Physically old but young in mind Essay

â€Å"Physically old but young in mind† Late adulthood is a developmental stage where senior citizens belong. It is the period beginning in the sixties or seventies and lasting until death based on our psychology subject. It is the time of adjustment to decreasing strength and health, life review, retirement, and adjustment to new social roles. People are said to be senior citizens when they reach the age of sixty or sixty-five because those are the ages at which most people retire from their work. As teenagers we should respect those people who are now in this stage of their life. One of the simplest reason to respect the elders is that we love them . They care for us when we are sick , cook for us , care for us , talk to us teach us and love us more than life itself. We love them , we follow them and their words .They show us their love by the acts of kindness and care , we show it by respect . Respect is part of love, love doesn’t exist without respect and respect is one of many signs of love. To let the elders know you care, just respect their words and actions. This will cement your relation and trust will multiply in no time. Life becomes easier for us when we have our elders on our side during our struggles. Also, when we have grandmothers and or grandfathers we want them to be happy. We do all things and spend a lot of time for them to enjoy the last years of their lives. But sadly, many people send or put them in a hospital or home for the agent maybe because they think that it’s a waste of time if they will take the responsibility of taking care of these elders. Being in a senior citizens stage, one must not think that he will stop exploring about things. Living in the past memories alone is to stay inactive. In order to stay active, one must find new interests; create within him a love for life; must not be content to simply watch life move on; rather he must be willing to take part in it. Anyone of us can stir up a new spirit of interest and enthusiasm with in. If one starts to think of himself as being too old to make a new start, this is merely an excuse. One may take up a hobby, call up old friends or relatives, start writing a blog or journal, learn a new art or technology, lead a spiritual life or involve oneself in all other activities one wanted to do, but could not do due to a genuine lack of time before retirement. Senior citizens should involve themselves in engaging activities to stay fit and prevent memory loss because at this stage of  life, they may be prone to diseases, syndromes and sickness. Seniors that participate in group activities may share laughter and joy. This develops a bonding experience between them. Playing games can be the answer to relieving depression, anxiety and loneliness. Technology has evolved where game consoles can read the motion or activity of your body. Senior citizens who have never played video games may be intimidated because of the game or complex control schemes. However, there are now games on the market specifically for seniors that are fun and some are even group oriented. Other games provide challenges such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku or brain teasers. These can enhance a senior citizen’s memory. Seniors also have the opportunity to go on trips and discover things they couldn’t before. This could be due to obligations or responsibilities such as work or being a full-time parent that didn’t allow them to pursue travel earlier in life. Retirees may obtain the free time to explore other cultures in different states or continents. They can go on aerial tours or on cruise vacations to see famous landmarks and experience the world. They also need to exercise, and gardening provides that source. According to â€Å"Senior Journal,† gardening is acceptable for seniors to meet the physical activity requirements needed to stay in good health. The report came from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Gardening has a calming effect because seniors are creating and nurturing flower beds or growing their own herbs and vegetables. Another help for senior citizens is t he regular massage therapy that can relieve stress, improve posture, circulation, relax muscles and control pain. Therapeutic massages provide relief of daily tension associated with stress and can help with the recovery process of various medical conditions. Another very popular activity for the elderly is ceramics. Many ceramic projects only need light sanding and painting, resulting in a beautiful and rewarding finished piece. This type of project offers a wonderful way for seniors to pass the time either at home. Other suitable crafts for senior citizens includes painting, photography, sewing, scrapbooking and many others. Playing games and solving puzzles are also an excellent cognitive activities for older seniors. These types of activities engage the brain keeping it stimulated and vital. This includes dominoes, card games, chess, scrable, bingo, jigsaw puzzles crossword and sodoku. By adapting these activities and games to the needs of  their limitations, many seniors are able to enjoy the health and social benefits of staying active. The benefits may include Mental stimulation that keeps the mind fit and challenged, Reestablishing recognition skills, Enhancing the senior’s memory, A healthier and longer life, Social interaction and friendships, Lower rates of depression, and A reduction in muscle and joint pain. What get’s old is body, not mind and soul. Soul does not age, and age of mind is a choice. One can be physically young but drained out in mind or physically old but young in mind. It is the people who really develop their own adjustment in whatever condition of life.

Exploratory Research Assignment Essay

Canadian’s first choice for an alcoholic beverage? Beer. Not only is beer a refreshing beverage on a hot, sunny day, it plays a big part in the Canadian heritage. The overall beer consumption over the years has been steady, however with increased competition, it is becoming harder for Canadian breweries to keep up with market trends. Hence, all the major Canadian breweries have been merged with or acquired by the international giants. The competition is rising not only between beer brands, but also within beverage types. Wine consumption in Canada has been increasing substantially. Consumers are always looking for something new and exciting, but at the same time, something they can relate to. â€Å"A key point for success is to bring differentiation while still retaining a recognizable and familiar aspect†(t). Another obstacle the brewing industry is facing is the wrong perception consumers have about beer and its effect on weight and overall health. â€Å"Beer belly†, for example is just a myth. It is vital for companies to educate consumers about the true nutritional value of beer to avoid wrong perceptions and lose consumers to other beverages that seem more calories cautious. Research Objective This report outlines current trends as well as opportunities and threats to the Canadian Brewing Industry. The results were interpreted based on the research conducted on the three major brewing companies: Heineken N. V. , Sleeman Brewery Ltd. , and Molson Coors Brewing Co. We identified and compared these breweries in terms of the background, consumer’s opinions and strategic issues the companies are currently facing. Finally, the recommendations provided outline the possibilities for improvement and growth of the industry if the appropriate changes are undertaken. Research Method This research was conducted based on North American population through trend analysis. The articles were chosen based on relevancy and the date of publication, 2008 and above. The main areas of research were: history of the company, social media impact, strategic issues and opportunities. The focus was on the most recent news and events that affected the company as well as the entire industry. Company Information Heineken N. V. was founded in 1873 in Netherlands and has become the world’s most international brewer (Heineken, 2013). It operates in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, The Americas, and Asia Pacific. The company is keen on contributing to a sustainable future. Their strategy is based on the four focus areas: conserving water, decreasing CO2 emissions, responsible agriculture, and responsible consumption. Heineken also believes that innovation is key to future success. The Heineken Ignite beer bottle is their new invention. It is replete with LEDs and motion sensors, â€Å"which let it light up with various effects when drinkers knock bottles to say cheers with someone or take a sip†. The LEDs could also be synchronized with music and activated by light sources. (d) Founded in Guelph, Ontario in 1834, Sleeman Breweries Ltd. became a leading brewer and distributor of premium beer in Canada. (b) Their success came from â€Å"turn-of-the-century† beer recipes and the passion that continues to drive the company to this day. Sleeman’s trademark is their unique clear bottle. In the recent lawsuit against Dead Frog Brewery that uses a similar clear bottle design, John Sleeman, CEO, said: â€Å"Sleeman will always vigorously defend its trademarks, especially where my family’s heritage is concerned. (c) Sleeman Breweries Ltd. was bought out by Sapporo in 2006, however the Japanese firm kept the Sleeman name and business intact because of the intrinsic value that it holds. (e) Molson Inc. is the oldest brewery in North America, established in 1786(a). In 1978, the company bought into sports and entertainment industry, purchasing â€Å"a share in the M ontreal Canadiens and the Montreal Forum, as well as hosting Molson Hockey Night in Canada†(a). Their advertising campaign has always been based on the â€Å"beer-sports† connection, trying to establish that beer and hockey are two defining elements of the Canadian identity. (f) After merging with Coors, Molson Coors Brewing Co. became 5th largest brewer in the world. Below is a comparison table of the three above-mentioned companies, in terms of 2012 sales, place of origin, current position in the market, types of beer offered in Canada, sports associations, and company slogans. Heineken is the most known international beer brand, â€Å"when in doubt, order a Heineken†. But the recent feedback from the consumers shows that Heineken is over-rated. It’s characteristic skunky taste is the result of the green bottles it’s served in. The UV rays break down the hop compounds, which is why the beer tastes different when served from the bottle compared to tap. Heineken however is not ready to let go of their notorious green bottles since that would make it harder to identify the beer, which in turn will hurt the company’s bottom line. Sleeman is known for its flavorful body and clean taste (no skunkiness). Some find it too sweet, others enjoy it. The benefit that Sleeman has over its competitors is that is offers different types of craft beer that other breweries don’t. From fruity India Pale Ale to chocolaty Fine Porter, Sleeman wants to create a long lasting relationship with those, who have an appreciation for beer. However, Sleeman is not as active in the Social Media world as Heineken and Molson are with their catchy commercials and Facebook pages. Molson Canadian was voted #2 in AskMen, men’s online magazine. Be it a hockey game, a backyard bbq or a camping trip, Molson Canadian is what the young generation automatically reaches for, due to Molson’s heavy advertising that incorporates those themes. â€Å"Camping essentials. Lots of firewood and Molson Canadian†- was posted on Twitter along with a picture of a truck loaded with firewood and cases of Molson Canadian. Key trends, opportunities and threats Although beer continues to dominate the market of alcoholic beverages, (c)†beer consumption is declining in the U. S. and Europe, the source of two-thirds of Heineken’s profits, because of tougher drunk-driving laws and a growing appreciation for wine†. The fact is that beer is not seen as a â€Å"fancy drink† that you indulge in, it is time to change that. Companies must start educating consumers about the differences between various types of beer, beer and food pairings, in order to create a better appreciation for the beverage. Another obstacle the brewing industry has to overcome is the â€Å"beer belly† myth. Consumers are becoming more health cautious and many believe that beer is detrimental to weight loss and health in general. The fact is, beer is fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in carbohydrates. Beer is made from hops, barley and wheat, so the beverage contains many nutrients such are: vitamins A, C B6, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, iron, and calcium. Beer also contains antioxidants and is high in fiber. Those who choose lighter beers in hopes of reducing their caloric intake, are also missing out on all the nutrients the beer holds. Drinking beer in moderation also reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bone fractures and osteoporosis, kidney stones, digestive ailments, gallstones, and physical ailments affecting the elderly. Beer can be part of a balanced diet and a healthy, active lifestyle. The key is moderation. (brewers association One of the big trends for summer 2013 is light and flavored beer with the hope to appeal more to women, and Molson Canadian is on top of it. Their new line of beer, Molson Wheat, is made with all-natural ingredients; â€Å"the unfiltered wheat lager delivers a hint of malt, balanced by the fruity character of just-ripened bananas†. Molson is also going to introduce Molson Canadian Cider made from 100% Canadian apples and champagne yeast. On the other spectrum, craft beer is also the category that will experience growth, thus Sleeman should undergo a positive turnaround in the near future. The current debate over wider retail distribution of alcoholic beverages is becoming more evident, and more changes and pilot programs are being tested to potentially expand product availability beyond liquor stores. â€Å"In 2013, the province of Ontario – the largest alcoholic drinks market in Canada will become LCBO or Liquor Control Board of Ontario Express stores-within-stores at 10 grocery supermarkets. The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission has also been testing the Liquor Mart Express store within a Canada Safeway supermarket in Winnipeg as of 2012† (Euromonitor International, 2013). Wider retail distribution will definitely create more opportunities for product marketing and retailer distribution, potentially giving more opportunities for smaller local wineries, breweries and distilleries to bring their products to the market (Euromonitor International, 2013) Study Implications and Recommendations There are four main concepts derived from this research: * Perception of beer * Health implications * Competition * Innovation In order to stay competitive, the above 4 concepts must be exercised interchangeably. The brewing industry has a lot of room for improvement and growth. The improvement must begin from changing the consumers’ perspective about beer in order to create a lasting relationship. An ongoing education about beer and beer consumption is also something that can change consumers’ perceptions and preferences. In order to stay competitive, one must â€Å"bring differentiation while still retaining a recognizable and familiar aspect†(t). Social Media is a powerful tool that must be utilized in order to reach consumers as well as to learn about consumer behavior and generate feedback. Study Limitations and Directions for Future Research I found the most credible sources were the company’s websites, Business and Company Resoucre Centre and Global Market Information Database (GMID). The least credible was Wikipedia (was not included in this research paper) since some of the information was not accurate and up do date. Canadian Business and Current Affairs, I found to be the least up to date and least helpful. There is much more research that could be conducted in regards to this topic- alcohol regulation, exporting tariffs, cross marketing strategies, etc. The above research should be used as a foundation for the in depth analysis of the brewing industry of Canada.

