesis: The laboratory test is composed of two rounds. The first round will require each participant to taste each of the six (6) tasting solution at a lower concentration. The second round will require each participant to taste each of the six (6) tasting solution at a higher concentration. Regardless of age, a total of 20 female students will be invited to participate in the laboratory tests. To learn more about the health status of each participant, each one of them will be requested to check their history of illnesses (i.e. diabetes, COPD, sinusitis, etc.). Prior to test, each of the research participants will be instructed not to smoke, eat, or drink for at least an hour (Hong et al., 2005). In relation to age and ethnic or race, the PTC taster status, taste threshold, and taste recognition threshold will be measured in each participant. As such, participants who are able to recognize the bitterness of PTC solution at a concentration of < 1.80 x 10-4 M will be classified as PTC tasters (Hong et al., 2005). Prior to tasting each sample, each participant will be

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Stem Cell Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Stem Cell Research - Essay Example It is nobody's case that stem cell research is a bad thing. Each one of us hopes for a day when no disease will be categorized as incurable', and the potential in this line of work to realize that dream is plain for all to see. The controversy that stem cell research has provoked - sharply dividing public opinion and placing the government and President Bush in a quandary -- has to do with an ethical concern over the use of embryos. Why must embryos be utilized Why not depend on adult stem cells instead and get on with the research without causing any harm to the subject Scientists have good reason for this. Stem cell research has at its core a kind of cell called pluripotent' -- essentially an innocent' cell which has not begun to develop into any specific tissue - such as blood or brain or heart cells. But this state of innocence lasts only three to five days, and if scientists can seize on this small window of opportunity, they can isolate and coax it to develop into any of the 220 types of human cell lines. Which in turn can be used to repair or replace specific tissue and treat any disease that involves tissue degeneration - such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, afflictions in the central nervous system, Type 1 diabetes, liver malfunctions etc. Adult stem cells do have some relevance in this research, but they are not so pliant and therefore they cannot be programmed to differentiate into more than a few of the necessary 220 cell lines. Scientifically, an airtight argument in support of the use of embryos - which, alas, does nothing to address the moral and ethical concerns. What right do we have to play God, snuff out a life and willfully deny it of its potential to grow into a healthy human being Life, according to Christian belief, begins at conception, and no matter whether that life is sparked off in a womb or in a Petri dish, its destruction amounts to murder. So, are we willing to commit murder in the name of science And if we are, then where does it end By pushing the limits of morality, we are only helping to create a society where life is so cheap that one person can use another without compunction or accountability. As the late Pope John Paul II pointed out to President Bush (2001), "In defending the right to life . America can show the world the path to a truly humane future in which man remains the master, not the product, of his technology." Scientists counter this charge by pulling cold facts out of the trash can. Stem cells, they reiterate, can be extracted from the surplus frozen embryos left over at fertility clinics. Typically, these embryos - numbering in hundreds of thousands -- are discarded as medical waste after an infertile couple's desire for a child has been fulfilled. So where's the sense in arguing on behalf of an embryo which is destined to perish anyway It must come as a relief to stem cell researchers that more and more people are shaking off their knee-jerk response to the emotionally-loaded issue and finally buying into this view: the results of a Harris Poll (2004) showed that 73 per cent of the people interviewed approved of the research, compared to 61 per cent in 2001. Celebrities too - a major voice in these media-driven times - have mostly come out in support of stem cell research, and the involvement of actors such as the late Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox,

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Dramatic impact Essay Example for Free

Dramatic impact Essay In 1915, Arthur T. Miller was born in the city of New York, where his family business was ruined after the stock market crash of 29. This had a continuous affect on his life and work. The half-Austrian, half-American playwright wrote Death of a Salesman in 1949, at the age of 34. Along with his other acclaimed plays (including All My Sons and The Crucible): Death of a Salesman includes his common themes of corruption, societys deterioration, the Great American Dream and lost values. Set in the Mid-20th century after the Second World War: Death of a Salesman is a tale of values lost to a world where they now carry little weight and of a man, in himself, lost to those values and in so doing isolating himself to the ever-changing world. Renowned as one of the best plays to ever come out of America. A particularly dramatic and significant scene in this attack against capitalism is the restaurant scene, in which a father-son bond is torn in tragedy, brotherly love is dissipated and life grinds to a halt for an old, tired man. The scene in general is a very significant part of the play as it acts as the final trigger for Willy Loman to take his own life. We know this as, in the scene that directly follows this, Willy is quoted saying: (To Stanley) Heres some more, I dont need it anymore This shows us that he has (after this event) well and truly given up on this life, by stating that he will no longer be needed to use his money for he will die and in doing so provide his family with some insurance support, making this scene very significant indeed. The final trigger that I mentioned could be a number of events. Firstly, some critics believe, the fact that Biff has realised the truth: I was just a shipping clerk, which Willy has shut out for countless years deep inside, is the fatal factor of Willys suicide: that he himself, through Biff, finally sees what his life has lived up to nothing. We can see evidence of this in the garden scene where he tries to leave something, however small, behind as his legacy: Ive got to get some seeds, right away. Nothings planted. I dont have a thing in the ground. He has an urgent need to leave something behind and the seeds are a metaphorical representation of this. Some critics feel that this scene is significant as it builds up to the next scene where Willy has a flashback of Biffs discovery of The Woman, revealing to the audience for the first time the event that sparks the turmoil that Biff suffers for the next fifteen years of his life: The knowledge of his fathers infidelity shatters this ideal that he has held for so long. This would patch up the missing link and explain to the audience how Biff went from the loving son we saw in the earlier flashbacks to the almost hateful adult we see in the present. Others however believe that it is what has happened before this scene that makes it so significant. Due to the tension build up up-until then was mounting by Willys encounters with Howard, Bernard and Charley beforehand constituting harsh blows to the fantasy through which Willy views his life; his constructed reality was falling apart. The audience, after seeing Biffs own disappointment through his conversation with Happy, are curious to see how Willy will react to yet another letdown. And after seeing how badly he does take it, we know this is the final straw/chapter in his life. Biff has also experienced a moment of truth, but he regards his epiphany as a freeing experience from a lifetime of distorting lies. He wishes to leave behind the facade of the Loman family tradition so that he and his father can begin to have an honest relationship. Willy, on the other hand, wants his sons to help him in rebuilding the elaborate fantasies that have been crushed so many times before. Willy drives Biff to produce a falsely positive report of his interview with Bill Oliver; Happy is all too willing to comply. When Biff fails to produce the expected report, Happy, comes in with lies about the interview. Another point of significance is the event of Biffs Epiphany. Here he realises the truth for the first time I was never a salesman for Bill Oliver and in doing so he shows Willy the truth as well. He actually HAS the epiphany at Olivers office but here is the first time we, as the audience, heard or know of it. Many say that Biff is the main reason why Willy takes his life as Miller states himself: Had Willy been unaware of his separation from values that endure he would have died contently while polishing his car But he was agonized by his awareness of being in a false position, so constantly haunted by the hollowness of everything he put his faith in And so if Biff had not confirmed what Willy had always known all along then maybe Willy might either still be alive or dies happily. However this point is very controversial. Biff is determined to break through the lies surrounding the Loman family in order to come to terms with his own life and his own identity, which his father made for him years a go. Intent on revealing the simple truth behind Willys fantasy: Biffs identity crisis can only be resolved by destroying his and his fathers disillusionment, which has a devastating effect on Willy leading to his suicide. However, taking into account of all the above, I personally believe this act is significant to the play as it provides great sympathy for all of the main characters. Biff, by his stage