Time-division multiplexing

A user of a home telephone picks up her phone and makes a telephone call to a friend's home telephone in another part of town. Which of the following is likely to be true about this call? A. It uses a single pair of wires on the local loop at each end of the call 2. Which of the following are services that telcos have offered as WAN services over the years? A. Switched analog circuits B. Dedicated digital circuits 3. This chapter claims that IP routers work well as devices that connect to many different types of interfaces, including LANs and WANS.Which of the following answers list the reasons why routers do well in this role? A. Routers have much faster CPUs and can do the hard work to translate the incoming datalink header into the outgoing data-link format D. Routers discard old data-link headers and insert new data-link headers as part of their logic, which treats each Interfaces lower-layer detallds as Independent from each other 4. An enterprise network has many routers that c onnect to both a LAN as well as the WAN. Which of the following statements best describe how routers typically use and think about their WAN connections?B. As a transport service to deliver IP packets to the next Ip router 5. An enterprise builds a WAN design on paper. The main site, where all the servers sit, is shown in the center ofa network diagram. The WAN has a leased line from that site to every remote site, with the remote sites drawn around the edges of the drawing In a big circle. None of the remote sites have a leased line directly between them. Which of the following terms is most typically used to describe this WAN topology? D. Hub-and-spoke 6. A U. S. based company wants to order a leased line between two sites, with the eased line using the traditional T-carrier DSO, DSI, and DS3 types of lines. Which of the following answers describes the speed and distances for the leased line? A. No faster than 43,736 Mbps (T3) D. No literal distance Ilmltatlon 7. A telco customer has purchased a Tl leased line between two sites. The customer has already bought a router for one site, with a serial interface card with a built-in CSU/DSU. Which of the following answers lists other physical parts that the customer will need for that sites installation of the Tl leased line?B. A serial cable 8. A telco customer has a Tl leased line between two sites, called sites A and B. he telco has several switches between sites A and B that use T3 trunks. These switches use the T3 trunks along with time-division multiplexing (TDM) to create the leased line from site A to B. which of the following answers is true about how TDM works in this design? C. The switches map the Tl customer lines to one of 28 different frequencies in the T3 trunks 9. A telco network has TDM switches in the CO, ready to support Tl leased lines to customer sites.Two such switches have a single T3 trunk connecting the two switches, set aside to support T Is that run Just between those two co swltcnes. n lcn 0T tne Tollowlng answers Dest aescrlDes tne numDer 0T customer T Is the telco can support with these switches and the trunk? C. 28 10. A customer ordered a full Tl leased line between two sites. The telco implemented that leased line in its network using the T-carrier technology discussed in this chapter, with DSI, DS2, and DS3 lines plus switches that use time-division multiplexing (TDM) logic.Into which of the following general WAN categories does this service fit? B. Packet switching 1 1 . A telco customer orders a leased line between sites A and B, with requested speed of 1. 024 Mbps. The customer plans to use an external CSU/DSU at each site. The telco uses only T-carrier technology and none of the more modern options like SONET, ATM, MPLS, or Metro Ethernet. Which of the following answers is true about the speeds used on this link? B. The physical line between the telco CO and site B uses a line speed of 1. 2544 Mbps 12.A telco customer orders a leased line between sites A and B, with requested speed of 512 Kbps. The customer plans to use an external CSU/DSU at each site. The telco uses only T-carrier technology and none of the more modern options like SONET, ATM, MPLS, or Metro Ethernet. Which of the following answers is true about the speeds used between the router and the CSU/ DSU? A. THe CSU/DSU controls the router's sending and receiving speeds using clocking 13. Which of the following answers are true about DSI framing and channels? A. Each frame has 193 bits C.The frame groups 8 bits together for each of 24 channels, plus overhead 14. Which of the following data-link protocols was created to be used on leased lines, with support for multiple Layer 3 protocols by including a Type field that identifies the type of packet inside the data-link frame? C. PPP 15. Which fields that exist in both the HDLC and PPP headers have such relatively small use in point-to-point leased lines today, to the point that the PPP standards actually allows the nodes t o simply not bother to include these fields when sending PPP frames?B. Address C. Control 16. Think about the differences in a circuit switching the T-carrier system (ignoring analog circuit switching) versus packet switching. Which of the following answers are true about packet switching, but not about circuit switching? B. The telco switch can queue the data waiting on the congested outgoing to trunk to become available D. The switches look at the bits to find an address, and use that address to make a choice where to send the bits 17.In a Frame Relay network, which of the following terms refers to the customer router that connects to the Frame Relay network? D. Access link 18. Which of the following answers is not true about a Frame Relay network? B. Defined by the telco ahead of time, when the customers orders the service 19. A new Frame Relay customer is considering two competing Frame Relay design for his WAN. One design uses a full-mesh topology of PVCs between the 20 routers . The second design uses a partial mesh that looks like a hub-and-spoke design.Assuming that all other technical details not mentioned in this question are the same when comparing the two designs, which of these answers are true about the partial-mesh design but not true about the full-mesh design? A. Not all routers can send a Frame Relay frame alrectly to eacnotner B Frame Relay Trames, wlll De Torwaraea Dy tne network Dasea on the DLCI field in the Frame Relay 20. Which two of the following WAN services make good use of protocols that enterprise have used for many years, with those protocols being expanded and enhanced to create new types of WAN services?

Research Report Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Report Proposal - Essay Example It will enquire into if there will be some impact on the efficiency and life style of the female faculty staff if they are provided with the massage facility in order to reduce the level of stress in imparting their too heavy pedagogical duties. 3. In what ways does participation in the holistic health alternative practice of therapeutic massage treatments improve the quality of life of female faculty working in the Teacher Education program at this (Name) University The (Name) University female faculty across schools and departments will benefit from knowing if perceived stress is reduced and quality of life improved as a result of participating in a perceived Quality of Life and Stress survey and three massage therapy treatments designed to relax and revitalize the mind, body, and spirit. The information will be used to increase awareness of the stress female faculty encounter in the Teacher Education program. The findings may result in the development of holistic health programs that improve higher education environments. The information will be shared and published with the Massage Therapy Foundation of the American Massage Therapy Association. The population for this study will consist of thirty female faculties working in the Teacher Education program at a (Name) University.

Global Warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Global Warming - Research Paper Example As the report explores Earth and are now responsible for the fact that the surface of the planet seems to be warming because of trapped gases. Our fossil fuel use is the main reason those gases are present. Every time we drive a car to school or work, use electricity, or heat our houses, we are releasing carbon dioxide into the air and making our planet hotter. Another important source of greenhouse gases is caused by deforestation, mainly in the Amazon. There is a lot of money to be made in cutting down trees and planting land for animals to use so the animals can be made into hamburgers at the end of the day. Cattle itself is said by some people to be in part responsible for increasing the amount of methane in the atmosphere. A the essay stresses some scientists have stated on the record that this increase in trapped heat changes may be responsible for a change in the climate, not only making the surface of the Earth hotter, but altering weather patterns. The patterns and even currents we have known for centuries are changing and changing our patterns of trade and they we lead our lives. There will be more monsoons and hurricanes as seen by the terrible storms of recent years including Hurricane Katrina. With rising water levels and more storms coastal countries will be powerfully affected by climate change. Countries like the Maldives, which already are barely above the water level may vanish entirely, becoming a new lost city of Atlantis.

Case Study Business Report (answering question) Essay

Case Study Business Report (answering question) - Essay Example The company’s capital is divided into units with definite values and each of these units is referred to as a share. The people who hold this shares are called the shareholders. The major traits of shares is that they are the capital units for a company and each of them has a face value that is clear-cut. Certificates are issued to their holders for indicating the shares they hold against their values. All shares have unique numbers and their values indicate the significance of an investor in a company along with the degree of their liability (Melicher & Norton, 2010). These shares can be transferred from one person to another. There are several types of shares that a company can issue and these are the equity and preference shares. The preference shareholders receive dividends at a fixed rate and also receive their capital in case the company is winding up. They are quite a safe investment since their holders receive dividends regularly. On the other hand, the holders of equit y shares receive their dividends only after the preference holders have been paid . They also do not receive dividend that is fixed. Their receiving of dividends depends on the profitability of the company. Their initial investments are only refunded once the preference share owners have been paid theirs (Droms & Wright, 2010). ... This implies that if the company makes losses the management has no obligation to pay the owners their dividends. However, shares have disadvantages to their owners since the owners of equity are only paid their dividends when there are profits. The prices of the equity shares are not constant and vary with the company’s profitability. The company could raise a lot of money in the process of raising shares and this results in the shares having low values. The holders of the equity shares experience high degrees of threats and only own the company by name. The company has the disadvantage in that it cannot trade on the equity shares. The swaying of the owners of equity when voting for leaders by the management can lead to conflicting interests between them (Droms & Wright, 2010). 2. Debentures This is the money that a company borrows for a long period of time and pledges to repay within a constant period. The companies issues certificates to the providers of this loans known as debentures. It is given under the ordinary seal of an organization. It can be described as an acknowledgment that is put in writing for the amounts borrowed. It provides the conditions and terms on the money borrowed, their interest rates, repayment periods along with the securities offered (Rundell, 2008). The debenture holders are considered as creditors to the organization and are repaid after a constant time period. Their owners do not have the rights of voting and these amounts are normally secured. There are two types of these debentures which are the redeemable and irredeemable debentures along with the convertible and nonconvertible debentures. The redeemable ones are only repaid upon maturity

Free writing ... romance letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Free writing ... romance letter - Essay Example When I least expected, I met this girl. Out of no where, this girl planted a seed inside of me, a seed of many qualities. Not only did her personality attract me, but the seed told me that she was no ordinary girl. This seed was a seed of class and sophistication. She was one kind of a girl, the kind that can keep one mesmerized. Whether the seed was planted in the heart or elsewhere, I couldn’t figure it out. In simple words, I knew one thing; this was a very precious pearl buried deep in the sea, bringing a glimmer of light to the very depths of the ocean. This girl happened to be on the other side of the river, where the grass always seems to be greener. I was not sure whether I was watching her or I was meditating, she seemed like a butterfly fluttering away in all her magical beauty. I never thought I could have it in me to cross the river, being someone who would always discourage people for carrying out such an act. Despite all this something ignited within me, I was driven, I was carried away. The other side had always remained a mystery. Could this girl be really beautiful or just an illusion? When I reached the other side, I realized there’s more to her than meets the eye. This was a discovery I had to make alone. Quite a journey! I kept knowing more and more.. things I would never knew if I didnt choose this path. For example, I knew that journey was not a choice.. it was something that I had to... I also knew this could be the most amazing journey. Literally, I discovered beautiful things in life for the first time. Remember I was telling you about my idea of a prefect girl. Well, this girl was out of this world. She superseded all past and future thoughts.. all qualities I had imagined about a true lady. She is definitely "too good to be true". I no longer need to find more attributes. She made it easier. She whispered "here I am, just draw me†¦think of me...Im all the answers you need.

Ethics in criminal justice administration Essay

Ethics in criminal justice administration - Essay Example The prosecutor may come up with substantial evidence against the accused, but a professional defense lawyer could try to refute all of them using the specific guideliness involved in the law. This means that a case of the criminal could be win in the court because of the associated professionalism of holding on to the law. In other words, there could be probable linked up dilemma when it comes to ethics and professionalism in the criminal justice administration. There is also associated managerial approach when it comes to professional administration. One could potentially see this on the legalistic relationship between guards and the prisoners (Banks, 2004, p.134). However, guarding ethically would also mean doing the right thing, and performing what is right. This means that the coverage of criminal justice administration would go far beyond the bound of being legalistic in the administration of law, but ensuring what is the appropriate for the welfare of the prisoners. Thus, the c riminal justice administrators would be able to ensure the elimination of corrupt practices and make sure of fair treatment based on the context of law (Banks, 2004, p.134). However, ethics and professional behavior in the administration of criminal justice may potentially contradict. Professional behavoir may substantially pave the way for what seems to be right and appropriate. For example, the professional behavior of the defense lawyer may be proven by his ability to interpret the law and justify his reasons. Concerning this, there is a good chance for him to win the case of his client, who in reality should be guilty of a certain crime. This only implies that the presence of professionalism by simply adhering to the law has significant drawback as it may potentially conceal what is ethically appropriate. In professionalism, a defense lawyer for instance could orchestrate evidences that may sound appropriate for the law, but the bottom line is to nullify the value of the present ed evidences by the prosecutors and the witnesses. In other words, with professionalism, one would be able to win a case because of underlying technicalities involved within the context of law. Those who have strong interpretation of the law may be able to come up with a significant argument and supplement it with further proofs that could stand beyond reasonable doubt. It is therefore most likely for them to administer justice with their ability to persuade the court of what seems to be in line with law. Thus, provided that there is no substantial evidence, but in reality the accused is guilty, but there is no appropriate proofs beyond reasonable doubt, a professional defense lawyer may significantly win the case of his client. There is absence of ethics here especially if the accused who happens to be guilty will remain unpunished and acquitted. Certainly, it is not the right thing to do to find the murderer not guilty of the crime committed. However, there is a good chance for th ose who are professional enough to interpret the law and include substantial reasoning to target acquittal. In this case, justice administration may be a failure especially from the point of view of the prosecution and the victim. This also works the other way around, by which the culprit faces his sentence even on the crime he has not actually committed. This is due to the fact that the presented evidence was so strong that the prosecution team was professional enou

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 23

Case Study Example In ‘Our Product’ segment, I have given the available products in the market and emphasized of the prices and the after use results. The ‘Invite to Facebook page’ segment gives a description of how the consumers are expected to interact with their fellow consumers and the company in general especially in comments and criticism. As such, I am optimistic that the information in the page is effective towards the targeted social marketing for the company’s products. In this regard, I kindly request that you personally go through the page and give your final approval on the messaging before it is officially hosted. I write in reference to the ongoing company’s project that entails social marketing for the company’s beauty products. The memo comprises of the ways in which I have adapted the Facebook Page for the company, the reasons for using the messaging and design on the Facebook Page and its attractive purpose to the customers. Basically, my idea of adapting Facebook as the most effective tool in social marketing emerged after I conducted a thorough research on how our company was going to increase its sales, and further maintain a competitive advantage bearing in mind that there are numerous companies selling similar products across the country. The research articulated that a large numbers of our potential customers used Facebook as their official social media platform. In this regard, I chose the two main colors in the official website in order to maintain the brand image as stipulated in the company’s policy. In addition, I incorporated the two separate segments to give emphasis on the two main themes that were expected to appear on the Facebook page as discussed and approved by the team members in a series of meetings held in the past few days. The general design on graphics and animations was worked on by the company’s Creative Department to blend the messaging together in order to