directions, is made to look sympathetic: (takes a breath, then reaches out and grasps Willys hand). (Smiling bravely) (Gets down on one knee before Willy) and so on. Even by the stage directions, the audience is shown the character of Biff as a sincere and caring person with an undying love for his father. Willy is shown sympathy through the mere bombardment of misfortunes that he faces: I was fired, and Im looking for a little good news to tell your mother . Willy will be onstage in utter confusion and desperation in this scene, (at a loss), and empathy would be felt by the audience due to the music and lighting which places the audience into Willys frame of mind. Happy is given sympathy by the fact that the audience can see that Biff has snapped out of The Great American Pipedream and Happy has not, and in doing so ensures his future life will be just like Willys and that is definitely an aspect for sympathy. Linda also is shown sympathy in this extract as Willy mentions her: because the woman has waited and the woman has suffered . Another factor of the acts significance is that it is riddled with dramatic impact, through lighting, music and action. Music provides a good medium for emotions and also works were as a foreshadow of events-to-come. Music such as the Raucous music used in the setting of the restaurant can show what the event will unfold to be. Also the flute music indicates a more relaxing and nostalgic appeal as the flute was Willys fathers trade. Lighting is a huge dramatic effect as it is the only way, unless the theatre is packed with playwrights, that the audience can understand what is happening especially during flashbacks. (Light on area snaps out). The use of lighting also allows the audience to empathise with Willy by seeing what he does: (light fades low on the restaurant). Also it can be used to set a scene as in the restaurant: a red glow rises behind screen at right, here Miller employs the colour scheme to complement the music, which in turn foretell the upcoming event. There are many dramatic moments in this scene. One of which is the event of the trumpet note: Biff: Listen, will you let me out of it, will you just let me out of it! Happy: What the hell! Willy: Tell me what happened! Biff: (to Happy) I cant talk to him! (A single trumpet note jars in the air) Before this, tension was building up slowly (speeches becoming shorter and shorter), with Biffs frustration to tell his father of his revelation and Willys determination to hear what he wants to. It builds at an exponential rate until the trumpet note. This is used here to empathise to the audience of the final breakdown between father and son. It is also a symbol of the heightened tension and emotions running. The audience is shocked and taken back by this, not suddenly, but still effectively. Sympathy is also felt at this point as these two once worshipped each other and now they are at this time of hatred. We can also, as the audience, know that Biff want to let him out of it (Willys dreams). Another dramatic moment was when Willy tells his boys: I was fired today. This is not a surprise to the audience, as we knew it would come; however when it came comes as a shock. It is abrupt and early on into the scene. Beforehand he was talking in tongue and the audience sees that he is confused. However this speech is a rare piece of metaphorical language used in the play as Miller tries to use as much everyday language as possible to keep a more naturalistic appeal and less focus on how characters are saying things but on what they are actually conveying through speech. He speaks of the woods are burning, which shows the desperation Willy is in and the fact that: he is seeing everything crowding around him, his dreams are burning, his dream of a country retirement, his beloved nature (woods) is being consumed by materialism (fire) and so is he. Also this metaphor re-enforces itself with: burning big blaze fired. This adds troubled depth to his life. The flashbacks that Willy has are very dramatic. Re-enforced using lighting and music as well they seem to patch up key points about the past that are missing. The whole play is about patching up the middle of a story that we already know the ending of Death of a Salesman. I use flashback in a loose sense, as they are not actually flashbacks. They, on stage, would be just as loud as reality, have the same lighting, are not distorted and so on. Also the fact that they are so alike to reality shows us that in Willys desperation to justify his own life, he has destroyed the boundaries from past to present. All of the flashbacks are juxtaposed with scenes of failure. The final dramatic scene in this extract is Happys line of: No, thats not my father. This is incredibly low and spiteful; the audience would not expect this even of Happy, who we know is already quite two faced in the way he acts towards Willy. Extremely tragic. This is right before Biffs elegy of Willy in which he refers to him as a Prince. However Happy cant even acknowledge him as a father. In Happys defence Willy ahs not really been the ideal father, but he still had Haps best interests at heart. However the audience can see that the character of Biff as a changed man: no longer bound into the capitalistic system that engulfed Willy, no longer deluding himself or others, no longer a LOW-MAN. In this extract, references are made to many different other stories. In Biffs speech Miller refers to A Troubled Prince as in Macbeth. In the scene afterwards where Biff is knocking on Willys door, also have similarities to Macbeth. Willys flashback to avoid the truth is reminiscent of Oedipus poking out his eyes. And finally Happys dismissal of Willy is like that of Peter and Jesus. This makes the scene significant as it contains all of these epic references. Death of a Salesman is a tragic tale of a man caught in a system he never got to know. During this restaurant scene, Willy decides he is worth more dead than alive because all he had left was his sons and after their failures and the breakdown of their relationship he is nothing. This scene in the restaurant is the most important of the entire play for this reason. It is also very dramatic as it reveals the death of a man, by the failures of him as a father, a salesman and of a man.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Features of the Flatiron Building

Features of the Flatiron Building Synopsis: This is a 5 page term paper written in MLA format explaining why any designer in the modern era should be interested in the Flatiron Building, constructed in 1902 in New York. The paper gives a description of the most captivating architectural features of Flatiron building that make it unique and admirable. The paper relies on 2 sources. The Flatiron Building Eric Nash clearly describes the Flatiron building located in New York City. Its construction was completed in 1902 and it is one of the most popular and best known skyscrapers in the world that derives its name from its iron like shape. It is an energetic combination of renaissance and gothic architectural styles. It is made up of spacious, well designed twenty-two stories which are divided into three parts, namely, the beginning, the middle and the end, just like a classical Greek column. The Flatirons striking shape and its exceptional height stretch its classical garb uneasily.1 Picture showing the beginning, the middle and the top of the Flatiron 1 Eric Nash, Manhattan Skyscrapers. (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999) 121. Eric Nash clearly shows that the building was constructed using structural steel frame with extensive wind bracing purposely made to resist sideways pressure from the wind. This reflects recent acceptance of the all-steel skeleton for skyscrapers in New York. The skeleton steel framing of Flatiron building is light and less susceptible to fire damages as compared to iron, hence making the building stronger and more durable. Use of steel skeleton in construction of Flatiron made it possible for the building to be elevated higher up to twenty two storeys as opposed to load bearing walls that previously restricted the height supportable by their loads. The building was constructed on a rectangular wedge piece of land giving it its classic captivating appearance from the ground to the sky. He further argues that unlike New Yorks early skyscrapers taking the form of towers that were constructed rising from a lower blockier weight like the contemporary Singer Building, the Flatiron buildin g has limestone and glazed terra cotta faÇade which is divided into a triangular base, shaft and capital.2. Eric Nash observed that Flatirons ornate but restrained facade was made using terra-cotta panels and stone creating forms that simulate any effects of rustication, making it long lasting. Rusticated limestone is uniformly detailed from the ground of the Flatiron building to the sky to ensure that there are slim chances of Flatirons destruction by environmental conditions. The Flatirons masonry insulation, its outer skin of stone and glazed terra-cotta protects it from any harsh weather conditions which could otherwise destroy the building. Besides this, the Flatirons rustication and heavily prornamented patterns of these walls, as well as the conservatively sized windows, give the faÇades a heavy appearance, this is attractive to the eyes 3 2 Nash 123 3 Nash 125 Picture showing Flatirons outer skin Andrew Dolkart observed that the multistory oriels in the midsection, which are prominent in many of Burnhams Chicago buildings, are just barely perceptible on the busy, more enclosed skin of the Flatiron. This greater visual weigh of the repartition of the overall design into a distinct base, a repetitive midsection, and a crowning cornice extended to 22 stories, makes the whole Flatiron appear column-like, distinguishing the building from the rest. He further observed that the long, thin triangular footprint of the Flatiron extrudes up through all its twenty two stories. With all three faà §ades facing the streets, this tall, thin building was designed to always have very well-lit office spaces. At the vertex of the Flatiron building, the triangular tower, which is only 6.5 feet (2 meters) wide and a height of eighty seven Meters is seen to describe an acute angle that is roughly estimated to be 25 degrees when viewed from birds eye view. The acute angled corners bring out a drama tic, exaggerated perspective which is unique and highly admirable. 