The training and development of employees in William Hill Essay Example for Free

The training and development of employees in William Hill Essay Training is essential for both employees and employer if they want to be effective within the organisation and also for a company like William Hill to stay competitive within their market. The reason why training is important to employees is to enable them to achieve their maximum potential in their current position, it is needed also to develop them to create further opportunities within the organisation because employees are likely to be better educated and become multi-skilled. Training should be ongoing within William Hill in developing the employees skills within the business. William Hill believes training is very essential for their company especially when it proves for employees to develop within the organisation and continuing to meet objective. The training and development of employees in William Hill is imperative for the performance or the company as they are in a competitive market. William Hill has to inform workers to be aware of surroundings in the area that they work. The main types of training which businesses are using are Induction, on and off the job training and induction because they are successful in degree of the work format in different organisations needs. Training firstly takes place with induction in William Hill plc to enable new employees settle in quickly and feel comfortable to stay within their organisation. Induction programmes are not usually about a specific job the employee will be doing, but the way in which the business works. Then they have off and on the job training, which takes place in different methods. Induction This is the training provided for new employees and in this program they will learn the following: * Where everything around the workplace is such as the essentials which are fire exits, toilets, staff canteen, basically they will get a guided tour of their place of work. * They will go through the employees hour of work, who their manager is, name tags, uniform and training which will be provided for them in the future. * Booklets will handed out concerning sickness procedures, perks, grievance procedures, health and safety regulations and William Hills mission statement. All new recruits are taken through induction program at William Hill which is designs to give employees a broad understanding of the business indifferent contexts because it is a way in which William Hill can communicate and develop a relationship with employees and ditto with customers. This also ensures customer care due to its importance it will enable William Hill to keep their customers loyal. A booklet named You and William Hill is an outline of what expected of each employee and information concerning your uniform which is either a black or navy blue trousers or skirt and a white shirt/top with a William scarf and name tag. Mentoring Mentoring involves the trainee being paired with more experienced employee. This is a good way to train employees as they are able to carry out the tasks that they would be performing if they were really doing the job. The mentor is there to assist the employee if they have any problems. William Hill can implement this type of training as a means for the employ that feel less confident within the workplace to gain a higher self esteem level. Having someone they feel comfortable with would make them work better and they can adapt interactive skills with that person, enabling them to use it on others. William Hill would be encouraging a more cohesive environment if this was one of their training methods. Coaching Coaching is a planned process requiring time and resources, and will be more effective if the coaching manager is trained in coaching techniques and committed to the approach. A coach may guide a trainee through procedures that they may carry out in the future. Sitting next to Nellie is a traditional type of on the job training. Nellie is the experienced worker there to guide you along your way. However this may cause complications for the company as the quality of the training depends on the ability of the trainer. William Hill could use this as they could teach employees about what goes on in the business. Its a lot easier for the employee to ask questions about things that they may feel they dont understand and have them answered there and then. Also being able to have areas demonstrated in a practical format would benefit the employee. Apprenticeships Apprenticeships provide people with broad based training along along with key skills. After they complete the course they graduate and become an employee. They aim to give a number of people undergoing training who achieve NVQs of at least level 3 for technical, craft and junior management skills. In my opinion William Hill Smith might not use this as they would probably just have part time workers, e.g. students wanting part time jobs in summer. On the job On the job training is done within the premises. Some jobs require no experience so the training will be done on arrival. This is appropriate in areas like Shop floor workers learning how to use the till, or a new clerical assistant will need to understand the filing system. William Hill will use this as they could train new employees how to interact with others. Shop floor workers can see first hand how workers that are more experienced than them handle customers, whethwer theyre nice or difficuit. Off the job training Off the job training is done off the premises. This may take place in another branch or as a college course. This is done to widen the employees skills and develop the ability that the individuals already have. Depending on the position that the employee has William Hill can send the worker on a course to develop his/her skills. Managerial positions may require this as their role is much more intense, e.g. dealing with employees or customers that may not be happy with the performance of employees. Transferable skills Transferable skills are skills that once they are learnt they can be used in many situations. Key skills of Application of Number, Communication, and Information Technology are used to develop a technique you already have. William Hill use this as it would be appropriate in their type of industry. The development of the skill that the employees possess would be needed if they were to move to another company for employment. Granted that all the skills cant be used within all industries within the same field the basic knowing of what to do in a certain predicament would be needed by the employee. William Hill providing this for them would improve their imge. Non Transferable skills These skills are specific to the job at hand. The skills you learn can only be used in a particular situation. William Hill wouldnt use this as the workers can become more productive if they learn different skills. Rotating them around would motivate them to help others and if they are to be relocated into another branch then they wouldnt need to adapt very much to they way of working. GNVQS GNVQS are a work related alternative to GCSE and A Level. This is basically the digestion of knowledge of what some companies may do. The aim is to provide education to students that want to enter a particular area of work. To progress from this area would be to move into work where an NVQ may be taken, or to move to another level (e.g.) level 2 to level 3 or level 3 to higher education (university). William Hill doesnt use this as training as the company isnt in this type of industry. If they chose to send their employees off the job for training, in a college they may prepare the employees for the basic knowledge they would need. Development This is enable individuals within William Hill to realise their potential for growth in the organisation. There are many ways you can measure individuals potential, such as appraisal, an analysis of employees performance or a system of assessment centres. There are also many ways an employee can be rewarded for their potential, such as promotion, job rotation, job enlargement, and job enrichment. William Hill offer all staff all the opportunity to develop themselves, that is why if one has the ability can progress to management level and then given the opportunity will have to go through management induction program, this will aid William Hill as workers will be more motivated as they will gain a sense of achievement which leads to greater employee retention. Training is very important for William Hill as well staff because well trained workers will be more productive and this will enable the company to meet objectives set which will increase profit. This is also good for employees especially concerning performance relate pay because a higher dividend is given. It will help save cost as there will be less waste due to fewer mistakes made also the corporate image will be enhanced because the work force are better skilled and motivated. Training and Development can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty indirectly as work will be done more efficiently and they will be more motivation to keep customers happy also it can make William Hill more competitive as they will be performing better at work.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) From USA to India

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) From USA to India CHAPTER NO.1: INTRODUCTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION: The business environment is changing rapidly in recent years and is affecting business all over the world. The management of various businesses are looking for a way to minimize the cost so the profit can be maximised. This will ensure business growth and sustainability. Hence many international companies are adopting the outsourcing in order to minimize the cost where there is less competence. IBM Daksh is one of the major Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company in India where many Multi National Companies (MNC) have outsourced their business. The purpose of this proposal is to help me organise my ideas and clarify my thoughts. I would also use this proposal to convince my audience that this research proposal is feasible. My working title of the topic areas is BPO industry in India. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: The study investigates BPO from USA to India, a case study in IBM Daksh, how BPO has impacted on India with different perspectives. Adopting qualitative case study research method, the organizations overall business strategy will be discussed and how they outsource their non core functions to other expertise company. It will explain the integration of outsource with business strategies. This assessment is based on the actuality that BPO is emerging as a market and has become more common in European countries and it has become a comprehensive part of business deals. Analysts are estimating a remarkable revenue growth of business process outsource transactions and dreaming that IT business process outsourcing will touch reach your zenith of market. Experts predict that BPO revenue will increase 13.8 percent per year. The most accurate predictor of BPO market said that worldwide BPO industry US$7.5 million in 2009 and US$11.9 by 2012, whereas McKinsey had predicted that worldwide BPO will be US$500 billion by 2008 that almost has proven in the last 3 years. Halvey, John K (2007) defines business process outsourcing as outsourcing of one or more business processes to a third party vendor who is an expert of those functions. BPO focuses on the overall process to minimize the cost and maximize profits. As the competition grows globally, all the organizations must want to maintain a competitive edge and must function more effectively in order to sustain a position in the market. In some sense organizations want earn more revenue and want less operational cost. So in BPOs management turned over to the vendor, who in return commits to reduce costs, provide effective services and gain customer satisfaction. With the IT outsource market growth, BPO customers are looking for more productivity, improve methodologies, sharing of resources and customer satisfaction. As the global telecommunication is fastest, companies are shifting work to international vendors, although many countries have specialization in different fields. India, the core of business process outsourcing has expertise in engineering and technical services. Chinese and Mexicans are expert in manufacturing whereas U.S. analyse the business processes in an effective way along with creativity. Philippines are good in administrative skills. There is no doubt that Indian BPO industry is more favourable destination of world. Indian BPO industry has many reasons to attract European countries for investing here. India has the largest pool of workforce of low-cost technically sound, English speaking and expert in engineering. Their telecom sector has improved and meeting the U.S. outsourced call centre requirements. In addition bei ng technically sound, the Indian manpower work at lower wages in comparison to other developed countries of the world. Flexibility in working hours is another major attraction for developed countries to work in Indian BPO. It is because of different time zone and geographical conditions. Due to all these factors Indian BPO is most desirable business environment for European countries. The economic expansion of any country is very important for its growth. BPO contribution to GDP is very high gradually. For the year of 2003 the GDP contribution was 0.2, for 2003 was 0.5 and for the year 2009 was 2.5. This increased contribution to Indian GDP shows that IT-BPO industry has significant mark in the countrys economy. Due to these thousands of people get employment. 1.2 REASONS FOR CHOSING THE TOPIC: Business process outsourcing is becoming increasingly important throughout the world. BPOs may integrate the IT management and business operations at the same level; it is highly beneficial for business processes. Moreover it involves the strategy of core operations of European countries with developing countries to get beneficial of lower cost. The United States market has been above all profitable for Indian BPO companies because of the 12-hour service providence, low cost manpower and skilled expertise. Higher management have also understood that for lower operational cost, it is essential to outsource non-core function to outside expertise. For highlight this industry benefit the researcher has chosen this topic for his dissertation. 1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH: The main objective of this research is to introduce the business processing units. Why they need to come into existence and how they are beneficial for Indias economy. For five years every American company has its business processing units in India and they are earning huge amount. Then the researcher finds out the various drivers and challenges of Indian BPO Industry. International Business Machines (IBM) is a large company of USA. This research is to explore the reasons that why IBM has chosen India for their business process unit. The factors which are supported for India to maintaining its top position in this sector will be discussed as well. The overall objective of this dissertation is to explore the IBM Daksh which was started in 2004, its top ten BPOs of India. What are the Impacts of BPO in India in terms of economy? Because of new IBM Daksh more job opportunities are bringing in a new generation as already this BPO is serving 25,000 employees in India. How BPOs are affecti ng culture and lifestyles, educational system and Development of rural areas as new projects are going to provide job opportunities for rural area people. To achieve the aims and objectives of the study, some of the questions are below which must be met, are as follows: To explain the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) To discuss the various drivers and challenges of Indian Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Industry To analyse the competition of India with other countries regarding Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry To understand the drive of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in India To discuss briefly about International Business Machines (IBM) To investigate why International Business Machines (IBM) has chosen India for IBM Daksh Discuss the rapid growth of IBM Daksh in India To analyse the impacts of BPO industry in India in terms of economy and Culture and life style 1.4 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS: The literature shows that Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has rapidly increased in India. The study will investigate the obstacles and challenges of Indian BPO Industry. This will also highlight the demanding drivers for Indian BPO industry. Researcher will engage looking at how the IBM has introduced their BPO in India and how these steps of organization are aligned to its strategic planning process. Moreover the impact of BPO industry over Indias economy will also be discussed. Case study discussion will explore the BPO industry in India and how India is leading in this industry. The remarkable growth of IBM Daksh will also be discussed. 1.5 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY: With the changing trends of business globally every large size organization emphasis on cost reduction and effective quality services. To reduce the cost, organizations delegate non-core functions of business process outside the organization. The term BPO refers to business process outsourcing and it means outsourcing in all the sectors. Technological changes are integrating businesses with new trends and BPO can be differentiated in terms of using new technology and being implemented by current one. This research is important to the research and development for the Indian BPO and IBM Daksh, and also equally important to the researcher. This study is beneficial for HR managers at IBM Daksh to look back into the procedures against retaining the talent pool. Researcher compares the Indian BPO industry with other blooming outsource countries, this will give a chance to improve industry and fill their gaps. Finally this dissertation help the researcher gain an understanding of several basic concepts in BPO and enhances his knowledge after consulting many books and journals along with online web sources. This will help the researcher gather information about upcoming threats for business process industry worldwide. It will help their management improve infrastructure and concern about security issues. 1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY: Throughout the world business trends are changing and Information technology is spreading over business strategies. Business process outsourcing is also fast growing industry with the high growth of IT sector globally where key players are India, China, Canada, South Africa and the Philippines. India is most beneficial IT-BPO sector in developed countries. India is retaining their customers of BPO industry by providing them with low-cost manpower, proficient in English and technically sound. They have low cost advantage as compared to other European countries. Time zone difference and 24 hours service providence is another key point of Indian BPO sector. Because of all these factors which make India more efficient and cost effective BPO centre for developed countries. IBM decided to open its BPO in India with the name of IBM Daksh. This BPO is dealing with IT help desk, procurement, human resources, after sale customer support, customer growth etc. The information gathered from this study will be beneficial for IBM Daksh management and Indian IT-BPO industry; in case they can concentrate suggested recommendations to have come up solution for talent retention. 1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY: According to researcher the aims of the research have been partially achieved. The limitation of the research was that the researcher not taken interviews from the management of no concerned areas or departments of organization. Though, interviews were engaged with the outsource department of organization and employees of that BPO. Other BPOs employees of Indian industry were also interviewed by a researcher. While both the employees and the higher management at IBM Daksh were quite helpful. Along with informative interviews the document study and literature review proven very knowledge full for the researcher. Adequate in depth study was not possible due to lack of resources and time limitations. 1.8 METHODOLOGY: The researcher adopted the two approaches in order to understand the Indian BPO industry and its implications in Indian economic life. Firstly, it contains a concise literature review about Indian BPO industry and why IBM chose for Daksh. The second phase explores the reasons that why IBM chose Indian BPO industry for opening their unit. For this purpose case study methodology has been used. 1.9 ORGANIZATION OF STUDY: Chapter No. 2 (Literature Review) This chapter revolves around the business process outsourcing. Furthermore the implementation of BPO in India is described. Increasingly some challenges of Indian BPO industry and how Indian BPO industry overcome those factors. Finally, the competitors of Indian BPO industry are discussed and under case study IBM will be reviewed. Chapter No. 3 (Research Methodology) This chapter will discuss the investigative strategy for this study, what practice was used for interviews and the limitations of the interviews. In-depth personal interviews regarding study subject were conducted. Document study was also used to help the researcher. Researcher adopted a critical realist post-positivist approach. Case study methodology was used for this study. Chapter No. 4 (Analysis and Discussion of Data) This chapter explains the business process outsourcing and how India is competing with other countries in this industry. This chapter provides the quantifiable reasons of India to be standing in top position BPO industry globally. Along with this, Indian BPO industry challenges are also highlighted. How Indian BPO industry is beneficial for IBM Daksh is also mentioned in this part of study. The rapid growth of IBM Daksh and its impact on Indian economy is also provided. At last findings of the study are analysed and discussed under the light of literature. Chapter No. 5 (Conclusion and Recommendations) In this chapter researcher has provided with conclusions about this study. The aim of study has been achieved and recommendations for the organization are also here. Further research ideas are also provided by the researcher. CHAPTER NO. 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 INTRODUCTION: The chapter explains the BPO and an overview of Indian BPO industry, how the BPO industry is effecting on India. How it is becoming imperative for European business units, along with the benefits of BPO. Moreover this chapter discusses the IBM Daksh case study and how they choose India for their BPO industry, thereafter company gain competitive edge. Data collected from books, journals and documents on Indian BPO industry. 2.1 BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO): According to Hoboken, N.J, John Eiley (2005, pp-5) the delegation of non-core functions of particular organization to other external resource is called the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). In other words the revolutionary and innovative telecommunication infrastructure is an essential part of this process that gives the life to business process outsourcing. Eltschinger, Cyrill (2007, pp-2-3) explains the process of transferring the business processing operations to an external service provider or resource for getting solve those functions in accountable manner is called Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Basically this concept is derived from assign inside functions of company and delegate outside firm to handle them and get paid. Another positive impact of BPO is Value-Added Outsourcing. Why some functional area is turned over to an external source? In fact the external resource can add value to the action that becomes cost effective for the company. According to Thomas N(2005, pp-1-2)Business process outsourcing (BPO) can be explain as some of business processes goes to an external vendor within the organization. Because of fast technology, telecommunication infrastructures are ruling over old methods of communications so Business process outsourcing (BPO) initiatives often contain the transfer the work to international vendors. BPO industry is often indicated as a socio-technical industry because it clubs the technology with the social beings or human resources at a vast scale in order to reach millions of clients all over the world M. Purwar (2010, pp-4). The employees who leads the team and take initiatives must train employees regarding the technologies used in that strategy. Nontechnical managers cannot fill all expectations; they cannot reach the potential of required abilities. Outsourcing system is used in agreement for services for that are not having expertise. By outsourcing they can focus on their time, money and energy. The companies can concentrate on other core functions in a better manner. 