44Andrew Dolkart. Architecture Development of New York City and the Birth of Skyscraper. (Columbia: Columbia University 2009). 11 Eric Nash further observed that the most acute angle of the Flatiron points north, making the building to appear like it has a little depth like a wall leaned precariously against the sky, distinguishing it from any other building in the neighborhood. The interior of the Flatiron has strangely shaped spacious offices with their walls cutting through an angle on their way to skyscrapers famous point. This gives the building quite a beautiful and attractive look. The gravity-defying illusion of the building is further enhanced by the enormous cornice projecting aggressively from the top of the building, giving the whole affair a top-heavy appearance. The elements of Flatirons design fit in comfortably with the general development of the firm in which the building was constructed.5 According to Andrew, The unconventional triangular lot coupled with exceptional height transformed architectural conventions of Flatiron into a beautiful unique structure. The building materials used for Flatiron were cost effective, efficient and made it possible for it to be quickly erected. Flatiron was indeed a perfect architectural solution to Americas growing downtowns in the 20th century. It consists of 13,400 square meters of office space and definitely one of the Stockholms new landmarks. The striking visual presence of this uncommon vertical mass is what makes the building instantly famous both with tourists and those in the arts grappling with the nature of New Yorks modernity.6 5 Nash 136. 6 Dolkart 13. Conclusion This paper started by describing the shape and location of the Flatiron building constructed in 1902 in New York. It further discussed in detail the design and architectural features of the building that make it very unique despite the fact that it was constructed over 100 years ago. Its characteristic structural division into three parts, the beginning, the middle and the end gives it a unique appealing appearance. Its unique triangular shape design and the wedge shaped piece of land where the building was erected give it an excellent view hence it is easily distinguished from all other buildings in the neighborhood. The buildings small width of only two meters and exceptional height of eighty seven meters housing twenty two storey distinguishes it from ancient heavy wide buildings. While putting more emphasis on the uniqueness and durability of the materials in construction of Flatiron building used such as the revolutionary steel frame which is less susceptible to fire unlike iron , the limestone covering originating from the ground to the sky to protect the building from harsh weather conditions, and the white terra cotta skin in the Italian Renaissance style which gives the building a highly admirable dramatic perspective. From the findings of this paper, it is evidently clear that the Flatiron building is quite a unique building in both the structure and the design and therefore any architect or designer would be interested in its structure and design. Works Cited Nash, Eric. Manhattan Skyscrapers. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999. Dolkart, Andrew. Architecture Development of New York City and the Birth of Skyscraper. Columbia: Columbia University 2009. Sites https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1ObjectID=4665-0499 http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GRP/GRP024.htm

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Love And Sacrifices :: essays research papers

Love and Sacrifices What does it mean to love another? To love another person means to feel compassionate towards them, to "feel" what they feel. Caring about someone, and what happens to them is also a sign of love. Sharing a relationship with someone means that you have to be responsible and have to be aware that there will be times when things go wrong. Loving someone means taking these "wrong" things and trying to fix them. What are some signs of love? Making sacrifices is one sign of devotion to another person. When you care about someone, you have to give a little. It all comes with life. In order to receive something, one must sacrifice other things. For example, if having to make a choice between the love of your life and going to a football game, a person who is truly in love, and not just in love with "being in love" will sacrifice the game in order to be with that person. What is the greatest power of potential human speech? (words, language) All humans have the power to communicate with other humans, interact, and share their ideas. The power of speech is what makes it all possible. Communication is the most important thing in the success of a relationship, and for someone to say that they love another is to respect them and their ideas and to want to share with them. The most anyone can ever do for you is listen, and the only way to do that is to communicate that you want to be listened to and that you are willing to listen to the one you love. That is the most anyone can do, and it is a gift of sorts. What is the greatest thing about human love? Being in love gives a sense of completeness, makes one feel as if nothing else is needed in order to survive. Sometimes, being in love can act as a stepping stone, or a doorway into a world you never knew was out there. It can give you a new outlook on things, turn everything you've ever known into something you never thought was possible. Love can also strengthen a "tie" or "bond" that you may have with someone, in a sense that you have that much more in common. What is the greatest expression of love? Sacrificing anything is the greatest expression of your "love". The greatest sacrifice one would have to make is death. Dying for a loved one means that your love wasn't an "It", but a "Thou", and dying only makes it more

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Solar Physics Essay -- solar physics

The star we call the Sun has a number of small objects circling around it. Many other stars in our Galaxy have objects orbiting them too and astronomers have recently discovered a few of these other systems already. The largest members of the Sun's family are called planets, and one of these we call home. That planet, Earth, has many unique characteristics that enable life to exist on it. What are the other planets like? We have learned more about our solar system in the past few decades than probably any other field of astronomy. The planets are no longer just objects up in our sky, but places we have been and explored---worlds in their own right. To give an adequate coverage of each of the planets would fill up a whole book (or more)! Since this web site is an introduction to all of astronomy, I will not explore each planet individually. Instead, I will focus on the common characteristics of the planets such as their Distance relative to us, mass, size and etc. Distances Several hundred years ago Copernicus was able to determine approximate distances between the planets through trigonometry. The distances were all found relative to the distance between the Earth and the Sun, the astronomical unit. Kepler refined these measurements to take into account the elliptical orbits. However, they did not know how large an astronomical unit was. To establish an absolute distance scale, the actual distance to one of the planets had to be measured. Distances to Venus and Mars were measured from the parallax effect by observers at different parts of the Earth when the planets were closest to the Earth. Knowing how far apart the observers were from each other and coordinating the observation times, astronomers could determine the ... ... ? Angular velocity = 36 degrees / 4 hours = 9 degree/hour Full time rotation = 360 degrees / 9 degree/hour = 40 hours With the invention of radar, the distance to Venus could be determined very precisely. By timing how long it takes the radar beam travelling at the speed of light to travel the distance to an object and back, the distance to the object can be found from distance = (speed of light) Ãâ€" (total time)/2. The total time is halved to get just the distance from the Earth to the object. Using trigonometry, astronomers now know that the astronomical unit =149,597,892 kilometers. This incredible degree of accuracy is possible because the speed of light is known very precisely and very accurate clocks are used. You cannot use radar to determine the distance to the Sun directly because the Sun has no solid surface to reflect the radar efficiently.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Comparison Essay Cuba & U.S. Essay

In different countries they have different economics structures. Some countries are very similiar to other economies while some are the exact opposite. For example a country could have a whealthy economy while another country could have a poor one , just like the U.S. compared to Cuba. The U.S. consitution is designed to protect the rights of the states by establishing a federal system of government. The U.S. federalist system some powers belong to the national governemnt, others share governments and still others are shared by both. The constitution wanted to protect state rights. They also wanted a national that had suffient powers to maintain order and keep the country united. The difference between the U.S. and Cuba is according to the constitution of Cuba, the country is a socialist state and a republic. Cuba is not a democratic republic, in which they people elect leaders to represent them. Cuba is actually a dictatorship controlled by Fidel Castro and communist party the highest leading force of the society and of the state the party leaded by Castro, has about 400,000 members. The top officials in Cuba is fidel Castro who continues as Cuba’s supreme patriarch and leader whos pressence helps to legitimize the regine and preserve its intual cohesion. It remains to be seen if this intual cohesion can be maintained in the event that Castro becomes incapatated or dies. Ricardo Alareor de Quesada is the president of parliament and Juan Almeida Bosque is the vice president of the council of state. In Cuba the government, the primary player in the economy, has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate srious shortage of food, comsumer goods, and services but prioritizing of political control makes extensive reforms unlikely. Living standards foe the average Cuban, without access  dollars, remains at a depressed level compared with 1990. Income taxes and increased regulations introduced since 1996 have sharply reduced the number of legally self employeed from a high of 208,000 in January 1996. Much of Cuba’s recovery can be attributed to tourism revenues and foreign investment. Growth in 2001 should continue at the same level as the government balances the need for economic loosening against its concern for firm political control. Compared to the U.S. our economy is not stuggling as they are. From watching news recently Cuba’s from the U.S. send thier relavtives in Cuba american money because american money is worth more there. To conclude this essay Cuba is not a rich country and is struggling in there economy compared to the U.S. ,the U.S. has more organized goverment and equal economy.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Beer Wars Essay

Beer Wars is a documentary film directed and produced by Anat Baron and released in April of 2009. It focuses on the struggle between the dominating corporate businesses of Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing Company, Coors Brewing Company, and the smaller independent businesses of â€Å"craft beers† such as Dogfish Head Brewery, The Boston Beer Company, and The New Belgium Brewing Company. The film covers many aspects of the beer â€Å"wars† between the companies such as competitive advertising, product quality, price, distribution, and government regulations. Because of the enormous status and power of the big three, the ability to advertise and market their wares is significantly easier than for most other breweries. From being able to hire top dollar marketing experts to running multimillion dollar commercials during the Super Bowl, they dominate the beer advertising market. With their lack of ability to buy â€Å"shelf space†, smaller companies are often pushed out of the way and driven to less marketable places in the aisles of stores nationwide. Rhonda Kallman, owner of The New Century Brewing company, known for its craft beer â€Å"Moonshot†, talked about how she often would put up a poster advertising her beer one day only to find it replaced by a competitor’s poster the next day. This is a glimpse at the competitiveness that small breweries face day to day. Today, The New Century Brewing company is currently shut down due to the FDA’s banning of caffeinated beers; Moonshot fell victim to this regulatory axe. This is what happens when the bread and butter of your company can no longer be produced. The fall of Kallman’s company, however, is just another tragic story in the long history of beer manufactures. By the late 70‘s and early 80‘s, many people turned towards homebrewing to meet their taste needs because of the bland taste of the larger breweries products. Charlie Papazian was one of those people. A nuclear engineer at the University of Virginia, he started experimenting with homebrewing soon after it was legalized in 1978. His main focus was quality and diversity when out of his house he started the American Homebrewers Association; now a nationwide association of over 36,000 members with it’s own magazine. While giving a tour of his prized collection he made sure to point out that what he cared about most was â€Å"Quality. Not necessarily quantity, but quality. † Papazian was not the only one who desired quality over quantity. Samuel Calagione was yet another man focused on quality. In 1995 he founded the company Dogfish Head Brewery naming it after Dogfish Head, Maine where he spent summers as a child growing up. Starting out as a fledgling company in Delaware, and growing by nearly 400% between 2003 and 2006, it now is one of the most successful craft breweries in the U. S. A. The film went into great detail on the various struggles that small breweries went through. From the competitive advertising to the rules and regulations of the trade, small breweries are faced with many challenges day to day. After the Prohibition in the 1930’s, a three-tier system was set up by many states in order to control the flow of alcohol from producer to consumer. However, this proved to be often times a problem for fledgling companies with little buying power. In order to get their beers out there and known, they must go through a wholesaler distributer first. The problem though is that often times the wholesalers favor the Big Three or other large companies because of their buying power. When it came down to having to choose whether to ship a Coors Light or a Moonshot, often times the well known brand would be chosen not only for it’s popularity but also because of the pay that the larger companies could give for their favor over others. Kallman learned that shelf space is yet another difficulty faced by the craft beer companies. If you’re most seen, you’re most bought and the Big Three knew this. Another difficulty faced is the temptation to sell out to the big companies. Over the years, Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors all have been buying up the little companies as soon as they showed promise; all in order to try to get a bigger piece of the pie that is market share. If they couldn’t buy you, they would try to destroy you. So in conclusion, Beer Wars is one of the first documentary films to go into great detail on the battle for survival and power between the various beer companies of America; showing the struggles of the craft breweries against the big companies and the fight for power among the larger companies and their major competitors. Sources http://beerwarsmovie. com/tag/rhonda-kallman/ http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/ http://www. cnn. com/FOOD/resources/food. for. thought/beverages/alcohol/homebrew/papazian/.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Human Resource Practice

A Report on HRM issues in the Banking sector: A Case Study on IFIC Bank Limited MBA Program, Stream: HRM Department of Management Studies Faculty of Business Studies University of Dhaka July 20, 2009 A Report on HRM issues in the Banking sector: A Case Study on IFIC Bank Limited Submitted To, Professor Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman Department of Management Studies University of Dhaka Prepared By, MBA, Stream: HRM, 10th Batch, Department of Management Studies University of Dhaka Executive summary In this global competitive era, banks have an important role as a financial institution. This report has been prepared on a commercial bank. In every organization, men/human resources play an important role for its success. No organization whether it is small or large, labor intensive or technology intensive can run without human resource. The topic of our report is â€Å"HRM issues in the Banking sector: A Case Study on IFIC Bank Limited. † We have done this report on the IFIC bank Ltd. Although we have learned some banking activities during preparing our report we have mainly focused on HRM issues to keep the report on the right track. The Bank has a Human Resource & Division for its employees’ training & development. The also has an Academy for this purpose. There is a Library in the Academy. Bank uses both on-the job training & off-the job training method. Branches use on-the job training namely job rotation, Coaching/ under study approach, direct supervision by the senior managers. Head Office uses off-the job training namely Lectures, Conference, Workshop, Management Game, Role playing, Behavior Modeling and Case Study etc. The workforce was 96 in 1983 & 2014 in 2006. Benefits of the Employees such as House building loans, Car loan at lower interest rate, Provident Fund, Insurance Facilities are available for its employees. Minimum two years is required for promotion of the employees. Two Methods of evaluation for promotion: 1. Annual confidential report (ACR) scored by the immediate supervisor 2. Interview marks. Both marks are added together to prepare list for promotion. Statistical Analysis indicates Average Job Satisfaction Of the employee (Mean) is 3. 37 out of 5. Standard Deviation is 0. 82 & Coefficient of Variation (CV) is 24. 