2.1 BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO) INDUSTRY: The business environment is changing rapidly in recent years and is affecting business all over the world. The management of various businesses are looking for a way to minimize the cost so the profit can be maximised. This will ensure business growth and sustainability. Hence many international companies are adopting the outsourcing in order to minimize the cost where there is less competence. Outsourcing is a useful thought used in business and secretarial. It began in the early eighties when the management of the large organizations started to deliver their non-core functions to an external organization to get them done in a specialized way. Outsourcing was not officially recognized as a business strategy until 1989. Though, many organizations were not self-sufficient so they delegate some of their functions to outsiders. Outsourcing support services is the next stage. In the 1990s, when organizations started to concentrate on cost-saving measures, they started to outsource few functions; necessary to run a company. High level management started search for vendors and contracted with rising service companies to deliver non-core functions of company like human resources, data processing, payroll, accounts, security, plant infrastructure maintenance (Alexander Young (1996). In outsourcing, the external organization would take on the management of the outsourced function. In outsourcing, the outsourcer and the outsourcing partner have a great relationship when compared to the relationship between a buyer and a seller.In outsourcing, the outsourcer trusts the outsourcing partner with vital information. Outsourcing is no longer confined to the outsourcing of IT services. United States outsourcers now outsource financial services, engineering services, creative services, data entry services and much more. Organizations are realizing that outsourcing can lead the business as an effective business strategy towards achieve high targets. 2.3 WHY COMPANIES OUTSOURCE?: Outsourcing process is valuable to both the outsourcing company and the vendor which provides outsourcing services. In an outsourcing relationship, the vendors enable the outsourcer to reduce operating costs, increase quality of business, put less time and money and get an increment in output. Reasons behind outsourcing are below: 2.3.1 Cost cutting: According toM. Purwar (2010, pp-5) Cost controlling is done by avoiding capital outflow associated with purchase of new and upgrade current systems. These savings can be done in infrastructure, operational cost and other core areas of company. Every single U.S dollar invested in Indian BPO industry can return output of equal 10-13 U.S dollar. Vast pool of skilled employees is ready to work for fewer wages. Call centres salaries are drastically less than western countries wages. 2.3.2 Improve efficiency: Rick.L (2006, pp- 21-23) explained that most of managers spend 80% of their time to manage the processes and sort out things while 20% use for strategy developing. But in outsourcing the situation is quite different. Through outsourcing saved time spend in developing strategies, generate revenue, advertising marketing campaign and focus on customer satisfaction. Business process outsourcing enhances the abilities of employees and increase company efficiency. Such companies are able to arrest new efficiencies and improve processes. Save employees and skilled manpower could use to relocate other projects to increase productivity. 2.3.2 Expertise of Outsourced Units: Because of core functions of outsource company can save from harass of arrange training programs and recruiting expertise. BPOs provide experts opinion and skills at low rate compared to U.S and western companies. The companies who want create brand equity often invest in infrastructure and hunt talent throughout the world. Many outsourcing companies are already facilitating companies in terms of improved efficiencies. 2.3.3 Focus on core competencies: The growing competition among big giants of business world dictates that a successful company must have to maintain competitive edge to win the race. They should have immense process for keeping an eye on core competencies of company. Any company can get better performance of core non functions through outsourcing. Big companies cannot afford to spend valuable time on non-core procedures and transactions which can be handled by outside specialists. Through outsourcing companies can save time and spend that on increase revenues, develop product line and gain customer confidence. Business process outsourcing can give the privilege to the company to focus on core competencies. Because BPO takes the responsibility to back office day to day routine activities. 2.4 ADVANTAGES OF OUTSOURCING: In Eltschinger,Cyrill (2007, pp-2-3) opinion BPO enables you to redefine your business priorities, take on and perform better skills, cost effectiveness and get better result. Below are some advantages of BPO: Outsourcing enables the increased efficiency of non-core functions of business process. It becomes organization more flexible. Outsourcing helps to rationalize business processes. Due to offshore outsourcing organization can save time, money, manpower and training cost. Because of deleting some functions to external sources, organization can more concentrate internal business processes. Outsourcing enables the organization to reduce operational cost. The most beneficial part is that organization save money with respect infrastructure. Business risks may share with use of outsourcing. 2.5 DISADVANTAGES OF OUTSOURCING: The disadvantages of outsourcing are less than advantages of outsourcing but should consider before jump in this industry. Sometimes after outsourcing, company find it difficult to manage the offshore provider as compared to manage within the company. The employees of organization can show lack of interest and produce low quality work. There could be few disadvantages regarding contracts like to renew the contract, misunderstanding of contract and breech of contract. In some scenarios, it is more cost effective to conduct a business process within the company rather than outsource it. Company security and confidential documents can be in danger by outsourcing the services like payroll and tax preparation. Table: Advantages and disadvantages of Offshore 2.6 REASONS BEHIND JOINING BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO): According to M. Purwar (2010, pp-35), BPO is a very fast and growing industry which is attracting youngsters in India and growing at a rate of 40-50% rate since it started in India. In the previous few years there is high makeover in municipal youth and rapid changes the environment they live in. The remarkable growth of call centres in India is shown high graph of socioeconomic and cultural developments. Youngsters of India are ranging from their lifestyle, career, personality and language of the whole culture. No doubt this changing personality growth is leading towards their faster financial goals. They are moving towards their career milestones and attaining goals. Such attitudes compel them to join BPO industry. More reasons are listed below: Higher education is not required to join BPO, so after 12th can join BPO and start earning. Financial independence is an important reason to join BPO. Workers has gateway to better salary packages. There is no need for specific and huge amount of investment unlike other professions. Who wants to enhance their communication skills, its best opportunity for them. Especially young students need to take over their communication drawbacks. When someone is looking for good professional job, is not successful so in this meanwhile can adopt this culture. Employees having better working environment, truly international level of standard. Attractive lifestyle can attain through BPO industry earning. No technical education and skills are required for this field, so less age fellows can also start this job. Indian Government cannot deny this factor that BPO industry is beneficial for Indian youth and thousands of people has got the job due to this. Industry sustained so many people. 2.7 CHALLENGES FACED BY BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO) COMPANIES: People working in BPO assume that such jobs do only require little skills. Basic education and good interpersonal skills enables people to join BPO sector. They think high qualification and solid experience is not required for such positions. BPO companies normally hire middle age people. There is no sense of achievement among the employees. Selection of the right service provider is also considerable. When any company look for a BPO service provider, they should mind three key points: a verified track record, technical abilities and how BPO Company adds value to the task to be done. Workers are being demotivated due to high expectations of outsourcing companies. In fact in such companies employers only think about achieve their deadlines. Employers only concentrate on time delivery of work, information security, getting more clients. But still their satisfaction is quite possible in case the expectations are realistic, working environment is according to that region, employees are getting motivation and good company ethics. According to article ‘Challenges of BPO Industry (2009) that knowledge management is important element of the Indian BPO industry that is in front of challenges. Here the question arises that how such challenges cultivate in BPO companies? These challenges arise when required development procedures not being followed by BPO industry. When BPO companies do not offer new training according to changing trends and become stagnant, it is another big challenge. Lack of communication among employees in a different department may lead towards frustration, which often creates hurdle in the way of better production. Without following the proper chain of command, the actual requirement of supplier companies cannot be fulfilled. Motivation is another challenge for BPO industry companies. Employees need continues motivation. When Indian BPO companies would leave to motivate their employees they cannot sustain at top in the BPO industry. Moreover, Company higher authorities should share the goals and vision with employees. Through this employee put best input to the company procedures. It is necessary to stay in this business for a long period of time. Largest worry about BPO industry is attrition. According to analysts attrition rate of Indian BPO industry is about 30%. If the companies will not stop it seriously, they could face deficiency of professionals at high rate. According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), report the outsourcing industry could face a deficiency of 262,000 professionals by 2012. By using outsourcing many companies can lose their control because it is not easy to manage outsource activities. Employees of company lose their interest in work and trust on executives of company. Security of contracts and some confidential information sharing can create a huge problem for company management. 2.8 INDIAN BPO INDUSTRY: The past five years have seen a big bang in the Indian Business process outsourcing (BPO) industry as almost every American Company has its BPO set in India. Large companies of US are having savings by being a part of this industry. BPO as we know are the Business Process Outsourcing units which function by collecting the data provided by the companys US headquarters, analysing them and sending out the processed output back to the headquarters or to the desired venue as directed by the company. Now, BPO industry tops the list of the profitable sectors in Indian economy. According to India Business directory (2009) the BPO sectors demands are increasing from western countries, multiple reasons like due to the availability of cost-effective labour in India, who are highly skilled and also they are good in English speaking. Indias telecommunication sector gave a lofty boom of BPO industry in 1994. There was 14% registered a growth rate of BPO sector in India during the first 6 months of 2007. During the last five years the growth rate of BPO industry of India was low because of less investment from outside countries, whereas now BPO industry is viewing some optimistic signs with investments from western countries. Mr. Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM (2011)said that Indian IT-BPO industry grew by 19% to reach USD 76 billion in 2011. A strong grow is seen in the domestic market of 16 percent having Rs.789 billion revenues. Direct employment graph is also high and satisfactory which is expected to reach nearly 2.54 million, along with the addition of 240,0 00 employees. According to the same source, 54% growth rate of Indian ITES-BPO recorded during 2003-2006. During the same time period Indian BPO sector created job opportunities for around 74,450 additional personnel. By the year 2009, the ITES- BPO of Indian sector employed around 1.15 million people, along with an expected sale of US$21 to US$24 dollars. (http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/it-bpo-industry-strong-growth-with-focus-on-transformation-and-enhanced-value-proposition/) Questions may raise that why India has been chosen by so many companies to open their outsourcing units. There are many reasons for choosing India. Some of significant factors are tech savvy professionals, cost effectiveness, better competencies; improve business risk management, 24 hours customer support and economies of scale. FE bureaus (2009) explains in his article that the BPO sector in India has been the fastest growing sector, having a growth rate at a compounded annual for over 37% to aggregate revenues of US$14.8 billion in financial year 2009 of US$1.6 billion in financial year 2002. There is huge increment indirect employment for this period from 155,000 to almost 1 million people. It shows India as fastest growing sector. Thus, India has maintained its top position in the global outsourcing market. Whereas it is the time of â€Å"cautious optimism,† the outsourcing industry is a need to sustain its expansion for 2years because its export target is 60 billion USD for FY2012. Whistle all stakeholders are needed to put efforts to deal with the present challenges. 2.9 SWOT ANALYSIS OF INDIAN BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (BPO) INDUSTRY: 2.9.1 Strengths: Skilled, English language benefit workforce. Affluent talent pool. Well developed IT industry. Ch