3 %. The performance of the bank is satisfactory. Our Report consists of four Chapters namely Introduction, Methodology, analysis & Findings, Conclusion & Recommendations, & Bibliography & Appendix. In the first chapter: History of the organization, objectives of the organization, functions of the organization, organ gram of the organization, existing program of the organization and the future program of the organiz ation has been described. In the second chapter: Objectives of the study, data collection, data interpretation, limitations of the study has been described. In the third chapter: Human resource planning, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, CPD, findings, pay scale and labor management relations has been described. In the final & fourth chapter recommendations, conclusions, suggestions and appendix and bibliography are given. Letter of Transmittal 20 July, 2009 To Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman Professor, Department of Management Studies Faculty of Business Studies University of Dhaka Subject: Submission of Report. Dear Sir, With due respect, we are stating that we are a few students of MBA program Stream: HRM doing our report under Professor Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman. We are very happy to inform you that we have prepared our Report on â€Å"HRM issues in the Banking sector: A Case Study on IFIC Bank Limited† and would like to submit it to you at this time. Therefore, we will be highly pleased if you accept our Report. Sincerely Yours, MBA 10TH Batch Stream: HRM Department of Management Studies Faculty of Business Studies University of Dhaka Acknowledgement At the very outset, we do hereby express our heartiest gratitude and countless thanks to the Almighty who has enabled us to prepare this report on â€Å"HRM issues in the Banking sector: A Case Study on IFIC Bank Limited† We would like to thank our Professor Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman for his sincere guidance. We have done report our on IFIC Bank Ltd. We would like to thank the Managing director of the Bank, Md. Masiur Rahman; Senior Executive Vice President Head of HRD & Research, R. M. Debnath. Md. Sahabuddin, Librarian of the IFIC Academy Library has helped us providing information about the HRM issues of IFIC Bank Ltd. Finally, we would like to thank all persons who have helped us to prepare our Report. Abbreviations Used |No. Abbreviation |Elaboration | |01 |IFIC |International finance investment & commerce | |02 |MD |Managing Director | |03 |SEVP |Senior executive vice president | |04 |EVP |Executive vice president | |05 |SVP |Senior vice president | |06 |EVP |Executive vice president | |07 |VP |Vice president |08 |SAVP |Senior assistance vice president | |09 |FAVP |First assistance vice president | |10 |AVP |Assistance vice president | |11 |SSO |Senior staff officer | |12 |SO |Staff officer | | 13 |G-1 |Officer grade-1 | |14 |PO |Provisionary officer | |15 |G-2 |Officer grade-2 | |16 |CASH/COMP |Cash/Computer officer | |17 |OA(SG) |Office assistance(security guard) | |18 |O. ASSTT. |Office assistance | |19 |SS |Security staff | |20 |O. ATT. Office attendance | |21 |Ltd. |Limited | |22 |HRM |Human Resource Management | Table of contents |Chapter no. |Particulars |Page no. | | |Executive Summary |3 | | |Letter of transmittal |4 | |Acknowledgements |5 | | |Abbreviations |6 | | |List of chart and graph |9 | | |Dedication |9 | |Chapter 1 |Introduction |10 | | |(a) Background |10 | | |(b) Objectives |10 | | |(c) Functions |11 | | |(d) Organ gram of the organization |11 | | |(e) Existing program of the organization |13 | | |(f) Future program of the organization |16 | |Chapter 2 |Research methodology |17 | | |(a) Objectives of the study |17 | | |(b) Data collection |17 | | |(c) Data interpretation |18 | | |(d) Limitations |19 | |Chapter 3 |Findings and analysis |19 | | |(a) Literature review |19 | | |(b) Human resource department |22 | | |(C) Workforce 22 | | |(d) Human resource planning |24 | | |(e) Recruitment and selection |24 | | |(f) Training and development |25 | | |(g) Performance appraisal |28 | | |(h) Career planning development |29 | | |(i) Findings |29 | | |(j) Pay scale |30 | | |(k) Labor management relations |32 | |Chapter 4 |Recommendations and conclusions |33 | | |(a) Conclusions |33 | | |(b) Recommendations |34 | | |(c) Suggestions |35 | | |Appendix |36 | | |Bibliography |38 | List of graph and charts In this report we have not used too much chart and diagram because the topic is the HRM related issue and not on the financial matters we are preparing this report so have used only four chart and graph. |Page no |Contents |Subject matters | |12 |Table |Organizational hierarchy | |23 |Bar Diagram |Workforce | |24 |Organizational chart |HRP | |32 | Bar diagram |Pay scale | Dedication Dedication to our course teacher Dr. M. Ataur Rahman And Our Mother and Father Date of submission: 20/07/09 Chapter 1 Introduction (a) Background of IFIC Bank Limited International Finance Investment and Commerce Bank Limited (IFIC Bank) is a banking company incorporated in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh with limited liability. It was set up at the instance of the Government in 1976 as a joint venture between the Government of Bangladesh and sponsors in the private sector with the objective of working as a finance company within the country and setting up joint venture banks/financial institutions abroad.. In 1983 when the Government allowed banks in the private sector, IFIC was converted into a full-fledged commercial bank. At that time this deposit was 231. 03 crore and profit figure was 5. 06 crore. Up to 2008 its number of branch stands to 65 and its paid up capital was 1,341,431,400 TK. The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh now holds 35% of the share capital of the Bank. Leading industrialists of the country having vast experience in the field of trade and commerce own 34% of the share capital and the rest is held by the general public. The bank earned ever-highest operating profit during the year 2002 among all private banks of Bangladesh (except Islami Bank BD Ltd. ) The bank earned an operating profit of Tk. 55 crore during the year 2006. (b) Objectives of the organization The objective of the organization is to provide service to its clients with the help of a skilled and dedicated workforce whose creative talents, innovative actions and competitive edge will make its position unique in giving quality service to all institutions and individuals that it care for. It is committed to the welfare and economic prosperity of the people and the community, for that it is working towards to gain progress to prosperity. The bank want to be the leader among banks in Bangladesh and make its indelible mark as an active partner in regional banking operating beyond the national boundary. In an intensely competitive and complex financial and business environment, it particularly focus on growth and profitability of all concerned. (c) Functions of the organization ) IFIC acts as an investment and finance company under arrangement of joint venture with the Govt. of Bangladesh. 2) It operates Foreign Exchange Business in a limited scale. 3) It operates as a commercial b ank. 4) It operates overseas joint venture such as in 1983 it set up its first overseas joint venture on the Republic of Maldives. 5) It acts as a joint venture Exchange Company. 6) IFIC establish overseas bank such as that branch in Pakistan at Karachi. 7) By joint venture activities it functions the act of second lease financing. (d) Organ gram of the organization The thirteen members of the Board of Directors are responsible for the strategic planning and overall policy guidelines of the Bank. Further, there is an Executive Committee of the Board to dispose of urgent business proposals. Besides, there is an Audit Committee in the Board to oversee compliance of major regulatory and operational issues. The CEO and Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Divisions are responsible for achieving business goals and overseeing the day to day operation. The CEO and Managing Director is assisted by a Senior Management Group consisting of Deputy Managing Director and Head of Divisions who supervise operation of various Divisions centrally and co-ordinates operation of branches. Key issues are managed by a Management Committee headed by the CEO and Managing Director. This facilitates rapid decisions. There is an Asset Liability Committee comprising member of the Senior Executives headed by CEO and Managing Director to look into all operational functions and Risk Management of the Bank. Organizational hierarchy |Managing Director | | | |Deputy Managing Director | | | |Assistant Managing Director | | |General Manager | | | |Deputy General Manager | | | |Assistant General Manger | | | |Senior Principal Officer | | | |Principal Officer | | | |Senior Officer Grade-| | | | |Officer Grade-|| | (e) Existing program of the organization In 1976 IFIC was established as an Investment & Finance Company under arrangement of joint venture with the Govt. of Bangladesh. In 1980 it commenced its operation in Foreign Exchange Business in a limited scale. In 1982 it obtained permission from the Govt. to operate as a commercial Bank. In 1983 setup its first overseas joint venture (Bank of Maldives) on the Republic of Maldives. Then it commenced operation as a full-fledged commercial Bank in Banglad esh. In 1985 it set up a joint venture Exchange Company in the Sultanate of Oman. In 1987 it set up its first overseas branch in Pakistan at Karachi. In 1993 it Set up its second overseas branch in Pakistan at Lahore. In 1994 it set up its first joint venture in Nepal for banking operation. In 1999 it set up its second joint venture in Nepal for lease financing. In 2003 the Bank celebrated its 20th founding anniversary. Other than that the Bank offers various loans and scheme to the customers. The major loans and schemes are the banks main product. The description of the products are given below. 1. Auto Loan: Rolls Royce, Ferrari or a Cadillac that's for one born with good luck. For the one's who dream to make their own luck. Come to IFIC for your desired Car. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult employed person and have an account with us then you can easily apply for the AUTO LOAN. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 15 lac Loan Period: 12-60 months. 2. Consumer Loan: Life is complex as it is. IFIC makes your life-style easy and comfortable with the Consumer Durable Loan. So avail the easy facility offer. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult and employed person and have an account with IFIC, then you are eligible to apply for the loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 1 Lac. Loan Period: 12-36 months. Processing: Quick Processing Immediately,  Least Formalities. 3. Porua Loan: A good education is the foundation for a successful life. IFIC is offering the opportunity to students to pursue higher education opportunity with the loan facility. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult employed person and have an account with IFIC, then you are eligible to apply for the loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 8 Lac Loan Period: 12-48 months Processing: Quick Processing Immediately, least Formalities. 4. Flexi Loan: The demands and uncertainties of life getting you down? Here is the answer. Come avail yourself IFIC's Flexi Loan, to turn the uncertainties of life to a certainty you can control. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult Bangladeshi employed by the Govt/Autonomous body/ Bank/ MNC/ NGO or any other kind of employed person with at least monthly Tk. 10,000 salary then you are eligible for the Flexi Loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 3 lac. Loan Period:12-36 months. Processing: Quick Processing Immediately, Least Formalities. 5. Thikana Loan A man's home is just not his castle, it's more than an asset, and it’s an investment for his future generation. IFIC's Thikana Loan helping you find your ADDRESS. Your life's Satisfaction First. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult employed person and have an account with IFIC, then you are eligible to apply for the loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 75 Lac. Loan Period: Maximum 15 years. Processing: Quick Processing Immediately, Least Formalities. 6. Possession Loan For those people running a successful business from rented premises, IFIC BANK is there to finance you for loan. So your business can have its own Permanent Address. Getting the Loan: If you are a Bangladeshi entrepreneur with only 2 years of successful business record & having a valid trade license and also have an account with IFIC, then you are eligible to apply for this loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 5 Lac. Loan Period: Maximum 65 years on the date of maturity of the loan. Processing: Quick Processing, Immediately, Least Formalities. 7. Peshajibi Loan Whether you are a Doctor/ Engineer/ IT professional/ Management Consultant or any other professional come find out about IFIC's advancement Peshajeebi Loan that lays the foundation for your career elevation. IFIC works for your professional Satisfaction. Getting the Loan: If you are an adult employed person and have an account with us then you can easily apply for the PESHAJEEBI LOAN. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 5 lac. Loan Period: 12-36 months. Processing: Quick Processing Immediately, Least Formalities. 8. Retail Loan To the small entrepreneurs who know their trade yet feel frustrated by the lack of money to get a bigger share in the marketplace. IFIC BANK understands their problem and believes that financial support at the right time can take them to (their desired) right place. Getting the Loan: If you are a Bangladeshi entrepreneur with min of 2 years of successful business record, have a valid trade license and have an account with IFIC, then you are eligible to apply for this loan. Loan Size: Maximum Tk. 1 Lac. Loan Period: Maximum 2 years. Processing: Quick Processing Immediately, Least Formalities. 9. Pension Savings Scheme Empower yourself for a secure and prosperous future with IFIC PSS. Partnership for a prosperous and secure future. Features: Under this Scheme you can open a deposit scheme for Tk. 500, Tk. 1000, Tk. 2000 and Tk. 5000 per month for 3 or 5 years whichever suits you. You can make the deposit within 10th of each month (In case of holiday the next working day). You can get Loan up to 80% of the deposited amount You can receive the entire deposit amount with interest at one go or receive a pension on a monthly basis at a desirable amount of your monthly installments. For your clarity a Table of Deposit Scheme and after Maturity Payable Amount is given below: Monthly Installment 3 Years Scheme 5 Years Scheme Tk. 500 Tk. 20322Tk. 36266 Tk. 1000 Tk. 40645Tk. 72532 Tk. 2000 Tk. 81290Tk. 145064 Tk. 5000 Tk. 203225Tk. 362661 (f) Future program of the organization The banks future program is to provide service to its clients with the help of a skilled and dedicated workforce whose creative talents, innovative actions and competitive edge make its position unique in giving quality service to all institutions and individuals that it care for. The bank wants to be the leader amongst banks in Bangladesh and make its indelible mark as an active partner in regional banking operating beyond the national boundary. For that reason it is making joint venture and new loans and schemes and expanding its business in the country and outside the country. Chapter Two Research methodology (a) Objective of the study The main objective is to analyze HRM issues and to find the different problems associated with different HRM activities. Specially: ? To find out different problems of HRM activities ? To judge the employees’ job satisfaction level ? To seek different problems of the employees in the banking sector ? To identify the reasons for which the problems are created ? To search ways to solve the problems of the organization ? To provide suggestions to solve problems of the employees and the banks (b) Data collection a) Primary sources: A questionnaire that are being answered by different people from IFIC bank Ltd. ? Guidelines and suggestions from our Professor Ataur Rahman. ? Interviewing the bank officials, specially the various officers of IFIC Bank Ltd, IFIC academy. b) Secondary Sources: ? Annual reports of IFIC Bank Ltd ? Different Published Booklets of IFIC Bank Ltd ? Different books ? Various published documents ? Various information from various website. ? Academic calendar 2007, IFIC Bank Limited. ? Different documents of the IFIC Bank Ltd. taken from Head Office & the Branch. ? Web site: www. ificbankbd. com. (c) Data interpretation For data interpretation two approaches have been mainly used in this report, 1. Conceptual approach 2. Empirical approach. The approaches are discussed below: ? Conceptual approach: A theoretical section is given in this report (the company profile) to give an insight various information concerning the financial function. ? Empirical approach: This refers to that has been directly collected and interpreted from the survey on IFIC bank Limited. Statistical analytical tools such as trend analysis of the different variables such as number branches, employees etc. of the different years, analysis of the various performance indicators with the help of different tables, figures & diagrams such as simple & multiple bar diagram etc. are used in the report. Statistical Analysis such as standard deviation, co efficient of variation and mean is used to understand job satisfaction etc. Such as average job satisfaction of the employee (Mean) is 3. 37 out of 5. Standard Deviation is 0. 82 & Coefficient of Variation (CV) is 24. 33 %. (d) Limitations of the study Nothing is beyond limitations. Everywhere and in every task there must have some sort of limitations. We also faced some problems at the time of preparing our report as well. The limitations are: ? Lack of availability of data ? Shortage of time ? Company’s restrictions to disclose all information ? Perceptual difference of the employees to measure job satisfaction Chapter 3 Findings and analysis (a) Literature review Our report is on the HRM practiced by IFIC bank so literature review is focused on the HRM terminologies. Human Resource Management (HRM) The set of organizational activities directed at attaining, developing and maintaining an effective workforce. Why is Human Resource Management (HRM)? It is not possible to run any organization (whether it is small or large) without people/ Human Resources. Organization must satisfy its employees to achieve its objectives. It is not possible without Human Resource Management (HRM). HRM is important for: ? Hiring capable/right employees for the organization ? Motivating employees ? Retaining capable employees ? Taking steps for guarding high employee turn-over Orientation, training and development of the employees ? Placing employees in the right jobs ? Maintaining good relation among the organizational members ? Developing team sprit, cooperation & morale of the employees ? Delegating the authority & responsibility among the subordinates ? Controll ing administration human resources of the organization Major Human Resource Management (HRM) activities are: ? Job analysis ? Recruitment & Selection ? Orientation, Training and Development ? Compensation Management ? Job evaluation ? Performance appraisals ? Motivating Employees ? Communication Human Resource Management (HRM) Terminologies: Job analysis: A systematic procedure for collecting and recording information about the jobs. Compensation: Compensation is what employees receive in exchange for their work including their pay and benefits. Recruitment: the processing of attracting capable individuals to apply for the job that is open. Internal Recruitment: Internal Recruitment considers current employees as applicants for higher-level jobs in the organization. External Recruitment: People are collected from outside the organization to apply for the jobs. Employment tests: Employment tests are the devices that assess the probable match between applicants and job requirements. HRM selection: Selection is the choosing capable employees both the job and organization. Training: Teaching operational or mechanical employees how to do the jobs for which they are hired. Development: Teaching managers and professionals the skills needed for both present and future jobs. Training and Development Methods: Assigned readings, behavior modeling, case discussion, conference, Lectures, on the job training such as job rotation etc. Job evaluation: An attempt to asses the worth of each job relative to other jobs Performance appraisals: A formal assessment of how well an employee is doing his or her jobs. Benefits: Benefits are the things of value other than financial compensation that an organization provides to its workers. (b) Human resource department Human Resources Department is focused on recruitment and in-house training for both on the job and off the job Bank staff members through the Bank’s Academy. IFIC Bank Academy – the oldest institution in the private sector – was conceived of as an in-house training center to take care of the training needs of the Bank internally. Academy is fully equipped with a professional library, modern training aids