Concepts Of Organizational Behaviour

Concepts Of Organizational Behaviour This report is all about organization behavior and management, what kind of problems are face by organization due to the behavior of all stake holders of any organization? And what steps and decision of management are help to overcome all the problems and what is the current scenario of OB and why it is necessary to study of OB? INTRODUCTION Concepts of OB Organizational behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structures have on behavior within the organization. This impact works towards improving the organizations effectiveness. Of all the resources, human resources are precious and the behaviour of human being is unpredictable, thus unique in nature. As such an understanding of their interaction in Organisations is necessary, for the purpose of integrating human effort towards realisation of goals. In order to understand human behaviour, a specified field of faculty of knowledge is being developed. It is called organizational Behaviour (OB). Focuses on three levels of analysis Individuals, Groups, and Organisations It normative and value centred science The study of people at work It is concerned with the understanding, prediction and control of human behaviour Study of how people act in organisation Help suggest ways of improving organisational problems in general Related to work related behaviour and job satisfaction. Primarily related to people. OB include the core topics of motivationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦leaderà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦behaviourà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ power .interpersonal communicationgroup structure processLearning à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.attitude perceptionWork designà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦work stressà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Organization When two or more people get together and agree to coordinate their activities in order to achieve their common goals, an organization has been born. The responsibilities by means of which the activities of the enterprise are dispersed among the (managerial, supervisory, and specialist) personnel employed in its service; and b. the formal interrelations established among the personnel by virtue of such responsibilities. A consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals. -Stephen p. Robbins A consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common or set of goals. Organisation is the place where managers practise the art of management It formal in structure, clear roles and responsibility, hierarchy, authority etc Complementary relationship among member of organisation Not open for everybody Organization is a formal group of people with one or more shared goals Behavior The action that communicates and exhibits the character of individual is behaviour. The reaction of something under specified circumstances can be defined as behaviour. Definition of OB Organizational behaviour can classified as an Action attitudes of individuals groups toward one another and towards organizations as a whole its effect on organizations functioning performance. The study and application of knowledge about how people as individuals and groups act within Organisations, it strives to identify ways in which people can act more effectively. -John nestrom Keith Davis The understanding, prediction and management of human behaviour in organization. -Fred Luthans Robbins organizational behaviour is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behaviour within Organisations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving organizations effectiveness. Robbins OB is field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within organization. OB is concerned with the study of what people do in an organization and how their behaviour affect the organizations performance Evolution of Organizational Behaviour Concepts of OB in Vedas Four Varna (Allocation of work), Four Purusarth (allocation of activities), Home and work distance (Township) Kautilayas Arthsastra Relationship with friend, superior, subordinate, ministers, servant etc. Wage rate and differences Values in organizations 1800 BC Babylonian Code Minimum Wage Rate Incentive Wage Rate 1800 Robert Owen Father or Personnel Management Emphasize the human factor in organization Refused to give employment to children Teach workers the importance of working conditions and cleanliness 1835 Andrew Ure The philosophy of Manufacturers Provide snacks, medical treatment and sickness benefits 1840 J N Tata Emphasize the dignity of labor at organization Improve the working conditions 1886 introduce pensions plans 1895 accident compensations schemes 1880 Scientific Management Frederiek Taylor decides to time each and every worker at the Midvale Steel Company. His view of the future becomes highly accurate: In the past man was first. In the future the system will be first. In scientific management the managers were elevated while the workers roles were negated. Science, not rule of thumb, said Taylor. The decisions of supervisors, based upon experience and intuition, were no longer important. Employees were not allowed to have ideas of responsibility. Yet the question remains is this promotion of managers to centre-stage justified? Scientific selection of workers and cooperation of labors and management A clear division of tasks and responsibilities between management and workers. Use of scientific methods to determine the best way of doing a job. Productivity was concerned More work in less time 1922: Max Weber gives the concept of Bureaucracy 1930-1950 Human Relation Management Elton Mayo Non economic and Social factors were considered Employee cooperation and morale program The social process of group behavior can be understood in terms of clinical method 1932 The Hawthorne Studies Elton Mayo becomes the first to question the behavioural assumptions of scientific management. The studies concluded that human factors were often more important than physical conditions in motivating employees to greater productivity. Illumination Experiment Really assembly test room experiments Incentives, rest period, changing working hours Mass interviewing Programme Do you like your supervisor Bank wiring Observation Room Experiments Fear of unemployment Fear of raising the standards Protection of slower workers Satisfaction on the part of management Classical Organizational Theory Henry Fayol a French industrialist Interrelations between people and their jobs Division of labor Managers authority over subordinate Well defined command Hierarch f authority OB in Modern Era 1954 Hierarchy of Needs Malows theory of hierarchy need is published in his book Motivation and Personality. This provides a framework for gaining employees commitment. 1954 Leadership/Management Drucker writes The Practice of Management and introduces the 5 basic roles of managers. He writes, The first question in discussing organization structure must be: What is our business and what should it be? Organization structure must be designed so as to make possible the attainment of objectives of the business for five, ten, fifteen years hence. 1959 Hygiene and Motivational Factors Frederick Herzberg developed a list of factors which are closely based on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, except it more closely related to work. Hygiene factors must be present in the job before motivators can be used to stimulate the workers. 1960s Organization Development In the 1950s and 1960s a new, integrated approach originated known as Organization Development (OD): the systematic application of behavioral science knowledge at various levels (group, intergroup, and total organization) to bring about planned change 1960 Theory X and Theory Y Douglas McGregors Theory X and Theory Y principles influence the design and implementation of personnel policies and practices. Late 1960s Action Learning An Unheralded British academic was invited to try out his theories in Belgium it led to an upturn in the Belgian economy. Unless your ideas are ridiculed by experts they are worth nothing, says the British academic Reg Revens, creator of action learning: L = P + Q ([L] Learning occurs through a combination of programmed knowledge [P] and the ability to ask insightful questions [Q]) Note that his work has had little impact on this side of the ocean, although it remains one of the best ways to learn and to improve an organization. 1964 Management Grid Robert Blake and Jane Mouton develop a management model that conceptualizes management styles and relations. Their Grid uses two axes. Concern for people is plotted using the vertical axis and Concern for task is along the horizontal axis. The notion that just two dimensions can describe a managerial behavior has the attraction of simplicity. 1990 Learning Organization Peter Senge popularized the Learning Organization in The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. He describes the organization as an organism with the capacity to enhance its capabilities and shape its own future. A learning organization is any organization (e.g. school, business, government agency) that understands itself as a complex, organic system that has a vision and purpose. It uses feedback systems and alignment mechanisms to achieve its goals. 1995 Ethics On December 11, 1995 a fire burned most of Malden Mills to the ground and put 3,000 people out of work. Most of the 3,000 thought they were out of work permanently. CEO Aaron Feuerstein says, This is not the end he spent millions keeping all 3,000 employees on the payroll with full benefits for 3 months until he could get another factory up and running. Why? He answers, The fundamental difference is that I consider our workers an asset, not an expense. Q-1. Critically discuss what you believe are the most important factors that are likely to determine the successful performance of work organizations. What do you see as the main obstacles to effective organizational performance and how would you attempt to overcome them? Factors of successful performance of work organization Motivation in the Workplace:- The job of a manager in the workplace is to get things done through employees. To do this the manager should be able to motivate employees. But thats easier said than done! Motivation practice and theory are difficult subjects, touching on several disciplines. Human nature can be very simple, yet very complex too. An understanding and appreciation of this is a prerequisite to effective employee motivation in the workplace and therefore effective management and leadership. Quite apart from the benefit and moral value of an altruistic approach to treating colleagues as human beings and respecting human dignity in all its forms, research and observations show that well motivated employees are more productive and creative. The inverse also holds true. The schematic below indicates the potential contribution the practical application of the principles this paper has on reducing work content in the organization. Environmental Scanning:- Environmental scanning is the acquisition and use of information about events, trends, and relationships in an organizations external environment, the knowledge of which would assist management in planning the organizations future course of action. Depending on the organizations beliefs about environmental analyzability and the extent that it intrudes into the environment to understand it, four modes of scanning may be differentiated: undirected viewing, conditioned viewing, enacting, and searching. We analyze each mode of scanning by examining its characteristic information needs, information seeking, and information use behaviors. In addition, we analyze organizational learning processes by considering the sense making, knowledge creating and decision making processes at work in each mode. 3. Job Satisfaction:- Initial research indicated that neuroticism is negatively correlated with job satisfaction, whereas conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness are positively correlated with job satisfaction. Openness to experience has a negligible impact on job satisfaction. Additional research, however, has only been able to replicate correlations among the factors of neuroticism and extraversion, with extraversion being positively correlated with job satisfaction and neuroticism being negatively correlated. This could be due to the social nature of the workplace (Judge, Heller, Mount, 2002). This finding may be due to the low level of arousability for extraverted individuals (Hebbs theory). If the workplace is a social environment, then extraverted employees are more likely to be at a low level of arousal while at work, whereas at their home there is less stimulation. Introverts, on the other hand, are more likely at their optimal level of arousal outside of the workplace, where there is less stimulation, and therefore are more likely dissatisfied with the level of stimulation that they experience while at work. Deviation in the Workplace:- Workplace deviance occurs when an employee voluntarily pursues a course of action that threatens the well-being of the individual or the organization. Examples include stealing, hostile behavior towards coworkers, and withholding effort. Stealing and withholding effort are categorized as organizational deviance, whereas hostile and rude behavior toward coworkers is categorized as interpersonal deviance. Workplace deviance is related to the five-factor model of personality. Interpersonal deviance is negatively correlated with high levels of agreeableness. Organizational deviance is negatively correlated with high levels of conscientiousness and positively correlated with high levels of neuroticism. This implies that individuals who are emotionally stable and conscientious are less likely to withhold effort or steal, whereas those who are agreeable are less likely to be hostile to their coworkers. Another entirely different factor to consider is perception of the workplace. Employees who had a positive perception of their workplace were less likely to pursue deviant behavior. Research indicates that personality acts as a moderating factor: workplace deviance was more likely to be endorsed with respect to an individual when both the perception of the workplace was negative and emotional stability, conscientiousness, and agreeableness was low (Colbert, Mount, Harter, Witt, Barrick, 2004). 