and professional faculty. Library has about 4941 books on banking, economics, accounting, management, marketing and other related subjects. Main training activities consist of in-depth foundation programs for entry level Management Trainees. Specialized training programs in the areas like general banking, advance, foreign exchange, marketing and accounts etc. re also organized by the Academy depending on need. Frequently outreach programs are organized to meet demand for new and specialized skills. During its 23 years of existence, Academy not only conducted cour ses, workshops and seminars as required by the Bank, but it also organized training programs for the Bank of Maldives, Nepal Bangladesh Bank Limited and Oman International Exchange LLC. (c) Workforce Total manpower stood at 2,014 as on December 31, 2006. Out of them 1430 were officers and 584 were non-officer employees. The number of female employees in the Bank on the date was 275. Growth in workforce of the Bank from 1983 to 2006 is given below: Growth in workforce Year |Officer |Staff |Total | |1983 |61 |35 |96 | |1985 |264 |89 |432 | |1990 |512 |480 |992 | |1995 |964 |601 |1565 | |2000 |1151 |549 |1700 | |2005 |1415 |575 |1990 | |2006 |1430 |584 |2014 | Sources: IFIC Bank Academic Calendar 2007 Prepared from previous table [pic] Analysis: Total employees from 1983 to 2006 have been shown in this figure. Total employees was 96 in 1983, 432 employees in 1985, 992 employees in 1990, 1565 employees in 1995, 1700 employees in 2000, 1990 employees in 2005, and 2014 employees in 2006. (d) HRP [pic] (e) Recruitment and Selection The Recruitment & Selection procedure of the bank is also related to its overall strategy. The bank is going to expand its branches in the near future and the bank is recruiting new employees & junior officers to satisfy its long run objectives. Highly qualified employees are hired for the organization. Entry-level position & minimum qualification: External sources: Provisionary officers: Minimum graduate Grade-2 officers: Minimum graduate Cash or computer officers: Minimum HSC Below the Above level: Minimum Class-VIII Internal sources: Other senior posts are filled by the internal sources except some technical or specialized field. (f) Training and development The Academy At the very beginning, the bank laid a foundation by setting up an academy at Head Office under Human Resource Division to develop human resource internally. Equipped with a professional library, modern training aids, professional faculty and other facilities, the Academy of the bank is a leading one among the banks in private sector. The Academy regularly conducts foundation courses, specialized courses and seminars in different areas of banking to take care of the professional needs. In addition, officers are regularly sent to Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) and Bangladesh Bank training Academy for professional training. Sending officers abroad for higher training is a regular feature. A Research Department also works in aid of HRD and other operational areas. The Academy has to its credit the experience of conducting several courses for the officers of the Bank of Maldives (BML) and Nepal-Bangladesh Bank Limited. In addition, it built up the training system for the Bank of Maldives Limited. The Academic activities: IFIC Bank Academy, established in 1983 as in- house training institution, takes care of the training need of the employees of the Bank. The objectives of the Academy are to: ? Make available skilled and dedicated workforce within shortest possible time by reducing time required for on-the-job training; ? Develop understanding about low and practice of banking through foundation training. Impart technical skill to the operational level officers through case studies/practical experience/demonstration/ project visit for efficient operations; ? Develop analytical & decision making skills of the officers; ? Develop understanding about human/conceptual skill and organizational cultures; ? Impart managerial skills to groom future Exec utives and to keep existing Executives up-to-date with national and international environment. Types of programs For fresher, Foundation Courses on elementary knowledge of banking are organized. Specialized Courses on the areas like Credit, Foreign Exchange, Accounts, Inspection, marketing etc. are meant for officials working in those areas. Senior level courses are run on specific knowledge area. Certain courses are a blend of different knowledge areas. In addition, certain priority programs are also being conducted by the Academy. These include program on Anti-Money Laundering, new skills required to perform new jobs. Approaches to Training: Training conducted by the Head Office: Head Office uses off-the job training namely Lectures, Conference, Workshop, Management Game, Role playing, Behavior Modeling and Case Study etc. Training conducted by the Branch: Branches use on-the job training namely job rotation, Coaching/ under study approach, direct supervision by the senior managers. The Academy holds need-based training courses/workshops/seminars etc. which are finalized by HRD Division in consultation with various departments and senior Executives at Head Office. Training inputs are constantly reviewed/modified for achieving the Bank’s objectives. Methods in training include: discussion/lecture/workshop/case study/games/role play/film show/simulation/group work & presentation /project visit and so on. On-the-job training Foundation courses have two parts: theoretical training in the Academy and job rotation. The officers on probation are requested to undergo both in a period of one year. During this period, three-phased training program is effective. On theoretical training in, say, General Banking the officers are required to undergo rotation in General banking activities under the supervision of the HRD. Similar process is followed in case of Credit & Foreign exchange. They report to the HRD weekly about the progress in rotation when problem-oriented discussion takes place for better understanding. Faculty The Academy has built up a pool of professional trainers within the Bank. In addition to permanent and professional trainers, speakers are drawn from operational side so that on-the-job experience may be exchanged and shared. Over and above, speakers from Central Bank, professional training institutions, universities, research organizations, and Govt. rganizations are also invited to share views and experience. Senior and retired bankers are also regularly invited to enhance effectiveness of training. Library The Academy has a good collection of books, journals, magazines. The books are mainly on subjects like Banking, Econom ics, Accounting, Management and Marketing etc. as on December, 2006 the library had 5,461 books/titles. The books are issued to the employees usually for one month. In 1988, the Academy undertook steps to build up Mini Libraries at all the branches outside Dhaka with a view to helping the employees with books and reading materials for updating and upgrading their knowledge. Branches are supplied with books /journals etc. for their Mini Libraries from time to time. (g) Performance appraisal The performance of the employees is measured by the immediate supervisors of the subordinates. The peace rate system is not applicable. The performance of the employees is not directly applied in the compensation system. It only helps in increasing the score of the Annual confidential report (ACR) to their supervisors. It helps the employees get promotion to the higher positions. Minimum two years is required for promotion of the employees. Two Methods of evaluation for promotion: 1. Annual confidential report (ACR) scored by the immediate supervisor 2. Interview marks. Both marks are added together to prepare list for promotion. Statistical Analysis indicates Average Job Satisfaction Of the employee (Mean) is 3. 37 out of 5. Standard Deviation is 0. 82 & Coefficient of Variation (CV) is 24. 33 %. (h) CPD For freshers, foundation Courses on elementary knowledge of banking are organized. Specialized Courses on the areas like Credit, Foreign Exchange, Accounts, Inspection, marketing etc. are meant for officials working in those areas. Senior level courses are run on specific knowledge area. Certain courses are a blend of different knowledge areas. In addition, certain priority programs are also being conducted by the Academy. These include program on Anti-Money Laundering, new skills required to perform new jobs. In this way the initiative for the new and young employees are conducted and their career path become smooth by taking this kind of training. (I) Findings ? IFIC bank Ltd. has capable workforce to compete with others. ? In Banks, specially in the senior position, experienced & educated employees are required. ? Remuneration is high in the bank. ? Most of the employees are satisfied in the bank. ? Working environment in the bank is healthy & fine. ? Employee welfare program has insurance facility, loan facility, provident fund transportation & house rent allowances, and gratuity etc. ? Interest rate is very low for the employees. Training methods: lectures, assigned reading, & job rotation are used & good. ? Employees are sincere. ? Employees have to remain vigilant all times & employees will be liable for their mistakes. ? Promotion depends on the performance & Annual Confidential Report (ACR) sc ored by the immediate supervisor plus interviews score. ? Bank job is very challenging and stressful, especially in the top- level position. ? Risk management is very difficult task in the bank. ? Sometimes, promotion is delayed because of certain reasons in the banks. ? Sometimes, Employers use nepotism and favoritism at the time of employment and promotion of the employees ? Marketing activities especially deposit target to open account is a difficult task. ? In the bank job, handling the borrowers is a very difficult task. When any borrower comes in the bank and does not get any loan from the bank due to legal requirement procedure of the bank, In this case customers may want to do undue influence to the bankers. They sometimes threaten the bankers for getting loan from the bank. ? Interpersonal relationships & communication are good. ? It is monotonous job. Especially employees have to reconcile the accounts: cash/clearing/transfer every day. ? Bankers sometimes have to work more than eight hours in a day without any remuneration. Music is played in the bank to remove monotonous working environment. ? Bonus is also paid on the basis of overall profitability of the banks ? Average Job satisfaction level is more than moderate i. e. , 3. 37 out of 5 (j) Pay scale Monthly compensation paid to the employees Total monthly compensation includes Basic salary; House rent allowances, Conveyance allowance, Medical allowance, Entertainment allowances, Telephone. |No. |Abbreviation |Elaboration |Total Monthly compensation in taka | |01 |MD |Managing Director |300000 Approx. |02 |SEVP |Senior executive vice president |73000 | |03 |EVP |Executive vice president |68000 | |04 |SVP |Senior vice president |62800 | |05 |EVP |Executive vice president |54350 | |06 |VP |Vice president |49150 | |07 |SAVP |Senior assistance vice president |36700 |08 |FAVP |First assistance vice president |33600 | |09 |AVP |Assistance vice president |31500 | |10 |SSO |Senior staff officer |23300 | |11 |SO |Staff officer |20600 | |12 |G-1 |Officer grade-1 |17900 | |13 |PO |Provisionary officer |12000 | |14 |G-2 |Officer grade-2 |9100 | |15 |CASH/COMP |Cash/Computer officer |7690 | |16 |OA(SG) |Office assistance(security guard) |7000 | |17 |O. ASSTT. Office assistance |6100 | |18 |DRIVER |Driver |5300 | |19 |SS |Security staff |4200 | |20 |O. ATT. |Office attendance |3850 | Source: IFIC Bank Ltd. Graphical chart [pic] Total monthly compensation of the employees Vertical lines represent TK amount and the horizontal lines represent the rank of employees. Here is the rank of the 20 employees & their salaries in taka. Rank can be known from the previous table, NO. -1 MD gets TK. 300000. 00 around & Rank No. – 20 Office Attendance gets TK. 3850. 00 total compensation. (k) LMR There is no trade union in the private commercial bank. But there is no dispute between the employees and the management. Comfortable family environment, comfortable job, satisfaction in work, high remuneration, good customer Service, good interpersonal relation, highly outside & inside personal relation development exist in the organization. Chapter 4 Conclusions and recommendations (a) Conclusions Banks play important role in the modern economy; Human Resources Management (HRM) issues play an important role in every organization and also in the banks. No organization can achieve its goals or can be good, until or unless it satisfies employees. Human Resources/ organizational members play the role of the crew who convert goals into the reality. In the banking sector, highly educated & strategic personnel are required to create a competitive position & to retain it for the long time. Training, principle of equality, job satisfaction, and career development are important in the bank. In the IFIC bank Ltd. The job satisfaction of the employees is more than moderate. Most of the employees are satisfied here. Bank is also satisfied with its employees. Bank’s salary structure is high but not highest in comparison with other commercial banks. Still comfortable working environment, good interpersonal relationship, and the benefits of the employees of the IFIC bank limited are also satisfactory. It has been operating since 1983 and it is a first generation private sector commercial bank in Bangladesh. It has retained its competitive position because of its performance and Employees have made the performance of the organization. Employee’s promotion & selection should be fair to get sincere, qualified, & dedicated employees. Its employee selection procedure should also remain free from nepotism, favoritism, and reference at all levels of management. Finally, the Bank must introduce modern banking system, adopt new technology, initiate new product, train its employees properly to do their job and keep employee satisfied. Bank’s performance is good for its satisfied employees. Bank is on the right track. Bank’s HRM policy is of course better, it has been able to satisfy its employees and customers as well. (b) Recommendations The authority of the IFIC Bank Limited should: Take initiative to motivate its employees to work more and to achieve its objectives. †¢ Take steps to remove stress and to manage stress in the job. †¢ Train its employees to manage the clients & to create a positive image about the bank †¢ Take steps to guard against undue loan sanctions. †¢ Protect bankers from the threat of the clients. †¢ Develop the practice sincerity and patience among the employees to handle difficulty in work. †¢ Take policy to cope with the problems of environment or technological change. †¢ Initiate highly automated system for the benefits of the clients & earning more profit and reputation as well. †¢ Provide overtime allowances for the employees for working more than eight hours. Provide timely promotion to create motivated and dedicated, employees and to increase the performance of the bank and employees as well. †¢ Eliminate nepotism and favoritism from the workplace. †¢ Increase the salary/allowance/incentives for its marketing activity to reach better position †¢ Introduce Career Counseling for its employees. †¢ Increase recreational facilities such as Picnic, Football match etc. †¢ Train properly the employees to handle risk management issues effectively & efficiently and †¢ Provide fast service delivery. (c) Suggestions The Branch Manager & VP has said about â€Å"Staff motivation by management. † AVP has said about â€Å"Better policy for the changing scenario and also adopt farther automation like on line banking. Others employees have said about promotion exercise must be done every year, to do what is good for the banking sectors, timely promotion, better customer service, to increase salary plus other benefits, to establish day care center, service delivery first, proper training the officers & staffs, and management should be careful about staff motivation. Appendix Department of Management Studies Faculty of Business Studies University of Dhaka Questionnaire about HRM issues of IFIC bank Ltd. Purpose of the Study: The purpose is to help a MBA student to prepare an report about HRM issues in the banking sector in Bangladesh in the light of the IFIC bank, Dhaka. 1. Name: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Designation: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3. Age: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4. Gender: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5. Duration of employment: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 6. Duration of employment in this bank: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 7. Why do you choose job in the banking sector? a) High remuneration b) Easy job ) Comfortable environment d) Challenging job e) Other, please specify: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8. Why do you choose job this bank? a) Highly paid b) Easy to develop career c) Better performance d) Better HRM policy e) Other, please specify †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9. How do you feel about your job? a) Pleasant b) Unpleasant c) Indifferent 10. Your satisfaction level in the bank job: a) Very high b) high c) moderate d) Low e) very low 11. Most pleasurable thing in this bank job: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 12. Your satisfaction level in the bank: a) Very high b) high c) moderate d) Low e) very low 13. Your relationship with your organization members: ) Very high b) high c) moderate d) Low e) very low 14. Most difficult things in the bank job: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 15. Most pleasurable thing in this branch: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 16. Your satisfaction level in training: b) High c) moderate d) Low 17. Educational qualification (last): a) Lower than SSC b) SSC c) HSC d) Graduate e) postgraduate 18. Are you satisfied with the culture of this branch? a) Yes b) No c) indifferent 19. Are you satisfied with the HRM policy of the bank? a) Yes b) No c) indifferent 20. Your special suggestions to improve the bank or branch Bibliography 1) Werther, William B. nd Devis, Keith, Hu man Resource Management, 5th edition. 2) Griffin, Rikey W. , Management 5th edition. 3) Lesikar, Raymond V. and Pettit, john P. , Business Communication, 6th edition. 4) Academic calendar 2007, IFIC Bank Limited. 5) Different documents of the IFIC Bank Ltd. taken from Head Office & the Branch 6) Web site: www. ificbankbd. com. [pic] ———————– Plan for dealing with predicted shortfalls or over staffing Compare future demand and internal supply Forecast external supply Forecast internal supply Predict Demand Assess trend in: ? External labor market ? Current employees ? Future organizational plans ? General economic condition Name ID NO. (1) Md. Mosharref Hossain 36 (2) Saheli Nargis64 (3) Md. Rashedul Hasan78 (4) Zubaer Shoaib86 (5) Md. Naharul Islam92 Name [pic][? ] |67Y[cdoeaO? A?  ©s†¹s†¹s|f|WQHh? â€Å"h†¡9 ©CJh†¡9 ©CJh? â€Å"h†¡9 ©B*[? ]CJ,aJ phy+jhDpB*[? ]CJ,U[pic]aJ mHnHphyu[pic]hOj h†¡9 ©B*[? ]CJ2aJ4phyhX[pic]? h’duB* CJ4aJ4phâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬hX[pic]? h†¡9 ©B* CJ4aJ4phâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬hX[pic]? [email  protected]* CJ4aJ4phâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬hemUB* CJ4aJ4phâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ho ©B* CJ4aJ4phâ‚ ¬h†¡9 ©CJh? â€Å"ho! nCJ-aJ h[? ]'GhU /5? CJ h#5? CJ jRoll no. Signature 1. Md. Mosharref Hossain36†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2. Saheli Nargis64†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3. Md. Rashedul Hasan78†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4. Zubaer Shoaib86†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5. Md. Naharul Islam 92†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