5. Teamwork:- Oftentimes in the workplace the ability to be a team player is valued and is critical to job performance. Recent research has suggested that conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness are all related to cooperative behavior but that they are not related to task performance. Although this fortifies the case that job performance is related to the five-factor model via increased cooperativeness among coworkers, it lays siege to the role of personality by implying that actual job performance (task performance) is related to cognitive ability and not to personality (LePine Dyne, 2001). Leadership abilities are often essential in the workplace, especially for individuals who aspire to move up into the ranks of management. Studies of Asian military units have found that neuroticism is negatively correlated with leadership abilities. Contrary to what the researchers hypothesized, agreeableness is negatively correlated with leadership abilities as well. Openness to experience is unrelated to leadership abilities, but extraversion is positively correlated with leadership abilities (Lim Ployhart, 2004). This evidence is consistent with the long-standing idea that in teams there are leaders and there are followers; the leaders make decisions and the followers abide by them. Although agreeableness is positively correlated with working with a team, it is negatively correlated with being a leader. Those followers who do not always agree and are willing to voice their own opinions end up moving up the ranks, whereas those who blindly agree are left as followers. 6. Personnel Selection Research into the relation between the five-factor model and personnel hiring provides additional evidence that conscientiousness is the most valid predictor of job performance (Schmidt Ryan, 1993). Given that conscientious individuals have a tendency to perform better as employees; it is easy to believe that employers will seek out that factor or the traits that coincide with it. 7. Personality:- A persons personality may not necessarily have a very high impact on a persons job or productivity per se, depending on the type of work being done. As discussed by Sean P. Neubert, the notion that salespeople who exhibit high levels of extraversion will have better overall job performance is pretty evident, for being a salesperson requires a lot of social interaction, and an introverted salesperson would obviously be less effective than an extravert. Given that point, another point brought up is about conscientiousness in addition to extraversion and its positive correlation with job performance in terms of the social atmosphere present in most workplaces: a conscientious person is obviously more likely to be a more productive worker and an extraverted person will experience an optimal level of arousal in a social workplace. Personality influence would perhaps become less palpable if an individuals place of work is not a highly social arena or the job is non-traditional. Main obstacles to effective organizational performance and how would you attempt to overcome? PRODUCTIVITY An organisation is productive if it achieves its goals and does so by transferring inputs to outputs at the lowest cost as such productivity implies a concern for both effectiveness and efficiency. A hospital, for e.g. is effective when it successfully meets the needs of its clientele. It is efficient when it can do so at a low cost. If a hospital manages to achieve higher output from its present staff by reducing the average number of days a patient is confined to a bed or by increasing the number of staff patient contacts per day. We say that the hospital has gain productive efficiency. A business firm is effective when it attains its sales or market share goals but its productivity also depends on achieving those goals efficiently. ABSENTEEISM Absenteeism is defined as the failure to report to work. Absenteeism is huge cost and disruption to employers. Its difficult for an organization to operate smoothly and to attain its objectives if employees fail to report to their jobs. The work flow is disrupted, and often important decisions must be delayed. In organization that rely heavily on assembly-line production, absenteeism can be considerably more than a disruption; it can result in a drastic reduction in the quality of output, and in some cases, it can bring about a complete shutdown of the production facility. Level of absenteeism beyond the normal range in any organization has a direct impact on that organizations effectiveness and efficiency. TURNOVER Turnover is the voluntary and involuntary permanent withdrawal from an organization. A high turnover rate results in increased recruiting, selection, and training coursing addition, a high rate of turnover can disrupt the efficient running of an organization when knowledgeable and experienced personal level and replacements must be found and prepared to assume positions of responsibility. In todays changing world of work, reasonable level of employee-initiated turnover facilitated organizational flexibility and employee independence and they can listen the need of management-initiated layoffs. OCB Organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) is discretionary behaviour that is not part of an employees formal job requirements but that nevertheless promotes the effective functioning for the organization. Successful Organisations need employees who will do more than their usual job duties who will provide performance that is beyond expectations. Organisations want and need employees who will do those things that arent in any job description. And the evidence indicates that Organisations that have such employees out perform those that didnt. As a result, OB is concerned with OCB as a dependent variable. JOB SATISFACTION The final dependent variable we all look at is job satisfaction, which we define as a private feeling about ones job resulting from an evaluation of its characteristics. Unlike the previous variable, job satisfaction to represents an attitude rather than behaviour. Why, then, has it become a primary dependent variable? For to reasons its demonstrated relationship to performance factors and the value preferences help by many OB researches. The belief that satisfied employees are more productive than dissatisfied employees. Has been a basic tenet among managers for years, though only now has research begun to support his theory after decades of questions about the satisfaction-performance relationship. POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR: By integrating positive psychology to organizational setting, Fred Luthans has pioneered the positive organizational behaviour research in 1999. Positive organizational behaviour is the application of positive psychology to the workplace. Its focus is on strengths and on building the best in the workplace under the basic assumption that goodness and excellence can be analyzed and achieved. The study and application of positive oriented human resource strength and psychological capacitates that can be measured, develop and effectively managed for performance improvement in todays workplace. -Luthan Despite initial studies and conceptualizations, the field of POB is still in its infancy. Therefore the challenge currently a waiting with POB is to bring about a more profound understanding of the real impact of positive states for organizational functioning and how these states can be enhanced with the workplace. Positive psychology shift the emphasize away from What is Wrong and what is Right. Five elements of positive approach in OB Luthan has enumerated the five elements of positive approach in OB. Confidence In confidence, he includes self efficacy. Self efficacy refers to how well one can execute courses of action required dealing with prospective situation. Hope Optimism Subjective Wellbeing High correlation with job satisfaction. Emotional intelligence It includes personality and leadership. 5 categories of the positive approach (ISOTC) In order to retain a sharp focus, five categories of positive approach are given. Internality Personality Self management Optimism Humanistic Tradition Trust Positive Expectancy Collaboration Internality Personality Internality, or internal locus of control, is the general orientation of an individual that results in a belief that he can shape his destiny. It refers to an individuals confidence in his ability to mobilize motivation, cognitive resources, and courses of action to execute a task. Self management Self management is a part of emotional intelligence. There are two main elements of self management: self regulation or self restraint and perseverance. Those who resist temptation about getting something immediately or without any efforts are more competent, effective, self assertive and better able to cope with. This characteristic of gratification of a long term goal is a part of self management. Optimism: Instead of indulging in the recollection of misfortunes and bad experiences, individuals should get deeply involved in the activities they do. Such joy of work contributes not only to involvement but also to effectiveness. Trust: Trust as an orientation is reflected in a. Positive image of others resulting in dialogue and delegation. b. Positive reinforcement resulting in appreciation, recognition, reward, respect, sense of assurance, acceptance, etc. Collaboration: Collaboration includes group behavior. It is defined in terms of a person working with another person for the attainment of goal. 2. Consider the changing nature of modern work organization and attempt to challenge and criticize the validity of this statement In todays world, the structure, content, and process of work have changed. Work is now: more cognitively complex more team-based and collaborative more dependent on social skills more dependent on technological competence more time pressured More mobile and less dependent on geography. In todays world, you will also be working for an organization that is likely to be very different due to competitive pressures and technological breakthroughs. Organizations today are: leaner and more agile more focused on identifying value from the customer perspective more tuned to dynamic competitive requirements and strategy less hierarchical in structure and decision authority less likely to provide lifelong careers and job security Continually reorganizing to maintain or gain competitive advantage. A. The Key Drivers for Changing Nature of Work Although many factors ultimately contribute to the changing patterns of work, organizational theorists point to two key drivers: Increasing pressures on organizations to be more competitive, agile, and customer focused-to be a lean enterprise. Communication and information technology breakthroughs, especially mobile technologies and the Internet that enable work to be separated from time and space. Changes in Organizational Focus: What does it mean to be Lean? The Lean Enterprise model was introduced to the world by Toyota in the 1970s. Since then, it has fueled changes in organizations across the globe, particularly-but not exclusively-in manufacturing and product development. The key principles of Lean Enterprise (or lean thinking, as it is sometimes called) are: Define value from the customers perspective. Identify internal activities and processes that add value for the customer and identify linkages between them (the value chain). Eliminate non-value added activities (or waste) across the organization. Reduce waste and inefficiencies in support (e.g., overhead) functions. The lean enterprise principles enabled many organizations to respond more rapidly to the marketplace by reducing cycle time, developing mass customization processes, and supporting continual change and innovation. Key organizational changes include: Reduced hierarchical structure-Hierarchies are cumbersome and cannot respond quickly to changing market demands, such as pressures for reduced cycle time and continuous innovation. Hierarchies are being replaced by cross unit organizational groupings with fewer layers and more decentralized decision making. Blurred boundaries-As organizations become more laterally structured, boundaries begin to breakdown as different parts of the organization need to work more effectively together. Boundaries between departments as well as between job categories (manager, professional, technical) become looser and there is a greater need for task and knowledge sharing. Teams as basic building blocks-the move toward a team-based organizational structure results from pressures to make rapid decisions, to reduce inefficiencies, and to continually improve work processes. New management perspective-Workers are no longer managed to comply with rules and orders, but rather to be committed to organizational goals and mission. The blurring of boundaries also affects organizational roles. As employees gain more decision authority and latitude, managers become more social supporters and coaches rather than commanders. Continuous change-Organizations are expected to continue the cycles of reflection and reorganization. However, changes may be both large and small and are likely to be interspersed with periods of stability. Kling and Zmuidzinas identify three types of change-metamorphosis (far reaching, fundamental change), migration (shifts toward a new form), and elaboration (changes that enhance some aspect of work). B. How Work is Changing for Individuals and Groups Over the past two decades, a new pattern of work is emerging as the knowledge economy realizes the full potential of both new technologies and new organizational models. The changes fall into the following domains: Cognitive competence Social and interactive competence The new psychological contract between employees and employers Changes in process and place Increased complexity of work-Workers need to know more, not only to do their jobs and tasks, but also to work effectively with others on teams. Many knowledge-based tasks require sound analytical and judgment skills to carry out work that is more novel, extemporaneous, and context based, with few rules and structured ways of working. Although demand for high cognitive skills are especially prominent in professional, technical, and managerial jobs, even administrative tasks require more independent decision making and operational decision making. Continuous competency development-Not only do workers need to keep their technology skills up to date, they need to be continuous learners in their knowledge fields and to also be more conversant with business strategy. Time to read and attend training classes is no longer a perquisite of only a few, it is essential for all workers. Different ways of thinking-Rosabeth Kantor argues that cross-functional and cross boundary teams require kaleidoscope thinking, the ability to see alternative angles and perspectives and to create new patterns of thinking that propel innovation. Workers also need to be able to synthesize disparate ideas in order to make the cognitive leaps that unde